The 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Season was the 38th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 15th modern-era Cup series season. The season began February 16 and ended November 16. Dale Earnhardt of RCR Enterprises won his second championship this year.
Contents
- Busch Clash
- 7 Eleven Twin 125s
- Miller High Life 400
- Goodwrench 500
- Motorcraft 500
- Valleydale 500
- TranSouth 500
- First Union 400
- Sovran Bank 500
- Winston 500
- The Winston
- Budweiser 500
- Coca Cola 600
- Budweiser 400
- Miller High Life 500
- Miller American 400
- Firecracker 400
- Summer 500
- Talladega 500
- The Budweiser At The Glen
- Champion Spark Plug 400
- Busch 500
- Southern 500
- Wrangler Jeans Indigo 400
- Delaware 500
- Goodys 500
- Holly Farms 400
- Oakwood Homes 500
- Nationwise 500
- Atlanta Journal 500
- Winston Western 500
- Final points standings
- Winston Cup Standings
- Rookie of the Year
- References
Busch Clash
The Busch Clash was held on February 9 at Daytona International Speedway. Harry Gant drew for the pole. Only eight drivers ran.
Results
- 3- Dale Earnhardt
- 9- Bill Elliott
- 12- Neil Bonnett
- 5- Geoffrey Bodine
- 44- Terry Labonte
- 27- Rusty Wallace
- 33- Harry Gant
- 11- Darrell Waltrip
7-Eleven Twin 125's
The 7-Eleven Twin 125's, a pair of qualifying races for the Daytona 500, were held February 13 at Daytona International Speedway. Bill Elliott and Geoff Bodine won the poles for both races, respectively.
Race One Top Ten Results
- 9-Bill Elliott
- 22-Bobby Allison
- 44-Terry Labonte
- 7-Kyle Petty
- 1-Sterling Marlin
- 43-Richard Petty
- 12-Neil Bonnett
- 98-Ron Bouchard
- 4-Rick Wilson
- 66-Phil Parsons
Race Two Top Ten Results
- 3-Dale Earnhardt
- 5-Geoff Bodine
- 11-Darrell Waltrip
- 47-Morgan Shepherd
- 27-Rusty Wallace
- 71-Dave Marcis
- 28-Cale Yarborough
- 33-Harry Gant
- 88-Buddy Baker
- 6-Trevor Boys
Miller High Life 400
The Miller High Life 400 was held February 23 at Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway. Geoff Bodine won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 7-Kyle Petty*
- 26-Joe Ruttman
- 3-Dale Earnhardt
- 22-Bobby Allison 1 lap down
- 11-Darrell Waltrip 2 laps down
- 8-Bobby Hillin, Jr. 2 laps down
- 12-Neil Bonnett 2 laps down
- 5-Geoff Bodine 3 laps down
- 71-Dave Marcis 3 laps down
- 27-Rusty Wallace 5 laps down
Goodwrench 500
The Goodwrench 500 was held March 2 at North Carolina Motor Speedway. Terry Labonte won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 44-Terry Labonte
- 33-Harry Gant
- 43-Richard Petty
- 47-Morgan Shepherd 1 lap down
- 11-Darrell Waltrip 1 lap down
- 28-Cale Yarborough 2 laps down
- 9-Bill Elliott 2 laps down
- 3-Dale Earnhardt 2 laps down
- 12-Neil Bonnett 2 laps down
- 75-Lake Speed 3 laps down
Motorcraft 500
The Motorcraft 500 was held March 16 at Atlanta International Raceway. Dale Earnhardt won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 47-Morgan Shepherd
- 3-Dale Earnhardt
- 44-Terry Labonte
- 11-Darrell Waltrip
- 9-Bill Elliott
- 55-Benny Parsons
- 25-Tim Richmond
- 27-Rusty Wallace 1 lap down
- 22-Bobby Allison 1 lap down
- 5-Geoff Bodine 1 lap down
Valleydale 500
