# 1987 Oakwood Homes 500

The 1987 Oakwood Homes 500 was the 26th stock car race of the 1987 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 28th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, October 11, 1987, before an audience of 145,000 in Concord, North Carolina, at Charlotte Motor Speedway, a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) permanent quad-oval. The race took the scheduled 334 laps to complete.
With the assist of a fast final pit stop, Melling Racing's Bill Elliott managed to take the lead from the dominant Bobby Allison, leading the final 62 laps en route to his 21st career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his fourth victory of the season. To fill out the top three, the aforementioned Bobby Allison and Hagan Racing's Sterling Marlin finished second and third, respectively.
Heading into the next race of the season, the 1987 AC Delco 500, Dale Earnhardt was the write-in champion for the driver's championship, only needing to start the next race to clinch the championship.

## Background

Charlotte Motor Speedway is a motorsports complex located in Concord, North Carolina, United States 13 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. The complex features a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and the NEXTEL All-Star Challenge, as well as the UAW-GM Quality 500. The speedway was built in 1959 by Bruton Smith and is considered the home track for NASCAR with many race teams located in the Charlotte area. The track is owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports Inc. (SMI) with Marcus G. Smith (son of Bruton Smith) as track president.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 0 | Delma Cowart | H. L. Waters Racing | Chevrolet | Heyward Grooms Construction |
| 1 | Brett Bodine | Ellington Racing | Chevrolet | Bull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce |
| 2 | Kirk Bryant | Bryant Racing | Chevrolet | Bryant Racing |
| 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Wrangler |
| 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Kodak |
| 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Levi Garrett |
| 6 | Connie Saylor | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | U.S. Racing |
| 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | Zerex |
| 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | Miller American |
| 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | Coors |
| 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | Budweiser |
| 12 | Rodney Combs (R) | Hamby Racing | Chevrolet | Hamby Racing |
| 14 | A. J. Foyt | A. J. Foyt Racing | Oldsmobile | Copenhagen |
| 15 | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | Motorcraft Quality Parts |
| 16 | Larry Pearson | Pearson Racing | Chevrolet | Chattanooga Chew |
| 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Tide |
| 18 | Dale Jarrett (R) | Freedlander Motorsports | Chevrolet | Freedlander Financial |
| 19 | Derrike Cope (R) | Stoke Racing | Ford | Stoke Racing |
| 21 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Citgo |
| 22 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | Miller American |
| 26 | Morgan Shepherd | King Racing | Buick | Quaker State |
| 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | Kodiak |
| 28 | Davey Allison (R) | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Ford | Texaco, Havoline |
| 29 | Cale Yarborough | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Hardee's |
| 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Chevrolet | All Pro Auto Parts |
| 31 | Brad Teague | Bob Clark Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Slender You Figure Salons |
| 32 | Jonathan Lee Edwards | Edwards Racing | Chevrolet | Edwards Racing |
| 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | Skoal Bandit |
| 34 | Eddie Bierschwale | AAG Racing | Chevrolet | Allen's Glass |
| 35 | Benny Parsons | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Folgers Decaf |
| 36 | H. B. Bailey | Bailey Racing | Pontiac | Almeda Auto Parts |
| 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | Piedmont Airlines |
| 48 | Tony Spanos | Hylton Motorsports | Chevrolet | Hylton Motorsports |
| 50 | Greg Sacks | Dingman Brothers Racing | Pontiac | Valvoline |
| 52 | Jimmy Means | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Folgers |
| 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Skoal Classic |
| 56 | Ernie Irvan | Reno Enterprises | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet |
| 62 | Steve Christman (R) | Winkle Motorsports | Pontiac | AC Spark Plug |
| 64 | Trevor Boys | 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 | Chevrolet | Lifebuoy |
| 73 | Phil Barkdoll | Barkdoll Racing | Chevrolet | Barkdoll Racing |
| 74 | Bobby Wawak | Wawak Racing | Chevrolet | Wawak Racing |
| 75 | Neil Bonnett | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | Valvoline |
| 77 | Ken Ragan | Ragan Racing | Ford | Sylvan Resort |
| 82 | Mark Stahl | Stahl Racing | Ford | Auto Bell Car Wash |
| 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | Wynn's, Kmart |
| 87 | Randy Baker | Buck Baker Racing | Chevrolet | Sony |
| 88 | Buddy Baker | Baker–Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | Crisco |
| 89 | Jim Sauter | Mueller Brothers Racing | Pontiac | Evinrude Outboard Motors |
| 90 | Ken Schrader | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Red Baron Frozen Pizza |
| 91 | Philip Duffie | Duffie Racing | Buick | Duffie Racing |
| 93 | Charlie Baker | Salmon Racing | Chevrolet | Salmon Racing |

## Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Wednesday, October 7, at 3:00 PM EST. Each driver had one lap to set a time. During the first round, the top 20 drivers in the round were 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 Thursday, October 8, at 2:00 PM EST. As with the first round, each driver had one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 21-40 were 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 provisionals were given.
Bobby Allison, driving for Stavola Brothers Racing, managed to win the pole, setting a time of 31.462 and an average speed of 171.636 miles per hour (276.221 km/h) in the first round.
