# 1991 GM Goodwrench 500

The 1991 GM Goodwrench 500 was the third stock car race of the 1991 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 26th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, March 3, 1991, in Rockingham, North Carolina, at North Carolina Speedway, a 1.017 miles (1.637 km) permanent high-banked racetrack. With the assist of a late caution with 14 laps to go in the race, SABCO Racing driver Kyle Petty would manage to catch up and pass for the lead on the ensuing restart with 11 laps to go to take his fourth career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his only victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Hendrick Motorsports driver Ken Schrader and Leo Jackson Motorsports driver Harry Gant would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

North Carolina Motor Speedway was opened as a flat, one-mile oval on October 31, 1965. In 1969, the track was extensively reconfigured to a high-banked, D-shaped oval just over one mile in length. In 1997, North Carolina Motor Speedway merged with Penske Motorsports, and was renamed North Carolina Speedway. Shortly thereafter, the infield was reconfigured, and competition on the infield road course, mostly by the SCCA, was discontinued. Currently, the track is home to the Fast Track High Performance Driving School.

### 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 |
| 04 | Bill Meacham | Meacham Racing | Oldsmobile | Meacham Racing |
| 5 | Ricky Rudd | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Tide |
| 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | Folgers |
| 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | AK Racing |
| 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 | Mike Skinner | Mansion Motorsports | Chevrolet | Glidden |
| 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 |
| 20 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Moroso Racing | Oldsmobile | Rob Moroso Memorial |
| 21 | Dale Jarrett | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Citgo |
| 22 | Sterling Marlin | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | Maxwell House |
| 24 | Mickey Gibbs | 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 |
| 29 | Andy Hillenburg | Andy Hillenburg Racing | Buick | Max Xorb |
| 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | Pennzoil |
| 33 | Harry Gant | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Skoal Bandit |
| 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | Mello Yello |
| 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 47 | Rich Bickle | Close Racing | Oldsmobile | Kanawha Insurance |
| 49 | Stanley Smith (R) | BS&S Motorsports | Buick | Interstate Batteries |
| 51 | Jeff Purvis (R) | Phoenix Racing | Oldsmobile | PlastiKote |
| 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | Alka-Seltzer |
| 55 | Ted Musgrave (R) | U.S. Racing | Pontiac | U.S. Racing |
| 64 | Gary Wright | White Racing | Chevrolet | Action Rent-to-Own |
| 66 | Dick Trickle | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Pontiac | Phillips 66 TropArtic |
| 68 | Bobby Hamilton (R) | TriStar Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Country Time |
| 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | Rumple Furniture |
| 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Big Apple Market |
| 75 | Joe Ruttman | RahMoc Enterprises | Oldsmobile | Dinner Bell Foods |
| 82 | Mark Stahl | Stahl Racing | Ford | Hooters |
| 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 Thursday, February 28, at 2:30 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, March 1, 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. 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.
