1992 NASCAR Winston Cup Series (Johnsonverse)

Category:Johnsonverse
The 1992 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 44th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 21st modern-era Cup season. The season began on January 26, 1992, and ended on November 15, 1992. Independent owner/driver Alan Kulwicki of AK Racing won the Winston Cup championship.
The 1992 season was considered one of the most dramatic and emotional years in NASCAR. The seven-time champion, and "King of stock car racing," Richard Petty retired from full-time driving at the season's end, concluding a year-long "Fan Appreciation Tour." Petty appeared across the country for autographs and diecasts were made of his No. 43 car for all 39 of the races he appeared in. He continued making part-time starts until 1997. 1983 series champion Bobby Allison also retired after this season; he continued as a team owner until 1996. The season also saw the quiet debut of a future champion Jeff Gordon, who was planning to move up after two seasons in the Busch Series. Gordon debuted the rainbow No. 24 Chevrolet at the final race of the year.
The season-long championship battle narrowed down to six drivers, the most ever going into the final race of the season. Davey Allison won the season-opening Daytona 500, and despite a roller-coaster season, remained first, or near the top of the standings all season. Bill Elliott and Alan Kulwicki experienced more consistent results, placing them comfortably near the top. Harry Gant, Mark Martin and Kyle Petty were also factors during the season. Two-time defending champion Dale Earnhardt, however, suffered a dismal season, winning only one race, dropping out several times, and finished outside the top ten at season's end, for just the second time in his Cup career.
The season's climax occurred at the final race of the season, the Hooters 500 at Atlanta. Six drivers entered the race with a mathematical chance at winning the Winston Cup championship. Davey Allison led the charge, but ultimately fell short when he was involved in an accident. The race and the championship came down to a two-man battle between Bill Elliott and Alan Kulwicki. Elliott won the race, while Kulwicki finished second. Kulwicki led 103 laps during the race (compared to 102 by Elliott), clinched the 5 bonus points for leading the most laps, and won the Winston Cup title.
The 1992 season was the final year of Chrysler as a manufacturer in the series, as starting in 1993, Chrysler Corporation exclusively ran Dodge. Oldsmobile also bowed out at the end of 1992, but returned to NASCAR in 1997, running until 2002. The 1992 season was also the first Manufacturers' championship for Ford since 1969. Ford swept the top three in points snapping GM's streak of 16 straight manufacturers' championships (between Chevrolet and Buick).
==Manufacturers, teams, and drivers==
=== Manufacturers ===
Company 	Marquee 	Model 	Status
General Motors 	Chevrolet 	Corsica 	Full factory support
General Motors 	Chevrolet 	Caprice 	Full factory support
General Motors 	Chevrolet 	Lumina 	Full factory support
General Motors 	Chevrolet 	Cavalier 	Full factory support
General Motors 	Chevrolet 	Beretta 	No factory support
General Motors 	Chevrolet 	Camaro 	No factory support
General Motors 	Pontiac 	Grand Prix 	Full factory support
General Motors 	Pontiac 	J2000 	No factory support
General Motors 	Oldsmobile	Cutlass Supreme	Full factory support (final year)
General Motors 	Buick 	Regal 	Factory support ended after 1991
Ford Motor Company 	Ford 	Thunderbird 	Full factory support
Ford Motor Company 	Ford 	Probe 	Full factory support
Ford Motor Company 	Ford 	Mustang 	Full factory support
Ford Motor Company 	Ford 	Escort 	Full factory support
Ford Motor Company 	Ford 	Crown Victoria 	Full factory support
Ford Motor Company 	Ford 	Tempo 	Full factory support
Chrysler Corporation	Chrysler 	LeBaron 	Full factory support
Chrysler Corporation	Chrysler 	Imperial 	Full factory support
Chrysler Corporation	Dodge 	Spirit 	Full factory support
Chrysler Corporation	Dodge 	Dynasty 	Full factory support
Chrysler Corporation	Dodge 	Daytona 	Full factory support
==== Manufacturer notes ====
1992 saw Oldsmobile bow out of NASCAR, with General Motors deciding to rally their efforts around Chevrolet and Pontiac after Ford clinched the manufacturer's championship (it didn't help that, because of Chrysler and Dodge, there was only one team running the full schedule with Pontiac). It was also the final year for Chrysler, as Chrysler Corporation elected to focus solely on Dodge.
