# 1992 Mello Yello 500

The 1992 Mello Yello 500 was the 26th stock car race of the 1992 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 33rd iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, October 11, 1992, before an audience of 162,500 in Concord, North Carolina, at Charlotte Motor Speedway, a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) permanent quad-oval. The race took the scheduled 334 laps to complete. At race's end, Roush Racing driver Mark Martin would manage to make a late-race pass on eventual second-place finisher, owner-driver Alan Kulwicki with 32 laps to go to take his seventh career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his second and final victory of the season. To fill out the top three, SABCO Racing driver Kyle Petty would finish third.
With poor finishes from the top two in the driver's championship standings, those being Bill Elliott and Davey Allison, the points battle had tightened to extreme margins, with the top five in the driver's championship all being within 100 points within the leader with three races left in the season, the first time of such an occurrence in NASCAR history.
Bobby Hillin Jr. was disqualified after the race after his car was found to have illegal engine in post-race inspection. It was the last time a disqualification was levied in the Cup Series for technical infringement until 2019, when Erik Jones was disqualified from the 2019 Federated Auto Parts 400. The disqualification affected the team Hillin drove for, which opted to shut down after it was unable to pay for the fines levied for the inspection failure.

## Background

Charlotte Motor Speedway is a motorsports complex located in Concord, North Carolina, United States 13 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. The complex features a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and the NEXTEL All-Star Challenge, as well as the UAW-GM Quality 500. The speedway was built in 1959 by Bruton Smith and is considered the home track for NASCAR with many race teams located in the Charlotte area. The track is owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports Inc. (SMI) with Marcus G. Smith (son of Bruton Smith) as track president.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Oldsmobile | Skoal |
| 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Pontiac | Miller Genuine Draft |
| 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | GM Goodwrench Service Plus |
| 4 | Ernie Irvan | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kodak |
| 5 | Ricky Rudd | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Tide |
| 05 | Ed Ferree | Ferree Racing | Chevrolet | Ferree Chevrolet |
| 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | Valvoline |
| 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | Hooters |
| 8 | Dick Trickle | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | Snickers |
| 9 | Chad Little | Melling Racing | Ford | Melling Racing |
| 10 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Chevrolet | Purolator Filters |
| 11 | Bill Elliott | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | Budweiser |
| 12 | Jeff Purvis | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Chevrolet | Raybestos |
| 15 | Geoff Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | Motorcraft |
| 16 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Roush Racing | Ford | Keystone |
| 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | Western Auto |
| 18 | Dale Jarrett | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | Interstate Batteries |
| 21 | Morgan Shepherd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Citgo |
| 22 | Sterling Marlin | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | Maxwell House |
| 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kodiak |
| 26 | Brett Bodine | King Racing | Ford | Quaker State |
| 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Texaco, Havoline |
| 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | Pennzoil |
| 31 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Team Ireland | Chevrolet | Bryant Heating & Cooling |
| 33 | Harry Gant | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Skoal Bandit |
| 41 | Dick Trickle | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kellogg's Frosted Flakes |
| 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | Mello Yello |
| 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 45 | Rich Bickle | Terminal Trucking Motorsports | Ford | Terminal Trucking |
| 48 | James Hylton | Hylton Motorsports | Pontiac | Rumple Furniture |
| 49 | Stanley Smith | BS&S Motorsports | Chevrolet | Ameritron Batteries |
| 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | Hurley Limo |
| 55 | Ted Musgrave | RaDiUs Motorsports | Ford | Jasper Engines & Transmissions |
| 57 | Bob Schacht (R) | Stringer Motorsports | Oldsmobile | National Pronto Auto Parts |
| 65 | Jerry O'Neil | Aroneck Racing | Oldsmobile | Wheels Discount Auto |
| 66 | Jimmy Hensley (R) | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | Phillips 66 TropArtic |
| 68 | Bobby Hamilton | TriStar Motorsports | Ford | Country Time |
| 71 | Jim Sauter | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Staley's Steakhouse |
| 77 | Mike Potter | Balough Racing | Buick | Kenova Golf Course Construction |
| 82 | Mark Stahl | Stahl Racing | Ford | Stahl Racing |
| 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Ford | Purex |
| 85 | Mike Skinner | Mansion Motorsports | Chevrolet | Glidden |
| 90 | Pancho Carter | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Plumb Hammers |
| 94 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | Sunoco |
| 97 | Hut Stricklin | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | Junior Johnson & Associates |

## Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Wednesday, October 7, at 5:00 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 Thursday, October 8, at 1:30 PM 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 were given. If needed, a past champion who did not qualify on either time or provisionals could use a champion's provisional, adding one more spot to the field.
