# 1988 AC Delco 500

The 1988 AC Delco 500 was the 27th stock car race of the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 24th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, October 23, 1988, before an audience of 52,400 in Rockingham, North Carolina, at North Carolina Speedway, a 1.017 miles (1.637 km) permanent high-banked racetrack.
Coming back from a two-lap deficit, Blue Max Racing's Rusty Wallace managed to gain the laps back late in the first half of the race. Afterwards, he proceeded to dominate most of the second half of the race, leading 182 of the last 189 laps to take his ninth career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory, his fifth victory of the season, and his third consecutive victory. To fill out the top three, King Racing's Ricky Rudd and Junior Johnson & Associates' Terry Labonte finished second and third, respectively.
In the driver's championship for the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, Wallace was able to gain 10 points on championship leader Bill Elliott, dropping Wallace's deficit down to 79 points.

## 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 |
| 2 | Ernie Irvan (R) | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | Kroger |
| 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | GM Goodwrench Service |
| 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Kodak |
| 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Levi Garrett |
| 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | Stroh Light |
| 06 | Lee Raymond | Coyle Racing | Chevrolet | Riverside Auto Parts |
| 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 (R) | Whitcomb Racing | Ford | Whitcomb Racing |
| 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | Budweiser |
| 12 | Mike Alexander | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | Miller High Life |
| 13 | D. Wayne Strout | Strout Racing | Oldsmobile | Greyhound Package Experience |
| 15 | Brett Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | Crisco |
| 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Tide |
| 21 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Citgo |
| 22 | Rodney Combs | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing |
| 23 | Eddie Bierschwale | B&B Racing | Oldsmobile | Wayne Paging |
| 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 | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Ford | Texaco, Havoline |
| 29 | Dale Jarrett | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Hardee's |
| 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | Country Time |
| 31 | Jim Sauter | Bob Clark Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Slender You Figure Salons |
| 32 | Philip Duffie | Duffie Racing | Buick | Bob Beard Buick |
| 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | Skoal Bandit |
| 34 | Connie Saylor | AAG Racing | Buick | Allen's Associated Glass |
| 40 | Ben Hess | Hess Racing | Oldsmobile | Hess Racing |
| 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | Piedmont Airlines |
| 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | Eureka |
| 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Skoal, Crown Central Petroleum |
| 57 | Morgan Shepherd | Osterlund Racing | Buick | Winner's Circle Auto Parts |
| 63 | Jocko Maggiacomo | Linro Motorsports | Chevrolet | Linro Motorsports |
| 67 | Brad Teague | Arrington Racing | Ford | Pannill Sweatshirts |
| 68 | Derrike Cope | Testa Racing | Ford | Purolator |
| 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | Rumple Furniture |
| 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Lifebuoy |
| 75 | Neil Bonnett | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | Valvoline |
| 80 | Jimmy Horton (R) | S&H Racing | Ford | S&H Racing |
| 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | Wynn's, Kmart |
| 88 | Greg Sacks | Baker-Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | Red Baron Frozen Pizza |
| 90 | Benny Parsons | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Bull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce |
| 93 | Charlie Baker | Salmon Racing | Chevrolet | Salmon Racing |
| 97 | Joe Ruttman | Winkle Motorsports | Buick | AC Spark Plug |
| 98 | Brad Noffsinger (R) | Curb Racing | Buick | Sunoco |

## Qualifying

Qualifying was originally scheduled to be split into two rounds. The first round was held on Thursday, October 20, 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, October 21. 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.
Bill Elliott, driving for Melling Racing, managed to win the pole, setting a time of 24.678 and an average speed of 148.359 miles per hour (238.761 km/h) in the first round.