===Complete schedule===
Make 	Team 	No.	Driver 	Crew chief 	Model 	Primary Sponsor
Chevrolet 	Darrell Waltrip Motorsports	17 	Darrell Waltrip 	Jeff Hammond 	1992 Corsica 	Western Auto
Chevrolet 	Hendrick Motorsports 	5 	Ricky Rudd 	Gary DeHart 	1992 Lumina 	Tide
Chevrolet 	Hendrick Motorsports 	25 	Tim Richmond 	Ken Howes 	1992 Lumina 	Kodiak
Chevrolet 	Joe Gibbs Racing 	18 	Dale Jarrett 	Jimmy Makar 	1992 Beretta 	Interstate Batteries
Chevrolet 	Larry Hedrick Motorsports 	41 	Greg Sacks 	Dennis Conner 	1991 Lumina 	Kellogg's
Chevrolet 	Larry Hedrick Motorsports 	41 	Dave Marcis 	Dennis Conner 	1991 Lumina 	Kellogg's
Chevrolet 	Larry Hedrick Motorsports 	41 	Hut Stricklin 	Dennis Conner 	1991 Lumina 	Kellogg's
Chevrolet 	Marcis Auto Racing 	71 	Dave Marcis 	Bob Marcis 	1992 Corsica 	Abilene Boots
Chevrolet 	Marcis Auto Racing 	71 	Jim Sauter 	Bob Marcis 	1992 Corsica 	Abilene Boots
Chevrolet 	Morgan-McClure Motorsports 	4 	Ernie Irvan 	Tony Glover 	1992 Caprice 	Kodak Film
Chevrolet 	Richard Childress Racing 	3 	Dale Earnhardt 	Kirk Shelmerdine 	1992 Lumina 	GM Goodwrench
Chevrolet 	Richard Childress Racing 	31 	Neil Bonnett 	 	1992 Lumina 	Mom N Pop's Country Ham
Chevrolet 	Whitcomb Racing 	10 	Derrike Cope 	Barry Dodson 	1992 Cavalier 	Purolator
Chrysler 	Donlavey Racing 	90 	Ken Schrader 	Junie Donlavey 	1992 LeBaron 	Whistler Radar
Chrysler 	Means Racing 	52 	Jimmy Means 	 	1992 Imperial 	unsponsored
Chrysler 	SABCO Racing 	42 	Kyle Petty 	Robin Pemberton 	1992 LeBaron 	Mello Yello
Chrysler 	SABCO Racing 	45 	Patty Moise 	 	1992 LeBaron 	Barbie
Dodge 	Bahari Racing 	30 	Michael Waltrip 	Doug Hewitt 	1992 Dynasty 	Pennzoil
Dodge 	Hagan Racing 	94 	Terry Labonte 	Dewey Livengood 	1992 Spirit 	Sunoco
Dodge 	Melling Racing 	9 	Bill Elliott 	 	1992 Dynasty 	Coors Light
Dodge 	Moroso Racing 	20 	Rob Moroso 	 	1992 Spirit 	Glad Bag
Dodge 	Petty Enterprises 	43 	Richard Petty 	Robbie Loomis 	1992 Dynasty 	STP
Ford 	AK Racing 	7 	Alan Kulwicki 	Paul Andrews 	1992 Thunderbird 	Zerex
Ford 	Bobby Allison Racing 	12 	Hut Stricklin 	Jimmy Fennig 	1992 Mustang 	Raybestos Brakes
Ford 	Bud Moore Engineering 	15 	Geoff Bodine 	Donnie Wingo 	1992 Escort 	Motorcraft
Ford 	Cale Yarborough Racing 	66 	Chad Little 	 	1992 Thunderbird 	TropArctic
Ford 	Cale Yarborough Racing 	66 	Bobby Hillin Jr. 	 	1992 Thunderbird 	TropArctic
Ford 	Cale Yarborough Racing 	66 	Jimmy Hensley (R) 	 	1992 Thunderbird 	TropArctic
Ford 	Junior Johnson & Associates	11 	TBA 	Tim Brewer 	1992 Thunderbird 	Budweiser
Ford 	Junior Johnson & Associates	22 	Sterling Marlin 	Mike Beam 	1992 Thunderbird 	Maxwell Coffee House
Ford 	King Racing 	26 	Brett Bodine 	Richard Broome 	1992 Crown Victoria 	Quaker State
Ford 	RaDiUs Racing 	55 	Ted Musgrave 	James Ince 	1992 Mustang 	Jasper Engines
Ford 	Robert Yates Racing 	28 	Davey Allison 	Larry MacReynolds	1992 Thunderbird 	Havoline
Ford 	Roush Racing 	6 	Mark Martin 	Steve Hmiel 	1992 Probe 	Valvoline
Ford 	Roush Racing 	16 	Wally Dallenbach Jr.	Steve Lloyd 	1992 Probe 	Keystone Beer
Ford 	Stavola Bros Racing 	8 	Rick Wilson 	Ken Wilson 	1992 Thunderbird 	Snickers
