# 1996 First Union 400

The 1996 First Union 400 was the seventh stock car race of the 1996 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 46th and to date, final iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, April 14, 1996, 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 the final laps of the race, Hendrick Motorsports driver Terry Labonte would manage to take advantage of a late-race restart with 20 to go and pull away to take his 17th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his first victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon and Richard Childress Racing driver Dale Earnhardt 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 | Pontiac | Hooters |
| 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | Miller |
| 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 Ironman |
| 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 | Mane 'n Tail |
| 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 | Dick Trickle | TriStar Motorsports | Ford | HealthSource RI |
| 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Citgo |
| 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 | Elton Sawyer | David Blair Motorsports | Ford | David Blair Motorsports |
| 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Texaco, Havoline |
| 29 | Steve Grissom | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | Cartoon Network, The Flintstones |
| 30 | Johnny Benson Jr. (R) | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | Pennzoil |
| 33 | Robert Pressley | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Chevrolet | Skoal |
| 37 | Jeremy Mayfield | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | Kmart, Little Caesars |
| 41 | Ricky Craven | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kodiak |
| 42 | Kyle Petty | Team SABCO | Pontiac | Coors Light Silver Bullet |
| 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 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 | Randy MacDonald | 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 | Mike Wallace | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Heilig-Meyers |
| 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | McDonald's |
| 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, April 12, at 3:00 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, April 13, at 9:30 AM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 26-32 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.
Terry Labonte, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would win the pole, setting a time of 19.287 and an average speed of 116.659 miles per hour (187.744 km/h).
Five drivers would fail to qualify: Dave Marcis, Randy MacDonald, Mike Wallace, Ward Burton, and Bobby Hillin Jr.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 19.287 | 116.659 |
| 2 | 27 | Elton Sawyer | David Blair Motorsports | Ford | 19.370 | 116.159 |
| 3 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 19.373 | 116.141 |
| 4 | 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 19.375 | 116.129 |
| 5 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 19.382 | 116.087 |
| 6 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 19.405 | 115.949 |
| 7 | 41 | Ricky Craven | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 19.414 | 115.896 |
| 8 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 19.437 | 115.759 |
| 9 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 19.437 | 115.759 |
| 10 | 98 | Jeremy Mayfield | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 19.443 | 115.723 |
| 11 | 33 | Robert Pressley | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Chevrolet | 19.457 | 115.640 |
| 12 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 19.469 | 115.568 |
| 13 | 42 | Kyle Petty | Team SABCO | Pontiac | 19.472 | 115.551 |
| 14 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | 19.480 | 115.503 |
| 15 | 12 | Derrike Cope | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Ford | 19.489 | 115.450 |
| 16 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | 19.506 | 115.349 |
| 17 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 19.511 | 115.320 |
| 18 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 19.512 | 115.314 |
| 19 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 19.536 | 115.172 |
| 20 | 37 | John Andretti | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | 19.537 | 115.166 |
| 21 | 75 | Morgan Shepherd | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 19.539 | 115.154 |
| 22 | 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 19.540 | 115.148 |
| 23 | 15 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 19.544 | 115.125 |
| 24 | 30 | Johnny Benson Jr. (R) | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 19.544 | 115.125 |
| 25 | 29 | Steve Grissom | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | 19.557 | 115.048 |
| Failed to lock in Round 1 |||||||
| 26 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 19.560 | 115.031 |
| 27 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | 19.570 | 114.972 |
| 28 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 19.601 | 114.790 |
| 29 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 19.604 | 114.772 |
| 30 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 19.610 | 114.737 |
| 31 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Pontiac | 19.634 | 114.597 |
| 32 | 19 | Dick Trickle | TriStar Motorsports | Ford | 19.636 | 114.585 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 33 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| 34 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 35 | 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 36 | 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| Champion's Provisional |||||||
| 37 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 38 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 39 | 78 | Randy MacDonald | Triad Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| 40 | 90 | Mike Wallace | Donlavey Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 41 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| 42 | 77 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| Official first round qualifying results |||||||
| Official qualifying results |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 1 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 400 | 167 | running | 185 | $229,025 |
| 2 | 17 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 400 | 0 | running | 170 | $52,750 |
| 3 | 26 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 400 | 0 | running | 165 | $38,525 |
| 4 | 11 | 33 | Robert Pressley | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Chevrolet | 400 | 43 | running | 165 | $35,305 |
| 5 | 8 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 400 | 64 | running | 160 | $31,855 |
| 6 | 22 | 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 399 | 1 | running | 155 | $22,755 |
| 7 | 7 | 41 | Ricky Craven | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 399 | 2 | running | 151 | $24,980 |
| 8 | 4 | 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 398 | 0 | running | 142 | $20,815 |
| 9 | 5 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 398 | 0 | running | 138 | $20,390 |
| 10 | 28 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 398 | 0 | running | 134 | $29,170 |
| 11 | 29 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 398 | 0 | running | 130 | $16,615 |
| 12 | 6 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 398 | 1 | running | 132 | $19,740 |
| 13 | 15 | 12 | Derrike Cope | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Ford | 398 | 0 | running | 124 | $19,425 |
| 14 | 31 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Pontiac | 398 | 0 | running | 121 | $19,190 |
| 15 | 33 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 397 | 0 | running | 118 | $24,140 |
| 16 | 35 | 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 397 | 0 | running | 115 | $13,890 |
| 17 | 34 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 397 | 0 | running | 112 | $20,590 |
| 18 | 16 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | 397 | 0 | running | 109 | $7,765 |
| 19 | 27 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | 397 | 0 | running | 106 | $18,415 |
| 20 | 10 | 98 | Jeremy Mayfield | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 396 | 0 | running | 103 | $13,115 |
| 21 | 37 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 396 | 0 | running | 100 | $18,065 |
| 22 | 32 | 19 | Dick Trickle | TriStar Motorsports | Ford | 395 | 0 | running | 97 | $7,515 |
| 23 | 19 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 395 | 0 | running | 94 | $17,765 |
| 24 | 24 | 30 | Johnny Benson Jr. (R) | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 394 | 0 | running | 91 | $18,615 |
| 25 | 30 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 394 | 0 | running | 88 | $17,640 |
| 26 | 25 | 29 | Steve Grissom | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | 394 | 0 | running | 85 | $17,290 |
| 27 | 21 | 75 | Morgan Shepherd | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 394 | 2 | running | 87 | $10,140 |
| 28 | 23 | 15 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 394 | 0 | running | 79 | $17,075 |
| 29 | 9 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 394 | 0 | running | 76 | $7,090 |
| 30 | 13 | 42 | Kyle Petty | Team SABCO | Pontiac | 394 | 0 | running | 73 | $16,215 |
| 31 | 18 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 392 | 0 | running | 70 | $13,640 |
| 32 | 2 | 27 | Elton Sawyer | David Blair Motorsports | Ford | 391 | 0 | running | 67 | $6,615 |
| 33 | 12 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 390 | 119 | running | 69 | $21,615 |
| 34 | 20 | 37 | John Andretti | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | 368 | 1 | crash | 66 | $14,590 |
| 35 | 14 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | 368 | 0 | running | 58 | $13,590 |
| 36 | 36 | 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | 367 | 0 | crash | 55 | $13,565 |
| 37 | 3 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 355 | 0 | running | 52 | $23,415 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 38 | | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 39 | | 78 | Randy MacDonald | Triad Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| 40 | | 90 | Mike Wallace | Donlavey Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 41 | | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 42 | | 77 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||