13 drivers failed to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 22 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 31.462 | 171.636 |
| 2 | 35 | Benny Parsons | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 31.702 | 170.336 |
| 3 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 31.965 | 168.935 |
| 4 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 32.008 | 168.708 |
| 5 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 32.091 | 168.274 |
| 6 | 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 32.110 | 168.172 |
| 7 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 32.121 | 168.117 |
| 8 | 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 32.130 | 168.065 |
| 9 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 32.164 | 167.890 |
| 10 | 28 | Davey Allison (R) | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Ford | 32.174 | 167.840 |
| 11 | 19 | Derrike Cope (R) | Stoke Racing | Ford | 32.243 | 167.476 |
| 12 | 90 | Ken Schrader | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 32.276 | 167.307 |
| 13 | 21 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 32.305 | 167.159 |
| 14 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 32.374 | 166.801 |
| 15 | 50 | Greg Sacks | Dingman Brothers Racing | Pontiac | 32.382 | 166.757 |
| 16 | 1 | Brett Bodine | Ellington Racing | Chevrolet | 32.391 | 166.713 |
| 17 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 32.425 | 166.538 |
| 18 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 32.426 | 166.536 |
| 19 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 32.462 | 166.351 |
| 20 | 77 | Ken Ragan | Ragan Racing | Ford | 32.487 | 166.220 |
| Failed to lock in Round 1 |||||||
| 21 | 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 31.671 | 170.503 |
| 22 | 26 | Morgan Shepherd | King Racing | Buick | 31.717 | 170.256 |
| 23 | 14 | A. J. Foyt | A. J. Foyt Racing | Oldsmobile | 31.806 | 169.779 |
| 24 | 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | 31.826 | 169.673 |
| 25 | 29 | Cale Yarborough | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 31.857 | 169.507 |
| 26 | 88 | Buddy Baker | Baker–Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | 31.916 | 169.194 |
| 27 | 15 | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 31.940 | 169.067 |
| 28 | 75 | Neil Bonnett | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 31.979 | 168.861 |
| 29 | 67 | Buddy Arrington | Arrington Racing | Ford | 31.995 | 168.776 |
| 30 | 6 | Connie Saylor | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | 32.066 | 168.403 |
| 31 | 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 32.069 | 168.387 |
| 32 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Chevrolet | 32.086 | 168.298 |
| 33 | 16 | Larry Pearson | Pearson Racing | Chevrolet | 32.089 | 168.282 |
| 34 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 32.123 | 168.104 |
| 35 | 31 | Brad Teague | Bob Clark Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 32.139 | 168.020 |
| 36 | 56 | Ernie Irvan | Reno Enterprises | Chevrolet | 32.220 | 167.598 |
| 37 | 82 | Mark Stahl | Stahl Racing | Ford | 32.227 | 167.561 |
| 38 | 12 | Rodney Combs (R) | Hamby Racing | Chevrolet | 32.245 | 167.468 |
| 39 | 64 | Trevor Boys | Langley Racing | Ford | 32.252 | 167.431 |
| 40 | 18 | Dale Jarrett (R) | Freedlander Motorsports | Chevrolet | 32.278 | 167.297 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 41 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 32.328 | 167.038 |
| 42 | 62 | Steve Christman (R) | Winkle Motorsports | Pontiac | - | - |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 43 | 89 | Jim Sauter | Mueller Brothers Racing | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| 44 | 36 | H. B. Bailey | Bailey Racing | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| 45 | 34 | Eddie Bierschwale | AAG Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 46 | 74 | Bobby Wawak | Wawak Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 47 | 2 | Kirk Bryant | Bryant Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 48 | 91 | Philip Duffie | Duffie Racing | Buick | -* | -* |
| 49 | 73 | Phil Barkdoll | Barkdoll Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 50 | 93 | Charlie Baker | Salmon Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 51 | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| 52 | 87 | Randy Baker | Buck Baker Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 53 | 0 | Delma Cowart | H. L. Waters Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 54 | 32 | Jonathan Lee Edwards | Edwards Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 55 | 48 | Tony Spanos | Hylton Motorsports | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| Official first round qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 7 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 334 | 62 | running | 180 | $74,040 |
| 2 | 1 | 22 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 334 | 142 | running | 180 | $67,765 |
| 3 | 31 | 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 334 | 1 | running | 170 | $34,770 |
| 4 | 8 | 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 333 | 16 | running | 165 | $30,240 |
| 5 | 41 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 333 | 0 | running | 155 | $31,860 |
