# 1986 Valleydale 500

The 1986 Valleydale 500 was the fifth stock car race of the 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 26th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, April 6, 1986, before an audience of 34,200 in Bristol, Tennessee, at Bristol International Raceway, a 0.533 miles (0.858 km) permanent oval-shaped racetrack.
By race's end, Blue Max Racing's Rusty Wallace managed to dominate the late stages of the race, leading the final 101 laps to take his first career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his first victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Bud Moore Engineering's Darrell Waltrip and Junior Johnson & Associates' Darrell Waltrip finished 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 |
| 01 | Earle Canavan | Canavan Racing | Pontiac | Gates Hydraulics |
| 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Wrangler |
| 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Cap'n Coty's, Bewley Oldsmobile |
| 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Levi Garrett |
| 6 | Trevor Boys | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | U.S. Racing |
| 7 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 7-Eleven |
| 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Chevrolet | Miller American |
| 08 | Butch Miller | Throop Racing | Buick | Classic Chevrolet |
| 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 | Doug Heveron | Hamby Racing | Chevrolet | Protecta Truck Bed Liner |
| 18 | Tommy Ellis | Freedlander Motorsports | Chevrolet | Freedlander Financial |
| 22 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | Miller American |
| 23 | Michael Waltrip (R) | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | Hawaiian Punch |
| 25 | Tim Richmond | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Folgers |
| 26 | Joe Ruttman | King Racing | Buick | Quaker State |
| 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | Alugard |
| 30 | Willy T. Ribbs | DiGard Motorsports | Pontiac | Red Roof Inn |
| 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | Skoal Bandit |
| 35 | Alan Kulwicki (R) | AK Racing | Ford | Quincy's Steakhouse |
| 41 | Ronnie Thomas | Ronnie Thomas Racing | Chevrolet | Ronnie Thomas Racing |
| 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 44 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Enterprises | Oldsmobile | Piedmont Airlines |
| 48 | James Hylton | Hylton Motorsports | Chevrolet | Hylton Motorsports |
| 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | Jimmy Means Racing |
| 64 | Morgan Shepherd | Langley Racing | Ford | Sunny King Ford |
| 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 |
| 75 | Jody Ridley | RahMoc Enterprises | Ford | Nationwise Automotive |
| 81 | Chet Fillip (R) | Fillip Racing | Ford | Circle Bar Truck Corral |
| 90 | Ken Schrader | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Red Baron Frozen Pizza |
| 92 | Jonathan Lee Edwards | Edwards Racing | Chevrolet | Edwards Racing |
| 94 | Eddie Bierschwale | Eller Racing | Pontiac | Kodak Film |
| 95 | Davey Allison | Sadler Brothers Racing | Chevrolet | Sadler Brothers Racing |
| 98 | Ron Bouchard | Curb Racing | Pontiac | Valvoline |

## Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, April 4, at 4:00 pm EST. Each driver would have one lap to set a time. During the first round, the top 15 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 Saturday, April 5, at 12:30 pm EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 16-30 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.
Geoff Bodine, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, won the pole, setting a time of 16.707 and an average speed of 114.850 miles per hour (184.833 km/h) in the first round.
Six drivers failed to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 16.707 | 114.850 |
| 2 | 12 | Neil Bonnett | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 16.899 | 113.545 |
| 3 | 25 | Tim Richmond | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 16.906 | 113.498 |
| 4 | 44 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Enterprises | Oldsmobile | 16.907 | 113.491 |
| 5 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 16.924 | 113.377 |
| 6 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 16.942 | 113.257 |
| 7 | 11 | Darrell Waltrip | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 16.968 | 113.083 |
| 8 | 15 | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 16.975 | 113.037 |
| 9 | 26 | Joe Ruttman | King Racing | Buick | 16.976 | 113.030 |
| 10 | 22 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 17.022 | 112.725 |
| 11 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 17.039 | 112.612 |
| 12 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 17.064 | 112.447 |
| 13 | 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 17.064 | 112.447 |
| 14 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 17.064 | 112.447 |
| 15 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 17.103 | 112.191 |
| Failed to lock in the first round |||||||
| 16 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 17.107 | 112.165 |
| 17 | 7 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 17.156 | 111.844 |
| 18 | 94 | Eddie Bierschwale | Eller Racing | Pontiac | 17.162 | 111.805 |
| 19 | 75 | Jody Ridley | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 17.174 | 111.727 |
| 20 | 90 | Ken Schrader | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 17.201 | 111.552 |
| 21 | 08 | Butch Miller | Throop Racing | Buick | 17.213 | 111.474 |
| 22 | 35 | Alan Kulwicki (R) | AK Racing | Ford | 17.235 | 111.332 |
