# 1987 AC Delco 500

The 1987 AC Delco 500 was the 27th stock car race of the 1987 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 23rd iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, October 25, 1987, before an audience of 60,000 in Rockingham, North Carolina, at North Carolina Speedway, a 1.017 miles (1.637 km) permanent high-banked racetrack.
By race's end, Melling Racing's Bill Elliott managed to dominate the late stages of the race, leading the final 218 of the 271 laps to take his 22nd career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his fifth victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Richard Childress Racing's Dale Earnhardt and Hendrick Motorsports' Darrell Waltrip finished second and third, respectively.
By starting the race, Dale Earnhardt clinched the NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver's championship, after completing a dominant season. The championship was Earnhardt's third overall driver's championship and his second in a row.

## 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 |
| 1 | Brett Bodine | Ellington Racing | Chevrolet | Bull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce |
| 2 | Kirk Bryant | Bryant Racing | Chevrolet | Bryant Racing |
| 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Wrangler |
| 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Levi Garrett |
| 6 | Connie Saylor | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | U.S. Racing |
| 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | Zerex |
| 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | Miller American |
| 08 | Butch Miller | Throop Racing | Chevrolet | Throop Racing |
| 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | Coors |
| 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | Budweiser |
| 12 | Trevor Boys | 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 | Coats & Clark |
| 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 |
| 41 | Ronnie Thomas | Ronnie Thomas Racing | Chevrolet | Busch Enterprises |
| 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | Piedmont Airlines |
| 50 | Greg Sacks | Dingman Brothers Racing | Pontiac | Valvoline |
| 51 | David Simko | Simko Racing | Chevrolet | Metro 25 Car Care Center |
| 52 | Jimmy Means | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Eureka |
| 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Skoal Classic |
| 62 | Steve Christman (R) | Winkle Motorsports | Pontiac | AC Spark Plug |
| 64 | Curtis Markham | 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 |
| 74 | Bobby Wawak | Wawak Racing | Chevrolet | Wawak Racing |
| 75 | Joe Ruttman | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | Valvoline |
| 76 | Hut Stricklin | Jaehne Motorsports | Chevrolet | Jaehne Motorsports |
| 80 | Eddie Bierschwale | S&H Racing | Chevrolet | S&H Racing |
| 82 | Mark Stahl | Stahl Racing | Ford | Auto Bell Car Wash |
| 88 | Buddy Baker | Baker–Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | Crisco |
| 90 | Ken Schrader | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Red Baron Frozen Pizza |
| 93 | Charlie Baker | Salmon Racing | Chevrolet | Salmon Racing |
| 97 | D. Wayne Strout | Strout Racing | Chevrolet | Strout Racing |

## Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Thursday, October 22, at 4:00 PM 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, October 23, at 2:00 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.
Davey Allison, driving for Ranier-Lundy Racing, managed to win the pole, setting a time of 25.144 and an average speed of 145.609 miles per hour (234.335 km/h) in the first round.
