# 1988 Valleydale Meats 500

The 1988 Valleydale Meats 500 was the sixth stock car race of the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 28th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, April 10, 1988, before an audience of 48,800, in Bristol, Tennessee, at Bristol International Raceway, a 0.533 miles (0.858 km) permanent oval-shaped racetrack.
With nine laps left in the race, race Melling Racing driver Bill Elliott would spin after contact with second-place driver, Hendrick Motorsports' Geoff Bodine. After racing back to the line, putting out the caution with eight laps left in the race, Elliott would manage to maintain second place. After the race proceeded to restart with four laps left in the race, Elliott would manage to mount a comeback, passing for the lead with three laps left in the race. Elliott would manage to defend Bodine for the victory, completing a spin-and-win late in the race. The victory was Elliott's 24th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his first victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Roush Racing driver Mark Martin and the aforementioned Geoff Bodine would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

The Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway, is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961. Despite its short length, Bristol is among the most popular tracks on the NASCAR schedule because of its distinct features, which include extraordinarily steep banking, an all concrete surface, two pit roads, and stadium-like seating. It has also been named one of the loudest NASCAR tracks.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 2 | Ernie Irvan (R) | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | Kroger |
| 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | GM Goodwrench |
| 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Kodak |
| 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Levi Garrett |
| 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | Stroh's Light |
| 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | Zerex |
| 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | Miller High Life |
| 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | Coors Light |
| 10 | Ken Bouchard (R) | Whitcomb Racing | Ford | Whitcomb Racing |
| 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | Budweiser |
| 12 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | Miller High Life |
| 15 | Brett Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | Crisco |
| 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Tide |
| 21 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Citgo |
| 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Folgers |
| 26 | Ricky Rudd | King Racing | Buick | Quaker State |
| 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | Kodiak |
| 28 | Davey Allison | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Ford | Texaco, Havoline |
| 29 | Dale Jarrett | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Hardee's |
| 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | Country Time |
| 31 | Brad Teague | Bob Clark Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Slender You Figure Salons |
| 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | Skoal Bandit |
| 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | Piedmont Airlines |
| 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Chevrolet | Eureka |
| 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Skoal, Crown Central Petroleum |
| 68 | Derrike Cope | Testa Racing | Ford | Purolator |
| 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Lifebuoy |
| 75 | Neil Bonnett | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | Valvoline |
| 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | Wynn's, Kmart |
| 88 | Buddy Baker | Baker–Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | Red Baron Frozen Pizza |
| 90 | Benny Parsons | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Bull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce |

## Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, April 8, at 4:45 pm EST. Each driver would have one lap to set a time. During the first round, the top 15 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, April 9, at 12:00 pm EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 16-30 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.
Rick Wilson, driving for Morgan–McClure Motorsports, would win the pole, setting a time of 16.323 and an average speed of 117.552 miles per hour (189.182 km/h) in the first round.
No drivers would fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 16.323 | 117.552 |
| 2 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 16.368 | 117.229 |
| 3 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 16.387 | 117.093 |
| 4 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 16.398 | 117.014 |
| 5 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 16.413 | 116.907 |
| 6 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 16.423 | 116.836 |
| 7 | 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 16.489 | 116.368 |
| 8 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 16.508 | 116.235 |
| 9 | 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 16.530 | 116.080 |
| 10 | 26 | Ricky Rudd | King Racing | Buick | 16.530 | 116.080 |
| 11 | 15 | Brett Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 16.599 | 115.597 |
| 12 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 16.605 | 115.556 |
| 13 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 16.608 | 115.535 |
| 14 | 21 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 16.625 | 115.417 |
| 15 | 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 16.626 | 115.410 |
| Failed to lock in Round 1 |||||||
| 16 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 16.627 | 115.403 |
| 17 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 16.638 | 115.326 |
| 18 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 16.657 | 115.195 |
| 19 | 28 | Davey Allison | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Ford | 16.673 | 115.084 |
| 20 | 31 | Brad Teague | Bob Clark Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 16.701 | 114.891 |
| 21 | 12 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 16.720 | 114.761 |
| 22 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 16.726 | 114.720 |
| 23 | 10 | Ken Bouchard (R) | Whitcomb Racing | Ford | 16.781 | 114.344 |
| 24 | 68 | Derrike Cope | Testa Racing | Ford | 16.784 | 114.323 |
| 25 | 29 | Dale Jarrett | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 16.788 | 114.296 |
| 26 | 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | 16.843 | 113.923 |
| 27 | 90 | Benny Parsons | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 16.856 | 113.835 |
| 28 | 2 | Ernie Irvan (R) | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | 16.861 | 113.801 |
| 29 | 75 | Neil Bonnett | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 16.890 | 113.606 |
| 30 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 17.031 | 112.665 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 31 | 88 | Buddy Baker | Baker–Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | 17.180 | 111.688 |
| 32 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | - | - |
| Official first round qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 13 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 500 | 116 | running | 180 | $45,750 |
| 2 | 5 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 500 | 0 | running | 170 | $21,250 |
| 3 | 3 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 74 | running | 170 | $17,425 |
| 4 | 16 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 499 | 0 | running | 160 | $14,370 |
| 5 | 21 | 12 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 498 | 0 | running | 155 | $12,625 |
| 6 | 17 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 497 | 0 | running | 150 | $9,800 |
| 7 | 14 | 21 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 495 | 0 | running | 146 | $9,300 |
| 8 | 15 | 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 495 | 0 | running | 142 | $6,700 |
| 9 | 18 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 493 | 48 | running | 143 | $6,250 |
| 10 | 6 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 493 | 0 | running | 134 | $9,600 |
| 11 | 29 | 75 | Neil Bonnett | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 490 | 0 | running | 130 | $8,250 |
| 12 | 22 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 486 | 0 | running | 127 | $5,550 |
| 13 | 27 | 90 | Benny Parsons | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 483 | 0 | running | 124 | $5,200 |
| 14 | 4 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 461 | 95 | running | 126 | $12,050 |
| 15 | 32 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 448 | 24 | running | 123 | $5,200 |
| 16 | 9 | 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 437 | 0 | running | 115 | $7,560 |
| 17 | 11 | 15 | Brett Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 430 | 0 | running | 112 | $9,120 |
| 18 | 12 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 421 | 121 | quit | 119 | $6,830 |
| 19 | 2 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 383 | 0 | running | 106 | $4,940 |
| 20 | 10 | 26 | Ricky Rudd | King Racing | Buick | 378 | 1 | crash | 108 | $4,800 |
| 21 | 23 | 10 | Ken Bouchard (R) | Whitcomb Racing | Ford | 361 | 0 | running | 100 | $2,360 |
| 22 | 7 | 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 360 | 0 | crash | 97 | $3,920 |
| 23 | 8 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 327 | 0 | running | 94 | $7,230 |
| 24 | 24 | 68 | Derrike Cope | Testa Racing | Ford | 298 | 0 | overheating | 91 | $3,790 |
| 25 | 1 | 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 291 | 21 | running | 93 | $4,775 |
| 26 | 28 | 2 | Ernie Irvan (R) | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | 284 | 0 | crash | 85 | $2,345 |
| 27 | 20 | 31 | Brad Teague | Bob Clark Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 265 | 0 | crash | 82 | $1,390 |
| 28 | 25 | 29 | Dale Jarrett | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 129 | 0 | oil pump | 79 | $1,360 |
| 29 | 19 | 28 | Davey Allison | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Ford | 91 | 0 | engine | 76 | $9,430 |
| 30 | 26 | 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | 81 | 0 | engine | 73 | $1,300 |
| 31 | 31 | 88 | Buddy Baker | Baker–Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | 77 | 0 | engine | 70 | $3,450 |
| 32 | 30 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 26 | 0 | crash | 67 | $3,400 |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Dale Earnhardt | 884 |
| 1 | 2 | Sterling Marlin | 877 (-8) |
| 1 | 3 | Neil Bonnett | 868 (-16) |
| 2 | 4 | Bill Elliott | 860 (–24) |
| 1 | 5 | Rusty Wallace | 846 (–38) |
| 1 | 6 | Bobby Allison | 840 (–44) |
| 2 | 7 | Terry Labonte | 752 (–132) |
| | 8 | Darrell Waltrip | 751 (–133) |
| 1 | 9 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | 751 (–133) |
| 2 | 10 | Ken Schrader | 749 (–135) |
| Official driver's standings ||||