# 1987 Talladega 500

The 1987 Talladega 500 was the 17th stock car race of the 1987 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 19th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, July 26, 1987, before an audience of 105,000 in Lincoln, Alabama at Alabama International Motor Speedway, a 2.66 miles (4.28 km) permanent triangle-shaped superspeedway. The race took the scheduled 188 laps to complete.
By race's end, Melling Racing's Bill Elliott managed to fend off a late-race charge by Ranier-Lundy Racing's Davey Allison in the final laps of the race to take his 19th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his second victory of the season. To fill out the top three, the aforementioned Davey Allison and Richard Childress Racing's Dale Earnhardt finished second and third, respectively.

## Background

Talladega Superspeedway, originally known as Alabama International Motor Superspeedway (AIMS), is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base in the small city of Lincoln. The track is a tri-oval and was constructed in the 1960s by the International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France family. Talladega is most known for its steep banking and the unique location of the start/finish line that's located just past the exit to pit road. The track currently hosts the NASCAR series such as the NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series and the Camping World Truck Series. Talladega is the longest NASCAR oval, a 2.66-mile-long (4.28 km) tri-oval like the Daytona International Speedway, which also is a 2.5-mile-long (4.0 km) tri-oval.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 0 | Delma Cowart | H. L. Waters Racing | Chevrolet | Heyward Grooms Construction |
| 1 | Brett Bodine | Ellington Racing | Chevrolet | Bull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce |
| 01 | Dave Pletcher Sr. | Weaver Racing | Ford | Ernie Haire Ford |
| 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 | Connie Saylor | 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 | Jeff Swindell | Hamby Racing | Chevrolet | Hamby Racing |
| 14 | A. J. Foyt | A. J. Foyt Racing | Oldsmobile | Copenhagen |
| 15 | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | Motorcraft Quality Parts |
| 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Tide |
| 18 | Dale Jarrett (R) | Freedlander Motorsports | Chevrolet | Coats & Clark |
| 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 |
| 28 | Davey Allison (R) | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Ford | Texaco, Havoline |
| 29 | Cale Yarborough | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Hardee's |
| 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Chevrolet | All Pro Auto Parts |
| 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | Skoal Bandit |
| 35 | Benny Parsons | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Folgers Decaf |
| 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | Piedmont Airlines |
| 48 | Jerry Holden | Hylton Motorsports | Chevrolet | Hylton Motorsports |
| 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | Eureka |
| 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Skoal Classic |
| 62 | Steve Christman (R) | Winkle Motorsports | Pontiac | AC Spark Plug |
| 64 | Rodney Combs | Langley Racing | Ford | Sunny King Ford |
| 67 | Chet Fillip | 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 |
| 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, July 23, at 2:00 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, July 24, at 2:00 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.
Bill Elliott, driving for Melling Racing, managed to win the pole, setting a time of 46.981 and an average speed of 203.827 miles per hour (328.028 km/h) in the first round.
Connie Saylor was the only driver to fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 46.981 | 203.827 |
| 2 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 47.066 | 203.459 |
| 3 | 28 | Davey Allison (R) | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Ford | 47.154 | 203.079 |
| 4 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 47.295 | 202.474 |
| 5 | 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 47.304 | 202.435 |
| 6 | 26 | Morgan Shepherd | King Racing | Buick | 47.347 | 202.251 |
| 7 | 22 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 47.352 | 202.230 |
| 8 | 21 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 47.376 | 202.128 |
| 9 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 47.397 | 202.038 |
| 10 | 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 47.471 | 201.723 |
| 11 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 47.537 | 201.443 |
| 12 | 88 | Buddy Baker | Baker–Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | 47.647 | 200.978 |
| 13 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 47.770 | 200.461 |
| 14 | 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | 47.803 | 200.322 |
| 15 | 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 47.805 | 200.314 |
| 16 | 25 | Tim Richmond | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 47.888 | 199.967 |
| 17 | 75 | Neil Bonnett | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 48.022 | 199.409 |
| 18 | 14 | A. J. Foyt | A. J. Foyt Racing | Oldsmobile | 48.055 | 199.272 |
| 19 | 35 | Benny Parsons | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 48.055 | 199.272 |
| 20 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 48.069 | 199.214 |
| Failed to lock in Round 1 |||||||
| 21 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Chevrolet | 47.977 | 199.596 |
| 22 | 29 | Cale Yarborough | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 48.049 | 199.297 |
| 23 | 1 | Brett Bodine | Ellington Racing | Chevrolet | 48.088 | 199.135 |
| 24 | 01 | Dave Pletcher Sr. | Weaver Racing | Ford | 48.098 | 199.094 |
| 25 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 48.114 | 199.027 |