Two drivers failed to qualify. One driver who failed to qualify, D. Wayne Strout, crashed his car in a Friday morning practice session. Strout later reported to The Charlotte Observer that the crash was severe enough to the point where he couldn't remember the crash.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 28 | Davey Allison (R) | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Ford | 25.144 | 145.609 |
| 2 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 25.211 | 145.222 |
| 3 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 25.289 | 144.774 |
| 4 | 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Chevrolet | 25.352 | 144.415 |
| 5 | 22 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 25.364 | 144.346 |
| 6 | 26 | Morgan Shepherd | King Racing | Buick | 25.365 | 144.341 |
| 7 | 15 | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 25.409 | 144.091 |
| 8 | 21 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 25.418 | 144.040 |
| 9 | 1 | Brett Bodine | Ellington Racing | Chevrolet | 25.460 | 143.802 |
| 10 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 25.477 | 143.706 |
| 11 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 25.503 | 143.560 |
| 12 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 25.507 | 143.537 |
| 13 | 75 | Joe Ruttman | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 25.517 | 143.481 |
| 14 | 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 25.522 | 143.453 |
| 15 | 88 | Buddy Baker | Baker–Schiff Racing | Chevrolet | 25.556 | 143.262 |
| 16 | 90 | Ken Schrader | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 25.569 | 143.189 |
| 17 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 25.574 | 143.161 |
| 18 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Chevrolet | 25.650 | 142.737 |
| 19 | 29 | Cale Yarborough | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Chevrolet | 25.661 | 142.676 |
| 20 | 18 | Dale Jarrett (R) | Freedlander Motorsports | Chevrolet | 25.688 | 142.525 |
| 21 | 80 | Eddie Bierschwale | S&H Racing | Chevrolet | 25.734 | 142.271 |
| 22 | 35 | Benny Parsons | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 25.779 | 142.023 |
| 23 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 25.846 | 141.654 |
| 24 | 2 | Kirk Bryant | Bryant Racing | Pontiac | 25.870 | 141.526 |
| 25 | 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Chevrolet | 25.919 | 141.255 |
| 26 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 25.963 | 141.016 |
| 27 | 50 | Greg Sacks | Dingman Brothers Racing | Pontiac | 25.975 | 140.951 |
| 28 | 74 | Bobby Wawak | Wawak Racing | Chevrolet | 26.152 | 139.997 |
| 29 | 67 | Buddy Arrington | Arrington Racing | Ford | 26.239 | 139.533 |
| 30 | 64 | Curtis Markham | Langley Racing | Ford | 26.254 | 139.453 |
| 31 | 41 | Ronnie Thomas | Ronnie Thomas Racing | Chevrolet | 26.291 | 139.257 |
| 32 | 51 | David Simko | Simko Racing | Chevrolet | 26.302 | 139.199 |
| 33 | 6 | Connie Saylor | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | 26.365 | 138.866 |
| 34 | 08 | Butch Miller | Throop Racing | Chevrolet | 26.403 | 138.666 |
| 35 | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | 26.467 | 138.331 |
| 36 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 26.506 | 138.127 |
| 37 | 76 | Hut Stricklin | Jaehne Motorsports | Chevrolet | 26.509 | 138.112 |
| 38 | 82 | Mark Stahl | Stahl Racing | Ford | 26.560 | 137.846 |
| 39 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 26.636 | 137.453 |
| 40 | 12 | Trevor Boys | Hamby Racing | Chevrolet | 26.669 | 137.283 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 41 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 42 | 62 | Steve Christman (R) | Winkle Motorsports | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 43 | 93 | Charlie Baker | Salmon Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 44 | 97 | D. Wayne Strout | Strout Racing | Chevrolet | - | - |
| Official first round qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 3 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 492 | 237 | running | 185 | $50,025 |
| 2 | 2 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 492 | 122 | running | 175 | $38,915 |
| 3 | 10 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 492 | 5 | running | 170 | $16,690 |
| 4 | 14 | 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 492 | 61 | running | 165 | $19,315 |
| 5 | 6 | 26 | Morgan Shepherd | King Racing | Buick | 492 | 30 | running | 160 | $16,160 |
