# 1986 Daytona 500

The 1986 Daytona 500 was the first stock car race of the 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 28th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, February 16, 1986, before an audience of 125,000 in Daytona Beach, Florida at Daytona International Speedway.
In the final laps of the race, Richard Childress Racing's Dale Earnhardt and Hendrick Motorsports' Geoff Bodine engaged in a battle for the victory. However, by the final lap, Earnhardt ran out of fuel, leading Bodine to cruise to an easy victory, having dominated for a majority of the race. The victory was Bodine's fourth career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory, his first victory of the season, and his only Daytona 500 victory. Hagan Enterprises' Terry Labonte and Junior Johnson & Associates' Darrell Waltrip finished second and third, respectively.

## Background

Daytona International Speedway is one of three superspeedways to hold NASCAR races, the other two being Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway. The standard track at Daytona International Speedway is a four-turn superspeedway that is 2.5 miles (4.0 km) long. The track's turns are banked at 31 degrees, while the front stretch, the location of the finish line, is banked at 18 degrees.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 0 | Delma Cowart | H. L. Waters Racing | Chevrolet | Heyward Grooms Construction, Carey Hillard's Restaurants |
| 1 | Sterling Marlin | Ellington Racing | Chevrolet | Bull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce |
| 2 | Kirk Bryant | Cliff Stewart Racing | Pontiac | Cliff Stewart Racing |
| 02 | Mark Martin | Gunderman Racing | Ford | Lone Star Peterbilt |
| 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Wrangler |
| 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Cap'n Coty's |
| 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Levi Garrett |
| 6 | Trevor Boys | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | Finky's |
| 7 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 7-Eleven |
| 07 | Randy LaJoie | Bob Johnson Racing | Chevrolet | Snellman Construction |
| 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Chevrolet | Miller American |
| 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | Coors |
| 10 | Greg Sacks | DiGard Motorsports | Pontiac | TRW Automotive |
| 11 | Darrell Waltrip | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | Budweiser |
| 12 | Neil Bonnett | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | Budweiser |
| 14 | A. J. Foyt | A. J. Foyt Racing | Oldsmobile | Copenhagen |
| 15 | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | Motorcraft Quality Parts |
| 17 | Doug Heveron | Hamby Racing | Chevrolet | Protecta Truck Bed Liner |
| 18 | Tommy Ellis | Freedlander Motorsports | Chevrolet | Freedlander Financial |
| 19 | Bob Park | Park Racing | Pontiac | Park Racing |
| 21 | Larry Pearson | Pearson Racing | Chevrolet | Chattanooga Chew |
| 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 |
| 29 | Grant Adcox | Adcox Racing | Chevrolet | Herb Adcox Chevrolet |
| 32 | Alan Kulwicki (R) | Terry Racing | Ford | Quincy's Steakhouse |
| 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | Skoal Bandit |
| 39 | Blackie Wangerin | Wangerin Racing | Ford | Wangerin Racing |
| 42 | Dick Trickle | Billy Matthews Racing | Chevrolet | Bill's Barbeque |
| 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 44 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Enterprises | Oldsmobile | Piedmont Airlines |
| 47 | Morgan Shepherd | Race Hill Farm Team | Chevrolet | Race Hill Farm Team |
| 48 | Ron Esau | Hylton Motorsports | Chevrolet | Hylton Motorsports |
| 49 | Ferdin Wallace | H. L. Waters Racing | Chevrolet | Clearfield Speedway |
