# 1987 Budweiser 400

The 1987 Budweiser 400 was the 13th stock car race of the 1987 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season, the second race of the 1987 NASCAR Winston West Series, and the 19th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, June 21, 1987, before an audience of 55,000 in Riverside, California, at the short layout of Riverside International Raceway, a 2.62 miles (4.22 km) permanent road course layout at the track. The race took the scheduled 95 laps to complete.
By race's end, Hendrick Motorsports' Tim Richmond managed to dominate the late stages of the race, leading the last 31 of 39 laps to take his 13th and final career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his second and final victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Bud Moore Engineering's Ricky Rudd and RahMoc Enterprises' Neil Bonnett finished second and third, respectively.

## Background

Riverside International Raceway (sometimes known as Riverside, RIR, or Riverside Raceway) was a motorsports race track and road course established in the Edgemont area of Riverside County, California, just east of the city limits of Riverside and 50 mi (80 km) east of Los Angeles, in 1957. In 1984, the raceway became part of the newly incorporated city of Moreno Valley. Riverside was noted for its hot, dusty environment and for being somewhat of a complicated and dangerous track for drivers. It was also considered one of the finest tracks in the United States.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 1 | Brett Bodine | Ellington Racing | Buick | Bull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce |
| 2 | St. James Davis | St. James Racing | Buick | St. James Racing |
| 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Wrangler |
| 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Kodak |
| 04 | Hershel McGriff | Gary Smith Racing | Pontiac | Wershow–Ash–Lewis Auctioneers |
| 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Levi Garrett |
| 6 | Ron Esau | 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 |
| 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | Budweiser |
| 12 | Jim Bown | Hamby Racing | Chevrolet | Hamby Racing |
| 14 | Harry Goularte | Goularte Racing | Chevrolet | Goularte Racing |
| 15 | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | Motorcraft Quality Parts |
| 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 |
| 25 | Tim Richmond | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Folgers |
| 26 | Morgan Shepherd | King Racing | Buick | Quaker State |
| 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | Kodiak |
| 29 | George Follmer | Midgley Racing | Chevrolet | Budget Rent a Car |
| 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Chevrolet | Bahari Racing |
| 32 | Ruben Garcia | Stoke Racing | Chevrolet | Suncrest Motorhomes |
| 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | Skoal Bandit |
| 35 | Benny Parsons | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Folgers |
| 41 | Jack Sellers | Vincent Racing | Chevrolet | Coca-Cola |
| 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | Piedmont Airlines |
| 51 | Jim Fitzgerald | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Levi Garrett |
| 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | Jimmy Means Racing |
| 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Copenhagen |
| 62 | Steve Christman (R) | Winkle Motorsports | Pontiac | AC Spark Plug |
| 64 | Rick McCray | Langley Racing | Ford | Sunny King Ford |
| 66 | John Krebs | Krebs Racing | Oldsmobile | Skoal Classic |
| 67 | Chet Fillip | Arrington Racing | Ford | Pannill Sweatshirts |
| 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | Rumple Furniture |
| 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Helen Rae Special |
| 73 | Bill Schmitt | Schmitt Racing | Chevrolet | Tom Bell Chevrolet |
| 75 | Neil Bonnett | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | Valvoline |
| 76 | Roman Calczynski | Spears Motorsports | Buick | Spears Manufacturing |
| 77 | Ray Kelly | Ray Kelly Racing | Pontiac | Ray Kelly Racing |
| 78 | Jim Robinson | Lois Williams Racing | Oldsmobile | Hammer Security Service |
| 79 | Roy Smith | Razore Racing | Ford | Western Peterbilt |
| 90 | Ken Schrader | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Red Baron Frozen Pizza |
| 95 | Chad Little | George Jefferson Racing | Ford | Coors |

## Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, June 19, at 6:30 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 Saturday, June 20, at 5:00 PM EST. As with the first round, each driver had one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 21-40 were 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 provisionals were given.
Terry Labonte, driving for Junior Johnson & Associates, managed to win the pole, setting a time of 1:20.244 and an average speed of 117.541 miles per hour (189.164 km/h) in the first round.
