# 1995 Pontiac Excitement 400

The 1995 Pontiac Excitement 400 was the third stock car race of the 1995 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 41st iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, March 5, 1995, in Richmond, Virginia, at Richmond International Raceway, a 0.75 miles (1.21 km) D-shaped oval. The race took the scheduled 400 laps to complete. At race's end, Hendrick Motorsports driver Terry Labonte would manage to dominate the final stages of the race to take his 15th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his first victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Richard Childress Racing driver Dale Earnhardt and Penske Racing South driver Rusty Wallace would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

Richmond International Raceway (RIR) is a 3/4-mile (1.2 km), D-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in Henrico County. It hosts the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series. Known as "America's premier short track", it formerly hosted a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, an IndyCar Series race, and two USAC sprint car races.

### 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 |
| 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 |
| 47 | Billy Standridge | Standridge Motorsports | Ford | World Championship Wrestling |
| 49 | Eric Smith | Smith Racing | Ford | 49 Express Pit Stop |
| 52 | Gary Bradberry | Jimmy Means Racing | Ford | Advanced Communications, Race Page |
| 66 | Ben Hess | RaDiUs Motorsports | Ford | RaDiUs Motorsports |
| 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Olive Garden |
| 75 | Todd Bodine | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | Factory Stores of America |
| 77 | Davy Jones (R) | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | US Airways, Jasper Engines & Transmissions |
| 78 | Jay Hedgecock | Triad Motorsports | Ford | Diamond Rio |
| 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 originally scheduled to be split into two rounds. The first round was scheduled to be held on Friday, March 3, at 10:30 AM EST. However, qualifying was snowed out and postponed until Saturday, March 4, at 12:00 PM EST. Qualifying was eventually combined into only one round. Each driver would have one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 1-34 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; which is usually four.
Jeff Gordon, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would win the pole, setting a time of 21.642 and an average speed of 124.757 miles per hour (200.777 km/h).
Nine drivers would fail to qualify: Jimmy Hensley, Kenny Wallace, Billy Standridge, Jay Hedgecock, Steve Grissom, Gary Bradberry, Ben Hess, Eric Smith, and Davy Jones.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 21.642 | 124.757 |
| 2 | 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 21.730 | 124.252 |
| 3 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 21.822 | 123.728 |
| 4 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 21.826 | 123.706 |
| 5 | 12 | Derrike Cope | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Ford | 21.854 | 123.547 |
| 6 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 21.880 | 123.400 |
| 7 | 15 | Dick Trickle | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 21.881 | 123.395 |
| 8 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 21.898 | 123.299 |
| 9 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 21.904 | 123.265 |
| 10 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | 21.905 | 123.260 |
| 11 | 33 | Robert Pressley (R) | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Chevrolet | 21.926 | 123.141 |
| 12 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Ford | 21.934 | 123.097 |
| 13 | 28 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 21.939 | 123.069 |
| 14 | 21 | Morgan Shepherd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 21.968 | 122.906 |
| 15 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 21.976 | 122.861 |
| 16 | 90 | Mike Wallace | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 22.047 | 122.466 |
| 17 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.087 | 122.244 |
| 18 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 22.095 | 122.200 |
| 19 | 42 | Kyle Petty | Team SABCO | Pontiac | 22.098 | 122.183 |
| 20 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | 22.130 | 122.006 |
| 21 | 37 | John Andretti | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | 22.132 | 121.995 |
| 22 | 8 | Jeff Burton | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 22.135 | 121.979 |
| 23 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 22.147 | 121.913 |
| 24 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.158 | 121.852 |
| 25 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Elliott-Hardy Racing | Ford | 22.177 | 121.748 |
| 26 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 22.186 | 121.698 |
| 27 | 40 | Greg Sacks | Dick Brooks Racing | Pontiac | 22.201 | 121.616 |
| 28 | 98 | Jeremy Mayfield | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 22.215 | 121.540 |
| 29 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 22.223 | 121.496 |
| 30 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 22.260 | 121.294 |
| 31 | 41 | Ricky Craven (R) | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.261 | 121.288 |
| 32 | 75 | Todd Bodine | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 22.270 | 121.239 |
| 33 | 31 | Ward Burton | A.G. Dillard Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.284 | 121.163 |