| 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | WNDB |
| 53 | Donny Paul | Paul Racing | Chevrolet | Paul Racing |
| 54 | Slick Johnson | Gray Racing | Chevrolet | Gray Racing |
| 55 | Benny Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Copenhagen |
| 57 | Jody Ridley | RahMoc Enterprises | Ford | Nationwise Automotive |
| 60 | Dick Skillen | Goff Racing | Chevrolet | Goff Racing |
| 64 | Pancho Carter | Langley Racing | Ford | Kmart |
| 66 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Skoal |
| 67 | Buddy Arrington | Arrington Racing | Ford | Jim Peacock Ford, Pannill Sweatshirts |
| 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | Rumple Furniture |
| 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Pontiac | Helen Rae Special |
| 73 | Phil Barkdoll | Barkdoll Racing | Ford | Helen Rae Special |
| 74 | Bobby Wawak | Wawak Racing | Chevrolet | Superior Piping |
| 75 | Lake Speed | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | Nationwise Automotive |
| 76 | Clark Dwyer | Arrington Racing | Ford | Arrington Racing |
| 77 | Ken Ragan | Ragan Racing | Chevrolet | McCord Gasket |
| 81 | Chet Fillip (R) | Fillip Racing | Ford | Circle Bar Truck Corral |
| 82 | Mark Stahl | Stahl Racing | Ford | Auto Bell Car Wash |
| 88 | Buddy Baker | Baker–Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | Crisco |
| 89 | Jim Sauter | Mueller Brothers Racing | Pontiac | Evinrude Outboard Motors |
| 90 | Ken Schrader | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Red Baron Frozen Pizza |
| 94 | Eddie Bierschwale | Eller Racing | Pontiac | Kodak Film |
| 95 | Davey Allison | Sadler Brothers Racing | Chevrolet | Sadler Brothers Racing |
| 98 | Ron Bouchard | Curb Racing | Pontiac | Valvoline |
| 99 | Connie Saylor | Ball Motorsports | Chevrolet | Hayes Jewelers |

## Qualifying

Qualifying was set by the 1986 7-Eleven Twin 125s. The top two positions were set by qualifying speeds held for the Twin 125 Qualifiers held on Monday, February 10, with the top two qualifiers in the session earning the top two positions for the Daytona 500. The rest of the starting was set in the Twin 125 Qualifiers, held on Thursday, February 13, during two races. The top 14 finishers in the first race, excluding the pole position winner, set the inside row from rows two to 15, and the top 14 finishers in the second race, excluding the outside pole position winner, set the outside row from rows two to 15. The remaining non-qualifiers set positions 31-40 based on qualifying speeds from the first qualifying session held on Saturday. If needed, up to two extra provisionals were given to teams high enough in the previous season's owner's standings that did not qualify for the race by either qualifying speed or from the Twin 125 Qualifiers.
Bill Elliott, driving for Melling Racing, won the pole, setting a time of 43.894 and an average speed of 205.039 miles per hour (329.978 km/h) in Monday's session.
20 drivers failed to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Reason |
| 1 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | Qualified on pole |
| 2 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Qualified on outside pole |
| 3 | 22 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | Second in Twin 125 #1 |
| 4 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | First in Twin 125 #2 |
| 5 | 44 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Enterprises | Oldsmobile | Third in Twin 125 #1 |
| 6 | 11 | Darrell Waltrip | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | Third in Twin 125 #2 |
| 7 | 7 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Fourth in Twin 125 #1 |
| 8 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | Fifth in Twin 125 #2 |
