1986 First Union 400

Seventh race of the 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series

1986 First Union 400 Race details

Race 7 of 29 in the 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series

The 1986 First Union 400 program cover, featuring Neil Bonnett.

Date|  April 20, 1986
Official name|  36th Annual First Union 400
Location|  North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro, North Carolina
Course|  Permanent racing facility
Course length|  0.625 miles (1.006 km)
Distance|  400 laps, 250 mi (402.336 km)
Scheduled distance|  400 laps, 250 mi (402.336 km)
Average speed|  88.408 miles per hour (142.279 km/h)
Attendance|  29,500
Pole position
Driver|

* Geoff Bodine

|  Hendrick Motorsports
Time|  20.014
Most laps led
Driver|  Dale Earnhardt|  Richard Childress Racing
Laps|  195
Winner
No. 3|  Dale Earnhardt|  Richard Childress Racing
Television in the United States
Network|  ESPN
Announcers|  Bob Jenkins, Larry Nuber, Benny Parsons
Radio in the United States
Radio|  Motor Racing Network

Motor car race

The 1986 First Union 400 was the seventh stock car race of the 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 36th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, April 20, 1986, before an audience of 29,500 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.[1]

By race's end, Richard Childress Racing's Dale Earnhardt was able to hold off a late-race charge by Bud Moore Engineering's Ricky Rudd, securing his 17th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his second victory of the season.[2][3] To fill out the top three, Hendrick Motorsports' Geoff Bodine finished third.

The race was the first start for African-American driver Willy T. Ribbs, after previous failed attempts in the 1986 season. With the start, Ribbs became the sixth African-American driver to make a start in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the first African-American driver since George Wiltshire in 1975.[4]

## Background

[edit]

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

[edit]

* (R) denotes rookie driver.

#  | Driver  | Team  | Make  | Sponsor

|
|
|
|

01  | Earle Canavan | Canavan Racing | Pontiac | Gates Hydraulics
3  | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Wrangler
5  | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Levi Garrett
6  | Trevor Boys | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | Finky's
7  | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 7-Eleven
8  | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Chevrolet | Miller American
9  | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | Coors
11  | Darrell Waltrip | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | Budweiser
12  | Neil Bonnett | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | Budweiser
15  | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | Motorcraft Quality Parts
17  | Doug Heveron | Hamby Racing | Chevrolet | Hesco Exhaust Systems
22  | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | Miller American
23  | Michael Waltrip (R) | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | Hawaiian Punch
25  | Tim Richmond | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Folgers
26  | Joe Ruttman | King Racing | Buick | Quaker State
27  | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | Alugard
30  | Willy T. Ribbs | DiGard Motorsports | Pontiac | Red Roof Inn
33  | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | Skoal Bandit
35  | Alan Kulwicki (R) | AK Racing | Ford | Quincy's Steakhouse
43  | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP
44  | Terry Labonte | Hagan Enterprises | Oldsmobile | Piedmont Airlines
48  | Morgan Shepherd | Hylton Motorsports | Chevrolet | Hemmelgarn & Sons
52  | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | Jimmy Means Racing
64  | Rick Baldwin | 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 | Pontiac | Helen Rae Special
75  | Jody Ridley | RahMoc Enterprises | Ford | Nationwise Automotive
81  | Chet Fillip (R) | Fillip Racing | Ford | Circle Bar Truck Corral
85  | Bobby Gerhart | Bobby Gerhart Racing | Chevrolet | Bobby Gerhart Racing
90  | Ken Schrader | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Red Baron Frozen Pizza
94  | Eddie Bierschwale | Eller Racing | Pontiac | Kodak Film
96  | Jerry Bowman | Jerry Bowman Racing | Ford | Jerry Bowman Racing
98  | Ron Bouchard | Curb Racing | Pontiac | Valvoline

## Qualifying

[edit]

Qualifying was done over two rounds of qualifying over two days. The first round was held on Friday, April 18, at 3:00 PM EST, with each driver having one lap to set a time. In the first round, the first eight drivers in the round were guaranteed a starting spot within the top eight; however, their official starting positions were then determined by calculating the averages of their first round time and their second round time, with the second round being held on Saturday, April 19, at 3:00 PM EST, with all drivers having one lap to set a time in the round.[5] Drivers who did not lock into the race in the first round had the option to scrub their time from the first round and try and run a faster lap time, with all non-locked in drivers setting positions 9-30 based on speed. Depending on if teams 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.[6]

