# 1986 Miller High Life 500

The 1986 Miller High Life 500 was the 13th stock car race of the 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the fifth iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, June 8, 1986, before an audience of 50,000 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, at Pocono International 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, Hendrick Motorsports' Tim Richmond gambled on fuel strategy, opting to run the final 36 laps under one tank of fuel. With four laps left, a crash involving several drivers, incliudng Buddy Arrington, Geoff Bodine, and Morgan Shepherd occurred. Due to a lengthy cleanup, the race finished under caution, securing Richmond's sixth career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his first victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Richard Childress Racing's Dale Earnhardt and Ranier-Lundy Racing's Cale Yarborough finished 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 |
| 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Wrangler |
| 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 |
| 07 | Randy LaJoie | Snellman Racing | Chevrolet | Snellman Construction |
| 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 | Pancho Carter | Hamby Racing | Chevrolet | Kmart |
| 18 | Tommy Ellis | Freedlander Motorsports | Chevrolet | Freedlander Financial |
| 20 | Rick Newsom | Newsom Racing | Buick | Newsom Racing |
| 22 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | Miller American |
| 23 | Michael Waltrip (R) | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | Hawaiian Punch |
| 24 | Buddie Boys | Crawford Clements Racing | Pontiac | Crawford Clements Racing |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | Jimmy Means Racing |
| 55 | Benny Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Copenhagen |
| 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 | Jody Ridley | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | Nationwise Automotive |
| 76 | Jerry Ward | Arrington Racing | Ford | Arrington Racing |
| 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 |
| 92 | Jonathan Lee Edwards | Edwards Racing | Buick | Edwards Racing |
| 98 | Ron Bouchard | Curb Racing | Pontiac | Valvoline |

## Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Saturday, June 7, at 10:00 AM EST. Each driver had one lap to set a time. During the first round, the top 20 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, at 3:00 PM EST. As with the first round, each driver had one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 21-40 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.
Geoff Bodine, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, won the pole, setting a time of 58.584 and an average speed of 153.625 miles per hour (247.235 km/h) in the first round.
Jerry Ward, a United States Air Force lieutenant colonel and chaplain, was the only driver that failed to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 58.584 | 153.625 |
| 2 | 55 | Benny Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 58.729 | 153.246 |
| 3 | 25 | Tim Richmond | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 58.840 | 152.957 |
| 4 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 58.871 | 152.877 |
| 5 | 12 | Neil Bonnett | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 58.935 | 152.711 |
| 6 | 44 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Enterprises | Oldsmobile | 58.975 | 152.607 |
| 7 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 58.988 | 152.573 |
| 8 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 59.062 | 152.382 |
| 9 | 11 | Darrell Waltrip | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 59.102 | 152.176 |
| 10 | 28 | Cale Yarborough | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 59.169 | 152.107 |
| 11 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 59.194 | 152.042 |
| 12 | 22 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 59.270 | 151.847 |
| 13 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 59.271 | 151.845 |
| 14 | 15 | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 59.295 | 151.783 |
| 15 | 47 | Morgan Shepherd | Race Hill Farm Team | Buick | 59.328 | 151.699 |
| 16 | 98 | Ron Bouchard | Curb Racing | Pontiac | 59.454 | 151.378 |
| 17 | 66 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 59.491 | 151.283 |
| 18 | 26 | Joe Ruttman | King Racing | Buick | 59.529 | 151.187 |
| 19 | 88 | Buddy Baker | Baker–Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | 59.604 | 150.997 |
| 20 | 07 | Randy LaJoie | Snellman Racing | Chevrolet | 59.822 | 150.446 |
| Failed to lock in Round 1 |||||||
| 21 | 18 | Tommy Ellis | Freedlander Motorsports | Chevrolet | 59.831 | 150.424 |
| 22 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Pontiac | 59.910 | 150.225 |
| 23 | 90 | Ken Schrader | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 59.935 | 150.163 |
| 24 | 75 | Jody Ridley | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 1:00.012 | 149.970 |
| 25 | 7 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 1:00.046 | 149.880 |
| 26 | 17 | Pancho Carter | Hamby Racing | Chevrolet | 1:00.344 | 149.145 |
| 27 | 67 | Buddy Arrington | Arrington Racing | Ford | 1:00.546 | 148.647 |
| 28 | 23 | Michael Waltrip (R) | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 1:00.600 | 148.515 |
| 29 | 81 | Chet Fillip (R) | Fillip Racing | Ford | 1:00.841 | 147.912 |
| 30 | 6 | D. K. Ulrich | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | 1:00.980 | 147.589 |
| 31 | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | 1:01.239 | 146.965 |