The Valleydale 500 was held April 6 at Bristol International Raceway. the No. 5 of Geoff Bodine won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 27-Rusty Wallace*
- 15-Ricky Rudd
- 17-Darrell Waltrip
- 33-Harry Gant 1 lap down
- 9-Bill Elliott 1 lap down
- 22-Bobby Allison 1 lap down
- 44-Terry Labonte 2 laps down
- 25-Tim Richmond 2 laps down
- 7-Kyle Petty 3 laps down
- 3-Dale Earnhardt 3 laps down
TranSouth 500
The TranSouth 500 was held April 13 at Darlington Raceway. the No. 5 of Geoff Bodine won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 3-Dale Earnhardt
- 11-Darrell Waltrip
- 22-Bobby Allison 1 lap down
- 12-Neil Bonnett 1 lap down
- 25-Tim Richmond 3 laps down
- 27-Rusty Wallace 3 laps down
- 43-Richard Petty 3 laps down
- 9-Bill Elliott 5 laps down
- 7-Kyle Petty 6 laps down
- 90-Ken Schrader 11 laps down
First Union 400
The First Union 400 was held April 20 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Geoff Bodine won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 3-Dale Earnhardt
- 15-Ricky Rudd
- 5-Geoff Bodine
- 11-Darrell Waltrip
- 26-Joe Ruttman
- 22-Bobby Allison
- 33-Harry Gant
- 7-Kyle Petty
- 9-Bill Elliott
- 27-Rusty Wallace 1 lap down
Sovran Bank 500
The Sovran Bank 500 was held April 27 at Martinsville Speedway. the No. 25 of Tim Richmond won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 15-Ricky Rudd*
- 26-Joe Ruttman 1 lap down
- 44-Terry Labonte 4 laps down
- 35-Alan Kulwicki 4 laps down
- 7-Kyle Petty 4 laps down
- 8-Bobby Hillin, Jr. 5 laps down
- 90-Ken Schrader 7 laps down
- 22-Bobby Allison 8 laps down
- 79-Derrike Cope 11 laps down
- 75-Jody Ridley 13 laps down
Winston 500
The Winston 500 was held May 4 at Alabama International Motor Speedway. the No. 9 of Bill Elliott won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 22-Bobby Allison
- 3-Dale Earnhardt
- 88-Buddy Baker
- 8-Bobby Hillin, Jr.
- 55-Phil Parsons
- 47-Morgan Shepherd
- 43-Richard Petty
- 4-Rick Wilson
- 98-Ron Bouchard
- 10-Greg Sacks
Failed to Qualify: 35-Alan Kulwicki, 60-Dick Skillen, 70-J. D. McDuffie, 77-Ken Ragan, 95-Davey Allison, 02-Mark Martin, Steve Moore
The Winston
The second edition of The Winston, an all-start event for previous NASCAR winners, was held at Atlanta International Raceway on May 11.
This was the only time the race was run at Atlanta, and featured a 200-kilometer (83 lap) format, with a mandatory green flag pit stop. Because there were only nine race winners, the highest placed non-winner from the 1985 point standings was also invited.
Top Ten Results
- 9-Bill Elliott
- 3-Dale Earnhardt
- 33-Harry Gant
- 11-Darrell Waltrip
- 28-Cale Yarborough
- 12-Neil Bonnett
- 5-Geoffrey Bodine
- 15-Ricky Rudd
- 44-Terry Labonte
- 10-Greg Sacks
A non-winner's race, the Atlanta Invitational, was added, and was Benny Parsons' last NASCAR-sanctioned win in his career when he won the 100-lap, 152.2 mile race.
While only 18,500 attended the event, and only 23 cars featured (10 in The Winston, 13 in the Atlanta Invitational), the all-star weekend format of having a non-winners race and a winners race would be a permanent part of the weekend afterwards, although NASCAR made the non-winner's race the next year and afterwards a "last chance" race to make the winner's race.
