# 1988 TranSouth 500

The 1988 TranSouth 500 was the fifth stock car race of the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 32nd iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, March 27, 1988, before an audience of 58,000 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. In the late stages of the race, Lake Speed, driving for his owner-driver operation Speed Racing, would dominate the late stages of the race with Hoosier tires to score his first and only career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his only victory of the season. To fill out the podium, AK Racing driver Alan Kulwicki and Ranier-Lundy Racing driver Davey Allison 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 |
| 2 | Ernie Irvan (R) | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | Kroger, Pepsi |
| 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | GM Goodwrench Service |
| 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Kodak |
| 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Levi Garrett |
| 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | Stroh Light |
| 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | Zerex |
| 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | Miller High Life |
| 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | Coors Light |
| 10 | Ken Bouchard (R) | Whitcomb Racing | Ford | Whitcomb Racing |
| 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | Budweiser |
| 12 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | Miller High Life |
| 15 | Brett Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | Crisco |
| 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Tide |
| 21 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Citgo |
| 22 | Steve Moore | Hamby Motorsports | Chevrolet | Banks Oil |
| 23 | Eddie Bierschwale | B&B Racing | Oldsmobile | Wayne Paging |
| 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Folgers |
| 26 | Ricky Rudd | King Racing | Buick | Quaker State |
| 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | Kodiak |
| 28 | Davey Allison | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Ford | Havoline |
| 29 | Dale Jarrett | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Hardee's |
| 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | Country Time |
| 31 | Brad Teague | Bob Clark Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Slender You Figure Salons |
| 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | Skoal |
| 36 | H. B. Bailey | Bailey Racing | Pontiac | Almeda Auto Parts |
| 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | Piedmont Airlines |
| 47 | Morgan Shepherd | Shepherd Racing Ventures | Buick | Shepherd Racing Ventures |
| 50 | Greg Sacks | Dingman Brothers Racing | Pontiac | Dingman Brothers Racing |
| 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | Eureka |
| 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Brothers Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Crown, Skoal Classic |
| 67 | Buddy Arrington | Arrington Racing | Ford | Pannill Sweatshirts |
| 68 | Derrike Cope | Testa Racing | Ford | Purolator Filters |
| 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Lifebuoy |
| 75 | Neil Bonnett | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | Valvoline |
| 80 | Jimmy Horton (R) | S&H Racing | Ford | S&H Racing |
| 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | Wynn's, Kmart |
| 88 | Buddy Baker | Baker-Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | Red Baron Frozen Pizza |
| 90 | Benny Parsons | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Bull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce |
| 97 | Rodney Combs | Winkle Motorsports | Buick | AC Spark Plug |
| 98 | Brad Noffsinger (R) | Curb Racing | Buick | Sunoco Ultra |

## Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. Pole qualifying for the race was held on Thursday, March 24, 1988. Per the NASCAR rules in 1988, 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, March 25, 1988. The drivers that had qualified 1st–20th on Thursday were locked-in to those positions and did not have to re-qualify.
Ken Schrader, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would win the pole, setting a time of 30.233 and an average speed of 162.657 miles per hour (261.771 km/h).
No drivers would fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.233 | 162.657 |
| 2 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 30.587 | 160.774 |
| 3 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 30.710 | 160.130 |
| 4 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.718 | 160.089 |
| 5 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 30.758 | 159.880 |
| 6 | 15 | Brett Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 30.814 | 159.590 |
| 7 | 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 30.818 | 159.569 |
| 8 | 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | 30.946 | 158.909 |
| 9 | 28 | Davey Allison | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Ford | 30.954 | 158.868 |
| 10 | 26 | Ricky Rudd | King Racing | Buick | 31.000 | 158.632 |
| 11 | 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 31.083 | 158.209 |
| 12 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 31.093 | 158.158 |
| 13 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 31.168 | 157.777 |
| 14 | 47 | Morgan Shepherd | Shepherd Racing Ventures | Buick | 31.184 | 157.696 |
| 15 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 31.202 | 157.605 |
| 16 | 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 31.205 | 157.590 |
| 17 | 21 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 31.214 | 157.545 |
| 18 | 12 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 31.232 | 157.454 |
| 19 | 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Brothers Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 31.317 | 157.027 |
| 20 | 31 | Brad Teague | Bob Clark Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 31.330 | 156.961 |
| Failed to lock in Round 1 |||||||
| 21 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 30.945 | 158.914 |
| 22 | 10 | Ken Bouchard (R) | Whitcomb Racing | Ford | 31.209 | 157.570 |
| 23 | 88 | Buddy Baker | Baker-Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | 31.333 | 156.946 |
