# 1991 Pyroil 500

The 1991 Pyroil 500 was the 28th and penultimate stock car race of the 1991 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season, the ninth and the final race of the 1991 NASCAR Winston West Series season, and the fourth iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, November 3, 1991, in Avondale, Arizona at Phoenix International Raceway, a 1-mile (1.6 km) permanent low-banked tri-oval race track. The race took the scheduled 312 laps to complete. At race's end, Robert Yates Racing driver Davey Allison would manage to dominate the late stages of the race, leading 162 of the final 166 laps of the race to take his 13th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his fifth and final victory of the season. To fill out the top three, owner-driver Darrell Waltrip and Junior Johnson & Associates driver Sterling Marlin would finish second and third, respectively.
In the driver's championship for the 1991 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, Richard Childress Racing driver Dale Earnhardt was considered the extremely heavy favorite to win the championship, only needing to start the next race, the 1991 Hardee's 500, to win the championship.

## Background

Phoenix International Raceway – also known as PIR – is a one-mile, low-banked tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona. It is named after the nearby metropolitan area of Phoenix. The motorsport track opened in 1964 and currently hosts two NASCAR race weekends annually. PIR has also hosted the IndyCar Series, CART, USAC and the Rolex Sports Car Series. The raceway is currently owned and operated by International Speedway Corporation.
The raceway was originally constructed with a 2.5 mi (4.0 km) road course that ran both inside and outside of the main tri-oval. In 1991 the track was reconfigured with the current 1.51 mi (2.43 km) interior layout. PIR has an estimated grandstand seating capacity of around 67,000. Lights were installed around the track in 2004 following the addition of a second annual NASCAR race weekend.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 00 | Scott Gaylord | Oliver Racing | Oldsmobile | Oliver Gravity Separators |
| 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Oldsmobile | Skoal |
| 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Pontiac | Miller Genuine Draft |
| 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | GM Goodwrench Service Plus |
| 4 | Ernie Irvan | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kodak |
| 04 | Hershel McGriff | Lipseia Racing | Pontiac | U.S. Bank |
| 5 | Ricky Rudd | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Tide |
| 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | Folgers |
| 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | Hooters |
| 8 | Rick Wilson | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | Snickers |
| 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | Coors Light |
| 09 | R. K. Smith | Midgley Racing | Pontiac | Midgley Racing |
| 10 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Chevrolet | Purolator Filters |
| 11 | Geoff Bodine | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | Budweiser |
| 12 | Hut Stricklin | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Buick | Raybestos |
| 14 | Mike Chase | A. J. Foyt Racing | Chevrolet | Copenhagen, Freymiller Trucking |
| 15 | Morgan Shepherd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | Motorcraft |
| 15W | Rick Scribner | Scribner Racing | Chevrolet | All-Pro Auto Parts |
| 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | Western Auto |
| 19 | Chad Little | Little Racing | Ford | Ford "Proud Sponsor of Team USA" |
| 21 | Dale Jarrett | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Citgo |
| 22 | Sterling Marlin | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | Maxwell House |
| 22W | St. James Davis | St. James Racing | Buick | St. James Racing |
| 23 | Butch Gilliland | Gilliland Racing | Pontiac | Gear Engineering |
| 24 | Kenny Wallace | Team III Racing | Pontiac | Team III Racing |
| 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kodiak |
| 26 | Brett Bodine | King Racing | Buick | Quaker State |
| 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Texaco, Havoline |
| 29 | Gary Collins | Collins Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Justin Boots |
| 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | Pennzoil |
| 33 | Harry Gant | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Skoal Bandit |
| 37 | Rick Carelli | Chesrown Racing | Chevrolet | Chesrown Automotive Group |
