1993 NASCAR Winston Cup Series

The **1993 NASCAR Winston Cup Series** was the 45th season of the NASCAR Cup Series. The season began with the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway and ended with the Hooters 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Dale Earnhardt of the #3 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet was champion with 6 wins and 17 top 5's making it his 6th career championship. Among the top 5 in standings were Rusty Wallace, Mark Martin, Dale Jarrett, and Kyle Petty.

## Races

### Busch Clash

The Busch Clash, an invitational event for all pole winners of the previous season, was held February 7 at Daytona International Speedway. Ernie Irvan drew the pole.

**Top ten results**

1. 3-Dale Earnhardt
2. 25-Ken Schrader
3. 4-Ernie Irvan
4. 6-Mark Martin
5. 5-Ricky Rudd
6. 28-Davey Allison
7. 42-Kyle Petty
8. 8-Sterling Marlin
9. 11-Bill Elliott
10. 7-Alan Kulwicki

### Gatorade 125s

The Gatorade 125s, qualifying races for the Daytona 500, were held February 11 at Daytona International Speedway. Kyle Petty and Dale Jarrett won the poles for both races, respectively.

**Race one: top ten results**

1. 24-Jeff Gordon
2. 11-Bill Elliott
3. 42-Kyle Petty
4. 25-Ken Schrader
5. 90-Bobby Hillin, Jr.
6. 28-Davey Allison
7. 83-Lake Speed
8. 44-Rick Wilson
9. 9-Chad Little
10. 14-Terry Labonte

**Race two: top ten results**

1. 3-Dale Earnhardt
2. 15-Geoff Bodine
3. 18-Dale Jarrett
4. 4-Ernie Irvan
5. 7-Alan Kulwicki
6. 5-Ricky Rudd
7. 8-Sterling Marlin
8. 41-Phil Parsons
9. 27-Hut Stricklin
10. 26-Brett Bodine

* With the win, Jeff Gordon became the first rookie ever to win a qualifying race, only to be matched by Denny Hamlin in 2006. In the second race, defending Indy 500 winner Al Unser, Jr. (entering his first NASCAR race) wrecked on lap 10, but still managed to qualify for the Daytona 500 based on speed.

### Daytona 500 by STP

*Main article*: ***1993 Daytona 500***
The 1993 Daytona 500 by STP was held February 14 at Daytona International Speedway. Kyle Petty's #42 car won the pole, putting a Petty on the Daytona 500 pole for the first time since 1966, and only the second time ever. Kyle was also the first North Carolina driver to win the 500 pole since Benny Parsons in 1982. His father Richard waved the green flag in the first Winston Cup race held since his retirement. Dale Jarrett took the checkered flag after a last lap pass over Dale Earnhardt who led 107 laps, the most by far.

**Top ten results**

1. 18-Dale Jarrett
2. 3-Dale Earnhardt
3. 15-Geoff Bodine
4. 27-Hut Stricklin
5. 24-Jeff Gordon\*
6. 6-Mark Martin
7. 21-Morgan Shepherd
8. 25-Ken Schrader
9. 8-Sterling Marlin
10. 16-Wally Dallenbach, Jr.

Failed to qualify: 85-Dorsey Schroeder, 48-James Hylton, 45-Rich Bickle, 29-Kerry Teague, 0-Delma Cowart, 77-Mike Potter, 73-Stanley Smith, 99-Brad Teague, 31-Steve Kinser, 51-Jeff Purvis, 50-A. J. Foyt, 23-Eddie Bierschwale, and 95-Ken Ragan.

The race was marked by a grinding crash involving Rusty Wallace who was spun out by Michael Waltrip on the backstretch and sent Wallace on a series of horrific barrel rolls in the grass. He was uninjured although.

Jeff Gordon made his first Daytona 500 start on his first Winston Cup full season. He became the first rookie ever to win one of the qualifying races. He also led the 1st lap and finished 5th, which is considered one of the most successful Daytona 500 debuts ever.

The "Dale and Dale Show" commenced as Jarrett passed Earnhardt in the tri-oval as they took the white flag. As the leaders exited Turn 2, the CBS Sports producers came on the headsets of Ken Squier, Neil Bonnett, and Ned Jarrett, telling Ned to "call his son home", leading to an emotional finish.

