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1987 Atlanta Journal 500

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1987 Atlanta Journal 500
Race details
Race 29 of 29 in the 1987 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1987 Atlanta Journal 500 program cover, featuring Dale Earnhardt.
The 1987 Atlanta Journal 500 program cover, featuring Dale Earnhardt.
Date November 22, 1987
Official name 28th Annual Atlanta Journal 500
Location Hampton, Georgia, Atlanta International Raceway
Course Permanent racing facility
1.522 mi (2.449 km)
Distance 328 laps, 499.216 mi (803.41 km)
Scheduled Distance 328 laps, 499.216 mi (803.41 km)
Average speed 139.047 miles per hour (223.774 km/h)
Attendance 70,000
Pole position
Driver Melling Racing
Time 31.428
Most laps led
Driver Bill Elliott Melling Racing
Laps 168
Winner
No. 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing
Television in the United States
Network ESPN
Announcers Bob Jenkins, Larry Nuber
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

The 1987 Atlanta Journal 500 was the 29th and final stock car race of the 1987 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 28th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, November 22, 1987, before an audience of 70,000 in Hampton, Georgia, at Atlanta International Raceway, a 1.522 miles (2.449 km) permanent asphalt quad-oval intermediate speedway. The race took the scheduled 328 laps to complete.

By race's end, Melling Racing's Bill Elliott, with the assistance of a makeshift pit crew, managed to dominate the late stages of the race, leading the final 82 laps to take his 23rd career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his sixth and final victory of the season.[1][2] To fill out the top three, Richard Childress Racing's Dale Earnhardt and Bud Moore Engineering's Ricky Rudd finished second and third, respectively.

Background

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The layout of Atlanta Motor Speedway, the circuit where the race was held.

Atlanta International Raceway is a 1.522-mile race track in Hampton, Georgia, United States, 20 miles (32 km) south of Atlanta. It has annually hosted NASCAR Winston Cup Series stock car races since its inauguration in 1960.

The venue was bought by Speedway Motorsports in 1990. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track. In 1997, to standardize the track with Speedway Motorsports' other two intermediate ovals, the entire track was almost completely rebuilt. The frontstretch and backstretch were swapped, and the configuration of the track was changed from oval to quad-oval, with a new official length of 1.54-mile (2.48 km) where before it was 1.522-mile (2.449 km). The project made the track one of the fastest on the NASCAR circuit.

Entry list

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  • (R) - denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
1 Brett Bodine Ellington Racing Chevrolet Bull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce
3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Wrangler
4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile Kodak
5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Levi Garrett
6 Larry Pollard U.S. Racing Chevrolet U.S. Racing
7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford Zerex
8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick Miller American
08 Butch Miller Throop Racing Chevrolet Throop Racing
9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford Coors
11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet Budweiser
12 Trevor Boys Hamby Racing Chevrolet Hamby Racing
14 A. J. Foyt A. J. Foyt Racing Oldsmobile Copenhagen
15 Ricky Rudd Bud Moore Engineering Ford Motorcraft Quality Parts
16 Larry Pearson Pearson Racing Chevrolet Chattanooga Chew
17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Tide
18 Dale Jarrett (R) Freedlander Motorsports Chevrolet Coats & Clark
21 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford Citgo
22 Bobby Allison Stavola Brothers Racing Buick Miller American
26 Morgan Shepherd King Racing Buick Quaker State
27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac Kodiak
28 Davey Allison (R) Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford Texaco, Havoline
29 Cale Yarborough Cale Yarborough Motorsports Oldsmobile Hardee's
30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Chevrolet All Pro Auto Parts
31 Brad Teague Bob Clark Motorsports Oldsmobile Slender You Figure Salons
33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet Skoal Bandit
34 Eddie Bierschwale AAG Racing Chevrolet Allen's Glass
35 Benny Parsons Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Folgers Decaf
36 H. B. Bailey Bailey Racing Pontiac Almeda Auto Parts
43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac STP
44 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile Piedmont Airlines
48 Ron Esau Hylton Motorsports Chevrolet Hylton Motorsports
50 Greg Sacks Dingman Brothers Racing Pontiac Valvoline
52 Jimmy Means Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Eureka
55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile Skoal Classic
62 Steve Christman (R) Winkle Motorsports Pontiac AC Spark Plug
64 Curtis Markham Langley Racing Ford Sunny King Ford
67 Buddy Arrington Arrington Racing Ford Pannill Sweatshirts
70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac Rumple Furniture
71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet Lifebuoy
75 Joe Ruttman RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac Valvoline
76 Hut Stricklin Jaehne Motorsports Oldsmobile Jaehne Motorsports
77 Ken Ragan Ragan Racing Ford Southlake Ford
80 Jimmy Horton S&H Racing Ford S&H Racing
82 Mark Stahl Stahl Racing Ford Auto Bell Car Wash
83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile Kmart, Wynn's
85 Bobby Gerhart Bobby Gerhart Racing Chevrolet J. Omar Landis Enterprises
86 Rick Jeffrey Jeffrey Racing Chevrolet Jeffrey Racing
87 Randy Baker Buck Baker Racing Chevrolet Sony
88 Buddy Baker Baker–Schiff Racing Oldsmobile Crisco
90 Ken Schrader Donlavey Racing Ford Red Baron Frozen Pizza
91 Philip Duffie Duffie Racing Chevrolet Duffie Racing
93 Charlie Baker Salmon Racing Pontiac Salmon Racing
98 Ed Pimm Curb Racing Buick Sunoco

