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1991 First Union 400

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1991 First Union 400
Race details
Race 7 of 29 in the 1991 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1991 First Union 400 program cover, featuring Brett Bodine.
The 1991 First Union 400 program cover, featuring Brett Bodine.
Date April 21, 1991
Official name 41st Annual First Union 400
Location North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro, North Carolina
Course Permanent racing facility
0.625 mi (1.006 km)
Distance 400 laps, 250 mi (402.336 km)
Scheduled Distance 400 laps, 250 mi (402.336 km)
Average speed 79.604 miles per hour (128.110 km/h)
Attendance 41,500
Pole position
Driver King Racing
Time 19.357
Most laps led
Driver Brett Bodine King Racing
Laps 103
Winner
No. 17 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports
Television in the United States
Network ESPN
Announcers Bob Jenkins, Ned Jarrett, Benny Parsons
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

The 1991 First Union 400 was the seventh stock car race of the 1991 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 41st iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, April 21, 1991, before an audience of 41,500 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina at the North Wilkesboro Speedway, a 0.625 miles (1.006 km) oval short track. The race took the scheduled 400 laps to complete. At race's end, owner-driver Darrell Waltrip would manage to get his car away from the chaotic nature of the race, leading the final 52 laps to take his 80th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his first victory of the season.[1][2] To fill out the top three, Richard Childress Racing driver Dale Earnhardt and Travis Carter Enterprises driver Jimmy Spencer would finish second and third, respectively.

Background

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The layout of North Wilkesboro Speedway, the venue where the race was held.

North Wilkesboro Speedway is a short oval racetrack located on U.S. Route 421, about five miles east of the town of North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, or 80 miles north of Charlotte. It measures 0.625 mi (1.006 km) and features a unique uphill backstretch and downhill frontstretch. It has previously held races in NASCAR's top three series, including 93 Winston Cup Series races. The track, a NASCAR original, operated from 1949, NASCAR's inception, until the track's original closure in 1996. The speedway briefly reopened in 2010 and hosted several stock car series races before closing again in the spring of 2011. It was re-opened in August 2022 for grassroots racing.

Entry list

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
1 Rick Mast Precision Products Racing Oldsmobile Skoal
2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Pontiac Miller Genuine Draft
3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet GM Goodwrench Service Plus
4 Ernie Irvan Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet Kodak
5 Ricky Rudd Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Tide
6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford Folgers
7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford Hooters
8 Rick Wilson Stavola Brothers Racing Buick Snickers
9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford Coors Light
10 Derrike Cope Whitcomb Racing Chevrolet Purolator Filters
11 Geoff Bodine Junior Johnson & Associates Ford Budweiser
12 Hut Stricklin Bobby Allison Motorsports Buick Raybestos
15 Morgan Shepherd Bud Moore Engineering Ford Motorcraft
17 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet Western Auto
19 Chad Little Little Racing Ford Tyson Foods
20 Bobby Hillin Jr. Moroso Racing Oldsmobile Rob Moroso Memorial
21 Dale Jarrett Wood Brothers Racing Ford Citgo
22 Sterling Marlin* Junior Johnson & Associates Ford Maxwell House
24 Mickey Gibbs Team III Racing Pontiac Team III Racing
25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Kodiak
26 Brett Bodine King Racing Buick Quaker State
28 Davey Allison Robert Yates Racing Ford Texaco, Havoline
30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac Pennzoil
33 Harry Gant Leo Jackson Motorsports Oldsmobile Skoal Bandit
34 Dick Trickle AAG Racing Buick Allen's Glass
41 Larry Pearson Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet Kellogg's Frosted Flakes
42 Kyle Petty SABCO Racing Pontiac Mello Yello
43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac STP
44 Irv Hoerr Labonte Motorsports Oldsmobile High Point Bedding
47 Rich Bickle Close Racing Oldsmobile Kanawha Insurance
51 Jeff Purvis (R) Phoenix Racing Oldsmobile PlastiKote
52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac Alka-Seltzer
55 Ted Musgrave (R) U.S. Racing Pontiac U.S. Racing
66 Lake Speed Cale Yarborough Motorsports Pontiac Phillips 66 TropArtic
68 Bobby Hamilton (R) TriStar Motorsports Oldsmobile Country Time
70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac Rumple Furniture
71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet Big Apple Market
75 Joe Ruttman RahMoc Enterprises Oldsmobile Dinner Bell Foods
76 Bill Sedgwick Spears Motorsports Chevrolet Spears Manufacturing
94 Terry Labonte Hagan Racing Oldsmobile Sunoco
98 Jimmy Spencer Travis Carter Enterprises Chevrolet Banquet Foods

