# 1989 Goodwrench 500

The 1989 Goodwrench 500 was the second stock car race of the 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 24th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, March 5, 1989, before an audience of 44,300 in Rockingham, North Carolina, at North Carolina Speedway, a 1.017 miles (1.637 km) permanent high-banked racetrack. On the final restart with six laps left in the race, Blue Max Racing driver Rusty Wallace would manage to pull away to a sizable lead to take his 11th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his first victory of the season. To fill out the top three, owner-driver Alan Kulwicki and Richard Childress Racing driver Dale Earnhardt would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

North Carolina Motor Speedway was opened as a flat, one-mile oval on October 31, 1965. In 1969, the track was extensively reconfigured to a high-banked, D-shaped oval just over one mile in length. In 1997, North Carolina Motor Speedway merged with Penske Motorsports, and was renamed North Carolina Speedway. Shortly thereafter, the infield was reconfigured, and competition on the infield road course, mostly by the SCCA, was discontinued. Currently, the track is home to the Fast Track High Performance Driving School.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 2 | Ernie Irvan | U.S. Racing | Pontiac | Kroger |
| 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | GM Goodwrench Service Plus |
| 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Kodak |
| 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Levi Garrett |
| 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | Stroh's 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 | Whitcomb Racing | Pontiac | Whitcomb Racing |
| 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | Budweiser |
| 15 | Brett Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | Motorcraft |
| 16 | Larry Pearson (R) | Pearson Racing | Buick | Chattanooga Chew |
| 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Tide |
| 20 | Dave Mader III | Bahre Racing | Pontiac | Cheerwine |
| 21 | Neil Bonnett | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Citgo |
| 23 | Eddie Bierschwale | B&B Racing | Oldsmobile | B&B Racing |
| 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 | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Texaco, Havoline |
| 29 | Dale Jarrett | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Pontiac | Hardee's |
| 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | Country Time |
| 31 | Jim Sauter | Bob Clark Motorsports | Pontiac | Slender You Figure Salons |
| 33 | Harry Gant | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Skoal Bandit |
| 34 | Rodney Combs | AAG Racing | Buick | Allen's Glass |
| 40 | Ben Hess (R) | Hess Racing | Oldsmobile | Hess Racing |
| 41 | Jim Bown | Bown Racing | Chevrolet | Rose Auto Wrecking |
| 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 48 | Mickey Gibbs (R) | Winkle Motorsports | Pontiac | SmartLease |
| 51 | Butch Miller (R) | Miller Racing | Chevrolet | Miller Racing |
| 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | Alka-Seltzer |
| 53 | Jerry O'Neil | Aroneck Racing | Chevrolet | Aroneck Racing |
| 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Skoal, Crown Central Petroleum |
| 57 | Hut Stricklin (R) | Osterlund Racing | Pontiac | Heinz |
| 66 | Rick Mast (R) | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | Mach 1 Racing |
| 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | Rumple Furniture |
| 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Lifebuoy |
| 75 | Morgan Shepherd | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | Valvoline |
| 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | Bull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce |
| 84 | Dick Trickle (R) | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | Miller High Life |
| 88 | Greg Sacks | Baker–Schiff Racing | Pontiac | Crisco |
| 94 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | Sunoco |

## Qualifying

Qualifying was originally scheduled to be split into two rounds. The first round was held on Thursday, March 2, at 2:30 PM EST. Originally, the first 20 positions were going to be determined by first round qualifying, with positions 21-40 meant to be determined the following day on Friday, March 3. However, due to rain, the second round was cancelled. As a result, the rest of the starting lineup was set using the results from the first round. 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 were given.
Rusty Wallace, driving for Blue Max Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 24.606 and an average speed of 148.793 miles per hour (239.459 km/h) in the first round.