Ford 	Stavola Bros Racing 	8 	Dick Trickle 	Ken Wilson 	1992 Thunderbird 	Snickers
Ford 	Wood Brothers Racing 	21 	Morgan Shepherd 	Eddie Wood 	1992 Tempo 	Citgo
Oldsmobile	Leo Jackson Motorsports 	33 	Harry Gant 	Andy Petree 	1992 Cutlass Supreme	Skoal Bandit
Oldsmobile	Precision Products Racing 	1 	Rick Mast 	Richard Jackson 	1992 Cutlass Supreme	Skoal Classic
Oldsmobile	Tri-Star Motorsports 	68 	Bobby Hamilton 	 	1992 Cutlass Supreme	Country Time
Pontiac 	Penske Racing 	2 	Rusty Wallace 	Eddie Dickerson
Buddy Parrott	1992 Grand Prix 	Miller Genuine Draft
===Limited schedule===
Make 	Team 	No.	Driver 	Crew Chief 	Model
Buick 	Balough Racing 	77 	Mike Potter 	 	1991 Regal
Chevrolet 	Balough Racing 	77 	Mike Potter 	 	1991 Beretta
Chevrolet 	Ball Motorsports 	99 	Brad Teague 	 	1991 Lumina
Chevrolet 	Hendrick Motorsports 	24 	Jeff Gordon 	Ray Evernham	1992 Lumina
Chevrolet 	Hylton Motorsports 	48 	James Hylton 	 	1990 Lumina
Chevrolet 	Mueller Brothers Racing 	89 	Jim Sauter 	 	1991 Lumina
Chevrolet 	Team Ireland 	13 	Bobby Hillin Jr 	Doug Hewitt 	1989 Lumina
Chevrolet 	Travis Carter Enterprises 	98 	Jimmy Spencer 	 	1991 Lumina
Chrysler 	Donlavey Racing 	91 	Kerry Teague 	 	1992 LeBaron
Chrysler 	Means Racing 	53 	John McFadden 	 	1992 Imperial
Chrysler 	Means Racing 	53 	Graham Taylor 	 	1992 Imperial
Chrysler 	Means Racing 	77 	Mike Potter 	 	1992 Imperial
Chrysler 	Speed Racing 	83 	Lake Speed 	 	1991 LeBaron
Dodge 	B&B Racing 	23 	Eddie Bierschwale	 	1992 Dynasty
Dodge 	88 Racing 	88 	Joe Booher 	 	1991 Spirit
Dodge 	Barkdoll Racing 	73 	Phil Barkdoll 	 	1992 Daytona
Dodge 	Barkdoll Racing 	73 	Bill Schmitt 	 	1992 Daytona
Ford 	Gray Racing 	62 	Ben Hess 	 	1990 Thunderbird
Ford 	H.L. Waters Motorsports 	0 	Delma Cowart 	 	1991 Probe
Ford 	Junior Johnson & Associates	97 	Hut Stricklin 	 	1992 Thunderbird
Ford 	Pat Rissi Racing 	59 	Andy Belmont 	 	1990 Escort
Oldsmobile	Close Racing 	47 	Buddy Baker 	 	1991 Cutlass Supreme
Oldsmobile	Collins Racing 	97 	Mark Gibson 	 	1991 Cutlass Supreme
Oldsmobile	KT Motorsports 	04 	Kerry Teague 	 	1990 Cutlass Supreme
Pontiac 	Gilliland Racing 	24 	Butch Gilliland 	 	1991 Grand Prix
Pontiac 	Rusty Wallace Racing 	24 	Kenny Wallace 	 	1991 J2000
Pontiac 	Hylton Racing 	48 	James Hylton 	 	1992 Grand Prix
==Schedule==
No.	Race title 	Track 	Date 	TV
1 	Save Mart Supermarkets 300K 	Sears Point Raceway, Sonoma 	January 26 	WBC
 	Busch Clash 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	February 9 	WBC
 	Gatorade Twin 125 Qualifiers	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	February 13 	WBC
2 	Daytona 500 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	February 16 	WBC
3 	San Jose 500 	San Jose Motorplex, Gilroy 	February 23 	WBC
4 	GM Goodwrench 500 	North Carolina Motor Speedway, Rockingham 	March 1 	TNN
5 	Pontiac Excitement 400 	Richmond International Raceway, Richmond 	March 8 	WBC
6 	Motorcraft Quality Parts 500	Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton 	March 15 	WBC
7 	Coors 400 	Pikes Peak International Raceway, Fountain 	March 22 	WBC
8 	TranSouth 500 	Darlington Raceway, Darlington 	March 29 	ESPN
9 	Food City 500 	Bristol International Raceway, Bristol 	April 5 	ESPN
