# 1990 Miller Genuine Draft 400 (Richmond)

The 1990 Miller Genuine Draft 400 was the 22nd stock car race of the 1990 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 33rd iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, September 9, 1990, in Richmond, Virginia, at Richmond International Raceway, a 0.75 miles (1.21 km) D-shaped oval. The race took the scheduled 400 laps to complete. Gambling on fuel strategy, Richard Childress Racing driver Dale Earnhardt would manage to defend the field in a final three-lap restart to the finish to take his 47th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his eighth victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Roush Racing driver Mark Martin and Hendrick Motorsports driver Darrell Waltrip would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

Richmond International Raceway (RIR) is a 3/4-mile (1.2 km), D-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in Henrico County. It hosts the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series. Known as "America's premier short track", it formerly hosted a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, an IndyCar Series race, and two USAC sprint car races.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 1 | Terry Labonte | Precision Products Racing | Oldsmobile | Skoal |
| 01 | Mickey Gibbs | Gibbs Racing | Ford | Special Days Inn |
| 2 | D. K. Ulrich | U.S. Racing | Pontiac | U.S. Racing |
| 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | GM Goodwrench Service Plus |
| 4 | Ernie Irvan | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Kodak |
| 5 | Ricky Rudd | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Levi Garrett |
| 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | Folgers |
| 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | Zerex |
| 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | 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 |
| 13 | Kerry Teague | Linro Motorsports | Buick | Linro Motorsports |
| 15 | Morgan Shepherd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | Motorcraft |
| 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Tide |
| 18 | Greg Sacks | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | SlimFast |
| 19 | Chad Little | Little Racing | Ford | Bull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce |
| 20 | Rob Moroso (R) | Moroso Racing | Oldsmobile | Crown Central Petroleum |
| 21 | Dale Jarrett | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Citgo |
| 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kodiak |
| 26 | Brett Bodine | King Racing | Buick | Quaker State |
| 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | Miller Genuine Draft |
| 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Texaco, Havoline |
| 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | Country Time |
| 33 | Harry Gant | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Skoal Bandit |
| 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | Peak Antifreeze |
| 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | Alka-Seltzer |
| 56 | Ron Esau | Reno Enterprises | Chevrolet | Gear Vendor |
| 57 | Jimmy Spencer | Osterlund Racing | Pontiac | Heinz |
| 66 | Dick Trickle | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Pontiac | Phillips 66 TropArtic |
| 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | McDuffie Racing |
| 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Big Apple Market |
| 75 | Rick Wilson | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | Dinner Bell Foods |
| 90 | Charlie Glotzbach | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Commonwealth Heating Systems |
| 94 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | Sunoco |
| 98 | Butch Miller | Travis Carter Enterprises | Chevrolet | Banquet Foods |

## Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, September 7, 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 Saturday, September 8, at 11:00 AM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 21-34 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.
Ernie Irvan, driving for Morgan–McClure Motorsports, would win the pole, setting a time of 22.524 and an average speed of 119.872 miles per hour (192.915 km/h) in the first round. Two drivers would fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 4 | Ernie Irvan | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.524 | 119.872 |
| 2 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 22.548 | 119.745 |
| 3 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.577 | 119.591 |
| 4 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 22.590 | 119.522 |
| 5 | 66 | Dick Trickle | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Pontiac | 22.600 | 119.469 |
| 6 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 22.612 | 119.406 |
| 7 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 22.636 | 119.279 |
| 8 | 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 22.637 | 119.274 |
| 9 | 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | 22.689 | 119.000 |
| 10 | 11 | Geoff Bodine | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 22.728 | 118.796 |
| 11 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 22.735 | 118.760 |
| 12 | 1 | Terry Labonte | Precision Products Racing | Oldsmobile | 22.741 | 118.728 |
| 13 | 21 | Dale Jarrett | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 22.794 | 118.452 |
| 14 | 5 | Ricky Rudd | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.814 | 118.348 |
| 15 | 26 | Brett Bodine | King Racing | Buick | 22.817 | 118.333 |
| 16 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 22.839 | 118.219 |
| 17 | 94 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 22.853 | 118.146 |
| 18 | 15 | Morgan Shepherd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 22.871 | 118.053 |
| 19 | 75 | Rick Wilson | RahMoc Enterprises | Oldsmobile | 22.875 | 118.033 |
| 20 | 10 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Chevrolet | 22.900 | 117.904 |
| Failed to lock in Round 1 |||||||
| 21 | 19 | Chad Little | Little Racing | Ford | 22.925 | 117.775 |
| 22 | 33 | Harry Gant | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 22.948 | 117.657 |
| 23 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 22.993 | 117.427 |
| 24 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 23.019 | 117.294 |
| 25 | 57 | Jimmy Spencer | Osterlund Racing | Pontiac | 23.050 | 117.137 |
| 26 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 23.066 | 117.055 |
| 27 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.068 | 117.045 |
| 28 | 01 | Mickey Gibbs | Gibbs Racing | Ford | 23.093 | 116.919 |
| 29 | 18 | Greg Sacks | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.100 | 116.883 |
| 30 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 23.138 | 116.691 |
| 31 | 12 | Hut Stricklin | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Buick | 23.299 | 115.885 |
| 32 | 90 | Charlie Glotzbach | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 23.323 | 115.766 |
| 33 | 56 | Ron Esau | Reno Enterprises | Chevrolet | 23.379 | 115.488 |
| 34 | 98 | Butch Miller | Travis Carter Enterprises | Chevrolet | 23.395 | 115.409 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 35 | 20 | Rob Moroso (R) | Moroso Racing | Oldsmobile | 24.159 | 111.760 |
| 36 | 2 | D. K. Ulrich | U.S. Racing | Pontiac | - | - |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 37 | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| 38 | 13 | Kerry Teague | Linro Motorsports | Buick | -* | -* |
| Official first round qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 6 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 400 | 173 | running | 185 | $59,225 |
| 2 | 7 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 400 | 31 | running | 175 | $30,550 |
| 3 | 27 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 400 | 0 | running | 165 | $25,107 |
| 4 | 16 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 400 | 0 | running | 160 | $16,950 |
| 5 | 11 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 400 | 75 | running | 160 | $19,525 |
| 6 | 9 | 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | 400 | 0 | running | 150 | $11,875 |
| 7 | 5 | 66 | Dick Trickle | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Pontiac | 400 | 0 | running | 146 | $9,900 |
| 8 | 14 | 5 | Ricky Rudd | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 399 | 0 | running | 142 | $8,350 |
| 9 | 10 | 11 | Geoff Bodine | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 399 | 0 | running | 138 | $10,850 |
| 10 | 3 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 399 | 22 | running | 139 | $15,930 |
| 11 | 30 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 399 | 0 | running | 130 | $7,450 |
| 12 | 1 | 4 | Ernie Irvan | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 399 | 33 | running | 132 | $13,875 |
| 13 | 31 | 12 | Hut Stricklin | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Buick | 399 | 0 | running | 124 | $5,350 |
| 14 | 2 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 398 | 0 | running | 121 | $6,725 |
| 15 | 23 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 397 | 0 | running | 118 | $6,975 |
| 16 | 8 | 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 396 | 0 | running | 115 | $9,550 |
| 17 | 12 | 1 | Terry Labonte | Precision Products Racing | Oldsmobile | 396 | 0 | running | 112 | $6,100 |
| 18 | 24 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 396 | 0 | running | 109 | $4,450 |
| 19 | 34 | 98 | Butch Miller | Travis Carter Enterprises | Chevrolet | 395 | 0 | running | 106 | $4,225 |
| 20 | 19 | 75 | Rick Wilson | RahMoc Enterprises | Oldsmobile | 394 | 0 | running | 103 | $6,325 |
| 21 | 26 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 394 | 0 | running | 100 | $4,075 |
| 22 | 32 | 90 | Charlie Glotzbach | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 394 | 0 | running | 0 | $3,100 |
| 23 | 29 | 18 | Greg Sacks | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 384 | 0 | running | 94 | $3,075 |
| 24 | 17 | 94 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 383 | 0 | running | 91 | $5,225 |
| 25 | 33 | 56 | Ron Esau | Reno Enterprises | Chevrolet | 383 | 0 | running | 88 | $3,050 |
| 26 | 4 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 354 | 66 | running | 90 | $5,905 |
| 27 | 25 | 57 | Jimmy Spencer | Osterlund Racing | Pontiac | 318 | 0 | running | 82 | $5,055 |
| 28 | 35 | 20 | Rob Moroso (R) | Moroso Racing | Oldsmobile | 273 | 0 | accident | 79 | $4,225 |
| 29 | 13 | 21 | Dale Jarrett | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 272 | 0 | accident | 76 | $4,355 |
| 30 | 18 | 15 | Morgan Shepherd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 270 | 0 | engine | 73 | $5,100 |
| 31 | 15 | 26 | Brett Bodine | King Racing | Buick | 242 | 0 | accident | 70 | $4,310 |
| 32 | 21 | 19 | Chad Little | Little Racing | Ford | 239 | 0 | accident | 67 | $3,480 |
| 33 | 36 | 2 | D. K. Ulrich | U.S. Racing | Pontiac | 185 | 0 | engine | 64 | $4,265 |
| 34 | 28 | 01 | Mickey Gibbs | Gibbs Racing | Ford | 160 | 0 | accident | 61 | $2,805 |
| 35 | 20 | 10 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Chevrolet | 120 | 0 | engine | 58 | $7,355 |
| 36 | 22 | 33 | Harry Gant | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 12 | 0 | engine | 55 | $8,855 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 37 | | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 38 | | 13 | Kerry Teague | Linro Motorsports | Buick | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Mark Martin | 3,344 |
| | 2 | Dale Earnhardt | 3,328 (-16) |
| | 3 | Geoff Bodine | 3,120 (-224) |
| | 4 | Rusty Wallace | 2,952 (–392) |
| | 5 | Bill Elliott | 2,921 (–423) |
| 1 | 6 | Ricky Rudd | 2,837 (–507) |
| 1 | 7 | Morgan Shepherd | 2,768 (–576) |
| | 8 | Kyle Petty | 2,734 (–610) |
| 1 | 9 | Ken Schrader | 2,719 (–625) |
| 1 | 10 | Ernie Irvan | 2,673 (–671) |
| Official driver's standings ||||