# 1988 Delaware 500

The 1988 Delaware 500 was the 23rd stock car race of the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 18th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, September 18, 1988, before an audience of 56,500 in Dover, Delaware at Dover Downs International Speedway, a 1-mile (1.6 km) permanent oval-shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 500 laps to complete. At race's end, Melling Racing's Bill Elliott managed to dominate a majority of the race, leading 392 laps to take his 29th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his sixth and final victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Richard Childress Racing's Dale Earnhardt and Blue Max Racing's Rusty Wallace would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

Dover Downs International Speedway is an oval race track in Dover, Delaware, United States that has held at least two NASCAR races since it opened in 1969. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosted USAC and the NTT IndyCar Series. The track features one layout, a 1-mile (1.6 km) concrete oval, with 24° banking in the turns and 9° banking on the straights. The speedway is owned and operated by Dover Motorsports.
The track, nicknamed "The Monster Mile", was built in 1969 by Melvin Joseph of Melvin L. Joseph Construction Company, Inc., with an asphalt surface, but was replaced with concrete in 1995. Six years later in 2001, the track's capacity moved to 135,000 seats, making the track have the largest capacity of sports venue in the mid-Atlantic. In 2002, the name changed to Dover International Speedway from Dover Downs International Speedway after Dover Downs Gaming and Entertainment split, making Dover Motorsports. From 2007 to 2009, the speedway worked on an improvement project called "The Monster Makeover", which expanded facilities at the track and beautified the track. After the 2014 season, the track's capacity was reduced to 95,500 seats.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 2 | Ernie Irvan (R) | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | Kroger |
| 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 | Mike Alexander | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | Miller High Life |
| 15 | Brett Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | Crisco |
| 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Tide |
| 19 | Chad Little | Little Racing | Ford | Coors Extra Gold |
| 21 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Citgo |
| 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 | Jim Sauter | Bob Clark Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Slender You Figure Salons |
| 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | Skoal Bandit |
| 40 | Ben Hess | Hess Racing | Oldsmobile | Hess Racing |
| 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | Piedmont Airlines |
| 48 | James Hylton | Hylton Motorsports | Buick | Hylton Motorsports |
| 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | Eureka |
| 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Crown Central Petroleum, Skoal Classic |
| 67 | Brad Teague | Arrington Racing | Ford | Pannill Sweatshirts |
| 68 | Derrike Cope | Testa Racing | Ford | Purolator Filters |
| 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | Rumple Furniture |
| 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Lifebuoy |
| 74 | Randy LaJoie | Wawak Racing | Chevrolet | Wawak Racing |
| 75 | Neil Bonnett | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | Valvoline |
| 76 | Graham Taylor | Betty Taylor Racing | Ford | Betty Taylor Racing |
| 80 | Jimmy Horton (R) | S&H Racing | Ford | S&H Racing |
| 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | Wynn's, Kmart |
| 85 | Bobby Gerhart | Bobby Gerhart Racing | Chevrolet | James Chevrolet |
| 86 | Rick Jeffrey | Jeffrey Racing | Chevrolet | Slenderizers |
| 88 | Morgan Shepherd | Baker-Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | Red Baron Frozen Pizza |
| 90 | Benny Parsons | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Bull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce |
| 96 | Dana Patten | Patten Racing | Buick | U.S. Chrome |
| 97 | Rodney Combs | Winkle Motorsports | Buick | AC Spark Plug |
| 98 | Brad Noffsinger (R) | Curb Racing | Buick | Sunoco |

## Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, September 16, at 3:00 PM EST. Each driver would have one lap to set a time. During the first round, the top 20 drivers in the round would be 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, September 17, at 11:30 AM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 21-40 would be decided on time, 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.
Mark Martin, driving for Roush Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 24.312 and an average speed of 148.075 miles per hour (238.304 km/h) in the first round.
