Jump to content

1989 Autoworks 500

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

1989 Autoworks 500
Race details
Race 28 of 29 in the 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1989 Autoworks 500 program cover.
The 1989 Autoworks 500 program cover.
Date November 5, 1989
Official name 2nd Annual Autoworks 500
Location Avondale, Arizona, Phoenix International Raceway
Course Permanent racing facility
1 mi (1.6 km)
Distance 312 laps, 312 mi (502.115 km)
Scheduled Distance 312 laps, 312 mi (502.115 km)
Average speed 105.683 miles per hour (170.080 km/h)
Attendance 65,000
Pole position
Driver Hendrick Motorsports
Time 28.882
Most laps led
Driver Alan Kulwicki AK Racing
Laps 96
Winner
No. 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing
Television in the United States
Network ESPN
Announcers Bob Jenkins, Benny Parsons, Ned Jarrett
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

The 1989 Autoworks 500 was the 28th and penultimate stock car race of the 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season, the 11th and final race of the 1989 NASCAR Winston West Series season, and the second iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, November 5, 1989, before an audience of 65,000 in Avondale, Arizona at Phoenix International Raceway, a 1-mile (1.6 km) permanent low-banked tri-oval race track. The race took the scheduled 312 laps to complete. Assisted by a late-race crash from the championship leader at the time, Rusty Wallace, Melling Racing driver Bill Elliott would manage to take over control for the final 48 laps of the race to take his 32nd career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his third and final victory of the season.[1][2][3][4] To fill out the top three, Junior Johnson & Associates driver Terry Labonte and Roush Racing driver Mark Martin would finish second and third, respectively.

In the NASCAR Winston West Series championship race, Bill Schmitt was able to defeat competitor Bill Sedgwick by 56 points to take his third career Winston West Series championship.[5]

Headed into the final race of the Winston Cup Series season, the 1989 Atlanta Journal 500, three drivers were mathematically eligible to clinch the championship, with Rusty Wallace leading the standings with 4,058 points, Mark Martin in second with 3,980 points, and Dale Earnhardt in third with 3,979 points. Wallace, who came into the race leading then second-place Earnhardt by 109 points, had a poor finish due to a crash caused by Stan Barrett, decreasing his lead by 31 points.[6] In order for Wallace to clinch the championship, Wallace would need an 18th place finish or better to earn his first Winston Cup Series title.[7]

Background

[edit]
The layout of Phoenix International Raceway, the venue where the race was held.

Phoenix International Raceway – also known as PIR – is a one-mile, low-banked tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona. It is named after the nearby metropolitan area of Phoenix. The motorsport track opened in 1964 and currently hosts two NASCAR race weekends annually. PIR has also hosted the IndyCar Series, CART, USAC and the Rolex Sports Car Series. The raceway is currently owned and operated by International Speedway Corporation.

The raceway was originally constructed with a 2.5 mi (4.0 km) road course that ran both inside and outside of the main tri-oval. In 1991 the track was reconfigured with the current 1.51 mi (2.43 km) interior layout. PIR has an estimated grandstand seating capacity of around 67,000. Lights were installed around the track in 2004 following the addition of a second annual NASCAR race weekend.

Entry list

[edit]
  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
1 Butch Miller (R) Miller Racing Chevrolet Dinner Bell Foods
2 Ernie Irvan U.S. Racing Pontiac Kroger
3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet GM Goodwrench Service Plus
4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile Kodak
04 Hershel McGriff McGriff Motorsports Pontiac U. S. Bank
5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Levi Garrett
6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford Stroh's Light
7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford Zerex
8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick Miller High Life
08 Rick McCray McCray Racing Pontiac Warner W. Hodgdon
9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford Coors Light
09 Roy Smith Midgley Racing Pontiac Midgley Racing
10 Derrike Cope Whitcomb Racing Pontiac Purolator
11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Ford Budweiser
15 Brett Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford Motorcraft
16 Larry Pearson (R) Pearson Racing Buick Chattanooga Chew
17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Tide
18 Tommy Ellis Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Hardee's
21 Neil Bonnett Wood Brothers Racing Ford Citgo
22 St. James Davis St. James Racing Buick St. James Racing
25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Folgers
26 Ricky Rudd King Racing Buick Quaker State
27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac Kodiak
28 Davey Allison Robert Yates Racing Ford Texaco, Havoline
29 Dale Jarrett Cale Yarborough Motorsports Pontiac Hardee's
30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac Country Time
33 Harry Gant Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile Skoal Bandit
38 Duke Hoenshell Hoenshell Racing Pontiac Bautista Restoration
40 Joe Ruttman Reno Enterprises Chevrolet Dinner Bell Foods
42 Kyle Petty SABCO Racing Pontiac Peak Antifreeze
43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac STP
44 Jim Sauter Group 44 Pontiac Group 44
46 Greg Sacks Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet City Chevrolet
51 Bobby Hamilton Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Exxon
52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac Alka-Seltzer
55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile Skoal, Crown Central Petroleum
57 Hut Stricklin (R) Osterlund Racing Pontiac Heinz
62 Ron Esau Douglas Smith Racing Oldsmobile Baja Boats
71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet Lifebuoy
73 Bill Schmitt Schmitt Racing Chevrolet Ross Stores
75 Morgan Shepherd RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac Valvoline
76 Bill Sedgwick Spears Motorsports Buick Spears Manufacturing
80 Bob Walker Bob Walker Racing Pontiac Bayside Builders
83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile Bull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce
84 Dick Trickle (R) Stavola Brothers Racing Buick Miller High Life
88 Jimmy Spencer (R) Baker–Schiff Racing Pontiac Crisco
89 Rodney Combs Mueller Brothers Racing Pontiac Evinrude Outboard Motors
90 Stan Barrett Donlavey Racing Ford V8
94 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile Sunoco
99 John Krebs Krebs Racing Pontiac Skoal Bandit

