1987 NASCAR Winston Cup Series (Start Your Engines!)

The 1987 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Season was the 39th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 16th modern-era cup series. The season began on February 8 and ended on November 22. Terry Labonte won the championship for the second time in his career. This season was marred by the death of driver Charlie Rudolph at the Winston 500.
== Team Changes ==
After two championships together in 1981 and 1982, Darrell Waltrip decided to move from the No. 11 Junior Johnson Chevrolet to the new No. 17 Chevrolet, a third full-time Hendrick Motorsports team.
A famous quote stemmed from this move, which crew chief Jeff Hammond describes in his book Real Men Work In the Pits went like this:
"I finally got me a thoroughbred." – Darrell Waltrip, referring to his new ride.
"I don't know about any thoroughbred. I do know we had a jackass around here who recently left." – Junior Johnson
The rest of "silly season" looked like this among full-time teams: Terry Labonte left the No. 44 Piedmont Oldsmobile owned by Billy Hagan to replace Waltrip in the No. 11. Johnson decided to disband the No. 12 Budweiser team and let go driver Neil Bonnett, who moved to the No. 75 Pontiac. Morgan Shepherd vacated the No. 75 in favor of the No. 26 Buick owned by Kenny Bernstein, driven by Joe Ruttman in 1986. Phil Parsons would replace older brother Benny in the No. 55 Oldsmobile owned by Leo and Richard Jackson. Lake Speed started out 1986 in the No. 75 RahMoc ride but was let go early in the season. Speed would form his own team for 1987 in the No. 83 Oldsmobile.
A few car number changes took place as well. Kyle Petty would continue to drive the Wood Brothers Ford, switching from No. 7 to No. 21. Alan Kulwicki took the No. 7 for his independent team. Cale Yarborough exited the No. 28 Ford team and drove his self-owned No. 29 Oldsmobile. Davey Allison would compete for Rookie Of The Year in the Harry Ranier No. 28 Ford. Michael Waltrip would continue driving for Chuck Rider but switched from the No. 23 Chevrolet to the No. 30 Chevrolet.
Drivers remaining with the same teams from 1986 would be: No. 3 Dale Earnhardt (owner: Richard Childress), No. 4 Rick Wilson (Larry McClure) No. 5 Geoffrey Bodine (Rick Hendrick), No. 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. (Stavola Brothers), No. 9 Bill Elliott (Harry Melling), No. 15 Ricky Rudd (Bud Moore), No. 18 Tommy Ellis (Eric Freelander), No. 22 Bobby Allison (Stavola Brothers), No. 27 Rusty Wallace (Raymond Beadle), No. 33 Harry Gant (Hal Needham), No. 43 Richard Petty (Petty Enterprises), No. 52 Jimmy Means, No. 70 J. D. McDuffie (Tom Winkle), No. 71 Dave Marcis, No. 88 Buddy Baker (Baker/Danny Schiff), No. 90 Ken Schrader (Junie Donlavey) and the part-time/independent efforts of No. 14 A. J. Foyt, No. 67 Buddy Arrington, No. 77 Ken Ragan (Marvin Ragan), No. 81 Chet Fillip (Corey Fillip) and No. 89 Jim Sauter (Mueller Brothers).
Top drivers out of a ride included Joe Ruttman.
Those who officially threw their hat in the ring for NASCAR Rookie of the Year in 1987 would be: Davey Allison, Steve Christman (No. 62 AC Delco, Tom Winkle), Rodney Combs (No. 10 DiGard) and Derrike Cope (No. 19 Stoke Racing).
Ron Bouchard, Trevor Boys, Eddie Bierschwale and a host of others would battle for the remaining open spots.
Pacific Coast Racing announced that 1987 would be the final year the "Mean Green Dodge Machine" would run in the Winston Cup Series; on April 10, two days before the Valleydale Meats 500, it was announced that Chrysler would be returning to NASCAR in 1988, and would be fielding the Chrysler LeBaron. The new #80 car, sponsored by Mopar and Nintendo, would be nicknamed "Mopar Magic" and run by former champion Sheldon Johnson Jr.'s son, Tim Johnson. Chrysler announced several weeks later that Petty Enterprises would also be switching to the Chrysler LeBaron in 1988. After The Winston, it was announced that Bahari Racing, Jackson Brothers Motorsports, Means Racing, and Donlavey Racing would also switch to Chrysler in 1988. Hagan Motorsports and Speed Racing also announced that they would switch to Chrysler in 1988 after the Coca-Cola 600, and Kelman Racing announced that they would enter the Cup Series full-time beginning in 1988 as a PCR satellite team, bringing the total of Chrysler teams to nine. Chrysler executives called it the "Mopar Revolution".
