# 1986 First Union 400

The 1986 First Union 400 was the seventh stock car race of the 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 36th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, April 20, 1986, before an audience of 29,500 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina at the North Wilkesboro Speedway, a 0.625 miles (1.006 km) oval short track. The race took the scheduled 400 laps to complete.
By race's end, Richard Childress Racing's Dale Earnhardt was able to hold off a late-race charge by Bud Moore Engineering's Ricky Rudd, securing his 17th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his second victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Hendrick Motorsports' Geoff Bodine finished third.
The race was the first start for African-American driver Willy T. Ribbs, after previous failed attempts in the 1986 season. With the start, Ribbs became the sixth African-American driver to make a start in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the first African-American driver since George Wiltshire in 1975.

## Background

North Wilkesboro Speedway is a short oval racetrack located on U.S. Route 421, about five miles east of the town of North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, or 80 miles north of Charlotte. It measures 0.625 mi (1.006 km) and features a unique uphill backstretch and downhill frontstretch. It has previously held races in NASCAR's top three series, including 93 Winston Cup Series races. The track, a NASCAR original, operated from 1949, NASCAR's inception, until the track's original closure in 1996. The speedway briefly reopened in 2010 and hosted several stock car series races before closing again in the spring of 2011. It was re-opened in August 2022 for grassroots racing.

### 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 |
| 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Levi Garrett |
| 6 | Trevor Boys | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | Finky's |
| 7 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 7-Eleven |
| 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Chevrolet | Miller American |
| 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 | Hesco Exhaust Systems |
| 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 |
| 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 44 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Enterprises | Oldsmobile | Piedmont Airlines |
| 48 | Morgan Shepherd | Hylton Motorsports | Chevrolet | Hemmelgarn & Sons |
| 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | Jimmy Means Racing |
| 64 | Rick Baldwin | 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 |
| 85 | Bobby Gerhart | Bobby Gerhart Racing | Chevrolet | Bobby Gerhart Racing |
| 90 | Ken Schrader | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Red Baron Frozen Pizza |
| 94 | Eddie Bierschwale | Eller Racing | Pontiac | Kodak Film |
| 96 | Jerry Bowman | Jerry Bowman Racing | Ford | Jerry Bowman Racing |
| 98 | Ron Bouchard | Curb Racing | Pontiac | Valvoline |

