# 1996 Goodwrench Service 400

The 1996 Goodwrench Service 400 was the second stock car race of the 1996 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 31st iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, February 25, 1996, in Rockingham, North Carolina, at North Carolina Speedway, a 1.017 miles (1.637 km) permanent high-banked racetrack. The race took the scheduled 393 laps to complete. In a controversial and wreck-filled race, Richard Childress Racing driver Dale Earnhardt would manage to pass for the lead with 15 to go to take his 69th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his first victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Robert Yates Racing driver Dale Jarrett and Larry Hedrick Motorsports driver Ricky Craven would finish second and third, respectively.
The race was marred by a crash with TriStar Motorsports driver Loy Allen Jr. on lap 179. Allen's car would blow a right front tire, sending Allen's car into the turn two wall. The car then ricocheted into the inside retaining wall before coming to a stop. Allen was initially unconscious when checked by paramedics, and was placed on a stretcher before regaining consciousness in the ambulance. Allen was eventually diagnosed with a slight head injury and an injured shoulder blade.

## Background

North Carolina Speedway was opened as a flat, one-mile oval on October 31, 1965. In 1969, the track was extensively reconfigured to a high-banked, D-shaped oval just over one mile in length. In 1997, North Carolina Motor Speedway merged with Penske Motorsports, and was renamed North Carolina Speedway. Shortly thereafter, the infield was reconfigured, and competition on the infield road course, mostly by the SCCA, was discontinued. Currently, the track is home to the Fast Track High Performance Driving School.

### 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 Lite |
| 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 | 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 | Loy Allen Jr. | 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 |
| 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing |
| 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 |
| 63 | Dick Trickle | Schnell Motorsports | Ford | Purina Hi-Pro |
| 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 |
| 93 | Gary Bradberry | Bradberry Racing | Chevrolet | Bradberry Racing |
| 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, February 23, at 1:00 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, February 24, at 11:30 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.
Terry Labonte, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would win the pole, setting a time of 23.339 and an average speed of 156.870 miles per hour (252.458 km/h).
Four drivers would fail to qualify: Elton Sawyer, Randy MacDonald, Gary Bradberry, and Dick Trickle.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.339 | 156.870 |
| 2 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.356 | 156.756 |
| 3 | 30 | Johnny Benson Jr. (R) | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 23.415 | 156.361 |
| 4 | 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 23.444 | 156.168 |
| 5 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 23.547 | 156.081 |
| 6 | 29 | Steve Grissom | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.517 | 155.683 |
| 7 | 37 | John Andretti | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | 23.525 | 155.630 |
| 8 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | 23.528 | 155.610 |
| 9 | 42 | Kyle Petty | Team SABCO | Pontiac | 23.534 | 155.571 |
| 10 | 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 23.558 | 155.412 |
| 11 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 23.581 | 155.261 |
| 12 | 98 | Jeremy Mayfield | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 23.583 | 155.247 |
| 13 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 23.596 | 155.162 |
| 14 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.620 | 155.004 |
| 15 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 23.622 | 154.991 |
| 16 | 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.637 | 154.893 |
| 17 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 23.640 | 154.873 |
| 18 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 23.641 | 154.867 |
| 19 | 33 | Robert Pressley | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.644 | 154.847 |
| 20 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.653 | 154.788 |
| 21 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing | Ford | 23.654 | 154.781 |
| 22 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 23.676 | 154.638 |
| 23 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 23.679 | 154.618 |
| 24 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Pontiac | 23.686 | 154.572 |
| 25 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 23.687 | 154.566 |
| 26 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 23.687 | 154.533 |
| 27 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 23.701 | 154.474 |
| 28 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 23.707 | 154.435 |
| 29 | 12 | Derrike Cope | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Ford | 23.734 | 154.260 |
| 30 | 41 | Ricky Craven | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.872 | 154.195 |
| 31 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.758 | 154.104 |
| 32 | 90 | Mike Wallace | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 23.770 | 154.026 |
| 33 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | 23.772 | 154.013 |
| 34 | 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 23.781 | 153.955 |
| 35 | 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 23.796 | 153.858 |
| 36 | 75 | Morgan Shepherd | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 23.811 | 153.765 |
| 37 | 15 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 23.872 | 153.368 |
| 38 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | 23.949 | 152.875 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 39 | 77 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 23.993 | 152.595 |
| 40 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 23.953 | 152.849 |
| 41 | 19 | Loy Allen Jr. | TriStar Motorsports | Ford | 23.991 | 152.607 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 42 | 27 | Elton Sawyer | David Blair Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| 43 | 78 | Randy MacDonald | Triad Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| 44 | 93 | Gary Bradberry | Bradberry Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 45 | 63 | Dick Trickle | Schnell Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| Official qualifying results |||||||
*Time not available.

