# 1986 Summer 500

The 1986 Summer 500 was the 16th stock car race of the 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 14th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, July 20, 1986, before an audience of 60,000 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, at Pocono Raceway, a 2.5 miles (4.0 km) triangular permanent course. The race was shortened from its scheduled 200 laps to 150 laps due to a combination of rain, darkness, and fog.
In the final laps of the race, Hendrick Motorsports teammates Tim Richmond and Geoff Bodine engaged in a dogfight for the lead. As the two rubbed fenders throughout driving the last two turns, Bud Moore Engineering's Ricky Rudd was able to charge his way into the fray, and by the time all three drivers got out of the last turn, Rudd and Richmond were side-by-side for the lead. At the time, Richmond bested out Rudd by a foot, in the process managing to come back from a lap down to claim the victory. The victory was Richmond's eighth career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his third victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Bodine finished third.

## 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 |
| 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Wrangler |
| 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Kodak |
| 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Levi Garrett |
| 6 | D. K. Ulrich | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | U.S. Racing |
| 7 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 7-Eleven |
| 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Chevrolet | Miller American |
| 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | Coors |
| 11 | Darrell Waltrip | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | Budweiser |
| 12 | Neil Bonnett | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | Budweiser |
| 15 | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | Motorcraft Quality Parts |
| 17 | Doug Heveron | Hamby Racing | Chevrolet | Hamby Racing |
| 18 | Tommy Ellis | Freedlander Motorsports | Chevrolet | Freedlander Financial |
| 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 |
| 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | Skoal Bandit |
| 34 | Jocko Maggiacomo | Linro Motorsports | Oldsmobile | WMGC-TV |
| 35 | Alan Kulwicki (R) | AK Racing | Ford | Quincy's Steakhouse |
| 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 | Jerry Cranmer | Hylton Motorsports | Chevrolet | Hylton Motorsports |
| 49 | Ferdin Wallace | Hylton Motorsports | Chevrolet | Hylton Motorsports |
| 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | Jimmy Means Racing |
| 55 | Benny Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Copenhagen |
| 60 | Cliff Hucul | Eller Racing | Pontiac | Eller Racing |
| 64 | Eddie Bierschwale | Langley Racing | Ford | Sunny King Ford |
| 66 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Skoal |
| 67 | Buddy Arrington | Arrington Racing | Ford | Pannill Sweatshirts |
| 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | Rumple Furniture |
| 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Pontiac | Helen Rae Special |
| 74 | Jack Ely | Wawak Racing | Chevrolet | Wawak Racing |
| 75 | Jim Sauter | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | Nationwise Automotive |
| 80 | Gary Fedewa | Burke Racing | Chevrolet | Micromatic Refrigeration Sales |
| 81 | Chet Fillip (R) | Fillip Racing | Ford | Circle Bar Truck Corral |
| 85 | Bobby Gerhart | Bobby Gerhart Racing | Chevrolet | Bobby Gerhart Racing |
| 88 | Buddy Baker | Baker–Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | Crisco |
| 90 | Ken Schrader | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Red Baron Frozen Pizza |

## Qualifying

Qualifying was originally scheduled to be split into two rounds. The first round was scheduled to be held on Friday, March 14, at 10:00 AM EST. Originally, the first 20 positions were going to be determined by first round qualifying, with positions 21-40 meant to be determined later in the day at 3:00 PM EST. However, due to rain, the first round was cancelled. As a result, qualifying was both delayed for almost four hours and condensed into one round for all starting grid spots in the race. 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.
Harry Gant, driving for Mach 1 Racing, won the pole, setting a time of 58.293 and an average speed of 154.392 miles per hour (248.470 km/h).
