# 1988 Motorcraft Quality Parts 500

The 1988 Motorcraft Quality Parts 500 was the fourth stock car race of the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 29th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, March 20, 1989, before an audience of 70,000 in Hampton, Georgia, at Atlanta International Raceway, a 1.522 miles (2.449 km) permanent asphalt quad-oval intermediate speedway. The race took the scheduled 328 laps to complete. On the final restart of the race with three laps left in the race, Richard Childress Racing driver Dale Earnhardt would manage to pull away from the field, completing a dominant performance where he would lead 270 laps. The victory was Earnhardt's 32nd career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his first victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Blue Max Racing driver Rusty Wallace and Hendrick Motorsports driver Darrell Waltrip would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

Atlanta Motor Speedway (formerly Atlanta International Raceway) is a 1.522-mile race track in Hampton, Georgia, United States, 20 miles (32 km) south of Atlanta. It has annually hosted NASCAR Winston Cup Series stock car races since its inauguration in 1960.
The venue was bought by Speedway Motorsports in 1990. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track. In 1997, to standardize the track with Speedway Motorsports' other two intermediate ovals, the entire track was almost completely rebuilt. The frontstretch and backstretch were swapped, and the configuration of the track was changed from oval to quad-oval, with a new official length of 1.54-mile (2.48 km) where before it was 1.522-mile (2.449 km). The project made the track one of the fastest on the NASCAR circuit.

### Entry list

* (R) - denotes rookie driver.
| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 1 | Dale Jarrett | Ellington Racing | Buick | Port-A-Lube |
| 01 | Mickey Gibbs | Gibbs Racing | Ford | Gibbs–West Tractor |
| 2 | Ernie Irvan (R) | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | Kroger |
| 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | GM Goodwrench |
| 03 | Dave Pletcher Sr. | Weaver Racing | Ford | Wild Turkey Music |
| 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Kodak |
| 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Levi Garrett |
| 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | Stroh's 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 |
| 14 | A. J. Foyt | A. J. Foyt Racing | Oldsmobile | Copenhagen |
| 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 Racing | Chevrolet | Hamby Racing |
| 23 | Eddie Bierschwale | B&B Racing | Chevrolet | 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 | Texaco, Havoline |
| 29 | Cale Yarborough | 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 Bandit |
| 36 | H. B. Bailey | Bailey Racing | Pontiac | National Motors |
| 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | Piedmont Airlines |
| 47 | Morgan Shepherd | Shepherd Racing | Buick | Shepherd Racing |
| 48 | Tony Spanos | Hylton Motorsports | Chevrolet | Hylton Motorsports |
| 50 | Greg Sacks | Dingman Brothers Racing | Pontiac | Dingman Brothers Racing |
| 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Chevrolet | Eureka |
| 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Skoal, Crown Central Petroleum |
| 63 | Jocko Maggiacomo | Linro Motorsports | Chevrolet | Linro Motorsports |
| 67 | Buddy Arrington | Arrington Racing | Ford | Pannill Sweatshirts |
| 68 | Derrike Cope | Testa Racing | Ford | Purolator |
| 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Lifebuoy |
| 75 | Neil Bonnett | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | Valvoline |
| 77 | Ken Ragan | Ragan Racing | Ford | Ragan Racing |
| 80 | Jimmy Horton (R) | S&H Racing | Ford | S&H Racing |
| 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | Wynn's, Kmart |
| 86 | Rick Jeffrey | Jeffrey Racing | Chevrolet | Slenderizers |
| 88 | Buddy Baker | Baker–Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | Red Baron Frozen Pizza |
| 89 | Jim Sauter | Mueller Brothers Racing | Pontiac | Evinrude Outboard Motors |
| 90 | Benny Parsons | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Bull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce |
| 92 | David Sosebee | LC Racing | Ford | LC Racing |
| 93 | Charlie Baker | Salmon Racing | Chevrolet | Salmon Racing |
| 97 | Rodney Combs | Winkle Motorsports | Buick | AC Spark Plug |
| 98 | Brad Noffsinger (R) | Curb Racing | Buick | Sunoco |
| 99 | Connie Saylor | Ball Motorsports | Chevrolet | Port-A-Lube |