Alan Kulwicki, driving for his own AK Racing team, would win the pole, setting a time of 30.163 and an average speed of 179.027 miles per hour (288.116 km/h) in the first round.
Five drivers would fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 30.163 | 179.027 |
| 2 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.204 | 178.784 |
| 3 | 4 | Ernie Irvan | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.429 | 177.462 |
| 4 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 30.438 | 177.410 |
| 5 | 5 | Ricky Rudd | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.578 | 176.598 |
| 6 | 21 | Morgan Shepherd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 30.590 | 176.528 |
| 7 | 18 | Dale Jarrett | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 30.623 | 176.338 |
| 8 | 26 | Brett Bodine | King Racing | Ford | 30.657 | 176.142 |
| 9 | 66 | Jimmy Hensley (R) | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 30.673 | 176.051 |
| 10 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.703 | 175.879 |
| 11 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 30.742 | 175.655 |
| 12 | 15 | Geoff Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 30.749 | 175.615 |
| 13 | 94 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Racing | Chevrolet | 30.772 | 175.484 |
| 14 | 10 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Chevrolet | 30.777 | 175.456 |
| 15 | 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Ford | 30.780 | 175.439 |
| 16 | 11 | Bill Elliott | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 30.789 | 175.387 |
| 17 | 8 | Dick Trickle | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 30.799 | 175.330 |
| 18 | 33 | Harry Gant | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 30.821 | 175.205 |
| 19 | 22 | Sterling Marlin | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 30.878 | 174.882 |
| 20 | 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | 30.885 | 174.842 |
| Failed to lock in Round 1 |||||||
| 21 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Pontiac | 30.924 | 174.622 |
| 22 | 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 30.964 | 174.396 |
| 23 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Oldsmobile | 30.964 | 174.396 |
| 24 | 12 | Jimmy Spencer | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Ford | 30.992 | 174.239 |
| 25 | 9 | Chad Little | Melling Racing | Ford | 31.019 | 174.087 |
| 26 | 68 | Bobby Hamilton | TriStar Motorsports | Ford | 31.079 | 173.751 |
| 27 | 97 | Hut Stricklin | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 31.130 | 173.466 |
| 28 | 31 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Team Ireland | Chevrolet | 31.138 | 173.422 |
| 29 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 31.166 | 173.266 |
| 30 | 55 | Ted Musgrave | RaDiUs Motorsports | Ford | 31.177 | 173.205 |
| 31 | 90 | Pancho Carter | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 31.275 | 172.662 |
| 32 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 31.283 | 172.618 |
| 33 | 45 | Rich Bickle | Terminal Trucking Motorsports | Ford | 31.626 | 172.381 |
| 34 | 65 | Jerry O'Neil | Aroneck Racing | Oldsmobile | 31.371 | 172.133 |
| 35 | 16 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Roush Racing | Ford | 31.468 | 171.603 |
| 36 | 49 | Stanley Smith | BS&S Motorsports | Chevrolet | 31.514 | 171.352 |
| 37 | 57 | Bob Schacht (R) | Stringer Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 31.556 | 171.124 |
| 38 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 31.582 | 170.983 |
| 39 | 71 | Jim Sauter | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 31.591 | 170.935 |
| 40 | 41 | Dave Marcis | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 31.645 | 170.643 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 41 | 77 | Mike Potter | Balough Racing | Buick | -* | -* |
| 42 | 05 | Ed Ferree | Ferree Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 43 | 85 | Mike Skinner | Mansion Motorsports | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 44 | 82 | Mark Stahl | Stahl Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 45 | 48 | James Hylton | Hylton Motorsports | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| Official first round qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 4 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 334 | 107 | running | 180 | $101,500 |
| 2 | 1 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 334 | 63 | running | 175 | $89,000 |
| 3 | 20 | 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | 334 | 129 | running | 175 | $68,600 |
| 4 | 24 | 12 | Jimmy Spencer | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Ford | 334 | 0 | running | 160 | $41,200 |