| 6 | 33 | 16 | Larry Pearson | Pearson Racing | Chevrolet | 333 | 1 | running | 155 | $13,040 |
| 7 | 24 | 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | 332 | 0 | running | 146 | $10,190 |
| 8 | 36 | 56 | Ernie Irvan | Reno Enterprises | Chevrolet | 332 | 1 | running | 147 | $9,015 |
| 9 | 17 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 331 | 0 | running | 138 | $10,365 |
| 10 | 13 | 21 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 330 | 1 | running | 139 | $16,265 |
| 11 | 27 | 15 | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 329 | 0 | running | 130 | $15,190 |
| 12 | 9 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 329 | 2 | running | 132 | $16,440 |
| 13 | 35 | 31 | Brad Teague | Bob Clark Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 328 | 17 | running | 129 | $5,790 |
| 14 | 29 | 67 | Buddy Arrington | Arrington Racing | Ford | 319 | 0 | running | 121 | $9,705 |
| 15 | 42 | 62 | Steve Christman (R) | Winkle Motorsports | Pontiac | 303 | 0 | brakes | 118 | $6,590 |
| 16 | 30 | 6 | Connie Saylor | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | 301 | 0 | running | 115 | $9,145 |
| 17 | 12 | 90 | Ken Schrader | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 291 | 0 | running | 112 | $8,925 |
| 18 | 34 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 287 | 1 | running | 114 | $8,665 |
| 19 | 10 | 28 | Davey Allison (R) | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Ford | 279 | 0 | engine | 106 | $5,190 |
| 20 | 22 | 26 | Morgan Shepherd | King Racing | Buick | 228 | 42 | engine | 108 | $8,755 |
| 21 | 23 | 14 | A. J. Foyt | A. J. Foyt Racing | Oldsmobile | 224 | 1 | engine | 105 | $4,365 |
| 22 | 19 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 223 | 24 | engine | 102 | $12,065 |
| 23 | 37 | 82 | Mark Stahl | Stahl Racing | Ford | 216 | 0 | overheating | 94 | $3,765 |
| 24 | 25 | 29 | Cale Yarborough | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 214 | 0 | running | 91 | $3,565 |
| 25 | 39 | 64 | Trevor Boys | Langley Racing | Ford | 212 | 1 | engine | 0 | $6,670 |
| 26 | 20 | 77 | Ken Ragan | Ragan Racing | Ford | 196 | 0 | crash | 85 | $3,215 |
| 27 | 6 | 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 194 | 0 | running | 82 | $3,765 |
| 28 | 18 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 129 | 0 | crash | 79 | $9,915 |
| 29 | 14 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 127 | 0 | crash | 76 | $6,835 |
| 30 | 21 | 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 125 | 20 | crash | 78 | $3,215 |
| 31 | 3 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 125 | 1 | crash | 75 | $13,140 |
| 32 | 16 | 1 | Brett Bodine | Ellington Racing | Chevrolet | 125 | 0 | crash | 67 | $2,565 |
| 33 | 4 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 117 | 0 | engine | 64 | $7,815 |
| 34 | 40 | 18 | Dale Jarrett (R) | Freedlander Motorsports | Chevrolet | 102 | 0 | engine | 61 | $5,285 |
| 35 | 32 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Chevrolet | 82 | 0 | engine | 58 | $5,265 |
| 36 | 28 | 75 | Neil Bonnett | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 56 | 0 | crash | 55 | $5,985 |
| 37 | 38 | 12 | Rodney Combs (R) | Hamby Racing | Chevrolet | 43 | 0 | engine | 0 | $4,490 |
| 38 | 2 | 35 | Benny Parsons | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 42 | 1 | engine | 54 | $16,680 |
| 39 | 11 | 19 | Derrike Cope (R) | Stoke Racing | Ford | 20 | 0 | crash | 46 | $2,470 |
| 40 | 5 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20 | 0 | crash | 43 | $5,960 |
| 41 | 26 | 88 | Buddy Baker | Baker–Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | 20 | 0 | crash | 40 | $2,460 |
| 42 | 15 | 50 | Greg Sacks | Dingman Brothers Racing | Pontiac | 20 | 0 | crash | 37 | $2,460 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 43 | | 89 | Jim Sauter | Mueller Brothers Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 44 | | 36 | H. B. Bailey | Bailey Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 45 | | 34 | Eddie Bierschwale | AAG Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 46 | | 74 | Bobby Wawak | Wawak Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 47 | | 2 | Kirk Bryant | Bryant Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 48 | | 91 | Philip Duffie | Duffie Racing | Buick | | | | | |
| 49 | | 73 | Phil Barkdoll | Barkdoll Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 50 | | 93 | Charlie Baker | Salmon Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 51 | | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 52 | | 87 | Randy Baker | Buck Baker Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 53 | | 0 | Delma Cowart | H. L. Waters Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 54 | | 32 | Jonathan Lee Edwards | Edwards Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 55 | | 48 | Tony Spanos | Hylton Motorsports | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Dale Earnhardt | 4,268 |
| | 2 | Bill Elliott | 3,743 (-525) |
| | 3 | Terry Labonte | 3,611 (-657) |
| | 4 | Darrell Waltrip | 3,477 (–791) |
| 1 | 5 | Ricky Rudd | 3,422 (–846) |
| 1 | 6 | Rusty Wallace | 3,384 (–884) |
| 1 | 7 | Richard Petty | 3,363 (–905) |
| 3 | 8 | Neil Bonnett | 3,352 (–916) |
| | 9 | Kyle Petty | 3,293 (–975) |
| 1 | 10 | Bobby Allison | 3,161 (–1,107) |
| Official driver's standings ||||