== Drivers and teams ==
=== Complete schedule ===
Manufactuer	Team 	No.	Race driver 	Crew chief 	Model
Buick 	King Racing 	26 	Morgan Shepherd 	Larry McReynolds	1987 LeSabre
Buick 	Stavola Brothers Racing 	8 	Bobby Hillin Jr. 	 	1987 LeSabre
Buick 	Stavola Brothers Racing 	22 	Bobby Allison 	Jimmy Fennig 	1987 LeSabre
Chevrolet 	Bahari Racing 	30 	Michael Waltrip 	 	1987 Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe
Chevrolet 	Ellington Racing 	1 	Brett Bodine (R) 	Runt Pittman 	1985 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Freedlander Motorsports 	18 	Dale Jarrett (R) 	 	1987 Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe
Chevrolet 	Hendrick Motorsports 	5 	Geoff Bodine 	Gary Nelson 	1987 Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe
Chevrolet 	Hendrick Motorsports 	17 	Darrell Waltrip 	Waddell Wilson 	1987 Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe
Chevrolet 	Hendrick Motorsports 	25 	Tim Richmond 	Dennis Conner 	1987 Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe
Chevrolet 	Hendrick Motorsports 	35 	Benny Parsons 	Harry Hyde 	1987 Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe
Chevrolet 	Junior Johnson & Associates 	11 	Terry Labonte 	Tim Brewer 	1987 Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe
Chevrolet 	Mach 1 Racing 	33 	Harry Gant 	Travis Carter 	1987 Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe
Chevrolet 	Marcis Auto Racing 	71 	Dave Marcis 	 	1987 Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe
Chevrolet 	Richard Childress Racing 	3 	Dale Earnhardt 	Kirk Shelmerdine	1987 Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe
Dodge 	Pacific Coast Racing 	02 	Dennis Malone 	Lyle White 	1984 Mirada
1987 600
Ford 	AK Racing 	7 	Alan Kulwicki 	Bill Ingle 	1987 Thunderbird
Ford 	Arrington Racing 	67 	Buddy Arrington 	 	1987 Thunderbird
Ford 	Bud Moore Engineering 	15 	Ricky Rudd 	Bud Moore 	1987 Thunderbird
Ford 	Donlavey Racing 	90 	Ken Schrader 	Bob Johnson 	1987 Thunderbird
Ford 	Melling Racing 	9 	Bill Elliott 	Ernie Elliott 	1987 Thunderbird
Ford 	Ranier-Lundy Racing 	28 	Davey Allison (R) 	Joey Knuckles 	1987 Thunderbird
Ford 	Wood Brothers Racing 	21 	Kyle Petty 	Leonard Wood 	1987 Thunderbird
Oldsmobile 	Baker-Schiff Racing 	88 	Buddy Baker 	 	1987 Delta 88
Oldsmobile 	Cale Yarborough Motorsports 	29 	Cale Yarborough 	 	1987 Delta 88
Oldsmobile 	Hagan Racing 	44 	Sterling Marlin 	Steve Hmiel 	1987 Delta 88
Oldsmobile 	Jackson Brothers Motorsports	55 	Phil Parsons 	Andy Petree 	1987 Delta 88
Oldsmobile 	Morgan-McClure Motorsports 	4 	Rick Wilson 	Tony Glover 	1987 Delta 88
Oldsmobile 	Speed Racing 	83 	Lake Speed 	Darrell Bryant 	1987 Delta 88
Pontiac 	Blue Max Racing 	27 	Rusty Wallace 	Barry Dodson 	1987 Grand Prix 2+2
Pontiac 	Dingman Brothers Racing 	50 	Greg Sacks 	 	1986 Grand Prix 2+2
Pontiac 	McDuffie Racing 	70 	J.D. McDuffie 	Jeff McDuffie 	1987 Grand Prix 2+2
Pontiac 	Means Racing 	52 	Jimmy Means 	Dennis Conner 	1987 Grand Prix 2+2
Pontiac 	Mueller Brothers Racing 	89 	Jim Sauter 	 	1986 Grand Prix 2+2
Pontiac 	Mueller Brothers Racing 	89 	Patty Moise 	 	1986 Grand Prix 2+2
Pontiac 	Petty Enterprises 	43 	Richard Petty 	Dale Inman 	1987 Grand Prix 2+2
Pontiac 	RahMoc Enterprises 	75 	Neil Bonnett 	Robin Pemberton 	1987 Grand Prix 2+2
Pontiac 	Winkle Motorsports 	62 	Steve Christman (R)	 	1986 Grand Prix 2+2
=== Limited Schedule ===
Manufacturer	Team 	No. 	Driver 	Crew Chief 	Model 	Rounds
Buick 	Curb Racing 	98 	Ed Pimm 	 	1986 LeSabre 	3
Buick 	David Pearson Racing	16 	Larry Pearson 	David Pearson	1985 Regal 	14
Chevrolet 	Adcox Racing 	24 	Grant Adcox 	 	1987 Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe	10
Chevrolet 	Ball Motorsports 	99 	Joe Ruttman 	 	1986 Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe	1
Chevrolet 	Edwards Racing 	32 	Jonathan Lee Edwards	 	1987 Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe	2
Chevrolet 	Hylton Racing 	48 	James Hylton 	 	1986 Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe	2
Chevrolet 	Kelman Racing 	10/86	Ryan Kelman 	Steve Searle 	1987 Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe	18
Chevrolet 	Phil Barkdoll Racing	73 	Phil Barkdoll 	 	1986 Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe	1
Chevrolet 	Phil Barkdoll Racing	73 	Rodney Combs 	 	1986 Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe	10
Chevrolet 	Phil Barkdoll Racing	73 	Rick McCray 	 	1986 Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe	2
Chevrolet 	Phil Barkdoll Racing	73 	Bill Schmitt 	 	1986 Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe	2
Chevrolet 	Rosenblum Racing 	63 	Jocko Maggiacomo 	 	1986 Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe	3
Chevrolet 	Rudolph Racing 	04 	Charlie Rudolph 	 	1986 Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe	4
Chevrolet 	Rudolph Racing 	04 	Herschel McGriff 	 	1986 Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe	
Chevrolet 	Samples Racing 	34 	Jesse Samples Jr. 	 	1986 Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe	2
