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1988 TranSouth 500

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1988 TranSouth 500
Race details
Race 5 of 29 in the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1988 TranSouth 500 program cover, featuring Dale Earnhardt.
The 1988 TranSouth 500 program cover, featuring Dale Earnhardt.
Date March 27, 1988
Official name 32nd Annual TranSouth 500
Location Darlington, South Carolina, Darlington Raceway
Course Permanent racing facility
1.366 mi (2.198 km)
Distance 367 laps, 501.322 mi (806.799 km)
Scheduled Distance 367 laps, 501.322 mi (806.799 km)
Average speed 131.284 miles per hour (211.281 km/h)
Attendance 58,000
Pole position
Driver Hendrick Motorsports
Time 30.233
Most laps led
Driver Lake Speed Speed Racing
Laps 178
Winner
No. 83 Lake Speed Speed Racing
Television in the United States
Network ESPN
Announcers Bob Jenkins, Ned Jarrett, Gary Nelson
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

The 1988 TranSouth 500 was the fifth stock car race of the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 32nd iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, March 27, 1988, before an audience of 58,000 in Darlington, South Carolina, at Darlington Raceway, a 1.366 miles (2.198 km) permanent egg-shaped oval racetrack. The race took the scheduled 367 laps to complete. In the late stages of the race, Lake Speed, driving for his owner-driver operation Speed Racing, would dominate the late stages of the race with Hoosier tires to score his first and only career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his only victory of the season.[1] To fill out the podium, AK Racing driver Alan Kulwicki and Ranier-Lundy Racing driver Davey Allison would finish second and third, respectively.

Background

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The layout of Darlington Raceway, the venue where the race was held.

Darlington Raceway is a race track built for NASCAR racing located near Darlington, South Carolina. It is nicknamed "The Lady in Black" and "The Track Too Tough to Tame" by many NASCAR fans and drivers and advertised as "A NASCAR Tradition." It is of a unique, somewhat egg-shaped design, an oval with the ends of very different configurations, a condition which supposedly arose from the proximity of one end of the track to a minnow pond the owner refused to relocate. This situation makes it very challenging for the crews to set up their cars' handling in a way that is effective at both ends.

Entry list

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
2 Ernie Irvan (R) U.S. Racing Chevrolet Kroger, Pepsi
3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet GM Goodwrench Service
4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile Kodak
5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Levi Garrett
6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford Stroh Light
7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford Zerex
8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick Miller High Life
9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford Coors Light
10 Ken Bouchard (R) Whitcomb Racing Ford Whitcomb Racing
11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet Budweiser
12 Bobby Allison Stavola Brothers Racing Buick Miller High Life
15 Brett Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford Crisco
17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Tide
21 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford Citgo
22 Steve Moore Hamby Motorsports Chevrolet Banks Oil
23 Eddie Bierschwale B&B Racing Oldsmobile Wayne Paging
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 Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford Havoline
29 Dale Jarrett Cale Yarborough Motorsports Oldsmobile Hardee's
30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac Country Time
31 Brad Teague Bob Clark Motorsports Oldsmobile Slender You Figure Salons
33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet Skoal
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
47 Morgan Shepherd Shepherd Racing Ventures Buick Shepherd Racing Ventures
50 Greg Sacks Dingman Brothers Racing Pontiac Dingman Brothers Racing
52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac Eureka
55 Phil Parsons Jackson Brothers Motorsports Oldsmobile Crown, Skoal Classic
67 Buddy Arrington Arrington Racing Ford Pannill Sweatshirts
68 Derrike Cope Testa Racing Ford Purolator Filters
71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet Lifebuoy
75 Neil Bonnett RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac Valvoline
80 Jimmy Horton (R) S&H Racing Ford S&H Racing
83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile Wynn's, Kmart
88 Buddy Baker Baker-Schiff Racing Oldsmobile Red Baron Frozen Pizza
90 Benny Parsons Donlavey Racing Ford Bull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce
97 Rodney Combs Winkle Motorsports Buick AC Spark Plug
98 Brad Noffsinger (R) Curb Racing Buick Sunoco Ultra

Qualifying

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Qualifying was split into two rounds. Pole qualifying for the race was held on Thursday, March 24, 1988. Per the NASCAR rules in 1988, a one-lap qualifying attempt was utilized. The top twenty cars in pole qualifying were locked into the starting field. The remainder of the cars could stand on their time, or make a new attempt in second-round qualifying. If a driver did decide to make an attempt, their first-round times would be scrubbed. Second-round qualifying was held Friday, March 25, 1988. The drivers that had qualified 1st–20th on Thursday were locked-in to those positions and did not have to re-qualify.[2]

Ken Schrader, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would win the pole, setting a time of 30.233 and an average speed of 162.657 miles per hour (261.771 km/h).[3]

No drivers would fail to qualify.

