# 1989 Talladega DieHard 500

The 1989 Talladega DieHard 500 was the 17th stock car race of the 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 21st iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, July 30, 1989, before an audience of 90,000 in Lincoln, Alabama at Alabama International Motor Speedway, a 2.66 miles (4.28 km) permanent triangle-shaped superspeedway. The race took the scheduled 188 laps to complete. On the final restart with five laps left in the race, Junior Johnson & Associates driver Terry Labonte would manage to defend the field, mainly defending Hendrick Motorsports driver Darrell Waltrip to take his 11th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his second and final victory of the season. To fill out the top three, the aforementioned Darrell Waltrip and Roush Racing driver Mark Martin would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

Talladega Superspeedway, originally known as Alabama International Motor Superspeedway (AIMS), is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base in the small city of Lincoln. The track is a tri-oval and was constructed in the 1960s by the International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France family. Talladega is most known for its steep banking and the unique location of the start/finish line that's located just past the exit to pit road. The track currently hosts the NASCAR series such as the NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series and the Camping World Truck Series. Talladega is the longest NASCAR oval, a 2.66-mile-long (4.28 km) tri-oval like the Daytona International Speedway, which also is a 2.5-mile-long (4.0 km) tri-oval.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 2 | Ernie Irvan | U.S. Racing | Pontiac | Kroger |
| 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | GM Goodwrench Service Plus |
| 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 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Pontiac | Purolator |
| 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | Budweiser |
| 14 | A. J. Foyt | A. J. Foyt Racing | Oldsmobile | Copenhagen |
| 15 | Brett Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | Motorcraft |
| 16 | Larry Pearson (R) | Pearson Racing | Buick | Chattanooga Chew |
| 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Tide |
| 19 | Bill Ingram | Gray Racing | Oldsmobile | Central Ambulance Service |
| 21 | Neil Bonnett | 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 | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Texaco, Havoline |
| 29 | Dale Jarrett | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Pontiac | Hardee's |
| 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | Country Time |
| 33 | Harry Gant | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Skoal Bandit |
| 38 | Dick Johnson | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford | Redkote Steel Tubing |
| 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | Peak Antifreeze |
| 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 45 | Patty Moise | Moise Racing | Buick | Amway Freedom Fuel Additive |
| 50 | Mickey Gibbs (R) | Dingman Brothers Racing | Pontiac | Valvoline |
| 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | Alka-Seltzer |
| 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Skoal, Crown Central Petroleum |
| 57 | Hut Stricklin (R) | Osterlund Racing | Pontiac | Heinz |
| 66 | Rick Mast (R) | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | Food World |
| 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Lifebuoy |
| 73 | Phil Barkdoll | Barkdoll Racing | Oldsmobile | Barkdoll Racing |
| 75 | Morgan Shepherd | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | Valvoline |
| 82 | Mark Stahl | Stahl Racing | Ford | Stahl Racing |
| 83 | Joe Ruttman | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | Bull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce |
| 84 | Dick Trickle (R) | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | Miller High Life |
| 88 | Jimmy Spencer (R) | Baker–Schiff Racing | Pontiac | Crisco |
| 90 | Stan Barrett | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Hawaiian Tropic |
| 94 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | Sunoco |

## Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Thursday, July 27, at 2:00 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 Friday, July 28, 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; up to two were given.
Mark Martin, driving for Roush Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 49.158 and an average speed of 194.800 miles per hour (313.500 km/h) in the first round.