Geoff Bodine, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, won the pole, setting an average time of 20.014 and average speed of 112.419 miles per hour (180.921 km/h) in his two runs.[7]

Four drivers failed to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

[edit]

Pos.  | #  | Driver  | Team  | Make  | Time  | Speed

|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | 5  | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20.014 | 112.419
2  | 43  | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 20.040  | 112.273
3  | 25  | Tim Richmond | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20.055  | 112.191
4  | 44  | Terry Labonte | Hagan Enterprises | Oldsmobile | 20.108  | 111.895
5  | 3  | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 20.146  | 111.685
6  | 22  | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 20.156  | 111.627
7  | 26  | Joe Ruttman | King Racing | Buick | 20.224  | 111.251
8  | 12  | Neil Bonnett | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 20.297  | 110.851
Failed to lock in Round 1
9  | 7  | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 20.213  | 111.315
10  | 11  | Darrell Waltrip | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 20.224  | 111.254
11  | 90  | Ken Schrader | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 20.231  | 111.215
12  | 35  | Alan Kulwicki (R) | AK Racing | Ford | 20.249  | 111.117
13  | 9  | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 20.251  | 111.106
14  | 15  | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 20.252  | 111.100
15  | 27  | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 20.266  | 111.023
16  | 33  | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 20.293  | 110.876
17  | 75  | Jody Ridley | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 20.328  | 110.685
18  | 98  | Ron Bouchard | Curb Racing | Pontiac | 20.354  | 110.511
19  | 8  | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 20.371  | 110.451
20  | 17  | Doug Heveron | Hamby Racing | Oldsmobile | 20.384  | 110.381
21  | 71  | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 20.390  | 110.348
22  | 48  | Morgan Shepherd | Hylton Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20.395  | 110.321
23  | 81  | Chet Fillip (R) | Fillip Racing | Ford | 20.446  | 110.046
24  | 23  | Michael Waltrip (R) | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 20.491  | 109.804
25  | 67  | Buddy Arrington | Arrington Racing | Ford | 20.526  | 109.617
26  | 70  | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | 20.567  | 109.399
27  | 6  | Trevor Boys | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | 20.611  | 109.165
28  | 52  | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 20.638  | 109.022
29  | 30  | Willy T. Ribbs | DiGard Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20.639  | 109.017
30  | 64  | Rick Baldwin | Langley Racing | Ford | 20.739  | 108.491
Failed to qualify
31  | 85  | Bobby Gerhart | Bobby Gerhart Racing | Chevrolet | -*  | -*
32  | 94  | Eddie Bierschwale | Eller Racing | Pontiac | -*  | -*
33  | 96  | Jerry Bowman | Jerry Bowman Racing | Ford | -*  | -*
34  | 01  | Earle Canavan | Canavan Racing | Pontiac | -*  | -*
Official first round qualifying results
Official starting lineup

## Race results

[edit]

Fin  | St  | #  | Driver  | Team  | Make  | Laps  | Led  | Status  | Pts  | Winnings

