# 1996 NAPA 500

The 1996 NAPA 500 was the 31st and final stock car race of the 1996 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 37th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, November 10, 1996, in Hampton, Georgia at Atlanta Motor Speedway, a 1.522 miles (2.449 km) permanent asphalt quad-oval intermediate speedway. The race took the scheduled 328 laps to complete. At race's end, Joe Gibbs Racing driver Bobby Labonte would manage to dominate for a majority of the race to take his fourth career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his only victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Robert Yates Racing driver Dale Jarrett and Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon would finish second and third, respectively.
In the process, Hendrick Motorsports driver Terry Labonte, needing an eighth-place finish or better to clinch the championship, would ride to a fifth-place finish, finishing ahead of runner-up Jeff Gordon, Labonte's teammate by 37 points. The championship was Labonte's second and final championship of his career.

## Background

Atlanta Motor Speedway (formerly Atlanta International Raceway) is a 1.522-mile race track in Hampton, Georgia, United States, 20 miles (32 km) south of Atlanta. It has annually hosted NASCAR Winston Cup Series stock car races since its inauguration in 1960.
The venue was bought by Speedway Motorsports in 1990. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track. In 1997, to standardize the track with Speedway Motorsports' other two intermediate ovals, the entire track was almost completely rebuilt. The frontstretch and backstretch were swapped, and the configuration of the track was changed from oval to quad-oval, with a new official length of 1.54-mile (2.48 km) where before it was 1.522-mile (2.449 km). The project made the track one of the fastest on the NASCAR circuit.