Ferdin Wallace was the only driver that failed to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 58.293 | 154.392 |
| 2 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 58.307 | 154.355 |
| 3 | 44 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Enterprises | Oldsmobile | 58.565 | 153.675 |
| 4 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 58.574 | 153.652 |
| 5 | 25 | Tim Richmond | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 58.748 | 153.197 |
| 6 | 11 | Darrell Waltrip | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 58.815 | 153.022 |
| 7 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 58.931 | 152.721 |
| 8 | 47 | Morgan Shepherd | Race Hill Farm Team | Buick | 58.936 | 152.708 |
| 9 | 55 | Benny Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 59.002 | 152.537 |
| 10 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 59.031 | 152.462 |
| 11 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 59.109 | 152.261 |
| 12 | 22 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 59.212 | 151.996 |
| 13 | 15 | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 59.246 | 151.909 |
| 14 | 12 | Neil Bonnett | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 59.246 | 151.909 |
| 15 | 66 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 59.272 | 151.842 |
| 16 | 28 | Cale Yarborough | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Ford | 59.317 | 151.727 |
| 17 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 59.421 | 151.462 |
| 18 | 88 | Buddy Baker | Baker–Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | 59.449 | 151.390 |
| 19 | 26 | Joe Ruttman | King Racing | Buick | 59.451 | 151.385 |
| 20 | 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 59.474 | 151.327 |
| 21 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Pontiac | 59.494 | 151.276 |
| 22 | 75 | Jim Sauter | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 59.728 | 150.683 |
| 23 | 7 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 59.827 | 150.434 |
| 24 | 85 | Bobby Gerhart | Bobby Gerhart Racing | Chevrolet | 1:00.112 | 149.721 |
| 25 | 18 | Tommy Ellis | Freedlander Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1:00.124 | 149.691 |
| 26 | 90 | Ken Schrader | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 1:00.247 | 149.385 |
| 27 | 23 | Michael Waltrip (R) | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 1:00.389 | 149.034 |
| 28 | 35 | Alan Kulwicki (R) | AK Racing | Ford | 1:00.486 | 148.795 |
| 29 | 64 | Eddie Bierschwale | Langley Racing | Ford | 1:00.733 | 148.092 |
| 30 | 80 | Gary Fedewa | Burke Racing | Chevrolet | 1:00.851 | 147.902 |
| 31 | 17 | Doug Heveron | Hamby Racing | Chevrolet | 1:00.899 | 147.786 |
| 32 | 81 | Chet Fillip (R) | Fillip Racing | Ford | 1:00.947 | 147.669 |
| 33 | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | 1:01.200 | 147.059 |
| 34 | 67 | Buddy Arrington | Arrington Racing | Ford | 1:01.264 | 146.905 |
| 35 | 48 | Jerry Cranmer | Hylton Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1:01.375 | 146.640 |
| 36 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 1:01.464 | 146.427 |
| 37 | 74 | Jack Ely | Wawak Racing | Chevrolet | 1:02.113 | 144.897 |
| 38 | 6 | D. K. Ulrich | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | 1:02.321 | 144.414 |
| 39 | 34 | Jocko Maggiacomo | Linro Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 1:04.628 | 139.359 |
| 40 | 60 | Cliff Hucul | Eller Racing | Pontiac | 1:05.728 | 136.928 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 41 | 49 | Ferdin Wallace | Hylton Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1:12.144 | 124.750 |
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 5 | 25 | Tim Richmond | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 150 | 48 | running | 180 | $46,805 |
| 2 | 13 | 15 | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 150 | 0 | running | 170 | $29,500 |
| 3 | 2 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 150 | 52 | running | 175 | $22,350 |
| 4 | 6 | 11 | Darrell Waltrip | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 150 | 29 | running | 165 | $23,825 |
| 5 | 12 | 22 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 150 | 0 | running | 155 | $17,525 |