Six drivers would fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 24.312 | 148.075 |
| 2 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 24.366 | 147.747 |
| 3 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 24.514 | 146.855 |
| 4 | 15 | Brett Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 24.551 | 146.634 |
| 5 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 24.567 | 146.538 |
| 6 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 24.688 | 145.820 |
| 7 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 24.696 | 145.773 |
| 8 | 88 | Morgan Shepherd | Baker–Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | 24.742 | 145.502 |
| 9 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 24.766 | 145.361 |
| 10 | 28 | Davey Allison | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Ford | 24.788 | 145.232 |
| 11 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 24.829 | 144.992 |
| 12 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 24.899 | 144.584 |
| 13 | 21 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 24.917 | 144.480 |
| 14 | 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | 24.927 | 144.422 |
| 15 | 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 24.930 | 144.404 |
| 16 | 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 24.948 | 144.300 |
| 17 | 29 | Dale Jarrett | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 24.969 | 144.179 |
| 18 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 24.988 | 144.069 |
| 19 | 26 | Ricky Rudd | King Racing | Buick | 25.003 | 143.983 |
| 20 | 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 25.016 | 143.908 |
| Failed to lock in Round 1 |||||||
| 21 | 12 | Mike Alexander | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 24.708 | 145.702 |
| 22 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 24.869 | 144.759 |
| 23 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 24.882 | 144.683 |
| 24 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 25.042 | 143.758 |
| 25 | 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 25.055 | 143.684 |
| 26 | 23 | Eddie Bierschwale | B&B Racing | Oldsmobile | 25.059 | 143.661 |
| 27 | 90 | Benny Parsons | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 25.089 | 143.489 |
| 28 | 75 | Neil Bonnett | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 25.101 | 143.421 |
| 29 | 74 | Randy LaJoie | Wawak Racing | Chevrolet | 25.101 | 143.421 |
| 30 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 25.132 | 143.244 |
| 31 | 97 | Rodney Combs | Winkle Motorsports | Buick | 25.139 | 143.204 |
| 32 | 68 | Derrike Cope | Testa Racing | Ford | 25.193 | 142.897 |
| 33 | 10 | Ken Bouchard (R) | Whitcomb Racing | Ford | 25.214 | 142.778 |
| 34 | 31 | Jim Sauter | Bob Clark Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 25.220 | 142.744 |
| 35 | 2 | Ernie Irvan (R) | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | 25.234 | 142.665 |
| 36 | 67 | Brad Teague | Arrington Racing | Ford | 25.271 | 142.456 |
| 37 | 98 | Brad Noffsinger (R) | Curb Racing | Buick | 25.279 | 142.411 |
| 38 | 96 | Dana Patten | Patten Racing | Buick | 25.283 | 142.388 |
| 39 | 19 | Chad Little | Little Racing | Ford | 25.919 | 138.894 |
| 40 | 80 | Jimmy Horton (R) | S&H Racing | Ford | 26.170 | 137.562 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 41 | 40 | Ben Hess | Hess Racing | Oldsmobile | -* | -* |
| 42 | 86 | Rick Jeffrey | Jeffrey Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 43 | 85 | Bobby Gerhart | Bobby Gerhart Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 44 | 76 | Graham Taylor | Betty Taylor Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 45 | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | - | - |
| 46 | 48 | James Hylton | Hylton Motorsports | Buick | - | - |
| Official first round qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 3 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 500 | 392 | running | 185 | $56,400 |
| 2 | 12 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 500 | 50 | running | 175 | $37,450 |
| 3 | 5 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 500 | 0 | running | 165 | $26,200 |
| 4 | 10 | 28 | Davey Allison | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Ford | 500 | 0 | running | 160 | $21,600 |
| 5 | 6 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 4 | running | 160 | $16,250 |
| 6 | 13 | 21 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 499 | 0 | running | 150 | $14,700 |