| 9 | 1 | Sterling Marlin | Ellington Racing | Chevrolet | Fifth in Twin 125 #1 |
| 10 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Pontiac | Sixth in Twin 125 #2 |
| 11 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | Sixth in Twin 125 #1 |
| 12 | 28 | Cale Yarborough | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Ford | Seventh in Twin 125 #2 |
| 13 | 12 | Neil Bonnett | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | Seventh in Twin 125 #1 |
| 14 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | Eighth in Twin 125 #2 |
| 15 | 98 | Ron Bouchard | Curb Racing | Pontiac | Eighth in Twin 125 #1 |
| 16 | 88 | Buddy Baker | Baker–Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | Ninth in Twin 125 #2 |
| 17 | 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Ninth in Twin 125 #1 |
| 18 | 6 | Trevor Boys | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | Tenth in Twin 125 #2 |
| 19 | 66 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Tenth in Twin 125 #1 |
| 20 | 18 | Tommy Ellis | Freedlander Motorsports | Chevrolet | 11th in Twin 125 #2 |
| 21 | 14 | A. J. Foyt | A. J. Foyt Racing | Oldsmobile | 11th in Twin 125 #1 |
| 22 | 21 | Larry Pearson | Pearson Racing | Chevrolet | 12th in Twin 125 #2 |
| 23 | 15 | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 12th in Twin 125 #1 |
| 24 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Chevrolet | 13th in Twin 125 #2 |
| 25 | 02 | Mark Martin | Gunderman Racing | Ford | 13th in Twin 125 #1 |
| 26 | 89 | Jim Sauter | Mueller Brothers Racing | Pontiac | 14th in Twin 125 #2 |
| 27 | 10 | Greg Sacks | DiGard Motorsports | Pontiac | 14th in Twin 125 #1 |
| 28 | 64 | Pancho Carter | Langley Racing | Ford | 15th in Twin 125 #2 |
| 29 | 42 | Dick Trickle | Billy Matthews Racing | Chevrolet | 15th in Twin 125 #1 |
| 30 | 55 | Benny Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Speed provisional (200.411) |
| 31 | 54 | Slick Johnson | Gray Racing | Chevrolet | Speed provisional (200.983) |
| 32 | 2 | Kirk Bryant | Cliff Stewart Racing | Pontiac | Speed provisional (200.196) |
| 33 | 26 | Joe Ruttman | King Racing | Buick | Speed provisional (200.566) |
| 34 | 17 | Doug Heveron | Hamby Racing | Chevrolet | Speed provisional (199.172) |
| 35 | 57 | Jody Ridley | RahMoc Enterprises | Ford | Speed provisional (199.836) |
| 36 | 75 | Lake Speed | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | Speed provisional (199.018) |
| 37 | 67 | Buddy Arrington | Arrington Racing | Ford | Speed provisional (199.106) |
| Forced to start at rear ||||||
| 38 | 77 | Ken Ragan | Ragan Racing | Chevrolet | Speed provisional (200.906) |
| 39 | 25 | Tim Richmond | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Speed provisional (202.643) |
| 40 | 47 | Morgan Shepherd | Race Hill Farm Team | Chevrolet | Fourth in Twin 125 #2 |
| Provisionals ||||||
| 41 | 90 | Ken Schrader | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Owner's points provisional |
| 42 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | Owner's points provisional |
| Failed to qualify ||||||
| 43 | 53 | Donny Paul | Paul Racing | Chevrolet | 16th in Twin 125 #1 |
| 44 | 94 | Eddie Bierschwale | Eller Racing | Pontiac | 16th in Twin 125 #2 |
| 45 | 32 | Alan Kulwicki (R) | Terry Racing | Ford | 18th in Twin 125 #1 |
| 46 | 48 | Ron Esau | Hylton Motorsports | Chevrolet | 18th in Twin 125 #2 |
| 47 | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | 20th in Twin 125 #1 |
| 48 | 74 | Bobby Wawak | Wawak Racing | Chevrolet | 19th in Twin 125 #2 |
| 49 | 76 | Clark Dwyer | Arrington Racing | Ford | 21st in Twin 125 #1 |
| 50 | 81 | Chet Fillip (R) | Fillip Racing | Ford | 20th in Twin 125 #2 |
| 51 | 95 | Davey Allison | Sadler Brothers Racing | Chevrolet | 22nd in Twin 125 #1 |