| 5 | 5 | 5 | Ricky Rudd | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 334 | 0 | running | 155 | $35,550 |
| 6 | 3 | 4 | Ernie Irvan | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 334 | 2 | running | 155 | $34,150 |
| 7 | 2 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 334 | 13 | running | 151 | $32,500 |
| 8 | 18 | 33 | Harry Gant | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 334 | 8 | running | 147 | $25,800 |
| 9 | 17 | 8 | Dick Trickle | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 333 | 2 | running | 143 | $19,300 |
| 10 | 12 | 15 | Geoff Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 333 | 0 | running | 134 | $19,600 |
| 11 | 30 | 55 | Ted Musgrave | RaDiUs Motorsports | Ford | 333 | 0 | running | 130 | $16,200 |
| 12 | 13 | 94 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Racing | Chevrolet | 333 | 0 | running | 127 | $15,000 |
| 13 | 6 | 21 | Morgan Shepherd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 333 | 0 | running | 124 | $14,700 |
| 14 | 11 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 332 | 0 | running | 121 | $19,050 |
| 15 | 26 | 68 | Bobby Hamilton | TriStar Motorsports | Ford | 331 | 0 | running | 118 | $13,450 |
| 16 | 19 | 22 | Sterling Marlin | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 331 | 0 | running | 115 | $11,350 |
| 17 | 14 | 10 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Chevrolet | 331 | 0 | running | 112 | $16,100 |
| 18 | 9 | 66 | Jimmy Hensley (R) | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 330 | 0 | running | 109 | $8,450 |
| 19 | 22 | 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 329 | 0 | running | 106 | $15,375 |
| 20 | 35 | 16 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Roush Racing | Ford | 328 | 0 | running | 103 | $7,550 |
| 21 | 39 | 71 | Jim Sauter | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 326 | 0 | running | 100 | $6,595 |
| 22 | 37 | 57 | Bob Schacht (R) | Stringer Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 325 | 0 | running | 97 | $4,700 |
| 23 | 29 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 325 | 0 | running | 94 | $9,220 |
| 24 | 7 | 18 | Dale Jarrett | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 324 | 0 | clutch | 91 | $9,640 |
| 25 | 33 | 45 | Rich Bickle | Terminal Trucking Motorsports | Ford | 324 | 0 | running | 88 | $4,830 |
| 26 | 15 | 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Ford | 323 | 0 | clutch | 85 | $4,235 |
| 27 | 32 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 323 | 0 | running | 82 | $8,720 |
| 28 | 8 | 26 | Brett Bodine | King Racing | Ford | 320 | 0 | running | 79 | $9,105 |
| 29 | 34 | 65 | Jerry O'Neil | Aroneck Racing | Oldsmobile | 314 | 0 | running | 76 | $3,965 |
| 30 | 16 | 11 | Bill Elliott | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 310 | 10 | sway bar | 78 | $13,880 |
| 31 | 27 | 97 | Hut Stricklin | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 305 | 0 | quit | 70 | $3,800 |
| 32 | 31 | 90 | Pancho Carter | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 297 | 0 | running | 67 | $3,735 |
| 33 | 25 | 9 | Chad Little | Melling Racing | Ford | 294 | 0 | overheating | 64 | $3,670 |
| 34 | 10 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 215 | 0 | engine | 61 | $13,350 |
| 35 | 23 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Oldsmobile | 168 | 0 | engine | 58 | $8,155 |
| 36 | 36 | 49 | Stanley Smith | BS&S Motorsports | Chevrolet | 141 | 0 | engine | 55 | $3,610 |
| 37 | 21 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Pontiac | 128 | 0 | engine | 52 | $11,600 |
| 38 | 38 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 89 | 0 | engine | 49 | $3,590 |
| 39 | 40 | 41 | Dave Marcis | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 57 | 0 | rear end | 46 | $5,085 |
| DSQ | 28 | 31 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Team Ireland | Chevrolet | 332 | 0 | disqualified | 43 | $3,580 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 41 | | 77 | Mike Potter | Balough Racing | Buick | | | | | |
| 42 | | 05 | Ed Ferree | Ferree Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 43 | | 85 | Mike Skinner | Mansion Motorsports | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 44 | | 82 | Mark Stahl | Stahl Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 45 | | 48 | James Hylton | Hylton Motorsports | Pontiac | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Bill Elliott | 3,653 |
| | 2 | Davey Allison | 3,614 (-39) |
| | 3 | Alan Kulwicki | 3,606 (-47) |
| 1 | 4 | Mark Martin | 3,562 (–91) |
| 1 | 5 | Harry Gant | 3,555 (–98) |
| | 6 | Kyle Petty | 3,539 (–114) |
| | 7 | Ricky Rudd | 3,409 (–244) |
| | 8 | Darrell Waltrip | 3,303 (–350) |
| 3 | 9 | Ernie Irvan | 3,263 (–390) |
| | 10 | Terry Labonte | 3,261 (–392) |
| Official driver's standings ||||