| 24 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 31.342 | 156.901 |
| 25 | 23 | Eddie Bierschwale | B&B Racing | Oldsmobile | 31.363 | 156.796 |
| 26 | 75 | Neil Bonnett | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 31.407 | 156.577 |
| 27 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 31.464 | 156.293 |
| 28 | 90 | Benny Parsons | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 31.470 | 156.263 |
| 29 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 31.480 | 156.213 |
| 30 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 31.492 | 156.154 |
| 31 | 2 | Ernie Irvan (R) | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | 31.500 | 156.114 |
| 32 | 29 | Dale Jarrett | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 31.564 | 155.798 |
| 33 | 97 | Rodney Combs | Winkle Motorsports | Buick | 31.571 | 155.763 |
| 34 | 68 | Derrike Cope | Testa Racing | Ford | 31.605 | 155.596 |
| 35 | 80 | Jimmy Horton (R) | S&H Racing | Ford | 31.673 | 155.262 |
| 36 | 50 | Greg Sacks | Dingman Brothers Racing | Pontiac | 31.816 | 154.564 |
| 37 | 22 | Steve Moore | Hamby Motorsports | Chevrolet | 32.156 | 152.929 |
| 38 | 36 | H. B. Bailey | Bailey Racing | Pontiac | 32.217 | 152.640 |
| 39 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 32.238 | 152.540 |
| 40 | 98 | Brad Noffsinger (R) | Curb Racing | Buick | 32.303 | 152.234 |
| 41 | 67 | Buddy Arrington | Arrington Racing | Ford | 32.587 | 150.907 |
| Official qualifying results |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 8 | 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | 367 | 178 | running | 185 | $49,435 |
| 2 | 3 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 367 | 1 | running | 175 | $30,905 |
| 3 | 9 | 28 | Davey Allison | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Ford | 367 | 42 | running | 170 | $26,095 |
| 4 | 15 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 366 | 1 | running | 165 | $19,260 |
| 5 | 16 | 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 366 | 5 | running | 160 | $14,800 |
| 6 | 21 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 365 | 59 | running | 155 | $7,025 |
| 7 | 4 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 365 | 61 | running | 151 | $10,490 |
| 8 | 19 | 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Brothers Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 365 | 0 | running | 142 | $9,135 |
| 9 | 18 | 12 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 365 | 0 | running | 138 | $11,505 |
| 10 | 23 | 88 | Buddy Baker | Baker-Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | 365 | 3 | running | 139 | $9,630 |
| 11 | 2 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 363 | 0 | running | 130 | $14,825 |
| 12 | 32 | 29 | Dale Jarrett | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 362 | 0 | running | 127 | $3,520 |
| 13 | 22 | 10 | Ken Bouchard (R) | Whitcomb Racing | Ford | 360 | 0 | running | 124 | $4,640 |
| 14 | 25 | 23 | Eddie Bierschwale | B&B Racing | Oldsmobile | 360 | 0 | running | 121 | $3,160 |
| 15 | 6 | 15 | Brett Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 353 | 0 | running | 118 | $11,990 |
| 16 | 38 | 36 | H. B. Bailey | Bailey Racing | Pontiac | 352 | 0 | running | 115 | $2,795 |
| 17 | 29 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 351 | 0 | running | 112 | $6,585 |
| 18 | 35 | 80 | Jimmy Horton (R) | S&H Racing | Ford | 344 | 0 | running | 109 | $3,025 |
| 19 | 26 | 75 | Neil Bonnett | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 339 | 0 | running | 106 | $9,465 |
| 20 | 20 | 31 | Brad Teague | Bob Clark Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 330 | 0 | ignition | 103 | $2,905 |
| 21 | 27 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 324 | 0 | running | 100 | $6,070 |
| 22 | 31 | 2 | Ernie Irvan (R) | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | 300 | 0 | running | 97 | $3,785 |
| 23 | 11 | 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 276 | 0 | running | 94 | $9,100 |
| 24 | 13 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 268 | 1 | running | 96 | $9,015 |
| 25 | 5 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 265 | 2 | engine | 93 | $11,585 |
| 26 | 34 | 68 | Derrike Cope | Testa Racing | Ford | 263 | 0 | engine | 85 | $5,180 |
| 27 | 7 | 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 230 | 0 | distributor | 82 | $2,925 |
| 28 | 41 | 67 | Buddy Arrington | Arrington Racing | Ford | 227 | 0 | crash | 79 | $4,780 |
| 29 | 1 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 225 | 14 | running | 81 | $10,815 |
| 30 | 10 | 26 | Ricky Rudd | King Racing | Buick | 208 | 0 | engine | 73 | $4,635 |
| 31 | 36 | 50 | Greg Sacks | Dingman Brothers Racing | Pontiac | 185 | 0 | engine | 70 | $1,645 |
| 32 | 33 | 97 | Rodney Combs | Winkle Motorsports | Buick | 135 | 0 | engine | | $2,455 |
| 33 | 37 | 22 | Steve Moore | Hamby Motorsports | Chevrolet | 118 | 0 | engine | 64 | $2,315 |
| 34 | 28 | 90 | Benny Parsons | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 108 | 0 | engine | 61 | $4,230 |
| 35 | 39 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 103 | 0 | engine | 58 | $4,175 |
| 36 | 40 | 98 | Brad Noffsinger (R) | Curb Racing | Buick | 64 | 0 | engine | | $1,470 |
| 37 | 24 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 45 | 0 | engine | 52 | $4,090 |
| 38 | 12 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 45 | 0 | engine | 49 | $4,050 |
| 39 | 14 | 47 | Morgan Shepherd | Shepherd Racing Ventures | Buick | 19 | 0 | crash | 46 | $1,410 |
| 40 | 17 | 21 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 5 | 0 | engine | 43 | $8,360 |
| 41 | 30 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 4 | 0 | crash | 40 | $3,960 |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| 1 | 1 | Dale Earnhardt | 758 |
| 1 | 2 | Neil Bonnett | 738 (-20) |
| 1 | 3 | Sterling Marlin | 735 (-23) |
| 1 | 4 | Rusty Wallace | 686 (–72) |
| 1 | 5 | Bobby Allison | 685 (–73) |
| 6 | 6 | Bill Elliott | 680 (–78) |
| 1 | 7 | Buddy Baker | 676 (–82) |
| 3 | 8 | Darrell Waltrip | 657 (–101) |
| 2 | 9 | Terry Labonte | 637 (–121) |
| | 10 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | 628 (–130) |
| Official driver's standings ||||