| 41 | Larry Pearson | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kellogg's Frosted Flakes |
| 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | Mello Yello |
| 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 44 | Irv Hoerr | Labonte Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Labonte Motorsports |
| 44W | Jack Sellers | Emerson Racing | Buick | Coca-Cola |
| 49 | Stanley Smith (R) | BS&S Motorsports | Buick | Interstate Batteries |
| 51 | Jeff Purvis (R) | Phoenix Racing | Chevrolet | Phoenix Racing |
| 52 | Mike Wallace | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | Alka-Seltzer |
| 55 | Ted Musgrave (R) | U.S. Racing | Pontiac | Jasper Engines & Transmissions |
| 58 | Wayne Jacks | Jacks Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Kell's Auto |
| 66 | Randy LaJoie | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Pontiac | Phillips 66 TropArtic |
| 68 | Bobby Hamilton (R) | TriStar Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Country Time |
| 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Big Apple Market |
| 72 | Mark Reed | Reed Racing | Chevrolet | Texaco, Havoline |
| 73 | Bill Schmitt | Schmitt Racing | Ford | Motorcraft |
| 75 | Joe Ruttman | RahMoc Enterprises | Oldsmobile | Dinner Bell Foods |
| 76 | Bill Sedgwick | Spears Motorsports | Chevrolet | Spears Manufacturing |
| 86 | Ron Hornaday Jr. | Benison Racing | Chevrolet | National Cold Storage |
| 89 | Jim Sauter | Mueller Brothers Racing | Pontiac | Evinrude Outboard Motors |
| 91 | Robert Sprague | Rouse Racing | Ford | Area Glass & Mirror |
| 93 | Troy Beebe | Beebe Racing | Buick | Taco Bell |
| 94 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | Sunoco |
| 97 | Billy Jac Shaw | Beebe Racing | Buick | Taco Bell |
| 98 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Chevrolet | Banquet Foods |
| 99 | John Krebs | KC Racing | Pontiac | Skoal |

## Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, November 1, at 5:30 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, November 2, at 2:00 PM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 21-40 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; which was one for cars in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series and two extra provisionals for the NASCAR Winston West Series. If needed, a past champion who did not qualify on either time or provisionals could use a champion's provisional, adding one more spot to the field.
Geoff Bodine, driving for Junior Johnson & Associates, would win the pole, setting a time of 28.220 and an average speed of 127.569 miles per hour (205.302 km/h) in the first round.
14 drivers would fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 11 | Geoff Bodine | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 28.220 | 127.569 |
| 2 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 28.227 | 127.537 |
| 3 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 28.255 | 127.411 |
| 4 | 33 | Harry Gant | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 28.269 | 127.348 |
| 5 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 28.273 | 127.330 |
| 6 | 10 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Chevrolet | 28.294 | 127.235 |
| 7 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 28.328 | 127.083 |
| 8 | 26 | Brett Bodine | King Racing | Buick | 28.338 | 127.038 |
| 9 | 22 | Sterling Marlin | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 28.394 | 126.787 |
| 10 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Pontiac | 28.429 | 126.631 |
| 11 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 28.442 | 126.573 |
| 12 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 28.460 | 126.493 |
| 13 | 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 28.514 | 126.254 |
| 14 | 5 | Ricky Rudd | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 28.535 | 126.161 |
| 15 | 4 | Ernie Irvan | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 28.548 | 126.103 |
| 16 | 12 | Hut Stricklin | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Buick | 28.583 | 125.949 |
| 17 | 21 | Dale Jarrett | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 28.632 | 125.733 |
| 18 | 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | 28.713 | 125.379 |
| 19 | 15 | Morgan Shepherd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 28.722 | 125.339 |
| 20 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 28.730 | 125.305 |
| Failed to lock in Round 1 |||||||
| 21 | 55 | Ted Musgrave (R) | U.S. Racing | Pontiac | 28.733 | 125.291 |
| 22 | 8 | Rick Wilson | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 28.754 | 125.200 |