Chevrolet 	Simko Racing 	51 	David Simko 	 	1987 Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe	4
Chevrolet 	Wawak Racing 	74 	Bobby Wawak 	 	1986 Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe	8
Chevrolet 	Ulrich Racing 	6 	D.K. Ulrich 	 	1987 Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe	6
Chevrolet 	Ulrich Racing 	6 	Ernie Irvan 	 	1987 Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe	17
Chevrolet 	Ulrich Racing 	6 	Trevor Boys 	 	1987 Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe	3
Ford 	Arrington Racing 	61 	Mike Potter 	 	1987 Thunderbird 	6
Ford 	Gerhart Racing 	82 	Bobby Gerhart 	 	1987 Thunderbird 	2
Ford 	Langley Racing 	64 	Rodney Combs 	 	1987 Thunderbird 	10
Ford 	Langley Racing 	64 	Rick McCray 	 	1987 Thunderbird 	2
Ford 	S&H Racing 	80 	Jimmy Horton 	 	1987 Thunderbird 	2
Ford 	Stocke Motorsports 	19 	Derrike Cope 	 	1987 Thunderbird 	11
Ford 	Warren Razore Racing	79 	Roy Smith 	 	1987 Thunderbird 	2
Oldsmobile 	Hamby Racing 	12 	Mark Martin 	 	1986 Delta 88 	1
Oldsmobile 	Hamby Racing 	12 	David Sosebee 	 	1986 Delta 88 	3
Oldsmobile 	Hamby Racing 	12 	Jim Bown 	 	1986 Delta 88 	2
Oldsmobile 	Hamby Racing 	12 	Brad Teague 	 	1986 Delta 88 	5
Oldsmobile 	Hamby Racing 	12 	Slick Johnson 	 	1986 Delta 88 	8
Oldsmobile 	Jaehne Motorsports 	76 	Hut Stricklin 	 	1986 Delta 88 	3
== Schedule ==
No.	Race Title 	Track 	Date 	TV
 	Busch Clash 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach 	February 8 	CBS
 	7-Eleven Twin 125's 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach 	February 12 	CBS
1 	Daytona 500 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach 	February 15 	CBS
2 	Goodwrench 500 	North Carolina Motor Speedway, Rockingham 	March 1 	SETN
3 	Miller High Life 400 	Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway, Richmond 	March 8 	TBS
4 	Motorcraft Quality Parts 500	Atlanta International Speedway, Hampton 	March 15 	ABC
5 	TranSouth 500 	Darlington Raceway, Darlington 	March 29 	ESPN
6 	First Union 400 	North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro 	April 5 	ESPN
7 	Valleydale Meats 500 	Bristol International Raceway, Bristol 	April 12 	ESPN
8 	Sovran Bank 500 	Martinsville Raceway, Ridgeway 	April 26 	SETN
9 	Winston 500 	Alabama International Motor Speedway, Talladega	May 3 	ESPN
 	Winston Open 	Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord 	May 17 	ABC
 	The Winston 	Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord 	May 17 	ABC
10 	Coca-Cola 600 	Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord 	May 24 	Jefferson-Pilot
11 	Budweiser 500 	Dover Downs International Speedway, Dover 	May 31 	ESPN
12 	Miller High Life 500 	Pocono International Raceway, Long Pond 	June 14 	SETN
13 	Budweiser 400 	Riverside International Raceway, Riverside 	June 21 	ESPN
14 	Miller American 400 	Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn 	June 28 	CBS
15 	Pepsi Firecracker 400 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach 	July 4 	ESPN
16 	Summer 500 	Pocono International Raceway, Long Pond 	July 19 	SETN
17 	Talladega 500 	Alabama International Motor Speedway, Talladega	July 26 	CBS
18 	Budweiser at the Glen 	Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen 	August 10 	ESPN
19 	Champion Spark Plugs 400 	Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn 	August 16 	ESPN
20 	Busch 500 	Bristol International Raceway, Bristol 	August 22 	ESPN
21 	Southern 500 	Darlington Raceway, Darlington 	September 6 	ESPN
22 	Wrangler Jeans Indigo 400 	Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway, Richmond 	September 13	SETN
23 	Delaware 500 	Dover Downs International Speedway, Dover 	September 20	ESPN
24 	Goody's 500 	Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway 	September 27	SETN
25 	Holly Farms 400 	North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro 	October 4 	ESPN
26 	Oakwood Homes 500 	Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord 	October 11 	SETN
27 	AC Delco 500 	North Carolina Motor Speedway, Rockingham 	October 25 	TBS
28 	Winston Western 500 	Riverside International Raceway, Riverside 	November 8 	TBS
29 	Atlanta Journal 500 	Atlanta International Speedway, Hampton 	November 22 	ESPN
== Busch Clash ==
The Busch Clash, an annual invitational event for all Busch Pole winners the previous season, was held February 8 at Daytona International Speedway. Bill Elliott drew for the pole. Alan Kulwicki was the wild card.
Results
# 17-Darrell Waltrip
I don't remember the rest of the top ten...
== 7-Eleven Twin 125's ==
The 7-Eleven Twin 125's, a pair of qualifying races for the Daytona 500, were held February 12 at Daytona International Speedway. Dennis Malone and Rusty Wallace won the poles for both races, respectively, as a result of their speeds in qualifying on February 9.
Race One: Top Ten Results
# 15-Ricky Rudd
# 11-Terry Labonte
# 22-Bobby Allison
# 88-Buddy Baker
# 28-Davey Allison
# 02-Dennis Malone
# 75-Neil Bonnett
# 29-Cale Yarborough
# 6-D.K. Ulrich
# 44-Sterling Marlin
Notes:
* Jocko Maggiacomo DNS.
