# 1996 Food City 500

The 1996 Food City 500 was the sixth stock car race of the 1996 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 36th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, March 31, 1996, in Bristol, Tennessee at Bristol Motor Speedway, a 0.533 miles (0.858 km) permanent oval-shaped racetrack. The race was shortened from its scheduled 500 laps to 342 laps due to rain. At race's end, Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon would manage to dominate a majority of the race to take his 12th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his third victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Hendrick Motorsports driver Terry Labonte and Roush Racing driver Mark Martin would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

The Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway, is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961. Despite its short length, Bristol is among the most popular tracks on the NASCAR schedule because of its distinct features, which include extraordinarily steep banking, an all concrete surface, two pit roads, and stadium-like seating. It has also been named one of the loudest NASCAR tracks.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Pontiac | Hooters |
| 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | Miller |
| 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | GM Goodwrench Service Plus |
| 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kodak |
| 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kellogg's Frosted Flakes |
| 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | Valvoline |
| 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | QVC |
| 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | Circuit City |
| 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | Spam |
| 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | Tide |
| 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | Lowe's |
| 12 | Derrike Cope | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Ford | Mane 'n Tail |
| 15 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | Hayes Modems |
| 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | PrimeStar, The Family Channel |
| 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | Parts America |
| 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | Interstate Batteries |
| 19 | Dick Trickle | TriStar Motorsports | Ford | HealthSource RI |
| 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Citgo |
| 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | MBNA |
| 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | Camel Cigarettes |
| 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | DuPont |
| 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Budweiser |
| 27 | Elton Sawyer | David Blair Motorsports | Ford | David Blair Motorsports |
| 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Texaco, Havoline |
| 29 | Steve Grissom | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | Cartoon Network, The Flintstones |
| 30 | Johnny Benson Jr. (R) | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | Pennzoil |
| 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Team Realtree |
| 33 | Robert Pressley | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Chevrolet | Skoal |
| 37 | Jeremy Mayfield | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | Kmart, Little Caesars |
| 41 | Ricky Craven | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kodiak |
| 42 | Kyle Petty | Team SABCO | Pontiac | Coors Light Silver Bullet |
| 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Prodigy |
| 75 | Morgan Shepherd | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | Remington Arms |
| 77 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | Jasper Engines & Transmissions |
| 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | Square D, TIC Financial Systems |
| 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | Burger King |
| 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Quality Care Service, Ford Credit |
| 90 | Mike Wallace | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Heilig-Meyers |
| 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | McDonald's |
| 95 | Chuck Bown | Sadler Brothers Racing | Ford | Shoney's Inn |
| 98 | Jeremy Mayfield | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | RCA |
| 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | Exide |

## Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, March 29, at 3:00 PM EST. Each driver would have one lap to set a time. During the first round, the top 25 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, March 30, at 12:30 PM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 26-32 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.
Mark Martin, driving for Roush Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 15.527 and an average speed of 123.578 miles per hour (198.880 km/h).
Six drivers would fail to qualify: Mike Wallace, John Andretti, Johnny Benson Jr., Dave Marcis, Bobby Hillin Jr., and Chuck Bown.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 15.527 | 123.578 |
| 2 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.610 | 122.921 |
| 3 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.627 | 122.787 |
| 4 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.637 | 122.709 |
| 5 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 15.653 | 122.584 |
| 6 | 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 15.653 | 122.584 |
| 7 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 15.657 | 122.552 |
| 8 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.677 | 122.396 |
| 9 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 15.678 | 122.388 |
| 10 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | 15.690 | 122.294 |
| 11 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 15.704 | 122.185 |
| 12 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 15.709 | 122.147 |
| 13 | 41 | Ricky Craven | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.710 | 122.139 |
| 14 | 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 15.713 | 122.115 |
| 15 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 15.716 | 122.092 |
| 16 | 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 15.726 | 122.014 |
| 17 | 12 | Derrike Cope | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Ford | 15.727 | 122.007 |
| 18 | 75 | Morgan Shepherd | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 15.728 | 121.999 |
| 19 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 15.730 | 121.983 |
| 20 | 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.743 | 121.883 |
| 21 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | 15.744 | 121.875 |
| 22 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 15.760 | 121.751 |
| 23 | 33 | Robert Pressley | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.761 | 121.744 |
| 24 | 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 15.765 | 121.713 |
| 25 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 15.770 | 121.674 |
| Failed to lock in Round 1 |||||||
| 26 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | 15.774 | 121.643 |
| 27 | 27 | Elton Sawyer | David Blair Motorsports | Ford | 15.790 | 121.520 |
| 28 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.791 | 121.512 |
| 29 | 19 | Dick Trickle | TriStar Motorsports | Ford | 15.804 | 121.412 |
| 30 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 15.806 | 121.397 |
| 31 | 15 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 15.832 | 121.198 |
| 32 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Pontiac | 15.838 | 121.152 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 33 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 15.947 | 120.324 |
| 34 | 42 | Kyle Petty | Team SABCO | Pontiac | 15.989 | 120.008 |
| 35 | 98 | Jeremy Mayfield | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 15.856 | 121.014 |
| 36 | 29 | Steve Grissom | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.864 | 120.953 |
| 37 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 15.991 | 119.992 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 38 | 90 | Mike Wallace | Donlavey Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 39 | 37 | John Andretti | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 40 | 30 | Johnny Benson Jr. (R) | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| 41 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 42 | 77 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| 43 | 95 | Chuck Bown | Sadler Brothers Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| Official first round qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 8 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 342 | 148 | running | 185 | $93,765 |
| 2 | 2 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 342 | 0 | running | 170 | $54,215 |
| 3 | 1 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 342 | 59 | running | 170 | $44,815 |
| 4 | 19 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 342 | 0 | running | 160 | $35,351 |
| 5 | 11 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 342 | 76 | running | 160 | $29,895 |
| 6 | 7 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 342 | 0 | running | 150 | $26,395 |
| 7 | 5 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 341 | 2 | running | 151 | $28,895 |
| 8 | 29 | 19 | Dick Trickle | TriStar Motorsports | Ford | 341 | 0 | running | 142 | $15,495 |
| 9 | 13 | 41 | Ricky Craven | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 341 | 0 | running | 138 | $25,190 |
| 10 | 25 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 340 | 0 | running | 134 | $27,040 |
| 11 | 14 | 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 340 | 0 | running | 130 | $16,190 |
| 12 | 32 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Pontiac | 340 | 0 | running | 127 | $23,340 |
| 13 | 15 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 340 | 0 | running | 124 | $22,565 |
| 14 | 9 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 340 | 9 | running | 126 | $26,115 |
| 15 | 34 | 42 | Kyle Petty | Team SABCO | Pontiac | 340 | 0 | running | 118 | $23,265 |
| 16 | 16 | 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 340 | 0 | running | 115 | $25,890 |
| 17 | 23 | 33 | Robert Pressley | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Chevrolet | 340 | 0 | running | 112 | $21,940 |
| 18 | 4 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 340 | 0 | running | 109 | $27,490 |
| 19 | 21 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | 340 | 0 | running | 106 | $14,780 |
| 20 | 22 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 339 | 0 | running | 103 | $23,321 |
| 21 | 35 | 98 | Jeremy Mayfield | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 338 | 0 | running | 100 | $14,215 |
| 22 | 17 | 12 | Derrike Cope | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Ford | 338 | 0 | running | 97 | $21,065 |
| 23 | 33 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 338 | 0 | running | 94 | $10,415 |
| 24 | 31 | 15 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 338 | 0 | running | 91 | $20,840 |
| 25 | 30 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 336 | 0 | running | 88 | $20,895 |
| 26 | 3 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 333 | 0 | crash | 85 | $21,865 |
| 27 | 36 | 29 | Steve Grissom | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | 326 | 0 | running | 82 | $20,441 |
| 28 | 37 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 324 | 38 | running | 84 | $20,290 |
| 29 | 28 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 305 | 0 | running | 76 | $20,160 |
| 30 | 18 | 75 | Morgan Shepherd | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 304 | 0 | running | 73 | $12,835 |
| 31 | 20 | 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | 261 | 0 | running | 70 | $18,835 |
| 32 | 24 | 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 203 | 0 | running | 67 | $15,835 |
| 33 | 12 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 200 | 0 | running | 64 | $24,785 |
| 34 | 10 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | 184 | 0 | running | 61 | $8,835 |
| 35 | 26 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | 152 | 0 | running | 58 | $15,835 |
| 36 | 6 | 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 72 | 10 | crash | 60 | $8,835 |
| 37 | 27 | 27 | Elton Sawyer | David Blair Motorsports | Ford | 29 | 0 | crash | 52 | $8,835 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 38 | | 90 | Mike Wallace | Donlavey Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 39 | | 37 | John Andretti | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 40 | | 30 | Johnny Benson Jr. (R) | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 41 | | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 42 | | 77 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| 43 | | 95 | Chuck Bown | Sadler Brothers Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||