# 1991 Miller Genuine Draft 500

The 1991 Miller Genuine Draft 500 was the 16th stock car race of the 1991 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 19th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, July 21, 1991, in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, at Pocono Raceway, a 2.5 miles (4.0 km) triangular permanent course. The race was shortened from its scheduled 200 laps to 179 laps due to rain. In the final laps of the race, Penske Racing South driver Rusty Wallace would manage to conserve enough fuel to run until the last caution flag was given on lap 174. After the red flag was given out on lap 176, a two-hour rain delay would delay the restart. After the rain delay, NASCAR mandated that all drivers start their cars and run behind the pace car until lap 179, where NASCAR would declare the race official, handing Wallace the victory. The victory was Wallace's 20th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his second and final victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Roush Racing driver Mark Martin and Junior Johnson & Associates driver Geoff Bodine would finish second and third, respectively.

## 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 |
| 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Oldsmobile | Skoal |
| 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Pontiac | Miller Genuine Draft |
| 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | GM Goodwrench Service Plus |
| 4 | Ernie Irvan | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kodak |
| 5 | Ricky Rudd | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Tide |
| 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | Folgers |
| 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | Hooters |
| 8 | Rick Wilson | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | Snickers |
| 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | Coors Light |
| 10 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Chevrolet | Purolator Filters |
| 11 | Geoff Bodine | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | Budweiser |
| 12 | Hut Stricklin | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Buick | Raybestos |
| 13 | Gary Balough | Linro Motorsports | Buick | Linro Motorsports |
| 15 | Morgan Shepherd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | Motorcraft |
| 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | Western Auto |
| 19 | Chad Little | Little Racing | Ford | Tyson Foods |
| 21 | Dale Jarrett | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Citgo |
| 22 | Sterling Marlin | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | Maxwell House |
| 24 | Dick Trickle | Team III Racing | Pontiac | Team III Racing |
| 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kodiak |
| 26 | Brett Bodine | King Racing | Buick | Quaker State |
| 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Texaco, Havoline |
| 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | Pennzoil |
| 33 | Harry Gant | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Skoal Bandit |
| 35 | Bill Venturini | Venturini Motorsports | Chevrolet | Nestea Plunge |
| 42 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | Mello Yello |
| 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 44 | Irv Hoerr | Labonte Motorsports | Oldsmobile | High Point Bedding |
| 47 | Greg Sacks | Close Racing | Oldsmobile | Kanawha Insurance |
| 48 | James Hylton | Hylton Motorsports | Buick | Hylton Motorsports |
| 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | Alka-Seltzer |
| 53 | John Paul Jr. | Team Ireland | Chevrolet | Team Ireland |
| 55 | Ted Musgrave (R) | U.S. Racing | Pontiac | Jasper Engines & Transmissions |
| 64 | Gary Wright | White Racing | Chevrolet | Action Rent-to-Own |
| 66 | Lake Speed | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Pontiac | Phillips 66 TropArtic |
| 68 | Bobby Hamilton (R) | TriStar Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Country Time |
| 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | Classic Trophies |
| 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Big Apple Market |
| 75 | Joe Ruttman | RahMoc Enterprises | Oldsmobile | Dinner Bell Foods |
| 85 | Bobby Gerhart | Bobby Gerhart Racing | Chevrolet | James Omar Landis Auctions |
| 86 | Walter Surma | Surma Racing | Oldsmobile | Surma Racing |
| 94 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | Sunoco |
| 98 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Chevrolet | Banquet Foods |

## Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, July 19, 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, July 20, 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. If needed, a past champion who did not qualify on either time or provisionals could use a champion's provisional, adding one more spot to the field.