Seven drivers failed to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 24.678 | 148.359 |
| 2 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 24.706 | 148.191 |
| 3 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 24.790 | 147.689 |
| 4 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 24.866 | 147.237 |
| 5 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 24.885 | 147.125 |
| 6 | 28 | Davey Allison | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Ford | 24.899 | 147.042 |
| 7 | 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 24.905 | 147.007 |
| 8 | 15 | Brett Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 24.919 | 146.924 |
| 9 | 26 | Ricky Rudd | King Racing | Buick | 24.946 | 146.765 |
| 10 | 88 | Greg Sacks | Baker–Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | 25.018 | 146.343 |
| 11 | 23 | Eddie Bierschwale | B&B Racing | Oldsmobile | 25.054 | 146.132 |
| 12 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 25.085 | 145.952 |
| 13 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 25.092 | 145.911 |
| 14 | 21 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 25.098 | 145.876 |
| 15 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 25.159 | 145.522 |
| 16 | 12 | Mike Alexander | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 25.161 | 145.511 |
| 17 | 57 | Morgan Shepherd | Osterlund Racing | Buick | 25.171 | 145.453 |
| 18 | 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 25.173 | 145.443 |
| 19 | 68 | Derrike Cope | Testa Racing | Ford | 25.221 | 145.165 |
| 20 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 25.228 | 145.124 |
| 21 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 25.261 | 144.935 |
| 22 | 29 | Dale Jarrett | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 25.268 | 144.895 |
| 23 | 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 25.276 | 144.849 |
| 24 | 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 25.294 | 144.746 |
| 25 | 75 | Neil Bonnett | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 25.297 | 144.729 |
| 26 | 97 | Joe Ruttman | Winkle Motorsports | Buick | 25.387 | 144.216 |
| 27 | 67 | Brad Teague | Arrington Racing | Ford | 25.402 | 144.130 |
| 28 | 22 | Rodney Combs | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 25.432 | 143.960 |
| 29 | 90 | Benny Parsons | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 25.445 | 143.887 |
| 30 | 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | 25.445 | 143.887 |
| 31 | 98 | Brad Noffsinger (R) | Curb Racing | Buick | 25.472 | 143.734 |
| 32 | 2 | Ernie Irvan (R) | U.S. Racing | Pontiac | 25.479 | 143.695 |
| 33 | 31 | Jim Sauter | Bob Clark Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 25.482 | 143.678 |
| 34 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 25.509 | 143.526 |
| 35 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 25.555 | 143.267 |
| 36 | 40 | Ben Hess | Hess Racing | Oldsmobile | 25.582 | 143.116 |
| 37 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 25.615 | 142.932 |
| 38 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 25.692 | 142.504 |
| 39 | 34 | Connie Saylor | AAG Racing | Buick | 25.745 | 142.210 |
| 40 | 10 | Ken Bouchard (R) | Whitcomb Racing | Pontiac | 25.746 | 142.205 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 41 | 32 | Philip Duffie | Duffie Racing | Buick | -* | -* |
| 42 | 63 | Jocko Maggiacomo | Linro Motorsports | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 43 | 13 | D. Wayne Strout | Strout Racing | Oldsmobile | -* | -* |
| 44 | 80 | Jimmy Horton (R) | S&H Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 45 | 93 | Charlie Baker | Salmon Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 46 | 06 | Lee Raymond | Coyle Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 47 | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 3 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 492 | 200 | running | 180 | $52,150 |
| 2 | 9 | 26 | Ricky Rudd | King Racing | Buick | 492 | 8 | running | 175 | $26,985 |
| 3 | 7 | 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 492 | 1 | running | 170 | $25,095 |
| 4 | 1 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 491 | 217 | running | 170 | $23,480 |
| 5 | 13 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 491 | 1 | running | 160 | $27,965 |
| 6 | 16 | 12 | Mike Alexander | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 489 | 0 | running | 150 | $12,910 |