* This race featured two flips, Phil Barkdoll and Tommy Ellis. A. J. Foyt was involved in the Ellis wreck and suffered a shoulder injury.
Race Two: Top Ten Results
# 25-Tim Richmond
# 17-Darrell Waltrip
# 43-Richard Petty
# 83-Lake Speed
# 21-Kyle Petty
# 27 Rusty Wallace
# 89-Jim Sauter
# 90-Ken Schrader
# 5-Geoffrey Bodine
# 55-Phil Parsons
== Daytona 500 ==
The 29th Running of the Daytona 500 was held on February 15. Dale Earnhardt won the pole.
Top Ten Results
# 88-Buddy Baker
# 02-Dennis Malone
# 9-Bill Elliott
# 28-Davey Allison
# 25-Tim Richmond
# 43-Richard Petty
# 55-Phil Parsons
# 30-Michael Waltrip
# 5-Geoff Bodine
# 50-Greg Sacks
* This was Buddy Baker's first win since the 1983 Firecracker 400.
* In his first Daytona 500, Davey Allison finished in the top five.
== Goodwrench 500 ==
The Goodwrench 500 was held March 1 at North Carolina Motor Speedway. Terry Labonte won the pole.
Top Ten Results
# 89-Jim Sauter
# 83-Lake Speed
# 9-Bill Elliott
# 15-Ricky Rudd
# 7-Alan Kulwicki
# 21-Kyle Petty
# 75-Neil Bonnett -1
# 77-Eddie Bierschwale -1
# 25-Tim Richmond -1
# 44-Sterling Marlin -1
== Miller High Life 400 ==
The Miller High Life 400 was held March 8 at Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway. Dennis Malone won the pole.
Top Ten Results
# 3-Dale Earnhardt
# 9-Bill Elliott
# 43-Richard Petty -1
# 15-Ricky Rudd -1
# 75-Neil Bonnett -1
# 27-Rusty Wallace -1
# 55-Phil Parsons -1
# 7-Alan Kulwicki -1
# 21-Kyle Petty -2
# 44-Sterling Marlin -2
* Bobby Hillin Jr. went over on his roof when he was t-boned by Harry Gant. Fortunately, he was uninjured.
== Motorcraft Quality Parts 500 ==
The Motorcraft Quality Parts 500 was held March 15 at Atlanta International Raceway. Dennis Malone won the pole for the second week in a row.
Top Ten Results
# 02-Dennis Malone
# 11-Terry Labonte
# 43-Richard Petty
# 90-Ken Schrader
# 89-Jim Sauter
# 9-Bill Elliott
# 22-Bobby Allison
# 7-Alan Kulwicki
# 27-Rusty Wallace
# 25-Tim Richmond
* For the second week in a row, a car was t-boned and went on its roof; in this case, Dave Marcis was hit by Dale Jarrett (making his first start with Freedlander) and went upside down.
* Late in the going, Bill Elliott intentionally spun Dale Earnhardt under caution in retaliation for an incident the previous year, sending him into the outside wall hard, and then being rear-ended by Davey Allison. This sparked a massive brawl on pit road after the race.
== TranSouth 500 ==
The TranSouth 500 was held March 29 at Darlington Raceway. Dale Earnhardt won the pole.
Top Ten Results
# 9-Bill Elliott
# 25-Tim Richmond
# 11-Terry Labonte
# 43-Richard Petty
# 90-Ken Schrader
# 5-Geoffrey Bodine
# 21-Kyle Petty
# 17-Darrell Waltrip
# 89-Jim Sauter
# 7-Alan Kulwicki
== First Union 400 ==
The First Union 400 was held April 5 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Dennis Malone won the pole.
Top Ten Results
# 02-Dennis Malone
# 11-Terry Labonte
# 75-Neil Bonnett
# 43-Richard Petty
# 3-Dale Earnhardt -1
# 22-Bobby Allison -1
# 7-Alan Kulwicki -1
# 71-Dave Marcis -1
# 9-Bill Elliott -1
# 88-Buddy Baker -1
* This was the final race of DiGard Motorsports. The team's assets were sold to businessman Bob Whitcomb in 1988.
* Several Chrysler executives were in attendance, and after seeing Malone's dominant performance, Chrysler concluded they had a way back into NASCAR, and announced a 1988 return two days before the Valleydale Meats 500.
== Valleydale Meats 500 ==
The Valleydale Meats 500 was held April 12 at Bristol International Raceway. Ernie Irvan, in his first Winston Cup Series start, won the pole, but did not start, as the car only moved a few feet before dying.
Top Ten Results
# 11-Terry Labonte
# 9-Bill Elliott
# 75-Neil Bonnett
# 02-Dennis Malone -1
# 21-Kyle Petty -1
# 10-Rodney Combs -2
# 27-Rusty Wallace -2
# 24-Grant Adcox -2
# 17-Darrell Waltrip -2
# 28-Davey Allison -2
* This was Grant Adcox's first top-ten finish in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series since 1978.
*This was the first time Chrysler offered any form of factory support since 1984.
== Sovran Bank 500 ==
The Sovran Banks 500 was held April 26 at Martinsville Speedway. Dennis Malone won the pole.