| 34 | 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.350 | 120.805 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 35 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| 36 | 26 | Steve Kinser | King Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 37 | 22 | Randy LaJoie (R) | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| 38 | 27 | Loy Allen Jr. | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | -* | -* |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 39 | 32 | Jimmy Hensley | Active Motorsports | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 40 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 41 | 47 | Billy Standridge | Standridge Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| 42 | 78 | Jay Hedgecock | Triad Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| 43 | 29 | Steve Grissom | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 44 | 52 | Gary Bradberry | Jimmy Means Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 45 | 66 | Ben Hess | RaDiUs Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| 46 | 49 | Eric Smith | Smith Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 47 | 77 | Davy Jones (R) | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 24 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 400 | 131 | running | 180 | $82,950 |
| 2 | 26 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 400 | 11 | running | 175 | $57,200 |
| 3 | 3 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 400 | 248 | running | 175 | $29,600 |
| 4 | 6 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 400 | 0 | running | 160 | $31,100 |
| 5 | 8 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 400 | 0 | running | 155 | $34,400 |
| 6 | 5 | 12 | Derrike Cope | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Ford | 400 | 2 | running | 155 | $23,900 |
| 7 | 17 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 400 | 0 | running | 146 | $21,875 |
| 8 | 9 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 399 | 0 | running | 142 | $26,075 |
| 9 | 2 | 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 399 | 0 | running | 138 | $11,875 |
| 10 | 21 | 37 | John Andretti | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | 399 | 7 | running | 139 | $13,925 |
| 11 | 20 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | 398 | 0 | running | 130 | $25,575 |
| 12 | 7 | 15 | Dick Trickle | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 398 | 0 | running | 127 | $20,175 |
| 13 | 4 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 398 | 0 | running | 124 | $20,025 |
| 14 | 10 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | 397 | 0 | running | 121 | $10,625 |
| 15 | 14 | 21 | Morgan Shepherd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 397 | 0 | running | 118 | $20,335 |
| 16 | 25 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Elliott-Hardy Racing | Ford | 397 | 0 | running | 115 | $10,400 |
| 17 | 28 | 98 | Jeremy Mayfield | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 397 | 0 | running | 112 | $10,300 |
| 18 | 15 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 397 | 0 | running | 109 | $23,250 |
| 19 | 27 | 40 | Greg Sacks | Dick Brooks Racing | Pontiac | 396 | 0 | running | 106 | $19,325 |
| 20 | 29 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 395 | 0 | running | 103 | $11,700 |
| 21 | 30 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 395 | 0 | running | 100 | $23,150 |
| 22 | 33 | 31 | Ward Burton | A.G. Dillard Motorsports | Chevrolet | 395 | 0 | running | 97 | $10,125 |
| 23 | 35 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 395 | 0 | running | 94 | $19,050 |
| 24 | 23 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 393 | 0 | running | 91 | $13,825 |
| 25 | 13 | 28 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 393 | 0 | running | 88 | $24,375 |
| 26 | 16 | 90 | Mike Wallace | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 393 | 0 | running | 85 | $9,950 |
| 27 | 37 | 22 | Randy LaJoie (R) | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 392 | 0 | running | 82 | $19,625 |
| 28 | 36 | 26 | Steve Kinser | King Racing | Ford | 391 | 0 | running | 79 | $19,000 |
| 29 | 38 | 27 | Loy Allen Jr. | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 389 | 0 | running | 76 | $17,875 |
| 30 | 18 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 388 | 0 | transmission | 73 | $18,345 |
| 31 | 22 | 8 | Jeff Burton | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 378 | 0 | running | 70 | $18,200 |
| 32 | 34 | 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | 375 | 0 | running | 67 | $9,775 |
| 33 | 19 | 42 | Kyle Petty | Team SABCO | Pontiac | 374 | 0 | running | 64 | $18,060 |
| 34 | 12 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Ford | 302 | 0 | engine | 61 | $17,950 |
| 35 | 11 | 33 | Robert Pressley (R) | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Chevrolet | 266 | 0 | crash | 58 | $18,350 |
| 36 | 1 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 183 | 1 | fuel pump | 60 | $28,750 |
| 37 | 32 | 75 | Todd Bodine | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 148 | 0 | crash | 52 | $17,750 |
| 38 | 31 | 41 | Ricky Craven (R) | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 141 | 0 | engine | 49 | $12,750 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 39 | | 32 | Jimmy Hensley | Active Motorsports | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 40 | | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 41 | | 47 | Billy Standridge | Standridge Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| 42 | | 78 | Jay Hedgecock | Triad Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| 43 | | 29 | Steve Grissom | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 44 | | 52 | Gary Bradberry | Jimmy Means Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 45 | | 66 | Ben Hess | RaDiUs Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| 46 | | 49 | Eric Smith | Smith Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 47 | | 77 | Davy Jones (R) | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||