# 1993 Food City 500

The 1993 Food City 500 was the sixth stock car race of the 1993 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 33rd iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, April 4, 1993, in Bristol, Tennessee, at Bristol Motor Speedway, a 0.533 miles (0.858 km) permanent oval-shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 500 laps to complete. At race's end, Penske Racing South driver Rusty Wallace would manage to dominate a majority of the race to take his 23rd career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his second victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Richard Childress Racing driver Dale Earnhardt and SABCO Racing driver Kyle Petty would finish second and third, respectively.
The race weekend was marred by the death of Alan Kulwicki, last year's champion. Kulwicki had died while traveling to Bristol Motor Speedway in an airplane crash on the evening of Thursday, April 1. As a result, his team would withdraw from the race.

## 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 | Ford | Skoal |
| 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Pontiac | Miller Genuine Draft |
| 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | GM Goodwrench Service Plus |
| 4 | Ernie Irvan | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kodak |
| 5 | Ricky Rudd | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Tide |
| 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | Valvoline |
| 7 | Alan Kulwicki* | AK Racing | Ford | Hooters |
| 8 | Sterling Marlin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | Raybestos |
| 11 | Bill Elliott | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | Budweiser |
| 12 | Jimmy Spencer | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Ford | Meineke |
| 14 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Racing | Chevrolet | Kellogg's Frosted Flakes |
| 15 | Geoff Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | Motorcraft |
| 16 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Roush Racing | Ford | Keystone |
| 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | Western Auto |
| 18 | Dale Jarrett | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | Interstate Batteries |
| 20 | Joe Ruttman | Moroso Racing | Ford | FINA |
| 21 | Morgan Shepherd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Citgo |
| 22 | Bobby Labonte (R) | Bill Davis Racing | Ford | Maxwell House |
| 24 | Jeff Gordon (R) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | DuPont |
| 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kodiak |
| 26 | Brett Bodine | King Racing | Ford | Quaker State |
| 27 | Hut Stricklin | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | McDonald's |
| 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Texaco, Havoline |
| 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | Pennzoil |
| 33 | Harry Gant | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Chevrolet | Skoal Bandit |
| 40 | Kenny Wallace (R) | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | Dirt Devil |
| 41 | Phil Parsons | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Manheim Auctions |
| 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | Mello Yello |
| 44 | Rick Wilson | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 48 | James Hylton | Hylton Motorsports | Pontiac | Rumple Furniture |
| 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Ford | NAPA Auto Parts |
| 55 | Ted Musgrave | RaDiUs Motorsports | Ford | USAir, Jasper Engines & Transmissions |
| 68 | Bobby Hamilton | TriStar Motorsports | Ford | Country Time |
| 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Southwest Technical Group |
| 75 | Dick Trickle | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | Carolina Pottery |
| 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Ford | Purex |
| 90 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Heilig-Meyers |
| 98 | Derrike Cope | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | Bojangles |
*Withdrew due to Kulwicki dying in a plane crash.

## Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, April 2, 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 3, at 10:30 AM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 21-32 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; up to two were given. 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.
Rusty Wallace, driving for Penske Racing South, would win the pole, setting a time of 15.866 and an average speed of 120.938 miles per hour (194.631 km/h) in the first round.
Two drivers would fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Pontiac | 15.866 | 120.938 |
| 2 | 26 | Brett Bodine | King Racing | Ford | 15.913 | 120.581 |
| 3 | 4 | Ernie Irvan | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.926 | 120.482 |
| 4 | 21 | Morgan Shepherd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 15.931 | 120.444 |
| 5 | 15 | Geoff Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 15.944 | 120.346 |
| 6 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 15.958 | 120.241 |
| 7 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.976 | 120.105 |
| 8 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 15.989 | 120.008 |
| 9 | 5 | Ricky Rudd | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.989 | 120.008 |
| 10 | 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 15.991 | 119.992 |
| 11 | 68 | Bobby Hamilton | TriStar Motorsports | Ford | 16.015 | 119.813 |
| 12 | 98 | Derrike Cope | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 16.052 | 119.537 |
| 13 | 90 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 16.054 | 119.522 |
| 14 | 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | 16.057 | 119.499 |
| 15 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 16.073 | 119.380 |
| 16 | 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Ford | 16.116 | 119.062 |
| 17 | 8 | Sterling Marlin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 16.128 | 118.973 |
| 18 | 14 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Racing | Chevrolet | 16.166 | 118.694 |
| 19 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Ford | 16.176 | 118.620 |
| 20 | 11 | Bill Elliott | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 16.186 | 118.547 |
| Failed to lock in Round 1 |||||||
| 21 | 24 | Jeff Gordon (R) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.888 | 120.770 |
| 22 | 18 | Dale Jarrett | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 15.979 | 120.083 |
| 23 | 27 | Hut Stricklin | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 15.999 | 119.932 |
| 24 | 44 | Rick Wilson | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 16.005 | 119.888 |
| 25 | 16 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Roush Racing | Ford | 16.029 | 119.708 |
| 26 | 33 | Harry Gant | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Chevrolet | 16.031 | 119.693 |
| 27 | 20 | Joe Ruttman | Moroso Racing | Ford | 16.087 | 119.276 |
| 28 | 12 | Jimmy Spencer | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Ford | 16.099 | 119.188 |
| 29 | 41 | Phil Parsons | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 16.170 | 118.664 |
| 30 | 40 | Kenny Wallace (R) | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | 16.187 | 118.540 |
| 31 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Ford | 16.190 | 118.518 |
| 32 | 55 | Ted Musgrave | RaDiUs Motorsports | Ford | 16.195 | 118.481 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 33 | 22 | Bobby Labonte (R) | Bill Davis Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 34 | 75 | Dick Trickle | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| Champion's Provisional |||||||
| 35 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 36 | 48 | James Hylton | Hylton Motorsports | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| 37 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| WD | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | - | - |
| Official first round qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 1 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Pontiac | 500 | 376 | running | 185 | $107,610 |
| 2 | 6 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 500 | 15 | running | 175 | $47,760 |
| 3 | 14 | 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | 500 | 0 | running | 165 | $31,485 |
| 4 | 28 | 12 | Jimmy Spencer | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Ford | 500 | 2 | running | 165 | $26,050 |
| 5 | 10 | 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 500 | 1 | running | 160 | $25,180 |
| 6 | 35 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 0 | running | 150 | $23,405 |
| 7 | 4 | 21 | Morgan Shepherd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 499 | 10 | running | 151 | $17,305 |
| 8 | 8 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 498 | 43 | running | 147 | $19,055 |
| 9 | 2 | 26 | Brett Bodine | King Racing | Ford | 497 | 4 | running | 143 | $16,150 |
| 10 | 19 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Ford | 497 | 0 | running | 134 | $17,650 |
| 11 | 25 | 16 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Roush Racing | Ford | 496 | 0 | running | 130 | $14,950 |
| 12 | 12 | 98 | Derrike Cope | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 494 | 0 | running | 127 | $15,500 |
| 13 | 30 | 40 | Kenny Wallace (R) | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | 494 | 0 | running | 124 | $9,825 |
| 14 | 15 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 492 | 18 | running | 126 | $13,875 |
| 15 | 32 | 55 | Ted Musgrave | RaDiUs Motorsports | Ford | 488 | 0 | running | 118 | $13,825 |
| 16 | 31 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Ford | 484 | 0 | running | 115 | $8,450 |
| 17 | 21 | 24 | Jeff Gordon (R) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 481 | 0 | crash | 112 | $9,400 |
| 18 | 5 | 15 | Geoff Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 469 | 1 | running | 114 | $16,350 |
| 19 | 27 | 20 | Joe Ruttman | Moroso Racing | Ford | 467 | 0 | running | 106 | $8,340 |
| 20 | 17 | 8 | Sterling Marlin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 443 | 0 | running | 103 | $13,200 |
| 21 | 18 | 14 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Racing | Chevrolet | 440 | 0 | running | 100 | $12,950 |
| 22 | 34 | 75 | Dick Trickle | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 440 | 0 | running | 97 | $8,050 |
| 23 | 3 | 4 | Ernie Irvan | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 409 | 0 | crash | 94 | $17,900 |
| 24 | 33 | 22 | Bobby Labonte (R) | Bill Davis Racing | Ford | 397 | 0 | crash | 91 | $7,925 |
| 25 | 24 | 44 | Rick Wilson | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 392 | 0 | running | 88 | $9,630 |
| 26 | 9 | 5 | Ricky Rudd | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 369 | 0 | crash | 85 | $12,500 |
| 27 | 23 | 27 | Hut Stricklin | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 352 | 0 | running | 82 | $12,425 |
| 28 | 26 | 33 | Harry Gant | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Chevrolet | 329 | 0 | running | 79 | $16,775 |
| 29 | 16 | 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Ford | 305 | 0 | engine | 76 | $7,745 |
| 30 | 20 | 11 | Bill Elliott | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 303 | 0 | crash | 73 | $17,620 |
| 31 | 29 | 41 | Phil Parsons | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 254 | 0 | engine | 70 | $8,395 |
| 32 | 22 | 18 | Dale Jarrett | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 207 | 30 | crash | 72 | $15,420 |
| 33 | 13 | 90 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 119 | 0 | oil pump | 64 | $6,420 |
| 34 | 7 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 51 | 0 | crash | 61 | $10,970 |
| 35 | 11 | 68 | Bobby Hamilton | TriStar Motorsports | Ford | 27 | 0 | engine | 58 | $7,025 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 36 | | 48 | James Hylton | Hylton Motorsports | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 37 | | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| WD | | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Dale Earnhardt | 979 |
| | 2 | Rusty Wallace | 932 (-47) |
| | 3 | Geoff Bodine | 861 (-118) |
| 1 | 4 | Mark Martin | 855 (–124) |
| 1 | 5 | Davey Allison | 804 (–175) |
| 2 | 6 | Dale Jarrett | 802 (–177) |
| | 7 | Morgan Shepherd | 795 (–184) |
| 3 | 8 | Kyle Petty | 774 (–205) |
| 1 | 9 | Jeff Gordon | 744 (–235) |
| 5 | 10 | Jimmy Spencer | 738 (–241) |
| Official driver's standings ||||