# 1987 Holly Farms 400

The 1987 Holly Farms 400 was the 25th stock car race of the 1987 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 38th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, October 4, 1987, before an audience of 32,500 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina at the North Wilkesboro Speedway, a 0.625 miles (1.006 km) oval short track. The race took the scheduled 400 laps to complete.
With the help of a final fast pit stop late in the race, Junior Johnson & Associates' Terry Labonte managed to pull away from second-place Dale Earnhardt, completing a dominant run where Labonte led the final 207 laps. The victory was Labonte's eighth career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his only victory of the season.
Heading into the next four races of the season, Dale Earnhardt, who at this point had a 573 point lead in the driver's championship over Bill Elliott, was slated as the lock-in for the championship, only needing a 40th or better place finish in the next four races to clinch the championship.

## Background

North Wilkesboro Speedway is a short oval racetrack located on U.S. Route 421, about five miles east of the town of North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, or 80 miles north of Charlotte. It measures 0.625 mi (1.006 km) and features a unique uphill backstretch and downhill frontstretch. It has previously held races in NASCAR's top three series, including 93 Winston Cup Series races. The track, a NASCAR original, operated from 1949, NASCAR's inception, until the track's original closure in 1996. The speedway briefly reopened in 2010 and hosted several stock car series races before closing again in the spring of 2011. It was re-opened in August 2022 for grassroots racing.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 02 | Jed Doggett | Doggett Racing | Pontiac | Doggett Racing |
| 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Wrangler |
| 04 | Clark James | James Racing | Pontiac | James Racing |
| 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Levi Garrett |
| 6 | Ernie Irvan | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | U.S. Racing |
| 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | Zerex |
| 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | Miller American |
| 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | Coors |
| 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | Budweiser |
| 12 | Larry Pollard | Hamby Racing | Chevrolet | Hamby Racing |
| 15 | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | Motorcraft Quality Parts |
| 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Tide |
| 18 | Dale Jarrett (R) | Freedlander Motorsports | Chevrolet | Coats & Clark |
| 21 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Citgo |
| 22 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | Miller American |
| 26 | Morgan Shepherd | King Racing | Buick | Quaker State |
| 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | Kodiak |
| 28 | Davey Allison (R) | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Ford | Texaco, Havoline |
| 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Chevrolet | All Pro Auto Parts |
| 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | Skoal Bandit |
| 35 | Benny Parsons | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Folgers Decaf |
| 36 | Joe Dan Bailey | Bailey Racing | Pontiac | Almeda Auto Parts |
| 38 | Ronnie Adams | Adams Racing | Chevrolet | Adams Racing |
| 41 | Ronnie Thomas | Ronnie Thomas Racing | Chevrolet | Busch Enterprises |
| 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | Piedmont Airlines |
| 46 | Glenn Moffat | Moffat Racing | Chevrolet | Moffat Racing |
| 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | Eureka |
| 54 | Kevin Evans | Gray Racing | Chevrolet | Gray Racing |
| 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Skoal Classic |
| 62 | Steve Christman (R) | Winkle Motorsports | Pontiac | AC Spark Plug |
| 64 | Rodney Combs | Langley Racing | Ford | Sunny King Ford |
| 67 | Buddy Arrington | Arrington Racing | Ford | Pannill Sweatshirts |
| 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | Rumple Furniture |
| 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Lifebuoy |
| 75 | Neil Bonnett | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | Valvoline |
| 76 | Hut Stricklin | Jaehne Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Jaehne Motorsports |
| 76 | Graham Taylor | Betty Taylor Racing | Ford | Betty Taylor Racing |
| 81 | Larry Caudill | Fillip Racing | Ford | Fillip Racing |
| 85 | Bobby Gerhart | Bobby Gerhart Racing | Chevrolet | J. Omar Landis Enterprises |
| 88 | Brandon Baker | Baker–Schiff Racing | Chevrolet | Crisco |
| 90 | Ken Schrader | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Red Baron Frozen Pizza |
| 97 | D. Wayne Strout | Strout Racing | Oldsmobile | Strout Racing |
| 98 | Lynn Gibson | Gibson Racing | Pontiac | Gibson Racing |

## Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, October 2, at 4:30 PM EST. Each driver had one lap to set a time. During the first round, the top 10 drivers in the round were 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, October 3, at 12:15 PM EST. As with the first round, each driver had one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 11-30 were 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 were given.
