# 1989 Miller High Life 500

The 1989 Miller High Life 500 was the 13th stock car race of the 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the eighth iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, June 18, 1989, before an audience of 100,000 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, at Pocono Raceway, a 2.5 miles (4.0 km) triangular permanent course. The race took the scheduled 200 laps to complete. In the final laps of the race, Junior Johnson & Associates driver Terry Labonte would manage to hold off a late-race charge from Jackson Bros. Motorsports driver Harry Gant, leading the final 14 laps of the race to take his 10th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his first victory of the season. To fill out the top three, the aforementioned Harry Gant and Richard Childress Racing driver Dale Earnhardt would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

The race was held at Pocono International Raceway, which is a three-turn superspeedway located in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. The track hosts two annual NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, as well as one Xfinity Series and Camping World Truck Series event. Until 2019, the track also hosted an IndyCar Series race.
Pocono International Raceway is one of a very few NASCAR tracks not owned by either Speedway Motorsports, Inc. or International Speedway Corporation. It is operated by the Igdalsky siblings Brandon, Nicholas, and sister Ashley, and cousins Joseph IV and Chase Mattioli, all of whom are third-generation members of the family-owned Mattco Inc, started by Joseph II and Rose Mattioli.
Outside of the NASCAR races, the track is used throughout the year by the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and motorcycle clubs as well as racing schools and an IndyCar race. The triangular oval also has three separate infield sections of racetrack – North Course, East Course and South Course. Each of these infield sections use a separate portion of the tri-oval to complete the track. During regular non-race weekends, multiple clubs can use the track by running on different infield sections. Also some of the infield sections can be run in either direction, or multiple infield sections can be put together – such as running the North Course and the South Course and using the tri-oval to connect the two.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 2 | Ernie Irvan | U.S. Racing | Pontiac | Kroger |
| 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | GM Goodwrench Service Plus |
| 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 |
| 06 | Terry Byers | Byers Racing | Chevrolet | Byers Racing |
| 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 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Pontiac | Purolator Filters |
| 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | Budweiser |
| 15 | Brett Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | Motorcraft |
| 16 | Larry Pearson (R) | Pearson Racing | Buick | Chattanooga Chew |
| 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Tide |
| 21 | Neil Bonnett | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Citgo |
| 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 | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Texaco, Havoline |
| 29 | Dale Jarrett | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Pontiac | Hardee's |
| 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | Country Time |
| 33 | Harry Gant | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Skoal Bandit |
| 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 49 | Trevor Boys | Hylton Motorsports | Buick | Hylton Motorsports |
| 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | Alka-Seltzer |
| 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Skoal, Crown Central Petroleum |
| 57 | Hut Stricklin (R) | Osterlund Racing | Pontiac | Heinz |
| 63 | Randy LaJoie | Rosenblum Racing | Chevrolet | Rosenblum Racing |
| 65 | Tommie Crozier | Leonard Racing | Chevrolet | Leonard Racing |
| 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Lifebuoy |
| 75 | Morgan Shepherd | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | Valvoline |
| 80 | Jimmy Horton | S&H Racing | Pontiac | S&H Racing |
| 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | Bull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce |
| 84 | Dick Trickle (R) | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | Miller High Life |
| 85 | Bobby Gerhart | Bobby Gerhart Racing | Oldsmobile | James Chevrolet |
| 88 | Jimmy Spencer (R) | Baker–Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | Crisco |
| 94 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | Sunoco |
| 99 | Norm Benning | O'Neil Racing | Chevrolet | O'Neil Racing |

## Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, June 16, at 3:00 PM EST. Each driver would have one lap to set a time. During the first round, the top 15 drivers in the round would be guaranteed a starting spot in the race. If a driver was not able to guarantee a spot in the first round, they had the option to scrub their time from the first round and try and run a faster lap time in a second round qualifying run, held on Saturday, June 17, at 10:30 AM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 16-40 would be decided on time, and 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 provisionals were given.