Top Ten Results
# 3-Dale Earnhardt
# 11-Terry Labonte
# 17-Darrell Waltrip
# 67-Buddy Arrington -1
# 27-Rusty Wallace -1
# 75-Neil Bonnett -2
# 22-Bobby Allison -2
# 21-Kyle Petty -2
# 88-Buddy Baker -2
# 5-Geoff Bodine -2
== Winston 500 ==
The Winston 500 was held May 3 at Alabama International Motor Speedway. Dennis Malone won the pole at a record speed of 212.809 mph (44.998 seconds) using a new Mopar engine, a record that still stands today and will likely never be broken. But the race was also remembered for a near-tragedy early when Bobby Allison flew into the fence and nearly landed in the frontstretch grandstands. Though Allison was not injured, a female fan lost an eye as a result of being struck by debris. Eventually this crash would lead to the introduction of restrictor plates in 1988, and the practice continues to this day.
Top Ten Results
# 11-Terry Labonte
# 02-Dennis Malone
# 25-Tim Richmond
# 75-Neil Bonnett
# 3-Dale Earnhardt
# 77-Eddie Bierschwale
# 17-Darrell Waltrip
# 9-Bill Elliott
# 44-Sterling Marin
# 21-Kyle Petty
* This was the last Winston Cup race at Daytona or Talladega to be run unrestricted with normal engine configurations
*In addition to the Allison crash, Charlie Rudolph was involved in a head-on crash into the wall on the final lap after making contact with Dave Marcis. Rudolph had to be cut from the car, and was pronounced dead on the scene; an autopsy revealed the cause of death to be a basilar skull fracture. 
*On a lighter note, PCR’s ingenuity was shown off as on one rear camera shot, it was shown that they straight-up lifted the “bubble” rear windows from Chevrolet and Pontiac to use on their Dodges.
== The Winston ==
The Winston, an annual invitational race for previous winners in Winston Cup, was held May 17 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Top Ten Results
# 02-Dennis Malone
# 89-Jim Sauter
# 11-Terry Labonte
# 3-Dale Earnhardt
# 9-Bill Elliott
# 15-Ricky Rudd
# 27-Rusty Wallace
# 83-Lake Speed
# 17-Darrell Waltrip
# 43-Richard Petty
* This marked the final start of a Dodge Mirada in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series.
== Coca-Cola 600 ==
The Coca-Cola 600 was held May 24 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The No. 02 of Dennis Malone won the pole.
Top Ten Results
# 3-Dale Earnhardt
# 02-Dennis Malone
# 44-Sterling Marlin
# 77-Eddie Bierschwale
# 15-Ricky Rudd
# 11-Terry Labonte
# 28-Davey Allison
# 88-Buddy Baker
# 55-Phil Parsons
# 50-Greg Sacks
* This marked the first start of a Dodge 600 in NASCAR competition (even though the car still called it a Mirada, as Pacific Coast Racing had these made in bulk and had no time to make new Dodge 600 decals).
* This was Eddie Bierschwale's first career top-five finish.
*Benny Parsons sustained serious injuries in a wreck and was out for the next three races. Rick Hendrick replaced him in the #35 Chevrolet.
== Budweiser 500 ==
The Budweiser 500 was held May 31 at Dover Downs International Speedway. Dennis Malone won the pole for the fourth straight race.
Top Ten Results
# 02-Dennis Malone
# 28-Davey Allison
# 11-Terry Labonte
# 83-Lake Speed
# 16-Larry Pearson
# 64-Rodney Combs -1
# 15-Ricky Rudd -1
# 88-Buddy Baker -1
# 17-Darrell Waltrip -2
# 18-Dale Jarrett -2
* This was the first NASCAR victory for the Dodge 600.
* This race saw many very hard hits throughout the day, two of which caused physical damage to the walls and caused two red flags for a total of three hours. As a result, ESPN left the race following Rick Hendrick's crash into a gate, and came back in time for the restart.
== Miller High Life 500 ==
The Miller High Life 500 was held June 14 at Pocono Raceway. The No. 11 of Terry Labonte won the pole.
Top Ten Results
# 02-Dennis Malone
# 3-Dale Earnhardt
# 83-Lake Speed
# 25-Tim Richmond
# 11-Terry Labonte
# 17-Darrell Waltrip
# 15-Ricky Rudd
# 22-Bobby Allison
# 16-Larry Pearson
# 75-Neil Bonnett
* This was Dennis Malone's second win in a row.
*This was the first career Winston Cup Series start for Ryan Kelman. He ran using equipment and cars purchased from the defunct DiGard Motorsports, not even bothering to repaint or renumber the car due to time constraints. Kelman finished 31st, 1 lap down.
== Budweiser 400 ==
The Budweiser 400 was held June 21 at Riverside International Raceway. Tim Richmond won the pole.
Top Ten Results
#25-Tim Richmond
# 02-Dennis Malone
#11-Terry Labonte
#3-Dale Earnhardt
# 9-Bill Elliott
# 21-Kyle Petty
#15-Ricky Rudd
#51-Jim Fitzgerald
#88-Buddy Baker
#22-Bobby Allison
*This was the second and final NASCAR Winston Cup Series start for road course ringer Jim Fitzgerald. He ran as high as second during green flag pit cycles, and finished eighth for his first and only top-ten finish.
*This race ran completely caution-free.
== Miller American 400 ==
The Miller American 400 was held June 28 at Michigan International Speedway. Dennis Malone won the pole.
Top Ten Results
# 21-Kyle Petty
# 35-Benny Parsons
# 44-Sterling Marlin
# 43-Richard Petty
# 25-Tim Richmond
# 29-Cale Yarborough
# 04-Hershel McGriff
# 9-Bill Elliott
# 90-Ken Schrader
# 67-Buddy Arrington
* This was Hershel McGriff's first top-ten finish since 1984.
