# 1989 The Budweiser at The Glen

The 1989 The Budweiser at The Glen was the 18th stock car race of the 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the fourth iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, August 13, 1989, before an audience of 108,000 in Watkins Glen, New York, at the shortened layout of Watkins Glen International, a 2.428-mile (3.907 km) permanent road course layout. In the final laps of the race, Blue Max Racing driver Rusty Wallace was able to take advantage of numerous misfortunes of numerous competitors behind him, leading the final 14 laps to take his 14th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his fourth victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Roush Racing driver Mark Martin and Richard Childress Racing driver Dale Earnhardt would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

Watkins Glen International (nicknamed "The Glen") is an automobile race track located in Watkins Glen, New York at the southern tip of Seneca Lake. It was long known around the world as the home of the Formula One United States Grand Prix, which it hosted for twenty consecutive years (1961–1980), but the site has been home to road racing of nearly every class, including the World Sportscar Championship, Trans-Am, Can-Am, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, the International Motor Sports Association and the IndyCar Series.
Initially, public roads in the village were used for the race course. In 1956 a permanent circuit for the race was built. In 1968 the race was extended to six hours, becoming the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen. The circuit's current layout has more or less been the same since 1971, although a chicane was installed at the uphill Esses in 1975 to slow cars through these corners, where there was a fatality during practice at the 1973 United States Grand Prix. The chicane was removed in 1985, but another chicane called the "Inner Loop" was installed near turn 5 in 1992 after J.D. McDuffie's fatal accident during the previous year's NASCAR Winston Cup event.
The circuit is known as the Mecca of North American road racing and is a very popular venue among fans and drivers. The facility is currently owned by International Speedway Corporation.

### 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 |
| 04 | Tom Rotsell | Hakes Racing | Ford | Ed Learn Ford |
| 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 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Pontiac | Purolator |
| 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | Budweiser |
| 13 | Oma Kimbrough | Rosenblum Racing | Chevrolet | Genesee Brewing Company |
| 14 | A. J. Foyt | A. J. Foyt Racing | Oldsmobile | Copenhagen |
| 15 | Brett Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | Motorcraft |
| 16 | Larry Pearson (R) | Pearson Racing | Buick | Chattanooga Chew |
| 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Tide |
| 18 | Tommy Kendall | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 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 |
| 38 | Dick Johnson | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford | Redkote Steel Tubing |
| 40 | Darin Brassfield | Brassfield Racing | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet |
| 41 | Ted Thomas | T&O Racing | Ford | T&O Racing |
| 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 44 | Jim Sauter | Group 44 | Pontiac | Group 44 |
| 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 |
| 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | Rumple Furniture |
| 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Lifebuoy |
| 75 | Morgan Shepherd | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | Valvoline |
| 83 | Eddie Bierschwale | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | Bull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce |
| 84 | Dick Trickle (R) | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | Miller High Life |
| 88 | Jimmy Spencer (R) | Baker–Schiff Racing | Pontiac | Crisco |
| 90 | Stan Barrett | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Hawaiian Tropic |
| 94 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | Sunoco |

## Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, August 11, at 1:00 PM EST. Each driver would have one lap to set a time. During the first round, the top 20 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, August 12, at 11:00 AM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 21-40 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 on time but were high enough in owner's points; up to two provisionals were given.
Morgan Shepherd, driving for RahMoc Enterprises, would win the pole, setting a time of 1:12.564 and an average speed of 120.456 miles per hour (193.855 km/h) in the first round.
