# 1988 Pannill Sweatshirts 500

The 1988 Pannill Sweatshirts 500 was the eighth stock car race of the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 39th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, April 24, 1988, before an audience of 42,000 in Martinsville, Virginia at Martinsville Speedway, a 0.526 miles (0.847 km) permanent oval-shaped short track. The race took the scheduled 500 laps to complete. At race's end, Richard Childress Racing driver Dale Earnhardt would manage to dominate the latter stages of the race, leading the final 182 laps to take his 33rd career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his second victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Hagan Racing driver Sterling Marlin and Stavola Brothers Racing driver Bobby Hillin Jr. would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

Martinsville Speedway is a NASCAR-owned stock car racing track located in Henry County, in Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At 0.526 miles (0.847 km) in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved oval tracks in NASCAR, being built in 1947 by H. Clay Earles. It is also the only remaining race track that has been on the NASCAR circuit from its beginning in 1948.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 00 | Gary Brooks | Brooks Racing | Chevrolet | Brooks Racing |
| 2 | Ernie Irvan (R) | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | Kroger |
| 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | GM Goodwrench |
| 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 (R) | Whitcomb Racing | Chevrolet | Whitcomb Racing |
| 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | Budweiser |
| 12 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | Miller High Life |
| 15 | Brett Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | Crisco |
| 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Tide |
| 21 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Citgo |
| 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 | Texaco, Havoline |
| 29 | Dale Jarrett | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Hardee's |
| 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | Country Time |
| 31 | Brad Teague | Bob Clark Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Slender You Figure Salons |
| 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | Skoal Bandit |
| 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | Piedmont Airlines |
| 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Chevrolet | Eureka |
| 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Skoal, Crown Central Petroleum |
| 67 | Jimmy Hensley | Arrington Racing | Chevrolet | Pannill Sweatshirts |
| 68 | Derrike Cope | Testa Racing | Ford | Purolator |
| 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Lifebuoy |
| 75 | Neil Bonnett | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | Valvoline |
| 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | Wynn's, Kmart |
| 88 | Buddy Baker | Baker–Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | Red Baron Frozen Pizza |
| 90 | Benny Parsons | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Bull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce |
| 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 Thursday, April 21, at 2:00 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 Friday, April 22, 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 21-30 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.
Ricky Rudd, driving for King Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 20.734 and an average speed of 91.328 miles per hour (146.978 km/h) in the first round.
Four drivers would fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 26 | Ricky Rudd | King Racing | Buick | 20.734 | 91.328 |
| 2 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 20.787 | 91.095 |
| 3 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 20.799 | 91.043 |
| 4 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 20.814 | 90.977 |
| 5 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20.841 | 90.859 |
| 6 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20.849 | 90.825 |
| 7 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20.854 | 90.803 |
| 8 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 20.899 | 90.607 |
| 9 | 75 | Neil Bonnett | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 20.910 | 90.560 |
| 10 | 67 | Jimmy Hensley | Arrington Racing | Ford | 20.963 | 90.331 |
| 11 | 21 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 20.969 | 90.305 |
| 12 | 90 | Benny Parsons | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 20.971 | 90.296 |
| 13 | 29 | Dale Jarrett | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 20.972 | 90.292 |
| 14 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 20.981 | 90.253 |
| 15 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 20.983 | 90.244 |
| 16 | 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 20.993 | 90.201 |
| 17 | 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 21.011 | 90.124 |
| 18 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 21.017 | 90.098 |
| 19 | 15 | Brett Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 21.019 | 90.090 |
| 20 | 12 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 21.027 | 90.056 |
| Failed to lock in Round 1 |||||||
| 21 | 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 20.782 | 91.117 |