* This was the final race in which Pacific Coast Racing ran "Mean Green Dodge Machine", which had become synonymous with Dennis Malone since he debuted the paint scheme in 1981.
== Pepsi Firecracker 400 ==
The Pepsi Firecracker 400 was held July 4 at Daytona International Speedway. Dennis Malone won the pole.
Top Ten Results
# 04-Hershel McGriff
# 02-Dennis Malone
# 17-Darrell Waltrip
# 16-Larry Pearson
# 25-Tim Richmond
# 44-Sterling Marlin
# 3-Dale Earnhardt
# 55-Phil Parsons
# 9-Bill Elliott
# 90-Ken Schrader
* This was Hershel McGriff's first win since the 1954 Wilkes 160. The 33-year gap between wins remains the largest in NASCAR history. This also made him the oldest NASCAR Cup Series winner in history, at the age of 59 years, six months and 20 days.
* In this race, smaller carburetors (the size used in the Busch Series) were mandated by NASCAR at Daytona and Talladega in an attempt to slow the cars. The pole speed was just over 186 mph as compared to over 210 mph in February.
== Summer 500 ==
The Summer 500 was held July 19 at Pocono International Raceway. Terry Labonte won the pole.
Top Ten Results
# 02-Dennis Malone
# 3-Dale Earnhardt
# 27-Rusty Wallace
# 82-Mark Stahl
# 7-Alan Kulwicki
# 64-Rodney Combs
# 18-Dale Jarrett
# 75-Neil Bonnett
# 11-Terry Labonte
# 77-Eddie Bierschwale
* This was Mike Stahl's first career top-five finish, and Rodney Combs' first top-ten finish since the 1982 Atlanta Journal 500.
== Talladega 500 ==
The Talladega 500 was held July 26 at Alabama International Motor Speedway. Dick McCabe, in his first NASCAR Winston Cup Series start, won the pole.
Top Ten Results
# 25-Tim Richmond
# 88-Buddy Baker
# 8-Bobby Hillin Jr.
# 15-Ricky Rudd
# 5-Geoff Bodine
# 55-Phil Parsons
# 75-Neil Bonnett
# 7-Alan Kulwicki
# 64-Rodney Combs
# 1-Brett Bodine
* On lap 20, Dennis Malone was involved in a wreck that saw his car barrel-roll down the backstretch. To date, however, there is no footage of this flip due to CBS being more focused on Bobby Allison's wreck.
== Budweiser at The Glen ==
The Budweiser at The Glen was held August 10 at Watkins Glen International. Bill Elliott won the pole. The race started a day late due to rain.
Top Ten Results
# 11-Terry Labonte
# 02-Dennis Malone
# 25-Tim Richmond
# 43-Richard Petty
# 22-Bobby Allison
# 75-Neil Bonnett
# 15-Ricky Rudd
# 28-Davey Allison
# 7-Alan Kulwicki
# 8-Bobby Hillin Jr.
== Champion Spark Plug 400 ==
The Champion Spark Plug 400 was held August 16 at Michigan International Speedway. Dale Earnhardt won the pole.
Top Ten Results
# 25-Tim Richmond
# 17-Darrell Waltrip
# 9-Bill Elliott
# 83-Lake Speed
# 28-Davey Allison
# 5-Geoff Bodine
# 50-Greg Sacks
# 11-Terry Labonte
# 02-Dennis Malone
# 74-Bobby Wawak
* This was Bobby Wawak's first top-ten finish since the 1981 Winston 500.
* Members of the print media covering the race were witnesses to the Northwest Airlines Flight 255 plane crash later in the day. Tom Higgins of The Charlotte Observer was involved in coverage of the plane crash, as he had just checked into the nearby hotel awaiting a Monday morning flight to Charlotte following the race.
== Busch 500 ==
The Busch 500 was held August 22 at Bristol International Raceway. Dennis Malone won the pole.
Top Ten Results
# 3-Dale Earnhardt
# 11-Terry Labonte
# 9-Bill Elliott
# 21-Kyle Petty
# 75-Neil Bonnett
# 15-Ricky Rudd
# 55-Phil Parsons
# 43-Richard Petty
# 7-Alan Kulwicki
# 44-Sterling Marlin
== Southern 500 ==
The Southern 500 was held September 6 at Darlington Raceway. Grant Adcox won his first career pole.
Top Ten Results
# 3-Dale Earnhardt
# 43-Richard Petty
# 9-Bill Elliott
# 28-Davey Allison
# 88-Buddy Baker
# 25-Tim Richmond
# 30-Michael Waltrip
# 16-Larry Pearson
# 44-Sterling Marlin
# 21-Kyle Petty
* Race was shortened to 202 laps due to rain.
* Grant Adcox committed to running the rest of the 1987 season starting with this race, winning the pole and finishing 19th.
* Going into this race three drivers had a shot at a special $100,000 bonus from Winston if they won this race because they had won the 3 previous Winston Million races. Buddy Baker won the Daytona 500, Terry Labonte won the Winston 500, and Dale Earnhardt won the Coca Cola 600. Earnhardt ended up winning the race, and the 1987 Winston Million bonus.
== Wrangler Jeans Indigo 400 ==
The Wrangler Jeans Indigo 400 was held September 13 at Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway. Terry Labonte won the pole.
Top Ten Results
# 15-Ricky Rudd
# 11-Terry Labonte
# 75-Neil Bonnett
# 3-Dale Earnhardt
# 17-Darrell Waltrip
# 5-Geoff Bodine
# 88-Buddy Baker
# 4-Rick Wilson
# 90-Ken Schrader
# 25-Tim Richmond
* This was Ricky Rudd's final victory for Bud Moore Engineering. Rudd would be tapped to drive King Racing's #26 Buick in 1988.
