# 1988 Miller High Life 500

The 1988 Miller High Life 500 was the 13th stock car race of the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the seventh iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, June 19, 1988, before an audience of 96,000 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, at Pocono Raceway, a 2.5 miles (4.0 km) triangular permanent course. The race took the scheduled 200 laps to complete. At race's end, Hendrick Motorsports driver Geoff Bodine would manage to run the final 42 laps of the race on one tank of fuel to take his sixth career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his only victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Bahari Racing driver Michael Waltrip and Blue Max Racing driver Rusty Wallace would finish second and third, respectively.
On the first lap of the race, a crash involving Stavola Brothers Racing driver Bobby Allison and Linro Motorsports driver Jocko Maggiacomo would occur in the second turn of the speedway. Allison, who had cut a tire before the start of the race, would spin in the second turn while trying to nurse his car to pit road. Maggiacomo, who had started behind Allison, was unable to avoid the spinning Allison and t-boned Allison's car on the driver's side. As a result, Allison would suffer a broken left leg and a cerebral concussion. Allison would eventually recover from his physical injuries, but was left with amnesia after the incident. Maggiacomo, who suffered a fractured left ankle, would retire after the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season after suffering from PTSD from hitting Allison.

## Background

The race was held at Pocono International Raceway, which is a three-turn superspeedway located in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. The track hosts two annual NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, as well as one Xfinity Series and Camping World Truck Series event. Until 2019, the track also hosted an IndyCar Series race.
Pocono International Raceway is one of a very few NASCAR tracks not owned by either Speedway Motorsports, Inc. or International Speedway Corporation. It is operated by the Igdalsky siblings Brandon, Nicholas, and sister Ashley, and cousins Joseph IV and Chase Mattioli, all of whom are third-generation members of the family-owned Mattco Inc, started by Joseph II and Rose Mattioli.
Outside of the NASCAR races, the track is used throughout the year by the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and motorcycle clubs as well as racing schools and an IndyCar race. The triangular oval also has three separate infield sections of racetrack – North Course, East Course and South Course. Each of these infield sections use a separate portion of the tri-oval to complete the track. During regular non-race weekends, multiple clubs can use the track by running on different infield sections. Also some of the infield sections can be run in either direction, or multiple infield sections can be put together – such as running the North Course and the South Course and using the tri-oval to connect the two.

### 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 Service |
| 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Kodak |
| 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Levi Garrett |
| 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | Stroh 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 |
| 16 | Bob Schacht | Chilson Racing | Ford | Ed Learn Ford |
| 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Tide |
| 21 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Citgo |
| 22 | Steve Moore | Hamby Racing | Chevrolet | Hamby Racing |
| 23 | Eddie Bierschwale | B&B Racing | Oldsmobile | Wayne Paging |
| 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 | Havoline |
| 29 | Dale Jarrett | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Hardee's |
| 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | Country Time |
| 31 | Joe Ruttman | Bob Clark Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Slender You Figure Salons |
| 33 | Morgan Shepherd | 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 | Pontiac | Eureka |
| 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Crown, Skoal Classic |
| 63 | Jocko Maggiacomo | Linro Motorsports | Chevrolet | Linro Motorsports |
| 64 | Mike Potter | Potter Racing | Chevrolet | Bullfrog Knits |
| 67 | Buddy Arrington | Arrington Racing | Ford | Pannill Sweatshirts |
| 68 | Derrike Cope | Testa Racing | Ford | Purolator Filters |
| 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | Rumple Furniture |
| 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Lifebuoy |
| 75 | Neil Bonnett | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | Valvoline |
| 80 | Jimmy Horton (R) | S&H Racing | Ford | S&H Racing |
| 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | Wynn's, Kmart |
| 85 | Bobby Gerhart | Bobby Gerhart Racing | Chevrolet | James Chevrolet |
| 88 | Buddy Baker | Baker-Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | Red Baron Frozen Pizza |
| 90 | Benny Parsons | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Bull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce |
| 97 | Rodney Combs | Winkle Motorsports | Buick | AC Spark Plug |
| 98 | Brad Noffsinger (R) | Curb Racing | Buick | Sunoco |

## Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, June 17, at 3:00 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, June 18, at 10:30 AM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 16-40 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; up to two provisionals were given.
Alan Kulwicki, driving for his own AK Racing team, would win the pole, setting a time of 56.673 and an average speed of 158.806 miles per hour (255.573 km/h) in the first round.
Three drivers would fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 56.673 | 158.806 |
| 2 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 56.870 | 158.256 |
| 3 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 56.908 | 158.150 |
| 4 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 57.344 | 156.948 |
| 5 | 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 57.376 | 156.860 |
| 6 | 28 | Davey Allison | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Ford | 57.626 | 156.180 |
| 7 | 75 | Neil Bonnett | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 57.654 | 156.104 |
| 8 | 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 57.695 | 155.993 |
| 9 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 57.711 | 155.949 |
| 10 | 26 | Ricky Rudd | King Racing | Buick | 57.735 | 155.885 |
| 11 | 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 57.737 | 155.879 |
| 12 | 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | 57.816 | 155.666 |
| 13 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 57.835 | 155.615 |
| 14 | 21 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 57.905 | 155.427 |
| 15 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 57.933 | 155.352 |
| Failed to lock in Round 1 |||||||
| 16 | 15 | Brett Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 57.688 | 156.012 |
| 17 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 57.984 | 155.215 |
| 18 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 57.990 | 155.199 |
| 19 | 33 | Morgan Shepherd | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 58.040 | 155.065 |
| 20 | 29 | Dale Jarrett | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 58.063 | 155.004 |
| 21 | 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 58.177 | 154.700 |
| 22 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 58.211 | 154.610 |
| 23 | 90 | Benny Parsons | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 58.303 | 154.366 |
| 24 | 2 | Ernie Irvan (R) | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | 58.457 | 153.959 |
| 25 | 88 | Buddy Baker | Baker–Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | 58.535 | 153.754 |
| 26 | 97 | Rodney Combs | Winkle Motorsports | Buick | 58.623 | 153.523 |
| 27 | 31 | Joe Ruttman | Bob Clark Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 58.624 | 153.521 |
| 28 | 12 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 58.663 | 153.419 |
| 29 | 10 | Ken Bouchard (R) | Whitcomb Racing | Ford | 58.668 | 153.406 |
| 30 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 58.693 | 153.340 |
| 31 | 98 | Brad Noffsinger (R) | Curb Racing | Buick | 58.704 | 153.312 |
| 32 | 80 | Jimmy Horton (R) | S&H Racing | Ford | 58.752 | 153.186 |
| 33 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 58.930 | 152.724 |
| 34 | 68 | Derrike Cope | Testa Racing | Ford | 59.033 | 152.457 |
| 35 | 23 | Eddie Bierschwale | B&B Racing | Oldsmobile | 59.171 | 152.102 |
| 36 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 59.185 | 152.066 |
| 37 | 16 | Bob Schacht | Chilson Racing | Ford | 59.588 | 151.037 |
| 38 | 63 | Jocko Maggiacomo | Linro Motorsports | Chevrolet | 59.620 | 150.956 |
| 39 | 67 | Buddy Arrington | Arrington Racing | Ford | 59.666 | 150.840 |
| 40 | 85 | Bobby Gerhart | Bobby Gerhart Racing | Chevrolet | 1:00.140 | 149.651 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 41 | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| 42 | 64 | Mike Potter | Potter Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 43 | 22 | Steve Moore | Hamby Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| Official first round qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 3 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 90 | running | 185 | $51,200 |
| 2 | 30 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 200 | 1 | running | 175 | $31,100 |
| 3 | 17 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 200 | 23 | running | 170 | $26,500 |
