# 1995 DieHard 500

The 1995 DieHard 500 was the 18th stock car race of the 1995 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 27th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, July 23, 1995, in Lincoln, Alabama, at Talladega Superspeedway, a 2.66-mile (4.28 km) permanent triangle-shaped superspeedway. The race took the scheduled 188 laps to complete. At race's end, Morgan–McClure Motorsports driver Sterling Marlin would manage to dominate the late stages of the race to take his fourth career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his third and final victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Robert Yates Racing driver Dale Jarrett and Richard Childress Racing driver Dale Earnhardt would finish second and third, respectively.
On lap 139 of the race, a 13-car pileup started when Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon tapped the left rear of teammate Ken Schrader, sending Schrader airborne. Schrader proceeded to flip numerous times end over end. In the carnage, 12 other cars suffered damage. Schrader suffered a bruised right eye in the wreck.

## Background

Talladega Superspeedway, originally known as Alabama International Motor Superspeedway (AIMS), is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base in the small city of Lincoln. The track is a tri-oval and was constructed in the 1960s by the International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France family. Talladega is most known for its steep banking and the unique location of the start/finish line that's located just past the exit to pit road. The track currently hosts the NASCAR series such as the NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series and the Camping World Truck Series. Talladega is the longest NASCAR oval, a 2.66-mile-long (4.28 km) tri-oval like the Daytona International Speedway, which also is a 2.5-mile-long (4.0 km) tri-oval.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 0 | Delma Cowart | H. L. Waters Racing | Ford | Masters Inn Economy |
| 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Pontiac | Skoal |
| 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | Miller Genuine Draft |
| 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 | Exide |
| 8 | Jeff Burton | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | Raybestos |
| 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | Spam |
| 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | Tide |
| 11 | Brett Bodine | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | Lowe's |
| 12 | Derrike Cope | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Ford | Mane 'n Tail |
| 15 | Dick Trickle | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | Ford Quality Care |
| 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | The Family Channel |
| 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | Western Auto |
| 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | Interstate Batteries |
| 19 | Loy Allen Jr. | TriStar Motorsports | Ford | HealthSource RI |
| 21 | Morgan Shepherd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Citgo |
| 22 | Jimmy Hensley | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | MBNA |
| 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | Smokin' Joe's |
| 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | DuPont |
| 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Budweiser |
| 26 | Hut Stricklin | King Racing | Ford | Quaker State |
| 27 | Elton Sawyer | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | Hooters |
| 28 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Texaco, Havoline |
| 29 | Steve Grissom | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | Meineke |
| 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | Pennzoil |
| 31 | Ward Burton | A.G. Dillard Motorsports | Chevrolet | Hardee's |
| 32 | Chuck Bown | Active Motorsports | Chevrolet | FINA |
| 33 | Robert Pressley (R) | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Chevrolet | Skoal Bandit |
| 37 | John Andretti | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | Little Caesars, Kmart |
| 40 | Randy LaJoie | Dick Brooks Racing | Pontiac | Kendall |
| 41 | Ricky Craven (R) | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kodiak |
| 42 | Kyle Petty | Team SABCO | Pontiac | Coors Light Silver Bullet |
| 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 44 | Jeff Purvis | Phoenix Racing | Ford | Jackaroo Barby-Q-Sauce |
| 65 | Steve Seligman | O'Neil Racing | Chevrolet | X-1R |
| 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Southwest Technical Group |
| 75 | Todd Bodine | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | Factory Stores of America |
| 77 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | US Airways, Jasper Engines & Transmissions |
| 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | Burger King |
| 90 | Mike Wallace | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Heilig-Meyers |
| 94 | Bill Elliott | Elliott-Hardy Racing | Ford | McDonald's |
| 97 | Chad Little | Mark Rypien Motorsports | Ford | Neutrogena, Lever 2000 |
| 98 | Jeremy Mayfield | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | RCA |

## Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, July 21, at 4:00 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 Saturday, July 22, at 11:45 AM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 21-38 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; which was usually four. 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.
Sterling Marlin, driving for Morgan–McClure Motorsports, would win the pole, setting a time of 49.307 and an average speed of 194.212 miles per hour (312.554 km/h) in the first round.
Three drivers would fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 49.307 | 194.212 |
| 2 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 49.412 | 193.799 |
| 3 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 49.427 | 193.740 |
| 4 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 49.448 | 193.658 |
| 5 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 49.450 | 193.650 |
| 6 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 49.482 | 193.525 |
| 7 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 49.494 | 193.478 |
| 8 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 49.506 | 193.433 |
| 9 | 37 | John Andretti | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | 49.518 | 193.384 |
| 10 | 33 | Robert Pressley (R) | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Chevrolet | 49.564 | 193.205 |
| 11 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 49.570 | 193.181 |
| 12 | 44 | Jeff Purvis | Phoenix Racing | Chevrolet | 49.570 | 193.181 |
| 13 | 28 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 49.582 | 193.135 |
| 14 | 75 | Todd Bodine | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 49.602 | 193.057 |
| 15 | 19 | Loy Allen Jr. | TriStar Motorsports | Ford | 49.630 | 192.948 |
| 16 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Ford | 49.665 | 192.812 |
| 17 | 15 | Dick Trickle | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 49.681 | 192.750 |
| 18 | 40 | Randy LaJoie | Dick Brooks Racing | Pontiac | 49.705 | 192.657 |
| 19 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | 49.746 | 192.498 |
| 20 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | 49.782 | 192.359 |
| Failed to lock in Round 1 |||||||
| 21 | 98 | Jeremy Mayfield | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 49.834 | 192.158 |
| 22 | 97 | Chad Little | Mark Rypien Motorsports | Ford | 49.845 | 192.116 |
| 23 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 49.850 | 192.096 |
| 24 | 21 | Morgan Shepherd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 49.860 | 192.058 |
| 25 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 49.870 | 192.019 |
| 26 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 49.894 | 191.927 |
| 27 | 26 | Hut Stricklin | King Racing | Ford | 49.907 | 191.877 |
| 28 | 27 | Elton Sawyer | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 49.976 | 191.612 |
| 29 | 41 | Ricky Craven (R) | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 50.006 | 191.497 |
| 30 | 77 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 50.081 | 191.210 |
| 31 | 29 | Steve Grissom | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | 50.094 | 191.161 |
| 32 | 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | 50.116 | 191.077 |
| 33 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 50.135 | 191.004 |
| 34 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 50.141 | 190.981 |
| 35 | 90 | Mike Wallace | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 50.170 | 190.871 |
| 36 | 32 | Chuck Bown | Active Motorsports | Chevrolet | 50.183 | 190.822 |
| 37 | 8 | Jeff Burton | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 50.185 | 190.814 |
| 38 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 50.191 | 190.791 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 39 | 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| 40 | 12 | Derrike Cope | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| 41 | 42 | Kyle Petty | Team SABCO | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| 42 | 31 | Ward Burton | A.G. Dillard Motorsports | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| Champion's Provisional |||||||
| 43 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Elliott-Hardy Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 44 | 22 | Jimmy Hensley | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| 45 | 0 | Delma Cowart | H. L. Waters Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 46 | 65 | Steve Seligman | O'Neil Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| Official first round qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 1 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 188 | 57 | running | 180 | $219,425 |
| 2 | 13 | 28 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 188 | 0 | running | 170 | $65,895 |
| 3 | 5 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 188 | 20 | running | 170 | $57,105 |
| 4 | 24 | 21 | Morgan Shepherd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 188 | 1 | running | 165 | $40,805 |
