# 1987 First Union 400

The 1987 First Union 400 was the sixth stock car race of the 1987 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 37th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, April 5, 1987, before an audience of 26,500 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina at the North Wilkesboro Speedway, a 0.625 miles (1.006 km) oval short track. The race took the scheduled 400 laps to complete.
By race's end, Richard Childress Racing's Dale Earnhardt managed to dominate a majority of the race, leading 319 laps en route to his 24th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory, his fourth victory of the season, his second straight win, and his fourth win in six races, increasing his driver's championship points lead to 117 points over second-place driver Bill Elliott. To fill out the top three, Wood Brothers Racing's Kyle Petty and RahMoc Enterprises' Neil Bonnett finished second and third, respectively.

## Background

North Wilkesboro Speedway is a short oval racetrack located on U.S. Route 421, about five miles east of the town of North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, or 80 miles north of Charlotte. It measures 0.625 mi (1.006 km) and features a unique uphill backstretch and downhill frontstretch. It has previously held races in NASCAR's top three series, including 93 Winston Cup Series races. The track, a NASCAR original, operated from 1949, NASCAR's inception, until the track's original closure in 1996. The speedway briefly reopened in 2010 and hosted several stock car series races before closing again in the spring of 2011. It was re-opened in August 2022 for grassroots racing.