Qualifying

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Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, November 20, at 2:00 PM EST. Each driver had one lap to set a time. During the first round, the top 20 drivers in the round were 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 21, at 10:30 AM EST. As with the first round, each driver had one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 21-40 were decided on time,[3] 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; up to two were given.

Bill Elliott, driving for Melling Racing, managed to win the pole, setting a time of 31.428 and an average speed of 174.341 miles per hour (280.575 km/h) in the first round.[4]

11 drivers failed to qualify.

Full qualifying results

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 31.428 174.341
2 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 31.578 173.513
3 83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile 31.797 172.318
4 33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 31.817 172.210
5 28 Davey Allison (R) Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford 31.838 172.096
6 29 Cale Yarborough Cale Yarborough Motorsports Oldsmobile 31.845 172.058
7 26 Morgan Shepherd King Racing Buick 31.857 171.994
8 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 31.913 171.692
9 90 Ken Schrader Donlavey Racing Ford 31.933 171.584
10 50 Greg Sacks Dingman Brothers Racing Pontiac 31.952 171.482
11 35 Benny Parsons Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 31.966 171.407
12 11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 31.969 171.391
13 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 32.041 171.006
14 15 Ricky Rudd Bud Moore Engineering Ford 32.054 170.937
15 22 Bobby Allison Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 32.060 170.905
16 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 32.077 170.814
17 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 32.090 170.745
18 88 Buddy Baker Baker–Schiff Racing Oldsmobile 32.093 170.729
19 76 Hut Stricklin Jaehne Motorsports Oldsmobile 32.177 170.283
20 55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 32.188 170.225
Failed to lock in Round 1
21 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 32.020 171.118
22 44 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 32.057 170.921
23 77 Ken Ragan Ragan Racing Ford 32.228 170.014
24 31 Brad Teague Bob Clark Motorsports Oldsmobile 32.234 169.982
25 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 32.253 169.882
26 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Chevrolet 32.264 169.824
27 14 A. J. Foyt A. J. Foyt Racing Oldsmobile 32.267 169.808
28 1 Brett Bodine Ellington Racing Chevrolet 32.339 169.430
29 21 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 32.370 169.268
30 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 32.397 169.127
31 75 Joe Ruttman RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 32.414 169.038
32 16 Larry Pearson Pearson Racing Chevrolet 32.414 169.038
33 18 Dale Jarrett (R) Freedlander Motorsports Chevrolet 32.418 169.017
34 64 Curtis Markham Langley Racing Ford 32.435 168.929
35 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 32.444 168.882
36 82 Mark Stahl Stahl Racing Ford 32.460 168.799
37 36 H. B. Bailey Bailey Racing Pontiac 32.495 168.617
38 87 Randy Baker Buck Baker Racing Chevrolet 32.498 168.601
39 98 Ed Pimm Curb Racing Buick 32.501 168.586
40 93 Charlie Baker McDuffie Racing Pontiac 32.550 168.332
Provisionals
41 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 32.747 167.319
42 67 Buddy Arrington Arrington Racing Ford 32.643 167.852
Failed to qualify
43 6 Larry Pollard U.S. Racing Chevrolet -* -*
44 86 Rick Jeffrey Jeffrey Racing Chevrolet -* -*
45 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac -* -*
46 34 Eddie Bierschwale AAG Racing Chevrolet -* -*
47 12 Trevor Boys Hamby Racing Ford -* -*
48 91 Philip Duffie Duffie Racing Chevrolet -* -*
49 85 Bobby Gerhart Bobby Gerhart Racing Chevrolet -* -*
50 08 Butch Miller Throop Racing Chevrolet -* -*
51 48 Ron Esau Hylton Motorsports Chevrolet -* -*
52 80 Jimmy Horton S&H Racing Ford -* -*
53 62 Steve Christman (R) Winkle Motorsports Pontiac -* -*
Official first round qualifying results
Official starting lineup

