1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Series (Start Your Engines!)

The 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Season was the 41st season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 18th modern-era Cup season. It began February 12 and ended November 19. This was the first year that every Winston Cup race had flag-to-flag coverage, with almost all of them being televised live.
The 1989 season marked the end of the first of two tire wars between Goodyear and Hoosier, with Hoosier leaving NASCAR shortly after Goodyear debuted their new radial tires.
Also, 1989 was the first season without Benny Parsons or Cale Yarborough.
== 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Drivers ==
Make 	Team 	No.	Driver 	Crew Chief 	Model
Buick 	David Pearson Racing 	16 	Larry Pearson (R)	 	1989 Regal
Buick 	King Racing 	26 	Ricky Rudd 	Larry MacReynolds	1989 Regal
1987 LeSabre
Buick 	Stavola Brothers Racing 	8 	Bobby Hillin Jr. 	Harry Hyde 	1989 Regal
Buick 	Stavola Brothers Racing 	12 	Bobby Allison 	Jimmy Fennig 	1989 Regal
Buick 	Stavola Brothers Racing 	84 	Dick Trickle (R) 	 	1989 Regal
Chevrolet 	Hendrick Motorsports 	5 	Geoffrey Bodine 	Waddell Wilson 	1988 Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe
1989 Lumina
Chevrolet 	Hendrick Motorsports 	17 	Darrell Waltrip 	Jeff Hammond 	1988 Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe
1989 Lumina
Chevrolet 	Hendrick Motorsports 	25 	Tim Richmond 	Richard Broome 	1988 Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe
1989 Lumina
Chevrolet 	Mach 1 Racing 	66 	Rick Mast (R) 	Travis Carter 	1988 Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe
1989 Lumina
Chevrolet 	Marcis Auto Racing 	71 	Dave Marcis 	 	1988 Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe
Chevrolet 	Richard Childress Racing 	3 	Dale Earnhardt 	Kirk Shelmerdine 	1988 Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe
1989 Lumina
Chevrolet 	Whitcomb Racing 	10 	Derrike Cope 	Buddy Parrott 	1988 Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe
1989 Lumina
Chrysler
Dodge	Bahari Racing 	30 	Michael Waltrip 	Mike Beam 	1989 LeBaron
1989 Daytona
Chrysler
Dodge	Donlavey Racing 	90 	Ken Schrader 	 	1989 LeBaron
1989 Daytona
Chrysler
Dodge	Hagan Racing 	94 	Sterling Marlin 	 	1989 LeBaron
1989 Daytona
Chrysler
Dodge	Jackson Brothers Motorsports	33 	Harry Gant 	Andy Petree 	1989 LeBaron
1989 Daytona
Chrysler
Dodge	Jackson Brothers Motorsports	55 	Phil Parsons 	 	1989 LeBaron
1989 Daytona
Chrysler
Dodge	Kelman Racing 	86 	Ryan Kelman 	Scott Searle 	1989 LeBaron
1989 Daytona
Chrysler
Dodge	Means Racing 	52 	Jimmy Means 	 	1989 LeBaron
1989 Daytona
Chrysler
Dodge	Pacific Coast Racing 	60 	Chloe Johnson (R)	Rodney Clay 	1989 LeBaron
1989 Daytona
Chrysler
Dodge	Pacific Coast Racing 	80 	Tim Johnson 	Lyle White 	1989 LeBaron
1989 Daytona
Chrysler
Dodge	Petty Enterprises 	43 	Richard Petty 	Dale Inman 	1989 LeBaron
1989 Daytona
Chrysler
Dodge	SABCO Racing 	42 	Kyle Petty 	Gary Nelson 	1989 LeBaron
1989 Daytona
Chrysler
Dodge	Speed Racing 	83 	Lake Speed 	 	1989 LeBaron
1989 Daytona
Ford 	AK Racing 	7 	Alan Kulwicki 	Paul Andrews 	1989 Thunderbird
Ford 	Bud Moore Engineering 	15 	Brett Bodine 	Donnie Wingo 	1989 Thunderbird
Ford 	Junior Johnson & Associates 	11 	Terry Labonte 	Tim Brewer 	1989 Thunderbird
Ford 	Melling Racing 	9 	Bill Elliott 	Ernie Elliott 	1989 Thunderbird
Ford 	RahMoc Enterprises 	75 	Morgan Shepherd 	Bob Rahilly 	1989 Thunderbird
Ford 	Robert Yates Racing 	28 	Davey Allison 	Robert Yates 	1989 Thunderbird