No drivers would fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 24.606 | 148.793 |
| 2 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 24.679 | 148.353 |
| 3 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 24.709 | 148.173 |
| 4 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 24.717 | 148.125 |
| 5 | 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 24.847 | 147.350 |
| 6 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 24.887 | 147.113 |
| 7 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 24.887 | 147.113 |
| 8 | 33 | Harry Gant | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 24.896 | 147.060 |
| 9 | 15 | Brett Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 24.923 | 146.900 |
| 10 | 66 | Rick Mast (R) | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 24.974 | 146.600 |
| 11 | 26 | Ricky Rudd | King Racing | Buick | 24.975 | 146.595 |
| 12 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 24.975 | 146.595 |
| 13 | 75 | Morgan Shepherd | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 24.985 | 146.536 |
| 14 | 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 25.097 | 145.882 |
| 15 | 88 | Greg Sacks | Baker–Schiff Racing | Pontiac | 25.111 | 145.801 |
| 16 | 94 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 25.124 | 145.725 |
| 17 | 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 25.130 | 145.690 |
| 18 | 2 | Ernie Irvan | U.S. Racing | Pontiac | 25.146 | 145.598 |
| 19 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 25.205 | 145.257 |
| 20 | 34 | Rodney Combs | AAG Racing | Buick | 25.242 | 145.044 |
| Failed to lock in Round 1 |||||||
| 21 | 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 25.244 | 145.032 |
| 22 | 29 | Dale Jarrett | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Pontiac | 25.261 | 144.935 |
| 23 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 25.290 | 144.769 |
| 24 | 21 | Neil Bonnett | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 25.302 | 144.700 |
| 25 | 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | 25.328 | 144.551 |
| 26 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 25.371 | 144.306 |
| 27 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 25.383 | 144.238 |
| 28 | 16 | Larry Pearson (R) | Pearson Racing | Buick | 25.412 | 144.074 |
| 29 | 10 | Ken Bouchard | Whitcomb Racing | Pontiac | 25.480 | 143.689 |
| 30 | 40 | Ben Hess (R) | Hess Racing | Oldsmobile | 25.503 | 143.560 |
| 31 | 51 | Butch Miller (R) | Miller Racing | Chevrolet | 25.509 | 143.526 |
| 32 | 23 | Eddie Bierschwale | B&B Racing | Oldsmobile | 25.541 | 143.346 |
| 33 | 31 | Jim Sauter | Bob Clark Motorsports | Pontiac | 25.565 | 143.211 |
| 34 | 53 | Jerry O'Neil | Aroneck Racing | Chevrolet | 25.669 | 142.631 |
| 35 | 48 | Mickey Gibbs (R) | Winkle Motorsports | Pontiac | 25.679 | 142.576 |
| 36 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 25.707 | 142.420 |
| 37 | 57 | Hut Stricklin (R) | Osterlund Racing | Pontiac | 25.784 | 141.995 |
| 38 | 20 | Dave Mader III | Bahre Racing | Pontiac | 25.912 | 141.294 |
| 39 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 25.939 | 141.147 |
| 40 | 41 | Jim Bown | Bown Racing | Chevrolet | 25.978 | 140.935 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 41 | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | - | - |
| 42 | 84 | Dick Trickle (R) | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | - | - |
| Official first round qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 1 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 492 | 222 | running | 185 | $72,100 |
| 2 | 12 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 492 | 24 | running | 175 | $29,600 |
| 3 | 19 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 492 | 0 | running | 165 | $24,200 |
| 4 | 6 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 492 | 19 | running | 165 | $17,975 |
| 5 | 4 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 492 | 14 | running | 160 | $15,963 |
| 6 | 17 | 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 492 | 22 | running | 155 | $14,680 |
