# 1991 TranSouth 500

The 1991 TranSouth 500 was the fifth stock car race of the 1991 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 35th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, April 7, 1991, before an audience of 50,000 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. At race's end, Hendrick Motorsports driver Ricky Rudd would manage to dominate the late stages of the race to take his 12th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his only victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Robert Yates Racing driver Davey Allison and Bahari Racing driver Michael Waltrip would finish 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 | 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 |
| 05 | Bill Meacham | Meacham Racing | Oldsmobile | Meacham Racing |
| 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 | Bull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce |
| 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 |
| 36 | H. B. Bailey | Bailey Racing | Pontiac | Almeda Auto Parts |
| 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | Mello Yello |
| 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 47 | Rich Bickle | Close Racing | Oldsmobile | Kanawha Insurance |
| 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | Alka-Seltzer |
| 55 | Ted Musgrave (R) | U.S. Racing | Pontiac | U.S. Racing |
| 65 | Dave Mader III | Bahre Racing | Pontiac | Jasper Engines & Transmissions |
| 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 |
| 82 | Mark Stahl | Stahl Racing | Ford | Autobell Car Wash |
| 87 | Randy Baker | Buck Baker Racing | Chevrolet | Armour Classics |
| 94 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | Sunoco |
| 98 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Chevrolet | Banquet Foods |

## Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Thursday, April 4, 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 Friday, April 5, at 11:30 AM 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; which was usually two. 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.
Geoff Bodine, driving for Junior Johnson & Associates, would win the pole, setting a time of 30.367 and an average speed of 161.939 miles per hour (260.616 km/h) in the first round.
Mark Stahl was the only driver to fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 11 | Geoff Bodine | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 30.367 | 161.939 |
| 2 | 22 | Sterling Marlin | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 30.528 | 161.085 |
| 3 | 4 | Ernie Irvan | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.539 | 161.027 |
| 4 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.558 | 160.927 |
| 5 | 33 | Harry Gant | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 30.609 | 160.659 |
| 6 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 30.650 | 160.444 |
| 7 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 30.688 | 160.245 |
| 8 | 26 | Brett Bodine | King Racing | Buick | 30.730 | 160.026 |
| 9 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.731 | 160.021 |
| 10 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 30.801 | 159.657 |
| 11 | 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 30.802 | 159.652 |
| 12 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 30.821 | 159.554 |
| 13 | 5 | Ricky Rudd | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.949 | 158.894 |
| 14 | 21 | Dale Jarrett | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 30.962 | 158.827 |
| 15 | 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | 31.002 | 158.622 |
| 16 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Oldsmobile | 31.006 | 158.602 |
| 17 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 31.030 | 158.479 |
| 18 | 8 | Rick Wilson | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 31.031 | 158.474 |
| 19 | 12 | Hut Stricklin | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Buick | 31.073 | 158.260 |
| 20 | 10 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Chevrolet | 31.101 | 158.117 |
| Failed to lock in Round 1 |||||||
| 21 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Pontiac | 30.862 | 159.342 |
| 22 | 66 | Lake Speed | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Pontiac | 30.866 | 159.321 |
| 23 | 15 | Morgan Shepherd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 31.102 | 158.112 |
| 24 | 24 | Mickey Gibbs | Team III Racing | Pontiac | 31.107 | 158.087 |
| 25 | 98 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Chevrolet | 31.156 | 157.838 |
| 26 | 65 | Dave Mader III | Bahre Racing | Pontiac | 31.193 | 157.651 |
| 27 | 94 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 31.198 | 157.625 |
| 28 | 20 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Moroso Racing | Oldsmobile | 31.278 | 157.222 |
| 29 | 55 | Ted Musgrave (R) | RaDiUs Motorsports | Pontiac | 31.359 | 156.816 |
| 30 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 31.421 | 156.507 |
| 31 | 19 | Chad Little | Little Racing | Ford | 31.470 | 156.263 |
| 32 | 75 | Joe Ruttman | RahMoc Enterprises | Oldsmobile | 31.515 | 156.040 |
| 33 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 31.581 | 155.714 |
| 34 | 68 | Bobby Hamilton (R) | TriStar Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 31.747 | 154.900 |