Ford 	Roush Racing 	6 	Mark Martin 	Robin Pemberton 	1989 Thunderbird
Ford 	Wood Brothers Racing 	21 	Neil Bonnett 	Leonard Wood 	1989 Thunderbird
Oldsmobile	B & B Racing 	23 	Eddie Bierschwale	 	1989 Cutlass Supreme
Oldsmobile	Morgan-McClure Motorsports 	4 	Rick Wilson 	Tony Glover 	1989 Cutlass Supreme
Pontiac 	Baker-Schiff Racing 	88 	Jimmy Spencer 	Dennis Conner 	1989 Grand Prix
Pontiac 	Blue Max Racing 	27 	Rusty Wallace 	Barry Dodson 	1989 Grand Prix
Pontiac 	Cale Yarborough Motorsports 	29 	Dale Jarrett 	 	1989 Grand Prix
Pontiac 	Kennedy Racing 	03 	Melvin Kennedy 	Mark Cutter 	1989 Grand Prix
Pontiac 	Osterlund Racing 	57 	Hut Stricklin (R)	Doug Richert 	1989 Grand Prix
Pontiac 	U.S. Racing 	2 	Ernie Irvan 	Bob Johnson 	1989 Grand Prix
Pontiac 	Winkle Motorsports 	48 	Greg Sacks 	 	1989 Grand Prix
== Schedule ==
No.	Race title 	Track 	Date 	TV
 	Busch Clash 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	February 12 	CBS
 	Twin 125 Qualifiers 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	February 16 	CBS
1 	Daytona 500 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	February 19 	CBS
2 	Goodwrench 500 	North Carolina Motor Speedway, Rockingham 	March 5 	ESPN
3 	Motorcraft Quality Parts 500	Atlanta International Speedway, Hampton 	March 19 	ABC
4 	Pontiac Excitement 400 	Richmond International Raceway, Richmond 	March 26 	TBS
5 	TranSouth 500 	Darlington Raceway, Darlington 	April 2 	ESPN
6 	Valleydale Meats 500 	Bristol International Raceway, Bristol 	April 9 	ESPN
7 	First Union 400 	North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro 	April 16 	ESPN
8 	Pannill Sweatshirts 500 	Martinsville Speedway, Martinsville 	April 23 	ESPN
9 	Pabst Blue Ribbon 400 	Milwaukee Mile, West Allis 	April 30 	TBS
10 	Winston 500 	Talladega Superspeedway, Talladega 	May 7 	ESPN
11 	Diet Coke 500 	Coca-Cola Superspeedway, Denver 	May 14 	CBS
 	Winston Open 	Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord 	May 21 	ABC
 	The Winston 	Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord 	May 21 	ABC
12 	Coca-Cola 600 	Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord 	May 28 	TBS
13 	Budweiser 500 	Dover Downs International Speedway, Dover 	June 4 	ESPN
14 	Banquet Frozen Foods 300 	Sears Point Raceway, Sonoma 	June 11 	ESPN
15 	Miller High Life 500 	Pocono International Raceway, Long Pond 	June 18 	Showtime
16 	Miller High Life 400 	Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn 	June 25 	CBS
17 	Pepsi 400 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	July 1 	ESPN
18 	Denver Post 400 	Pikes Peak International Speedway, Fountain 	July 9 	CBS
19 	AC Spark Plug 500 	Pocono International Raceway, Long Pond 	July 23 	ESPN
20 	Talladega DieHard 500 	Talladega Superspeedway, Talladega 	July 30 	CBS
21 	Sprite 500 	Coca-Cola Superspeedway, Denver 	August 6 	CBS
22 	Budweiser At The Glen 	Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen 	August 13 	ESPN
23 	Champion Spark Plug 400 	Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn 	August 20 	ESPN
24 	Busch 500 	Bristol International Raceway, Bristol 	August 26 	ESPN
25 	Heinz Southern 500 	Darlington Raceway, Darlington 	September 3 	ESPN
26 	Miller High Life 400 	Richmond International Raceway, Richmond 	September 10	TBS
27 	Peak Performance 500 	Dover Downs International Speedway, Dover 	September 17	ESPN
28 	Goody's 500 	Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway 	September 24	ESPN
29 	Mountain Dew 400 	Milwaukee Mile, West Allis 	October 1 	ESPN
