# 1993 TranSouth 500

The 1993 TranSouth 500 was the fifth stock car race of the 1993 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 37th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, March 28, 1993, in Darlington, South Carolina, at Darlington Raceway, a 1.366 miles (2.198 km) permanent egg-shaped oval racetrack. The race took the scheduled 367 laps to complete. At race's end, Richard Childress Racing driver Dale Earnhardt would manage to overcome a first half struggle and dominate the second half of the race to take his 54th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his first victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Roush Racing driver Mark Martin and Joe Gibbs Racing driver Dale Jarrett would finish second and third, respectively. This would be the final NASCAR race for Alan Kulwicki, who finished sixth. Kulwicki was killed in a plane crash days later.

## Background

Darlington Raceway is a race track built for NASCAR racing located near Darlington, South Carolina. It is nicknamed "The Lady in Black" and "The Track Too Tough to Tame" by many NASCAR fans and drivers and advertised as "A NASCAR Tradition." It is of a unique, somewhat egg-shaped design, an oval with the ends of very different configurations, a condition which supposedly arose from the proximity of one end of the track to a minnow pond the owner refused to relocate. This situation makes it very challenging for the crews to set up their cars' handling in a way that is effective at both ends.

### 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 |
| 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 | Hurley Limo |
| 53 | Mike Potter | Jimmy Means Racing | Ford | Jimmy Means Racing |
| 55 | Ted Musgrave | RaDiUs Motorsports | Ford | USAir, Jasper Engines & Transmissions |
| 57 | Bob Schacht | Stringer Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Pronto Auto Parts |
| 62 | John McFadden | Jimmy Means Racing | Ford | Jimmy Means Racing |
| 63 | Norm Benning | O'Neil Racing | Oldsmobile | O'Neil Racing |
| 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 |
| 90 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Heilig-Meyers |
| 98 | Derrike Cope | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | Bojangles |