Budweiser 500
The Budweiser 500 was held May 18 at Dover International Speedway. Ricky Rudd won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 5-Geoff Bodine
- 22-Bobby Allison
- 3-Dale Earnhardt 1 lap down
- 15-Ricky Rudd 2 laps down
- 11-Darrell Waltrip 2 laps down
- 43-Richard Petty 6 laps down
- 9-Bill Elliott 7 laps down
- 8-Bobby Hillin, Jr. 7 laps down
- 18-Tommy Ellis 7 laps down
- 90-Ken Schrader 7 laps down
Coca-Cola 600
The Coca-Cola 600 was held May 25 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. the No. 5 of Geoff Bodine won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 3-Dale Earnhardt
- 25-Tim Richmond
- 28-Cale Yarborough
- 33-Harry Gant
- 11-Darrell Waltrip
- 9-Bill Elliott
- 1-Sterling Marlin 1 lap down
- 15-Ricky Rudd 1 lap down
- 47-Morgan Shepherd 1 lap down
- 27-Rusty Wallace 2 laps down
Budweiser 400
The Budweiser 400 was held June 1 at Riverside International Raceway. Darrell Waltrip won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 11-Darrell Waltrip
- 25-Tim Richmond
- 15-Ricky Rudd
- 27-Rusty Wallace
- 3-Dale Earnhardt
- 43-Richard Petty
- 22-Bobby Allison
- 12-Neil Bonnett
- 33-Harry Gant
- 18-Glen Steurer 1 lap down
Miller High Life 500
The Miller High Life 500 was held June 8 at Pocono International Raceway. Geoff Bodine won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 25-Tim Richmond
- 3-Dale Earnhardt
- 28-Cale Yarborough
- 15-Ricky Rudd
- 9-Bill Elliott
- 27-Rusty Wallace
- 26-Joe Ruttman
- 7-Kyle Petty
- 5-Geoff Bodine
- 8-Bobby Hillin, Jr. 1 lap down
Miller American 400
The Miller American 400 was held June 15 at Michigan International Speedway. Tim Richmond won the pole.
During qualifying, 31-year-old ARCA driver Rick Baldwin, in the Buddy Arrington No. 67 Ford Thunderbird, suffered a severe crash in qualifying that resulted in the car hitting the wall flush with the driver's side, knocking him unconscious into a coma from the massive head injuries, from which he would succumb eleven years later.
Top Ten Results
- 9-Bill Elliott
- 33-Harry Gant
- 5-Geoff Bodine
- 88-Buddy Baker
- 11-Darrell Waltrip
- 3-Dale Earnhardt
- 8-Bobby Hillin, Jr.
- 4-Rick Wilson
- 26-Joe Ruttman
- 15-Ricky Rudd
Firecracker 400
The Firecracker 400 was held July 4 at Daytona International Speedway. Cale Yarborough won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 25-Tim Richmond
- 1-Sterling Marlin
- 8-Bobby Hillin, Jr.
- 11-Darrell Waltrip
- 7-Kyle Petty
- 15-Ricky Rudd
- 26-Joe Ruttman
- 2-Rusty Wallace
- 66-Phil Parsons
- 35-Alan Kulwicki
Summer 500
The Summer 500 was held July 20 at Pocono International Raceway. Harry Gant won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 25-Tim Richmond
- 15-Ricky Rudd
- 5-Geoff Bodine
- 11-Darrell Waltrip
- 22-Bobby Allison
- 44-Terry Labonte
- 3-Dale Earnhardt
- 7-Kyle Petty 1 lap down
- 18-Tommy Ellis 2 laps down
- 4-Rick Wilson 2 laps down
Talladega 500
The Talladega 500 was held July 27 at Alabama International Motor Speedway. the No. 9 of Bill Elliott won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 8-Bobby Hillin, Jr.*
- 25-Tim Richmond
- 15-Ricky Rudd*
- 1-Sterling Marlin
- 55-Benny Parsons
- 47-Morgan Shepherd
- 12-Davey Allison*
- 26-Joe Ruttman
- 7-Kyle Petty
- 22-Bobby Allison 1 lap down
The Budweiser At The Glen
The Budweiser At The Glen was held August 10 at Watkins Glen International. Tim Richmond won the pole. It was the first time a NASCAR race had been run at the track since 1965.
