# 1991 Tyson Holly Farms 400

The 1991 Tyson Holly Farms 400 was the 25th stock car race of the 1991 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 42nd iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, September 29, 1991, before an audience of 43,500 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. In the final laps of the race, taking advantage of a brake failure of the dominant driver of the day, Leo Jackson Motorsports driver Harry Gant, Richard Childress Racing driver Dale Earnhardt would mount a late-race charge to the lead, passing Gant with nine laps to go in the race to take the victory, breaking Gant's streak of four consecutive victories. The victory was Earnhardt's 52nd career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his fourth and final victory of the season. To fill out the top three, the aforementioned Harry Gant and Bud Moore Engineering driver Morgan Shepherd would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

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

* (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 |
| 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | Folgers |
| 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | Hooters |
| 8 | Rick Wilson | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | Snickers |
| 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | Coors Light |
| 10 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Chevrolet | Purolator Filters |
| 11 | Geoff Bodine | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | Budweiser |
| 12 | Hut Stricklin | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Buick | Raybestos |
| 15 | Morgan Shepherd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | Motorcraft |
| 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | Western Auto |
| 19 | Chad Little | Little Racing | Ford | Tyson Foods |
| 21 | Dale Jarrett | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Citgo |
| 22 | Sterling Marlin | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | Maxwell House |
| 24 | Jimmy Hensley | Team III Racing | Pontiac | Team III Racing |
| 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kodiak |
| 26 | Brett Bodine | King Racing | Buick | Quaker State |
| 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Texaco, Havoline |
| 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | Pennzoil |
| 33 | Harry Gant | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Skoal Bandit |
| 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | Mello Yello |
| 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | Alka-Seltzer |
| 55 | Ted Musgrave (R) | U.S. Racing | Pontiac | Jasper Engines & Transmissions |
| 66 | Chuck Bown | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Pontiac | Phillips 66 TropArtic |
| 68 | Bobby Hamilton (R) | TriStar Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Country Time |
| 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Big Apple Market |
| 75 | Joe Ruttman | RahMoc Enterprises | Oldsmobile | Dinner Bell Foods |
| 94 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | Sunoco |
| 98 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Chevrolet | Banquet Foods |

## Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, September 27, at 3:00 PM EST. Each driver would have one lap to set a time. During the first round, the top 15 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 28, at 12:00 PM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 16-30 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.
Harry Gant, driving for Leo Jackson Motorsports, would win the pole, setting a time of 19.252 and an average speed of 116.871 miles per hour (188.086 km/h) in the first round.
No drivers would fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 33 | Harry Gant | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 19.252 | 116.871 |
| 2 | 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 19.256 | 116.846 |
| 3 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 19.264 | 116.798 |
| 4 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 19.316 | 116.484 |
| 5 | 21 | Dale Jarrett | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 19.348 | 116.291 |
| 6 | 4 | Ernie Irvan | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 19.358 | 116.231 |
| 7 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Pontiac | 19.366 | 116.183 |
| 8 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 19.370 | 116.159 |
| 9 | 15 | Morgan Shepherd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 19.395 | 116.009 |
| 10 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 19.398 | 115.991 |
| 11 | 26 | Brett Bodine | King Racing | Buick | 19.415 | 115.890 |
| 12 | 98 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Chevrolet | 19.426 | 115.824 |
| 13 | 68 | Bobby Hamilton (R) | TriStar Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 19.432 | 115.788 |
| 14 | 11 | Geoff Bodine | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 19.450 | 115.681 |
| 15 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 19.457 | 115.640 |
| Failed to lock in Round 1 |||||||
| 16 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 19.421 | 115.854 |
| 17 | 12 | Hut Stricklin | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Buick | 19.454 | 115.657 |
| 18 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Oldsmobile | 19.462 | 115.610 |
| 19 | 94 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 19.462 | 115.610 |
| 20 | 22 | Sterling Marlin | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 19.474 | 115.539 |
| 21 | 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | 19.493 | 115.426 |
| 22 | 5 | Ricky Rudd | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 19.503 | 115.367 |
| 23 | 10 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Chevrolet | 19.512 | 115.314 |
| 24 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 19.524 | 115.243 |
| 25 | 19 | Chad Little | Little Racing | Ford | 19.525 | 115.237 |
| 26 | 75 | Joe Ruttman | RahMoc Enterprises | Chevrolet | 19.541 | 115.143 |
| 27 | 24 | Jimmy Hensley | Team III Racing | Pontiac | 19.544 | 115.125 |
| 28 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 19.596 | 114.819 |
| 29 | 8 | Rick Wilson | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 19.632 | 114.609 |
| 30 | 55 | Ted Musgrave (R) | U.S. Racing | Pontiac | 19.663 | 114.428 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 31 | 66 | Chuck Bown | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Pontiac | 20.046 | 112.242 |
| 32 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Oldsmobile | 19.692 | 114.260 |
| Champion’s Provisional |||||||
| 33 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 19.876 | 113.202 |
| Official first round qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 16 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 400 | 9 | running | 180 | $69,350 |
| 2 | 1 | 33 | Harry Gant | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 400 | 350 | running | 180 | $40,575 |
| 3 | 9 | 15 | Morgan Shepherd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 400 | 41 | running | 170 | $25,375 |
| 4 | 2 | 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 400 | 0 | running | 160 | $19,600 |
| 5 | 3 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 400 | 0 | running | 155 | $18,875 |
| 6 | 7 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Pontiac | 400 | 0 | running | 150 | $8,950 |
| 7 | 11 | 26 | Brett Bodine | King Racing | Buick | 400 | 0 | running | 146 | $9,280 |
| 8 | 10 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 400 | 0 | running | 142 | $8,425 |
| 9 | 5 | 21 | Dale Jarrett | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 400 | 0 | running | 138 | $7,975 |
| 10 | 4 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 400 | 0 | running | 134 | $13,355 |
| 11 | 27 | 24 | Jimmy Hensley | Team III Racing | Pontiac | 399 | 0 | running | 130 | $5,975 |
| 12 | 22 | 5 | Ricky Rudd | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 399 | 0 | running | 127 | $9,950 |
| 13 | 20 | 22 | Sterling Marlin | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 398 | 0 | running | 124 | $5,500 |
| 14 | 19 | 94 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 398 | 0 | running | 121 | $6,750 |
| 15 | 14 | 11 | Geoff Bodine | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 398 | 0 | running | 118 | $12,050 |
| 16 | 21 | 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | 397 | 0 | running | 115 | $9,550 |
| 17 | 17 | 12 | Hut Stricklin | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Buick | 397 | 0 | running | 112 | $6,475 |
| 18 | 13 | 68 | Bobby Hamilton (R) | TriStar Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 397 | 0 | running | 109 | $5,375 |
| 19 | 33 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 396 | 0 | running | 106 | $5,875 |
| 20 | 15 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 395 | 0 | running | 103 | $5,350 |
| 21 | 25 | 19 | Chad Little | Little Racing | Ford | 394 | 0 | running | 100 | $3,450 |
| 22 | 30 | 55 | Ted Musgrave (R) | U.S. Racing | Pontiac | 394 | 0 | running | 97 | $4,375 |
| 23 | 12 | 98 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Chevrolet | 393 | 0 | running | 94 | $5,425 |
| 24 | 8 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 392 | 0 | running | 91 | $9,925 |
| 25 | 18 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Oldsmobile | 391 | 0 | running | 88 | $5,400 |
| 26 | 31 | 66 | Chuck Bown | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Pontiac | 391 | 0 | running | 85 | $5,225 |
| 27 | 28 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 391 | 0 | running | 82 | $4,550 |
| 28 | 32 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Oldsmobile | 390 | 0 | running | 79 | $2,985 |
| 29 | 26 | 75 | Joe Ruttman | RahMoc Enterprises | Chevrolet | 353 | 0 | running | 76 | $4,450 |
| 30 | 23 | 10 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Chevrolet | 320 | 0 | running | 73 | $10,075 |
| 31 | 24 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 315 | 0 | rear end | 70 | $4,400 |
| 32 | 29 | 8 | Rick Wilson | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 240 | 0 | accident | 67 | $4,425 |
| 33 | 6 | 4 | Ernie Irvan | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 164 | 0 | accident | 64 | $9,225 |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Dale Earnhardt | 3,750 |
| | 2 | Ricky Rudd | 3,638 (-112) |
| | 3 | Ernie Irvan | 3,452 (-298) |
| | 4 | Davey Allison | 3,431 (–319) |
| 1 | 5 | Harry Gant | 3,386 (–364) |
| 1 | 6 | Mark Martin | 3,380 (–370) |
| | 7 | Ken Schrader | 3,317 (–433) |
| | 8 | Sterling Marlin | 3,226 (–524) |
| | 9 | Darrell Waltrip | 3,192 (–558) |
| | 10 | Rusty Wallace | 3,154 (–596) |
| Official driver's standings ||||