| 5 | 43 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Elliott-Hardy Racing | Ford | 188 | 4 | running | 160 | $32,325 |
| 6 | 41 | 42 | Kyle Petty | Team SABCO | Pontiac | 188 | 0 | running | 150 | $34,100 |
| 7 | 11 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 188 | 2 | running | 151 | $31,875 |
| 8 | 3 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 188 | 97 | running | 152 | $42,375 |
| 9 | 7 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 188 | 4 | running | 143 | $24,695 |
| 10 | 23 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 187 | 0 | running | 134 | $22,925 |
| 11 | 33 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 187 | 0 | running | 130 | $23,755 |
| 12 | 35 | 90 | Mike Wallace | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 187 | 0 | running | 127 | $18,375 |
| 13 | 21 | 98 | Jeremy Mayfield | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 187 | 0 | running | 124 | $18,055 |
| 14 | 28 | 27 | Elton Sawyer | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 187 | 0 | running | 121 | $21,885 |
| 15 | 40 | 12 | Derrike Cope | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Ford | 187 | 0 | running | 118 | $18,610 |
| 16 | 30 | 77 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 187 | 0 | running | 115 | $13,575 |
| 17 | 16 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Ford | 187 | 0 | running | 112 | $22,110 |
| 18 | 22 | 97 | Chad Little | Mark Rypien Motorsports | Ford | 186 | 0 | running | 109 | $14,105 |
| 19 | 25 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 186 | 0 | running | 106 | $16,725 |
| 20 | 42 | 31 | Ward Burton | A.G. Dillard Motorsports | Chevrolet | 186 | 0 | running | 103 | $18,135 |
| 21 | 39 | 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 186 | 0 | running | 100 | $16,105 |
| 22 | 37 | 8 | Jeff Burton | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 186 | 0 | running | 97 | $20,875 |
| 23 | 32 | 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | 186 | 0 | running | 94 | $12,470 |
| 24 | 19 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | 185 | 0 | running | 91 | $26,815 |
| 25 | 31 | 29 | Steve Grissom | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | 185 | 0 | running | 88 | $15,585 |
| 26 | 29 | 41 | Ricky Craven (R) | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 185 | 0 | running | 85 | $16,060 |
| 27 | 10 | 33 | Robert Pressley (R) | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Chevrolet | 183 | 0 | running | 82 | $20,390 |
| 28 | 34 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 181 | 0 | running | 79 | $24,820 |
| 29 | 14 | 75 | Todd Bodine | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 162 | 0 | crash | 76 | $19,750 |
| 30 | 26 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 158 | 0 | crash | 73 | $26,880 |
| 31 | 2 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 144 | 2 | crash | 75 | $25,090 |
| 32 | 4 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 138 | 0 | crash | 67 | $20,120 |
| 33 | 38 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 138 | 0 | crash | 64 | $26,240 |
| 34 | 9 | 37 | John Andretti | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | 138 | 0 | crash | 61 | $11,395 |
| 35 | 20 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | 138 | 0 | crash | 58 | $11,365 |
| 36 | 27 | 26 | Hut Stricklin | King Racing | Ford | 126 | 1 | engine | 60 | $16,320 |
| 37 | 36 | 32 | Chuck Bown | Active Motorsports | Chevrolet | 107 | 0 | crash | 52 | $11,306 |
| 38 | 17 | 15 | Dick Trickle | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 103 | 0 | engine | 49 | $16,175 |
| 39 | 15 | 19 | Loy Allen Jr. | TriStar Motorsports | Ford | 97 | 0 | engine | 46 | $11,175 |
| 40 | 18 | 40 | Randy LaJoie | Dick Brooks Racing | Pontiac | 96 | 0 | transmission | 43 | $16,175 |
| 41 | 6 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 68 | 0 | piston | 40 | $24,175 |
| 42 | 12 | 44 | Jeff Purvis | Phoenix Racing | Chevrolet | 50 | 0 | engine | 37 | $11,175 |
| 43 | 8 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 45 | 0 | engine | 34 | $16,675 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 44 | | 22 | Jimmy Hensley | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 45 | | 0 | Delma Cowart | H. L. Waters Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 46 | | 65 | Steve Seligman | O'Neil Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Media
### Television

The Diehard 500 was covered by CBS in the United States. Ken Squier, two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Ned Jarrett and 1974 race winner Richard Petty called the race from the broadcast booth. Mike Joy, David Hobbs and Dick Berggren handled pit road for the television side. This would be the last race Richard Petty would call for CBS as he would be replaced by Buddy Baker from 1996.
CBS :
| Booth announcers | Booth announcers | Pit reporters |
| Lap-by-lap | Color-commentators | Pit reporters |
| Ken Squier | Ned Jarrett Richard Petty | Mike Joy David Hobbs Dick Berggren |