# 1995 Purolator 500

The 1995 Purolator 500 was the fourth stock car race of the 1995 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 36th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, March 12, 1995, 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, Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon would manage to dominate the majority of the race to take his fourth career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his second victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Joe Gibbs Racing driver Bobby Labonte and Hendrick Motorsports driver Terry Labonte would finish second and third, respectively.

## 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 | 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 | Brett Bodine Racing | 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 | Phil Parsons | TriStar Motorsports | Ford | TriStar Motorsports |
| 21 | Morgan Shepherd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Citgo |
| 22 | Randy LaJoie (R) | 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 | Steve Kinser | King Racing | Ford | Quaker State |
| 27 | Loy Allen Jr. | 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 | Jimmy Hensley | Active Motorsports | Chevrolet | Active Trucking |
| 33 | Robert Pressley (R) | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Chevrolet | Skoal Bandit |
| 37 | John Andretti | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | Little Caesars, Kmart |
| 40 | Greg Sacks | 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 | Chevrolet | Jackaroo Barby-Q-Sauce |
| 47 | Billy Standridge | Standridge Motorsports | Ford | World Championship Wrestling |
| 52 | Gary Bradberry | Jimmy Means Racing | Ford | NAPA Auto Parts |
| 66 | Ben Hess | RaDiUs Motorsports | Ford | DuraGloss |
| 67 | Ken Bouchard | Cunningham Racing | Ford | Cunningham Racing |
| 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Olive Garden |
| 75 | Todd Bodine | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | Factory Stores of America |
| 76 | Johnny Chapman | RaDiUs Motorsports | Ford | RaDiUs Motorsports |
| 77 | Davy Jones (R) | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | US Airways, Jasper Engines & Transmissions |
| 78 | Pancho Carter | Triad Motorsports | Ford | Equipment Supply Company |
| 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | TIC Financial Systems |
| 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 |
| 98 | Jeremy Mayfield | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | RCA |

## Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, March 10, at 12:30 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, March 11, 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 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; up to four provisionals 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.
Dale Earnhardt, driving for Richard Childress Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 29.605 and an average speed of 185.077 miles per hour (297.853 km/h) in the first round.
Eight cars would fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 29.605 | 185.077 |
| 2 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 29.610 | 185.046 |
| 3 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.705 | 184.454 |
| 4 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.728 | 184.311 |
| 5 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.824 | 183.718 |
| 6 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 29.836 | 183.644 |
| 7 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.839 | 183.625 |
| 8 | 12 | Derrike Cope | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Ford | 29.848 | 183.570 |
| 9 | 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 29.858 | 183.509 |
| 10 | 15 | Dick Trickle | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 29.865 | 183.466 |
| 11 | 32 | Jimmy Hensley | Active Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.933 | 183.049 |
| 12 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 29.970 | 182.823 |
| 13 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 29.978 | 182.774 |
| 14 | 98 | Jeremy Mayfield | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 29.990 | 182.701 |
| 15 | 37 | John Andretti | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | 30.028 | 182.470 |
| 16 | 29 | Steve Grissom | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.072 | 182.203 |
| 17 | 21 | Morgan Shepherd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 30.074 | 182.191 |
| 18 | 28 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 30.083 | 182.136 |
| 19 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Ford | 30.113 | 181.955 |
| 20 | 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.120 | 181.912 |
| Failed to lock in Round 1 |||||||
| 21 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | 30.073 | 182.197 |
| 22 | 44 | Jeff Purvis | Phoenix Racing | Chevrolet | 30.122 | 181.900 |
| 23 | 26 | Steve Kinser | King Racing | Ford | 30.133 | 181.834 |
| 24 | 40 | Greg Sacks | Team SABCO | Pontiac | 30.137 | 181.810 |
| 25 | 77 | Davy Jones (R) | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 30.137 | 181.810 |
| 26 | 90 | Mike Wallace | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 30.139 | 181.798 |
| 27 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 30.173 | 181.593 |
| 28 | 8 | Jeff Burton | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 30.173 | 181.593 |
| 29 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.179 | 181.557 |
| 30 | 33 | Robert Pressley (R) | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.236 | 181.214 |
| 31 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 30.238 | 181.202 |
| 32 | 41 | Ricky Craven (R) | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.240 | 181.190 |
| 33 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 30.251 | 181.125 |
| 34 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | 30.262 | 181.059 |
| 35 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Elliott-Hardy Racing | Ford | 30.277 | 180.969 |
| 36 | 47 | Billy Standridge | Johnson Standridge Racing | Ford | 30.344 | 180.569 |
| 37 | 75 | Todd Bodine | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 30.370 | 180.415 |
| 38 | 19 | Phil Parsons | TriStar Motorsports | Ford | 30.378 | 180.367 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 39 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| 40 | 42 | Kyle Petty | Team SABCO | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| 41 | 22 | Randy LaJoie (R) | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| 42 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | -* | -* |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 43 | 31 | Ward Burton | TriStar Motorsports | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 44 | 52 | Gary Bradberry | Jimmy Means Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 45 | 27 | Loy Allen Jr. | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | -* | -* |
| 46 | 67 | Ken Bouchard | Cunningham Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 47 | 76 | Johnny Chapman | RaDiUs Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| 48 | 66 | Ben Hess | RaDiUs Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| 49 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 50 | 78 | Pancho Carter | Triad Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| Official first round qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 3 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 328 | 250 | running | 185 | $104,950 |
| 2 | 2 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 328 | 7 | running | 175 | $50,000 |
| 3 | 5 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 328 | 2 | running | 170 | $44,150 |
| 4 | 1 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 328 | 62 | running | 165 | $52,950 |
| 5 | 18 | 28 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 327 | 0 | running | 155 | $33,725 |
| 6 | 17 | 21 | Morgan Shepherd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 327 | 0 | running | 150 | $24,950 |
| 7 | 7 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 327 | 0 | running | 146 | $27,200 |
| 8 | 6 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 327 | 0 | running | 142 | $26,200 |
| 9 | 13 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 326 | 0 | running | 138 | $26,500 |
| 10 | 12 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 326 | 0 | running | 134 | $28,100 |
| 11 | 19 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Ford | 326 | 0 | running | 130 | $20,870 |
| 12 | 32 | 41 | Ricky Craven (R) | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 325 | 0 | running | 127 | $18,350 |
| 13 | 8 | 12 | Derrike Cope | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Ford | 325 | 0 | running | 124 | $15,030 |
| 14 | 40 | 42 | Kyle Petty | Team SABCO | Pontiac | 325 | 1 | running | 126 | $19,360 |
| 15 | 21 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | 324 | 0 | running | 118 | $11,580 |
| 16 | 20 | 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | 324 | 0 | running | 115 | $10,320 |
| 17 | 9 | 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 324 | 0 | running | 112 | $14,310 |
| 18 | 16 | 29 | Steve Grissom | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | 324 | 0 | running | 109 | $14,090 |
| 19 | 27 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 323 | 0 | running | 106 | $18,780 |
| 20 | 15 | 37 | John Andretti | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | 323 | 0 | running | 103 | $11,060 |
| 21 | 37 | 75 | Todd Bodine | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 323 | 0 | running | 100 | $18,450 |
| 22 | 10 | 15 | Dick Trickle | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 322 | 0 | running | 97 | $18,290 |
| 23 | 31 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 322 | 0 | running | 94 | $22,580 |
| 24 | 25 | 77 | Davy Jones (R) | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 320 | 0 | running | 91 | $13,445 |
| 25 | 36 | 47 | Billy Standridge | Johnson Standridge Racing | Ford | 307 | 0 | running | 88 | $9,540 |
| 26 | 35 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Elliott-Hardy Racing | Ford | 302 | 0 | engine | 85 | $9,285 |
| 27 | 29 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 298 | 4 | crash | 87 | $17,575 |
| 28 | 33 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 296 | 0 | running | 79 | $9,100 |
| 29 | 24 | 40 | Greg Sacks | Team SABCO | Pontiac | 272 | 0 | engine | 76 | $17,285 |
| 30 | 34 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | 263 | 0 | handling | 73 | $23,450 |
| 31 | 30 | 33 | Robert Pressley (R) | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Chevrolet | 258 | 0 | running | 70 | $16,990 |
| 32 | 42 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 248 | 0 | running | 67 | $11,830 |
| 33 | 28 | 8 | Jeff Burton | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 191 | 0 | engine | 64 | $16,635 |
| 34 | 4 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 187 | 2 | engine | 66 | $16,600 |
| 35 | 39 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 147 | 0 | crash | 58 | $16,065 |
| 36 | 14 | 98 | Jeremy Mayfield | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 146 | 0 | crash | 55 | $8,540 |
| 37 | 22 | 44 | Jeff Purvis | Phoenix Racing | Chevrolet | 146 | 0 | crash | 52 | $8,525 |
| 38 | 11 | 32 | Jimmy Hensley | Active Motorsports | Chevrolet | 93 | 0 | engine | 49 | $8,445 |
| 39 | 41 | 22 | Randy LaJoie (R) | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 67 | 0 | engine | 46 | $13,445 |
| 40 | 26 | 90 | Mike Wallace | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 33 | 0 | engine | 43 | $9,445 |
| 41 | 23 | 26 | Steve Kinser | King Racing | Ford | 9 | 0 | crash | 40 | $13,445 |
| 42 | 38 | 19 | Phil Parsons | TriStar Motorsports | Ford | 9 | 0 | crash | 37 | $8,445 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 43 | | 31 | Ward Burton | TriStar Motorsports | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 44 | | 52 | Gary Bradberry | Jimmy Means Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 45 | | 27 | Loy Allen Jr. | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | | | | | |
| 46 | | 67 | Ken Bouchard | Cunningham Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 47 | | 76 | Johnny Chapman | RaDiUs Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| 48 | | 66 | Ben Hess | RaDiUs Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| 49 | | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 50 | | 78 | Pancho Carter | Triad Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||