| 23 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 28.759 | 125.178 |
| 24 | 76 | Bill Sedgwick | Spears Motorsports | Chevrolet | 28.770 | 125.130 |
| 25 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Oldsmobile | 28.792 | 125.035 |
| 26 | 98 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Chevrolet | 28.801 | 124.996 |
| 27 | 75 | Joe Ruttman | RahMoc Enterprises | Oldsmobile | 28.802 | 124.991 |
| 28 | 19 | Chad Little | Little Racing | Ford | 28.803 | 124.987 |
| 29 | 66 | Randy LaJoie | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Pontiac | 28.817 | 124.926 |
| 30 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 28.877 | 124.667 |
| 31 | 41 | Larry Pearson | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 28.877 | 124.667 |
| 32 | 14 | Mike Chase | A. J. Foyt Racing | Chevrolet | 28.891 | 124.606 |
| 33 | 49 | Stanley Smith (R) | BS&S Motorsports | Buick | 28.916 | 124.499 |
| 34 | 51 | Jeff Purvis (R) | Phoenix Racing | Chevrolet | 28.922 | 124.473 |
| 35 | 94 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 28.951 | 124.348 |
| 36 | 72 | Mark Reed | Reed Racing | Chevrolet | 28.963 | 124.297 |
| 37 | 29 | Gary Collins | Collins Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 28.982 | 124.215 |
| 38 | 52 | Mike Wallace | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 29.043 | 123.954 |
| 39 | 73 | Bill Schmitt | Schmitt Racing | Ford | 29.099 | 123.716 |
| 40 | 68 | Bobby Hamilton (R) | TriStar Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 29.122 | 123.618 |
| Winston Cup provisional |||||||
| 41 | 24 | Kenny Wallace | Team III Racing | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| Winston West provisionals |||||||
| 42 | 23 | Butch Gilliland | Gilliland Racing | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| 43 | 04 | Hershel McGriff | Lipseia Racing | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 44 | 22W | St. James Davis | St. James Racing | Buick | -* | -* |
| 45 | 89 | Jim Sauter | Mueller Brothers Racing | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| 46 | 99 | John Krebs | KC Racing | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| 47 | 37 | Rick Carelli | Chesrown Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 48 | 58 | Wayne Jacks | Jacks Motorsports | Oldsmobile | -* | -* |
| 49 | 86 | Ron Hornaday Jr. | Benison Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 50 | 44W | Jack Sellers | Emerson Racing | Buick | -* | -* |
| 51 | 15W | Rick Scribner | Scribner Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 52 | 00 | Scott Gaylord | Oliver Racing | Oldsmobile | -* | -* |
| 53 | 97 | Billy Jac Shaw | Beebe Racing | Buick | -* | -* |
| 54 | 91 | Robert Sprague | Rouse Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 55 | 93 | Troy Beebe | Beebe Racing | Buick | -* | -* |
| 56 | 44 | Irv Hoerr | Labonte Motorsports | Oldsmobile | -* | -* |
| 57 | 09 | R. K. Smith | Midgley Racing | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| Official first round qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 13 | 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 312 | 162 | running | 185 | $78,500 |
| 2 | 11 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 312 | 25 | running | 175 | $37,225 |
| 3 | 9 | 22 | Sterling Marlin | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 312 | 0 | running | 170 | $25,000 |
| 4 | 5 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 312 | 1 | running | 165 | $22,600 |
| 5 | 10 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Pontiac | 312 | 0 | running | 155 | $16,475 |
| 6 | 15 | 4 | Ernie Irvan | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 312 | 2 | running | 155 | $18,100 |
| 7 | 26 | 98 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Chevrolet | 311 | 4 | running | 151 | $12,850 |
| 8 | 1 | 11 | Geoff Bodine | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 311 | 53 | running | 147 | $19,050 |
| 9 | 12 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 311 | 0 | running | 138 | $18,200 |
| 10 | 19 | 15 | Morgan Shepherd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 311 | 0 | running | 134 | $16,750 |
| 11 | 14 | 5 | Ricky Rudd | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 311 | 0 | running | 130 | $13,250 |
| 12 | 35 | 94 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 311 | 0 | running | 127 | $9,750 |
| 13 | 40 | 68 | Bobby Hamilton (R) | TriStar Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 311 | 1 | running | 129 | $8,100 |
| 14 | 8 | 26 | Brett Bodine | King Racing | Buick | 311 | 1 | running | 126 | $9,050 |
