# 1987 Goodwrench 500

The 1987 Goodwrench 500 was the second stock car race of the 1987 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 22nd iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, March 1, 1987, before an audience of 38,500 in Rockingham, North Carolina, at North Carolina Motor Speedway, a 1.017 miles (1.637 km) permanent high-banked racetrack. The race took the scheduled 492 laps to complete.
At race's end, Richard Childress Racing's Dale Earnhardt, with assistance from crew chief Kirk Shelmerdine and his pit crew, managed to dominate the majority of the race, leading 319 laps. By the finish, Earnhardt had gained a 10.5 second lead over second place, gaining his 21st career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his first victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Bud Moore Engineering's Ricky Rudd and RahMoc Enterprises' Neil Bonnett finished 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 | Ron Bouchard | Ellington Racing | Chevrolet | Bull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce |
| 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Wrangler |
| 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Levi Garrett |
| 6 | D. K. Ulrich | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | U.S. Racing |
| 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | Zerex |
| 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | Miller American |
| 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | Coors |
| 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | Budweiser |
| 12 | David Sosebee | Hamby Racing | Chevrolet | Hamby Racing |
| 15 | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | Motorcraft Quality Parts |
| 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Tide |
| 18 | Tommy Ellis | Freedlander Motorsports | Chevrolet | Freedlander Financial |
| 21 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Citgo |
| 22 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | Miller American |
| 26 | Morgan Shepherd | King Racing | Buick | Quaker State |
| 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | Kodiak |
| 28 | Davey Allison (R) | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Ford | Ranier-Lundy Racing |
| 29 | Cale Yarborough | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Hardee's |
| 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Chevrolet | Domino's Pizza |
| 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | Skoal Bandit |
| 34 | Jesse Samples Jr. | AAG Racing | Chevrolet | AAG Racing |
| 35 | Benny Parsons | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Folgers |
| 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | Piedmont Airlines |
| 48 | James Hylton | Hylton Motorsports | Chevrolet | Fleet Service |
| 50 | Greg Sacks | Dingman Brothers Racing | Pontiac | Valvoline |
| 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | Turtle Wax |
| 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Copenhagen |
| 64 | Jerry Cranmer | Langley Racing | Ford | Sunny King Honda |
| 67 | Eddie Bierschwale | Arrington Racing | Ford | Pannill Sweatshirts |
| 68 | Jerry Holden | Holden Racing | Chevrolet | Altra-Dry |
| 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | Winkle Pontiac |
| 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Lifebuoy |
| 74 | Bobby Wawak | Wawak Racing | Chevrolet | Wawak Racing |
| 75 | Neil Bonnett | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | Valvoline |
| 81 | Chet Fillip | Fillip Racing | Ford | Marshall Batteries |
| 82 | Mark Stahl | Stahl Racing | Ford | Auto Bell Car Wash |
| 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | Wynn's/Kmart |
| 87 | Patrick Latimer | Buck Baker Racing | Chevrolet | Buck Baker Racing School |
| 88 | Buddy Baker | Baker–Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | Crisco |
| 90 | Ken Schrader | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Red Baron Frozen Pizza |
| 93 | Charlie Baker | Salmon Racing | Chevrolet | Salmon Racing |

## Qualifying

Qualifying was originally scheduled to be split into two rounds. The first round was held on Thursday, February 26, at 2:30 pm EST. Originally, the first 20 positions were going to be determined by first round qualifying, with positions 21–40 meant to be determined the following day on Friday, February 27. However, due to rain, the second round was cancelled. As a result, the rest of the starting lineup was set using the results from the first round. 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.
Davey Allison, driving for Ranier-Lundy Racing, managed to win the pole, setting a time of 24.908 and an average speed of 146.989 miles per hour (236.556 km/h).