| 7 | 12 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 489 | 0 | running | 146 | $10,110 |
| 8 | 23 | 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 489 | 2 | running | 147 | $9,210 |
| 9 | 14 | 21 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 489 | 0 | running | 138 | $14,410 |
| 10 | 25 | 75 | Neil Bonnett | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 489 | 0 | running | 134 | $13,810 |
| 11 | 21 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 488 | 0 | running | 130 | $11,020 |
| 12 | 10 | 88 | Greg Sacks | Baker–Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | 488 | 0 | running | 127 | $8,220 |
| 13 | 29 | 90 | Benny Parsons | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 488 | 0 | running | 124 | $11,520 |
| 14 | 17 | 57 | Morgan Shepherd | Osterlund Racing | Buick | 487 | 0 | running | 121 | $3,720 |
| 15 | 32 | 2 | Ernie Irvan (R) | U.S. Racing | Pontiac | 484 | 0 | running | 118 | $6,470 |
| 16 | 34 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 481 | 1 | running | 120 | $7,170 |
| 17 | 33 | 31 | Jim Sauter | Bob Clark Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 479 | 0 | running | 0 | $4,820 |
| 18 | 40 | 10 | Ken Bouchard (R) | Whitcomb Racing | Pontiac | 477 | 0 | running | 109 | $5,620 |
| 19 | 15 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 475 | 0 | running | 106 | $5,970 |
| 20 | 36 | 40 | Ben Hess | Hess Racing | Oldsmobile | 472 | 0 | running | 103 | $3,370 |
| 21 | 39 | 34 | Connie Saylor | AAG Racing | Buick | 464 | 0 | running | 100 | $2,565 |
| 22 | 24 | 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 458 | 0 | running | 97 | $3,490 |
| 23 | 38 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 444 | 11 | running | 99 | $5,340 |
| 24 | 30 | 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | 433 | 0 | running | 91 | $3,165 |
| 25 | 35 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 425 | 0 | engine | 88 | $5,090 |
| 26 | 2 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 379 | 0 | handling | 85 | $5,140 |
| 27 | 6 | 28 | Davey Allison | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Ford | 374 | 50 | crash | 87 | $12,290 |
| 28 | 4 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 374 | 0 | crash | 79 | $4,765 |
| 29 | 8 | 15 | Brett Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 373 | 0 | crash | 76 | $10,615 |
| 30 | 20 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 355 | 0 | crash | 73 | $6,715 |
| 31 | 5 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 276 | 1 | engine | 75 | $9,625 |
| 32 | 22 | 29 | Dale Jarrett | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 255 | 0 | engine | 67 | $2,450 |
| 33 | 11 | 23 | Eddie Bierschwale | B&B Racing | Oldsmobile | 241 | 0 | engine | 64 | $1,755 |
| 34 | 18 | 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 236 | 0 | engine | 61 | $4,305 |
| 35 | 27 | 67 | Brad Teague | Arrington Racing | Ford | 231 | 0 | engine | 58 | $3,655 |
| 36 | 19 | 68 | Derrike Cope | Testa Racing | Ford | 231 | 0 | crash | 55 | $1,600 |
| 37 | 31 | 98 | Brad Noffsinger (R) | Curb Racing | Buick | 173 | 0 | crank | 52 | $1,575 |
| 38 | 26 | 97 | Joe Ruttman | Winkle Motorsports | Buick | 71 | 0 | handling | 0 | $1,550 |
| 39 | 37 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 29 | 0 | engine | 46 | $3,525 |
| 40 | 28 | 22 | Rodney Combs | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 4 | 0 | quit | 43 | $1,500 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 41 | | 32 | Philip Duffie | Duffie Racing | Buick | | | | | |
| 42 | | 63 | Jocko Maggiacomo | Linro Motorsports | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 43 | | 13 | D. Wayne Strout | Strout Racing | Oldsmobile | | | | | |
| 44 | | 80 | Jimmy Horton (R) | S&H Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 45 | | 93 | Charlie Baker | Salmon Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 46 | | 06 | Lee Raymond | Coyle Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 47 | | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Bill Elliott | 4,198 |
| | 2 | Rusty Wallace | 4,119 (-79) |
| | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | 4,000 (-198) |
| | 4 | Terry Labonte | 3,690 (–508) |
| | 5 | Ken Schrader | 3,582 (–616) |
| | 6 | Geoff Bodine | 3,521 (–677) |
| | 7 | Darrell Waltrip | 3,480 (–718) |
| 1 | 8 | Phil Parsons | 3,377 (–821) |
| 1 | 9 | Sterling Marlin | 3,350 (–848) |
| | 10 | Davey Allison | 3,291 (–907) |
| Official driver's standings ||||