Alan Kulwicki, driving for his own AK Racing team, would win the pole, setting a time of 55.737 and an average speed of 161.473 miles per hour (259.866 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 | 55.737 | 161.473 |
| 2 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 55.801 | 161.287 |
| 3 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 56.085 | 160.471 |
| 4 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 56.165 | 160.242 |
| 5 | 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 56.276 | 159.926 |
| 6 | 12 | Hut Stricklin | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Buick | 56.303 | 159.849 |
| 7 | 5 | Ricky Rudd | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 56.454 | 159.422 |
| 8 | 11 | Geoff Bodine | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 56.501 | 159.289 |
| 9 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 56.534 | 159.196 |
| 10 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Pontiac | 56.556 | 159.134 |
| 11 | 22 | Sterling Marlin | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 56.591 | 159.036 |
| 12 | 21 | Dale Jarrett | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 56.693 | 158.750 |
| 13 | 4 | Ernie Irvan | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 56.722 | 158.669 |
| 14 | 42 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | 56.758 | 158.568 |
| 15 | 33 | Harry Gant | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 56.808 | 158.428 |
| Failed to lock in Round 1 |||||||
| 16 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 56.828 | 158.373 |
| 17 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 56.830 | 158.367 |
| 18 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Oldsmobile | 56.840 | 158.339 |
| 19 | 75 | Joe Ruttman | RahMoc Enterprises | Oldsmobile | 56.869 | 158.258 |
| 20 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 56.987 | 157.931 |
| 21 | 10 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Chevrolet | 57.054 | 157.745 |
| 22 | 68 | Bobby Hamilton (R) | TriStar Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 57.098 | 157.624 |
| 23 | 94 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 57.129 | 157.538 |
| 24 | 26 | Brett Bodine | King Racing | Buick | 57.189 | 157.373 |
| 25 | 8 | Rick Wilson | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 57.204 | 157.332 |
| 26 | 15 | Morgan Shepherd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 57.212 | 157.310 |
| 27 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 57.246 | 157.216 |
| 28 | 98 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Chevrolet | 57.259 | 157.181 |
| 29 | 24 | Dick Trickle | Team III Racing | Pontiac | 57.296 | 157.079 |
| 30 | 66 | Lake Speed | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Pontiac | 57.315 | 157.027 |
| 31 | 55 | Ted Musgrave (R) | U.S. Racing | Pontiac | 57.629 | 156.171 |
| 32 | 44 | Irv Hoerr | Labonte Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 57.894 | 155.457 |
| 33 | 19 | Chad Little | Little Racing | Ford | 57.998 | 155.178 |
| 34 | 47 | Greg Sacks | Close Racing | Oldsmobile | 58.250 | 154.506 |
| 35 | 13 | Gary Balough | Linro Motorsports | Buick | 58.611 | 153.555 |
| 36 | 53 | John Paul Jr. | Team Ireland | Chevrolet | 58.711 | 153.293 |
| 37 | 64 | Gary Wright | White Racing | Chevrolet | 58.747 | 153.199 |
| 38 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 59.347 | 151.650 |
| 39 | 35 | Bill Venturini | Venturini Motorsports | Chevrolet | 59.540 | 151.159 |
| 40 | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | 1:00.424 | 148.947 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 41 | 48 | James Hylton | Hylton Motorsports | Buick | 1:01.234 | 146.977 |
| 42 | 86 | Walter Surma | Surma Racing | Oldsmobile | 1:03.785 | 141.099 |
| 43 | 85 | Bobby Gerhart | Bobby Gerhart Racing | Chevrolet | - | - |
| Official first round qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 10 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Pontiac | 179 | 29 | running | 180 | $34,100 |
| 2 | 3 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 179 | 23 | running | 175 | $41,475 |
| 3 | 8 | 11 | Geoff Bodine | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 179 | 1 | running | 170 | $32,350 |
| 4 | 6 | 12 | Hut Stricklin | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Buick | 179 | 7 | running | 165 | $21,750 |
