# 1991 Pontiac Excitement 400

The 1991 Pontiac Excitement 400 was the second stock car race of the 1991 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 37th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, February 24, 1991, before an audience of 51,000 in Richmond, Virginia, at Richmond International Raceway, a 0.75 miles (1.21 km) D-shaped oval. The race took the scheduled 400 laps to complete. Battling to the finish, Richard Childress Racing driver Dale Earnhardt would manage to defend against Hendrick Motorsports driver Ricky Rudd in the final laps of the race to take his 49th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his first victory of the season. To fill out the top three, the aforementioned Rudd and Leo Jackson Motorsports driver Harry Gant would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

Richmond International Raceway (RIR) is a 3/4-mile (1.2 km), D-shaped, asphalt racetrack located just outside Richmond, Virginia in Henrico County. It hosts the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series. Known as "America's premier short track", it formerly hosted a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, an IndyCar Series race, and two USAC sprint car races.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Oldsmobile | Skoal |
| 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Pontiac | Miller Genuine Draft |
| 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | GM Goodwrench Service Plus |
| 4 | Ernie Irvan | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kodak |
| 5 | Ricky Rudd | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Tide |
| 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | Folgers |
| 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | AK Racing |
| 8 | Rick Wilson | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | Snickers |
| 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | Coors Light |
| 10 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Chevrolet | Purolator Filters |
| 11 | Geoff Bodine | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | Budweiser |
| 12 | Hut Stricklin | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Buick | Raybestos |
| 15 | Morgan Shepherd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | Motorcraft |
| 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | Western Auto |
| 19 | Chad Little | Little Racing | Ford | Bull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce |
| 20 | Sammy Swindell* | Moroso Racing | Oldsmobile | Rob Moroso Memorial |
| 21 | Dale Jarrett | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Citgo |
| 22 | Sterling Marlin | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | Maxwell House |
| 24 | Mickey Gibbs | Team III Racing | Pontiac | Team III Racing |
| 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kodiak |
| 26 | Brett Bodine | King Racing | Buick | Quaker State |
| 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Texaco, Havoline |
| 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | Pennzoil |
| 33 | Harry Gant | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Skoal Bandit |
| 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | Mello Yello |
| 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | Alka-Seltzer |
| 55 | Ted Musgrave (R) | U.S. Racing | Pontiac | U.S. Racing |
| 66 | Dick Trickle | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Pontiac | Phillips 66 TropArtic |
| 68 | Bobby Hamilton (R) | TriStar Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Country Time |
| 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Big Apple Market |
| 75 | Joe Ruttman | RahMoc Enterprises | Oldsmobile | Dinner Bell Foods |
| 90 | Robby Gordon | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Publix |
| 94 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | Sunoco |
| 98 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Chevrolet | Banquet Foods |
*Fired after first-round qualifying and replaced by Bobby Hillin Jr. for the race.

## Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, February 22, at 3:00 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, February 23, 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 21-34 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 were given. If needed, a past champion who did not qualify on either time or provisionals could use a champion's provisional, adding one more spot to the field.
Davey Allison, driving for Robert Yates Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 22.420 and an average speed of 120.428 miles per hour (193.810 km/h) in the first round.
No drivers would fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 22.420 | 120.428 |
| 2 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 22.425 | 120.401 |
| 3 | 26 | Brett Bodine | King Racing | Buick | 22.491 | 120.048 |
| 4 | 5 | Ricky Rudd | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.521 | 119.888 |
| 5 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.540 | 119.787 |
| 6 | 33 | Harry Gant | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 22.545 | 119.760 |
| 7 | 11 | Geoff Bodine | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 22.549 | 119.739 |
| 8 | 4 | Ernie Irvan | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.595 | 119.495 |
| 9 | 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | 22.613 | 119.400 |
| 10 | 66 | Dick Trickle | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Pontiac | 22.631 | 119.305 |
| 11 | 22 | Sterling Marlin | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 22.680 | 119.048 |
| 12 | 10 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Chevrolet | 22.681 | 119.042 |
| 13 | 21 | Dale Jarrett | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 22.715 | 118.864 |
| 14 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 22.733 | 118.770 |
| 15 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 22.746 | 118.702 |
| 16 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Oldsmobile | 22.783 | 118.509 |
| 17 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.823 | 118.302 |
| 18 | 94 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 22.844 | 118.193 |
| 19 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 22.851 | 118.157 |
| 20 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Pontiac | 22.854 | 118.141 |
| Failed to lock in Round 1 |||||||
| 21 | 15 | Morgan Shepherd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 22.563 | 119.665 |
| 22 | 8 | Rick Wilson | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 22.770 | 118.577 |
| 23 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 22.812 | 118.359 |
| 24 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 22.872 | 118.048 |
| 25 | 24 | Mickey Gibbs | Team III Racing | Pontiac | 22.901 | 117.899 |
| 26 | 12 | Hut Stricklin | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Buick | 22.931 | 117.745 |
| 27 | 75 | Joe Ruttman | RahMoc Enterprises | Oldsmobile | 22.941 | 117.693 |
| 28 | 20 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Moroso Racing | Oldsmobile | 22.947 | 117.662 |
| 29 | 19 | Chad Little | Little Racing | Ford | 22.958 | 117.606 |
| 30 | 98 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Chevrolet | 22.980 | 117.493 |
| 31 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 22.984 | 117.473 |
| 32 | 68 | Bobby Hamilton (R) | TriStar Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 23.006 | 117.361 |
| 33 | 55 | Ted Musgrave (R) | U.S. Racing | Pontiac | 23.037 | 117.203 |
| 34 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 23.039 | 117.193 |
| Provisional |||||||
| 35 | 90 | Robby Gordon | Donlavey Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| Official first round qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 19 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 400 | 150 | running | 180 | $67,950 |
| 2 | 4 | 5 | Ricky Rudd | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 400 | 154 | running | 180 | $45,675 |
| 3 | 6 | 33 | Harry Gant | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 400 | 3 | running | 170 | $25,500 |
| 4 | 20 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Pontiac | 400 | 3 | running | 165 | $13,050 |
| 5 | 2 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 400 | 48 | running | 160 | $19,025 |
| 6 | 14 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 400 | 0 | running | 150 | $15,450 |
| 7 | 17 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 400 | 4 | running | 151 | $5,650 |
| 8 | 21 | 15 | Morgan Shepherd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 399 | 0 | running | 142 | $11,550 |
| 9 | 11 | 22 | Sterling Marlin | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 398 | 0 | running | 138 | $5,150 |
| 10 | 5 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 398 | 0 | running | 134 | $11,700 |
| 11 | 23 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 398 | 0 | running | 130 | $7,750 |
| 12 | 1 | 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 398 | 38 | running | 132 | $15,350 |
| 13 | 7 | 11 | Geoff Bodine | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 397 | 0 | running | 124 | $11,500 |
| 14 | 18 | 94 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 397 | 0 | running | 121 | $7,200 |
| 15 | 10 | 66 | Dick Trickle | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Pontiac | 396 | 0 | running | 118 | $7,660 |
| 16 | 29 | 19 | Chad Little | Little Racing | Ford | 395 | 0 | running | 115 | $5,225 |
| 17 | 15 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 394 | 0 | running | 112 | $6,525 |
| 18 | 22 | 8 | Rick Wilson | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 394 | 0 | running | 109 | $6,375 |
| 19 | 33 | 55 | Ted Musgrave (R) | U.S. Racing | Pontiac | 393 | 0 | running | 106 | $5,500 |
| 20 | 28 | 20 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Moroso Racing | Oldsmobile | 392 | 0 | running | 103 | $5,525 |
| 21 | 13 | 21 | Dale Jarrett | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 392 | 0 | running | 100 | $5,825 |
| 22 | 26 | 12 | Hut Stricklin | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Buick | 391 | 0 | crash | 97 | $5,750 |
| 23 | 25 | 24 | Mickey Gibbs | Team III Racing | Pontiac | 391 | 0 | running | 94 | $3,375 |
| 24 | 3 | 26 | Brett Bodine | King Racing | Buick | 390 | 0 | crash | 91 | $6,575 |
| 25 | 9 | 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | 390 | 0 | running | 88 | $5,475 |
| 26 | 35 | 90 | Robby Gordon | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 388 | 0 | running | 85 | $3,525 |
| 27 | 8 | 4 | Ernie Irvan | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 379 | 0 | running | 82 | $8,950 |
| 28 | 32 | 68 | Bobby Hamilton (R) | TriStar Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 372 | 0 | running | 79 | $3,225 |
| 29 | 27 | 75 | Joe Ruttman | RahMoc Enterprises | Oldsmobile | 367 | 0 | running | 76 | $6,250 |
| 30 | 24 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 365 | 0 | running | 73 | $9,870 |
| 31 | 31 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 356 | 0 | engine | 70 | $3,750 |
| 32 | 12 | 10 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Chevrolet | 309 | 0 | running | 67 | $10,225 |
| 33 | 34 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 256 | 0 | axle | 64 | $4,610 |
| 34 | 30 | 98 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Chevrolet | 236 | 0 | steering | 61 | $4,600 |
| 35 | 16 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Oldsmobile | 221 | 0 | running | 58 | $4,600 |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| 4 | 1 | Dale Earnhardt | 340 |
| 7 | 2 | Ricky Rudd | 318 (-22) |
| 1 | 3 | Sterling Marlin | 313 (-27) |
| 4 | 4 | Alan Kulwicki | 302 (–38) |
| 4 | 5 | Ernie Irvan | 262 (–78) |
| 19 | 6 | Harry Gant | 258 (–82) |
| 8 | 7 | Davey Allison | 255 (–85) |
| 18 | 8 | Rusty Wallace | 252 (–88) |
| 3 | 9 | Dale Jarrett | 250 (–90) |
| 11 | 10 | Mark Martin | 250 (–90) |
| Official driver's standings ||||