## Qualifying

Qualifying was originally scheduled to be split into two rounds. The first round was scheduled to be held on Friday, March 18, at 3:00 PM EST. Originally, the first 20 positions were going to be determined by first round qualifying, with positions 21-40 meant to be determined the following day on Saturday, March 19. However, due to rain, the first round was cancelled. As a result, qualifying was condensed into one round for all starting grid spots in the race, which was run on Saturday. 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; up to two were given.
Geoff Bodine, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would win the pole, setting a time of 31.022 and an average speed of 176.623 miles per hour (284.247 km/h) in the first round.
11 drivers would fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 31.022 | 176.623 |
| 2 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 31.139 | 175.959 |
| 3 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 31.265 | 175.250 |
| 4 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 31.289 | 175.116 |
| 5 | 15 | Brett Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 31.342 | 174.820 |
| 6 | 14 | A. J. Foyt | A. J. Foyt Racing | Oldsmobile | 31.439 | 174.280 |
| 7 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 31.442 | 174.264 |
| 8 | 90 | Benny Parsons | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 31.467 | 174.125 |
| 9 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 31.499 | 173.948 |
| 10 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 31.503 | 173.926 |
| 11 | 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 31.521 | 173.827 |
| 12 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 31.544 | 173.700 |
| 13 | 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 31.553 | 173.651 |
| 14 | 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | 31.566 | 173.579 |
| 15 | 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 31.607 | 173.354 |
| 16 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 31.622 | 173.272 |
| 17 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 31.786 | 172.378 |
| 18 | 88 | Buddy Baker | Baker–Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | 31.888 | 171.826 |
| 19 | 29 | Cale Yarborough | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 31.914 | 171.687 |
| 20 | 47 | Morgan Shepherd | Shepherd Racing | Buick | 31.922 | 171.643 |
| 21 | 21 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 31.954 | 171.471 |
| 22 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 31.980 | 171.332 |
| 23 | 23 | Eddie Bierschwale | B&B Racing | Oldsmobile | 31.981 | 171.327 |
| 24 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 32.012 | 171.161 |
| 25 | 98 | Brad Noffsinger (R) | Curb Racing | Buick | 32.049 | 170.963 |
| 26 | 97 | Rodney Combs | Winkle Motorsports | Buick | 32.062 | 170.894 |
| 27 | 12 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 32.067 | 170.867 |
| 28 | 26 | Ricky Rudd | King Racing | Buick | 32.139 | 170.484 |
| 29 | 92 | David Sosebee | LC Racing | Ford | 32.164 | 170.352 |
| 30 | 77 | Ken Ragan | Ragan Racing | Ford | 32.165 | 170.347 |
| 31 | 75 | Neil Bonnett | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 32.191 | 170.209 |
| 32 | 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 32.197 | 170.177 |
| 33 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 32.201 | 170.156 |
| 34 | 2 | Ernie Irvan (R) | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | 32.220 | 170.056 |
| 35 | 31 | Brad Teague | Bob Clark Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 32.221 | 170.051 |
| 36 | 68 | Derrike Cope | Testa Racing | Ford | 32.291 | 169.682 |
| 37 | 36 | H. B. Bailey | Bailey Racing | Pontiac | 32.291 | 169.682 |
| 38 | 89 | Jim Sauter | Mueller Brothers Racing | Pontiac | 32.483 | 168.679 |
| 39 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 32.518 | 168.497 |
| 40 | 99 | Dale Jarrett | Ball Motorsports | Chevrolet | 32.547 | 168.347 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 41 | 28 | Davey Allison | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Ford | 32.603 | 168.058 |
| 42 | 10 | Ken Bouchard (R) | Whitcomb Racing | Ford | 32.713 | 167.493 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 43 | 67 | Buddy Arrington | Arrington Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 44 | 93 | Charlie Baker | Salmon Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 45 | 01 | Mickey Gibbs | Gibbs Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 46 | 80 | Jimmy Horton (R) | S&H Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 47 | 1 | Dale Jarrett | Ellington Racing | Buick | -* | -* |
| 48 | 86 | Rick Jeffrey | Jeffrey Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 49 | 63 | Jocko Maggiacomo | Linro Motorsports | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 50 | 22 | Steve Moore | Hamby Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 51 | 03 | Dave Pletcher Sr. | Weaver Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 52 | 50 | Greg Sacks | Dingman Brothers Racing | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| 53 | 48 | Tony Spanos | Hylton Motorsports | Buick | -* | -* |
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 328 | 270 | running | 185 | $67,950 |
| 2 | 4 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 328 | 2 | running | 175 | $37,875 |
| 3 | 10 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 327 | 2 | running | 170 | $26,150 |