Top Ten Results
- 25-Tim Richmond
- 11-Darrell Waltrip
- 3-Dale Earnhardt
- 9-Bill Elliott
- 12-Neil Bonnett
- 27-Rusty Wallace
- 15-Ricky Rudd
- 55-Benny Parsons
- 7-Kyle Petty
- 43-Richard Petty
Failed to Qualify: 30-Willy T. Ribbs
Champion Spark Plug 400
The Champion Spark Plug 400 was held August 17 at Michigan International Speedway. the No. 55 of Benny Parsons won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 9-Bill Elliott
- 25-Tim Richmond
- 11-Darrell Waltrip
- 5-Geoff Bodine
- 3-Dale Earnhardt 1 lap down
- 27-Rusty Wallace 1 lap down
- 28-Cale Yarborough 1 lap down
- 33-Harry Gant 1 lap down
- 66-Phil Parsons 1 lap down
- 21-David Pearson* 1 lap down
Busch 500
The Busch 500 was held August 23 at Bristol International Raceway. Geoff Bodine won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 11-Darrell Waltrip
- 44-Terry Labonte
- 5-Geoffrey Bodine 1 lap down
- 3-Dale Earnhardt 1 lap down
- 33-Harry Gant 1 lap down
- 25-Tim Richmond 2 laps down
- 43-Richard Petty 3 laps down
- 22-Bobby Allison 4 laps down
- 8-Bobby Hillin, Jr. 5 laps down
- 35-Alan Kulwicki 6 laps down
Southern 500
The Southern 500 was held August 31 at Darlington Raceway. Tim Richmond won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 25-Tim Richmond
- 22-Bobby Allison
- 9-Bill Elliott
- 47-Morgan Shepherd
- 11-Darrell Waltrip
- 15-Ricky Rudd
- 8-Bobby Hillin, Jr.
- 5-Geoffrey Bodine
- 3-Dale Earnhardt 1 lap down
- 28-Cale Yarborough 1 lap down
Wrangler Jeans Indigo 400
The Wrangler Jeans Indigo 400 was held September 7 at Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway. Harry Gant won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 25-Tim Richmond
- 3-Dale Earnhardt
- 75-Morgan Shepherd*
- 43-Richard Petty
- 12-Neil Bonnett
- 26-Joe Ruttman
- 33-Harry Gant
- 22-Bobby Allison
- 9-Bill Elliott 1 lap down
- 8-Bobby Hillin, Jr. 3 laps down
Delaware 500
The Delaware 500 was held September 14 at Dover Downs International Speedway. the No. 5 of Geoff Bodine won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 15-Ricky Rudd
- 12-Neil Bonnett
- 7-Kyle Petty
- 88-Buddy Baker 1 lap down
- 71-Dave Marcis 2 laps down
- 26-Joe Ruttman 2 laps down
- 35-Alan Kulwicki 3 laps down
- 18-Tommy Ellis 4 laps down
- 8-Bobby Hillin, Jr. 5 laps down
- 75-Morgan Shepherd 7 laps down
Goody's 500
The Goody's 500 was held September 21 at Martinsville Speedway. Geoff Bodine won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 27-Rusty Wallace
- 5-Geoff Bodine
- 33-Harry Gant
- 11-Darrell Waltrip 1 lap down
- 26-Joe Ruttman 1 lap down
- 7-Kyle Petty 1 lap down
- 90-Ken Schrader 2 laps down
- 12-Neil Bonnett 3 laps down
- 71-Dave Marcis 3 laps down
- 25-Tim Richmond 4 laps down
Holly Farms 400
The Holly Farms 400 was held September 28 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. the No. 25 of Tim Richmond won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 11-Darrell Waltrip
- 5-Geoff Bodine
- 43-Richard Petty
- 27-Rusty Wallace
- 33-Harry Gant
- 26-Joe Ruttman 1 lap down
- 15-Ricky Rudd 1 lap down
- 71-Dave Marcis 1 lap down
- 3-Dale Earnhardt 2 laps down
- 44-Terry Labonte 2 laps down
Oakwood Homes 500
