# 1992 Mountain Dew Southern 500

The 1992 Mountain Dew Southern 500 was the 21st stock car race of the 1992 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 43rd iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, September 6, 1992, before an audience of 70,000 in Darlington, South Carolina, at Darlington Raceway, a 1.366 miles (2.198 km) permanent egg-shaped oval racetrack. The race was shortened from its scheduled 367 laps to 293 due to rain. In the final laps of the race, owner-driver Darrell Waltrip and his team decided to pit for fuel only on the final pit stop, contrary to most, who had pitted for tires and fuel. With a shorter pit stop, he was able to lead the final six laps before the red flag was put out to stop the race, with NASCAR officials deciding to end the race early, handing Waltrip the victory. The victory was Waltrip's 84th and final career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his third and final victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Roush Racing driver Mark Martin and Junior Johnson & Associates driver Bill Elliott would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

Darlington Raceway is a race track built for NASCAR racing located near Darlington, South Carolina. It is nicknamed "The Lady in Black" and "The Track Too Tough to Tame" by many NASCAR fans and drivers and advertised as "A NASCAR Tradition." It is of a unique, somewhat egg-shaped design, an oval with the ends of very different configurations, a condition which supposedly arose from the proximity of one end of the track to a minnow pond the owner refused to relocate. This situation makes it very challenging for the crews to set up their cars' handling in a way that is effective at both ends.

### 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 | Valvoline |
| 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | Hooters |
| 8 | Dick Trickle | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | Snickers |
| 9 | Chad Little | Melling Racing | Ford | Melling Racing |
| 10 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Chevrolet | Purolator Filters |
| 11 | Bill Elliott | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | Budweiser |
| 12 | Hut Stricklin | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Chevrolet | Raybestos |
| 15 | Geoff Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | Motorcraft |
| 16 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Roush Racing | Ford | Keystone |
| 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | Western Auto |
| 18 | Dale Jarrett | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | Interstate Batteries |
| 21 | Morgan Shepherd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Citgo |
| 22 | Sterling Marlin | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | Maxwell House |
| 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kodiak |
| 26 | Brett Bodine | King Racing | Ford | Quaker State |
| 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Texaco, Havoline |
| 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | Pennzoil |
| 31 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Team Ireland | Chevrolet | Team Ireland |
| 33 | Harry Gant | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Skoal Bandit |
| 41 | Dick Trickle | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kellogg's Frosted Flakes |
| 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | Mello Yello |
| 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 48 | James Hylton | Hylton Motorsports | Pontiac | McElroy's Flower Shop |
| 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | CAS, Inc. |
| 53 | John McFadden | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | Jimmy Means Racing |
| 55 | Ted Musgrave | RaDiUs Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Jasper Engines & Transmissions |
| 59 | Andy Belmont (R) | Pat Rissi Racing | Ford | FDP Brakes |
| 66 | Jimmy Hensley (R) | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | Phillips 66 TropArtic |
| 68 | Bobby Hamilton | TriStar Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Country Time |
| 71 | Jim Sauter | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Marcis Auto Racing |
| 77 | Mike Potter | Balough Racing | Buick | Lance Inc. |
| 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Ford | Purex |
| 94 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | Sunoco |

## Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, September 4, at 3:00 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 Saturday, September 5, at 11:30 AM 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 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.
Sterling Marlin, driving for Junior Johnson & Associates, would win the pole, setting a time of 30.309 and an average speed of 162.249 miles per hour (261.114 km/h) in the first round.
No drivers would fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 22 | Sterling Marlin | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 30.309 | 162.249 |
| 2 | 4 | Ernie Irvan | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.357 | 161.992 |
| 3 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.370 | 161.923 |
| 4 | 11 | Bill Elliott | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 30.411 | 161.705 |
| 5 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.419 | 161.662 |
| 6 | 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 30.436 | 161.572 |
| 7 | 66 | Jimmy Hensley (R) | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 30.482 | 161.328 |
| 8 | 26 | Brett Bodine | King Racing | Ford | 30.523 | 161.111 |
| 9 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 30.547 | 160.985 |
| 10 | 15 | Geoff Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 30.566 | 160.885 |
| 11 | 33 | Harry Gant | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 30.580 | 160.811 |
| 12 | 16 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Roush Racing | Ford | 30.592 | 160.748 |
| 13 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 30.644 | 160.475 |
| 14 | 8 | Dick Trickle | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 30.644 | 160.475 |
| 15 | 94 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 30.648 | 160.454 |
| 16 | 31 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Team Ireland | Chevrolet | 30.649 | 160.449 |
| 17 | 18 | Dale Jarrett | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 30.658 | 160.402 |
| 18 | 5 | Ricky Rudd | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.675 | 160.313 |
| 19 | 10 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Chevrolet | 30.693 | 160.219 |
| 20 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Oldsmobile | 30.713 | 160.115 |
| Failed to lock in Round 1 |||||||
| 21 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Pontiac | 30.764 | 159.849 |
| 22 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 30.816 | 159.579 |
| 23 | 12 | Hut Stricklin | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Ford | 30.819 | 159.564 |
| 24 | 68 | Bobby Hamilton | TriStar Motorsports | Ford | 30.831 | 159.502 |
| 25 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 30.966 | 158.806 |
| 26 | 21 | Morgan Shepherd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 31.034 | 158.458 |
| 27 | 9 | Chad Little | Melling Racing | Ford | 31.055 | 158.351 |
| 28 | 41 | Dave Marcis | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 31.162 | 157.808 |
| 29 | 55 | Ted Musgrave | RaDiUs Motorsports | Ford | 31.202 | 157.606 |
| 30 | 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | 31.203 | 157.600 |
| 31 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 31.351 | 156.856 |
| 32 | 71 | Jim Sauter | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 31.676 | 155.247 |
| 33 | 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Ford | 31.888 | 154.215 |
| 34 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 32.135 | 153.029 |
| 35 | 59 | Andy Belmont (R) | Pat Rissi Racing | Ford | 33.175 | 148.232 |
| 36 | 77 | Mike Potter | Balough Racing | Buick | - | - |
| 37 | 53 | John McFadden | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | - | - |
| 38 | 48 | James Hylton | Hylton Motorsports | Pontiac | - | - |
| Official first round qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 5 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 298 | 6 | running | 180 | $66,030 |
| 2 | 25 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 298 | 26 | running | 175 | $41,355 |
| 3 | 4 | 11 | Bill Elliott | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 298 | 4 | running | 170 | $32,620 |
| 4 | 8 | 26 | Brett Bodine | King Racing | Ford | 298 | 0 | running | 160 | $23,260 |
| 5 | 6 | 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 298 | 72 | running | 160 | $38,845 |
| 6 | 17 | 18 | Dale Jarrett | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 298 | 21 | running | 155 | $19,055 |
| 7 | 30 | 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | 298 | 0 | running | 146 | $16,310 |
| 8 | 9 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 298 | 0 | running | 142 | $17,890 |
| 9 | 21 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Pontiac | 298 | 7 | running | 143 | $17,060 |
| 10 | 18 | 5 | Ricky Rudd | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 297 | 3 | running | 139 | $18,470 |
| 11 | 23 | 12 | Hut Stricklin | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Ford | 297 | 0 | running | 130 | $13,985 |
| 12 | 19 | 10 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Chevrolet | 297 | 0 | running | 127 | $10,690 |
| 13 | 3 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 297 | 0 | running | 124 | $16,600 |
| 14 | 15 | 94 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 297 | 0 | running | 121 | $13,210 |
| 15 | 7 | 66 | Jimmy Hensley (R) | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 297 | 0 | running | 118 | $11,320 |
| 16 | 11 | 33 | Harry Gant | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 297 | 91 | running | 125 | $18,600 |
| 17 | 16 | 31 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Team Ireland | Chevrolet | 297 | 0 | running | 112 | $6,880 |
| 18 | 28 | 41 | Dave Marcis | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 296 | 0 | running | 109 | $9,205 |
| 19 | 10 | 15 | Geoff Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 295 | 0 | running | 106 | $11,725 |
| 20 | 31 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 295 | 0 | running | 103 | $12,055 |
| 21 | 24 | 68 | Bobby Hamilton | TriStar Motorsports | Ford | 293 | 0 | running | 100 | $11,920 |
| 22 | 34 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 284 | 0 | running | 97 | $5,900 |
| 23 | 20 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Oldsmobile | 280 | 0 | running | 94 | $10,630 |
| 24 | 12 | 16 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Roush Racing | Ford | 276 | 0 | running | 91 | $7,355 |
| 25 | 2 | 4 | Ernie Irvan | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 266 | 10 | transmission | 93 | $15,395 |
| 26 | 33 | 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Ford | 253 | 0 | running | 85 | $5,335 |
| 27 | 14 | 8 | Dick Trickle | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 242 | 0 | running | 82 | $6,875 |
| 28 | 1 | 22 | Sterling Marlin | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 241 | 57 | running | 84 | $13,265 |
| 29 | 13 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 241 | 0 | running | 76 | $16,555 |
| 30 | 29 | 55 | Ted Musgrave | RaDiUs Motorsports | Ford | 225 | 1 | crank | 78 | $9,520 |
| 31 | 26 | 21 | Morgan Shepherd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 224 | 0 | crash | 70 | $9,310 |
| 32 | 35 | 59 | Andy Belmont (R) | Pat Rissi Racing | Ford | 212 | 0 | ignition | 67 | $4,670 |
| 33 | 36 | 77 | Mike Potter | Balough Racing | Buick | 164 | 0 | engine | 64 | $4,605 |
| 34 | 27 | 9 | Chad Little | Melling Racing | Ford | 135 | 0 | crash | 61 | $4,570 |
| 35 | 22 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 102 | 0 | engine | 58 | $8,985 |
| 36 | 32 | 71 | Jim Sauter | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 47 | 0 | engine | 55 | $5,900 |
| 37 | 38 | 48 | James Hylton | Hylton Motorsports | Pontiac | 13 | 0 | engine | 52 | $4,330 |
| 38 | 37 | 53 | John McFadden | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 3 | 0 | vibration | 49 | $4,290 |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Bill Elliott | 3,116 |
| | 2 | Davey Allison | 2,997 (-119) |
| | 3 | Alan Kulwicki | 2,955 (-161) |
| | 4 | Harry Gant | 2,876 (–240) |
| | 5 | Mark Martin | 2,779 (–337) |
| | 6 | Kyle Petty | 2,737 (–379) |
| 4 | 7 | Darrell Waltrip | 2,703 (–413) |
| 1 | 8 | Ricky Rudd | 2,667 (–449) |
| 2 | 9 | Dale Earnhardt | 2,646 (–470) |
| 2 | 10 | Morgan Shepherd | 2,609 (–507) |
| Official driver's standings ||||