## Qualifying

Two round of qualifying were scheduled to be held on Friday, March 26, and Saturday, March 27. However, Friday's sessions were cancelled due to rain, with both rounds then scheduled to commence on Saturday. However, Saturday's sessions would also be cancelled due to rain, leaving qualifying to be determined by a system of owner's points and postmarks on entry list blanks. The top 30 positions would be determined by the current 1993 owner's points, while the final nine spots would be determined by a system of provisionals that included past winners, and finally postmarks. As a result, Richard Childress Racing driver Dale Earnhardt would win the pole.
John McFadden was the only driver to fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make |
| 1 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 2 | 15 | Geoff Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford |
| 3 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Pontiac |
| 4 | 18 | Dale Jarrett | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet |
| 5 | 24 | Jeff Gordon (R) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 6 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford |
| 7 | 4 | Ernie Irvan | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 8 | 21 | Morgan Shepherd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 9 | 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford |
| 10 | 27 | Hut Stricklin | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford |
| 11 | 12 | Jimmy Spencer | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Ford |
| 12 | 55 | Ted Musgrave | RaDiUs Motorsports | Ford |
| 13 | 5 | Ricky Rudd | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 14 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford |
| 15 | 42 | Kyle Petty | Team SABCO | Pontiac |
| 16 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 17 | 14 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Racing | Chevrolet |
| 18 | 8 | Sterling Marlin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 19 | 26 | Brett Bodine | King Racing | Ford |
| 20 | 33 | Harry Gant | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 21 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac |
| 22 | 16 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Roush Racing | Ford |
| 23 | 98 | Derrike Cope | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford |
| 24 | 41 | Phil Parsons | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 25 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 26 | 40 | Kenny Wallace (R) | Team SABCO | Pontiac |
| 27 | 68 | Bobby Hamilton | TriStar Motorsports | Ford |
| 28 | 11 | Bill Elliott | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford |
| 29 | 90 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Donlavey Racing | Ford |
| 30 | 44 | Rick Wilson | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac |
| Provisionals |||||
| 31 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Ford |
| 32 | 75 | Dick Trickle | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford |
| 33 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Ford |
| 34 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet |
| 35 | 57 | Bob Schacht | Stringer Motorsports | Oldsmobile |
| 36 | 22 | Bobby Labonte (R) | Bill Davis Racing | Ford |
| 37 | 48 | James Hylton | Hylton Motorsports | Pontiac |
| 38 | 53 | Mike Potter | Jimmy Means Racing | Ford |
| 39 | 63 | Norm Benning | O'Neil Racing | Oldsmobile |
| Failed to qualify |||||
| 40 | 62 | John McFadden | Jimmy Means Racing | Ford |
| Official starting lineup |||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 1 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 367 | 212 | running | 185 | $64,815 |
| 2 | 6 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 367 | 123 | running | 175 | $38,875 |
| 3 | 4 | 18 | Dale Jarrett | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 367 | 1 | running | 170 | $30,685 |
| 4 | 16 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 367 | 2 | running | 165 | $23,125 |
| 5 | 3 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Pontiac | 366 | 0 | running | 155 | $20,400 |
| 6 | 14 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 366 | 2 | running | 155 | $25,725 |
| 7 | 15 | 42 | Kyle Petty | Team SABCO | Pontiac | 366 | 19 | running | 151 | $17,345 |
| 8 | 2 | 15 | Geoff Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 366 | 2 | running | 147 | $17,515 |
| 9 | 17 | 14 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Racing | Chevrolet | 366 | 1 | running | 143 | $14,435 |
| 10 | 8 | 21 | Morgan Shepherd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 365 | 0 | running | 134 | $16,930 |
| 11 | 9 | 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 365 | 1 | running | 135 | $18,325 |
| 12 | 19 | 26 | Brett Bodine | King Racing | Ford | 364 | 0 | running | 127 | $13,995 |
| 13 | 22 | 16 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Roush Racing | Ford | 363 | 0 | running | 124 | $13,715 |
| 14 | 28 | 11 | Bill Elliott | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 363 | 0 | running | 121 | $17,910 |
| 15 | 31 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Ford | 363 | 0 | running | 118 | $13,505 |
| 16 | 25 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 363 | 3 | running | 120 | $17,135 |
| 17 | 23 | 98 | Derrike Cope | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 360 | 0 | running | 112 | $12,680 |
| 18 | 36 | 22 | Bobby Labonte (R) | Bill Davis Racing | Ford | 353 | 0 | running | 109 | $8,545 |
| 19 | 13 | 5 | Ricky Rudd | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 353 | 0 | running | 106 | $12,100 |
| 20 | 32 | 75 | Dick Trickle | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 348 | 0 | running | 103 | $7,270 |
| 21 | 18 | 8 | Sterling Marlin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 346 | 0 | running | 100 | $11,600 |
| 22 | 7 | 4 | Ernie Irvan | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 315 | 0 | overheating | 97 | $16,080 |
| 23 | 27 | 68 | Bobby Hamilton | TriStar Motorsports | Ford | 311 | 0 | engine | 94 | $8,260 |
| 24 | 5 | 24 | Jeff Gordon (R) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 275 | 1 | handling | 96 | $7,740 |
| 25 | 34 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 258 | 0 | engine | 88 | $7,970 |
| 26 | 30 | 44 | Rick Wilson | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 250 | 0 | engine | 85 | $7,755 |
| 27 | 35 | 57 | Bob Schacht | Stringer Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 246 | 0 | rear end | 82 | $5,940 |
| 28 | 10 | 27 | Hut Stricklin | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 234 | 0 | engine | 79 | $10,530 |
| 29 | 11 | 12 | Jimmy Spencer | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Ford | 212 | 0 | crash | 76 | $10,370 |
| 30 | 12 | 55 | Ted Musgrave | RaDiUs Motorsports | Ford | 188 | 0 | engine | 73 | $10,310 |
| 31 | 33 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Ford | 170 | 0 | head gasket | 70 | $5,675 |
| 32 | 26 | 40 | Kenny Wallace (R) | Team SABCO | Pontiac | 169 | 0 | head gasket | 67 | $5,640 |
| 33 | 21 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 148 | 0 | overheating | 64 | $10,130 |
| 34 | 37 | 48 | James Hylton | Hylton Motorsports | Pontiac | 62 | 0 | handling | 61 | $5,545 |
| 35 | 29 | 90 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 52 | 0 | engine | 58 | $5,510 |
| 36 | 24 | 41 | Phil Parsons | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 48 | 0 | camshaft | 55 | $7,000 |
| 37 | 20 | 33 | Harry Gant | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20 | 0 | engine | 52 | $14,460 |
| 38 | 38 | 53 | Mike Potter | Jimmy Means Racing | Ford | 4 | 0 | handling | 49 | $5,440 |
| 39 | 39 | 63 | Norm Benning | O'Neil Racing | Oldsmobile | 1 | 0 | handling | 46 | $5,410 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 40 | | 62 | John McFadden | Jimmy Means Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Dale Earnhardt | 804 |
| 1 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | 747 (-57) |
| 1 | 3 | Geoff Bodine | 747 (-57) |
| | 4 | Dale Jarrett | 730 (–74) |
| 1 | 5 | Mark Martin | 708 (–96) |
| 3 | 6 | Davey Allison | 644 (–160) |
| 1 | 7 | Morgan Shepherd | 644 (–160) |
| 3 | 8 | Jeff Gordon | 632 (–172) |
| 5 | 9 | Alan Kulwicki | 625 (–179) |
| 3 | 10 | Ernie Irvan | 624 (–180) |
| Official driver's standings ||||