| 35 | 47 | Rich Bickle | Close Racing | Oldsmobile | 31.747 | 154.900 |
| 36 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 31.910 | 154.108 |
| 37 | 87 | Randy Baker | Buck Baker Racing | Chevrolet | 31.932 | 154.002 |
| 38 | 05 | Bill Meacham | Meacham Racing | Oldsmobile | 32.021 | 153.574 |
| 39 | 36 | H. B. Bailey | Bailey Racing | Pontiac | 32.528 | 151.181 |
| 40 | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | 32.782 | 150.009 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 41 | 82 | Mark Stahl | Stahl Racing | Ford | 32.839 | 149.749 |
| Official first round qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 13 | 5 | Ricky Rudd | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 367 | 69 | running | 180 | $62,185 |
| 2 | 11 | 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 367 | 31 | running | 175 | $38,860 |
| 3 | 10 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 367 | 208 | running | 175 | $20,320 |
| 4 | 12 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 366 | 0 | running | 160 | $22,710 |
| 5 | 21 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Pontiac | 365 | 0 | running | 155 | $10,260 |
| 6 | 15 | 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | 365 | 0 | running | 150 | $16,330 |
| 7 | 3 | 4 | Ernie Irvan | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 365 | 0 | running | 146 | $15,025 |
| 8 | 23 | 15 | Morgan Shepherd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 365 | 1 | running | 147 | $14,320 |
| 9 | 1 | 11 | Geoff Bodine | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 365 | 0 | running | 138 | $18,400 |
| 10 | 2 | 22 | Sterling Marlin | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 365 | 45 | running | 139 | $12,060 |
| 11 | 25 | 98 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Chevrolet | 365 | 0 | running | 130 | $10,505 |
| 12 | 17 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 365 | 0 | running | 127 | $13,675 |
| 13 | 16 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Oldsmobile | 364 | 0 | running | 124 | $9,695 |
| 14 | 18 | 8 | Rick Wilson | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 364 | 0 | running | 121 | $9,390 |
| 15 | 27 | 94 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 364 | 0 | running | 118 | $9,735 |
| 16 | 8 | 26 | Brett Bodine | King Racing | Buick | 363 | 0 | running | 115 | $8,815 |
| 17 | 28 | 20 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Moroso Racing | Oldsmobile | 361 | 0 | running | 112 | $6,560 |
| 18 | 33 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 361 | 0 | running | 109 | $8,225 |
| 19 | 4 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 361 | 5 | running | 111 | $7,790 |
| 20 | 34 | 68 | Bobby Hamilton (R) | TriStar Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 360 | 0 | running | 103 | $6,560 |
| 21 | 29 | 55 | Ted Musgrave (R) | RaDiUs Motorsports | Pontiac | 359 | 0 | running | 100 | $5,540 |
| 22 | 24 | 24 | Mickey Gibbs | Team III Racing | Pontiac | 359 | 0 | running | 97 | $4,070 |
| 23 | 36 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 358 | 0 | running | 94 | $4,950 |
| 24 | 35 | 47 | Rich Bickle | Close Racing | Oldsmobile | 356 | 0 | running | 91 | $3,830 |
| 25 | 9 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 356 | 0 | running | 88 | $3,810 |
| 26 | 32 | 75 | Joe Ruttman | RahMoc Enterprises | Oldsmobile | 355 | 0 | running | 85 | $6,545 |
| 27 | 5 | 33 | Harry Gant | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 347 | 0 | running | 82 | $6,380 |
| 28 | 37 | 87 | Randy Baker | Buck Baker Racing | Chevrolet | 346 | 0 | running | 79 | $3,470 |
| 29 | 7 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 332 | 0 | engine | 76 | $14,310 |
| 30 | 40 | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | 282 | 0 | running | 73 | $3,325 |
| 31 | 20 | 10 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Chevrolet | 279 | 0 | oil leak | 70 | $11,665 |
| 32 | 19 | 12 | Hut Stricklin | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Buick | 259 | 8 | vibration | 72 | $5,980 |
| 33 | 26 | 65 | Dave Mader III | Bahre Racing | Pontiac | 197 | 0 | fatigue | 64 | $3,170 |
| 34 | 6 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 186 | 0 | crash | 61 | $11,135 |
| 35 | 39 | 36 | H. B. Bailey | Bailey Racing | Pontiac | 172 | 0 | handling | 58 | $3,100 |
| 36 | 31 | 19 | Chad Little | Little Racing | Ford | 70 | 0 | crash | 55 | $3,065 |
| 37 | 30 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 52 | 0 | engine | 52 | $5,750 |
| 38 | 38 | 05 | Bill Meacham | Meacham Racing | Oldsmobile | 31 | 0 | flagged | 49 | $3,010 |
| 39 | 14 | 21 | Dale Jarrett | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 30 | 0 | crash | 46 | $5,670 |
| 40 | 22 | 66 | Lake Speed | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Pontiac | 10 | 0 | engine | 43 | $5,650 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 41 | | 82 | Mark Stahl | Stahl Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| 1 | 1 | Ricky Rudd | 808 |
| 1 | 2 | Dale Earnhardt | 728 (-80) |
| 2 | 3 | Ernie Irvan | 679 (-129) |
| | 4 | Ken Schrader | 670 (–138) |
| 2 | 5 | Sterling Marlin | 667 (–141) |
| 5 | 6 | Mark Martin | 648 (–160) |
| 2 | 7 | Morgan Shepherd | 644 (–164) |
| 6 | 8 | Michael Waltrip | 642 (–166) |
| 4 | 9 | Rusty Wallace | 625 (–183) |
| 7 | 10 | Alan Kulwicki | 622 (–186) |
| Official driver's standings ||||