# 1987 TranSouth 500

The 1987 TranSouth 500 was the fifth stock car race of the 1987 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 31st iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, March 29, 1987, before an audience of 60,000 in Darlington, South Carolina, at Darlington Raceway, a 1.366 miles (2.198 km) permanent egg-shaped oval racetrack. The race took the scheduled 367 laps to complete.
Taking advantage of a misfortunate Bill Elliott, who ran out of gas on the final lap, Richard Childress Racing's Dale Earnhardt, who had been the dominant car of the race, passed Elliott with half a lap remaining to take his 23rd career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his third victory of the season. To fill out the top three, the aforementioned Bill Elliott and owner-driver Richard Petty finished second and third, respectively.

## Background

Darlington Raceway is a race track built for NASCAR racing located near Darlington, South Carolina. It is nicknamed "The Lady in Black" and "The Track Too Tough to Tame" by many NASCAR fans and drivers and advertised as "A NASCAR Tradition." It is of a unique, somewhat egg-shaped design, an oval with the ends of very different configurations, a condition which supposedly arose from the proximity of one end of the track to a minnow pond the owner refused to relocate. This situation makes it very challenging for the crews to set up their cars' handling in a way that is effective at both ends.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 1 | Ron Bouchard | Ellington Racing | Chevrolet | Bull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce |
| 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 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | Zerex |
| 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | Miller American |
| 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | Coors |
| 10 | Rodney Combs | DiGard Motorsports | Chevrolet | DiGard Motorsports |
| 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | Budweiser |
| 12 | Slick Johnson | Hamby Racing | Chevrolet | Hamby Racing |
| 15 | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | Motorcraft Quality Parts |
| 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Tide |
| 18 | Tommy Ellis | Freedlander Motorsports | Chevrolet | Freedlander Financial |
| 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 | Ranier-Lundy Racing |
| 29 | Cale Yarborough | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Hardee's |
| 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Chevrolet | Domino's |
| 32 | Jonathan Lee Edwards | Edwards Racing | Chevrolet | Edwards Racing |
| 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | Skoal Bandit |
| 35 | Benny Parsons | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Folgers |
| 36 | H. B. Bailey | Bailey Racing | Pontiac | Almeda Auto Parts |
| 37 | Joe Millikan | Beahr Racing | Ford | Hanover Printing |
| 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | Piedmont Airlines |
| 48 | James Hylton | Hylton Motorsports | Chevrolet | Hylton Motorsports |
| 50 | Greg Sacks | Dingman Brothers Racing | Pontiac | Valvoline |
| 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | Turtle Wax, Car and Driver |
| 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Copenhagen |
| 62 | Steve Christman (R) | Winkle Motorsports | Pontiac | AC Spark Plug |
| 64 | Connie Saylor | Langley Racing | Ford | Sunny King Ford |
| 67 | Eddie Bierschwale | 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 |
| 77 | Bobby Wawak | Ragan Racing | Ford | Southlake Ford |
| 81 | Mike Potter | Fillip Racing | Ford | Fillip Racing |
| 82 | Mark Stahl | Stahl Racing | Ford | Auto Bell Car Wash |
| 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | Wynn's, Kmart |
| 88 | Buddy Baker | Baker–Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | Crisco |
| 90 | Ken Schrader | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Red Baron Frozen Pizza |

## Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Thursday, March 26, at 3:00 PM 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 Friday, March 27, at 2:00 PM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 21-40 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.
Ken Schrader, driving for Donlavey Racing, managed to win the pole, setting a time of 31.048 and an average speed of 158.387 miles per hour (254.899 km/h) in the first round.