10 	First Union 400 	North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro 	April 12 	ESPN
11 	Hanes 500 	Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway 	April 26 	ESPN
12 	Winston 500 	Talladega Superspeedway, Lincoln 	May 3 	ESPN
13 	Pabst Blue Ribbon 400 	Milwaukee Mile, West Allis 	May 10 	WBC
 	Winston Open 	Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord 	May 16 	TNN
 	The Winston 	Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord 	May 16 	TNN
14 	Coca-Cola 600 	Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord 	May 24 	WBC
15 	Budweiser 500 	Dover Downs International Speedway, Dover 	May 31 	TNN
16 	Budweiser 400 	Riverside International Raceway, Riverside 	June 7 	ESPN
17 	Diet Coke 500 	Denver International Speedway, Denver 	June 14 	WBC
18 	Chrysler 400 	Nazareth Speedway, Nazareth 	June 21 	WBC
19 	Pepsi 400 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	July 4 	ESPN
20 	Mountain Dew 400 	Milwaukee Mile, West Alliss 	July 12 	WBC
21 	Miller Genuine Draft 500 	Pocono International Raceway, Long Pond 	July 19 	ESPN
22 	DieHard 500 	Talladega Superspeedway, Lincoln 	July 26 	WBC
23 	Denver Post 400 	Pikes Peak International Raceway, Fountain 	August 2 	WBC
24 	Budweiser At The Glen 	Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen 	August 9 	ESPN
25 	Champion Spark Plug 400 	Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn 	August 16 	ESPN
26 	Music City USA 420 	Nashville Speedway USA, Nashville 	August 22 	TNN
27 	Bud 500 	Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol 	August 29 	ESPN
28 	Mountain Dew Southern 500 	Darlington Raceway, Darlington 	September 6 	ESPN
29 	Miller Genuine Draft 400 	Richmond International Raceway, Richmond 	September 12	WBC
30 	Peak AntiFreeze 500 	Dover Downs International Speedway, Dover 	September 20	TNN
31 	Goody's 500 	Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway 	September 28	ESPN
32 	Tyson Holly Farms 400 	North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro 	October 5 	ESPN
33 	Mello Yello 500 	Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord 	October 11 	WBC
34 	Golden Gate 500 	San Jose Motorplex, Gilroy 	October 18 	WBC
35 	AC Delco 500 	North Carolina Motor Speedway, Rockingham 	October 25 	TNN
36 	Pyroil 500K 	Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale 	November 1 	TNN
37 	Sprite 500 	Denver International Speedway, Denver 	November 8 	WBC
38 	Hooters 500 	Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton 	November 15 	ESPN
39 	Los Angeles Times 500 	Ontario Motor Speedway, Ontario 	November 22 	WBC
== Season summary ==
== Results ==
No.	Race 	Pole Position 	Winner 	Make/Model
1 	Save Mart Supermarkets 300K 	Tim Richmond 	Rob Moroso 	Dodge Spirit
 	Busch Clash 	Brett Bodine 	Geoff Bodine 	Ford Escort
 	Gatorade 125s Race 1 	Sterling Marlin	Dale Earnhardt 	Chevrolet Lumina
 	Gatorade 125s Race 2 	Bill Elliott 	Bill Elliott 	Ford Thunderbird
2 	Daytona 500 by STP 	Sterling Marlin	Davey Allison 	Ford Thunderbird
3 	San Jose 500 	Bill Elliott 	Kyle Petty 	Chrysler LeBaron
4 	GM Goodwrench 500 	Kyle Petty 	Bill Elliott 	Ford Thunderbird