| 7 | 21 | 12 | Mike Alexander | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 499 | 0 | running | 146 | $13,375 |
| 8 | 28 | 75 | Neil Bonnett | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 499 | 0 | running | 142 | $12,325 |
| 9 | 14 | 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | 498 | 0 | running | 138 | $7,375 |
| 10 | 19 | 26 | Ricky Rudd | King Racing | Buick | 497 | 0 | running | 134 | $10,650 |
| 11 | 23 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 497 | 0 | running | 130 | $7,825 |
| 12 | 11 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 497 | 0 | running | 127 | $9,225 |
| 13 | 35 | 2 | Ernie Irvan (R) | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | 496 | 0 | running | 124 | $5,625 |
| 14 | 16 | 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 494 | 1 | running | 126 | $6,525 |
| 15 | 39 | 19 | Chad Little | Little Racing | Ford | 494 | 0 | running | 118 | $3,175 |
| 16 | 24 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 493 | 7 | running | 120 | $6,100 |
| 17 | 7 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 492 | 0 | running | 112 | $9,450 |
| 18 | 25 | 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 491 | 0 | running | 109 | $9,400 |
| 19 | 30 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 481 | 0 | running | 106 | $4,350 |
| 20 | 40 | 80 | Jimmy Horton (R) | S&H Racing | Ford | 478 | 0 | running | 103 | $2,950 |
| 21 | 18 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 477 | 0 | running | 100 | $5,550 |
| 22 | 4 | 15 | Brett Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 465 | 37 | running | 102 | $10,800 |
| 23 | 15 | 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 458 | 5 | engine | 99 | $5,750 |
| 24 | 20 | 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 421 | 0 | engine | 91 | $3,100 |
| 25 | 33 | 10 | Ken Bouchard (R) | Whitcomb Racing | Ford | 409 | 4 | crash | 93 | $3,350 |
| 26 | 26 | 23 | Eddie Bierschwale | B&B Racing | Oldsmobile | 391 | 0 | crash | 85 | $2,000 |
| 27 | 27 | 90 | Benny Parsons | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 383 | 0 | clutch | 82 | $4,800 |
| 28 | 17 | 29 | Dale Jarrett | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 377 | 0 | crash | 79 | $3,400 |
| 29 | 8 | 88 | Morgan Shepherd | Baker–Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | 371 | 0 | engine | 76 | $4,550 |
| 30 | 36 | 67 | Brad Teague | Arrington Racing | Ford | 340 | 0 | engine | 0 | $3,800 |
| 31 | 2 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 326 | 0 | crash | 70 | $4,825 |
| 32 | 34 | 31 | Jim Sauter | Bob Clark Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 281 | 0 | engine | 67 | $2,350 |
| 33 | 38 | 96 | Dana Patten | Patten Racing | Buick | 259 | 0 | crash | 64 | $1,650 |
| 34 | 37 | 98 | Brad Noffsinger (R) | Curb Racing | Buick | 182 | 0 | engine | 61 | $1,600 |
| 35 | 9 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 180 | 0 | crash | 58 | $7,700 |
| 36 | 32 | 68 | Derrike Cope | Testa Racing | Ford | 111 | 0 | crash | 55 | $1,475 |
| 37 | 29 | 74 | Randy LaJoie | Wawak Racing | Chevrolet | 89 | 0 | engine | 0 | $1,460 |
| 38 | 22 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 72 | 0 | engine | 49 | $4,070 |
| 39 | 1 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 35 | 0 | crash | 46 | $7,520 |
| 40 | 31 | 97 | Rodney Combs | Winkle Motorsports | Buick | 16 | 0 | piston | 43 | $1,400 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 41 | | 40 | Ben Hess | Hess Racing | Oldsmobile | | | | | |
| 42 | | 86 | Rick Jeffrey | Jeffrey Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 43 | | 85 | Bobby Gerhart | Bobby Gerhart Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 44 | | 76 | Graham Taylor | Betty Taylor Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 45 | | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 46 | | 48 | James Hylton | Hylton Motorsports | Buick | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Bill Elliott | 3,548 |
| | 2 | Dale Earnhardt | 3,421 (-127) |
| | 3 | Rusty Wallace | 3,409 (-139) |
| | 4 | Terry Labonte | 3,075 (–473) |
| 1 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | 3,048 (–500) |
| 1 | 6 | Ken Schrader | 2,999 (–549) |
| 1 | 7 | Darrell Waltrip | 2,923 (–625) |
| 1 | 8 | Sterling Marlin | 2,918 (–630) |
| | 9 | Phil Parsons | 2,878 (–670) |
| | 10 | Davey Allison | 2,854 (–694) |
| Official driver's standings ||||