Three drivers failed to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 90 | Ken Schrader | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 31.048 | 158.387 |
| 2 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 31.110 | 158.071 |
| 3 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 31.151 | 157.863 |
| 4 | 35 | Benny Parsons | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 31.157 | 157.833 |
| 5 | 28 | Davey Allison (R) | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Ford | 31.165 | 157.792 |
| 6 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 31.318 | 157.022 |
| 7 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 31.324 | 156.991 |
| 8 | 22 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 31.381 | 156.706 |
| 9 | 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | 31.395 | 156.636 |
| 10 | 15 | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 31.434 | 156.442 |
| 11 | 88 | Buddy Baker | Baker–Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | 31.461 | 156.308 |
| 12 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 31.475 | 156.238 |
| 13 | 75 | Neil Bonnett | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 31.479 | 156.218 |
| 14 | 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 31.488 | 156.174 |
| 15 | 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 31.572 | 155.758 |
| 16 | 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 31.709 | 155.085 |
| 17 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 31.729 | 154.988 |
| 18 | 26 | Morgan Shepherd | King Racing | Buick | 31.740 | 154.934 |
| 19 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 31.762 | 154.827 |
| 20 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 31.792 | 154.680 |
| Failed to lock in Round 1 |||||||
| 21 | 29 | Cale Yarborough | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 31.644 | 155.404 |
| 22 | 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 31.808 | 154.603 |
| 23 | 21 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 31.824 | 154.525 |
| 24 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 31.836 | 154.467 |
| 25 | 1 | Ron Bouchard | Ellington Racing | Chevrolet | 31.872 | 154.292 |
| 26 | 18 | Tommy Ellis | Freedlander Motorsports | Chevrolet | 31.938 | 153.973 |
| 27 | 50 | Greg Sacks | Dingman Brothers Racing | Pontiac | 32.005 | 153.651 |
| 28 | 67 | Eddie Bierschwale | Arrington Racing | Ford | 32.025 | 153.555 |
| 29 | 10 | Rodney Combs | DiGard Motorsports | Chevrolet | 32.057 | 153.402 |
| 30 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Chevrolet | 32.096 | 153.215 |
| 31 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 32.224 | 152.607 |
| 32 | 6 | D. K. Ulrich | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | 32.286 | 152.314 |
| 33 | 64 | Connie Saylor | Langley Racing | Ford | 32.289 | 152.300 |
| 34 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 32.297 | 152.262 |
| 35 | 36 | H. B. Bailey | Bailey Racing | Pontiac | 32.306 | 152.219 |
| 36 | 12 | Slick Johnson | Hamby Racing | Chevrolet | 32.423 | 151.670 |
| 37 | 77 | Bobby Wawak | Ragan Racing | Chevrolet | 32.465 | 151.474 |
| 38 | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | 32.469 | 151.455 |
| 39 | 62 | Steve Christman (R) | Winkle Motorsports | Pontiac | 32.641 | 150.657 |
| 40 | 32 | Jonathan Lee Edwards | Edwards Racing | Chevrolet | 32.707 | 150.353 |
| Provisional |||||||
| 41 | 48 | James Hylton | Hylton Motorsports | Chevrolet | 32.785 | 149.995 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 42 | 81 | Mike Potter | Fillip Racing | Ford | 33.200 | 148.120 |
| 43 | 37 | Joe Millikan | Beahr Racing | Ford | 33.219 | 148.036 |
| 44 | 82 | Mark Stahl | Stahl Racing | Ford | 33.728 | 145.802 |
| Official first round qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 367 | 239 | running | 185 | $52,985 |
| 2 | 3 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 367 | 41 | running | 175 | $31,485 |
| 3 | 24 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 367 | 1 | running | 170 | $20,450 |
| 4 | 16 | 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 367 | 5 | running | 165 | $17,105 |
| 5 | 1 | 90 | Ken Schrader | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 367 | 19 | running | 160 | $16,650 |