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | 5  | 3  | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 400  | 195  | running  | 185  | $38,550
2  | 14  | 15  | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 400  | 102  | running  | 175  | $20,075
3  | 1  | 5  | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 400  | 90  | running  | 170  | $17,415
4  | 10  | 11  | Darrell Waltrip | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 400  | 0  | running  | 160  | $13,750
5  | 7  | 26  | Joe Ruttman | King Racing | Buick | 400  | 0  | running  | 155  | $4,415
6  | 6  | 22  | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 400  | 0  | running  | 150  | $6,865
7  | 16  | 33  | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 400  | 1  | running  | 151  | $10,360
8  | 9  | 7  | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 400  | 0  | running  | 142  | $7,815
9  | 13  | 9  | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 400  | 0  | running  | 138  | $9,710
10  | 15  | 27  | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 399  | 0  | running  | 134  | $8,410
11  | 8  | 12  | Neil Bonnett | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 399  | 0  | running  | 130  | $8,640
12  | 3  | 25  | Tim Richmond | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 398  | 0  | running  | 127  | $5,185
13  | 19  | 8  | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 398  | 0  | running  | 124  | $4,715
14  | 11  | 90  | Ken Schrader | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 398  | 0  | running  | 121  | $5,450
15  | 17  | 75  | Jody Ridley | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 397  | 0  | running  | 118  | $4,535
16  | 20  | 17  | Doug Heveron | Hamby Racing | Oldsmobile | 395  | 0  | running  | 115  | $4,175
17  | 18  | 98  | Ron Bouchard | Curb Racing | Pontiac | 395  | 0  | running  | 112  | $4,040
18  | 12  | 35  | Alan Kulwicki (R) | AK Racing | Ford | 395  | 0  | running  | 109  | $1,655
19  | 22  | 48  | Morgan Shepherd | Hylton Motorsports | Chevrolet | 394  | 0  | running  | 106  | $3,880
20  | 28  | 52  | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 392  | 0  | running  | 103  | $3,995
21  | 25  | 67  | Buddy Arrington | Arrington Racing | Ford | 390  | 0  | running  | 100  | $3,515
22  | 29  | 30  | Willy T. Ribbs | DiGard Motorsports | Chevrolet | 387  | 0  | running  | 97  | $1,010
23  | 23  | 81  | Chet Fillip (R) | Fillip Racing | Ford | 374  | 0  | running  | 94  | $985
24  | 30  | 64  | Rick Baldwin | Langley Racing | Ford | 354  | 0  | running  | 0  | $3,150
25  | 21  | 71  | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 346  | 0  | accident  | 88  | $3,215
26  | 24  | 23  | Michael Waltrip (R) | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 309  | 0  | engine  | 85  | $910
27  | 4  | 44  | Terry Labonte | Hagan Enterprises | Oldsmobile | 256  | 1  | engine  | 87  | $6,635
28  | 26  | 70  | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | 251  | 0  | accident  | 79  | $3,030
29  | 2  | 43  | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 131  | 11  | engine  | 81  | $7,495
30  | 27  | 6  | Trevor Boys | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | 85  | 0  | accident  | 73  | $2,335
Failed to qualify
31  |  | 85  | Bobby Gerhart | Bobby Gerhart Racing | Chevrolet |
32  | 94  | Eddie Bierschwale | Eller Racing | Pontiac
33  | 96  | Jerry Bowman | Jerry Bowman Racing | Ford
34  | 01  | Earle Canavan | Canavan Racing | Pontiac
Official race results

## Standings after the race

[edit]

Drivers' Championship standings
|  | Pos  | Driver  | Points

|
|
|

| 1  | Darrell Waltrip | 1,160
| 2  | Dale Earnhardt | 1,137 (-23)
| 3  | Rusty Wallace | 1,019 (-141)
1 | 4  | Bill Elliott | 970 (–190)
1 | 5  | Terry Labonte | 948 (–212)
| 6  | Kyle Petty | 927 (–233)
| 7  | Tim Richmond | 900 (–260)
| 8  | Harry Gant | 891 (–269)
2 | 9  | Geoff Bodine | 883 (–277)
| 10  | Bobby Allison | 876 (–284)
Official driver's standings

* Note: Only the first 10 positions are included for the driver standings.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Cooper, Ray (April 21, 1986). "Earnhardt holds off Rudd to win again". News & Record. pp. B4, B6. Retrieved December 25, 2023 - via Newspapers.com.
2. ^ Higgins, Tom (April 21, 1986). "Earnhardt Wins, But Not By Much". The Charlotte Observer. pp. 1D, 3D. Retrieved December 25, 2023 - via Newspapers.com.
3. ^ Mulhurn, Mike (April 21, 1986). "Earnhardt Nips Rudd in Wet First Union 400". Winston-Salem Journal. pp. 21, 25. Retrieved December 25, 2023 - via Newspapers.com.
4. ^ Myrie, Donovan (February 17, 2020). "Meet the influential African-American drivers in NASCAR's Cup Series". WKMG-TV. Retrieved December 25, 2023.
5. ^ Higgins, Tom (April 18, 1986). "Earnhardt–Waltrip Duel Due". The Charlotte Observer. pp. 7B. Retrieved December 25, 2023 - via Newspapers.com.
6. ^ Higgins, Tom (April 19, 1986). "King Richard Eyes 1st Pole In 7 Seasons". The Charlotte Observer. pp. 5C, 11C. Retrieved December 25, 2023 - via Newspapers.com.
7. ^ Higgins, Tom (April 20, 1986). "Bodine Nudges Petty As Ribbs Qualifies". The Charlotte Observer. pp. 1B, 5B. Retrieved December 25, 2023 - via Newspapers.com.

Previous race:
1986 TranSouth 500 | NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1986 season | Next race:
1986 Sovran Bank 500

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