# 1989 Daytona 500

The 1989 Daytona 500 was the first stock car race of the 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 31st iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, February 19, 1989, before an audience of 150,000 in Daytona Beach, Florida at Daytona International Speedway, a 2.5 miles (4.0 km) permanent triangular-shaped superspeedway. The race took the scheduled 200 laps to complete. Gambling on fuel mileage, Hendrick Motorsports driver Darrell Waltrip would manage to run the last 53 laps on one tank of fuel to take his 74th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory, his first and only Daytona 500 victory, and his first victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Hendrick Motorsports driver Ken Schrader and Richard Childress Racing driver Dale Earnhardt would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

Daytona International Speedway is one of three superspeedways to hold NASCAR races, the other two being Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway. The standard track at Daytona International Speedway is a four-turn superspeedway that is 2.5 miles (4.0 km) long. The track's turns are banked at 31 degrees, while the front stretch, the location of the finish line, is banked at 18 degrees.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 0 | Delma Cowart | H. L. Waters Racing | Chevrolet | J. W. Exley Lumber |
| 1 | Doug Heveron | Ellington Racing | Buick | Ellington Racing |
| 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 | Ken Bouchard | Whitcomb Racing | Pontiac | Simoniz |
| 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 | Ronnie Sanders | Gray Racing | Chevrolet | Hamby Chevrolet |
| 21 | Neil Bonnett | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Citgo |
| 23 | Eddie Bierschwale | B&B Racing | Oldsmobile | Peak Antifreeze |
| 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 |
| 31 | Jim Sauter | Bob Clark Motorsports | Pontiac | Slender You Figure Salons |
| 32 | Philip Duffie | Duffie Racing | Buick | Bob Beard Buick |
| 33 | Harry Gant | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Skoal Bandit |
| 34 | Charlie Glotzbach | AAG Racing | Buick | Allen's Glass |
| 39 | Ricky Woodward | Wangerin Racing | Ford | Moen Incorporated |
| 40 | Ben Hess (R) | Hess Racing | Oldsmobile | Hess Racing |
| 41 | Jim Bown | Bown Racing | Chevrolet | Rose Auto Wrecking |
| 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | Peak Antifreeze |
| 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 45 | Joe Ruttman | CalCar Motorsports | Pontiac | Schaefer Beer, Machinists Union |
| 48 | Mickey Gibbs (R) | Winkle Motorsports | Pontiac | GMAC |
| 49 | Tony Spanos | Hylton Motorsports | Buick | Hylton Motorsports |
| 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 |
| 59 | Mark Gibson | Gibson Racing | Pontiac | Ingalls Construction |
| 66 | Rick Mast (R) | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | Mach 1 Racing |
| 67 | Brad Teague | Arrington Racing | Pontiac | Arrington Racing |
| 68 | Derrike Cope | Testa Racing | Pontiac | Purolator |
| 69 | Lee Raymond | LC Racing | Ford | LC Racing |
| 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | Rumple Furniture |
| 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Lifebuoy |
| 73 | Phil Barkdoll | Barkdoll Racing | Oldsmobile | Barkdoll Racing |
| 74 | Randy LaJoie | Wawak Racing | Pontiac | Wawak Racing |
| 75 | Morgan Shepherd | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | Valvoline |
| 77 | Connie Saylor | Ragan Racing | Ford | Ragan Racing |
| 80 | Jimmy Horton | S&H Racing | Pontiac | Miles Concrete |
| 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | Kraft Dinner |
| 84 | Mike Alexander | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | Miller High Life |
| 85 | Bobby Gerhart | Bobby Gerhart Racing | Chevrolet | James Chevrolet |
| 88 | Greg Sacks | Baker–Schiff Racing | Pontiac | Crisco |
| 89 | Rodney Combs | Mueller Brothers Racing | Pontiac | Evinrude Outboard Motors |
| 90 | Chad Little (R) | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Purolator |
| 93 | Charlie Baker | Salmon Racing | Chevrolet | Salmon Racing |
| 94 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | Sunoco |
| 95 | Trevor Boys | Sadler Racing | Chevrolet | Sadler Racing |

## Qualifying

Qualifying was set by the 1989 Twin 125 Qualifiers. The top two positions were set by qualifying speeds held for the Twin 125 Qualifiers held on Saturday, February 11, with the top two qualifiers in the session earning the top two positions for the Daytona 500. The rest of the starting was set in the Twin 125 Qualifiers, held on Thursday, February 16 during two races. The top 14 finishers in the first race, excluding the pole position winner, would set the inside row from rows two to 15, and the top 14 finishers in the second race, excluding the outside pole position winner, would set the outside row from rows two to 15. The remaining non-qualifiers would set positions 31-40 based on qualifying speeds from the first qualifying session held on Saturday. If needed, up to two extra provisionals were given to teams high enough in the previous season's owner's standings that did not qualify for the race by either qualifying speed or from the Twin 125 Qualifiers.