## Qualifying

Qualifying was done over two rounds of qualifying over two days. The first round was held on Friday, April 18, at 3:00 PM EST, with each driver having one lap to set a time. In the first round, the first eight drivers in the round were guaranteed a starting spot within the top eight; however, their official starting positions were then determined by calculating the averages of their first round time and their second round time, with the second round being held on Saturday, April 19, at 3:00 PM EST, with all drivers having one lap to set a time in the round. Drivers who did not lock into the race in the first round had the option to scrub their time from the first round and try and run a faster lap time, with all non-locked in drivers setting positions 9-30 based on speed. Depending on if teams 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 an average time of 20.014 and average speed of 112.419 miles per hour (180.921 km/h) in his two runs.
Four drivers failed to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20.014 | 112.419 |
| 2 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 20.040 | 112.273 |
| 3 | 25 | Tim Richmond | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20.055 | 112.191 |
| 4 | 44 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Enterprises | Oldsmobile | 20.108 | 111.895 |
| 5 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 20.146 | 111.685 |
| 6 | 22 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 20.156 | 111.627 |
| 7 | 26 | Joe Ruttman | King Racing | Buick | 20.224 | 111.251 |
| 8 | 12 | Neil Bonnett | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 20.297 | 110.851 |
| Failed to lock in Round 1 |||||||
| 9 | 7 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 20.213 | 111.315 |
| 10 | 11 | Darrell Waltrip | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 20.224 | 111.254 |
| 11 | 90 | Ken Schrader | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 20.231 | 111.215 |
| 12 | 35 | Alan Kulwicki (R) | AK Racing | Ford | 20.249 | 111.117 |
| 13 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 20.251 | 111.106 |
| 14 | 15 | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 20.252 | 111.100 |
| 15 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 20.266 | 111.023 |
| 16 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 20.293 | 110.876 |
| 17 | 75 | Jody Ridley | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 20.328 | 110.685 |
| 18 | 98 | Ron Bouchard | Curb Racing | Pontiac | 20.354 | 110.511 |
| 19 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 20.371 | 110.451 |
| 20 | 17 | Doug Heveron | Hamby Racing | Oldsmobile | 20.384 | 110.381 |
| 21 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 20.390 | 110.348 |
| 22 | 48 | Morgan Shepherd | Hylton Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20.395 | 110.321 |
| 23 | 81 | Chet Fillip (R) | Fillip Racing | Ford | 20.446 | 110.046 |
| 24 | 23 | Michael Waltrip (R) | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 20.491 | 109.804 |
| 25 | 67 | Buddy Arrington | Arrington Racing | Ford | 20.526 | 109.617 |
| 26 | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | 20.567 | 109.399 |
| 27 | 6 | Trevor Boys | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | 20.611 | 109.165 |
| 28 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 20.638 | 109.022 |
| 29 | 30 | Willy T. Ribbs | DiGard Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20.639 | 109.017 |
| 30 | 64 | Rick Baldwin | Langley Racing | Ford | 20.739 | 108.491 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 31 | 85 | Bobby Gerhart | Bobby Gerhart Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 32 | 94 | Eddie Bierschwale | Eller Racing | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| 33 | 96 | Jerry Bowman | Jerry Bowman Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 34 | 01 | Earle Canavan | Canavan Racing | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| Official first round qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 5 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 400 | 195 | running | 185 | $38,550 |
| 2 | 14 | 15 | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 400 | 102 | running | 175 | $20,075 |
| 3 | 1 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 400 | 90 | running | 170 | $17,415 |
| 4 | 10 | 11 | Darrell Waltrip | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 400 | 0 | running | 160 | $13,750 |
| 5 | 7 | 26 | Joe Ruttman | King Racing | Buick | 400 | 0 | running | 155 | $4,415 |
| 6 | 6 | 22 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 400 | 0 | running | 150 | $6,865 |
| 7 | 16 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 400 | 1 | running | 151 | $10,360 |
| 8 | 9 | 7 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 400 | 0 | running | 142 | $7,815 |
| 9 | 13 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 400 | 0 | running | 138 | $9,710 |
| 10 | 15 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 399 | 0 | running | 134 | $8,410 |
| 11 | 8 | 12 | Neil Bonnett | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 399 | 0 | running | 130 | $8,640 |
| 12 | 3 | 25 | Tim Richmond | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 398 | 0 | running | 127 | $5,185 |
| 13 | 19 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 398 | 0 | running | 124 | $4,715 |
| 14 | 11 | 90 | Ken Schrader | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 398 | 0 | running | 121 | $5,450 |
| 15 | 17 | 75 | Jody Ridley | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 397 | 0 | running | 118 | $4,535 |
| 16 | 20 | 17 | Doug Heveron | Hamby Racing | Oldsmobile | 395 | 0 | running | 115 | $4,175 |
| 17 | 18 | 98 | Ron Bouchard | Curb Racing | Pontiac | 395 | 0 | running | 112 | $4,040 |
| 18 | 12 | 35 | Alan Kulwicki (R) | AK Racing | Ford | 395 | 0 | running | 109 | $1,655 |
| 19 | 22 | 48 | Morgan Shepherd | Hylton Motorsports | Chevrolet | 394 | 0 | running | 106 | $3,880 |
| 20 | 28 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 392 | 0 | running | 103 | $3,995 |
| 21 | 25 | 67 | Buddy Arrington | Arrington Racing | Ford | 390 | 0 | running | 100 | $3,515 |
| 22 | 29 | 30 | Willy T. Ribbs | DiGard Motorsports | Chevrolet | 387 | 0 | running | 97 | $1,010 |
| 23 | 23 | 81 | Chet Fillip (R) | Fillip Racing | Ford | 374 | 0 | running | 94 | $985 |
| 24 | 30 | 64 | Rick Baldwin | Langley Racing | Ford | 354 | 0 | running | 0 | $3,150 |
| 25 | 21 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 346 | 0 | accident | 88 | $3,215 |
| 26 | 24 | 23 | Michael Waltrip (R) | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 309 | 0 | engine | 85 | $910 |
| 27 | 4 | 44 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Enterprises | Oldsmobile | 256 | 1 | engine | 87 | $6,635 |
| 28 | 26 | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | 251 | 0 | accident | 79 | $3,030 |
| 29 | 2 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 131 | 11 | engine | 81 | $7,495 |
| 30 | 27 | 6 | Trevor Boys | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | 85 | 0 | accident | 73 | $2,335 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 31 | | 85 | Bobby Gerhart | Bobby Gerhart Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 32 | | 94 | Eddie Bierschwale | Eller Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 33 | | 96 | Jerry Bowman | Jerry Bowman Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 34 | | 01 | Earle Canavan | Canavan Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Darrell Waltrip | 1,160 |
| | 2 | Dale Earnhardt | 1,137 (-23) |
| | 3 | Rusty Wallace | 1,019 (-141) |
| 1 | 4 | Bill Elliott | 970 (–190) |
| 1 | 5 | Terry Labonte | 948 (–212) |
| | 6 | Kyle Petty | 927 (–233) |
| | 7 | Tim Richmond | 900 (–260) |
| | 8 | Harry Gant | 891 (–269) |
| 2 | 9 | Geoff Bodine | 883 (–277) |
| | 10 | Bobby Allison | 876 (–284) |
| Official driver's standings ||||