No drivers would fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 49.158 | 194.800 |
| 2 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 49.346 | 194.058 |
| 3 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 49.391 | 193.881 |
| 4 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 49.581 | 193.139 |
| 5 | 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 49.613 | 193.014 |
| 6 | 33 | Harry Gant | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 49.962 | 191.666 |
| 7 | 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 49.971 | 191.631 |
| 8 | 75 | Morgan Shepherd | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 50.116 | 191.077 |
| 9 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 50.300 | 190.378 |
| 10 | 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | 50.427 | 189.898 |
| 11 | 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 50.459 | 189.778 |
| 12 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 50.490 | 189.661 |
| 13 | 94 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 50.636 | 189.114 |
| 14 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 50.661 | 189.021 |
| 15 | 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 50.664 | 189.010 |
| 16 | 57 | Hut Stricklin (R) | Osterlund Racing | Pontiac | 50.666 | 189.002 |
| 17 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 50.721 | 188.798 |
| 18 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 50.729 | 188.768 |
| 19 | 73 | Phil Barkdoll | Barkdoll Racing | Oldsmobile | 50.786 | 188.556 |
| 20 | 10 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Pontiac | 50.977 | 187.849 |
| Failed to lock in Round 1 |||||||
| 21 | 21 | Neil Bonnett | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 51.005 | 187.746 |
| 22 | 14 | A. J. Foyt | A. J. Foyt Racing | Oldsmobile | 51.012 | 187.721 |
| 23 | 83 | Joe Ruttman | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | 51.083 | 187.460 |
| 24 | 26 | Ricky Rudd | King Racing | Buick | 51.177 | 187.115 |
| 25 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 51.390 | 186.340 |
| 26 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 51.394 | 186.325 |
| 27 | 84 | Dick Trickle (R) | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 51.399 | 186.307 |
| 28 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 51.483 | 186.003 |
| 29 | 88 | Jimmy Spencer (R) | Baker–Schiff Racing | Pontiac | 51.519 | 185.873 |
| 30 | 19 | Bill Ingram | Gray Racing | Oldsmobile | 51.641 | 185.434 |
| 31 | 82 | Mark Stahl | Stahl Racing | Ford | 51.742 | 185.072 |
| 32 | 90 | Stan Barrett | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 51.751 | 185.040 |
| 33 | 2 | Ernie Irvan | U.S. Racing | Pontiac | 51.840 | 184.722 |
| 34 | 50 | Mickey Gibbs (R) | Dingman Brothers Racing | Pontiac | 51.860 | 184.651 |
| 35 | 38 | Dick Johnson | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford | 51.934 | 184.388 |
| 36 | 45 | Patty Moise | Moise Racing | Buick | 52.027 | 184.058 |
| Provisional |||||||
| 37 | 66 | Rick Mast (R) | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 52.240 | 183.308 |
| To the rear |||||||
| 38 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 50.645 | 189.081 |
| 39 | 16 | Larry Pearson (R) | Pearson Racing | Buick | 50.723 | 188.790 |
| 40 | 15 | Brett Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 50.781 | 188.574 |
| 41 | 29 | Dale Jarrett | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Pontiac | 51.263 | 186.801 |
| Official first round qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 5 | 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 188 | 25 | running | 180 | $73,920 |
| 2 | 2 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 188 | 32 | running | 175 | $47,965 |
| 3 | 1 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 188 | 7 | running | 170 | $37,950 |
| 4 | 3 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 188 | 20 | running | 165 | $28,400 |
| 5 | 15 | 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 188 | 0 | running | 155 | $20,200 |
| 6 | 8 | 75 | Morgan Shepherd | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 188 | 70 | running | 160 | $24,975 |
