# 1991 Valleydale Meats 500

The 1991 Valleydale Meats 500 was the sixth stock car race of the 1991 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 31st iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, April 14, 1991, before an audience of 58,300 in Bristol, Tennessee, at Bristol Motor Speedway, a 0.533 miles (0.858 km) permanent oval-shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 500 laps to complete. In a chaotic race, Penske Racing South driver Rusty Wallace would manage to come back from a two-lap deficit and hold off Morgan–McClure Motorsports driver Ernie Irvan to take his 19th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his first victory of the season. To fill out the top three, the aforementioned Ernie Irvan and Robert Yates Racing driver Davey Allison would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

The Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway, is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961. Despite its short length, Bristol is among the most popular tracks on the NASCAR schedule because of its distinct features, which include extraordinarily steep banking, an all concrete surface, two pit roads, and stadium-like seating. It has also been named one of the loudest NASCAR tracks.

### 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 | Hooters |
| 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 | Tyson Foods |
| 20 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | 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 |
| 34 | Dick Trickle | AAG Racing | Buick | Allen's Glass |
| 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 | Lake Speed | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Pontiac | Phillips 66 TropArtic |
| 68 | Bobby Hamilton (R) | TriStar Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Country Time |
| 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | Rumple Furniture |
| 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Big Apple Market |
| 75 | Joe Ruttman | RahMoc Enterprises | Oldsmobile | Dinner Bell Foods |
| 94 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | Sunoco |
| 98 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Chevrolet | Banquet Foods |