Race results

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Fin St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 1 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 328 168 running 185 $74,200
2 2 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 328 133 running 175 $35,350
3 14 15 Ricky Rudd Bud Moore Engineering Ford 328 19 running 170 $22,585
4 15 22 Bobby Allison Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 328 0 running 160 $16,725
5 5 28 Davey Allison (R) Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford 327 3 running 160 $9,985
6 13 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 327 0 running 150 $14,110
7 11 35 Benny Parsons Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 327 2 running 151 $14,440
8 20 55 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 327 0 running 142 $5,675
9 22 44 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 327 0 running 138 $8,605
10 18 88 Buddy Baker Baker–Schiff Racing Oldsmobile 327 0 running 134 $5,080
11 31 75 Joe Ruttman RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 327 0 running 0 $7,375
12 16 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 326 0 running 127 $10,965
13 29 21 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 326 0 running 124 $9,835
14 41 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 325 0 running 121 $9,700
15 28 1 Brett Bodine Ellington Racing Chevrolet 324 0 running 118 $2,925
16 19 76 Hut Stricklin Jaehne Motorsports Oldsmobile 322 0 running 115 $2,460
17 24 31 Brad Teague Bob Clark Motorsports Oldsmobile 320 0 running 112 $2,345
18 21 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 317 1 running 114 $6,300
19 37 36 H. B. Bailey Bailey Racing Pontiac 316 0 running 106 $2,120
20 38 87 Randy Baker Buck Baker Racing Chevrolet 315 0 running 103 $2,560
21 36 82 Mark Stahl Stahl Racing Ford 311 0 running 100 $1,925
22 42 67 Buddy Arrington Arrington Racing Ford 311 0 running 97 $5,795
23 23 77 Ken Ragan Ragan Racing Ford 281 0 wheel bearing 94 $1,755
24 4 33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 280 0 engine 91 $5,505
25 32 16 Larry Pearson Pearson Racing Chevrolet 268 0 crash 88 $1,605
26 10 50 Greg Sacks Dingman Brothers Racing Pontiac 220 1 oil pan 90 $1,575
27 8 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 219 0 crash 82 $1,525
28 12 11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 203 0 flywheel 79 $10,295
29 35 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 171 0 vibration 76 $5,140
30 30 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 154 0 crash 73 $5,600
31 17 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 154 0 crash 70 $8,410
32 25 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 150 0 crank 67 $4,585
33 40 93 Charlie Baker[a] McDuffie Racing Pontiac 147 0 crash 64 $1,350
34 34 64 Curtis Markham Langley Racing Ford 126 0 engine 0 $4,375
35 9 90 Ken Schrader Donlavey Racing Ford 110 1 engine 63 $4,090
36 33 18 Dale Jarrett (R) Freedlander Motorsports Chevrolet 84 0 clutch 55 $4,065
37 27 14 A. J. Foyt A. J. Foyt Racing Oldsmobile 76 0 handling 52 $1,285
38 26 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Chevrolet 75 0 engine 49 $4,025
39 7 26 Morgan Shepherd King Racing Buick 49 0 engine 46 $3,990
40 6 29 Cale Yarborough Cale Yarborough Motorsports Oldsmobile 32 0 crash 43 $1,235
41 3 83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile 32 0 crash 40 $1,235
42 39 98 Ed Pimm Curb Racing Buick 30 0 crash 37 $1,235
Failed to qualify
43 6 Larry Pollard U.S. Racing Chevrolet
44 86 Rick Jeffrey Jeffrey Racing Chevrolet
45 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac
46 34 Eddie Bierschwale AAG Racing Chevrolet
47 12 Trevor Boys Hamby Racing Ford
48 91 Philip Duffie Duffie Racing Chevrolet
49 85 Bobby Gerhart Bobby Gerhart Racing Chevrolet
50 08 Butch Miller Throop Racing Chevrolet
51 48 Ron Esau Hylton Motorsports Chevrolet
52 80 Jimmy Horton S&H Racing Ford
53 62 Steve Christman (R) Winkle Motorsports Pontiac
Official race results

Standings after the race

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Notes

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  1. ^ Baker was relieved by J. D. McDuffie on the 44th lap of the race. As Baker started the race, he is credited with the finish.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Higgins, Tom (November 23, 1987). "Elliott Surges To Impressive Win". The Charlotte Observer. pp. 1B, 5B. Retrieved November 23, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  2. ^ Hinton, Ed (November 23, 1987). "Elliott wins it for his crew". The Atlanta Journal. pp. 1B, 10B. Retrieved November 23, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ "NASCAR Today". The Charlotte Observer. November 20, 1987. pp. 3C. Retrieved November 23, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  4. ^ Higgins, Tom (November 21, 1987). "Elliott Delights Fans, Overtakes Earnhardt To Take Pole". The Charlotte Observer. pp. 7B. Retrieved November 23, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  5. ^ McCollister, Tom (November 23, 1987). "Now that was a Petty headache". The Atlanta Constitution. pp. 10B. Retrieved November 23, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon


Previous race:
1987 Winston Western 500
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1987 season
Next race:
1988 Daytona 500