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 18 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 393 | 95 | running | 180 | $83,840 |
| 2 | 13 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 393 | 8 | running | 175 | $48,960 |
| 3 | 30 | 41 | Ricky Craven | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 393 | 0 | running | 165 | $47,760 |
| 4 | 25 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 393 | 3 | running | 165 | $35,810 |
| 5 | 6 | 29 | Steve Grissom | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | 393 | 0 | running | 155 | $31,475 |
| 6 | 31 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 393 | 0 | running | 150 | $34,425 |
| 7 | 8 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | 393 | 0 | running | 146 | $14,425 |
| 8 | 29 | 12 | Derrike Cope | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Ford | 392 | 0 | running | 142 | $25,525 |
| 9 | 16 | 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | 392 | 0 | running | 138 | $25,225 |
| 10 | 24 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Pontiac | 391 | 0 | running | 134 | $27,525 |
| 11 | 9 | 42 | Kyle Petty | Team SABCO | Pontiac | 391 | 0 | running | 130 | $24,325 |
| 12 | 35 | 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 391 | 0 | running | 127 | $12,825 |
| 13 | 23 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 391 | 0 | running | 124 | $12,625 |
| 14 | 34 | 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 390 | 0 | running | 121 | $27,425 |
| 15 | 15 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 390 | 0 | running | 118 | $25,325 |
| 16 | 14 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 390 | 0 | running | 115 | $23,015 |
| 17 | 32 | 90 | Mike Wallace | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 389 | 0 | running | 112 | $15,625 |
| 18 | 39 | 77 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 389 | 0 | crash | 109 | $15,325 |
| 19 | 12 | 98 | Jeremy Mayfield | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 388 | 0 | running | 106 | $14,975 |
| 20 | 3 | 30 | Johnny Benson Jr. (R) | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 386 | 0 | running | 103 | $24,625 |
| 21 | 40 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 386 | 0 | running | 100 | $14,350 |
| 22 | 21 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing | Ford | 384 | 0 | running | 97 | $25,850 |
| 23 | 37 | 15 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 383 | 0 | crash | 94 | $21,000 |
| 24 | 10 | 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 383 | 36 | running | 96 | $27,300 |
| 25 | 38 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | 370 | 0 | engine | 88 | $20,800 |
| 26 | 19 | 33 | Robert Pressley | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Chevrolet | 351 | 0 | running | 85 | $20,390 |
| 27 | 28 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 328 | 53 | engine | 87 | $20,290 |
| 28 | 17 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 311 | 0 | running | 79 | $19,740 |
| 29 | 20 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 302 | 0 | running | 76 | $17,065 |
| 30 | 4 | 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 287 | 0 | running | 73 | $10,015 |
| 31 | 27 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 263 | 0 | crash | 70 | $16,815 |
| 32 | 22 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 247 | 0 | camshaft | 67 | $26,565 |
| 33 | 5 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 240 | 0 | running | 64 | $25,615 |
| 34 | 1 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 235 | 198 | engine | 71 | $41,465 |
| 35 | 26 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 232 | 0 | oil pump | 58 | $16,465 |
| 36 | 41 | 19 | Loy Allen Jr. | TriStar Motorsports | Ford | 167 | 0 | crash | 55 | $9,390 |
| 37 | 36 | 75 | Morgan Shepherd | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 161 | 0 | engine | 52 | $9,350 |
| 38 | 7 | 37 | John Andretti | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | 159 | 0 | engine | 49 | $16,280 |
| 39 | 33 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | 141 | 0 | engine | 46 | $16,280 |
| 40 | 2 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 134 | 0 | engine | 43 | $31,730 |
| 41 | 11 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 95 | 0 | crash | 40 | $24,280 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 42 | | 27 | Elton Sawyer | David Blair Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| 43 | | 78 | Randy MacDonald | Triad Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| 44 | | 93 | Gary Bradberry | Bradberry Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 45 | | 63 | Dick Trickle | Schnell Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||