# 1991 Hanes 500

The 1991 Hanes 500 was the eighth stock car race of the 1991 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 42nd iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, April 28, 1991, before an audience of 44,000 in Martinsville, Virginia at Martinsville Speedway, a 0.526 miles (0.847 km) permanent oval-shaped short track. The race took the scheduled 500 laps to complete. With the assist of a late caution, on the final restart with 38 laps to go in the race, Richard Childress Racing driver Dale Earnhardt would manage to mount a late-race charge to the lead on the ensuing restart to take his 50th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his second victory of the season. To fill out the top three, SABCO Racing driver Kyle Petty and owner-driver Darrell Waltrip would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

Martinsville Speedway is a NASCAR-owned stock car racing track located in Henry County, in Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At 0.526 miles (0.847 km) in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved oval tracks in NASCAR, being built in 1947 by H. Clay Earles. It is also the only remaining race track that has been on the NASCAR circuit from its beginning in 1948.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Oldsmobile | 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 | Folgers |
| 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | Hooters |
| 8 | Rick Wilson | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | Snickers |
| 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | Coors Light |
| 10 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Chevrolet | Purolator Filters |
| 11 | Geoff Bodine | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | Budweiser |
| 12 | Hut Stricklin | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Buick | Raybestos |
| 15 | Morgan Shepherd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | Motorcraft |
| 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | Western Auto |
| 19 | Chad Little | Little Racing | Ford | Tyson Foods |
| 20 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Moroso Racing | Oldsmobile | Rob Moroso Memorial |
| 21 | Dale Jarrett | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Citgo |
| 22 | Sterling Marlin | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | Maxwell House |
| 24 | Mickey Gibbs | Team III Racing | Pontiac | Team III Racing |
| 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kodiak |
| 26 | Brett Bodine | King Racing | Buick | Quaker State |
| 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Texaco, Havoline |
| 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | Pennzoil |
| 33 | Harry Gant | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Skoal Bandit |
| 34 | Dick Trickle | AAG Racing | Buick | Allen's Glass |
| 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | Mello Yello |
| 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | Alka-Seltzer |
| 55 | Ted Musgrave (R) | U.S. Racing | Pontiac | U.S. Racing |
| 66 | Lake Speed | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Pontiac | Phillips 66 TropArtic |
| 68 | Bobby Hamilton (R) | TriStar Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Country Time |
| 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | Rumple Furniture |
| 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Big Apple Market |
| 75 | Joe Ruttman | RahMoc Enterprises | Oldsmobile | Dinner Bell Foods |
| 76 | Bill Sedgwick | Spears Motorsports | Chevrolet | Spears Manufacturing |
| 94 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | Sunoco |
| 98 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Chevrolet | Banquet Foods |