Five drivers failed to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 1:20.244 | 117.541 |
| 2 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1:20.343 | 117.397 |
| 3 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1:20.391 | 117.327 |
| 4 | 15 | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 1:20.587 | 117.041 |
| 5 | 25 | Tim Richmond | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1:20.671 | 116.919 |
| 6 | 26 | Morgan Shepherd | King Racing | Buick | 1:20.775 | 116.769 |
| 7 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 1:20.859 | 116.647 |
| 8 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 1:20.968 | 116.490 |
| 9 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 1:21.046 | 116.378 |
| 10 | 21 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 1:21.324 | 115.978 |
| 11 | 35 | Benny Parsons | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1:21.334 | 115.966 |
| 12 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 1:21.414 | 115.852 |
| 13 | 22 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 1:21.555 | 115.652 |
| 14 | 75 | Neil Bonnett | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 1:21.770 | 115.348 |
| 15 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 1:22.034 | 114.977 |
| 16 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Chevrolet | 1:22.038 | 114.971 |
| 17 | 79 | Roy Smith | Razore Racing | Ford | 1:22.107 | 114.874 |
| 18 | 04 | Hershel McGriff | Gary Smith Racing | Pontiac | 1:22.384 | 114.488 |
| 19 | 90 | Ken Schrader | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 1:22.410 | 114.452 |
| 20 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 1:22.423 | 114.434 |
| Failed to lock in Round 1 |||||||
| 21 | 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 1:22.504 | 114.322 |
| 22 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 1:22.505 | 114.320 |
| 23 | 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 1:22.623 | 114.157 |
| 24 | 64 | Rick McCray | Langley Racing | Ford | 1:22.689 | 114.066 |
| 25 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 1:22.738 | 113.998 |
| 26 | 1 | Brett Bodine | Ellington Racing | Chevrolet | 1:23.013 | 113.621 |
| 27 | 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 1:23.096 | 113.507 |
| 28 | 12 | Jim Bown | Hamby Racing | Oldsmobile | 1:23.320 | 113.202 |
| 29 | 95 | Chad Little | George Jefferson Racing | Ford | 1:23.328 | 113.191 |
| 30 | 66 | John Krebs | Krebs Racing | Oldsmobile | 1:23.381 | 113.119 |
| 31 | 67 | Chet Fillip | Arrington Racing | Ford | 1:23.442 | 113.037 |
| 32 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 1:23.462 | 113.010 |
| 33 | 29 | George Follmer | Midgley Racing | Chevrolet | 1:23.546 | 112.896 |
| 34 | 73 | Bill Schmitt | Schmitt Racing | Chevrolet | 1:23.847 | 112.491 |
| 35 | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | 1:24.154 | 112.080 |
| 36 | 14 | Harry Goularte | Goularte Racing | Chevrolet | 1:24.158 | 112.075 |
| 37 | 51 | Jim Fitzgerald | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1:24.168 | 112.062 |
| 38 | 78 | Jim Robinson | Lois Williams Racing | Oldsmobile | 1:24.220 | 111.992 |
| 39 | 6 | Ron Esau | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | 1:24.319 | 111.861 |
| 40 | 32 | Ruben Garcia | Stoke Racing | Chevrolet | 1:24.460 | 111.674 |
| 41 | 18 | Dale Jarrett (R) | Freedlander Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1:24.917 | 111.073 |
| Failed to qualify (results unknown) |||||||
| 42 | 2 | St. James Davis | St. James Racing | Buick | -* | -* |
| 43 | 41 | Jack Sellers | Vincent Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 44 | 62 | Steve Christman (R) | Winkle Motorsports | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| 45 | 76 | Roman Calczynski | Spears Motorsports | Buick | -* | -* |
| 46 | 77 | Ray Kelly | Ray Kelly Racing | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| Official first round qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 5 | 25 | Tim Richmond | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 95 | 48 | running | 185 | $36,450 |
| 2 | 4 | 15 | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 95 | 5 | running | 175 | $28,450 |
| 3 | 14 | 75 | Neil Bonnett | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 95 | 0 | running | 165 | $17,005 |
| 4 | 1 | 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 95 | 28 | running | 165 | $19,125 |
| 5 | 9 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 95 | 0 | running | 155 | $13,850 |