| 15 | 22 | 8 | Rick Wilson | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 311 | 10 | running | 118 | $9,000 |
| 16 | 6 | 10 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Chevrolet | 311 | 0 | running | 115 | $12,950 |
| 17 | 7 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 310 | 0 | running | 112 | $7,750 |
| 18 | 21 | 55 | Ted Musgrave (R) | U.S. Racing | Pontiac | 310 | 0 | running | 109 | $5,700 |
| 19 | 3 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 310 | 20 | running | 111 | $13,550 |
| 20 | 18 | 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | 309 | 2 | running | 108 | $12,225 |
| 21 | 24 | 76 | Bill Sedgwick | Spears Motorsports | Chevrolet | 308 | 0 | running | 100 | $5,050 |
| 22 | 27 | 75 | Joe Ruttman | RahMoc Enterprises | Oldsmobile | 308 | 0 | running | 97 | $6,925 |
| 23 | 4 | 33 | Harry Gant | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 307 | 0 | running | 94 | $7,050 |
| 24 | 30 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 307 | 0 | running | 91 | $6,725 |
| 25 | 2 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 307 | 0 | running | 88 | $12,450 |
| 26 | 32 | 14 | Mike Chase | A. J. Foyt Racing | Chevrolet | 305 | 0 | running | 85 | $3,825 |
| 27 | 43 | 04 | Hershel McGriff | Lipseia Racing | Pontiac | 300 | 0 | running | 82 | $3,800 |
| 28 | 25 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Oldsmobile | 299 | 0 | running | 79 | $6,525 |
| 29 | 42 | 23 | Butch Gilliland | Gilliland Racing | Pontiac | 299 | 0 | running | 76 | $3,750 |
| 30 | 28 | 19 | Chad Little | Little Racing | Ford | 298 | 0 | running | 73 | $4,925 |
| 31 | 38 | 52 | Mike Wallace | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 246 | 0 | running | 70 | $3,700 |
| 32 | 29 | 66 | Randy LaJoie | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Pontiac | 203 | 0 | engine | 67 | $6,100 |
| 33 | 31 | 41 | Larry Pearson | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 178 | 0 | accident | 64 | $3,400 |
| 34 | 36 | 72 | Mark Reed | Reed Racing | Chevrolet | 177 | 0 | valve | 61 | $3,375 |
| 35 | 17 | 21 | Dale Jarrett | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 151 | 19 | engine | 63 | $6,000 |
| 36 | 33 | 49 | Stanley Smith (R) | BS&S Motorsports | Buick | 150 | 12 | accident | 60 | $3,325 |
| 37 | 39 | 73 | Bill Schmitt | Schmitt Racing | Ford | 136 | 0 | accident | 52 | $3,305 |
| 38 | 34 | 51 | Jeff Purvis (R) | Phoenix Racing | Chevrolet | 127 | 0 | engine | 49 | $3,295 |
| 39 | 16 | 12 | Hut Stricklin | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Buick | 105 | 0 | accident | 46 | $5,910 |
| 40 | 23 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 91 | 0 | a-frame | 43 | $5,850 |
| 41 | 20 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 89 | 0 | accident | 40 | $3,250 |
| 42 | 37 | 29 | Gary Collins | Collins Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 61 | 0 | accident | 37 | $3,250 |
| 43 | 41 | 24 | Kenny Wallace | Team III Racing | Pontiac | 1 | 0 | steering | 34 | $3,000 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 44 | | 22W | St. James Davis | St. James Racing | Buick | | | | | |
| 45 | | 89 | Jim Sauter | Mueller Brothers Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 46 | | 99 | John Krebs | KC Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 47 | | 37 | Rick Carelli | Chesrown Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 48 | | 58 | Wayne Jacks | Jacks Motorsports | Oldsmobile | | | | | |
| 49 | | 86 | Ron Hornaday Jr. | Benison Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 50 | | 44W | Jack Sellers | Emerson Racing | Buick | | | | | |
| 51 | | 15W | Rick Scribner | Scribner Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 52 | | 00 | Scott Gaylord | Oliver Racing | Oldsmobile | | | | | |
| 53 | | 97 | Billy Jac Shaw | Beebe Racing | Buick | | | | | |
| 54 | | 91 | Robert Sprague | Rouse Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 55 | | 93 | Troy Beebe | Beebe Racing | Buick | | | | | |
| 56 | | 44 | Irv Hoerr | Labonte Motorsports | Oldsmobile | | | | | |
| 57 | | 09 | R. K. Smith | Midgley Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Dale Earnhardt | 4,127 |
| 1 | 2 | Davey Allison | 3,971 (-156) |
| 1 | 3 | Ricky Rudd | 3,962 (-165) |
| | 4 | Harry Gant | 3,820 (–307) |
| 1 | 5 | Ernie Irvan | 3,750 (–377) |
| 1 | 6 | Mark Martin | 3,729 (–398) |
| 1 | 7 | Sterling Marlin | 3,693 (–434) |
| 1 | 8 | Ken Schrader | 3,638 (–489) |
| | 9 | Darrell Waltrip | 3,572 (–555) |
| | 10 | Rusty Wallace | 3,521 (–606) |
| Official driver's standings ||||