Kyle Petty, driving for SABCO Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 24.538 and an average speed of 149.205 miles per hour (240.122 km/h) in the first round.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | 24.538 | 149.205 |
| 2 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 24.540 | 149.193 |
| 3 | 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 24.621 | 148.702 |
| 4 | 33 | Harry Gant | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 24.631 | 148.642 |
| 5 | 5 | Ricky Rudd | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 24.664 | 148.443 |
| 6 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 24.696 | 148.251 |
| 7 | 11 | Geoff Bodine | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 24.724 | 148.083 |
| 8 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 24.727 | 148.065 |
| 9 | 8 | Rick Wilson | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 24.807 | 147.587 |
| 10 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Pontiac | 24.807 | 147.587 |
| 11 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Oldsmobile | 24.811 | 147.563 |
| 12 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 24.844 | 147.368 |
| 13 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 24.849 | 147.338 |
| 14 | 10 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Chevrolet | 24.854 | 147.308 |
| 15 | 4 | Ernie Irvan | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 24.857 | 147.291 |
| 16 | 26 | Brett Bodine | King Racing | Buick | 24.866 | 147.237 |
| 17 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 24.885 | 147.125 |
| 18 | 21 | Dale Jarrett | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 24.895 | 147.066 |
| 19 | 68 | Bobby Hamilton (R) | TriStar Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 24.917 | 146.936 |
| 20 | 15 | Morgan Shepherd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 24.964 | 146.659 |
| Failed to lock in Round 1 |||||||
| 21 | 22 | Sterling Marlin | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 24.967 | 146.642 |
| 22 | 66 | Dick Trickle | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Pontiac | 24.969 | 146.630 |
| 23 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 24.985 | 146.536 |
| 24 | 94 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 24.990 | 146.507 |
| 25 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 24.993 | 146.489 |
| 26 | 20 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Moroso Racing | Oldsmobile | 25.009 | 146.395 |
| 27 | 19 | Chad Little | Little Racing | Ford | 25.026 | 146.296 |
| 28 | 24 | Mickey Gibbs | Team III Racing | Pontiac | 25.033 | 146.255 |
| 29 | 98 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Chevrolet | 25.049 | 146.162 |
| 30 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 25.123 | 145.731 |
| 31 | 12 | Hut Stricklin | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Buick | 25.282 | 144.814 |
| 32 | 29 | Andy Hillenburg | Andy Hillenburg Racing | Buick | 25.317 | 144.614 |
| 33 | 51 | Jeff Purvis (R) | Phoenix Racing | Oldsmobile | 25.420 | 144.028 |
| 34 | 49 | Stanley Smith (R) | BS&S Motorsports | Buick | 25.488 | 143.644 |
| 35 | 75 | Joe Ruttman | RahMoc Enterprises | Oldsmobile | 25.497 | 143.593 |
| 36 | 47 | Rich Bickle | Close Racing | Oldsmobile | 25.531 | 143.402 |
| 37 | 13 | Mike Skinner | Mansion Motorsports | Chevrolet | 25.818 | 141.808 |
| 38 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 26.021 | 140.702 |
| 39 | 04 | Bill Meacham | Meacham Racing | Oldsmobile | 26.057 | 140.507 |
| 40 | 55 | Ted Musgrave (R) | U.S. Racing | Pontiac | 26.146 | 140.029 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 41 | 82 | Mark Stahl | Stahl Racing | Ford | 26.197 | 139.756 |
| 42 | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | 26.409 | 138.635 |
| 43 | 64 | Gary Wright | White Racing | Chevrolet | 27.620 | 132.556 |
| Official first round qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 1 | 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | 492 | 380 | running | 185 | $131,450 |
| 2 | 2 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 492 | 40 | running | 175 | $34,575 |
| 3 | 4 | 33 | Harry Gant | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 491 | 0 | running | 165 | $23,950 |
| 4 | 5 | 5 | Ricky Rudd | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 491 | 0 | running | 160 | $20,250 |