## Qualifying

Qualifying was originally scheduled to be split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, April 12, at 3:00 PM EST. Originally, the first 15 positions were going to be determined by first round qualifying, with positions 16-30 meant to be determined the following day on Saturday, April 13. However, due to rain, the second round was cancelled. As a result, the rest of the starting lineup was set using the results from the first round. 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.
Rusty Wallace, driving for Penske Racing South, would win the pole, setting a time of 16.254 and an average speed of 118.051 miles per hour (189.985 km/h).
Three drivers would fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Pontiac | 16.254 | 118.051 |
| 2 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 16.369 | 117.222 |
| 3 | 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 16.374 | 117.186 |
| 4 | 5 | Ricky Rudd | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 16.385 | 117.107 |
| 5 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 16.391 | 117.064 |
| 6 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 16.407 | 116.950 |
| 7 | 26 | Brett Bodine | King Racing | Buick | 16.409 | 116.936 |
| 8 | 4 | Ernie Irvan | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 16.418 | 116.872 |
| 9 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Oldsmobile | 16.428 | 116.801 |
| 10 | 33 | Harry Gant | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 16.435 | 116.751 |
| 11 | 11 | Geoff Bodine | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 16.443 | 116.694 |
| 12 | 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | 16.453 | 116.623 |
| 13 | 12 | Hut Stricklin | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Buick | 16.468 | 116.517 |
| 14 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 16.468 | 116.517 |
| 15 | 22 | Sterling Marlin | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 16.482 | 116.418 |
| Failed to lock in Round 1 |||||||
| 16 | 8 | Rick Wilson | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 16.503 | 116.270 |
| 17 | 24 | Mickey Gibbs | Team III Racing | Pontiac | 16.512 | 116.206 |
| 18 | 21 | Dale Jarrett | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 16.524 | 116.122 |
| 19 | 20 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Moroso Racing | Oldsmobile | 16.584 | 115.702 |
| 20 | 98 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Chevrolet | 16.596 | 115.618 |
| 21 | 34 | Dick Trickle | AAG Racing | Buick | 16.598 | 115.604 |
| 22 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 16.602 | 115.576 |
| 23 | 75 | Joe Ruttman | RahMoc Enterprises | Oldsmobile | 16.635 | 115.347 |
| 24 | 66 | Lake Speed | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Pontiac | 16.635 | 115.347 |
| 25 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 16.665 | 115.140 |
| 26 | 15 | Morgan Shepherd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 16.697 | 114.919 |
| 27 | 55 | Ted Musgrave (R) | U.S. Racing | Pontiac | 16.704 | 114.871 |
| 28 | 68 | Bobby Hamilton (R) | TriStar Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 16.710 | 114.829 |
| 29 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 16.729 | 114.699 |
| 30 | 94 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 16.780 | 114.350 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 31 | 19 | Chad Little | Little Racing | Ford | 16.835 | 113.977 |
| 32 | 10 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Chevrolet | 16.853 | 113.855 |
| Champion's Provisional |||||||
| 33 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 16.917 | 113.424 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 34 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 16.820 | 114.078 |
| 35 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 17.359 | 110.536 |
| 36 | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | 17.626 | 108.862 |
| Official first round qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 1 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Pontiac | 500 | 104 | running | 180 | $51,300 |
| 2 | 8 | 4 | Ernie Irvan | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 73 | running | 175 | $26,000 |
| 3 | 3 | 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 500 | 91 | running | 170 | $18,950 |
| 5 | 4 | 5 | Ricky Rudd | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 145 | running | 165 | $37,950 |
| 4 | 6 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 500 | 42 | running | 165 | $18,950 |
| 6 | 22 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 0 | running | 150 | $7,525 |
| 7 | 18 | 21 | Dale Jarrett | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 500 | 0 | running | 146 | $10,775 |
| 8 | 20 | 98 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Chevrolet | 500 | 0 | running | 142 | $10,175 |
| 9 | 30 | 94 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 500 | 0 | running | 138 | $9,575 |
| 10 | 26 | 15 | Morgan Shepherd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 498 | 0 | running | 134 | $14,275 |
| 11 | 10 | 33 | Harry Gant | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 498 | 32 | running | 135 | $9,375 |
| 12 | 27 | 55 | Ted Musgrave (R) | U.S. Racing | Pontiac | 498 | 0 | running | 127 | $8,275 |
| 13 | 23 | 75 | Joe Ruttman | RahMoc Enterprises | Oldsmobile | 498 | 0 | running | 124 | $8,150 |
| 14 | 31 | 19 | Chad Little | Little Racing | Ford | 497 | 6 | running | 126 | $6,400 |
| 15 | 19 | 20 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Moroso Racing | Oldsmobile | 497 | 0 | running | 118 | $6,800 |
| 16 | 13 | 12 | Hut Stricklin | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Buick | 496 | 0 | running | 115 | $7,475 |
| 17 | 33 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 496 | 0 | running | 112 | $7,225 |
| 18 | 9 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Oldsmobile | 492 | 0 | running | 109 | $7,025 |
| 19 | 17 | 24 | Mickey Gibbs | Team III Racing | Pontiac | 492 | 0 | running | 106 | $4,665 |
| 20 | 2 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 484 | 0 | running | 103 | $15,525 |
| 21 | 12 | 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | 480 | 0 | running | 100 | $10,125 |
| 22 | 7 | 26 | Brett Bodine | King Racing | Buick | 471 | 0 | running | 97 | $6,675 |
| 23 | 25 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 463 | 0 | running | 94 | $6,550 |
| 24 | 11 | 11 | Geoff Bodine | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 461 | 0 | running | 91 | $11,750 |
| 25 | 24 | 66 | Lake Speed | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Pontiac | 455 | 0 | running | 88 | $6,480 |
| 26 | 5 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 434 | 0 | running | 85 | $9,875 |
| 27 | 15 | 22 | Sterling Marlin | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 421 | 0 | crash | 82 | $5,150 |
| 28 | 29 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 406 | 0 | running | 79 | $9,800 |
| 29 | 14 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 314 | 7 | crash | 81 | $6,220 |
| 30 | 21 | 34 | Dick Trickle | AAG Racing | Buick | 314 | 0 | ignition | 73 | $4,025 |
| 31 | 28 | 68 | Bobby Hamilton (R) | TriStar Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 124 | 0 | engine | 70 | $4,275 |
| 32 | 32 | 10 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Chevrolet | 80 | 0 | crash | 67 | $11,125 |
| 33 | 16 | 8 | Rick Wilson | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 78 | 0 | overheating | 64 | $5,850 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 34 | | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 35 | | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 36 | | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Ricky Rudd | 973 |
| 1 | 2 | Ernie Irvan | 854 (-119) |
| 1 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | 831 (-142) |
| 2 | 4 | Mark Martin | 813 (–160) |
| 4 | 5 | Rusty Wallace | 805 (–168) |
| 1 | 6 | Morgan Shepherd | 778 (–195) |
| 6 | 7 | Darrell Waltrip | 761 (–212) |
| 7 | 8 | Davey Allison | 758 (–215) |
| 5 | 9 | Ken Schrader | 751 (–222) |
| 5 | 10 | Sterling Marlin | 749 (–224) |
| Official driver's standings ||||