| 4 | 15 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 200 | 6 | running | 165 | $15,080 |
| 5 | 6 | 28 | Davey Allison | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 155 | $20,925 |
| 6 | 9 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 150 | $13,625 |
| 7 | 25 | 88 | Buddy Baker | Baker–Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | 200 | 0 | running | 146 | $11,600 |
| 8 | 11 | 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 200 | 3 | running | 147 | $9,700 |
| 9 | 2 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 68 | running | 143 | $13,480 |
| 10 | 4 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 134 | $15,460 |
| 11 | 7 | 75 | Neil Bonnett | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 199 | 0 | running | 130 | $11,490 |
| 12 | 14 | 21 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 199 | 0 | running | 127 | $11,270 |
| 13 | 20 | 29 | Dale Jarrett | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 199 | 0 | running | 124 | $5,950 |
| 14 | 29 | 10 | Ken Bouchard (R) | Whitcomb Racing | Ford | 199 | 0 | running | 121 | $4,550 |
| 15 | 22 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 199 | 0 | running | 118 | $7,875 |
| 16 | 19 | 33 | Morgan Shepherd | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 198 | 0 | running | 115 | $7,060 |
| 17 | 27 | 31 | Joe Ruttman | Bob Clark Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 197 | 0 | running | 112 | $4,655 |
| 18 | 32 | 80 | Jimmy Horton (R) | S&H Racing | Ford | 196 | 0 | running | 109 | $3,500 |
| 19 | 31 | 98 | Brad Noffsinger (R) | Curb Racing | Buick | 196 | 0 | running | 106 | $3,115 |
| 20 | 36 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 194 | 0 | running | 103 | $6,635 |
| 21 | 39 | 67 | Buddy Arrington | Arrington Racing | Ford | 192 | 0 | running | 0 | $4,880 |
| 22 | 40 | 85 | Bobby Gerhart | Bobby Gerhart Racing | Chevrolet | 190 | 0 | running | 97 | $2,775 |
| 23 | 12 | 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | 187 | 0 | running | 94 | $3,670 |
| 24 | 34 | 68 | Derrike Cope | Testa Racing | Ford | 187 | 0 | running | 91 | $6,190 |
| 25 | 8 | 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 148 | 0 | running | 88 | $3,510 |
| 26 | 13 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 147 | 9 | crash | 90 | $5,255 |
| 27 | 1 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 127 | 0 | engine | 82 | $7,650 |
| 28 | 21 | 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 118 | 0 | engine | 79 | $5,070 |
| 29 | 35 | 23 | Eddie Bierschwale | B&B Racing | Oldsmobile | 111 | 0 | camshaft | 76 | $2,340 |
| 30 | 10 | 26 | Ricky Rudd | King Racing | Buick | 105 | 0 | engine | 73 | $4,935 |
| 31 | 23 | 90 | Benny Parsons | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 100 | 0 | crash | 70 | $4,855 |
| 32 | 5 | 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 98 | 0 | engine | 67 | $9,175 |
| 33 | 18 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 93 | 0 | engine | 64 | $13,045 |
| 34 | 26 | 97 | Rodney Combs | Winkle Motorsports | Buick | 54 | 0 | engine | 61 | $2,030 |
| 35 | 16 | 15 | Brett Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 27 | 0 | engine | 58 | $12,075 |
| 36 | 37 | 16 | Bob Schacht | Chilson Racing | Ford | 22 | 0 | engine | 55 | $1,920 |
| 37 | 24 | 2 | Ernie Irvan (R) | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | 12 | 0 | crash | 52 | $1,865 |
| 38 | 33 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 11 | 0 | engine | 49 | $4,435 |
| 39 | 28 | 12 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 0 | 0 | crash | 46 | $9,805 |
| 40 | 38 | 63 | Jocko Maggiacomo | Linro Motorsports | Chevrolet | 0 | 0 | crash | 43 | $1,750 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 41 | | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 42 | | 64 | Mike Potter | Potter Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 43 | | 22 | Steve Moore | Hamby Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Rusty Wallace | 1,960 |
| | 2 | Dale Earnhardt | 1,850 (-110) |
| 1 | 3 | Bill Elliott | 1,820 (-140) |
| 1 | 4 | Terry Labonte | 1,769 (–191) |
| | 5 | Sterling Marlin | 1,756 (–204) |
| 1 | 6 | Ken Schrader | 1,674 (–286) |
| 2 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | 1,659 (–301) |
| 2 | 8 | Bobby Allison | 1,654 (–306) |
| 1 | 9 | Phil Parsons | 1,616 (–344) |
| 2 | 10 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | 1,596 (–364) |
| Official driver's standings ||||