Rusty Wallace, driving for Blue Max Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 57.147 and an average speed of 157.489 miles per hour (253.454 km/h) in the first round.
No drivers would fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 57.147 | 157.489 |
| 2 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 57.234 | 157.249 |
| 3 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 57.300 | 157.068 |
| 4 | 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | 57.355 | 156.917 |
| 5 | 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 57.453 | 156.650 |
| 6 | 94 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 57.482 | 156.571 |
| 7 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 57.500 | 156.522 |
| 8 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 57.502 | 156.516 |
| 9 | 21 | Neil Bonnett | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 57.555 | 156.372 |
| 10 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 57.631 | 156.166 |
| 11 | 33 | Harry Gant | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 57.658 | 156.093 |
| 12 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 57.710 | 155.952 |
| 13 | 26 | Ricky Rudd | King Racing | Buick | 57.825 | 155.642 |
| 14 | 29 | Dale Jarrett | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Pontiac | 57.863 | 155.540 |
| 15 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 57.912 | 155.408 |
| Failed to lock in Round 1 |||||||
| 16 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 57.129 | 157.538 |
| 17 | 75 | Morgan Shepherd | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 57.764 | 155.806 |
| 18 | 10 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Pontiac | 57.933 | 155.352 |
| 19 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 57.934 | 155.349 |
| 20 | 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 57.937 | 155.341 |
| 21 | 2 | Ernie Irvan | U.S. Racing | Pontiac | 58.135 | 154.812 |
| 22 | 15 | Brett Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 58.188 | 154.671 |
| 23 | 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 58.234 | 154.549 |
| 24 | 16 | Larry Pearson (R) | Pearson Racing | Buick | 58.396 | 154.120 |
| 25 | 80 | Jimmy Horton | S&H Racing | Pontiac | 58.399 | 154.112 |
| 26 | 88 | Jimmy Spencer (R) | Baker–Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | 58.413 | 154.075 |
| 27 | 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 58.426 | 154.041 |
| 28 | 84 | Dick Trickle (R) | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 58.577 | 153.644 |
| 29 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 58.717 | 153.278 |
| 30 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 59.007 | 152.524 |
| 31 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 59.247 | 151.906 |
| 32 | 63 | Randy LaJoie | Rosenblum Racing | Chevrolet | 59.270 | 151.847 |
| 33 | 49 | Trevor Boys | Hylton Motorsports | Buick | 59.529 | 151.187 |
| 34 | 57 | Hut Stricklin (R) | Osterlund Racing | Pontiac | 59.586 | 151.042 |
| 35 | 06 | Terry Byers | Byers Racing | Chevrolet | 59.685 | 150.792 |
| 36 | 99 | Norm Benning | O'Neil Racing | Chevrolet | 1:00.916 | 147.744 |
| 37 | 85 | Bobby Gerhart | Bobby Gerhart Racing | Oldsmobile | 1:01.012 | 147.512 |
| 38 | 65 | Tommie Crozier | Leonard Racing | Chevrolet | 1:05.905 | 136.560 |
| Official first round qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 23 | 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 200 | 39 | running | 180 | $54,807 |
| 2 | 11 | 33 | Harry Gant | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 200 | 12 | running | 175 | $33,875 |
| 3 | 7 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 200 | 12 | running | 170 | $29,250 |
| 4 | 10 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 2 | running | 165 | $20,600 |
| 5 | 17 | 75 | Morgan Shepherd | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 200 | 0 | running | 155 | $21,850 |