| 26 | 90 | Ken Schrader | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 48.121 | 198.998 |
| 27 | 15 | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 48.197 | 198.685 |
| 28 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 48.208 | 198.639 |
| 29 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 48.474 | 197.549 |
| 30 | 82 | Mark Stahl | Stahl Racing | Ford | 48.601 | 197.033 |
| 31 | 64 | Rodney Combs | Langley Racing | Ford | 48.689 | 196.677 |
| 32 | 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 48.796 | 196.246 |
| 33 | 12 | Jeff Swindell | Hamby Racing | Chevrolet | 49.206 | 194.610 |
| 34 | 67 | Chet Fillip | Arrington Racing | Ford | 49.288 | 194.287 |
| 35 | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | 49.302 | 194.231 |
| 36 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Chevrolet | 49.352 | 194.035 |
| 37 | 18 | Dale Jarrett (R) | Freedlander Motorsports | Chevrolet | 49.535 | 193.318 |
| 38 | 0 | Delma Cowart | H. L. Waters Racing | Chevrolet | 49.540 | 193.298 |
| 39 | 62 | Steve Christman (R) | Winkle Motorsports | Pontiac | 49.742 | 192.513 |
| 40 | 48 | Jerry Holden | Hylton Motorsports | Chevrolet | 49.748 | 192.490 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 41 | 6 | Connie Saylor | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | 49.860 | 192.058 |
| Official first round qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 1 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 188 | 72 | running | 180 | $70,920 |
| 2 | 3 | 28 | Davey Allison (R) | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Ford | 188 | 77 | running | 180 | $39,115 |
| 3 | 2 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 188 | 8 | running | 170 | $35,050 |
| 4 | 4 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 188 | 0 | running | 160 | $19,120 |
| 5 | 22 | 29 | Cale Yarborough | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 188 | 4 | running | 160 | $13,465 |
| 6 | 5 | 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 188 | 22 | running | 155 | $19,445 |
| 7 | 14 | 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | 188 | 0 | running | 146 | $8,845 |
| 8 | 9 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 188 | 1 | running | 147 | $14,645 |
| 9 | 8 | 21 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 188 | 1 | running | 143 | $12,695 |
| 10 | 12 | 88 | Buddy Baker | Baker–Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | 188 | 0 | running | 134 | $8,720 |
| 11 | 16 | 25 | Tim Richmond | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 188 | 0 | running | 130 | $5,065 |
| 12 | 7 | 22 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 188 | 0 | running | 127 | $11,795 |
| 13 | 11 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 187 | 0 | running | 124 | $11,575 |
| 14 | 10 | 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 187 | 0 | running | 121 | $9,900 |
| 15 | 27 | 15 | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 187 | 0 | running | 118 | $12,975 |
| 16 | 32 | 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 187 | 0 | running | 115 | $4,115 |
| 17 | 21 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Chevrolet | 186 | 0 | running | 112 | $8,930 |
| 18 | 26 | 90 | Ken Schrader | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 185 | 0 | running | 109 | $7,910 |
| 19 | 31 | 64 | Rodney Combs | Langley Racing | Ford | 184 | 0 | running | 106 | $7,690 |
| 20 | 34 | 67 | Chet Fillip | Arrington Racing | Ford | 184 | 0 | running | 103 | $7,965 |
| 21 | 37 | 18 | Dale Jarrett (R) | Freedlander Motorsports | Chevrolet | 183 | 0 | running | 100 | $7,210 |
| 22 | 25 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 183 | 2 | running | 102 | $6,865 |
| 23 | 13 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 180 | 0 | running | 94 | $7,445 |
| 24 | 38 | 0 | Delma Cowart | H. L. Waters Racing | Chevrolet | 180 | 0 | running | 0 | $3,130 |
| 25 | 35 | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | 177 | 0 | running | 88 | $3,120 |
| 26 | 39 | 62 | Steve Christman (R) | Winkle Motorsports | Pontiac | 176 | 0 | running | 85 | $2,955 |
| 27 | 24 | 01 | Dave Pletcher Sr. | Weaver Racing | Ford | 145 | 0 | crash | 82 | $2,895 |
| 28 | 40 | 48 | Jerry Holden | Hylton Motorsports | Chevrolet | 133 | 0 | engine | 79 | $2,850 |
| 29 | 15 | 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 132 | 0 | engine | 76 | $2,765 |
| 30 | 19 | 35 | Benny Parsons | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 131 | 0 | engine | 73 | $11,905 |
| 31 | 29 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 124 | 0 | engine | 70 | $5,690 |
| 32 | 17 | 75 | Neil Bonnett | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 116 | 0 | running | 67 | $6,110 |
| 33 | 30 | 82 | Mark Stahl | Stahl Racing | Ford | 115 | 0 | engine | 64 | $2,525 |
| 34 | 33 | 12 | Jeff Swindell | Hamby Racing | Chevrolet | 102 | 0 | fatigue | 61 | $5,230 |
| 35 | 18 | 14 | A. J. Foyt | A. J. Foyt Racing | Oldsmobile | 91 | 1 | handling | 63 | $2,505 |
| 36 | 36 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Chevrolet | 60 | 0 | engine | 55 | $5,120 |
| 37 | 28 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 47 | 0 | engine | 52 | $5,040 |
| 38 | 23 | 1 | Brett Bodine | Ellington Racing | Chevrolet | 32 | 0 | crash | 49 | $2,240 |
| 39 | 6 | 26 | Morgan Shepherd | King Racing | Buick | 10 | 0 | engine | 46 | $4,180 |
| 40 | 20 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 2 | 0 | engine | 43 | $9,115 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 41 | | 6 | Connie Saylor | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Dale Earnhardt | 2,824 |
| 1 | 2 | Bill Elliott | 2,394 (-430) |
| 1 | 3 | Terry Labonte | 2,318 (-506) |
| 2 | 4 | Neil Bonnett | 2,312 (–512) |
| | 5 | Kyle Petty | 2,254 (–570) |
| 1 | 6 | Darrell Waltrip | 2,232 (–592) |
| 1 | 7 | Ken Schrader | 2,198 (–626) |
| | 8 | Ricky Rudd | 2,154 (–670) |
| 1 | 9 | Rusty Wallace | 2,130 (–694) |
| 1 | 10 | Richard Petty | 2,067 (–757) |
| Official driver's standings ||||