This Daytona 500 was the first not to feature Richard Petty in the starting lineup since 1965.

### GM Goodwrench 500

The GM Goodwrench 500 was held February 28 at North Carolina Speedway. Mark Martin won the pole.

**Top ten results**

1. 2-Rusty Wallace
2. 3-Dale Earnhardt
3. 4-Ernie Irvan
4. 7-Alan Kulwicki
5. 6-Mark Martin
6. 18-Dale Jarrett
7. 55-Ted Musgrave
8. 41-Phil Parsons
9. 15-Geoff Bodine, 1 lap down
10. 14-Terry Labonte, 1 lap down

Failed to qualify: 49-Stanley Smith

### Pontiac Excitement 400

The Pontiac Excitement 400 was held March 7 at Richmond International Raceway. Ken Schrader won the pole.

**Top ten results**

1. 28-Davey Allison
2. 2-Rusty Wallace
3. 7-Alan Kulwicki
4. 18-Dale Jarrett
5. 42-Kyle Petty
6. 24-Jeff Gordon
7. 6-Mark Martin
8. 17-Darrell Waltrip
9. 33-Harry Gant
10. 3-Dale Earnhardt, 1 lap down

Failed to qualify: 45-Rich Bickle

This would be Davey Allison's final Winston Cup win.

### Motorcraft Quality Parts 500

The Motorcraft Quality Parts 500 was scheduled for March 14 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. However it was postponed and moved to March 20 in the aftermath of the 1993 Superstorm. Rusty Wallace won the pole. Jeff Gordon appeared headed to his first Winston Cup win when he lost control and spun in the muddy grass. Morgan Shepherd passed him and won the event, his final victory as of 2024.

**Top ten results**

1. 21-Morgan Shepherd
2. 4-Ernie Irvan
3. 2-Rusty Wallace
4. 24-Jeff Gordon, 1 lap down
5. 5-Ricky Rudd, 1 lap down
6. 15-Geoff Bodine, 1 lap down
7. 42-Kyle Petty, 1 lap down
8. 26-Brett Bodine, 1 lap down
9. 11-Bill Elliott, 2 laps down
10. 12-Jimmy Spencer, 3 laps down

Failed to qualify: 45-Rich Bickle, 84-Rick Crawford, 48-James Hylton, 61-Rick Carelli

* Winning this race gave Morgan Shepherd his fourth career NASCAR Cup victory overall, and his third at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
* This was the last time until the 2018 Martinsville spring race that a race in the NASCAR's premier series was postponed due to snow.

### TranSouth 500

The TranSouth 500 was held March 28 at Darlington Raceway. Qualifying was rained out and the starting grid was lined up based on points. Dale Earnhardt started from the pole. This was the last time the spring race was 500 miles until the track went to one race a year for the top division of NASCAR in 2005.

**Top ten results**

1. 3-Dale Earnhardt
2. 6-Mark Martin
3. 18-Dale Jarrett
4. 25-Ken Schrader
5. 2-Rusty Wallace, 1 lap down
6. 7-Alan Kulwicki, 1 lap down
7. 42-Kyle Petty, 1 lap down
8. 15-Geoff Bodine, 1 lap down
9. 14-Terry Labonte, 1 lap down
10. 21-Morgan Shepherd, 2 laps down

Failed to qualify: 62-John McFadden

* This was Alan Kulwicki's final NASCAR race, as four days later, he was fatally injured in a plane crash.

### Food City 500

The Food City 500 was held April 4 at Bristol International Raceway. Rusty Wallace won the pole. During the weekend of this race, defending Cup champion Alan Kulwicki and three Hooters executives were killed in a plane crash on their way to this race. After being spun out by Bobby Hillin Jr, Dale Jarrett threw his helmet at the #90 car during the caution period.