## Qualifying

Qualifying was originally scheduled to be split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, April 27, at 3:00 PM EST. Originally, the first 20 positions were going to be determined by first round qualifying, with positions 21-30 meant to be determined the following day on Saturday, April 28. However, due to rain, the second round was cancelled. As a result, the rest of the starting lineup was set using the results from the first round. 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. If needed, a past champion who did not qualify on either time or provisionals could use a champion's provisional, adding one more spot to the field.
Mark Martin, driving for Roush Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 20.594 and an average speed of 91.949 miles per hour (147.978 km/h).
Five drivers would fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 20.594 | 91.949 |
| 2 | 33 | Harry Gant | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 20.647 | 91.713 |
| 3 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20.656 | 91.673 |
| 4 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Oldsmobile | 20.690 | 91.522 |
| 5 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Pontiac | 20.725 | 91.368 |
| 6 | 19 | Chad Little | Little Racing | Ford | 20.787 | 91.095 |
| 7 | 21 | Dale Jarrett | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 20.817 | 90.964 |
| 8 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 20.840 | 90.864 |
| 9 | 4 | Ernie Irvan | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20.853 | 90.807 |
| 10 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 20.890 | 90.646 |
| 11 | 20 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Moroso Racing | Oldsmobile | 20.900 | 90.603 |
| 12 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 20.900 | 90.603 |
| 13 | 94 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 20.922 | 90.508 |
| 14 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 20.945 | 90.408 |
| 15 | 26 | Brett Bodine | King Racing | Buick | 20.952 | 90.378 |
| 16 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20.958 | 90.352 |
| 17 | 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | 20.969 | 90.305 |
| 18 | 11 | Geoff Bodine | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 20.972 | 90.292 |
| 19 | 75 | Joe Ruttman | RahMoc Enterprises | Oldsmobile | 20.973 | 90.288 |
| 20 | 76 | Bill Sedgwick | Spears Motorsports | Chevrolet | 21.009 | 90.133 |
| 21 | 12 | Hut Stricklin | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Buick | 21.027 | 90.056 |
| 22 | 5 | Ricky Rudd | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 21.030 | 90.043 |
| 23 | 22 | Sterling Marlin | Hendrick Motorsports | Ford | 21.050 | 89.957 |
| 24 | 34 | Dick Trickle | AAG Racing | Buick | 21.056 | 89.932 |
| 25 | 24 | Mickey Gibbs | Team III Racing | Pontiac | 21.065 | 89.893 |
| 26 | 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 21.115 | 89.680 |
| 27 | 66 | Lake Speed | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Pontiac | 21.123 | 89.646 |
| 28 | 98 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Chevrolet | 21.126 | 89.634 |
| 29 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 21.148 | 89.540 |
| 30 | 55 | Ted Musgrave (R) | U.S. Racing | Pontiac | 21.212 | 89.270 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 31 | 15 | Morgan Shepherd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 21.254 | 89.094 |
| 32 | 8 | Rick Wilson | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 21.225 | 89.216 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 33 | 10 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Chevrolet | 21.241 | 89.148 |
| 34 | 68 | Bobby Hamilton (R) | TriStar Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 21.255 | 89.090 |
| 35 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 21.339 | 88.739 |
| 36 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 21.416 | 88.420 |
| 37 | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | - | - |
| Official first round qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 10 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 500 | 251 | running | 185 | $63,600 |
| 2 | 17 | 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | 500 | 10 | running | 175 | $29,625 |
| 3 | 16 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 0 | running | 165 | $16,150 |
| 4 | 15 | 26 | Brett Bodine | King Racing | Buick | 500 | 0 | running | 160 | $15,550 |
| 5 | 2 | 33 | Harry Gant | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 499 | 129 | running | 160 | $17,625 |
| 6 | 28 | 98 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Chevrolet | 499 | 0 | running | 150 | $12,350 |
| 7 | 29 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 499 | 0 | running | 146 | $11,100 |
| 8 | 26 | 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 499 | 110 | running | 147 | $16,350 |
| 9 | 8 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 497 | 0 | running | 138 | $12,500 |
| 10 | 21 | 12 | Hut Stricklin | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Buick | 496 | 0 | running | 134 | $13,000 |
| 11 | 22 | 5 | Ricky Rudd | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 496 | 0 | running | 130 | $10,985 |
| 12 | 7 | 21 | Dale Jarrett | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 495 | 0 | running | 127 | $7,900 |
| 13 | 4 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Oldsmobile | 495 | 0 | running | 124 | $8,200 |
| 14 | 12 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 495 | 0 | running | 121 | $7,500 |
| 15 | 9 | 4 | Ernie Irvan | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 491 | 0 | running | 118 | $10,950 |
| 16 | 19 | 75 | Joe Ruttman | RahMoc Enterprises | Oldsmobile | 487 | 0 | running | 115 | $7,200 |
| 17 | 11 | 20 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Moroso Racing | Oldsmobile | 487 | 0 | running | 112 | $5,400 |
| 18 | 27 | 66 | Lake Speed | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Pontiac | 487 | 0 | running | 109 | $7,355 |
| 19 | 20 | 76 | Bill Sedgwick | Spears Motorsports | Chevrolet | 466 | 0 | running | 106 | $3,700 |
| 20 | 18 | 11 | Geoff Bodine | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 460 | 0 | transmission | 103 | $12,000 |
| 21 | 5 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Pontiac | 458 | 0 | transmission | 100 | $3,750 |
| 22 | 32 | 8 | Rick Wilson | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 453 | 0 | running | 97 | $5,650 |
| 23 | 3 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 444 | 0 | running | 94 | $6,525 |
| 24 | 30 | 55 | Ted Musgrave (R) | U.S. Racing | Pontiac | 442 | 0 | running | 91 | $5,175 |
| 25 | 25 | 24 | Mickey Gibbs | Team III Racing | Pontiac | 414 | 0 | running | 88 | $3,250 |
| 26 | 14 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 411 | 0 | running | 85 | $9,750 |
| 27 | 6 | 19 | Chad Little | Little Racing | Ford | 408 | 0 | running | 82 | $3,650 |
| 28 | 23 | 22 | Sterling Marlin | Hendrick Motorsports | Ford | 402 | 0 | running | 79 | $2,900 |
| 29 | 1 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 293 | 0 | overheating | 76 | $13,500 |
| 30 | 31 | 15 | Morgan Shepherd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 276 | 0 | transmission | 73 | $9,450 |
| 31 | 13 | 94 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 126 | 0 | overheating | 70 | $4,850 |
| 32 | 24 | 34 | Dick Trickle | AAG Racing | Buick | 12 | 0 | overheating | 67 | $2,750 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 33 | | 10 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 34 | | 68 | Bobby Hamilton (R) | TriStar Motorsports | Oldsmobile | | | | | |
| 35 | | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 36 | | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 37 | | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Ricky Rudd | 1,233 |
| | 2 | Dale Earnhardt | 1,191 (-42) |
| | 3 | Ernie Irvan | 1,111 (-122) |
| 1 | 4 | Darrell Waltrip | 1,106 (–127) |
| 3 | 5 | Davey Allison | 1,055 (–178) |
| 3 | 6 | Michael Waltrip | 1,028 (–205) |
| 3 | 7 | Mark Martin | 1,027 (–206) |
| 2 | 8 | Morgan Shepherd | 1,011 (–222) |
| 2 | 9 | Ken Schrader | 1,005 (–228) |
| 2 | 10 | Harry Gant | 1,005 (–228) |
| Official driver's standings ||||