| 52 | 60 | Dick Skillen | Goff Racing | Chevrolet | 21st in Twin 125 #2 |
| 53 | 23 | Michael Waltrip (R) | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 24th in Twin 125 #1 |
| 54 | 07 | Randy LaJoie | Bob Johnson Racing | Chevrolet | 22nd in Twin 125 #2 |
| 55 | 82 | Mark Stahl | Stahl Racing | Ford | 25th in Twin 125 #1 |
| 56 | 99 | Connie Saylor | Ball Motorsports | Chevrolet | 27th in Twin 125 #2 |
| 57 | 29 | Grant Adcox | Adcox Racing | Chevrolet | 27th in Twin 125 #1 |
| 58 | 39 | Blackie Wangerin | Wangerin Racing | Ford | 29th in Twin 125 #2 |
| 59 | 19 | Bob Park | Park Racing | Pontiac | 28th in Twin 125 #1 |
| 60 | 49 | Ferdin Wallace | H. L. Waters Racing | Chevrolet | 30th in Twin 125 #2 |
| 61 | 0 | Delma Cowart | H. L. Waters Racing | Chevrolet | 31st in Twin 125 #1 |
| 62 | 73 | Phil Barkdoll | Barkdoll Racing | Ford | 31st in Twin 125 #2 |
| Official Twin 125s results ||||||
| Official starting lineup ||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 2 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 101 | running | 185 | $192,715 |
| 2 | 5 | 44 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Enterprises | Oldsmobile | 200 | 5 | running | 175 | $103,240 |
| 3 | 6 | 11 | Darrell Waltrip | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 200 | 3 | running | 170 | $80,515 |
| 4 | 24 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Chevrolet | 200 | 1 | running | 165 | $58,975 |
| 5 | 30 | 55 | Benny Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 199 | 0 | running | 155 | $47,415 |
| 6 | 15 | 98 | Ron Bouchard | Curb Racing | Pontiac | 199 | 0 | running | 150 | $48,310 |
| 7 | 17 | 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 199 | 0 | running | 146 | $36,990 |
| 8 | 8 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 199 | 0 | running | 142 | $37,840 |
| 9 | 9 | 1 | Sterling Marlin | Ellington Racing | Chevrolet | 198 | 6 | engine | 143 | $37,165 |
| 10 | 36 | 75 | Lake Speed | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 198 | 0 | running | 134 | $31,430 |
| 11 | 23 | 15 | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 198 | 0 | running | 130 | $32,690 |
| 12 | 35 | 57 | Jody Ridley | RahMoc Enterprises | Ford | 198 | 0 | running | 127 | $20,915 |
| 13 | 1 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 198 | 2 | running | 129 | $56,070 |
| 14 | 4 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 197 | 34 | engine | 126 | $61,655 |
| 15 | 34 | 17 | Doug Heveron | Hamby Racing | Chevrolet | 197 | 0 | running | 118 | $21,120 |
| 16 | 7 | 7 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 195 | 0 | running | 115 | $23,430 |
| 17 | 29 | 42 | Dick Trickle | Billy Matthews Racing | Chevrolet | 194 | 0 | running | 112 | $15,925 |
| 18 | 18 | 6 | Trevor Boys | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | 191 | 0 | running | 109 | $19,380 |
| 19 | 20 | 18 | Tommy Ellis | Freedlander Motorsports | Chevrolet | 189 | 3 | running | 111 | $15,035 |
| 20 | 39 | 25 | Tim Richmond | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 188 | 7 | running | 108 | $13,875 |
| 21 | 38 | 77 | Ken Ragan | Ragan Racing | Chevrolet | 184 | 0 | running | 100 | $11,870 |
| 22 | 40 | 47 | Morgan Shepherd | Race Hill Farm Team | Chevrolet | 181 | 0 | running | 97 | $15,465 |
| 23 | 37 | 67 | Buddy Arrington | Arrington Racing | Ford | 177 | 0 | engine | 94 | $15,475 |
| 24 | 19 | 66 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 174 | 0 | running | 91 | $12,705 |
| 25 | 26 | 89 | Jim Sauter | Mueller Brothers Racing | Pontiac | 138 | 0 | clutch | 88 | $11,800 |
| 26 | 16 | 88 | Buddy Baker | Baker–Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | 119 | 0 | accident | 85 | $15,400 |