Tom Rotsell was the only driver to fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 75 | Morgan Shepherd | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 1:12.564 | 120.456 |
| 2 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1:12.601 | 120.395 |
| 3 | 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 1:12.691 | 120.246 |
| 4 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 1:12.743 | 120.160 |
| 5 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1:12.857 | 119.972 |
| 6 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 1:12.898 | 119.905 |
| 7 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1:12.976 | 119.776 |
| 8 | 26 | Ricky Rudd | King Racing | Buick | 1:13.201 | 119.408 |
| 9 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 1:13.256 | 119.319 |
| 10 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 1:13.350 | 119.166 |
| 11 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 1:13.448 | 119.007 |
| 12 | 10 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Pontiac | 1:13.535 | 118.866 |
| 13 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 1:13.631 | 118.711 |
| 14 | 29 | Dale Jarrett | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Pontiac | 1:13.708 | 118.587 |
| 15 | 15 | Brett Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 1:13.714 | 118.577 |
| 16 | 18 | Tommy Kendall | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1:13.783 | 118.463 |
| 17 | 38 | Dick Johnson | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford | 1:13.885 | 118.306 |
| 18 | 94 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 1:13.927 | 118.236 |
| 19 | 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 1:13.999 | 118.121 |
| Failed to lock in Round 1 |||||||
| 20 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 1:13.545 | 118.850 |
| 21 | 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 1:14.108 | 117.947 |
| 22 | 2 | Ernie Irvan | U.S. Racing | Pontiac | 1:14.206 | 117.791 |
| 23 | 21 | Neil Bonnett | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 1:14.218 | 117.772 |
| 24 | 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 1:14.267 | 117.694 |
| 25 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 1:14.352 | 117.560 |
| 26 | 16 | Larry Pearson (R) | Pearson Racing | Buick | 1:14.392 | 117.497 |
| 27 | 44 | Jim Sauter | Group 44 | Pontiac | 1:14.405 | 117.476 |
| 28 | 33 | Harry Gant | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 1:14.583 | 117.196 |
| 29 | 40 | Darin Brassfield | Brassfield Racing | Chevrolet | 1:14.758 | 116.921 |
| 30 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 1:14.860 | 116.762 |
| 31 | 84 | Dick Trickle (R) | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 1:15.344 | 116.012 |
| 32 | 57 | Hut Stricklin (R) | Osterlund Racing | Pontiac | 1:15.630 | 115.573 |
| 33 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 1:15.812 | 115.296 |
| 34 | 14 | A. J. Foyt | A. J. Foyt Racing | Oldsmobile | 1:16.001 | 115.009 |
| 35 | 88 | Jimmy Spencer (R) | Baker–Schiff Racing | Pontiac | 1:16.558 | 114.172 |
| 36 | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | 1:16.645 | 114.043 |
| 37 | 90 | Stan Barrett | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 1:18.383 | 111.514 |
| 38 | 13 | Oma Kimbrough | Rosenblum Racing | Chevrolet | 1:18.699 | 111.066 |
| 39 | 41 | Ted Thomas | T&O Racing | Ford | 1:19.756 | 109.596 |
| To the rear |||||||
| 40 | 83 | Eddie Bierschwale | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | 1:13.785 | 118.785 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 41 | 04 | Tom Rotsell | Hakes Racing | Ford | 1:20.596 | 108.452 |
| Official first round qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 13 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 90 | 20 | running | 180 | $56,400 |
| 2 | 11 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 90 | 0 | running | 170 | $32,550 |
| 3 | 4 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 90 | 21 | running | 170 | $38,140 |
| 4 | 21 | 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 90 | 0 | running | 160 | $21,005 |
| 5 | 9 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 90 | 2 | running | 160 | $16,690 |
