# 1994 First Union 400

The 1994 First Union 400 was the seventh stock car race of the 1994 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 44th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, April 17, 1994, in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina at the North Wilkesboro Speedway, a 0.625 miles (1.006 km) oval short track. The race took the scheduled 400 laps to complete. In a late-race charge, Hendrick Motorsports driver Terry Labonte would make a pass for the lead with 30 to go and hold off the field to take his 12th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory, his first victory of the season, and his first win in 135 races, having not won since the 1989 Talladega DieHard 500. To fill out the top three, Penske Racing South driver Rusty Wallace and Robert Yates Racing driver Ernie Irvan would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

North Wilkesboro Speedway is a short oval racetrack located on U.S. Route 421, about five miles east of the town of North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, or 80 miles north of Charlotte. It measures 0.625 mi (1.006 km) and features a unique uphill backstretch and downhill frontstretch. It has previously held races in NASCAR's top three series, including 93 Winston Cup Series races. The track, a NASCAR original, operated from 1949, NASCAR's inception, until the track's original closure in 1996. The speedway briefly reopened in 2010 and hosted several stock car series races before closing again in the spring of 2011. It was re-opened in August 2022 for grassroots racing.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Ford | Skoal |
| 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | Miller Genuine Draft |
| 02 | Curtis Markham | Taylor Racing | Ford | Children's Miracle Network Hospitals |
| 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 (R) | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | Raybestos |
| 9 | Rich Bickle | Melling Racing | Ford | Melling Racing |
| 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | Tide |
| 11 | Bill Elliott | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | Budweiser |
| 12 | Chuck Bown | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Ford | Bobby Allison Motorsports |
| 14 | John Andretti (R) | Hagan Racing | Chevrolet | Hagan Racing |
| 15 | Lake Speed | 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 | Dale Jarrett | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | Interstate Batteries |
| 19 | Loy Allen Jr. (R) | TriStar Motorsports | Ford | Hooters |
| 21 | Morgan Shepherd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Citgo |
| 22 | Bobby Labonte | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | Maxwell House |
| 23 | Hut Stricklin | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | Smokin' Joe's |
| 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | DuPont |
| 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kodiak |
| 26 | Brett Bodine | King Racing | Ford | Quaker State |
| 27 | Jimmy Spencer | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | McDonald's |
| 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Texaco, Havoline |
| 29 | Steve Grissom | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | Diamond Ridge Motorsports |
| 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | Pennzoil |
| 31 | Ward Burton | A.G. Dillard Motorsports | Chevrolet | Hardee's |
| 32 | Dick Trickle | Active Motorsports | Chevrolet | Active Motorsports |
| 33 | Harry Gant | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Chevrolet | Skoal Bandit |
| 40 | Bobby Hamilton | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | Kendall |
| 41 | Joe Nemechek (R) | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Meineke |
| 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | Mello Yello |
| 43 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 52 | Mike Skinner | Jimmy Means Racing | Ford | NAPA Auto Parts |
| 55 | Jimmy Hensley | RaDiUs Motorsports | Ford | Petron Plus |
| 62 | Freddie Query | Gray Racing | Ford | Kenova |
| 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet |
| 75 | Todd Bodine | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | Factory Stores of America |
| 77 | Greg Sacks | U.S. Motorsports Inc. | Ford | US Airways |
| 78 | Jay Hedgecock | Triad Motorsports | Ford | Triad Motorsports |
| 90 | Mike Wallace (R) | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Heilig-Meyers |
| 95 | Jeremy Mayfield (R) | Sadler Brothers Racing | Ford | Shoney's Inn |
| 98 | Derrike Cope | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | Fingerhut |

## Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, April 15, at 3:00 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, April 16, at 12:15 PM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 21-34 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 two. 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.
Ernie Irvan, driving for Robert Yates Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 18.905 and an average speed of 119.016 miles per hour (191.538 km/h) in the first round.