Qualifying

[edit]

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, November 2, at 5:30 PM EST. Each driver would have one lap to set a time. During the first round, the top 20 drivers in the round would be guaranteed a starting spot in the race. If a driver was not able to guarantee a spot in the first round, they had the option to scrub their time from the first round and try and run a faster lap time in a second round qualifying run, held on Saturday, November 3, at 2:00 PM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 21-40 would be decided on time,[8] and depending on who needed it, a select amount of positions were given to cars who had not otherwise qualified but were high enough in owner's points; which was up to two for cars in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series and up to two extra provisionals for the cars in the NASCAR Winston West Series.

Ken Schrader, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would win the pole, setting a time of 28.882 and an average speed of 124.645 miles per hour (200.597 km/h) in the first round.[9][10]

Seven drivers would fail to qualify.

Full qualifying results

[edit]
Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 28.882 124.645
2 11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 28.902 124.559
3 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 28.965 124.288
4 10 Derrike Cope Whitcomb Racing Pontiac 28.994 124.164
5 51 Bobby Hamilton Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 29.012 124.087
6 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 29.048 123.933
7 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 29.053 123.911
8 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 29.058 123.890
9 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 29.061 123.877
10 84 Dick Trickle (R) Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 29.061 123.877
11 26 Ricky Rudd King Racing Buick 29.097 123.724
12 16 Larry Pearson (R) Pearson Racing Buick 29.169 123.419
13 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 29.171 123.410
14 28 Davey Allison Robert Yates Racing Ford 29.192 123.321
15 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 29.213 123.233
16 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 29.230 123.161
17 75 Morgan Shepherd RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 29.260 123.035
18 33 Harry Gant Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 29.265 123.014
19 94 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 29.284 122.934
20 1 Butch Miller (R) Miller Racing Chevrolet 29.312 122.817
Failed to lock in Round 1
21 2 Ernie Irvan U.S. Racing Pontiac 29.330 122.741
22 83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile 29.360 122.616
23 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 29.361 122.612
24 21 Neil Bonnett Wood Brothers Racing Ford 29.381 122.528
25 15 Brett Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford 29.381 122.528
26 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 29.413 122.395
27 62 Ron Esau Douglas Smith Racing Oldsmobile 29.423 122.353
28 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 29.427 122.337
29 42 Kyle Petty SABCO Racing Pontiac 29.428 122.332
30 46 Greg Sacks Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 29.434 122.308
31 29 Dale Jarrett Cale Yarborough Motorsports Pontiac 29.468 122.166
32 57 Hut Stricklin (R) Osterlund Racing Pontiac 29.475 122.137
33 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 29.564 121.770
34 88 Jimmy Spencer (R) Baker–Schiff Racing Pontiac 29.628 121.507
35 44 Jim Sauter Group 44 Pontiac 29.629 121.503
36 55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 29.651 121.412
37 09 Roy Smith Midgley Racing Pontiac 29.669 121.339
38 76 Bill Sedgwick Spears Motorsports Buick 29.670 121.335
39 40 Joe Ruttman Reno Enterprises Chevrolet 29.671 121.331
40 89 Rodney Combs Mueller Brothers Racing Pontiac 29.697 121.224
Winston Cup provisionals
41 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 29.726 121.106
42 90 Stan Barrett Donlavey Racing Ford 30.077 119.693
Winston West provisional
43 73 Bill Schmitt Schmitt Racing Chevrolet 29.989 120.044
Failed to qualify
44 18 Tommy Ellis Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet -* -*
45 04 Hershel McGriff McGriff Motorsports Pontiac -* -*
46 38 Duke Hoenshell Hoenshell Racing Pontiac -* -*
47 99 John Krebs Krebs Racing Pontiac -* -*
48 08 Rick McCray McCray Racing Pontiac -* -*
49 80 Bob Walker Bob Walker Racing Pontiac -* -*
50 22 St. James Davis St. James Racing Buick -* -*
Official first round qualifying results
Official starting lineup