### 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 | Bobby Baker | 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 | Doug Wolfgang | Hamby Racing | Chevrolet | Hesco Exhaust Systems |
| 15 | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | Motorcraft Quality Parts |
| 16 | Larry Pearson | Pearson Racing | Chevrolet | Chattanooga Chew |
| 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Tide |
| 18 | Dale Jarrett (R) | 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 |
| 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Chevrolet | Bahari Racing |
| 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | Skoal Bandit |
| 34 | Jesse Samples Jr. | AAG Racing | Chevrolet | Allen's Glass |
| 35 | Benny Parsons | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Folgers |
| 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | Piedmont Airlines |
| 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | Turtle Wax |
| 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Copenhagen |
| 62 | Steve Christman (R) | Winkle Motorsports | Pontiac | AC Spark Plug |
| 64 | Jerry Cranmer | 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 |
| 81 | Buddy Arrington | Fillip Racing | Ford | Pannill Sweatshirts |
| 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, April 5, at 3:00 PM EST. Originally, the first 10 positions were going to be determined by first round qualifying, with positions 11-30 meant to be determined the following day on Saturday, April 6, at 12:15 PM EST. However, due to rain, the first round was cancelled. As a result, qualifying was condensed into one round for all starting grid spots in the race, which was run on Saturday. 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.
Bill Elliott, driving for Melling Racing, managed to win the pole, setting a time of 19.396 and an average speed of 116.003 miles per hour (186.689 km/h).
Eddie Bierschwale was the only driver to fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 19.396 | 116.003 |
| 2 | 35 | Benny Parsons | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 19.621 | 114.673 |
| 3 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 19.667 | 114.405 |
| 4 | 22 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 19.669 | 114.393 |
| 5 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 19.709 | 114.161 |
| 6 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 19.736 | 114.005 |
| 7 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 19.756 | 113.889 |
| 8 | 26 | Morgan Shepherd | King Racing | Buick | 19.769 | 113.815 |
| 9 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 19.772 | 113.797 |
| 10 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Chevrolet | 19.775 | 113.780 |
| Failed to lock in Round 1 |||||||
| 11 | 15 | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 19.635 | 114.591 |
| 12 | 21 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 19.645 | 114.533 |
| 13 | 90 | Ken Schrader | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 19.686 | 114.294 |
| 14 | 18 | Dale Jarrett (R) | Freedlander Motorsports | Chevrolet | 19.721 | 114.092 |
| 15 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 19.777 | 113.769 |
| 16 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 19.788 | 113.705 |
| 17 | 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 19.822 | 113.510 |
| 18 | 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 19.849 | 113.356 |
| 19 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 19.858 | 113.304 |
| 20 | 16 | Larry Pearson | Pearson Racing | Chevrolet | 19.896 | 113.088 |
| 21 | 75 | Neil Bonnett | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 19.898 | 113.077 |
| 22 | 62 | Steve Christman (R) | Winkle Motorsports | Pontiac | 19.959 | 112.731 |
| 23 | 10 | Rodney Combs | DiGard Motorsports | Chevrolet | 19.988 | 112.568 |
| 24 | 64 | Jerry Cranmer | Langley Racing | Ford | 20.013 | 112.427 |
| 25 | 34 | Jesse Samples Jr. | AAG Racing | Chevrolet | 20.025 | 112.360 |
| 26 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 20.029 | 112.337 |
| 27 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 20.139 | 111.724 |
| 28 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 20.161 | 111.602 |
| 29 | 81 | Buddy Arrington | Fillip Racing | Ford | 20.214 | 111.309 |
| 30 | 6 | Bobby Baker | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | 20.243 | 111.150 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 31 | 12 | Doug Wolfgang | Hamby Racing | Oldsmobile | -* | -* |
| 32 | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 33 | 67 | Eddie Bierschwale | Arrington Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 3 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 400 | 319 | running | 185 | $44,675 |
| 2 | 12 | 21 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 400 | 0 | running | 170 | $20,055 |
| 3 | 21 | 75 | Neil Bonnett | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 400 | 56 | running | 170 | $14,470 |
| 4 | 19 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 400 | 0 | running | 160 | $12,935 |
| 5 | 11 | 15 | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 399 | 0 | running | 155 | $14,890 |
| 6 | 15 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 399 | 1 | running | 155 | $6,435 |
| 7 | 17 | 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 399 | 0 | running | 146 | $4,660 |
| 8 | 5 | 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 398 | 0 | running | 142 | $10,515 |
| 9 | 9 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 398 | 0 | running | 138 | $8,685 |
| 10 | 1 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 398 | 10 | running | 139 | $17,185 |
| 11 | 16 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 398 | 0 | running | 130 | $4,885 |
| 12 | 14 | 18 | Dale Jarrett (R) | Freedlander Motorsports | Chevrolet | 398 | 0 | running | 0 | $4,725 |
| 13 | 26 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 397 | 1 | running | 129 | $7,380 |
| 14 | 4 | 22 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 396 | 0 | running | 121 | $7,300 |
| 15 | 2 | 35 | Benny Parsons | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 396 | 12 | running | 123 | $9,830 |
| 16 | 13 | 90 | Ken Schrader | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 396 | 0 | running | 115 | $4,415 |
| 17 | 18 | 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 395 | 0 | running | 112 | $4,205 |
| 18 | 29 | 81 | Eddie Bierschwale | Fillip Racing | Ford | 392 | 0 | running | 109 | $1,430 |
| 19 | 31 | 12 | Slick Johnson | Hamby Racing | Oldsmobile | 392 | 1 | running | 0 | $4,045 |
| 20 | 23 | 10 | Rodney Combs | DiGard Motorsports | Chevrolet | 386 | 0 | running | 103 | $2,030 |
| 21 | 6 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 383 | 0 | running | 100 | $1,335 |
| 22 | 24 | 64 | Jerry Cranmer | Langley Racing | Ford | 380 | 0 | running | 97 | $3,815 |
| 23 | 30 | 6 | Bobby Baker | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | 380 | 0 | running | 94 | $3,500 |
| 24 | 10 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Chevrolet | 379 | 0 | running | 91 | $3,440 |
| 25 | 20 | 16 | Larry Pearson | Pearson Racing | Chevrolet | 359 | 0 | rear end | 88 | $1,310 |
| 26 | 28 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 316 | 0 | running | 85 | $3,355 |
| 27 | 8 | 26 | Morgan Shepherd | King Racing | Buick | 258 | 0 | crash | 82 | $3,345 |
| 28 | 7 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 240 | 0 | engine | 79 | $7,610 |
| 29 | 25 | 34 | Jesse Samples Jr. | AAG Racing | Chevrolet | 156 | 0 | rear end | 76 | $1,160 |
| 30 | 27 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 74 | 0 | cylinder head | 73 | $2,635 |
| 31 | 22 | 62 | Steve Christman (R) | Winkle Motorsports | Pontiac | 63 | 0 | crash | 70 | $1,135 |
| 32 | 32 | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | 29 | 0 | engine | 67 | $1,085 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 33 | | 67 | Eddie Bierschwale | Arrington Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Dale Earnhardt | 1,025 |
| | 2 | Bill Elliott | 928 (-117) |
| | 3 | Neil Bonnett | 870 (-155) |
| 1 | 4 | Richard Petty | 833 (–192) |
| 3 | 5 | Ricky Rudd | 805 (–220) |
| 2 | 6 | Darrell Waltrip | 790 (–235) |
| 2 | 7 | Terry Labonte | 785 (–240) |
| | 8 | Benny Parsons | 773 (–252) |
| 3 | 9 | Ken Schrader | 770 (–255) |
| | 10 | Rusty Wallace | 766 (–259) |
| Official driver's standings ||||