| 32 | 64 | Eddie Bierschwale | Langley Racing | Ford | 1:01.604 | 146.094 |
| 33 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 1:01.794 | 145.645 |
| 34 | 85 | Bobby Gerhart | Bobby Gerhart Racing | Chevrolet | 1:01.977 | 145.215 |
| 35 | 48 | Jerry Cranmer | Hylton Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1:02.014 | 145.129 |
| 36 | 74 | Jack Ely | Wawak Racing | Chevrolet | 1:02.105 | 144.916 |
| 37 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 1:02.865 | 143.164 |
| 38 | 24 | Buddie Boys | Crawford Clements Racing | Pontiac | 1:02.896 | 143.093 |
| 39 | 92 | Jonathan Lee Edwards | Edwards Racing | Buick | 1:03.149 | 142.529 |
| 40 | 20 | Rick Newsom | Newsom Racing | Buick | 1:03.570 | 141.576 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 41 | 76 | Jerry Ward | Arrington Racing | Ford | 1:05.556 | 137.287 |
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 3 | 25 | Tim Richmond | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 97 | running | 185 | $46,705 |
| 2 | 8 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 200 | 8 | running | 175 | $29,750 |
| 3 | 10 | 28 | Cale Yarborough | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 165 | $15,450 |
| 4 | 14 | 15 | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 200 | 3 | running | 165 | $18,375 |
| 5 | 11 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 200 | 10 | running | 160 | $19,725 |
| 6 | 7 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 200 | 0 | running | 150 | $13,825 |
| 7 | 18 | 26 | Joe Ruttman | King Racing | Buick | 200 | 4 | running | 151 | $10,150 |
| 8 | 25 | 7 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 200 | 2 | running | 147 | $12,085 |
| 9 | 1 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 65 | running | 143 | $14,660 |
| 10 | 37 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 199 | 0 | running | 134 | $9,915 |
| 11 | 24 | 75 | Jody Ridley | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 199 | 0 | running | 130 | $8,035 |
| 12 | 16 | 98 | Ron Bouchard | Curb Racing | Pontiac | 199 | 0 | running | 127 | $3,750 |
| 13 | 12 | 22 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 198 | 0 | running | 124 | $10,530 |
| 14 | 22 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Pontiac | 198 | 0 | running | 121 | $7,230 |
| 15 | 21 | 18 | Tommy Ellis | Freedlander Motorsports | Chevrolet | 197 | 0 | running | 118 | $5,190 |
| 16 | 31 | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | 196 | 0 | running | 115 | $6,505 |
| 17 | 30 | 6 | D. K. Ulrich | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | 196 | 0 | running | 0 | $6,245 |
| 18 | 15 | 47 | Morgan Shepherd | Race Hill Farm Team | Buick | 195 | 4 | accident | 114 | $3,475 |
| 19 | 13 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 195 | 0 | running | 106 | $5,770 |
| 20 | 29 | 81 | Chet Fillip (R) | Fillip Racing | Ford | 194 | 0 | running | 103 | $3,510 |
| 21 | 27 | 67 | Buddy Arrington | Arrington Racing | Ford | 193 | 4 | accident | 105 | $5,400 |
| 22 | 33 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 193 | 0 | running | 97 | $5,025 |
| 23 | 5 | 12 | Neil Bonnett | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 189 | 0 | running | 94 | $10,545 |
| 24 | 35 | 48 | Jerry Cranmer | Hylton Motorsports | Chevrolet | 188 | 0 | running | 0 | $4,855 |
| 25 | 36 | 74 | Jack Ely | Wawak Racing | Chevrolet | 185 | 0 | running | 0 | $2,135 |
| 26 | 4 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 184 | 0 | accident | 85 | $10,780 |
| 27 | 23 | 90 | Ken Schrader | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 162 | 0 | valve | 82 | $5,680 |
| 28 | 26 | 17 | Pancho Carter | Hamby Racing | Chevrolet | 145 | 2 | engine | 84 | $4,605 |
| 29 | 20 | 07 | Randy LaJoie | Snellman Racing | Chevrolet | 144 | 0 | engine | 76 | $1,815 |
| 30 | 39 | 92 | Jonathan Lee Edwards | Edwards Racing | Buick | 136 | 0 | ignition | 73 | $1,760 |
| 31 | 17 | 66 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 131 | 0 | engine | 70 | $1,705 |
| 32 | 32 | 64 | Eddie Bierschwale | Langley Racing | Ford | 126 | 0 | accident | 67 | $3,625 |
| 33 | 2 | 55 | Benny Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 90 | 1 | valve | 69 | $1,570 |
| 34 | 34 | 85 | Bobby Gerhart | Bobby Gerhart Racing | Chevrolet | 87 | 0 | handling | 61 | $1,515 |
| 35 | 6 | 44 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Enterprises | Oldsmobile | 60 | 0 | engine | 58 | $8,405 |
| 36 | 19 | 88 | Buddy Baker | Baker–Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | 60 | 0 | engine | 55 | $1,460 |
| 37 | 40 | 20 | Rick Newsom | Newsom Racing | Buick | 59 | 0 | engine | 52 | $1,380 |
| 38 | 38 | 24 | Buddie Boys | Crawford Clements Racing | Pontiac | 51 | 0 | accident | 49 | $1,355 |
| 39 | 28 | 23 | Michael Waltrip (R) | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 12 | 0 | engine | 46 | $1,200 |
| 40 | 9 | 11 | Darrell Waltrip | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 7 | 0 | engine | 43 | $12,225 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 41 | | 76 | Jerry Ward | Arrington Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Dale Earnhardt | 2,097 |
| | 2 | Darrell Waltrip | 1,846 (-251) |
| | 3 | Bobby Allison | 1,775 (-322) |
| | 4 | Rusty Wallace | 1,750 (–347) |
| 2 | 5 | Tim Richmond | 1,742 (–355) |
| 1 | 6 | Bill Elliott | 1,737 (–360) |
| 2 | 7 | Ricky Rudd | 1,674 (–423) |
| 2 | 8 | Terry Labonte | 1,626 (–471) |
| 1 | 9 | Harry Gant | 1,608 (–489) |
| | 10 | Kyle Petty | 1,548 (–549) |
| Official driver's standings ||||