Bill Elliott, driving for Melling Racing, managed to win the pole, setting a time of 19.532 and an average speed of 115.196 miles per hour (185.390 km/h) in the first round.
12 drivers failed to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 19.532 | 115.196 |
| 2 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 19.565 | 115.001 |
| 3 | 35 | Benny Parsons | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 19.585 | 114.884 |
| 4 | 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 19.597 | 114.813 |
| 5 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 19.598 | 114.808 |
| 6 | 90 | Ken Schrader | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 19.659 | 114.451 |
| 7 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Chevrolet | 19.696 | 114.236 |
| 8 | 22 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 19.727 | 114.057 |
| 9 | 26 | Morgan Shepherd | King Racing | Buick | 19.741 | 113.976 |
| 10 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 19.745 | 113.953 |
| Failed to lock in Round 1 |||||||
| 11 | 21 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 19.719 | 114.103 |
| 12 | 15 | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 19.759 | 113.872 |
| 13 | 67 | Buddy Arrington | Arrington Racing | Ford | 19.784 | 113.728 |
| 14 | 18 | Dale Jarrett (R) | Freedlander Motorsports | Chevrolet | 19.791 | 113.688 |
| 15 | 75 | Neil Bonnett | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 19.801 | 113.631 |
| 16 | 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 19.821 | 113.516 |
| 17 | 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 19.837 | 113.424 |
| 18 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 19.852 | 113.339 |
| 19 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 19.858 | 113.304 |
| 20 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 19.858 | 113.304 |
| 21 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 19.870 | 113.236 |
| 22 | 28 | Davey Allison | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Ford | 19.883 | 113.162 |
| 23 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 19.894 | 113.099 |
| 24 | 76 | Hut Stricklin | Jaehne Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 19.975 | 112.641 |
| 25 | 6 | Ernie Irvan | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | 20.007 | 112.461 |
| 26 | 12 | Larry Pollard | Hamby Racing | Chevrolet | 20.015 | 112.416 |
| 27 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 20.035 | 112.303 |
| 28 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 20.048 | 112.231 |
| 29 | 81 | Larry Caudill | Fillip Racing | Ford | 20.073 | 112.091 |
| 30 | 41 | Ronnie Thomas | Ronnie Thomas Racing | Chevrolet | 20.080 | 112.052 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 31 | 62 | Steve Christman (R) | Winkle Motorsports | Pontiac | 20.080 | 112.052 |
| 32 | 64 | Trevor Boys | Langley Racing | Ford | 20.097 | 111.957 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 33 | 85 | Bobby Gerhart | Bobby Gerhart Racing | Chevrolet | 20.193 | 111.425 |
| 34 | 04 | Clark James | James Racing | Pontiac | 20.293 | 110.876 |
| 35 | 54 | Kevin Evans | Gray Racing | Chevrolet | 20.316 | 110.750 |
| 36 | 36 | Joe Dan Bailey | Bailey Racing | Pontiac | 20.364 | 110.489 |
| 37 | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | 20.484 | 109.842 |
| 38 | 97 | D. Wayne Strout | Strout Racing | Oldsmobile | 20.518 | 109.660 |
| 39 | 38 | Ronnie Adams | Adams Racing | Chevrolet | 20.959 | 107.352 |
| 40 | 88 | Brandon Baker | Baker–Schiff Racing | Chevrolet | 21.023 | 107.026 |
| 41 | 98 | Lynn Gibson | Gibson Racing | Pontiac | 21.188 | 106.192 |
| 42 | 76 | Graham Taylor | Betty Taylor Racing | Ford | 21.202 | 106.122 |
| 43 | 46 | Glenn Moffat | Moffat Racing | Chevrolet | 21.329 | 105.490 |
| 44 | 02 | Jed Doggett | Doggett Racing | Pontiac | - | - |
| Official first round qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 4 | 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 400 | 207 | running | 185 | $45,575 |
| 2 | 10 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 400 | 137 | running | 175 | $26,950 |
| 3 | 1 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 399 | 39 | running | 170 | $25,450 |
| 4 | 9 | 26 | Morgan Shepherd | King Racing | Buick | 398 | 0 | running | 160 | $11,205 |