### 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 |
| 02 | Randy Baker | Miles Motorsports | Chevrolet | Miles Motorsports |
| 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 | Badcock Home Furniture |
| 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 | Loy Allen Jr. | TriStar Motorsports | Ford | HealthSource RI |
| 20 | Elton Sawyer | Ranier-Walsh Racing | Ford | LaFayette Ford |
| 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Citgo, Star Trek: First Contact |
| 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 | Ron Barfield Jr. | David Blair Motorsports | Ford | David Blair Motorsports |
| 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Texaco, Havoline |
| 29 | Robert Pressley | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | Cartoon Network, The Flintstones |
| 30 | Johnny Benson Jr. (R) | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | Pennzoil |
| 33 | Todd Bodine | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | Skoal |
| 37 | Jeremy Mayfield | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | Kmart, Little Caesars |
| 40 | Greg Sacks | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | First Union |
| 41 | Ricky Craven | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kodiak |
| 42 | Kyle Petty | Team SABCO | Pontiac | Coors Light |
| 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 52 | Jack Sprague | Ken Schrader Racing | Pontiac | Pedigree, Kal Kan |
| 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 |
| 78 | Billy Standridge | Triad Motorsports | Ford | Diamond Rio |
| 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 | Dick Trickle | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Heilig-Meyers |
| 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | McDonald's |
| 95 | Gary Bradberry | Sadler Brothers Racing | Ford | Shoney's Inn |
| 97 | Chad Little | Mark Rypien Motorsports | Pontiac | Sterling Cowboy |
| 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, November 8, at 2:30 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, November 9, at 11:00 AM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 26-38 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.
Bobby Labonte, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 29.476 and an average speed of 185.887 miles per hour (299.156 km/h).
Six drivers would fail to qualify: Derrike Cope, Jeremy Mayfield, Dick Trickle, Kenny Wallace, Ron Barfield Jr., and Kyle Petty.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 29.476 | 185.887 |
| 2 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.571 | 185.290 |
| 3 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.688 | 184.559 |
| 4 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 29.693 | 184.528 |
| 5 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 29.757 | 184.131 |
| 6 | 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 29.775 | 184.020 |
| 7 | 33 | Todd Bodine | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 29.800 | 183.866 |
| 8 | 40 | Greg Sacks | Team SABCO | Pontiac | 29.817 | 183.761 |
| 9 | 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 29.874 | 183.410 |
| 10 | 97 | Chad Little | Mark Rypien Motorsports | Pontiac | 29.880 | 183.373 |
| 11 | 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 29.886 | 183.337 |
| 12 | 52 | Jack Sprague | Ken Schrader Racing | Pontiac | 29.891 | 183.306 |
| 13 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 29.906 | 183.214 |
| 14 | 95 | Gary Bradberry | Sadler Brothers Racing | Ford | 29.910 | 183.190 |
| 15 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Pontiac | 29.911 | 183.183 |
| 16 | 30 | Johnny Benson Jr. (R) | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 29.914 | 183.165 |
| 17 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 29.928 | 183.079 |
| 18 | 29 | Robert Pressley | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.928 | 183.079 |
| 19 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 29.930 | 183.067 |
| 20 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | 29.936 | 183.030 |
| 21 | 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.941 | 183.000 |
| 22 | 78 | Billy Standridge | Triad Motorsports | Ford | 29.948 | 182.957 |
| 23 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 29.970 | 182.823 |
| 24 | 20 | Elton Sawyer | Ranier-Walsh Racing | Ford | 29.971 | 182.817 |
| 25 | 77 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 29.973 | 182.805 |
| 26 | 41 | Ricky Craven | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.798 | 183.878 |
| 27 | 02 | Randy Baker | Miles Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.914 | 183.165 |
| 28 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 29.983 | 182.744 |
| 29 | 19 | Loy Allen Jr. | TriStar Motorsports | Ford | 30.017 | 182.537 |
| 30 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 30.031 | 182.451 |
| 31 | 98 | John Andretti | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 30.033 | 182.439 |
| 32 | 15 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 30.037 | 182.415 |
| 33 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 30.045 | 182.366 |
| 34 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.058 | 182.288 |
| 35 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 30.064 | 182.251 |
| 36 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 30.066 | 182.239 |
| 37 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.088 | 182.106 |
| 38 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | 30.092 | 182.082 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 39 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 40 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 41 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | -* | -* |
| 42 | 75 | Morgan Shepherd | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 43 | 12 | Derrike Cope | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| 44 | 37 | Jeremy Mayfield | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 45 | 90 | Dick Trickle | Donlavey Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 46 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 47 | 27 | Ron Barfield Jr. | David Blair Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| 48 | 42 | Kyle Petty | Team SABCO | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| Official first round qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 1 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 328 | 147 | running | 185 | $274,900 |
| 2 | 5 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 328 | 0 | running | 170 | $59,500 |
| 3 | 2 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 328 | 59 | running | 170 | $71,600 |
| 4 | 17 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 328 | 4 | running | 165 | $47,400 |
| 5 | 3 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 328 | 28 | running | 160 | $48,800 |
| 6 | 9 | 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 328 | 13 | running | 155 | $40,000 |
| 7 | 4 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 328 | 14 | running | 151 | $37,880 |
| 8 | 28 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 328 | 0 | running | 142 | $34,100 |
| 9 | 40 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 328 | 1 | running | 143 | $26,075 |
| 10 | 30 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 328 | 0 | running | 134 | $34,000 |
| 11 | 33 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 328 | 0 | running | 130 | $29,125 |
| 12 | 23 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 328 | 7 | running | 132 | $33,000 |
| 13 | 15 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Pontiac | 328 | 0 | running | 124 | $30,375 |
| 14 | 41 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 328 | 0 | running | 121 | $27,950 |
| 15 | 34 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 328 | 0 | running | 118 | $34,025 |
| 16 | 25 | 77 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 328 | 0 | running | 115 | $20,150 |
| 17 | 11 | 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 328 | 0 | running | 112 | $19,730 |
| 18 | 8 | 40 | Greg Sacks | Team SABCO | Pontiac | 327 | 0 | running | 109 | $15,315 |
| 19 | 20 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | 327 | 1 | running | 111 | $26,175 |
| 20 | 13 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 327 | 0 | running | 103 | $27,360 |
| 21 | 19 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 327 | 2 | running | 105 | $25,445 |
| 22 | 10 | 97 | Chad Little | Mark Rypien Motorsports | Pontiac | 327 | 0 | running | 97 | $14,230 |
| 23 | 24 | 20 | Elton Sawyer | Ranier-Walsh Racing | Ford | 327 | 0 | running | 94 | $14,015 |
| 24 | 31 | 98 | John Andretti | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 326 | 0 | running | 91 | $17,400 |
| 25 | 36 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 325 | 0 | running | 88 | $17,285 |
| 26 | 38 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | 325 | 0 | running | 85 | $28,470 |
| 27 | 16 | 30 | Johnny Benson Jr. (R) | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 325 | 0 | running | 82 | $24,755 |
| 28 | 42 | 75 | Morgan Shepherd | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 322 | 0 | running | 79 | $16,540 |
| 29 | 22 | 78 | Billy Standridge | Triad Motorsports | Ford | 321 | 0 | running | 76 | $13,180 |
| 30 | 39 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 319 | 0 | running | 73 | $23,305 |
| 31 | 35 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 316 | 0 | running | 70 | $23,140 |
| 32 | 7 | 33 | Todd Bodine | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 312 | 0 | running | 67 | $22,975 |
| 33 | 18 | 29 | Robert Pressley | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | 303 | 0 | running | 64 | $22,910 |
| 34 | 21 | 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | 281 | 0 | running | 61 | $22,345 |
| 35 | 26 | 41 | Ricky Craven | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 259 | 2 | engine | 63 | $21,980 |
| 36 | 6 | 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 255 | 50 | crash | 60 | $44,215 |
| 37 | 37 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 196 | 0 | handling | 52 | $19,685 |
| 38 | 14 | 95 | Gary Bradberry | Sadler Brothers Racing | Ford | 194 | 0 | oil leak | 49 | $12,550 |
| 39 | 29 | 19 | Loy Allen Jr. | TriStar Motorsports | Ford | 192 | 0 | crash | 46 | $12,550 |
| 40 | 32 | 15 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 190 | 0 | crash | 43 | $19,550 |
| 41 | 27 | 02 | Randy Baker | Miles Motorsports | Chevrolet | 51 | 0 | crash | 40 | $12,550 |
| 42 | 12 | 52 | Jack Sprague | Ken Schrader Racing | Pontiac | 23 | 0 | crash | 37 | $12,550 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 43 | | 12 | Derrike Cope | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| 44 | | 37 | Jeremy Mayfield | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 45 | | 90 | Dick Trickle | Donlavey Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 46 | | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 47 | | 27 | Ron Barfield Jr. | David Blair Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| 48 | | 42 | Kyle Petty | Team SABCO | Pontiac | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||