# 1988 Pontiac Excitement 400

The 1988 Pontiac Excitement 400 was the second stock car race of the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 34th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, February 21, 1988, in Richmond, Virginia, at Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway, a 0.542 miles (0.872 km) D-shaped oval. The race took the scheduled 400 laps to complete. Coming back from a two lap deficit, RahMoc Enterprises driver Neil Bonnett would manage to pass for the lead on the final restart with 48 laps left in the race, coming back with the help of a long green flag stint to gain his first lap back, and a period of back-to-back cautions to regain his second lap. Bonnett would manage to lead the final 48 laps to take his 17th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his first victory of the season.
The victory was disputed by second place finisher, Ricky Rudd, and his team, King Racing. In an appeal filed by King Racing, the team stated that the three of Rudd, Richard Petty, and Darrell Waltrip all believed that Neil Bonnett had an accidental lap added to his total, with all three insisting that Bonnett had run no more than 399 laps of the race. In an investigation done by NASCAR and their chief scorer, Morris Metcalfe, they maintained the validity of Bonnett's victory on February 23. Metcalfe firmly stated that he believed Bonnett had earned his laps back, stating in the Winston-Salem Journal that "We had everything under control the whole way, and we never had any doubt about who was leading, or who'd gotten lapped, or how Neil Bonnett got his laps back."
The race was the final race using the former 0.542 miles (0.872 km) layout that Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway had been using at the time. The old track, one that was seen as an aging track and a track with few amenities, was being torn down in favor of a new, 0.75 miles (1.21 km) long D-shaped oval named Richmond International Raceway that would be built near the now-former location of Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway. The track was meant to be a more modern and expanded version of Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway, with more amenities and seats being added.
The race was the first victory that featured a car using the Hoosier Racing Tire brand, who had entered NASCAR in 1988 as a direct competitor towards the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, who prior to the 1988 season, had a monopoly on tires used in NASCAR since the 1971 season. The victory was not viewed as a major victory for Hoosier Racing Tire, with Bonnett not showing a commitment towards using the brand for the entirety of the 1988 season. Bonnett would state that "We came here and tried the Hoosiers, and we found them to be the best tire for this track... we're going to run the best tire available at each track. Who knows? We might not run another race this year on Hoosier tires."

## 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 |
| 2 | Ernie Irvan (R) | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | Kroger |
| 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | GM Goodwrench |
| 03 | Dave Pletcher Sr. | Weaver Racing | Ford | Wild Turkey Music |
| 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 |
| 07 | Larry Moyer | Stark Racing | Pontiac | Just Say No! |
| 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 |
| 22 | Lennie Pond | Hamby Racing | Chevrolet | Hamby Racing |
| 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 |
| 46 | Glenn Moffat | Moffat Racing | Chevrolet | Moffat Racing |
| 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Chevrolet | Eureka |
| 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Skoal, Crown Central Petroleum |
| 67 | Buddy Arrington | Arrington Racing | Ford | Pannill Sweatshirts |
| 68 | Derrike Cope | Testa Racing | Ford | Purolator |
| 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Lifebuoy |
| 75 | Neil Bonnett | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | Valvoline |
| 76 | Graham Taylor | Betty Taylor Racing | Ford | Car-Mate Trailers |
| 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 |
| 97 | Morgan Shepherd | Winkle Motorsports | Buick | AC Spark Plug |
| 98 | Ed Pimm | Curb Racing | Pontiac | Sunoco |