Ten drivers would fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 18.905 | 119.016 |
| 2 | 26 | Brett Bodine | King Racing | Ford | 18.934 | 118.834 |
| 3 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 18.939 | 118.802 |
| 4 | 11 | Bill Elliott | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 18.987 | 118.502 |
| 5 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | 19.011 | 118.353 |
| 6 | 77 | Greg Sacks | U.S. Motorsports Inc. | Ford | 19.024 | 118.272 |
| 7 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 19.030 | 118.234 |
| 8 | 27 | Jimmy Spencer | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 19.054 | 118.085 |
| 9 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 19.064 | 118.023 |
| 10 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 19.070 | 117.986 |
| 11 | 95 | Jeremy Mayfield (R) | Sadler Brothers Racing | Ford | 19.079 | 117.931 |
| 12 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 19.085 | 117.894 |
| 13 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 19.092 | 117.850 |
| 14 | 23 | Hut Stricklin | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 19.099 | 117.807 |
| 15 | 21 | Morgan Shepherd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 19.106 | 117.764 |
| 16 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 19.107 | 117.758 |
| 17 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Ford | 19.157 | 117.451 |
| 18 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 19.169 | 117.377 |
| 19 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 19.192 | 117.236 |
| 20 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 19.196 | 117.212 |
| Failed to lock in Round 1 |||||||
| 21 | 12 | Chuck Bown | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Ford | 19.197 | 117.206 |
| 22 | 98 | Derrike Cope | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 19.218 | 117.078 |
| 23 | 14 | John Andretti (R) | Hagan Racing | Chevrolet | 19.226 | 117.029 |
| 24 | 40 | Bobby Hamilton | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | 19.238 | 116.956 |
| 25 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 19.255 | 116.853 |
| 26 | 75 | Todd Bodine | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 19.257 | 116.841 |
| 27 | 43 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 19.261 | 116.816 |
| 28 | 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | 19.275 | 116.732 |
| 29 | 15 | Lake Speed | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 19.280 | 116.701 |
| 30 | 33 | Harry Gant | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Chevrolet | 19.286 | 116.665 |
| 31 | 18 | Dale Jarrett | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 19.311 | 116.514 |
| 32 | 78 | Jay Hedgecock | Triad Motorsports | Ford | 19.318 | 116.472 |
| 33 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 19.339 | 116.345 |
| 34 | 32 | Dick Trickle | Active Motorsports | Chevrolet | 19.379 | 116.105 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 35 | 8 | Jeff Burton (R) | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 36 | 22 | Bobby Labonte | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 37 | 29 | Steve Grissom (R) | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 38 | 31 | Ward Burton (R) | A.G. Dillard Motorsports | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 39 | 9 | Rich Bickle | Melling Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 40 | 41 | Joe Nemechek (R) | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 41 | 19 | Loy Allen Jr. (R) | TriStar Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| 42 | 55 | Jimmy Hensley | RaDiUs Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| 43 | 90 | Mike Wallace (R) | Donlavey Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 44 | 02 | Curtis Markham | Taylor Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 45 | 52 | Mike Skinner | Jimmy Means Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 46 | 62 | Freddie Query | Gray Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| Official first round qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 10 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 400 | 29 | running | 180 | $61,640 |
| 2 | 16 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 400 | 38 | running | 175 | $42,215 |
| 3 | 1 | 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 400 | 320 | running | 175 | $41,565 |
| 4 | 28 | 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | 400 | 0 | running | 160 | $32,165 |
| 5 | 19 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 400 | 0 | running | 155 | $26,740 |