| 6 | 8 | 21 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 492 | 5 | running | 155 | $12,580 |
| 7 | 15 | 88 | Buddy Baker | Baker–Schiff Racing | Chevrolet | 492 | 1 | running | 151 | $7,030 |
| 8 | 12 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 490 | 5 | running | 147 | $11,680 |
| 9 | 25 | 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Chevrolet | 490 | 0 | running | 138 | $6,055 |
| 10 | 13 | 75 | Joe Ruttman | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 490 | 0 | running | 0 | $9,880 |
| 11 | 4 | 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Chevrolet | 489 | 0 | running | 130 | $8,050 |
| 12 | 17 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 489 | 0 | running | 127 | $11,785 |
| 13 | 26 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 489 | 0 | running | 124 | $8,090 |
| 14 | 16 | 90 | Ken Schrader | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 487 | 0 | running | 121 | $7,220 |
| 15 | 22 | 35 | Benny Parsons | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 486 | 0 | running | 118 | $12,725 |
| 16 | 20 | 18 | Dale Jarrett (R) | Freedlander Motorsports | Chevrolet | 486 | 0 | running | 115 | $7,460 |
| 17 | 36 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 486 | 0 | running | 112 | $6,300 |
| 18 | 11 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 485 | 1 | running | 114 | $6,940 |
| 19 | 18 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Chevrolet | 484 | 0 | running | 106 | $5,580 |
| 20 | 39 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 481 | 0 | running | 103 | $5,710 |
| 21 | 40 | 12 | Trevor Boys | Hamby Racing | Chevrolet | 480 | 0 | running | 100 | $4,990 |
| 22 | 41 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 476 | 0 | running | 97 | $4,905 |
| 23 | 21 | 80 | Eddie Bierschwale | S&H Racing | Chevrolet | 475 | 0 | running | 94 | $2,075 |
| 24 | 29 | 67 | Buddy Arrington | Arrington Racing | Ford | 473 | 0 | running | 91 | $4,735 |
| 25 | 33 | 6 | Connie Saylor | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | 460 | 0 | running | 0 | $4,025 |
| 26 | 31 | 41 | Ronnie Thomas | Ronnie Thomas Racing | Chevrolet | 400 | 0 | engine | 85 | $1,875 |
| 27 | 27 | 50 | Greg Sacks | Dingman Brothers Racing | Pontiac | 396 | 0 | running | 82 | $1,850 |
| 28 | 38 | 82 | Mark Stahl | Stahl Racing | Ford | 390 | 0 | running | 79 | $1,775 |
| 29 | 37 | 76 | Hut Stricklin | Jaehne Motorsports | Chevrolet | 383 | 0 | engine | 76 | $1,700 |
| 30 | 30 | 64 | Curtis Markham | Langley Racing | Ford | 346 | 0 | overheating | 73 | $3,650 |
| 31 | 7 | 15 | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 342 | 3 | engine | 75 | $9,985 |
| 32 | 42 | 62 | Steve Christman (R) | Winkle Motorsports | Pontiac | 320 | 0 | crash | 67 | $1,535 |
| 33 | 23 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 299 | 0 | engine | 64 | $11,465 |
| 34 | 24 | 2 | Kirk Bryant | Bryant Racing | Pontiac | 205 | 0 | engine | 61 | $1,415 |
| 35 | 32 | 51 | David Simko | Simko Racing | Chevrolet | 184 | 0 | engine | 58 | $1,365 |
| 36 | 28 | 74 | Bobby Wawak | Wawak Racing | Chevrolet | 168 | 0 | engine | 55 | $1,335 |
| 37 | 19 | 29 | Cale Yarborough | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Chevrolet | 151 | 0 | engine | 52 | $1,310 |
| 38 | 5 | 22 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 135 | 0 | engine | 49 | $9,785 |
| 39 | 34 | 08 | Butch Miller | Throop Racing | Chevrolet | 125 | 0 | transmission | 46 | $1,260 |
| 40 | 35 | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | 116 | 0 | engine | 43 | $1,235 |
| 41 | 9 | 1 | Brett Bodine | Ellington Racing | Chevrolet | 110 | 0 | crash | 40 | $1,235 |
| 42 | 1 | 28 | Davey Allison (R) | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Ford | 74 | 22 | gear | 42 | $5,985 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 43 | | 93 | Charlie Baker | Salmon Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 44 | | 97 | D. Wayne Strout | Strout Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Dale Earnhardt | 4,443 |
| | 2 | Bill Elliott | 3,928 (-515) |
| | 3 | Terry Labonte | 3,776 (-667) |
| | 4 | Darrell Waltrip | 3,647 (–796) |
| 1 | 5 | Rusty Wallace | 3,511 (–932) |
| 1 | 6 | Ricky Rudd | 3,497 (–946) |
| | 7 | Richard Petty | 3,475 (–968) |
| 1 | 8 | Kyle Petty | 3,448 (–995) |
| 1 | 9 | Neil Bonnett | 3,352 (–1,091) |
| 1 | 10 | Ken Schrader | 3,266 (–1,177) |
| Official driver's standings ||||