| 6 | 3 | 44 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Enterprises | Oldsmobile | 150 | 0 | running | 150 | $13,775 |
| 7 | 10 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 150 | 0 | running | 146 | $14,655 |
| 8 | 23 | 7 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 149 | 0 | running | 142 | $12,085 |
| 9 | 25 | 18 | Tommy Ellis | Freedlander Motorsports | Chevrolet | 148 | 0 | running | 138 | $6,710 |
| 10 | 20 | 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 148 | 0 | running | 134 | $5,740 |
| 11 | 27 | 23 | Michael Waltrip (R) | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 148 | 1 | running | 135 | $4,470 |
| 12 | 32 | 81 | Chet Fillip (R) | Fillip Racing | Ford | 148 | 0 | running | 127 | $3,750 |
| 13 | 36 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 148 | 0 | running | 124 | $8,025 |
| 14 | 22 | 75 | Jim Sauter | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 147 | 0 | running | 121 | $7,450 |
| 15 | 29 | 64 | Eddie Bierschwale | Langley Racing | Ford | 147 | 0 | running | 118 | $7,420 |
| 16 | 31 | 17 | Doug Heveron | Hamby Racing | Chevrolet | 146 | 0 | running | 115 | $6,830 |
| 17 | 34 | 67 | Buddy Arrington | Arrington Racing | Ford | 146 | 0 | running | 112 | $6,665 |
| 18 | 38 | 6 | D. K. Ulrich | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | 145 | 0 | running | 109 | $6,400 |
| 19 | 33 | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | 145 | 0 | running | 106 | $5,980 |
| 20 | 37 | 74 | Jack Ely | Wawak Racing | Chevrolet | 144 | 0 | running | 103 | $3,010 |
| 21 | 30 | 80 | Gary Fedewa | Burke Racing | Chevrolet | 144 | 0 | running | 100 | $2,355 |
| 22 | 28 | 35 | Alan Kulwicki (R) | AK Racing | Ford | 143 | 0 | oil line | 97 | $2,250 |
| 23 | 26 | 90 | Ken Schrader | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 143 | 0 | running | 94 | $6,350 |
| 24 | 21 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Pontiac | 139 | 0 | running | 91 | $5,135 |
| 25 | 16 | 28 | Cale Yarborough | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Ford | 138 | 0 | engine | 88 | $2,135 |
| 26 | 35 | 48 | Jerry Cranmer | Hylton Motorsports | Chevrolet | 137 | 0 | accident | 85 | $4,755 |
| 27 | 11 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 133 | 0 | engine | 82 | $8,925 |
| 28 | 24 | 85 | Bobby Gerhart | Bobby Gerhart Racing | Chevrolet | 129 | 0 | running | 79 | $1,870 |
| 29 | 9 | 55 | Benny Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 128 | 0 | accident | 76 | $1,815 |
| 30 | 1 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 126 | 14 | accident | 78 | $13,360 |
| 31 | 14 | 12 | Neil Bonnett | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 125 | 6 | accident | 75 | $10,105 |
| 32 | 8 | 47 | Morgan Shepherd | Race Hill Farm Team | Buick | 123 | 0 | accident | 67 | $1,625 |
| 33 | 17 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 123 | 0 | accident | 64 | $4,335 |
| 34 | 7 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 120 | 0 | accident | 61 | $4,270 |
| 35 | 4 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 103 | 0 | engine | 58 | $10,660 |
| 36 | 18 | 88 | Buddy Baker | Baker–Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | 98 | 0 | oil pressure | 55 | $1,405 |
| 37 | 15 | 66 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 86 | 0 | ignition | 52 | $1,380 |
| 38 | 19 | 26 | Joe Ruttman | King Racing | Buick | 18 | 0 | accident | 49 | $4,090 |
| 39 | 39 | 34 | Jocko Maggiacomo | Linro Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 12 | 0 | engine | 46 | $1,200 |
| 40 | 40 | 60 | Cliff Hucul | Eller Racing | Pontiac | 2 | 0 | clutch | 43 | $1,175 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 41 | | 49 | Ferdin Wallace | Hylton Motorsports | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Dale Earnhardt | 2,490 |
| | 2 | Darrell Waltrip | 2,331 (-159) |
| | 3 | Tim Richmond | 2,225 (-265) |
| 1 | 4 | Bobby Allison | 2,188 (–302) |
| 2 | 5 | Ricky Rudd | 2,128 (–362) |
| 1 | 6 | Bill Elliott | 2,095 (–395) |
| 2 | 7 | Rusty Wallace | 2,080 (–410) |
| | 8 | Terry Labonte | 2,009 (–481) |
| 2 | 9 | Geoff Bodine | 1,957 (–533) |
| 1 | 10 | Harry Gant | 1,936 (–554) |
| Official driver's standings ||||