5 	Pontiac Excitement 400 	Bill Elliott 	Bill Elliott 	Ford Thunderbird
6 	Motorcraft Quality Parts 500	Mark Martin 	Bill Elliott 	Ford Thunderbird
7 	Coors 400 	Brett Bodine 	Rusty Wallace 	Pontiac Grand Prix
8 	TranSouth 500 	Sterling Marlin	Bill Elliott 	Ford Thunderbird
9 	Food City 500 	Alan Kulwicki 	Alan Kulwicki 	Ford Thunderbird
10 	First Union 400 	Alan Kulwicki 	Davey Allison 	Ford Thunderbird
11 	Hanes 500 	Darrell Waltrip	Mark Martin 	Ford Probe
12 	Winston 500 	Ernie Irvan 	Davey Allison 	Ford Thunderbird
13 	Pabst Blue Ribbon 400 	Geoff Bodine 	Ricky Rudd 	Chevrolet Lumina
 	Winston Open 	Brett Bodine 	Michael Waltrip	Dodge Dynasty
 	The Winson 	Davey Allison 	Davey Allison 	Ford Thunderbird
14 	Coca-Cola 600 	Bill Elliott 	Dale Earnhardt 	Chevrolet Lumina
15 	Budweiser 500 	Brett Bodine 	Harry Gant 	Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
16 	Budweiser 400 	Ricky Rudd 	Ernie Irvan 	Chevrolet Caprice
17 	Diet Coke 500 	Ken Schrader 	Alan Kulwicki 	Ford Thunderbird
18 	Chrysler 400 	Neil Bonnett 	Davey Allison 	Ford Thunderbird
19 	Pepsi 400 	Sterling Marlin	Richard Petty 	Dodge Dynasty
20 	Mountain Dew 400 	Tim Richmond 	Alan Kulwicki 	Ford Thunderbird
21 	Miller Genuine Draft 500 	Davey Allison 	Darrell Waltrip	Chevrolet Corsica
22 	DieHard 500 	Sterling Marlin	Ernie Irvan 	Chevrolet Caprice
23 	Denver Post 400 	Dale Earnhardt 	Ken Schrader 	Chrysler LeBaron
24 	Budweiser at The Glen 	Dale Earnhardt 	Kyle Petty 	Chrysler LeBaron
25 	Champion Spark Plug 400 	Alan Kulwicki 	Harry Gant 	Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
26 	Music City USA 420 	Geoff Bodine 	Richard Petty 	Dodge Dynasty
27 	Bud 500 	Ernie Irvan 	Darrell Waltrip	Chevrolet Corsica
28 	Mountain Dew Southern 500 	Sterling Marlin	Darrell Waltrip	Chevrolet Corsica
29 	Miller Genuine Draft 400 	Ernie Irvan 	Rusty Wallace 	Pontiac Grand Prix
30 	Peak AntiFreeze 500 	Alan Kulwicki 	Ricky Rudd 	Chevrolet Lumina
31 	Goody's 500 	Kyle Petty 	Geoff Bodine 	Ford Escort
32 	Tyson Holly Farms 400 	Alan Kulwicki 	Geoff Bodine 	Ford Escort
33 	Mello Yello 500 	Alan Kulwicki 	Mark Martin 	Ford Probe
34 	Golden Gate 500 	Rob Moroso 	Neil Bonnett 	Chevrolet Lumina
35 	AC Delco 500 	Kyle Petty 	Kyle Petty 	Chrysler LeBaron
36 	Pyroil 500K 	Rusty Wallace 	Davey Allison 	Ford Thunderbird
37 	Sprite 500 	Bill Elliott 	Rob Moroso 	Dodge Spirit
38 	Hooters 500 	Rick Mast 	Bill Elliott 	Ford Thunderbird
39 	Los Angeles Times 500 	Dale Earnhardt 	Richard Petty 	Dodge Dynasty
==Cars used in 1992 (incomplete)==
File:1992 chevrolet lumina z34.jpg|Chevrolet Lumina Z34
File:1992 chevrolet camaro.jpg|Chevrolet Camaro Z28
File:1992 chevrolet beretta.jpg|Chevrolet Beretta
File:1992 ford thunderbird.jpg|Ford Thunderbird
File:1992 ford mustang.jpg|Ford Mustang
File:1991 chrysler lebaron.jpg|Chrysler LeBaron
File:1992 dodge daytona.jpg|Dodge Daytona
File:1992 pontiac grand prix.jpg|Pontiac Grand Prix
File:1992 oldsmobile cutlass-supreme.jpg|Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme (final year with factory support)
File:1991 buick regal.jpg|1991 Buick Regal (no factory support)