| 5 | 18 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 398 | 11 | running | 160 | $11,975 |
| 6 | 11 | 21 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 398 | 0 | running | 150 | $9,425 |
| 7 | 5 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 398 | 0 | running | 146 | $9,305 |
| 8 | 27 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 397 | 0 | running | 142 | $7,980 |
| 9 | 19 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 397 | 0 | running | 138 | $5,310 |
| 10 | 20 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 397 | 0 | running | 134 | $9,975 |
| 11 | 15 | 75 | Neil Bonnett | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 397 | 0 | running | 130 | $4,995 |
| 12 | 2 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 397 | 0 | running | 127 | $3,325 |
| 13 | 12 | 15 | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 397 | 0 | running | 124 | $8,720 |
| 14 | 17 | 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 397 | 0 | running | 121 | $2,565 |
| 15 | 6 | 90 | Ken Schrader | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 396 | 0 | running | 118 | $4,910 |
| 16 | 7 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Chevrolet | 395 | 0 | running | 115 | $4,355 |
| 17 | 8 | 22 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 394 | 0 | running | 112 | $7,170 |
| 18 | 14 | 18 | Dale Jarrett (R) | Freedlander Motorsports | Chevrolet | 394 | 0 | running | 109 | $4,995 |
| 19 | 3 | 35 | Benny Parsons | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 394 | 0 | running | 106 | $9,320 |
| 20 | 16 | 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 393 | 0 | running | 103 | $4,610 |
| 21 | 28 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 389 | 0 | running | 100 | $3,830 |
| 22 | 25 | 6 | Ernie Irvan | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | 387 | 0 | running | 0 | $3,515 |
| 23 | 26 | 12 | Larry Pollard | Hamby Racing | Chevrolet | 386 | 0 | running | 0 | $3,480 |
| 24 | 32 | 64 | Trevor Boys | Langley Racing | Ford | 386 | 0 | running | 0 | $3,445 |
| 25 | 30 | 41 | Ronnie Thomas | Ronnie Thomas Racing | Chevrolet | 381 | 0 | running | 88 | $1,300 |
| 26 | 22 | 28 | Davey Allison | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Ford | 367 | 0 | running | 85 | $1,175 |
| 27 | 13 | 67 | Buddy Arrington | Arrington Racing | Ford | 265 | 0 | engine | 82 | $3,410 |
| 28 | 24 | 76 | Hut Stricklin | Jaehne Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 207 | 0 | crash | 79 | $1,925 |
| 29 | 31 | 62 | Steve Christman (R) | Winkle Motorsports | Pontiac | 202 | 0 | engine | 76 | $1,100 |
| 30 | 21 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 198 | 6 | engine | 78 | $2,625 |
| 31 | 23 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 24 | 0 | differential | 70 | $2,575 |
| 32 | 29 | 81 | Slick Johnson | Fillip Racing | Ford | 11 | 0 | engine | 0 | $1,125 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 33 | | 85 | Bobby Gerhart | Bobby Gerhart Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 34 | | 04 | Clark James | James Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 35 | | 54 | Kevin Evans | Gray Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 36 | | 36 | Joe Dan Bailey | Bailey Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 37 | | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 38 | | 97 | D. Wayne Strout | Strout Racing | Oldsmobile | | | | | |
| 39 | | 38 | Ronnie Adams | Adams Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 40 | | 88 | Brandon Baker | Baker–Schiff Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 41 | | 98 | Lynn Gibson | Gibson Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 42 | | 76 | Graham Taylor | Betty Taylor Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 43 | | 46 | Glenn Moffat | Moffat Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 44 | | 02 | Jed Doggett | Doggett Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Dale Earnhardt | 4,136 |
| | 2 | Bill Elliott | 3,563 (-573) |
| | 3 | Terry Labonte | 3,446 (-690) |
| | 4 | Darrell Waltrip | 3,339 (–797) |
| 1 | 5 | Neil Bonnett | 3,297 (–839) |
| 1 | 6 | Ricky Rudd | 3,292 (–844) |
| | 7 | Rusty Wallace | 3,282 (–854) |
| | 8 | Richard Petty | 3,208 (–928) |
| | 9 | Kyle Petty | 3,154 (–982) |
| | 10 | Ken Schrader | 3,033 (–1,103) |
| Official driver's standings ||||