The Oakwood Homes 500 was held October 5 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. the No. 25 of Tim Richmond won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 3-Dale Earnhardt
- 33-Harry Gant
- 12-Neil Bonnett 1 lap down
- 15-Ricky Rudd 1 lap down
- 88-Buddy Baker 1 lap down
- 5-Geoff Bodine 1 lap down
- 9-Bill Elliott 1 lap down
- 27-Rusty Wallace 2 laps down
- 11-Darrell Waltrip 2 laps down
- 66-Phil Parsons 3 laps down
Nationwise 500
The Nationwise 500 was held October 19 at North Carolina Motor Speedway. the No. 25 of Tim Richmond won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 12-Neil Bonnett
- 15-Ricky Rudd
- 11-Darrell Waltrip
- 33-Harry Gant
- 88-Buddy Baker
- 3-Dale Earnhardt 1 lap down
- 9-Bill Elliott 1 lap down
- 43-Richard Petty 1 lap down
- 26-Joe Ruttman 2 laps down
- 7-Kyle Petty 3 laps down
Atlanta Journal 500
The Atlanta Journal 500 was held November 2 at Atlanta International Raceway. Bill Elliott won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 3-Dale Earnhardt*
- 43-Richard Petty 1 lap down
- 9-Bill Elliott 1 lap down
- 25-Tim Richmond 1 lap down
- 88-Buddy Baker 1 lap down
- 12-Neil Bonnett 1 lap down
- 7-Kyle Petty 2 laps down
- 44-Terry Labonte 2 laps down
- 26-Joe Ruttman 2 laps down
- 66-Phil Parsons 2 laps down
Winston Western 500
The Winston Western 500 was held November 16 at Riverside International Raceway. Tim Richmond won the pole.
Top Ten Results
- 25-Tim Richmond
- 3-Dale Earnhardt
- 5-Geoff Bodine
- 11-Darrell Waltrip
- 26-Joe Ruttman
- 8-Bobby Hillin, Jr.
- 22-Bobby Allison
- 27-Rusty Wallace
- 12-Neil Bonnett 1 lap down
- 44-Terry Labonte 1 lap down
Final points standings
- Dale Earnhardt – 4468
- Darrell Waltrip – 4180
- Tim Richmond – 4174
- Bill Elliott – 3844
- Ricky Rudd – 3823
- Rusty Wallace – 3762
- Bobby Allison – 3698
- Geoff Bodine – 3678
- Bobby Hillin, Jr. – 3546
- Kyle Petty – 3537
- Harry Gant – 3498
- Terry Labonte – 3473
- Neil Bonnett – 3369
- Richard Petty – 3314
- Joe Ruttman – 3295
- Ken Schrader – 3052
- Dave Marcis – 2912
- Morgan Shepherd – 2896
- Michael Waltrip – 2853
- Buddy Arrington – 2776
- Alan Kulwicki – 2705
- Jimmy Means – 2495
- Tommy Ellis – 2393
- Buddy Baker – 1924
- Eddie Bierschwale – 1860
- J. D. McDuffie – 1825
- Phil Parsons – 1742
- Rick Wilson – 1698
- Cale Yarborough – 1642
- Benny Parsons – 1555
- Ron Bouchard – 1553
- Chet Fillip – 1433
- Jody Ridley – 1213
- Trevor Boys – 1064
- Doug Heveron – 1052
- Sterling Marlin – 989
- D.K. Ulrich – 804
- Pancho Carter – 706
- Ken Ragan – 627
- Lake Speed – 608
- Greg Sacks – 579
- Ronnie Thomas – 504
- Bobby Wawak – 480
- Rodney Combs – 421
- Derrike Cope – 400
- James Hylton – 386
- Davey Allison – 364
- Mark Martin – 364
- Jim Sauter – 361
- A. J. Foyt – 355
Winston Cup Standings
(key) Bold – Pole position awarded by time. Italics – Pole position set by final practice results or 1985 Owner's points. * – Most laps led.
Rookie of the Year
Alan Kulwicki, driving for a team that had only one car, won the Rookie of the Year award in 1986, finishing in the top-ten four times. Of the rest of the candidates, only runner-up Michael Waltrip ran a complete schedule.