# 1987 Delaware 500

The 1987 Delaware 500 was the 23rd stock car race of the 1987 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 17th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, September 20, 1987, before an audience of 51,500 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.
By race's end, Bud Moore Engineering's Ricky Rudd managed to dominate a majority of the race, leading 373 laps en route to his eighth career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his second and final victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Ranier-Lundy Racing's Davey Allison and RahMoc Enterprises' Neil Bonnett finished 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 |
| 1 | Brett Bodine | Ellington Racing | Chevrolet | Bull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce |
| 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Wrangler |
| 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Kodak |
| 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Levi Garrett |
| 6 | Rick Knoop | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | U.S. Racing |
| 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | Zerex |
| 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | Miller American |
| 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | Coors |
| 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | Budweiser |
| 12 | Larry Caudill | Hamby Racing | Chevrolet | Hamby Racing |
| 15 | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | Motorcraft Quality Parts |
| 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Tide |
| 18 | Dale Jarrett (R) | Freedlander Motorsports | Chevrolet | Freedlander Financial |
| 21 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Citgo |
| 22 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | Miller American |
| 26 | Morgan Shepherd | King Racing | Buick | Quaker State |
| 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | Kodiak |
| 28 | Davey Allison (R) | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Ford | Texaco, Havoline |
| 29 | Cale Yarborough | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Hardee's |
| 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Chevrolet | All Pro Auto Parts |
| 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | Skoal Bandit |
| 35 | Benny Parsons | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Folgers Decaf |
| 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | Piedmont Airlines |
| 51 | David Simko | Simko Racing | Chevrolet | Metro 25 Car Care Center |
| 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | Eureka |
| 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Skoal Classic |
| 62 | Steve Christman (R) | Winkle Motorsports | Pontiac | AC Spark Plug |
| 64 | Rodney Combs | Langley Racing | Ford | Sunny King Ford |
| 67 | Buddy Arrington | Arrington Racing | Ford | Pannill Sweatshirts |
| 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | Rumple Furniture |
| 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Lifebuoy |
| 72 | Eddie Drury | Drury Racing | Chevrolet | Drury Racing |
| 75 | Neil Bonnett | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | Valvoline |
| 80 | Eddie Bierschwale | S&H Racing | Chevrolet | S&H Racing |
| 81 | Mike Potter | Fillip Racing | Ford | Fillip Racing |
| 82 | Rick Jeffrey | Jeffery Racing | Chevrolet | Jeffery Racing |
| 88 | Buddy Baker | Baker–Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | Crisco |
| 90 | Ken Schrader | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Red Baron Frozen Pizza |
| 97 | D. Wayne Strout | Strout Racing | Oldsmobile | Strout Racing |
| 98 | Mark Gibson | Gibson Racing | Pontiac | Gibson Racing |

## Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Saturday, September 19, at 10:00 AM EST. Each driver had one lap to set a time. During the first round, the top 20 drivers in the round were 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, at 3:00 PM EST. As with the first round, each driver had one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 21-40 were 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.
Alan Kulwicki, driving for his own AK Racing team, managed to win the pole, setting a time of 24.687 and an average speed of 145.826 miles per hour (234.684 km/h) in the first round.
No drivers failed to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 24.687 | 145.826 |
| 2 | 28 | Davey Allison (R) | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Ford | 24.749 | 145.460 |
| 3 | 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 24.804 | 145.138 |
| 4 | 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 24.884 | 144.671 |
| 5 | 90 | Ken Schrader | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 24.931 | 144.399 |
| 6 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 24.958 | 144.242 |
| 7 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 24.963 | 144.213 |
| 8 | 21 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 25.020 | 143.885 |
| 9 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 25.034 | 143.804 |
| 10 | 26 | Morgan Shepherd | King Racing | Buick | 25.039 | 143.776 |
| 11 | 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 25.067 | 143.615 |
| 12 | 22 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 25.070 | 143.598 |
| 13 | 15 | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 25.102 | 143.415 |
| 14 | 88 | Buddy Baker | Baker–Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | 25.130 | 143.255 |
| 15 | 1 | Brett Bodine | Ellington Racing | Chevrolet | 25.185 | 142.942 |
| 16 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 25.264 | 142.495 |
| 17 | 18 | Dale Jarrett (R) | Freedlander Motorsports | Chevrolet | 25.289 | 142.354 |
| 18 | 35 | Benny Parsons | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 25.306 | 142.259 |
| 19 | 75 | Neil Bonnett | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 25.338 | 142.079 |
| 20 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 25.352 | 142.001 |
| Failed to lock in Round 1 |||||||
| 21 | 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 25.366 | 141.922 |