Race results

[edit]
Fin St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 13 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 312 50 running 180 $57,900
2 2 11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 312 0 running 170 $34,275
3 6 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 312 5 running 170 $23,725
4 16 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 312 11 running 165 $20,290
5 31 29 Dale Jarrett Cale Yarborough Motorsports Pontiac 312 0 running 155 $22,112
6 7 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 312 0 running 150 $16,995
7 10 84 Dick Trickle (R) Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 312 0 running 146 $12,460
8 18 33 Harry Gant Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 312 0 running 142 $14,000
9 23 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 312 0 running 138 $10,590
10 34 88 Jimmy Spencer (R) Baker–Schiff Racing Pontiac 312 0 running 134 $12,755
11 3 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 312 96 running 140 $20,770
12 17 75 Morgan Shepherd RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 312 0 running 127 $13,160
13 1 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 312 7 running 129 $14,450
14 4 10 Derrike Cope Whitcomb Racing Pontiac 311 0 running 121 $6,440
15 33 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 311 0 running 118 $8,105
16 9 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 311 76 running 120 $14,745
17 35 44 Jim Sauter Group 44 Pontiac 311 0 running 112 $4,960
18 28 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 310 0 running 109 $6,725
19 25 15 Brett Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford 310 0 running 106 $6,590
20 39 40 Joe Ruttman Reno Enterprises Chevrolet 309 0 running 103 $4,430
21 29 42 Kyle Petty SABCO Racing Pontiac 309 0 running 100 $3,470
22 22 83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile 309 0 running 97 $6,385
23 32 57 Hut Stricklin (R) Osterlund Racing Pontiac 309 0 running 94 $4,250
24 12 16 Larry Pearson (R) Pearson Racing Buick 308 0 running 91 $4,085
25 41 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 307 0 running 88 $3,425
26 43 73 Bill Schmitt Schmitt Racing Chevrolet 307 0 running 85 $3,995
27 40 89 Rodney Combs Mueller Brothers Racing Pontiac 305 0 running 82 $3,250
28 8 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 280 61 valve 84 $10,915
29 11 26 Ricky Rudd King Racing Buick 272 1 radiator 81 $10,930
30 19 94 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 249 0 fire 73 $5,830
31 42 90 Stan Barrett Donlavey Racing Ford 242 0 brakes 70 $3,105
32 5 51 Bobby Hamilton Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 215 5 engine 72 $3,075
33 21 2 Ernie Irvan U.S. Racing Pontiac 206 0 engine 64 $3,660
34 24 21 Neil Bonnett Wood Brothers Racing Ford 201 0 clutch 61 $5,615
35 27 62 Ron Esau Douglas Smith Racing Oldsmobile 194 0 brakes 58 $2,960
36 38 76 Bill Sedgwick Spears Motorsports Buick 170 0 ignition 55 $3,525
37 36 55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 164 0 crash 52 $4,915
38 30 46 Greg Sacks Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 160 0 handling 49 $2,895
39 14 28 Davey Allison Robert Yates Racing Ford 153 0 engine 46 $11,270
40 15 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 57 0 camshaft 43 $4,845
41 37 09 Roy Smith Midgley Racing Pontiac 40 0 engine 40 $4,445
42 26 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 34 0 engine 37 $2,840
43 20 1 Butch Miller (R) Miller Racing Chevrolet 16 0 engine 34 $2,825
Failed to qualify
44 18 Tommy Ellis Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
45 04 Hershel McGriff McGriff Motorsports Pontiac
46 38 Duke Hoenshell Hoenshell Racing Pontiac
47 99 John Krebs Krebs Racing Pontiac
48 08 Rick McCray McCray Racing Pontiac
49 80 Bob Walker Bob Walker Racing Pontiac
50 22 St. James Davis St. James Racing Buick
Official race results

Standings after the race

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Higgins, Tom (November 6, 1989). "Wallace's Crash Opens Way For Elliott Win (Part 1)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 13. Retrieved June 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  2. ^ Higgins, Tom (November 6, 1989). "Wallace's Crash Opens Way For Elliott Win (Part 2)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 17. Retrieved June 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ Armijo, Mark (November 6, 1989). "Wallace waiting– Elliott wins Autoworks 500 (Part 1)". The Arizona Republic. p. 29. Retrieved June 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  4. ^ Armijo, Mark (November 6, 1989). "Wallace waiting– Elliott wins Autoworks 500 (Part 2)". The Arizona Republic. p. 34. Retrieved June 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  5. ^ "Redding man captures third stock car title". Redding Record Searchlight. November 7, 1989. p. 13. Retrieved June 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  6. ^ Wallace, Rusty (November 6, 1989). "'Bad luck' extends points race to Atlanta". The Arizona Republic. p. 35. Retrieved June 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  7. ^ Higgins, Tom (November 19, 1989). "Race Watchers Focus On Wallace's Driving Style". The Charlotte Observer. p. 84. Retrieved June 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  8. ^ "NASCAR Today". The Charlotte Observer. November 3, 1989. p. 39. Retrieved June 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  9. ^ Higgins, Tom (November 4, 1989). "Schrader Fastest In Qualifying (Part 1)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 41. Retrieved June 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  10. ^ Higgins, Tom (November 4, 1989). "Schrader Fastest In Qualifying (Part 2)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 48. Retrieved June 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon


Previous race:
1989 AC Delco 500
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1989 season
Next race:
1989 Atlanta Journal 500