| 6 | 6 | 94 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 200 | 0 | running | 150 | $14,925 |
| 7 | 14 | 29 | Dale Jarrett | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Pontiac | 200 | 1 | running | 151 | $11,150 |
| 8 | 9 | 21 | Neil Bonnett | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 200 | 2 | running | 147 | $10,125 |
| 9 | 24 | 16 | Larry Pearson (R) | Pearson Racing | Buick | 200 | 2 | running | 143 | $8,325 |
| 10 | 22 | 15 | Brett Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 199 | 0 | running | 134 | $11,650 |
| 11 | 4 | 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | 199 | 5 | running | 135 | $8,650 |
| 12 | 20 | 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 199 | 0 | running | 127 | $8,350 |
| 13 | 30 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 199 | 0 | running | 124 | $7,950 |
| 14 | 12 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 199 | 1 | running | 126 | $7,450 |
| 15 | 3 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 198 | 0 | running | 118 | $7,650 |
| 16 | 27 | 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 197 | 0 | running | 115 | $12,250 |
| 17 | 34 | 57 | Hut Stricklin (R) | Osterlund Racing | Pontiac | 197 | 0 | running | 112 | $5,000 |
| 18 | 31 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 197 | 0 | running | 109 | $6,600 |
| 19 | 35 | 06 | Terry Byers | Byers Racing | Chevrolet | 197 | 0 | running | 106 | $3,525 |
| 20 | 13 | 26 | Ricky Rudd | King Racing | Buick | 197 | 0 | running | 103 | $11,225 |
| 21 | 8 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 197 | 0 | running | 100 | $14,250 |
| 22 | 1 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 194 | 100 | running | 107 | $16,825 |
| 23 | 37 | 85 | Bobby Gerhart | Bobby Gerhart Racing | Oldsmobile | 193 | 0 | running | 94 | $2,975 |
| 24 | 28 | 84 | Dick Trickle (R) | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 190 | 0 | running | 91 | $5,775 |
| 25 | 19 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 189 | 0 | running | 88 | $3,775 |
| 26 | 21 | 2 | Ernie Irvan | U.S. Racing | Pontiac | 189 | 0 | running | 85 | $3,525 |
| 27 | 5 | 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 185 | 0 | running | 82 | $5,450 |
| 28 | 32 | 63 | Randy LaJoie | Rosenblum Racing | Chevrolet | 178 | 0 | crash | 79 | $2,725 |
| 29 | 29 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 153 | 0 | crash | 76 | $2,675 |
| 30 | 36 | 99 | Norm Benning | O'Neil Racing | Chevrolet | 151 | 0 | engine | 73 | $2,675 |
| 31 | 33 | 49 | Trevor Boys | Hylton Motorsports | Buick | 118 | 2 | engine | 0 | $2,575 |
| 32 | 2 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 104 | 22 | engine | 72 | $11,875 |
| 33 | 26 | 88 | Jimmy Spencer (R) | Baker–Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | 104 | 0 | engine | 0 | $5,100 |
| 34 | 15 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 96 | 0 | engine | 61 | $5,025 |
| 35 | 16 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 78 | 0 | crash | 58 | $10,850 |
| 36 | 18 | 10 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Pontiac | 44 | 0 | engine | 55 | $2,900 |
| 37 | 25 | 80 | Jimmy Horton | S&H Racing | Pontiac | 29 | 0 | engine | 52 | $2,250 |
| 38 | 38 | 65 | Tommie Crozier | Leonard Racing | Chevrolet | 16 | 0 | transmission | 49 | $2,850 |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Dale Earnhardt | 1,945 |
| 1 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | 1,755 (-190) |
| 1 | 3 | Darrell Waltrip | 1,738 (-207) |
| 1 | 4 | Mark Martin | 1,731 (–214) |
| 1 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | 1,695 (–250) |
| 2 | 6 | Sterling Marlin | 1,652 (–293) |
| 4 | 7 | Ken Schrader | 1,625 (–320) |
| 2 | 8 | Bill Elliott | 1,623 (–322) |
| | 9 | Davey Allison | 1,611 (–334) |
| | 10 | Ricky Rudd | 1,589 (–356) |
| Official driver's standings ||||