| 7 | 16 | 94 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 491 | 0 | running | 146 | $9,975 |
| 8 | 25 | 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | 490 | 2 | running | 147 | $9,525 |
| 9 | 15 | 88 | Greg Sacks | Baker–Schiff Racing | Pontiac | 490 | 0 | running | 138 | $9,225 |
| 10 | 33 | 31 | Jim Sauter | Bob Clark Motorsports | Pontiac | 489 | 0 | running | 134 | $9,450 |
| 11 | 22 | 29 | Dale Jarrett | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Pontiac | 489 | 2 | running | 135 | $8,525 |
| 12 | 27 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 488 | 0 | running | 127 | $8,125 |
| 13 | 42 | 84 | Dick Trickle (R) | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 488 | 0 | running | 124 | $10,182 |
| 14 | 24 | 21 | Neil Bonnett | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 488 | 0 | running | 121 | $7,225 |
| 15 | 23 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 487 | 0 | running | 118 | $7,625 |
| 16 | 39 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 487 | 0 | running | 115 | $5,700 |
| 17 | 5 | 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 487 | 0 | running | 112 | $6,475 |
| 18 | 14 | 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 486 | 0 | running | 109 | $10,475 |
| 19 | 7 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 486 | 0 | running | 106 | $14,225 |
| 20 | 35 | 48 | Mickey Gibbs (R) | Winkle Motorsports | Pontiac | 486 | 0 | running | 103 | $4,800 |
| 21 | 10 | 66 | Rick Mast (R) | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 484 | 0 | running | 100 | $5,925 |
| 22 | 30 | 40 | Ben Hess (R) | Hess Racing | Oldsmobile | 483 | 0 | running | 97 | $2,850 |
| 23 | 18 | 2 | Ernie Irvan | U.S. Racing | Pontiac | 482 | 0 | running | 94 | $3,450 |
| 24 | 38 | 20 | Dave Mader III | Bahre Racing | Pontiac | 480 | 0 | running | 91 | $2,675 |
| 25 | 3 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 479 | 0 | accident | 88 | $9,925 |
| 26 | 32 | 23 | Eddie Bierschwale | B&B Racing | Oldsmobile | 479 | 0 | running | 85 | $2,550 |
| 27 | 13 | 75 | Morgan Shepherd | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 477 | 0 | running | 82 | $10,700 |
| 28 | 34 | 53 | Jerry O'Neil | Aroneck Racing | Chevrolet | 476 | 0 | running | 79 | $2,450 |
| 29 | 2 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 461 | 0 | running | 76 | $11,225 |
| 30 | 28 | 16 | Larry Pearson (R) | Pearson Racing | Buick | 457 | 3 | engine | 78 | $2,375 |
| 31 | 8 | 33 | Harry Gant | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 451 | 79 | running | 75 | $2,200 |
| 32 | 11 | 26 | Ricky Rudd | King Racing | Buick | 450 | 104 | running | 72 | $5,825 |
| 33 | 36 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 448 | 0 | running | 64 | $2,080 |
| 34 | 9 | 15 | Brett Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 407 | 0 | cylinder head | 61 | $4,680 |
| 35 | 26 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 400 | 1 | running | 63 | $4,605 |
| 36 | 40 | 41 | Jim Bown | Bown Racing | Chevrolet | 389 | 0 | oil pump | 0 | $1,925 |
| 37 | 41 | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | 384 | 0 | oil pressure | 52 | $1,900 |
| 38 | 29 | 10 | Ken Bouchard | Whitcomb Racing | Pontiac | 299 | 0 | valve | 49 | $3,475 |
| 39 | 21 | 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 294 | 0 | engine | 46 | $3,850 |
| 40 | 20 | 34 | Rodney Combs | AAG Racing | Buick | 214 | 0 | engine | 43 | $1,825 |
| 41 | 37 | 57 | Hut Stricklin (R) | Osterlund Racing | Pontiac | 115 | 0 | crank | 40 | $1,825 |
| 42 | 31 | 51 | Butch Miller (R) | Miller Racing | Chevrolet | 50 | 0 | engine | 37 | $1,825 |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| 2 | 1 | Dale Earnhardt | 335 |
| 2 | 2 | Geoff Bodine | 330 (-5) |
| 4 | 3 | Alan Kulwicki | 326 (-9) |
| 14 | 4 | Rusty Wallace | 294 (–41) |
| 6 | 5 | Sterling Marlin | 276 (–59) |
| 5 | 6 | Ken Schrader | 268 (–67) |
| 1 | 7 | Rick Wilson | 259 (–76) |
| 7 | 8 | Darrell Waltrip | 256 (–79) |
| 3 | 9 | Rick Mast | 255 (–80) |
| 1 | 10 | Terry Labonte | 252 (–83) |
| Official driver's standings ||||