Ken Schrader, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would win the pole, setting a time of 45.686 and an average speed of 196.996 miles per hour (317.034 km/h) in Saturday's session.
18 drivers would fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Reason |
| 1 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Qualified on pole |
| 2 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Qualified on outside pole |
| 3 | 75 | Morgan Shepherd | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | Second in Twin 125 #1 |
| 4 | 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | First in Twin 125 #2 |
| 5 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | Third in Twin 125 #1 |
| 6 | 94 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | Second in Twin 125 #2 |
| 7 | 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Fourth in Twin 125 #1 |
| 8 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Third in Twin 125 #2 |
| 9 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | Fifth in Twin 125 #1 |
| 10 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Fourth in Twin 125 #2 |
| 11 | 66 | Rick Mast (R) | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | Sixth in Twin 125 #1 |
| 12 | 33 | Harry Gant | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Fifth in Twin 125 #2 |
| 13 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | Seventh in Twin 125 #1 |
| 14 | 16 | Larry Pearson (R) | Pearson Racing | Buick | Sixth in Twin 125 #2 |
| 15 | 10 | Ken Bouchard | Whitcomb Racing | Pontiac | Eighth in Twin 125 #1 |
| 16 | 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Seventh in Twin 125 #2 |
| 17 | 45 | Joe Ruttman | CalCar Motorsports | Pontiac | Ninth in Twin 125 #1 |
| 18 | 15 | Brett Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | Ninth in Twin 125 #2 |
| 19 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Tenth in Twin 125 #1 |
| 20 | 29 | Dale Jarrett | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Pontiac | Tenth in Twin 125 #2 |
| 21 | 69 | Lee Raymond | LC Racing | Ford | 11th in Twin 125 #1 |
| 22 | 84 | Mike Alexander | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 11th in Twin 125 #2 |
| 23 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 12th in Twin 125 #1 |
| 24 | 14 | A. J. Foyt | A. J. Foyt Racing | Oldsmobile | 12th in Twin 125 #2 |
| 25 | 93 | Charlie Baker | Salmon Racing | Chevrolet | 13th in Twin 125 #1 |
| 26 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 13th in Twin 125 #2 |
| 27 | 19 | Ronnie Sanders | Gray Racing | Chevrolet | 14th in Twin 125 #1 |
| 28 | 90 | Chad Little (R) | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 14th in Twin 125 #2 |
| 29 | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | 15th in Twin 125 #1 |
| 30 | 89 | Rodney Combs | Mueller Brothers Racing | Pontiac | 15th in Twin 125 #2 |
| 31 | 73 | Phil Barkdoll | Barkdoll Racing | Oldsmobile | Speed provisional (191.906) |
| 32 | 40 | Ben Hess (R) | Hess Racing | Oldsmobile | Speed provisional (191.217) |
| 33 | 2 | Ernie Irvan | U.S. Racing | Pontiac | Speed provisional (190.585) |
| 34 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | Owner's points provisional |
| 35 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | Speed provisional (190.694) |
| 36 | 26 | Ricky Rudd | King Racing | Buick | Owner's points provisional |
| 37 | 88 | Greg Sacks | Baker–Schiff Racing | Pontiac | Speed provisional (190.521) |
| 38 | 21 | Neil Bonnett | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Speed provisional (194.611) |
| 39 | 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | Speed provisional (192.230) |
| 40 | 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Speed provisional (192.287) |
| 41 | 23 | Eddie Bierschwale | B&B Racing | Oldsmobile | Speed provisional (191.583) |
| 42 | 67 | Mickey Gibbs (R) | Arrington Racing | Pontiac | Speed provisional (190.428) |
| Failed to qualify or withdrew ||||||