No drivers failed to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 28 | Davey Allison (R) | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Ford | 24.908 | 146.989 |
| 2 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 24.988 | 146.518 |
| 3 | 90 | Ken Schrader | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 25.012 | 146.378 |
| 4 | 35 | Benny Parsons | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 25.026 | 146.296 |
| 5 | 15 | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 25.052 | 146.144 |
| 6 | 75 | Neil Bonnett | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 25.069 | 146.045 |
| 7 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 25.139 | 145.638 |
| 8 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 25.218 | 145.182 |
| 9 | 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 25.243 | 145.030 |
| 10 | 88 | Buddy Baker | Baker–Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | 25.288 | 144.780 |
| 11 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 25.308 | 144.666 |
| 12 | 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 25.311 | 144.649 |
| 13 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 25.333 | 144.523 |
| 14 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 25.353 | 144.409 |
| 15 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 25.376 | 144.278 |
| 16 | 26 | Morgan Shepherd | King Racing | Buick | 25.385 | 144.227 |
| 17 | 22 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 25.388 | 144.210 |
| 18 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Chevrolet | 25.413 | 144.068 |
| 19 | 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | 25.440 | 143.915 |
| 20 | 21 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 25.445 | 143.887 |
| 21 | 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 25.448 | 143.870 |
| 22 | 18 | Tommy Ellis | Freedlander Motorsports | Chevrolet | 25.488 | 143.466 |
| 23 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 25.562 | 143.228 |
| 24 | 29 | Cale Yarborough | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 25.578 | 143.139 |
| 25 | 50 | Greg Sacks | Dingman Brothers Racing | Pontiac | 25.589 | 143.077 |
| 26 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 25.713 | 142.387 |
| 27 | 34 | Jesse Samples Jr. | AAG Racing | Chevrolet | 25.756 | 142.149 |
| 28 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 25.771 | 142.067 |
| 29 | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | 26.025 | 140.680 |
| 30 | 81 | Chet Fillip | Fillip Racing | Ford | 26.089 | 140.335 |
| 31 | 1 | Ron Bouchard | Ellington Racing | Chevrolet | 26.322 | 139.039 |
| 32 | 67 | Eddie Bierschwale | Arrington Racing | Ford | 26.402 | 138.671 |
| 33 | 82 | Mark Stahl | Stahl Racing | Ford | 26.599 | 137.644 |
| 34 | 74 | Bobby Wawak | Wawak Racing | Chevrolet | 26.680 | 137.226 |
| 35 | 64 | Jerry Cranmer | Langley Racing | Ford | 26.730 | 136.970 |
| 36 | 12 | David Sosebee | Hamby Racing | Chevrolet | 26.919 | 136.008 |
| 37 | 93 | Charlie Baker | Salmon Racing | Chevrolet | 27.162 | 134.791 |
| 38 | 87 | Patrick Latimer | Buck Baker Racing | Chevrolet | 27.753 | 131.921 |
| 39 | 68 | Jerry Holden | Holden Racing | Chevrolet | 28.367 | 129.065 |
| Qualified via current driver's points |||||||
| 40 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | – | – |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 41 | 6 | D. K. Ulrich | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | – | – |
| 42 | 48 | James Hylton | Hylton Motorsports | Chevrolet | – | – |
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 14 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 492 | 319 | running | 185 | $53,900 |
| 2 | 5 | 15 | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 492 | 70 | running | 175 | $28,135 |
| 3 | 6 | 75 | Neil Bonnett | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 492 | 36 | running | 170 | $17,875 |
| 4 | 7 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 492 | 0 | running | 160 | $17,405 |
| 5 | 16 | 26 | Morgan Shepherd | King Racing | Buick | 491 | 12 | running | 160 | $12,010 |