| 4 | 13 | 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 327 | 2 | running | 165 | $19,575 |
| 5 | 21 | 21 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 327 | 1 | running | 160 | $18,750 |
| 6 | 22 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 326 | 0 | running | 150 | $13,300 |
| 7 | 18 | 88 | Buddy Baker | Baker–Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | 326 | 0 | running | 146 | $13,650 |
| 8 | 9 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 326 | 0 | running | 142 | $16,950 |
| 9 | 5 | 15 | Brett Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 326 | 0 | running | 138 | $19,675 |
| 10 | 32 | 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 325 | 0 | running | 134 | $11,825 |
| 11 | 27 | 12 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 325 | 2 | running | 135 | $11,020 |
| 12 | 16 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 322 | 0 | running | 127 | $10,000 |
| 13 | 8 | 90 | Benny Parsons | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 322 | 44 | running | 129 | $8,930 |
| 14 | 25 | 98 | Brad Noffsinger (R) | Curb Racing | Buick | 321 | 0 | running | 0 | $5,310 |
| 15 | 33 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 320 | 3 | running | 123 | $7,880 |
| 16 | 42 | 10 | Ken Bouchard (R) | Whitcomb Racing | Ford | 320 | 0 | running | 115 | $5,520 |
| 17 | 23 | 23 | Eddie Bierschwale | B&B Racing | Oldsmobile | 319 | 0 | running | 112 | $4,410 |
| 18 | 34 | 2 | Ernie Irvan (R) | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | 318 | 0 | running | 109 | $6,100 |
| 19 | 3 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 312 | 0 | crash | 106 | $11,940 |
| 20 | 11 | 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 311 | 0 | running | 103 | $7,770 |
| 21 | 17 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 296 | 0 | running | 100 | $5,985 |
| 22 | 31 | 75 | Neil Bonnett | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 289 | 1 | running | 102 | $9,600 |
| 23 | 24 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 285 | 0 | engine | 94 | $5,615 |
| 24 | 28 | 26 | Ricky Rudd | King Racing | Buick | 253 | 0 | engine | 91 | $5,430 |
| 25 | 38 | 89 | Jim Sauter | Mueller Brothers Racing | Pontiac | 238 | 0 | cylinder head | 88 | $2,945 |
| 26 | 36 | 68 | Derrike Cope | Testa Racing | Ford | 194 | 0 | running | 85 | $5,255 |
| 27 | 26 | 97 | Rodney Combs | Winkle Motorsports | Buick | 172 | 0 | cylinder head | 0 | $3,095 |
| 28 | 29 | 92 | David Sosebee | LC Racing | Ford | 165 | 0 | clutch | 79 | $2,210 |
| 29 | 40 | 99 | Dale Jarrett | Ball Motorsports | Chevrolet | 164 | 0 | brakes | 76 | $2,175 |
| 30 | 20 | 47 | Morgan Shepherd | Shepherd Racing | Buick | 143 | 0 | grease seal | 73 | $2,090 |
| 31 | 7 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 142 | 0 | crash | 70 | $2,060 |
| 32 | 19 | 29 | Cale Yarborough | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 127 | 0 | brakes | 67 | $2,030 |
| 33 | 1 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 109 | 1 | engine | 69 | $8,725 |
| 34 | 6 | 14 | A. J. Foyt | A. J. Foyt Racing | Oldsmobile | 85 | 0 | engine | 61 | $2,430 |
| 35 | 30 | 77 | Ken Ragan | Ragan Racing | Ford | 84 | 0 | engine | 58 | $1,930 |
| 36 | 35 | 31 | Brad Teague | Bob Clark Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 80 | 0 | crash | 55 | $1,905 |
| 37 | 15 | 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 71 | 0 | crash | 52 | $4,585 |
| 38 | 14 | 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | 49 | 0 | cylinder head | 49 | $1,865 |
| 39 | 12 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 29 | 0 | engine | 46 | $4,515 |
| 40 | 41 | 28 | Davey Allison | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Ford | 29 | 0 | crash | 43 | $11,160 |
| 41 | 37 | 36 | H. B. Bailey | Bailey Racing | Pontiac | 12 | 0 | oil leak | 40 | $1,760 |
| 42 | 39 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 3 | 0 | engine | 37 | $4,410 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 43 | | 67 | Buddy Arrington | Arrington Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 44 | | 93 | Charlie Baker | Salmon Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 45 | | 01 | Mickey Gibbs | Gibbs Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 46 | | 80 | Jimmy Horton (R) | S&H Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 47 | | 1 | Dale Jarrett | Ellington Racing | Buick | | | | | |
| 48 | | 86 | Rick Jeffrey | Jeffrey Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 49 | | 63 | Jocko Maggiacomo | Linro Motorsports | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 50 | | 22 | Steve Moore | Hamby Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 51 | | 03 | Dave Pletcher Sr. | Weaver Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 52 | | 50 | Greg Sacks | Dingman Brothers Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 53 | | 48 | Tony Spanos | Hylton Motorsports | Buick | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Neil Bonnett | 632 |
| 1 | 2 | Dale Earnhardt | 628 (-4) |
| 1 | 3 | Rusty Wallace | 595 (-39) |
| 2 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | 573 (–57) |
| 4 | 5 | Darrell Waltrip | 561 (–71) |
| 1 | 6 | Bobby Allison | 547 (–85) |
| 6 | 7 | Terry Labonte | 543 (–89) |
| 2 | 8 | Buddy Baker | 537 (–95) |
| 1 | 9 | Ken Schrader | 534 (–98) |
| 4 | 10 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | 516 (–116) |
| Official driver's standings ||||