| 5 | 12 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 491 | 10 | running | 160 | $21,275 |
| 6 | 15 | 4 | Ernie Irvan | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 490 | 0 | running | 150 | $15,900 |
| 7 | 6 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 490 | 0 | running | 146 | $12,400 |
| 8 | 13 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 489 | 0 | running | 142 | $18,850 |
| 9 | 17 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 488 | 0 | running | 138 | $7,700 |
| 10 | 20 | 15 | Morgan Shepherd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 488 | 0 | running | 134 | $17,500 |
| 11 | 18 | 21 | Dale Jarrett | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 488 | 0 | running | 130 | $11,100 |
| 12 | 7 | 11 | Geoff Bodine | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 488 | 0 | running | 127 | $15,600 |
| 13 | 16 | 26 | Brett Bodine | King Racing | Buick | 487 | 0 | running | 124 | $10,500 |
| 14 | 23 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 486 | 0 | running | 121 | $15,400 |
| 15 | 25 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 486 | 0 | running | 118 | $9,900 |
| 16 | 3 | 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 486 | 0 | running | 115 | $14,700 |
| 17 | 8 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 485 | 0 | running | 112 | $12,800 |
| 18 | 26 | 20 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Moroso Racing | Oldsmobile | 485 | 0 | running | 109 | $7,200 |
| 19 | 9 | 8 | Rick Wilson | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 485 | 0 | running | 106 | $8,650 |
| 20 | 28 | 24 | Mickey Gibbs | Team III Racing | Pontiac | 484 | 0 | running | 103 | $6,300 |
| 21 | 19 | 68 | Bobby Hamilton (R) | TriStar Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 484 | 0 | running | 100 | $5,700 |
| 22 | 27 | 19 | Chad Little | Little Racing | Ford | 483 | 0 | running | 97 | $5,950 |
| 23 | 30 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 482 | 1 | running | 99 | $7,700 |
| 24 | 35 | 75 | Joe Ruttman | RahMoc Enterprises | Oldsmobile | 481 | 0 | running | 91 | $7,550 |
| 25 | 40 | 55 | Ted Musgrave (R) | U.S. Racing | Pontiac | 481 | 0 | running | 88 | $5,700 |
| 26 | 36 | 47 | Rich Bickle | Close Racing | Oldsmobile | 480 | 0 | running | 85 | $5,150 |
| 27 | 38 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 472 | 0 | running | 82 | $5,000 |
| 28 | 10 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Pontiac | 467 | 61 | engine | 84 | $15,500 |
| 29 | 22 | 66 | Dick Trickle | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Pontiac | 448 | 0 | running | 76 | $6,875 |
| 30 | 11 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Oldsmobile | 421 | 0 | engine | 73 | $6,800 |
| 31 | 31 | 12 | Hut Stricklin | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Buick | 400 | 0 | running | 70 | $7,150 |
| 32 | 37 | 13 | Mike Skinner | Mansion Motorsports | Chevrolet | 338 | 0 | running | 67 | $3,900 |
| 33 | 21 | 22 | Sterling Marlin | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 287 | 0 | engine | 64 | $3,750 |
| 34 | 14 | 10 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Chevrolet | 287 | 0 | engine | 61 | $12,100 |
| 35 | 33 | 51 | Jeff Purvis (R) | Phoenix Racing | Oldsmobile | 165 | 0 | camshaft | 58 | $3,600 |
| 36 | 39 | 04 | Bill Meacham | Meacham Racing | Oldsmobile | 115 | 0 | ignition | 55 | $3,525 |
| 37 | 34 | 49 | Stanley Smith (R) | BS&S Motorsports | Buick | 25 | 0 | overheating | 52 | $3,475 |
| 38 | 29 | 98 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Chevrolet | 19 | 0 | crash | 49 | $6,060 |
| 39 | 24 | 94 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 14 | 0 | crash | 46 | $5,425 |
| 40 | 32 | 29 | Andy Hillenburg | Andy Hillenburg Racing | Buick | 6 | 0 | engine | 43 | $3,400 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 41 | | 82 | Mark Stahl | Stahl Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 42 | | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 43 | | 64 | Gary Wright | White Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Dale Earnhardt | 482 |
| | 2 | Ricky Rudd | 478 (-4) |
| 3 | 3 | Harry Gant | 423 (-59) |
| | 4 | Alan Kulwicki | 414 (–68) |
| | 5 | Ernie Irvan | 412 (–70) |
| 14 | 6 | Kyle Petty | 398 (–84) |
| 6 | 7 | Darrell Waltrip | 385 (–97) |
| 1 | 8 | Dale Jarrett | 380 (–102) |
| 13 | 9 | Ken Schrader | 379 (–103) |
| 7 | 10 | Sterling Marlin | 377 (–105) |
| Official driver's standings ||||