| 6 | 13 | 75 | Neil Bonnett | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 367 | 7 | running | 155 | $10,065 |
| 7 | 12 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 366 | 0 | running | 146 | $9,295 |
| 8 | 25 | 1 | Ron Bouchard | Ellington Racing | Chevrolet | 366 | 0 | running | 142 | $4,810 |
| 9 | 15 | 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 366 | 0 | running | 138 | $4,305 |
| 10 | 19 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 366 | 1 | running | 139 | $5,180 |
| 11 | 7 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 364 | 0 | running | 130 | $10,525 |
| 12 | 36 | 12 | Slick Johnson | Hamby Racing | Chevrolet | 363 | 0 | running | 127 | $7,755 |
| 13 | 23 | 21 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 362 | 0 | running | 124 | $6,815 |
| 14 | 34 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 361 | 0 | running | 121 | $7,375 |
| 15 | 21 | 29 | Cale Yarborough | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 354 | 0 | running | 118 | $3,715 |
| 16 | 28 | 67 | Eddie Bierschwale | Arrington Racing | Ford | 349 | 0 | running | 115 | $5,800 |
| 17 | 35 | 36 | H. B. Bailey | Bailey Racing | Pontiac | 348 | 0 | running | 112 | $2,485 |
| 18 | 32 | 6 | D. K. Ulrich | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | 347 | 0 | running | 109 | $5,420 |
| 19 | 30 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Chevrolet | 338 | 0 | running | 106 | $5,040 |
| 20 | 6 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 322 | 0 | overheating | 103 | $10,075 |
| 21 | 4 | 35 | Benny Parsons | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 314 | 0 | running | 100 | $11,275 |
| 22 | 18 | 26 | Morgan Shepherd | King Racing | Buick | 312 | 0 | running | 97 | $4,785 |
| 23 | 20 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 307 | 0 | overheating | 94 | $8,900 |
| 24 | 33 | 64 | Connie Saylor | Langley Racing | Ford | 291 | 0 | running | 91 | $4,570 |
| 25 | 11 | 88 | Buddy Baker | Baker–Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | 259 | 40 | crash | 93 | $2,585 |
| 26 | 27 | 50 | Greg Sacks | Dingman Brothers Racing | Pontiac | 258 | 0 | engine | 85 | $1,680 |
| 27 | 5 | 28 | Davey Allison (R) | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Ford | 214 | 0 | crash | 82 | $2,375 |
| 28 | 8 | 22 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 214 | 1 | crash | 84 | $8,580 |
| 29 | 37 | 77 | Bobby Wawak | Ragan Racing | Chevrolet | 168 | 0 | crash | 76 | $1,535 |
| 30 | 10 | 15 | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 144 | 12 | crash | 78 | $9,885 |
| 31 | 9 | 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | 144 | 0 | crash | 70 | $1,445 |
| 32 | 14 | 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 143 | 0 | crash | 67 | $10,200 |
| 33 | 17 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 131 | 1 | steering | 69 | $4,100 |
| 34 | 22 | 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 118 | 0 | head gasket | 61 | $1,330 |
| 35 | 40 | 32 | Jonathan Lee Edwards | Edwards Racing | Chevrolet | 104 | 0 | fuel pump | 58 | $1,300 |
| 36 | 31 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 85 | 0 | engine | 55 | $3,270 |
| 37 | 29 | 10 | Rodney Combs | DiGard Motorsports | Chevrolet | 38 | 0 | ignition | 52 | $1,740 |
| 38 | 41 | 48 | James Hylton | Hylton Motorsports | Chevrolet | 14 | 0 | ignition | 49 | $1,225 |
| 39 | 39 | 62 | Steve Christman (R) | Winkle Motorsports | Pontiac | 8 | 0 | crash | 46 | $1,210 |
| 40 | 26 | 18 | Tommy Ellis | Freedlander Motorsports | Chevrolet | 3 | 0 | quit | 43 | $1,180 |
| 41 | 38 | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | 1 | 0 | engine | 40 | $1,180 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 42 | | 81 | Mike Potter | Fillip Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 43 | | 37 | Joe Millikan | Beahr Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 44 | | 82 | Mark Stahl | Stahl Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Dale Earnhardt | 840 |
| | 2 | Bill Elliott | 769 (-71) |
| 4 | 3 | Neil Bonnett | 700 (-140) |
| 1 | 4 | Darrell Waltrip | 690 (–150) |
| 5 | 5 | Richard Petty | 678 (–162) |
| 5 | 6 | Ken Schrader | 655 (–185) |
| 4 | 7 | Ricky Rudd | 650 (–190) |
| 2 | 8 | Benny Parsons | 650 (–190) |
| 5 | 9 | Terry Labonte | 643 (–197) |
| 1 | 10 | Rusty Wallace | 628 (–212) |
| Official driver's standings ||||