| 7 | 10 | 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | 188 | 0 | running | 146 | $9,250 |
| 8 | 6 | 33 | Harry Gant | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 188 | 0 | running | 142 | $14,850 |
| 9 | 7 | 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 188 | 18 | running | 143 | $17,070 |
| 10 | 21 | 21 | Neil Bonnett | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 188 | 0 | running | 134 | $13,275 |
| 11 | 9 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 188 | 0 | running | 130 | $15,020 |
| 12 | 4 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 187 | 8 | running | 132 | $17,290 |
| 13 | 16 | 57 | Hut Stricklin (R) | Osterlund Racing | Pontiac | 187 | 0 | running | 124 | $8,560 |
| 14 | 40 | 15 | Brett Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 187 | 0 | running | 121 | $11,087 |
| 15 | 19 | 73 | Phil Barkdoll | Barkdoll Racing | Oldsmobile | 187 | 0 | running | 118 | $6,015 |
| 16 | 27 | 84 | Dick Trickle (R) | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 187 | 0 | running | 115 | $9,395 |
| 17 | 24 | 26 | Ricky Rudd | King Racing | Buick | 187 | 0 | running | 112 | $12,220 |
| 18 | 22 | 14 | A. J. Foyt | A. J. Foyt Racing | Oldsmobile | 187 | 0 | running | 109 | $4,945 |
| 19 | 25 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 186 | 0 | running | 106 | $8,665 |
| 20 | 33 | 2 | Ernie Irvan | U.S. Racing | Pontiac | 186 | 0 | running | 103 | $7,125 |
| 21 | 26 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 186 | 0 | running | 100 | $5,770 |
| 22 | 39 | 16 | Larry Pearson (R) | Pearson Racing | Buick | 186 | 0 | running | 97 | $5,440 |
| 23 | 41 | 29 | Dale Jarrett | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Pontiac | 184 | 0 | running | 94 | $7,235 |
| 24 | 35 | 38 | Dick Johnson | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford | 182 | 0 | running | 91 | $4,105 |
| 25 | 34 | 50 | Mickey Gibbs (R) | Dingman Brothers Racing | Pontiac | 182 | 0 | running | 88 | $4,175 |
| 26 | 30 | 19 | Bill Ingram | Gray Racing | Oldsmobile | 181 | 0 | running | 85 | $3,875 |
| 27 | 31 | 82 | Mark Stahl | Stahl Racing | Ford | 176 | 0 | running | 82 | $3,785 |
| 28 | 13 | 94 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 160 | 4 | running | 84 | $6,885 |
| 29 | 38 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 145 | 0 | crash | 76 | $6,515 |
| 30 | 12 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 145 | 0 | crash | 73 | $6,395 |
| 31 | 23 | 83 | Joe Ruttman | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | 125 | 0 | crash | 0 | $6,225 |
| 32 | 37 | 66 | Rick Mast (R) | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 33 | 0 | transmission | 67 | $3,455 |
| 33 | 36 | 45 | Patty Moise | Moise Racing | Buick | 33 | 0 | oil pressure | 64 | $3,485 |
| 34 | 32 | 90 | Stan Barrett | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 27 | 0 | crash | 0 | $3,340 |
| 35 | 28 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 26 | 0 | crash | 58 | $10,330 |
| 36 | 17 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 26 | 0 | crash | 55 | $5,925 |
| 37 | 14 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 26 | 0 | crash | 52 | $12,225 |
| 38 | 20 | 10 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Pontiac | 26 | 0 | crash | 49 | $3,830 |
| 39 | 18 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 26 | 4 | crash | 51 | $4,145 |
| 40 | 29 | 88 | Jimmy Spencer (R) | Baker–Schiff Racing | Pontiac | 15 | 0 | crash | 43 | $5,735 |
| 41 | 11 | 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 6 | 0 | engine | 40 | $5,710 |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Dale Earnhardt | 2,444 |
| 1 | 2 | Darrell Waltrip | 2,354 (-90) |
| 2 | 3 | Mark Martin | 2,318 (-126) |
| | 4 | Bill Elliott | 2,285 (–159) |
| 3 | 5 | Rusty Wallace | 2,279 (–165) |
| 3 | 6 | Terry Labonte | 2,164 (–280) |
| 1 | 7 | Davey Allison | 2,159 (–285) |
| 2 | 8 | Ken Schrader | 2,136 (–308) |
| 1 | 9 | Sterling Marlin | 2,079 (–365) |
| 1 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | 2,069 (–375) |
| Official driver's standings ||||