== Delaware 500 ==
The Delaware 500 was held September 20 at Dover Downs International Speedway. Grant Adcox won the pole.
Top Ten Results
# 24-Grant Adcox *
# 9-Bill Elliott
# 02-Dennis Malone
# 15-Ricky Rudd
# 88-Buddy Baker
# 7-Alan Kulwicki
# 28-Davey Allison
# 55-Phil Parsons
# 71-Dave Marcis -1
# 44-Sterling Marlin -1
* This was Grant Adcox's first career NASCAR Winston Cup Series win, having led all but 34 laps.
== Goody's 500 ==
The Goody's 500 was held September 27 at Martinsville Speedway. Terry Labonte won the pole.
Top Ten Results
# 02-Dennis Malone
# 3-Dale Earnhardt
# 11-Terry Labonte
# 9-Bill Elliott -1
# 17-Darrell Waltrip -2
# 75-Neil Bonnett -2
# 5-Geoff Bodine -2
# 43-Richard Petty -2
# 25-Tim Richmond -2
# 90-Ken Schrader -3
* This was Dennis Malone's final career NASCAR Winston Cup Series win.
== Holly Farms 400 ==
The Holly Farms 400 was held October 4 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Dale Earnhardt won the pole.
Top Ten Results
# 43-Richard Petty *
# 11-Terry Labonte
# 3-Dale Earnhardt
# 9-Bill Elliott
# 15-Ricky Rudd
# 75-Neil Bonnett
# 88-Buddy Baker
# 22-Bobby Allison
# 28-Davey Allison
# 17-Darrell Waltrip -1
* This was Richard Petty's first win since the 1984 Firecracker 400, and 201st overall NASCAR Winston Cup Series win. The roar of the cheering crowd was loud enough to be heard all the way across the Yadkin River in Wilkesboro.
** This was also Richard Petty's final win in a Pontiac, as he ran Chryslers for the remainder of his career.
== Oakwood Homes 500 ==
The Oakwood Homes 500 was held October 11 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Grant Adcox won the pole.
Top Ten Results
# 3-Dale Earnhardt
# 11-Terry Labonte
# 15-Ricky Rudd
# 02-Dennis Malone
# 9-Bill Elliott -1
# 83-Lake Speed -1
# 21-Kyle Petty -1
# 27-Rusty Wallace -1
# 22-Bobby Allison -1
# 7-Alan Kulwicki -1
* Grant Adcox led the most laps of the race, but came up four laps short of the win when his car's gearbox failed.
== AC Delco 500 ==
The AC Delco 500 was held October 25 at North Carolina Motor Speedway. Grant Adcox won the pole for the second week in a row.
Top Ten Results
# 24-Grant Adcox
# 3-Dale Earnhardt
# 11-Terry Labonte -1
# 21-Kyle Petty -1
# 75-Neil Bonnett -2
# 55-Phil Parsons -2
# 17-Darrell Waltrip -2
# 89-Jim Sauter -2
# 43-Richard Petty -2
# 27-Rusty Wallace -2
* Grant Adcox was virtually untouchable during the race, leading all but 14 laps. On the Wednesday after the race, Adcox announced that he would be running the full 1988 schedule in the #24 Tab Chrysler LeBaron.
== Winston Western 500 ==
The Winston Western 500 was held November 8 at Riverside International Raceway. Tim Richmond won the pole.
Top Ten Results
# 25-Tim Richmond
# 3-Dale Earnhardt
# 11-Terry Labonte
# 27-Rusty Wallace
# 02-Dennis Malone
# 78-Jim Robinson
# 55-Phil Parsons
# 7-Alan Kulwicki
# 17-Darrell Waltrip
# 9-Bill Elliott
* Terry Labonte clinched his second NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship with one race to go.
* This was Jim Robinson's final NASCAR start, ending his career as a road course ringer with a 6th place finish.
== Atlanta Journal 500 ==
The Atlanta Journal 500 was held November 22 at Atlanta International Raceway. Grant Adcox won the pole.
Top Ten Results
# 24-Grant Adcox
# 02-Dennis Malone
# 9-Bill Elliott
# 15-Ricky Rudd
# 83-Lake Speed
# 27-Rusty Wallace
# 22-Bobby Allison
# 55-Phil Parsons
# 25-Tim Richmond
# 44-Sterling Marlin
* Terry Labonte officially won his second NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship by 242 points over Dale Earnhardt.