*After sustaining burns in a crash at the 1991 Valleydale Meats 500, Sterling Marlin would be replaced by relief driver Charlie Glotzbach for qualifying.[3] During the race, Marlin would manage to start the race, before being replaced by Glotzbach one lap into the race. As a result of starting the race, Marlin is credited with the finish.[1]

Qualifying

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Qualifying was originally scheduled to be split into two rounds. The first round was scheduled to be held on Friday, April 19, at 3:00 PM EST. However, due to fog, the first round was cancelled, and qualifying was condensed into one round,[4] which was held on Saturday, April 20, at 12:15 AM EST. Each driver would have one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 1–30 would be decided on time,[5] 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 provisionals were given. If needed, a past champion who did not qualify on either time or provisionals could use a champion's provisional, adding one more spot to the field.

Brett Bodine, driving for King Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 19.357 and an average speed of 116.237 miles per hour (187.065 km/h).[6][7]

Eight drivers would fail to qualify.

Full qualifying results

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 26 Brett Bodine King Racing Buick 19.357 116.237
2 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 19.368 116.171
3 42 Kyle Petty SABCO Racing Pontiac 19.403 115.961
4 33 Harry Gant Leo Jackson Motorsports Oldsmobile 19.433 115.782
5 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Pontiac 19.434 115.776
6 21 Dale Jarrett Wood Brothers Racing Ford 19.457 115.640
7 1 Rick Mast Precision Products Racing Oldsmobile 19.485 115.473
8 11 Geoff Bodine Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 19.490 115.444
9 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 19.503 115.367
10 75 Joe Ruttman RahMoc Enterprises Oldsmobile 19.525 115.237
11 5 Ricky Rudd Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 19.529 115.213
12 66 Lake Speed Cale Yarborough Motorsports Pontiac 19.544 115.125
13 17 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet 19.548 115.101
14 98 Jimmy Spencer Travis Carter Enterprises Chevrolet 19.559 115.037
15 12 Hut Stricklin Bobby Allison Motorsports Buick 19.564 115.007
16 34 Dick Trickle AAG Racing Buick 19.566 114.995
17 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 19.581 114.907
18 10 Derrike Cope Whitcomb Racing Chevrolet 19.581 114.907
19 24 Mickey Gibbs Team III Racing Pontiac 19.584 114.890
20 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 19.585 114.884
21 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 19.591 114.849
22 4 Ernie Irvan Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 19.611 114.732
23 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 19.640 114.562
24 8 Rick Wilson Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 19.652 114.492
25 20 Bobby Hillin Jr. Moroso Racing Oldsmobile 19.664 114.422
26 28 Davey Allison Robert Yates Racing Ford 19.690 114.271
27 68 Bobby Hamilton (R) TriStar Motorsports Pontiac 19.695 114.242
28 55 Ted Musgrave (R) U.S. Racing Pontiac 19.707 114.173
29 15 Morgan Shepherd Bud Moore Engineering Ford 19.710 114.155
30 94 Terry Labonte Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 19.716 114.121
Provisionals
31 22 Charlie Glotzbach Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 20.005 112.472
32 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 19.738 113.993
Champion's Provisional
33 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 19.761 113.861
Failed to qualify
34 19 Chad Little Little Racing Ford -* -*
35 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac -* -*
36 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac -* -*
37 47 Rich Bickle Close Racing Oldsmobile -* -*
38 41 Larry Pearson Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet -* -*
39 51 Jeff Purvis (R) Phoenix Racing Oldsmobile -* -*
40 76 Bill Sedgwick Spears Motorsports Chevrolet -* -*
41 44 Irv Hoerr Labonte Motorsports Oldsmobile -* -*
Official starting lineup