| 27 | 12 | 28 | Cale Yarborough | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Ford | 116 | 5 | accident | 87 | $12,985 |
| 28 | 33 | 26 | Joe Ruttman | King Racing | Buick | 115 | 0 | accident | 79 | $9,480 |
| 29 | 21 | 14 | A. J. Foyt | A. J. Foyt Racing | Oldsmobile | 113 | 1 | engine | 81 | $11,275 |
| 30 | 14 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 103 | 0 | accident | 73 | $19,920 |
| 31 | 31 | 54 | Eddie Bierschwale | Gray Racing | Chevrolet | 100 | 0 | engine | 70 | $9,965 |
| 32 | 13 | 12 | Neil Bonnett | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 100 | 32 | accident | 72 | $29,710 |
| 33 | 41 | 90 | Ken Schrader | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 91 | 0 | engine | 64 | $11,300 |
| 34 | 28 | 64 | Pancho Carter | Langley Racing | Ford | 79 | 0 | accident | 61 | $12,925 |
| 35 | 27 | 10 | Greg Sacks | DiGard Motorsports | Pontiac | 76 | 0 | clutch | 58 | $16,670 |
| 36 | 11 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 63 | 0 | accident | 55 | $10,790 |
| 37 | 25 | 02 | Mark Martin | Gunderman Racing | Ford | 51 | 0 | engine | 52 | $9,560 |
| 38 | 10 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Pontiac | 47 | 0 | engine | 49 | $13,295 |
| 39 | 42 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 38 | 0 | engine | 46 | $11,150 |
| 40 | 22 | 21 | Larry Pearson | Pearson Racing | Chevrolet | 29 | 0 | engine | 43 | $9,310 |
| 41 | 32 | 2 | Kirk Bryant | Cliff Stewart Racing | Pontiac | 24 | 0 | accident | 40 | $10,995 |
| 42 | 3 | 22 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 21 | 0 | engine | 37 | $18,760 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 43 | | 53 | Donny Paul | Paul Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 44 | | 94 | Eddie Bierschwale | Eller Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 45 | | 32 | Alan Kulwicki (R) | Terry Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 46 | | 48 | Ron Esau | Hylton Motorsports | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 47 | | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 48 | | 74 | Bobby Wawak | Wawak Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 49 | | 76 | Clark Dwyer | Arrington Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 50 | | 81 | Chet Fillip (R) | Fillip Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 51 | | 95 | Davey Allison | Sadler Brothers Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 52 | | 60 | Dick Skillen | Goff Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 53 | | 23 | Michael Waltrip (R) | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 54 | | 07 | Randy LaJoie | Bob Johnson Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 55 | | 82 | Mark Stahl | Stahl Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 56 | | 99 | Connie Saylor | Ball Motorsports | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 57 | | 29 | Grant Adcox | Adcox Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 58 | | 39 | Blackie Wangerin | Wangerin Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 59 | | 19 | Bob Park | Park Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 60 | | 49 | Ferdin Wallace | H. L. Waters Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 61 | | 0 | Delma Cowart | H. L. Waters Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 62 | | 73 | Phil Barkdoll | Barkdoll Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Geoff Bodine | 185 |
| | 2 | Terry Labonte | 175 (-10) |
| | 3 | Darrell Waltrip | 170 (-15) |
| | 4 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | 165 (–20) |
| | 5 | Benny Parsons | 155 (–30) |
| | 6 | Ron Bouchard | 150 (–35) |
| | 7 | Rick Wilson | 146 (–39) |
| | 8 | Sterling Marlin | 143 (–42) |
| | 9 | Rusty Wallace | 142 (–43) |
| | 10 | Lake Speed | 134 (–51) |
| Official driver's standings ||||