== Results ==
No.	Race 	Pole position 	Most laps led 	Winner 	Make/Model
 	Busch Clash 	??? 	??? 	Darrell Waltrip 	1987 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe
 	7-Eleven Twin 125 Race 1 	Dale Earnhardt	??? 	Ricky Rudd 	1987 Ford Thunderbird
 	7-Eleven Twin 125 Race 2 	Bill Elliott 	??? 	Tim Richmond 	1987 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe
1 	Daytona 500 	Dale Earnhardt	Buddy Baker 	Buddy Baker 	1986 Oldsmobile Delta 88
2 	Goodwrench 500 	Terry Labonte 	Terry Labonte 	Jim Sauter 	1986 Pontiac Grand Prix 2+2
3 	Miller High Life 400 	Dennis Malone 	Dale Earnhardt 	Dale Earnhardt 	1987 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe
4 	Motorcraft Quality Parts 500	Dennis Malone 	Terry Labonte 	Dennis Malone 	1984 Dodge Mirada
5 	TranSouth 500 	Dale Earnhardt	Darrell Waltrip	Bill Elliott 	1987 Ford Thunderbird
6 	First Union 400 	Dennis Malone 	Dennis Malone 	Dennis Malone 	1984 Dodge Mirada
7 	Valleydale Meats 500 	Ernie Irvan 	Terry Labonte 	Terry Labonte 	1987 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe
8 	Sovran Bank 500 	Dennis Malone 	Dale Earnhardt 	Dale Earnhardt 	1987 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe
9 	Winston 500 	Dennis Malone 	Dennis Malone 	Terry Labonte 	1987 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe
 	The Winston 	Dennis Malone 	Terry Labonte 	Dennis Malone 	1984 Dodge Mirada
10 	Coca-Cola 600 	Dennis Malone 	Dale Earnhardt 	Dale Earnhardt 	1987 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe
11 	Budweiser 500 	Dennis Malone 	Dennis Malone 	Dennis Malone 	1987 Dodge 600
12 	Miller High Life 500 	Terry Labonte 	Dennis Malone 	Dennis Malone 	1987 Dodge 600
13 	Budweiser 400 	Tim Richmond 	Tim Richmond 	Tim Richmond 	1987 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe
14 	Miller American 400 	Dennis Malone 	Dennis Malone 	Kyle Petty 	1987 Ford Thunderbird
15 	Pepsi Firecracker 400 	Dennis Malone 	Dennis Malone 	Herschel McGriff	1986 Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe
16 	Summer 500 	Terry Labonte 	Dale Earnhardt 	Dennis Malone 	1987 Dodge 600
17 	Talladega 500 	Dick McCabe 	Tim Richmond 	Tim Richmond 	1987 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe
18 	Budweiser at The Glen 	Bill Elliott 	Tim Richmond 	Terry Labonte 	1987 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe
19 	Champion Spark Plug 400 	Dale Earnhardt	Tim Richmond 	Tim Richmond 	1987 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe
20 	Busch 500 	Dennis Malone 	Terry Labonte 	Dale Earnhardt 	1987 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe
21 	Southern 500 	Grant Adcox 	Dale Earnhardt 	Dale Earnhardt 	1987 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe
22 	Wrangler Jeans Indigo 400 	Terry Labonte 	Terry Labonte 	Ricky Rudd 	1987 Ford Thunderbird
23 	Delaware 500 	Grant Adcox 	Grant Adcox 	Grant Adcox 	1987 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe
24 	Goody's 500 	Terry Labonte 	Terry Labonte 	Dennis Malone 	1987 Dodge 600
25 	Holly Farms 400 	Dale Earnhardt	Dale Earnhardt 	Richard Petty 	1987 Pontiac Grand Prix 2+2
26 	Oakwood Homes 500 	Grant Adcox 	Grant Adcox 	Dale Earnhardt 	1987 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe
27 	AC Delco 500 	Grant Adcox 	Grant Adcox 	Grant Adcox 	1987 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe
28 	Winston Western 500 	Tim Richmond 	Tim Richmond 	Tim Richmond 	1987 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe
29 	Atlanta Journal 500 	Grant Adcox 	Grant Adcox 	Grant Adcox 	1987 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe
== Top ten points standings ==
Pos.	Driver 	No.	Team 	Make/Model 	Points	Poles	Wins	Top Fives	Top Tens
1 	Terry Labonte 	11 	Junior Johnson and Associates	1987 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe	4,217 	5 	3 	17 	20
2 	Dale Earnhardt 	3 	Richard Childress Racing 	1987 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe	3,975 	4 	6 	16 	17
3 	Bill Elliott 	9 	Melling Racing 	1987 Ford Thunderbird 	3,956 	1 	1 	14 	20
4 	Tim Richmond 	25 	Hendrick Motorsports 	1987 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe	3,825 	2 	4 	11 	17
5 	Dennis Malone 	02 	Pacific Coast Racing 	1984 Dodge Mirada
1987 Dodge 600 	3,824 	9 	6 	16 	17
6 	Ricky Rudd 	15 	Bud Moore Engineering 	1987 Ford Thunderbird 	3,648 	0 	1 	9 	14
7 	Neil Bonnett 	75 	RahMoc Enterprises 	1987 Pontiac Grand Prix 2+2 	3,614 	0 	0 	7 	15
8 	Richard Petty 	43 	Petty Enterprises 	1987 Pontiac Grand Prix 2+2 	3,517 	0 	1 	8 	12
9 	Darrell Waltrip	17 	Hendrick Motorsports 	1987 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe	3,419 	0 	0 	5 	13
10 	Buddy Baker 	88 	Baker-Schiff Racing 	1987 Oldsmobile Delta 88 	3,283 	0 	1 	4 	11
==Cars Used in 1987==
File:1987 chevrolet monte carlo.jpeg|Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe
File:1987 ford thunderbird.jpg|Ford Thunderbird
File:1985 pontiac grand prix.jpg|Pontiac Grand Prix 2+2
File:1987 buick lesabre.jpg|Buick LeSabre (FINAL YEAR)
File:1987 oldsmobile delta 88.jpg|Oldsmobile Delta 88 (FINAL YEAR)
File:Dodge-Mirada 1.1.jpg|Dodge Mirada (no factory support prior to Valleydale Meats 500; limited factory support from Valleydale Meats 500 to The Winston)
File:1987 dodge 600.jpg|Dodge 600 (transitional car until Chrysler LeBaron debuted in 1988; debuted at Coca-Cola 600; only used by Pacific Coast Racing)
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