| 5 | 11 | 22 | Sterling Marlin | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 179 | 0 | running | 155 | $14,100 |
| 6 | 12 | 21 | Dale Jarrett | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 179 | 3 | running | 155 | $13,700 |
| 7 | 13 | 4 | Ernie Irvan | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 179 | 65 | running | 156 | $16,700 |
| 8 | 24 | 26 | Brett Bodine | King Racing | Buick | 179 | 0 | running | 142 | $11,500 |
| 9 | 4 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 178 | 0 | running | 138 | $15,000 |
| 10 | 19 | 75 | Joe Ruttman | RahMoc Enterprises | Oldsmobile | 178 | 0 | running | 134 | $12,650 |
| 11 | 22 | 68 | Bobby Hamilton (R) | TriStar Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 178 | 0 | running | 130 | $6,900 |
| 12 | 33 | 19 | Chad Little | Little Racing | Ford | 178 | 0 | running | 127 | $5,900 |
| 13 | 31 | 55 | Ted Musgrave (R) | U.S. Racing | Pontiac | 178 | 0 | running | 124 | $7,750 |
| 14 | 5 | 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 178 | 1 | running | 126 | $14,100 |
| 15 | 23 | 94 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 178 | 0 | running | 118 | $9,550 |
| 16 | 1 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 177 | 1 | running | 120 | $17,425 |
| 17 | 34 | 47 | Greg Sacks | Close Racing | Oldsmobile | 177 | 0 | running | 112 | $5,100 |
| 18 | 27 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 177 | 1 | running | 114 | $8,300 |
| 19 | 32 | 44 | Irv Hoerr | Labonte Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 177 | 0 | running | 106 | $4,850 |
| 20 | 7 | 5 | Ricky Rudd | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 177 | 0 | running | 103 | $12,725 |
| 21 | 38 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 176 | 1 | running | 105 | $4,500 |
| 22 | 16 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 175 | 0 | running | 97 | $15,350 |
| 23 | 2 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 171 | 47 | running | 99 | $9,650 |
| 24 | 25 | 8 | Rick Wilson | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 165 | 0 | running | 91 | $7,250 |
| 25 | 40 | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | 152 | 0 | running | 88 | $4,300 |
| 26 | 15 | 33 | Harry Gant | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 150 | 0 | running | 85 | $7,100 |
| 27 | 18 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Oldsmobile | 145 | 0 | brakes | 82 | $7,450 |
| 28 | 14 | 42 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | 132 | 0 | running | 79 | $11,050 |
| 29 | 9 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 115 | 0 | crash | 76 | $4,750 |
| 30 | 30 | 66 | Lake Speed | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Pontiac | 99 | 0 | valve | 73 | $6,650 |
| 31 | 17 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 97 | 0 | crash | 70 | $6,575 |
| 32 | 36 | 53 | John Paul Jr. | Team Ireland | Chevrolet | 77 | 0 | engine | 67 | $3,850 |
| 33 | 37 | 64 | Gary Wright | White Racing | Chevrolet | 63 | 0 | transmission | 64 | $3,750 |
| 34 | 26 | 15 | Morgan Shepherd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 38 | 0 | engine | 61 | $10,675 |
| 35 | 29 | 24 | Dick Trickle | Team III Racing | Pontiac | 29 | 0 | crash | 58 | $4,250 |
| 36 | 21 | 10 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Chevrolet | 20 | 0 | crash | 55 | $12,925 |
| 37 | 28 | 98 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Chevrolet | 20 | 0 | crash | 52 | $6,075 |
| 38 | 20 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 14 | 0 | crash | 49 | $6,010 |
| 39 | 39 | 35 | Bill Venturini | Venturini Motorsports | Chevrolet | 7 | 0 | drivetrain | 46 | $3,375 |
| 40 | 35 | 13 | Gary Balough | Linro Motorsports | Buick | 2 | 0 | crash | 43 | $3,300 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 41 | | 48 | James Hylton | Hylton Motorsports | Buick | | | | | |
| 42 | | 86 | Walter Surma | Surma Racing | Oldsmobile | | | | | |
| 43 | | 85 | Bobby Gerhart | Bobby Gerhart Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Dale Earnhardt | 2,450 |
| | 2 | Ricky Rudd | 2,310 (-140) |
| | 3 | Ernie Irvan | 2,295 (-155) |
| 1 | 4 | Davey Allison | 2,250 (–200) |
| 1 | 5 | Ken Schrader | 2,236 (–214) |
| 2 | 6 | Mark Martin | 2,160 (–290) |
| 1 | 7 | Darrell Waltrip | 2,136 (–314) |
| 1 | 8 | Harry Gant | 2,085 (–365) |
| 1 | 9 | Sterling Marlin | 1,996 (–454) |
| 2 | 10 | Rusty Wallace | 1,971 (–479) |
| Official driver's standings ||||