| 6 | 23 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 491 | 0 | running | 150 | $14,160 |
| 7 | 8 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 490 | 0 | running | 146 | $5,060 |
| 8 | 9 | 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 490 | 0 | running | 142 | $13,510 |
| 9 | 1 | 28 | Davey Allison (R) | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Ford | 490 | 29 | running | 143 | $8,260 |
| 10 | 3 | 90 | Ken Schrader | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 489 | 1 | running | 139 | $10,035 |
| 11 | 21 | 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 488 | 0 | running | 130 | $5,020 |
| 12 | 19 | 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | 487 | 1 | running | 132 | $3,820 |
| 13 | 17 | 22 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 487 | 0 | running | 124 | $10,620 |
| 14 | 15 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 486 | 0 | running | 121 | $10,420 |
| 15 | 13 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 486 | 0 | running | 118 | $8,175 |
| 16 | 20 | 21 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 482 | 0 | running | 115 | $7,025 |
| 17 | 18 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Chevrolet | 479 | 0 | running | 112 | $6,755 |
| 18 | 32 | 67 | Eddie Bierschwale | Arrington Racing | Ford | 477 | 0 | running | 109 | $6,445 |
| 19 | 12 | 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 476 | 0 | running | 106 | $5,985 |
| 20 | 29 | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | 474 | 0 | running | 103 | $3,920 |
| 21 | 37 | 93 | Charlie Baker | Salmon Racing | Chevrolet | 463 | 0 | running | 100 | $2,265 |
| 22 | 26 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 461 | 0 | running | 97 | $5,395 |
| 23 | 35 | 64 | Jerry Cranmer | Langley Racing | Ford | 461 | 0 | running | 94 | $5,160 |
| 24 | 30 | 81 | Chet Fillip | Fillip Racing | Ford | 441 | 0 | running | 91 | $2,040 |
| 25 | 40 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 440 | 0 | running | 88 | $5,840 |
| 26 | 41 | 6 | D. K. Ulrich | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | 435 | 0 | running | 85 | $4,680 |
| 27 | 34 | 74 | Bobby Wawak | Wawak Racing | Chevrolet | 418 | 0 | running | 82 | $1,865 |
| 28 | 24 | 29 | Cale Yarborough | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 339 | 0 | transmission | 79 | $1,815 |
| 29 | 11 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 335 | 0 | engine | 76 | $4,495 |
| 30 | 25 | 50 | Greg Sacks | Dingman Brothers Racing | Pontiac | 319 | 0 | crash | 73 | $1,690 |
| 31 | 10 | 88 | Buddy Baker | Baker–Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | 243 | 1 | engine | 75 | $1,600 |
| 32 | 2 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 228 | 2 | engine | 72 | $8,800 |
| 33 | 33 | 82 | Mark Stahl | Stahl Racing | Ford | 127 | 0 | overheating | 64 | $1,480 |
| 34 | 4 | 35 | Benny Parsons | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 79 | 21 | engine | 66 | $10,630 |
| 35 | 28 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 79 | 0 | crash | 58 | $4,115 |
| 36 | 31 | 1 | Ron Bouchard | Ellington Racing | Chevrolet | 79 | 0 | crash | 55 | $1,350 |
| 37 | 42 | 48 | James Hylton | Hylton Motorsports | Chevrolet | 79 | 0 | crash | 52 | $1,325 |
| 38 | 22 | 18 | Tommy Ellis | Freedlander Motorsports | Chevrolet | 78 | 0 | crash | 49 | $3,300 |
| 39 | 36 | 12 | David Sosebee | Hamby Racing | Chevrolet | 69 | 0 | crash | 46 | $3,275 |
| 40 | 38 | 87 | Patrick Latimer | Buck Baker Racing | Chevrolet | 38 | 0 | crash | 43 | $1,250 |
| 41 | 27 | 34 | Jesse Samples Jr. | AAG Racing | Chevrolet | 8 | 0 | crash | 40 | $1,250 |
| 42 | 39 | 68 | Jerry Holden | Holden Racing | Chevrolet | 8 | 0 | engine | 37 | $1,250 |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| 4 | 1 | Dale Earnhardt | 345 |
| 1 | 2 | Bill Elliott | 345 (−0) |
| 6 | 3 | Ricky Rudd | 313 (−32) |
| 7 | 4 | Neil Bonnett | 302 (−43) |
| 3 | 5 | Darrell Waltrip | 293 (−52) |
| | 6 | Ken Schrader | 290 (−55) |
| 4 | 7 | Richard Petty | 288 (−57) |
| 8 | 8 | Morgan Shepherd | 275 (−70) |
| 2 | 9 | Bobby Allison | 274 (−71) |
| 2 | 10 | Phil Parsons | 260 (−85) |
| Official driver's standings ||||