# 1986 Southern 500

The 1986 Southern 500 was the 21st stock car race of the 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 37th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, August 31, 1986, before an audience of 69,000 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, Hendrick Motorsports driver Tim Richmond would manage to make a late-race move for the lead with seven to go to win his ninth career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his fourth victory of the season. To fill out the podium, Stavola Brothers Racing driver Bobby Allison and Melling Racing driver Bill Elliott would finish second and third, respectively.

## 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 | Sterling Marlin | Ellington Racing | Chevrolet | Bull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce |
| 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Wrangler |
| 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Kodak |
| 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Levi Garrett |
| 6 | D. K. Ulrich | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | Finky's |
| 7 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 7-Eleven |
| 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | Miller American |
| 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | Coors Light |
| 11 | Darrell Waltrip | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | Budweiser |
| 12 | Neil Bonnett | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | Budweiser |
| 15 | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | Motorcraft |
| 17 | Eddie Bierschwale | Hamby Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kmart |
| 22 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | Miller American |
| 23 | Michael Waltrip (R) | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | Hawaiian Punch |
| 25 | Tim Richmond | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Folgers |
| 26 | Joe Ruttman | King Racing | Buick | Quaker State |
| 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | Alugard |
| 28 | Cale Yarborough | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Ford | Hardee's |
| 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | Skoal Bandit |
| 35 | Alan Kulwicki (R) | AK Racing | Ford | Quincy's Steak House |
| 36 | H. B. Bailey | Bailey Racing | Pontiac | Almeda Auto Parts |
| 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 44 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Racing | Chevrolet | Piedmont Airlines |
| 47 | Morgan Shepherd | Race Hill Farm Team | Buick | Race Hill Farm Team |
| 48 | James Hylton | Hylton Motorsports | Chevrolet | Hemmel Garn & Sons |
| 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | Jimmy Means Racing |
| 54 | Donnie Allison | Gray Racing | Chevrolet | Gray Racing |
| 55 | Benny Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Copenhagen |
| 64 | Connie Saylor | Langley Racing | Ford | Sunny King Ford & Honda |
| 66 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Skoal |
| 67 | Buddy Arrington | Arrington Racing | Ford | Pannill Sweatshirts |
| 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | Rumple Furniture |
| 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Helen Rae Special |
| 75 | Jim Sauter | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | Nationwise Automotive |
| 81 | Chet Fillip (R) | Circle Bar Racing | Ford | Circle Bar Truck Corral |
| 82 | Mark Stahl | Stahl Racing | Ford | Auto Bell Car Wash |
| 88 | Buddy Baker | Baker-Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | Crisco |
| 90 | Ken Schrader | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Red Baron Frozen Pizza |
| 92 | Jonathan Edwards | Edwards Racing | Chevrolet | Edwards Racing |
| 98 | Ron Bouchard | Curb Racing | Pontiac | Valvoline |

## Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. Pole qualifying for the race was held on Thursday, August 28, 1986. Per the NASCAR rules in 1986, a one-lap qualifying attempt was utilized. The top twenty cars in pole qualifying were locked into the starting field. The remainder of the cars could stand on their time, or make a new attempt in second-round qualifying. If a driver did decide to make an attempt, their first-round times would be scrubbed. Second-round qualifying was held Friday August 29, 1986. The drivers that had qualified 1st–20th on Thursday were locked-in to those positions and did not have to re-qualify.
Tim Richmond, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would win the pole, setting a time of 31.028 and an average speed of 158.489 miles per hour (255.063 km/h).
During pole qualifying, Richard Childress Racing driver Dale Earnhardt would crash in turn three during his qualifying run. According to Earnhardt, he "just lost it. I just went into turn three too hard and the car got away from me." Earnhardt would eventually qualify 21st, taking the first spot outside of the top 20.
No drivers would fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 25 | Tim Richmond | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 31.028 | 158.489 |
| 2 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 31.204 | 157.595 |
| 3 | 12 | Neil Bonnett | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 31.209 | 157.570 |
| 4 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 31.303 | 157.097 |
| 5 | 88 | Buddy Baker | Baker-Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | 31.389 | 156.666 |
| 6 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 31.443 | 156.397 |
| 7 | 44 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Racing | Chevrolet | 31.492 | 156.154 |
| 8 | 28 | Cale Yarborough | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Ford | 31.499 | 156.119 |
| 9 | 55 | Benny Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 31.507 | 156.080 |
| 10 | 11 | Darrell Waltrip | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 31.539 | 155.921 |
| 11 | 22 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 31.544 | 155.897 |
| 12 | 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 31.603 | 155.605 |
| 13 | 1 | Sterling Marlin | Ellington Racing | Chevrolet | 31.639 | 155.428 |
| 14 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 31.649 | 155.379 |
| 15 | 15 | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 31.652 | 155.365 |
| 16 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 31.759 | 154.841 |
| 17 | 66 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 31.786 | 154.710 |
| 18 | 26 | Joe Ruttman | King Racing | Buick | 31.890 | 154.205 |
| 19 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 31.922 | 154.050 |
| 20 | 47 | Morgan Shepherd | Race Hill Farm Team | Buick | 32.058 | 153.397 |
| Failed to lock in Round 1 |||||||
| 21 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 31.409 | 156.567 |
| 22 | 75 | Jim Sauter | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 32.092 | 153.234 |
| 23 | 35 | Alan Kulwicki (R) | AK Racing | Ford | 32.203 | 152.706 |
| 24 | 7 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 32.236 | 152.550 |
| 25 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 32.399 | 151.782 |
| 26 | 98 | Ron Bouchard | Curb Racing | Pontiac | 32.431 | 151.633 |
| 27 | 23 | Michael Waltrip (R) | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 32.483 | 151.390 |
| 28 | 17 | Eddie Bierschwale | Hamby Motorsports | Chevrolet | 32.512 | 151.255 |
| 29 | 81 | Chet Fillip (R) | Circle Bar Racing | Ford | 32.528 | 151.181 |
| 30 | 54 | Donnie Allison | Gray Racing | Chevrolet | 32.529 | 151.176 |
| 31 | 6 | D. K. Ulrich | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | 32.550 | 151.078 |
| 32 | 90 | Ken Schrader | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 32.644 | 150.643 |
| 33 | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | 32.759 | 150.114 |
| 34 | 64 | Connie Saylor | Langley Racing | Ford | 32.902 | 149.462 |
| 35 | 36 | H. B. Bailey | Bailey Racing | Pontiac | 32.926 | 149.353 |
| 36 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 33.066 | 148.721 |
| 37 | 67 | Buddy Arrington | Arrington Racing | Ford | 33.077 | 148.671 |
| 38 | 92 | Jonathan Edwards | Edwards Racing | Chevrolet | 33.565 | 146.510 |
| 39 | 82 | Mark Stahl | Stahl Racing | Ford | 34.188 | 143.840 |
| 40 | 48 | James Hylton | Hylton Motorsports | Chevrolet | 35.010 | 140.463 |
| Official qualifying results |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 1 | 25 | Tim Richmond | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 367 | 168 | running | 185 | $60,005 |
| 2 | 11 | 22 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 367 | 2 | running | 175 | $31,500 |
| 3 | 14 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 367 | 8 | running | 170 | $25,625 |
| 4 | 20 | 47 | Morgan Shepherd | Race Hill Farm Team | Buick | 367 | 4 | running | 165 | $11,125 |
| 5 | 10 | 11 | Darrell Waltrip | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 367 | 0 | running | 155 | $21,055 |
| 6 | 15 | 15 | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 367 | 0 | running | 150 | $15,735 |
| 7 | 6 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 367 | 0 | running | 146 | $11,010 |
| 8 | 2 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 367 | 162 | running | 147 | $13,215 |
| 9 | 21 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 366 | 17 | running | 143 | $15,735 |
| 10 | 8 | 28 | Cale Yarborough | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Ford | 366 | 0 | running | 134 | $6,435 |
| 11 | 25 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 364 | 0 | running | 130 | $8,730 |
| 12 | 23 | 35 | Alan Kulwicki (R) | AK Racing | Ford | 360 | 0 | running | 127 | $5,390 |
| 13 | 22 | 75 | Jim Sauter | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 356 | 0 | running | 124 | $8,295 |
| 14 | 24 | 7 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 356 | 0 | running | 121 | $11,070 |
| 15 | 36 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 354 | 0 | running | 118 | $8,165 |
| 16 | 27 | 23 | Michael Waltrip (R) | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 354 | 0 | running | 115 | $5,605 |
| 17 | 35 | 36 | H. B. Bailey | Bailey Racing | Pontiac | 352 | 1 | running | 117 | $3,610 |
| 18 | 31 | 6 | D. K. Ulrich | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | 350 | 0 | running | 109 | $7,140 |
| 19 | 5 | 88 | Buddy Baker | Baker-Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | 340 | 1 | engine | 111 | $3,315 |
| 20 | 37 | 67 | Buddy Arrington | Arrington Racing | Ford | 339 | 0 | running | 103 | $7,030 |
| 21 | 7 | 44 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Racing | Chevrolet | 337 | 0 | running | 100 | $9,910 |
| 22 | 17 | 66 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 326 | 0 | engine | 97 | $2,810 |
| 23 | 16 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 316 | 0 | running | 94 | $9,710 |
| 24 | 3 | 12 | Neil Bonnett | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 261 | 4 | valve | 96 | $11,015 |
| 25 | 28 | 17 | Eddie Bierschwale | Hamby Motorsports | Chevrolet | 261 | 0 | running | 88 | $5,825 |
| 26 | 34 | 64 | Connie Saylor | Langley Racing | Ford | 254 | 0 | engine | 85 | $5,475 |
| 27 | 4 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 235 | 0 | engine | 82 | $10,940 |
| 28 | 12 | 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 232 | 0 | overheating | 79 | $2,245 |
| 29 | 38 | 92 | Jonathan Edwards | Edwards Racing | Chevrolet | 203 | 0 | rear end | 76 | $2,155 |
| 30 | 26 | 98 | Ron Bouchard | Curb Racing | Pontiac | 177 | 0 | engine | 73 | $2,100 |
| 31 | 9 | 55 | Benny Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 167 | 0 | transmission | 70 | $1,955 |
| 32 | 39 | 82 | Mark Stahl | Stahl Racing | Ford | 132 | 0 | flagged | 67 | $1,895 |
| 33 | 30 | 54 | Donnie Allison | Gray Racing | Chevrolet | 131 | 0 | overheating | 64 | $1,840 |
| 34 | 33 | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | 85 | 0 | tie rod | 61 | $4,565 |
| 35 | 29 | 81 | Chet Fillip (R) | Circle Bar Racing | Ford | 81 | 0 | accident | 58 | $1,720 |
| 36 | 32 | 90 | Ken Schrader | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 46 | 0 | engine | 55 | $5,435 |
| 37 | 13 | 1 | Sterling Marlin | Ellington Racing | Chevrolet | 35 | 0 | battery | 52 | $1,620 |
| 38 | 18 | 26 | Joe Ruttman | King Racing | Buick | 32 | 0 | valve | 49 | $4,325 |
| 39 | 40 | 48 | James Hylton | Hylton Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29 | 0 | engine | 46 | $4,260 |
| 40 | 19 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 6 | 0 | accident | 43 | $3,470 |
| Official race results |||||||||||