# 1989 Busch 500

The 1989 Busch 500 was the 20th stock car race of the 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 29th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, August 26, 1989, before an audience of 54,000 in Bristol, Tennessee, at Bristol International Speedway, a 0.533 miles (0.858 km) permanent oval-shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 500 laps to complete. At race's end, Hendrick Motorsports driver Darrell Waltrip would manage to dominate the late stages of the race, leading the final 206 laps to take his 78th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his fifth victory of the season. To fill out the top three, owner-driver Alan Kulwicki and King Racing driver Ricky Rudd would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

The Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway, is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961. Despite its short length, Bristol is among the most popular tracks on the NASCAR schedule because of its distinct features, which include extraordinarily steep banking, an all concrete surface, two pit roads, and stadium-like seating. It has also been named one of the loudest NASCAR tracks.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 1 | Tommy Ellis | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Wood Brothers 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 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Pontiac | Purolator |
| 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | Budweiser |
| 15 | Brett Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | Motorcraft |
| 16 | Larry Pearson (R) | Pearson Racing | Buick | Chattanooga Chew |
| 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Tide |
| 21 | Neil Bonnett | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Citgo |
| 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 |
| 33 | Harry Gant | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Skoal Bandit |
| 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | Peak Antifreeze |
| 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 44 | Jim Sauter | Group 44 | Pontiac | Group 44 |
| 48 | Greg Sacks | Winkle Motorsports | Pontiac | Dinner Bell Foods |
| 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 |
| 66 | Rick Mast (R) | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | Food City |
| 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Lifebuoy |
| 75 | Morgan Shepherd | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | Valvoline |
| 83 | Joe Ruttman | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | Bull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce |
| 84 | Dick Trickle (R) | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | Miller High Life |
| 88 | Jimmy Spencer (R) | Baker–Schiff Racing | Pontiac | Crisco |
| 94 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | Sunoco |

## Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, August 25, at 7:35 PM EST. Each driver would have one lap to set a time. During the first round, the top 15 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, August 26, at 1:00 PM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 15-30 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 on time but were high enough in owner's points; up to two provisionals were given.
Alan Kulwicki, driving for his own AK Racing team, would win the pole, setting a time of 16.394 and an average speed of 117.043 miles per hour (188.362 km/h) in the first round.
Four drivers would fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 16.394 | 117.043 |
| 2 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 16.406 | 116.957 |
| 3 | 15 | Brett Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 16.447 | 116.666 |
| 4 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 16.472 | 116.489 |
| 5 | 94 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 16.494 | 116.333 |
| 6 | 26 | Ricky Rudd | King Racing | Buick | 16.537 | 116.031 |
| 7 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 16.563 | 115.849 |
| 8 | 2 | Ernie Irvan | U.S. Racing | Pontiac | 16.567 | 115.821 |
| 9 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 16.584 | 115.702 |
| 10 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 16.604 | 115.563 |
| 11 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 16.605 | 115.556 |
| 12 | 88 | Jimmy Spencer (R) | Baker–Schiff Racing | Pontiac | 16.619 | 115.458 |
| 13 | 66 | Rick Mast (R) | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 16.621 | 115.444 |
| 14 | 33 | Harry Gant | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 16.637 | 115.333 |
| 15 | 10 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Pontiac | 16.656 | 115.202 |
| Failed to lock in Round 1 |||||||
| 16 | 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 16.687 | 114.988 |
| 17 | 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 16.776 | 114.374 |
| 18 | 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 16.693 | 114.946 |
| 19 | 16 | Larry Pearson (R) | Pearson Racing | Buick | 16.727 | 114.713 |
| 20 | 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 16.735 | 114.658 |
| 21 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 16.750 | 114.555 |
| 22 | 84 | Dick Trickle (R) | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 16.754 | 114.528 |
| 23 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 16.780 | 114.350 |
| 24 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 16.804 | 114.187 |
| 25 | 83 | Joe Ruttman | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | 16.811 | 114.140 |
| 26 | 48 | Greg Sacks | Winkle Motorsports | Pontiac | 16.873 | 113.720 |
| 27 | 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | 16.883 | 113.653 |
| 28 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 16.900 | 113.538 |
| 29 | 75 | Morgan Shepherd | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 16.992 | 112.924 |
| 30 | 29 | Dale Jarrett | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Pontiac | 17.116 | 112.106 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 31 | 21 | Neil Bonnett | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 17.127 | 112.034 |
| 32 | 57 | Hut Stricklin (R) | Osterlund Racing | Pontiac | 17.270 | 111.106 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 33 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| 34 | 1 | Tommy Ellis | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 35 | 44 | Jim Sauter | Group 44 | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| 36 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| Official first round qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 9 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 239 | running | 185 | $52,450 |
| 2 | 1 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 500 | 27 | running | 175 | $30,875 |
| 3 | 6 | 26 | Ricky Rudd | King Racing | Buick | 500 | 0 | running | 165 | $19,200 |
| 4 | 14 | 33 | Harry Gant | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 500 | 0 | running | 160 | $13,300 |
| 5 | 16 | 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 499 | 0 | running | 155 | $13,400 |
| 6 | 10 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 499 | 24 | running | 155 | $12,125 |
| 7 | 24 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 498 | 0 | running | 146 | $7,800 |
| 8 | 12 | 88 | Jimmy Spencer (R) | Baker–Schiff Racing | Pontiac | 496 | 0 | running | 142 | $7,900 |
| 9 | 31 | 21 | Neil Bonnett | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 495 | 0 | running | 138 | $9,307 |
| 10 | 30 | 29 | Dale Jarrett | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Pontiac | 494 | 0 | running | 134 | $10,975 |
| 11 | 17 | 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 494 | 0 | running | 130 | $6,100 |
| 12 | 28 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 493 | 0 | running | 127 | $5,900 |
| 13 | 13 | 66 | Rick Mast (R) | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 492 | 0 | running | 124 | $3,150 |
| 14 | 7 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 490 | 145 | running | 126 | $11,650 |
| 15 | 8 | 2 | Ernie Irvan | U.S. Racing | Pontiac | 489 | 0 | running | 118 | $4,700 |
| 16 | 2 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 489 | 65 | running | 120 | $8,850 |
| 17 | 3 | 15 | Brett Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 488 | 0 | running | 112 | $5,525 |
| 18 | 5 | 94 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 464 | 0 | running | 109 | $4,950 |
| 19 | 32 | 57 | Hut Stricklin (R) | Osterlund Racing | Pontiac | 463 | 0 | running | 106 | $3,250 |
| 20 | 23 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 458 | 0 | running | 103 | $5,500 |
| 21 | 19 | 16 | Larry Pearson (R) | Pearson Racing | Buick | 444 | 0 | overheating | 100 | $3,025 |
| 22 | 27 | 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | 322 | 0 | accident | 97 | $2,250 |
| 23 | 4 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 294 | 0 | engine | 94 | $7,295 |
| 24 | 21 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 246 | 0 | engine | 91 | $11,190 |
| 25 | 20 | 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 241 | 0 | running | 88 | $8,935 |
| 26 | 29 | 75 | Morgan Shepherd | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 223 | 0 | engine | 85 | $8,680 |
| 27 | 18 | 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 142 | 0 | engine | 82 | $4,350 |
| 28 | 22 | 84 | Dick Trickle (R) | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 126 | 0 | accident | 79 | $4,300 |
| 29 | 15 | 10 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Pontiac | 121 | 0 | accident | 76 | $2,725 |
| 30 | 26 | 48 | Greg Sacks | Winkle Motorsports | Pontiac | 59 | 0 | engine | 0 | $2,600 |
| 31 | 25 | 83 | Joe Ruttman | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | 57 | 0 | accident | 0 | $3,600 |
| 32 | 11 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 57 | 0 | accident | 67 | $4,100 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 33 | | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 34 | | 1 | Tommy Ellis | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 35 | | 44 | Jim Sauter | Group 44 | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 36 | | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Dale Earnhardt | 2,852 |
| | 2 | Rusty Wallace | 2,799 (-53) |
| | 3 | Mark Martin | 2,734 (-118) |
| | 4 | Darrell Waltrip | 2,711 (–141) |
| | 5 | Davey Allison | 2,553 (–299) |
| | 6 | Bill Elliott | 2,531 (–321) |
| 1 | 7 | Terry Labonte | 2,488 (–364) |
| 1 | 8 | Ken Schrader | 2,473 (–379) |
| 1 | 9 | Ricky Rudd | 2,457 (–395) |
| 1 | 10 | Geoff Bodine | 2,434 (–418) |
| Official driver's standings ||||