30 	All Pro Parts 500 	Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord 	October 8 	TBS
31 	Holly Farms 400 	North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro 	October 15 	ESPN
32 	AC Delco 500 	North Carolina Motor Speedway, Rockingham 	October 22 	ESPN
33 	Coor's 400 	Pikes Peak International Speedway, Fountain 	October 29 	ESPN
34 	Autoworks 500 	Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale 	November 5 	ESPN
35 	Budweiser 400 	Riverside International Raceway, Riverside 	November 12 	ESPN
36 	Atlanta Journal 500 	Atlanta International Speedway, Hampton 	November 19 	ESPN
== Technical Changes ==
Following the introduction of the restrictor plate in 1988, all manufacturers made changes to their cars in 1989. The main change involved rounder, more compact bodies for better aero efficiency.
A few model changes also occurred. From the Daytona 500 through to the Pabst Blue Ribbon 400 at The Milwaukee Mile, Chevrolet continued using the old Monte Carlo SS, which lost the Aerocoupe moniker due to the Monte Carlos being rebuilt to stay competitive with the other rebodied cars. Starting with the Winston 500 at Talladega, the new Chevrolet Lumina debuted. Ricky Rudd’s #26 team for King Racing continued to use the old 1987 Buick LeSabre sheet metal at restrictor plate tracks due to being more aerodynamic than the current Buick Regal. All other Buick teams continued to use the normal Regal chassis at plate tracks. Stavola Brothers Racing tried to run a Buick Skyhawk, but decided to stick with the Regal.
During Preseason Testing in January 1989, Pacific Coast Racing discovered in the 1989 rulebook that Chrysler had gotten the Dodge Daytona approved for NASCAR competition. Owner Manny Brown quickly bought up some Dodge Daytona sheetmetal and had it installed on rookie Chloe Johnson's car, having Tim Johnson run a Chrysler LeBaron so they could compare the two models. After six laps, it was found the Daytona was running faster lap times than the LeBaron and easily outpacing it without any drafting help. Shortly thereafter, Tim's car was rebuilt as a Daytona, and together, the Johnson Twins ended the second day with the fastest lap times. This prompted every other Chrysler team to immediately purchase Dodge Daytona sheetmetal (Kelman Racing got its sheetmetal through PCR due to being a satellite team of the latter), and by the end of testing, all Chrysler teams had decided to run the Dodge Daytona at Daytona, Talladega, and Coca-Cola; Chrysler CEO Lee Iacocca later revealed he had a NASCAR-legal version of the Dodge Daytona made specifically because he knew Pacific Coast Racing always scanned the eligible models section of the rulebook very carefully every year, and he badly wanted to promote the car.
== Cars Used in 1989 ==
File:1987 chevrolet monte carlo.jpeg|Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe (Daytona 500-Pabst Blue Ribbon 400)
File:1990-Chevrolet-Lumina.jpg|Chevrolet Lumina (Winston 500-onward)
File:1989 pontiac grand prix.jpg|Pontiac Grand Prix (First year for this particular body)
File:1989 buick regal.jpg|Buick Regal
File:1987 buick lesabre.jpg|1987 Buick LeSabre (only used by Ricky Rudd at plate tracks)
File:1989 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera International Series sedan.jpg|Oldsmobile Cutlass
File:1989 ford thunderbird.jpg|Ford Thunderbird
File:1989 chrysler lebaron.jpg|Chrysler LeBaron
File:1989 dodge daytona.jpg|Dodge Daytona (NEW; run by Chrysler drivers at plate tracks)
Category:Start Your Engines!