Race results

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Fin St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 13 17 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet 400 52 running 180 $53,800
2 17 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 400 19 running 175 $35,225
3 14 98 Jimmy Spencer Travis Carter Enterprises Chevrolet 400 70 running 170 $20,350
4 29 15 Morgan Shepherd Bud Moore Engineering Ford 400 0 running 160 $16,450
5 9 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 400 37 running 160 $14,725
6 26 28 Davey Allison Robert Yates Racing Ford 400 0 running 150 $13,875
7 21 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 400 0 running 146 $9,280
8 32 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 400 0 running 142 $11,800
9 20 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 400 0 running 138 $12,450
10 22 4 Ernie Irvan Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 400 23 running 139 $13,830
11 11 5 Ricky Rudd Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 399 0 running 130 $10,175
12 7 1 Rick Mast Precision Products Racing Oldsmobile 399 0 running 127 $7,575
13 12 66 Lake Speed Cale Yarborough Motorsports Pontiac 399 0 running 124 $7,300
14 15 12 Hut Stricklin Bobby Allison Motorsports Buick 398 0 running 121 $6,950
15 18 10 Derrike Cope Whitcomb Racing Chevrolet 397 0 running 118 $11,500
16 33 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 397 0 running 115 $6,550
17 28 55 Ted Musgrave (R) U.S. Racing Pontiac 397 0 running 112 $5,625
18 3 42 Kyle Petty SABCO Racing Pontiac 396 0 running 109 $9,250
19 23 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 395 0 running 106 $6,200
20 25 20 Bobby Hillin Jr. Moroso Racing Oldsmobile 394 0 running 103 $5,450
21 27 68 Bobby Hamilton (R) TriStar Motorsports Pontiac 392 0 running 100 $3,600
22 31 22 Sterling Marlin Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 388 0 running 97 $3,300
23 4 33 Harry Gant Leo Jackson Motorsports Oldsmobile 388 66 running 99 $7,125
24 10 75 Joe Ruttman RahMoc Enterprises Oldsmobile 378 0 running 91 $5,525
25 6 21 Dale Jarrett Wood Brothers Racing Ford 369 0 crash 88 $5,500
26 16 34 Dick Trickle AAG Racing Buick 369 0 crash 85 $3,100
27 24 8 Rick Wilson Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 339 0 crash 82 $5,200
28 8 11 Geoff Bodine Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 333 0 flagged 79 $10,485
29 2 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 323 0 crash 76 $8,675
30 1 26 Brett Bodine King Racing Buick 218 103 crash 83 $15,300
31 30 94 Terry Labonte Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 207 0 engine 70 $5,000
32 5 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Pontiac 192 30 crash 72 $2,925
33 19 24 Mickey Gibbs Team III Racing Pontiac 110 0 header 64 $2,500
Failed to qualify
34 19 Chad Little Little Racing Ford
35 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac
36 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac
37 47 Rich Bickle Close Racing Oldsmobile
38 41 Larry Pearson Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet
39 51 Jeff Purvis (R) Phoenix Racing Oldsmobile
40 76 Bill Sedgwick Spears Motorsports Chevrolet
41 44 Irv Hoerr Labonte Motorsports Oldsmobile
Official race results

Standings after the race

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References

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  1. ^ a b Higgins, Tom (April 22, 1991). "Trouble brews in ragged North Wilkesboro race". The Charlotte Observer. p. 24. Retrieved February 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  2. ^ Droschak, David (April 22, 1991). "Spencer overcomes penalty, takes third place". The Danville News. p. 10. Retrieved February 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ Higgins, Tom (April 19, 1991). "Glotzbach charges into substitute role". The Charlotte Observer. p. 43. Retrieved February 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  4. ^ Higgins, Tom (April 20, 1991). "Irvan's feet back on ground after dining with president". The Charlotte Observer. p. 37. Retrieved February 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  5. ^ "NASCAR today". The Charlotte Observer. April 19, 1991. p. 35. Retrieved February 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  6. ^ Higgins, Tom (April 21, 1991). "Brett Bodine back in front again at North Wilkesboro (Part 1)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 43. Retrieved February 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  7. ^ Higgins, Tom (April 21, 1991). "Brett Bodine back in front again at North Wilkesboro (Part 2)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 52. Retrieved February 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
Previous race:
1991 Valleydale Meats 500
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1991 season
Next race:
1991 Hanes 500