| 6 | 1 | 75 | Morgan Shepherd | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 90 | 22 | running | 160 | $18,375 |
| 7 | 18 | 94 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 90 | 0 | running | 146 | $10,780 |
| 8 | 24 | 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 90 | 0 | running | 142 | $9,970 |
| 9 | 27 | 44 | Jim Sauter | Group 44 | Pontiac | 90 | 0 | running | 138 | $5,390 |
| 10 | 20 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 90 | 6 | running | 139 | $11,925 |
| 11 | 26 | 16 | Larry Pearson (R) | Pearson Racing | Buick | 90 | 0 | running | 130 | $7,040 |
| 12 | 29 | 40 | Darin Brassfield | Brassfield Racing | Chevrolet | 90 | 0 | running | 127 | $5,707 |
| 13 | 25 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 90 | 0 | running | 124 | $5,760 |
| 14 | 3 | 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 90 | 1 | running | 126 | $12,970 |
| 15 | 15 | 15 | Brett Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 90 | 0 | running | 118 | $7,830 |
| 16 | 7 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 90 | 0 | running | 115 | $12,010 |
| 17 | 19 | 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 90 | 0 | running | 112 | $6,590 |
| 18 | 6 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 90 | 0 | running | 109 | $14,120 |
| 19 | 28 | 33 | Harry Gant | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 90 | 0 | running | 106 | $10,015 |
| 20 | 5 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 89 | 5 | running | 108 | $10,745 |
| 21 | 2 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 88 | 0 | crash | 100 | $9,695 |
| 22 | 32 | 57 | Hut Stricklin (R) | Osterlund Racing | Pontiac | 88 | 0 | running | 97 | $3,925 |
| 23 | 14 | 29 | Dale Jarrett | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Pontiac | 87 | 0 | engine | 94 | $5,480 |
| 24 | 22 | 2 | Ernie Irvan | U.S. Racing | Pontiac | 87 | 0 | running | 91 | $3,370 |
| 25 | 30 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 87 | 0 | running | 88 | $5,460 |
| 26 | 37 | 90 | Stan Barrett | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 86 | 0 | running | 85 | $2,325 |
| 27 | 16 | 18 | Tommy Kendall | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 79 | 1 | crash | 0 | $3,015 |
| 28 | 35 | 88 | Jimmy Spencer (R) | Baker–Schiff Racing | Pontiac | 72 | 0 | transmission | 79 | $4,955 |
| 29 | 8 | 26 | Ricky Rudd | King Racing | Buick | 69 | 12 | engine | 81 | $9,145 |
| 30 | 38 | 13 | Oma Kimbrough | Rosenblum Racing | Chevrolet | 64 | 0 | clutch | 73 | $2,135 |
| 31 | 39 | 41 | Ted Thomas | T&O Racing | Ford | 55 | 0 | ignition | 70 | $1,975 |
| 32 | 17 | 38 | Dick Johnson | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford | 54 | 0 | crash | 67 | $1,910 |
| 33 | 33 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 47 | 0 | transmission | 64 | $1,850 |
| 34 | 31 | 84 | Dick Trickle (R) | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 33 | 0 | valve | 61 | $4,490 |
| 35 | 36 | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | 28 | 0 | engine | 58 | $1,755 |
| 36 | 23 | 21 | Neil Bonnett | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 22 | 0 | transmission | 55 | $4,345 |
| 37 | 34 | 14 | A. J. Foyt | A. J. Foyt Racing | Oldsmobile | 7 | 0 | engine | 52 | $1,640 |
| 38 | 40 | 83 | Eddie Bierschwale | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | 6 | 0 | quit | 49 | $4,260 |
| 39 | 10 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 5 | 0 | engine | 46 | $4,205 |
| 40 | 12 | 10 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Pontiac | 3 | 0 | engine | 43 | $2,145 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 41 | | 04 | Tom Rotsell | Hakes Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Dale Earnhardt | 2,614 |
| 1 | 2 | Mark Martin | 2,488 (-126) |
| 1 | 3 | Darrell Waltrip | 2,469 (-145) |
| 1 | 4 | Rusty Wallace | 2,459 (–155) |
| 1 | 5 | Bill Elliott | 2,394 (–220) |
| 1 | 6 | Davey Allison | 2,319 (–295) |
| 1 | 7 | Terry Labonte | 2,290 (–324) |
| | 8 | Ken Schrader | 2,244 (–370) |
| | 9 | Sterling Marlin | 2,225 (–389) |
| 1 | 10 | Geoff Bodine | 2,154 (–460) |
| Official driver's standings ||||