| 6 | 25 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 400 | 5 | running | 155 | $8,390 |
| 7 | 5 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | 399 | 0 | running | 146 | $16,565 |
| 8 | 30 | 33 | Harry Gant | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Chevrolet | 399 | 0 | running | 142 | $16,850 |
| 9 | 9 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 398 | 6 | running | 143 | $15,025 |
| 10 | 17 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Ford | 397 | 0 | running | 134 | $16,130 |
| 11 | 18 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 397 | 0 | running | 130 | $13,525 |
| 12 | 29 | 15 | Lake Speed | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 397 | 0 | running | 127 | $15,975 |
| 13 | 13 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 397 | 0 | running | 124 | $17,650 |
| 14 | 24 | 40 | Bobby Hamilton | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | 397 | 2 | running | 126 | $12,875 |
| 15 | 12 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 396 | 0 | running | 118 | $13,100 |
| 16 | 27 | 43 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 396 | 0 | running | 115 | $8,475 |
| 17 | 7 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 396 | 0 | running | 112 | $15,425 |
| 18 | 4 | 11 | Bill Elliott | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 395 | 0 | running | 109 | $12,175 |
| 19 | 26 | 75 | Todd Bodine | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 395 | 0 | running | 106 | $8,025 |
| 20 | 14 | 23 | Hut Stricklin | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 395 | 0 | running | 103 | $5,950 |
| 21 | 3 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 395 | 0 | running | 100 | $11,800 |
| 22 | 15 | 21 | Morgan Shepherd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 395 | 0 | running | 97 | $15,150 |
| 23 | 2 | 26 | Brett Bodine | King Racing | Ford | 395 | 0 | running | 94 | $11,525 |
| 24 | 34 | 32 | Dick Trickle | Active Motorsports | Chevrolet | 394 | 0 | running | 91 | $5,000 |
| 25 | 31 | 18 | Dale Jarrett | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 394 | 0 | running | 88 | $16,275 |
| 26 | 36 | 22 | Bobby Labonte | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 394 | 0 | running | 85 | $11,225 |
| 27 | 22 | 98 | Derrike Cope | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 393 | 0 | running | 82 | $7,050 |
| 28 | 33 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 390 | 0 | running | 79 | $10,985 |
| 29 | 20 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 388 | 0 | running | 76 | $6,800 |
| 30 | 11 | 95 | Jeremy Mayfield (R) | Sadler Brothers Racing | Ford | 388 | 0 | running | 73 | $5,325 |
| 31 | 23 | 14 | John Andretti (R) | Hagan Racing | Chevrolet | 386 | 0 | running | 70 | $10,750 |
| 32 | 8 | 27 | Jimmy Spencer | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 353 | 0 | running | 67 | $6,225 |
| 33 | 35 | 8 | Jeff Burton (R) | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 352 | 0 | handling | 64 | $9,700 |
| 34 | 6 | 77 | Greg Sacks | U.S. Motorsports Inc. | Ford | 352 | 0 | running | 61 | $4,225 |
| 35 | 21 | 12 | Chuck Bown | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Ford | 274 | 0 | engine | 58 | $8,200 |
| 36 | 32 | 78 | Jay Hedgecock | Triad Motorsports | Ford | 53 | 0 | rear end | 55 | $4,700 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 37 | | 29 | Steve Grissom (R) | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 38 | | 31 | Ward Burton (R) | A.G. Dillard Motorsports | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 39 | | 9 | Rich Bickle | Melling Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 40 | | 41 | Joe Nemechek (R) | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 41 | | 19 | Loy Allen Jr. (R) | TriStar Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| 42 | | 55 | Jimmy Hensley | RaDiUs Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| 43 | | 90 | Mike Wallace (R) | Donlavey Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 44 | | 02 | Curtis Markham | Taylor Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 45 | | 52 | Mike Skinner | Jimmy Means Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 46 | | 62 | Freddie Query | Gray Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Dale Earnhardt | 1,119 |
| | 2 | Ernie Irvan | 1,099 (-20) |
| | 3 | Mark Martin | 1,008 (-111) |
| | 4 | Ken Schrader | 981 (–138) |
| | 5 | Lake Speed | 939 (–180) |
| 4 | 6 | Rusty Wallace | 886 (–233) |
| 5 | 7 | Terry Labonte | 880 (–239) |
| | 8 | Ricky Rudd | 879 (–240) |
| 3 | 9 | Sterling Marlin | 869 (–250) |
| 1 | 10 | Kyle Petty | 865 (–254) |
| Official driver's standings ||||