| 43 | 74 | Randy LaJoie | Wawak Racing | Pontiac | 16th in Twin 125 #1 |
| 44 | 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | 17th in Twin 125 #2 |
| 45 | 57 | Hut Stricklin (R) | Osterlund Racing | Pontiac | 17th in Twin 125 #1 |
| 46 | 59 | Mark Gibson | Gibson Racing | Pontiac | 18th in Twin 125 #1 |
| 47 | 41 | Jim Bown | Bown Racing | Chevrolet | 18th in Twin 125 #2 |
| 48 | 77 | Connie Saylor | Ragan Racing | Ford | 19th in Twin 125 #2 |
| 49 | 80 | Jimmy Horton | S&H Racing | Pontiac | 19th in Twin 125 #1 |
| 50 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 20th in Twin 125 #2 |
| 51 | 34 | Charlie Glotzbach | AAG Racing | Buick | 25th in Twin 125 #1 |
| 52 | 85 | Bobby Gerhart | Bobby Gerhart Racing | Chevrolet | 22nd in Twin 125 #2 |
| 53 | 49 | Tony Spanos | Hylton Motorsports | Buick | 26th in Twin 125 #1 |
| 54 | 31 | Jim Sauter | Bob Clark Motorsports | Pontiac | 23rd in Twin 125 #2 |
| 55 | 0 | Delma Cowart | H. L. Waters Racing | Chevrolet | 27th in Twin 125 #1 |
| 56 | 68 | Derrike Cope | Testa Racing | Pontiac | 24th in Twin 125 #2 |
| 57 | 32 | Philip Duffie | Duffie Racing | Buick | 25th in Twin 125 #2 |
| 58 | 95 | Trevor Boys | Sadler Racing | Chevrolet | 27th in Twin 125 #2 |
| 59 | 1 | Doug Heveron | Ellington Racing | Buick | 29th in Twin 125 #2 |
| 60 | 39 | Ricky Woodward | Wangerin Racing | Ford | 30th in Twin 125 #2 |
| WD | 48 | Mickey Gibbs (R) | Winkle Motorsports | Pontiac | Lack of backup car |
| Official Twin 125 Qualifiers results ||||||
| Official starting lineup ||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 2 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 25 | running | 180 | $184,900 |
| 2 | 1 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 114 | running | 180 | $182,700 |
| 3 | 8 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 200 | 3 | running | 170 | $95,550 |
| 4 | 10 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 9 | running | 165 | $79,250 |
| 5 | 7 | 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 200 | 12 | running | 160 | $70,325 |
| 6 | 11 | 66 | Rick Mast (R) | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 200 | 9 | running | 155 | $52,525 |
| 7 | 9 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 200 | 6 | running | 151 | $52,325 |
| 8 | 40 | 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 200 | 7 | running | 147 | $47,325 |
| 9 | 4 | 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 200 | 3 | running | 143 | $68,400 |
| 10 | 41 | 23 | Eddie Bierschwale | B&B Racing | Oldsmobile | 200 | 2 | running | 139 | $31,725 |
| 11 | 6 | 94 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 199 | 0 | running | 130 | $47,325 |
| 12 | 12 | 33 | Harry Gant | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 199 | 0 | running | 127 | $30,000 |
| 13 | 17 | 45 | Joe Ruttman | CalCar Motorsports | Pontiac | 199 | 0 | running | 0 | $24,505 |
| 14 | 14 | 16 | Larry Pearson (R) | Pearson Racing | Buick | 199 | 0 | running | 121 | $23,915 |
| 15 | 3 | 75 | Morgan Shepherd | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 199 | 0 | running | 118 | $44,900 |
| 16 | 15 | 10 | Ken Bouchard | Whitcomb Racing | Pontiac | 198 | 0 | running | 115 | $23,180 |
| 17 | 34 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 198 | 0 | running | 112 | $19,335 |
| 18 | 35 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 197 | 0 | running | 109 | $24,790 |
| 19 | 36 | 26 | Ricky Rudd | King Racing | Buick | 197 | 2 | running | 111 | $19,120 |
| 20 | 19 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 197 | 1 | running | 108 | $20,785 |
| 21 | 23 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 197 | 1 | running | 105 | $18,825 |
| 22 | 32 | 40 | Ben Hess (R) | Hess Racing | Oldsmobile | 196 | 0 | running | 97 | $14,300 |
| 23 | 37 | 88 | Greg Sacks | Baker–Schiff Racing | Pontiac | 196 | 0 | running | 94 | $15,595 |
| 24 | 29 | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | 193 | 0 | running | 91 | $13,640 |