## Qualifying

Qualifying was originally scheduled to be split into two rounds. The first round was scheduled to be held on Friday, February 19, at 3:00 PM EST. Originally, the first 20 positions were going to be determined by first round qualifying, with positions 21-30 meant to be determined the following day on Saturday, February 20. However, due to rain, the first round was cancelled. As a result, qualifying was condensed into one round for all starting grid spots in the race, which was run on Saturday. 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.
Morgan Shepherd, driving for Winkle Motorsports, would win the pole, setting a time of 20.616 and an average speed of 94.645 miles per hour (152.316 km/h) in the first round.
Eight drivers would fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 97 | Morgan Shepherd | Winkle Motorsports | Buick | 20.616 | 94.645 |
| 2 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 20.659 | 94.448 |
| 3 | 75 | Neil Bonnett | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 20.689 | 94.311 |
| 4 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 20.689 | 94.311 |
| 5 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 20.691 | 94.302 |
| 6 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 20.723 | 94.156 |
| 7 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 20.724 | 94.152 |
| 8 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20.729 | 94.129 |
| 9 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 20.731 | 94.120 |
| 10 | 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 20.737 | 94.093 |
| 11 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20.780 | 93.898 |
| 12 | 90 | Benny Parsons | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 20.781 | 93.893 |
| 13 | 10 | Ken Bouchard (R) | Whitcomb Racing | Ford | 20.782 | 93.889 |
| 14 | 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 20.794 | 93.835 |
| 15 | 28 | Davey Allison | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Ford | 20.804 | 93.790 |
| 16 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 20.858 | 93.547 |
| 17 | 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 20.860 | 93.538 |
| 18 | 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | 20.871 | 93.489 |
| 19 | 15 | Brett Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 20.879 | 93.453 |
| 20 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 20.887 | 93.417 |
| 21 | 68 | Derrike Cope | Testa Racing | Ford | 20.887 | 93.417 |
| 22 | 26 | Ricky Rudd | King Racing | Buick | 20.902 | 93.350 |
| 23 | 31 | Brad Teague | Bob Clark Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 20.904 | 93.341 |
| 24 | 21 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 20.943 | 93.167 |
| 25 | 12 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 20.981 | 92.998 |
| 26 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 21.000 | 92.914 |
| 27 | 88 | Buddy Baker | Baker–Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | 21.002 | 92.905 |
| 28 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 21.028 | 92.791 |
| 29 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Chevrolet | 21.060 | 92.650 |
| 30 | 67 | Buddy Arrington | Arrington Racing | Ford | 21.104 | 92.456 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 31 | 22 | Lennie Pond | Hamby Racing | Chevrolet | 21.169 | 92.173 |
| 32 | 29 | Dale Jarrett | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 21.116 | 92.404 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 33 | 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | -* | -* |
| 34 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 21.228 | 91.916 |
| 35 | 2 | Ernie Irvan (R) | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 36 | 98 | Ed Pimm | Curb Racing | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| 37 | 03 | Dave Pletcher Sr. | Weaver Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 38 | 76 | Graham Taylor | Betty Taylor Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 39 | 07 | Larry Moyer | Stark Racing | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| 40 | 46 | Glenn Moffat | Moffat Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| Official first round qualifying results |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 3 | 75 | Neil Bonnett | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 400 | 141 | running | 180 | $45,900 |
| 2 | 22 | 26 | Ricky Rudd | King Racing | Buick | 400 | 0 | running | 170 | $25,660 |
| 3 | 9 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 400 | 0 | running | 165 | $16,975 |
| 4 | 11 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 400 | 39 | running | 165 | $14,185 |
| 5 | 14 | 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 400 | 0 | running | 155 | $12,315 |
| 6 | 18 | 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | 400 | 67 | running | 155 | $5,290 |
| 7 | 4 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 400 | 0 | running | 146 | $11,790 |
| 8 | 20 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 399 | 0 | running | 142 | $6,550 |
| 9 | 10 | 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 399 | 1 | running | 143 | $9,320 |
| 10 | 2 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 399 | 151 | running | 144 | $16,245 |
| 11 | 25 | 12 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 399 | 0 | running | 130 | $8,795 |
| 12 | 16 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 399 | 0 | running | 127 | $10,595 |
| 13 | 8 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 398 | 0 | running | 124 | $5,305 |
| 14 | 12 | 90 | Benny Parsons | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 398 | 0 | running | 121 | $5,125 |
| 15 | 27 | 88 | Buddy Baker | Baker–Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | 398 | 0 | running | 118 | $5,505 |
| 16 | 1 | 97 | Morgan Shepherd | Winkle Motorsports | Buick | 398 | 1 | running | 120 | $8,025 |
| 17 | 28 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 397 | 0 | running | 112 | $4,450 |
| 18 | 24 | 21 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 397 | 0 | running | 109 | $8,075 |
| 19 | 23 | 31 | Brad Teague | Bob Clark Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 395 | 0 | running | 106 | $1,835 |
| 20 | 30 | 67 | Ken Schrader | Arrington Racing | Ford | 395 | 0 | running | 103 | $4,610 |
| 21 | 5 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 393 | 0 | crank | 100 | $4,045 |
| 22 | 31 | 22 | Lennie Pond | Hamby Racing | Chevrolet | 383 | 0 | running | 0 | $2,375 |
| 23 | 13 | 10 | Ken Bouchard (R) | Whitcomb Racing | Ford | 380 | 0 | running | 94 | $2,365 |
| 24 | 29 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Chevrolet | 374 | 0 | running | 91 | $3,755 |
| 25 | 7 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 364 | 0 | running | 88 | $1,645 |
| 26 | 32 | 29 | Dale Jarrett | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 337 | 0 | crash | 85 | $1,510 |
| 27 | 19 | 15 | Brett Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 325 | 0 | running | 82 | $9,275 |
| 28 | 6 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 289 | 0 | crash | 79 | $4,430 |
| 29 | 15 | 28 | Davey Allison | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Ford | 276 | 0 | running | 76 | $10,055 |
| 30 | 17 | 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 225 | 0 | running | 73 | $3,420 |
| 31 | 26 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 110 | 0 | engine | 70 | $2,820 |
| 32 | 21 | 68 | Derrike Cope | Testa Racing | Ford | 47 | 0 | crash | 67 | $2,820 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 33 | | 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | | | | | |
| 34 | | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 35 | | 2 | Ernie Irvan (R) | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 36 | | 98 | Ed Pimm | Curb Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 37 | | 03 | Dave Pletcher Sr. | Weaver Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 38 | | 76 | Graham Taylor | Betty Taylor Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 39 | | 07 | Larry Moyer | Stark Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 40 | | 46 | Glenn Moffat | Moffat Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| 3 | 1 | Neil Bonnett | 345 |
| 1 | 2 | Bobby Allison | 315 (-30) |
| 2 | 3 | Terry Labonte | 303 (-42) |
| 4 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | 302 (–43) |
| 6 | 5 | Darrell Waltrip | 300 (–45) |
| 1 | 6 | Rusty Wallace | 297 (–48) |
| 2 | 7 | Dale Earnhardt | 283 (–62) |
| 9 | 8 | Ricky Rudd | 282 (–63) |
| 4 | 9 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | 266 (–79) |
| 4 | 10 | Ken Schrader | 258 (–87) |
| Official driver's standings ||||