Full qualifying results

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 30.233 162.657
2 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 30.587 160.774
3 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 30.710 160.130
4 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 30.718 160.089
5 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 30.758 159.880
6 15 Brett Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford 30.814 159.590
7 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 30.818 159.569
8 83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile 30.946 158.909
9 28 Davey Allison Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford 30.954 158.868
10 26 Ricky Rudd King Racing Buick 31.000 158.632
11 11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 31.083 158.209
12 33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 31.093 158.158
13 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 31.168 157.777
14 47 Morgan Shepherd Shepherd Racing Ventures Buick 31.184 157.696
15 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 31.202 157.605
16 44 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 31.205 157.590
17 21 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 31.214 157.545
18 12 Bobby Allison Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 31.232 157.454
19 55 Phil Parsons Jackson Brothers Motorsports Oldsmobile 31.317 157.027
20 31 Brad Teague Bob Clark Motorsports Oldsmobile 31.330 156.961
Failed to lock in Round 1
21 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 30.945 158.914
22 10 Ken Bouchard (R) Whitcomb Racing Ford 31.209 157.570
23 88 Buddy Baker Baker-Schiff Racing Oldsmobile 31.333 156.946
24 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 31.342 156.901
25 23 Eddie Bierschwale B&B Racing Oldsmobile 31.363 156.796
26 75 Neil Bonnett RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 31.407 156.577
27 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 31.464 156.293
28 90 Benny Parsons Donlavey Racing Ford 31.470 156.263
29 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 31.480 156.213
30 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 31.492 156.154
31 2 Ernie Irvan (R) U.S. Racing Chevrolet 31.500 156.114
32 29 Dale Jarrett Cale Yarborough Motorsports Oldsmobile 31.564 155.798
33 97 Rodney Combs Winkle Motorsports Buick 31.571 155.763
34 68 Derrike Cope Testa Racing Ford 31.605 155.596
35 80 Jimmy Horton (R) S&H Racing Ford 31.673 155.262
36 50 Greg Sacks Dingman Brothers Racing Pontiac 31.816 154.564
37 22 Steve Moore Hamby Motorsports Chevrolet 32.156 152.929
38 36 H. B. Bailey Bailey Racing Pontiac 32.217 152.640
39 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 32.238 152.540
40 98 Brad Noffsinger (R) Curb Racing Buick 32.303 152.234
41 67 Buddy Arrington Arrington Racing Ford 32.587 150.907
Official qualifying results

Race results

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Fin[4] St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 8 83 Lake Speed Speed Racing Oldsmobile 367 178 running 185 $49,435
2 3 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 367 1 running 175 $30,905
3 9 28 Davey Allison Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford 367 42 running 170 $26,095
4 15 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 366 1 running 165 $19,260
5 16 44 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 366 5 running 160 $14,800
6 21 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 365 59 running 155 $7,025
7 4 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 365 61 running 151 $10,490
8 19 55 Phil Parsons Jackson Brothers Motorsports Oldsmobile 365 0 running 142 $9,135
9 18 12 Bobby Allison Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 365 0 running 138 $11,505
10 23 88 Buddy Baker Baker-Schiff Racing Oldsmobile 365 3 running 139 $9,630
11 2 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 363 0 running 130 $14,825
12 32 29 Dale Jarrett Cale Yarborough Motorsports Oldsmobile 362 0 running 127 $3,520
13 22 10 Ken Bouchard (R) Whitcomb Racing Ford 360 0 running 124 $4,640
14 25 23 Eddie Bierschwale B&B Racing Oldsmobile 360 0 running 121 $3,160
15 6 15 Brett Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford 353 0 running 118 $11,990
16 38 36 H. B. Bailey Bailey Racing Pontiac 352 0 running 115 $2,795
17 29 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 351 0 running 112 $6,585
18 35 80 Jimmy Horton (R) S&H Racing Ford 344 0 running 109 $3,025
19 26 75 Neil Bonnett RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 339 0 running 106 $9,465
20 20 31 Brad Teague Bob Clark Motorsports Oldsmobile 330 0 ignition 103 $2,905
21 27 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 324 0 running 100 $6,070
22 31 2 Ernie Irvan (R) U.S. Racing Chevrolet 300 0 running 97 $3,785
23 11 11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 276 0 running 94 $9,100
24 13 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 268 1 running 96 $9,015
25 5 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 265 2 engine 93 $11,585
26 34 68 Derrike Cope Testa Racing Ford 263 0 engine 85 $5,180
27 7 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 230 0 distributor 82 $2,925
28 41 67 Buddy Arrington Arrington Racing Ford 227 0 crash 79 $4,780
29 1 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 225 14 running 81 $10,815
30 10 26 Ricky Rudd King Racing Buick 208 0 engine 73 $4,635
31 36 50 Greg Sacks Dingman Brothers Racing Pontiac 185 0 engine 70 $1,645
32 33 97 Rodney Combs Winkle Motorsports Buick 135 0 engine $2,455
33 37 22 Steve Moore Hamby Motorsports Chevrolet 118 0 engine 64 $2,315
34 28 90 Benny Parsons Donlavey Racing Ford 108 0 engine 61 $4,230
35 39 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 103 0 engine 58 $4,175
36 40 98 Brad Noffsinger (R) Curb Racing Buick 64 0 engine $1,470
37 24 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 45 0 engine 52 $4,090
38 12 33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 45 0 engine 49 $4,050
39 14 47 Morgan Shepherd Shepherd Racing Ventures Buick 19 0 crash 46 $1,410
40 17 21 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 5 0 engine 43 $8,360
41 30 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 4 0 crash 40 $3,960
Official race results

Standings after the race

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References

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  1. ^ "Speed finds magic, wins TranSouth 500". Wisconsin State Journal. March 28, 1988. p. 16. Retrieved September 15, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  2. ^ "NASCAR Today". The Charlotte Observer. March 24, 1988. p. 34. Retrieved September 15, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ Pearson, Harold (March 27, 1988). "Schrader has car, game plan to win at Darlington". The Times Dispatch. p. 13. Retrieved September 15, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  4. ^ "1988 TranSouth 500 - The Third Turn". The Third Turn. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
Previous race:
1988 Motorcraft Quality Parts 500
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1988 season
Next race:
1988 Valleydale Meats 500