| 22 | 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | 20.823 | 90.938 |
| 23 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 20.835 | 90.886 |
| 24 | 88 | Buddy Baker | Baker–Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | 20.906 | 90.577 |
| 25 | 31 | Brad Teague | Bob Clark Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 21.039 | 90.004 |
| 26 | 28 | Davey Allison | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Ford | 21.073 | 89.859 |
| 27 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 21.077 | 89.842 |
| 28 | 98 | Brad Noffsinger (R) | Curb Racing | Buick | 21.090 | 89.787 |
| 29 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 21.092 | 89.778 |
| 30 | 10 | Ken Bouchard (R) | Whitcomb Racing | Buick | 21.123 | 89.646 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 31 | 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 21.189 | 89.367 |
| 32 | 68 | Derrike Cope | Testa Racing | Ford | 21.135 | 89.595 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 33 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 21.180 | 89.405 |
| 34 | 2 | Ernie Irvan (R) | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | 21.184 | 89.388 |
| 35 | 97 | Rodney Combs | Winkle Motorsports | Buick | 21.368 | 88.618 |
| 36 | 00 | Gary Brooks | Brooks Racing | Chevrolet | 21.646 | 87.480 |
| Official first round qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 14 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 500 | 182 | running | 185 | $53,550 |
| 2 | 21 | 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 500 | 101 | running | 175 | $29,975 |
| 3 | 29 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 499 | 11 | running | 170 | $20,775 |
| 4 | 17 | 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 498 | 1 | running | 165 | $14,550 |
| 5 | 6 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 498 | 0 | running | 155 | $14,250 |
| 6 | 26 | 28 | Davey Allison | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Ford | 498 | 0 | running | 150 | $12,600 |
| 7 | 24 | 88 | Buddy Baker | Baker–Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | 498 | 1 | running | 151 | $8,400 |
| 8 | 20 | 12 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 496 | 0 | running | 142 | $9,000 |
| 9 | 31 | 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 495 | 0 | running | 138 | $6,200 |
| 10 | 7 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 494 | 0 | running | 134 | $10,650 |
| 11 | 15 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 493 | 0 | running | 130 | $10,470 |
| 12 | 18 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 491 | 0 | running | 127 | $5,520 |
| 13 | 13 | 29 | Dale Jarrett | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 491 | 0 | running | 124 | $2,470 |
| 14 | 12 | 90 | Benny Parsons | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 491 | 0 | running | 121 | $5,370 |
| 15 | 5 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 488 | 0 | running | 118 | $6,400 |
| 16 | 2 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 488 | 0 | running | 115 | $12,350 |
| 17 | 11 | 21 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 460 | 0 | running | 112 | $6,780 |
| 18 | 1 | 26 | Ricky Rudd | King Racing | Buick | 446 | 37 | engine | 114 | $8,555 |
| 19 | 25 | 31 | Brad Teague | Bob Clark Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 407 | 0 | running | 106 | $1,725 |
| 20 | 8 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 392 | 0 | engine | 103 | $5,850 |
| 21 | 28 | 98 | Brad Noffsinger (R) | Curb Racing | Buick | 368 | 0 | engine | 100 | $2,850 |
| 22 | 23 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 314 | 0 | engine | 97 | $4,055 |
| 23 | 4 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 309 | 0 | engine | 94 | $2,820 |
| 24 | 10 | 67 | Jimmy Hensley | Arrington Racing | Ford | 290 | 0 | ignition | 0 | $4,245 |
| 25 | 16 | 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 243 | 0 | engine | 88 | $2,375 |
| 26 | 3 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 208 | 167 | engine | 90 | $7,175 |
| 27 | 19 | 15 | Brett Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 205 | 0 | engine | 82 | $8,725 |
| 28 | 22 | 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | 193 | 0 | engine | 79 | $1,400 |
| 29 | 32 | 68 | Derrike Cope | Testa Racing | Ford | 122 | 0 | overheating | 76 | $3,550 |
| 30 | 9 | 75 | Neil Bonnett | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 44 | 0 | engine | 73 | $7,560 |
| 31 | 30 | 10 | Ken Bouchard (R) | Whitcomb Racing | Buick | 42 | 0 | engine | 70 | $1,610 |
| 32 | 27 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 31 | 0 | engine | 67 | $3,510 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 33 | | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 34 | | 2 | Ernie Irvan (R) | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 35 | | 97 | Rodney Combs | Winkle Motorsports | Buick | | | | | |
| 36 | | 00 | Gary Brooks | Brooks Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Dale Earnhardt | 1,244 |
| 2 | 2 | Sterling Marlin | 1,167 (-77) |
| | 3 | Bill Elliott | 1,129 (-115) |
| 2 | 4 | Rusty Wallace | 1,121 (–123) |
| 2 | 5 | Terry Labonte | 1,097 (–147) |
| | 6 | Bobby Allison | 1,085 (–159) |
| 2 | 7 | Neil Bonnett | 1,052 (–192) |
| 3 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | 1,030 (–214) |
| 1 | 9 | Darrell Waltrip | 1,027 (–217) |
| 1 | 10 | Ken Schrader | 1,013 (–231) |
| Official driver's standings ||||