| 23 | 17 | Doug Heveron | Hamby Racing | Chevrolet | 17.249 | 111.241 |
| 24 | 23 | Michael Waltrip (R) | Bahari Racing | Buick | 17.289 | 110.984 |
| 25 | 81 | Chet Fillip (R) | Fillip Racing | Ford | 17.340 | 110.657 |
| 26 | 98 | Ron Bouchard | Curb Racing | Pontiac | 17.348 | 110.606 |
| 27 | 41 | Ronnie Thomas | Ronnie Thomas Racing | Chevrolet | 17.370 | 110.466 |
| 28 | 18 | Tommy Ellis | Freedlander Motorsports | Chevrolet | 17.400 | 110.276 |
| 29 | 95 | Davey Allison | Sadler Brothers Racing | Chevrolet | 17.471 | 109.828 |
| 30 | 64 | Morgan Shepherd | Langley Racing | Ford | 17.536 | 109.421 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 31 | 67 | Buddy Arrington | Arrington Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 32 | 6 | Trevor Boys | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| Failed to qualify (results unknown) |||||||
| 33 | 01 | Earle Canavan | Canavan Racing | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| 34 | 30 | Willy T. Ribbs | DiGard Motorsports | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| 35 | 48 | James Hylton | Hylton Motorsports | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 36 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| 37 | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| 38 | 92 | Jonathan Lee Edwards | Edwards Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| Official first round qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 14 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 500 | 174 | running | 185 | $34,760 |
| 2 | 8 | 15 | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 500 | 0 | running | 170 | $20,125 |
| 3 | 7 | 11 | Darrell Waltrip | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 500 | 84 | running | 170 | $17,825 |
| 4 | 5 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 499 | 0 | running | 160 | $11,770 |
| 5 | 12 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 499 | 0 | running | 155 | $12,050 |
| 6 | 10 | 22 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 499 | 2 | running | 155 | $2,900 |
| 7 | 4 | 44 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Enterprises | Oldsmobile | 498 | 47 | running | 151 | $8,250 |
| 8 | 3 | 25 | Tim Richmond | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 498 | 0 | running | 142 | $2,550 |
| 9 | 17 | 7 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 497 | 0 | running | 138 | $7,750 |
| 10 | 6 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 497 | 106 | running | 139 | $10,650 |
| 11 | 28 | 18 | Tommy Ellis | Freedlander Motorsports | Chevrolet | 496 | 0 | running | 130 | $1,750 |
| 12 | 13 | 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 494 | 0 | running | 127 | $2,100 |
| 13 | 20 | 90 | Ken Schrader | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 492 | 0 | running | 124 | $5,130 |
| 14 | 11 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 491 | 0 | running | 121 | $4,760 |
| 15 | 22 | 35 | Alan Kulwicki (R) | AK Racing | Ford | 483 | 0 | running | 118 | $2,000 |
| 16 | 21 | 08 | Butch Miller | Throop Racing | Buick | 482 | 0 | running | 0 | $1,260 |
| 17 | 31 | 67 | Buddy Arrington | Arrington Racing | Ford | 477 | 0 | running | 112 | $4,370 |
| 18 | 32 | 6 | Trevor Boys | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | 466 | 0 | running | 109 | $4,260 |
| 19 | 9 | 26 | Joe Ruttman | King Racing | Buick | 443 | 0 | running | 106 | $1,140 |
| 20 | 29 | 95 | Davey Allison | Sadler Brothers Racing | Chevrolet | 441 | 0 | running | 103 | $1,350 |
| 21 | 23 | 17 | Doug Heveron | Hamby Racing | Chevrolet | 351 | 0 | engine | 100 | $4,030 |
| 22 | 25 | 81 | Chet Fillip (R) | Fillip Racing | Ford | 319 | 0 | engine | 97 | $1,020 |
| 23 | 19 | 75 | Jody Ridley | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 256 | 0 | engine | 94 | $3,840 |
| 24 | 1 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 238 | 23 | engine | 96 | $8,640 |
| 25 | 26 | 98 | Ron Bouchard | Curb Racing | Pontiac | 183 | 0 | axle | 88 | $3,750 |
| 26 | 27 | 41 | Ronnie Thomas | Ronnie Thomas Racing | Chevrolet | 157 | 0 | accident | 85 | $1,370 |
| 27 | 15 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 103 | 0 | accident | 82 | $3,480 |
| 28 | 16 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 103 | 1 | accident | 84 | $3,790 |
| 29 | 18 | 94 | Eddie Bierschwale | Eller Racing | Pontiac | 102 | 0 | accident | 76 | $780 |
| 30 | 2 | 12 | Neil Bonnett | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 74 | 63 | accident | 78 | $8,350 |
| 31 | 30 | 64 | Morgan Shepherd | Langley Racing | Ford | 22 | 0 | engine | 70 | $2,940 |
| 32 | 24 | 23 | Michael Waltrip (R) | Bahari Racing | Buick | 22 | 0 | engine | 67 | $750 |
| Failed to qualify (results unknown) |||||||||||
| 33 | | 01 | Earle Canavan | Canavan Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 34 | | 30 | Willy T. Ribbs | DiGard Motorsports | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 35 | | 48 | James Hylton | Hylton Motorsports | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 36 | | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 37 | | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 38 | | 92 | Jonathan Lee Edwards | Edwards Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Darrell Waltrip | 825 |
| | 2 | Terry Labonte | 794 (-31) |
| | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | 767 (-58) |
| 1 | 4 | Rusty Wallace | 735 (–90) |
| 1 | 5 | Bill Elliott | 690 (–135) |
| 2 | 6 | Geoff Bodine | 670 (–155) |
| | 7 | Kyle Petty | 647 (–178) |
| 4 | 8 | Harry Gant | 614 (–211) |
| 1 | 9 | Tim Richmond | 613 (–212) |
| 1 | 10 | Richard Petty | 584 (–241) |
| Official driver's standings ||||