| 25 | 16 | 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 193 | 0 | running | 88 | $22,985 |
| 26 | 21 | 69 | Lee Raymond | LC Racing | Ford | 189 | 0 | running | 0 | $13,530 |
| 27 | 22 | 84 | Mike Alexander | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 188 | 0 | running | 82 | $16,275 |
| 28 | 27 | 19 | Ronnie Sanders | Gray Racing | Chevrolet | 184 | 0 | running | 79 | $12,570 |
| 29 | 18 | 15 | Brett Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 177 | 0 | valve | 76 | $16,015 |
| 30 | 39 | 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | 150 | 0 | running | 73 | $14,010 |
| 31 | 31 | 73 | Phil Barkdoll | Barkdoll Racing | Oldsmobile | 143 | 2 | accident | 75 | $10,855 |
| 32 | 20 | 29 | Dale Jarrett | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Pontiac | 131 | 0 | running | 67 | $15,000 |
| 33 | 5 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 110 | 0 | accident | 64 | $23,445 |
| 34 | 42 | 67 | Mickey Gibbs (R) | Arrington Racing | Pontiac | 76 | 0 | engine | 61 | $9,940 |
| 35 | 13 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 72 | 0 | accident | 58 | $24,310 |
| 36 | 28 | 90 | Chad Little (R) | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 72 | 0 | accident | 55 | $11,605 |
| 37 | 30 | 89 | Rodney Combs | Mueller Brothers Racing | Pontiac | 72 | 0 | accident | 52 | $10,650 |
| 38 | 24 | 14 | A. J. Foyt | A. J. Foyt Racing | Oldsmobile | 41 | 4 | shocks | 54 | $11,970 |
| 39 | 26 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 39 | 0 | accident | 46 | $13,335 |
| 40 | 25 | 93 | Charlie Baker | Salmon Racing | Chevrolet | 39 | 0 | accident | 43 | $10,450 |
| 41 | 33 | 2 | Ernie Irvan | U.S. Racing | Pontiac | 8 | 0 | engine | 40 | $9,275 |
| 42 | 38 | 21 | Neil Bonnett | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 2 | 0 | oil line | 37 | $11,800 |
| Failed to qualify or withdrew |||||||||||
| 43 | | 74 | Randy LaJoie | Wawak Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 44 | | 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 45 | | 57 | Hut Stricklin (R) | Osterlund Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 46 | | 59 | Mark Gibson | Gibson Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 47 | | 41 | Jim Bown | Bown Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 48 | | 77 | Connie Saylor | Ragan Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 49 | | 80 | Jimmy Horton | S&H Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 50 | | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 51 | | 34 | Charlie Glotzbach | AAG Racing | Buick | | | | | |
| 52 | | 85 | Bobby Gerhart | Bobby Gerhart Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 53 | | 49 | Tony Spanos | Hylton Motorsports | Buick | | | | | |
| 54 | | 31 | Jim Sauter | Bob Clark Motorsports | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 55 | | 0 | Delma Cowart | H. L. Waters Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 56 | | 68 | Derrike Cope | Testa Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 57 | | 32 | Philip Duffie | Duffie Racing | Buick | | | | | |
| 58 | | 95 | Trevor Boys | Sadler Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 59 | | 1 | Doug Heveron | Ellington Racing | Buick | | | | | |
| 60 | | 39 | Ricky Woodward | Wangerin Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| WD | | 48 | Mickey Gibbs (R) | Winkle Motorsports | Pontiac | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Darrell Waltrip | 180 (1st) |
| | 2 | Ken Schrader | 180 (2nd) |
| | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | 170 (-10) |
| | 4 | Geoff Bodine | 165 (–15) |
| | 5 | Phil Parsons | 160 (–20) |
| | 6 | Rick Mast | 155 (–25) |
| | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | 151 (–29) |
| | 8 | Rick Wilson | 147 (–34) |
| | 9 | Terry Labonte | 143 (–37) |
| | 10 | Eddie Bierschwale | 139 (–41) |
| Official driver's standings ||||