| 6 | 15 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 95 | 0 | running | 150 | $7,795 |
| 7 | 8 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 95 | 0 | running | 146 | $13,500 |
| 8 | 13 | 22 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 95 | 0 | running | 142 | $9,650 |
| 9 | 21 | 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 95 | 0 | running | 138 | $8,625 |
| 10 | 19 | 90 | Ken Schrader | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 95 | 0 | running | 134 | $8,790 |
| 11 | 23 | 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 95 | 3 | running | 135 | $2,150 |
| 12 | 18 | 04 | Hershel McGriff | Gary Smith Racing | Pontiac | 94 | 0 | running | 127 | 5,005 |
| 13 | 22 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 94 | 0 | running | 124 | $9,450 |
| 14 | 27 | 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 94 | 0 | running | 121 | $1,850 |
| 15 | 29 | 95 | Chad Little | George Jefferson Racing | Ford | 94 | 0 | running | 118 | $4,035 |
| 16 | 20 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 93 | 0 | running | 115 | $6,125 |
| 17 | 37 | 51 | Jim Fitzgerald | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 93 | 0 | running | 112 | $1,675 |
| 18 | 41 | 18 | Dale Jarrett (R) | Freedlander Motorsports | Chevrolet | 93 | 0 | running | 109 | $5,765 |
| 19 | 40 | 32 | Ruben Garcia | Stoke Racing | Chevrolet | 92 | 0 | running | 106 | $2,755 |
| 20 | 36 | 14 | Harry Goularte | Goularte Racing | Chevrolet | 92 | 0 | running | 103 | $3,095 |
| 21 | 31 | 67 | Chet Fillip | Arrington Racing | Ford | 91 | 0 | running | 100 | $4,225 |
| 22 | 39 | 6 | Ron Esau | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | 90 | 0 | running | 0 | $4,165 |
| 23 | 32 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 90 | 0 | running | 94 | $4,080 |
| 24 | 10 | 21 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 90 | 0 | running | 91 | $8,300 |
| 25 | 12 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 89 | 0 | ignition | 88 | $4,085 |
| 26 | 24 | 64 | Rick McCray | Langley Racing | Ford | 88 | 0 | running | 85 | $3,200 |
| 27 | 2 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 86 | 11 | engine | 87 | $8,175 |
| 28 | 25 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 84 | 0 | running | 79 | $4,150 |
| 29 | 30 | 66 | John Krebs | Krebs Racing | Oldsmobile | 80 | 0 | engine | 76 | $1,125 |
| 30 | 3 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 77 | 0 | running | 73 | $1,100 |
| 31 | 28 | 12 | Jim Bown | Hamby Racing | Oldsmobile | 70 | 0 | engine | 70 | $3,050 |
| 32 | 16 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Chevrolet | 64 | 0 | engine | 67 | $3,025 |
| 33 | 34 | 73 | Bill Schmitt | Schmitt Racing | Chevrolet | 63 | 0 | engine | 64 | $1,000 |
| 34 | 11 | 35 | Benny Parsons | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 57 | 0 | transmission | 61 | $10,175 |
| 35 | 6 | 26 | Morgan Shepherd | King Racing | Buick | 44 | 0 | transmission | 58 | $2,900 |
| 36 | 38 | 78 | Jim Robinson | Lois Williams Racing | Oldsmobile | 39 | 0 | engine | 55 | $900 |
| 37 | 35 | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | 17 | 0 | oil leak | 52 | $900 |
| 38 | 26 | 1 | Brett Bodine | Ellington Racing | Chevrolet | 7 | 0 | oil pressure | 49 | $900 |
| 39 | 17 | 79 | Roy Smith | Razore Racing | Ford | 6 | 0 | clutch | 46 | $900 |
| 40 | 33 | 29 | George Follmer | Midgley Racing | Chevrolet | 5 | 0 | steering | 43 | $875 |
| 41 | 7 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 5 | 0 | engine | 40 | $8,875 |
| Failed to qualify (results unknown) |||||||||||
| 42 | | 2 | St. James Davis | St. James Racing | Buick | | | | | |
| 43 | | 41 | Jack Sellers | Vincent Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 44 | | 62 | Steve Christman (R) | Winkle Motorsports | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 45 | | 76 | Roman Calczynski | Spears Motorsports | Buick | | | | | |
| 46 | | 77 | Ray Kelly | Ray Kelly Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Dale Earnhardt | 2,129 |
| | 2 | Bill Elliott | 1,944 (-185) |
| | 3 | Neil Bonnett | 1,868 (-261) |
| 1 | 4 | Terry Labonte | 1,790 (–339) |
| 1 | 5 | Kyle Petty | 1,726 (–403) |
| 1 | 6 | Ricky Rudd | 1,704 (–425) |
| 2 | 7 | Richard Petty | 1,661 (–268) |
| 2 | 8 | Darrell Waltrip | 1,655 (–474) |
| 1 | 9 | Ken Schrader | 1,652 (–477) |
| 1 | 10 | Phil Parsons | 1,581 (–548) |
| Official driver's standings ||||