| 22 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 25.372 | 141.889 |
| 23 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 25.380 | 141.844 |
| 24 | 64 | Trevor Boys | Langley Racing | Ford | 25.458 | 141.409 |
| 25 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 25.505 | 141.149 |
| 26 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 25.589 | 140.685 |
| 27 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 25.592 | 140.669 |
| 28 | 81 | Mike Potter | Fillip Racing | Ford | 25.791 | 139.584 |
| 29 | 82 | Rick Jeffrey | Jeffery Racing | Chevrolet | 25.829 | 139.378 |
| 30 | 62 | Steve Christman (R) | Winkle Motorsports | Pontiac | 25.841 | 139.313 |
| 31 | 67 | Buddy Arrington | Arrington Racing | Ford | 25.874 | 139.136 |
| 32 | 98 | Mark Gibson | Gibson Racing | Pontiac | 25.891 | 139.044 |
| 33 | 12 | Larry Caudill | Hamby Racing | Oldsmobile | 25.893 | 139.034 |
| 34 | 51 | David Simko | Simko Racing | Chevrolet | 25.970 | 138.621 |
| 35 | 80 | Eddie Bierschwale | S&H Racing | Chevrolet | 26.000 | 138.462 |
| 36 | 6 | Rick Knoop | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | 26.235 | 137.221 |
| 37 | 97 | D. Wayne Strout | Strout Racing | Oldsmobile | 26.362 | 136.560 |
| 38 | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | 26.849 | 134.083 |
| 39 | 29 | Cale Yarborough | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 25.210 | 142.800 |
| 40 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Chevrolet | 25.238 | 142.642 |
| Withdrew |||||||
| WD | 72 | Eddie Drury | Drury Racing | Chevrolet | - | - |
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 13 | 15 | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 500 | 373 | running | 185 | $54,550 |
| 2 | 2 | 28 | Davey Allison (R) | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Ford | 500 | 39 | running | 175 | $25,875 |
| 3 | 19 | 75 | Neil Bonnett | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 500 | 0 | running | 165 | $21,335 |
| 4 | 9 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 500 | 1 | running | 165 | $19,375 |
| 5 | 11 | 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 500 | 6 | running | 160 | $17,620 |
| 6 | 6 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 498 | 0 | running | 150 | $13,175 |
| 7 | 12 | 22 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 498 | 1 | running | 146 | $12,440 |
| 8 | 14 | 88 | Buddy Baker | Baker–Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | 498 | 0 | running | 142 | $5,900 |
| 9 | 26 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 496 | 0 | running | 138 | $8,575 |
| 10 | 23 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 495 | 0 | running | 134 | $7,390 |
| 11 | 5 | 90 | Ken Schrader | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 495 | 0 | running | 130 | $7,355 |
| 12 | 20 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 495 | 0 | running | 127 | $10,900 |
| 13 | 15 | 1 | Brett Bodine | Ellington Racing | Chevrolet | 493 | 0 | running | 124 | $2,650 |
| 14 | 1 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 493 | 25 | running | 126 | $10,735 |
| 15 | 27 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 490 | 0 | running | 118 | $6,275 |
| 16 | 18 | 35 | Benny Parsons | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 489 | 0 | running | 115 | $11,400 |
| 17 | 30 | 62 | Steve Christman (R) | Winkle Motorsports | Pontiac | 487 | 0 | running | 112 | $2,650 |
| 18 | 40 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Chevrolet | 486 | 0 | running | 109 | $5,515 |
| 19 | 31 | 67 | Buddy Arrington | Arrington Racing | Ford | 479 | 0 | running | 106 | $5,255 |
| 20 | 36 | 6 | Rick Knoop | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | 470 | 0 | running | 0 | $5,595 |
| 21 | 33 | 12 | Larry Caudill | Hamby Racing | Oldsmobile | 470 | 0 | running | 0 | $4,725 |
| 22 | 16 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 468 | 0 | running | 97 | $4,665 |
| 23 | 8 | 21 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 403 | 0 | running | 94 | $8,850 |
| 24 | 29 | 82 | Rick Jeffrey | Jeffery Racing | Chevrolet | 391 | 0 | clutch | 91 | $1,800 |
| 25 | 7 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 381 | 0 | engine | 88 | $4,605 |
| 26 | 37 | 97 | D. Wayne Strout | Strout Racing | Oldsmobile | 381 | 0 | fatigue | 85 | $1,700 |
| 27 | 4 | 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 356 | 0 | distributor | 82 | $1,650 |
| 28 | 38 | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | 335 | 0 | engine | 79 | $1,600 |
| 29 | 21 | 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 328 | 0 | running | 76 | $1,550 |
| 30 | 34 | 51 | David Simko | Simko Racing | Chevrolet | 308 | 0 | clutch | 73 | $1,500 |
| 31 | 22 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 304 | 18 | engine | 75 | $12,700 |
| 32 | 3 | 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 295 | 37 | crash | 72 | $11,050 |
| 33 | 24 | 64 | Trevor Boys | Langley Racing | Ford | 281 | 0 | engine | 0 | $4,085 |
| 34 | 32 | 98 | Mark Gibson | Gibson Racing | Pontiac | 204 | 0 | axle | 61 | $1,300 |
| 35 | 28 | 81 | Mike Potter | Fillip Racing | Ford | 185 | 0 | exhaust | 58 | $1,200 |
| 36 | 39 | 29 | Cale Yarborough | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 117 | 0 | engine | 55 | $1,175 |
| 37 | 35 | 80 | Eddie Bierschwale | S&H Racing | Chevrolet | 65 | 0 | engine | 52 | $1,175 |
| 38 | 17 | 18 | Dale Jarrett (R) | Freedlander Motorsports | Chevrolet | 45 | 0 | engine | 49 | $3,175 |
| 39 | 25 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 45 | 0 | crash | 46 | $8,150 |
| 40 | 10 | 26 | Morgan Shepherd | King Racing | Buick | 20 | 0 | engine | 43 | $3,150 |
| Withdrew |||||||||||
| WD | | 72 | Eddie Drury | Drury Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Dale Earnhardt | 3,781 |
| | 2 | Bill Elliott | 3,263 (-518) |
| | 3 | Terry Labonte | 3,091 (-690) |
| | 4 | Rusty Wallace | 3,069 (–712) |
| 1 | 5 | Ricky Rudd | 3,063 (–718) |
| 1 | 6 | Darrell Waltrip | 3,032 (–749) |
| | 7 | Neil Bonnett | 3,007 (–774) |
| | 8 | Richard Petty | 2,946 (–835) |
| | 9 | Kyle Petty | 2,866 (–915) |
| | 10 | Ken Schrader | 2,788 (–993) |
| Official driver's standings ||||