**Top ten results**

1. 2-Rusty Wallace
2. 3-Dale Earnhardt
3. 42-Kyle Petty
4. 12-Jimmy Spencer
5. 28-Davey Allison
6. 17-Darrell Waltrip
7. 21-Morgan Shepherd, 1 lap down
8. 6-Mark Martin, 2 laps down
9. 26-Brett Bodine, 3 laps down
10. 1-Rick Mast, 3 laps down

Failed to qualify: 48-James Hylton

* After taking the checkered flag, Rusty Wallace made a Polish Victory Lap, in memory of the deceased Winston Cup Champion Alan Kulwicki, which made it famous.
* In what would have been the big story prior to the loss of Alan Kulwicki; this race marked the first race at Bristol since switching from asphalt to its present concrete surface.

### First Union 400

The First Union 400 was held April 18 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Brett Bodine won the pole.

**Top ten results**

1. 2-Rusty Wallace
2. 42-Kyle Petty
3. 25-Ken Schrader
4. 28-Davey Allison
5. 17-Darrell Waltrip
6. 14-Terry Labonte
7. 5-Ricky Rudd
8. 21-Morgan Shepherd
9. 8-Sterling Marlin
10. 11-Bill Elliott, 2 laps down

Failed to qualify: 49-Stanley Smith

* Jimmy Hensley was named the interim substitute driver for the #7 car, filling the seat formerly held by the late Alan Kulwicki. Sponsor Hooters pulled out of the team, but Bojangles stepped in to sponsor the car, promoting the Easter Seals charity on the car's hood.
* The biggest news story of the week leading up to the race was the official announcement of the Inaugural Brickyard 400, scheduled for August 6, 1994.

### Hanes 500

The Hanes 500 was held April 25 at Martinsville Speedway. Geoff Bodine won the pole.

**Top ten results**

1. 2-Rusty Wallace
2. 28-Davey Allison
3. 18-Dale Jarrett
4. 17-Darrell Waltrip
5. 42-Kyle Petty, 1 lap down
6. 15-Geoff Bodine, 3 laps down
7. 26-Brett Bodine, 3 laps down
8. 24-Jeff Gordon, 3 laps down
9. 14-Terry Labonte, 3 laps down
10. 6-Mark Martin, 4 laps down

Failed to qualify: 52-Jimmy Means, 9-P. J. Jones

### Winston 500

*Main article*: ***1993 Winston 500***
The Winston 500 was held May 2 at Talladega Superspeedway. Dale Earnhardt won the pole. On the final lap approaching the checkered flag, Rusty Wallace was spun and flipped end over end.

**Top ten results**

1. 4-Ernie Irvan
2. 12-Jimmy Spencer
3. 18-Dale Jarrett
4. 3-Dale Earnhardt
5. 20-Joe Ruttman
6. 2-Rusty Wallace
7. 28-Davey Allison
8. 98-Derrike Cope
9. 7-Jimmy Hensley
10. 30-Michael Waltrip

Failed to qualify: 9-P. J. Jones, 48-James Hylton, 0-Delma Cowart, 31-Steve Kinser, 62-Ben Hess, 71-Dave Marcis, 73-Phil Barkdoll, 65-Jerry O'Neil, 49-Stanley Smith.

### Save Mart Supermarkets 300K

The Save Mart Supermarkets 300K was held May 16 at Sears Point International Raceway. Dale Earnhardt won the pole.

**Top ten results**

1. 15-Geoff Bodine
2. 4-Ernie Irvan
3. 5-Ricky Rudd
4. 25-Ken Schrader
5. 42-Kyle Petty
6. 3-Dale Earnhardt
7. 16-Wally Dallenbach, Jr.
8. 44-Rick Wilson
9. 14-Terry Labonte
10. 27-Hut Stricklin

Failed to qualify: 51-Rick Scribner, 09-R. K. Smith, 48-Jack Sellers

This was the last win for the famous Bud Moore team.

Geoff Bodine celebrated the win at the same time as he was finalizing a deal to purchase the assets to the late Alan Kulwicki's #7 team.

### Coca-Cola 600

The Coca-Cola 600 was held May 30 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Ken Schrader won the pole. For the first time, the race was moved to a late afternoon start, and ended under the lights. The race was no longer to be held at the same time as the Indianapolis 500.

**Top ten results**

1. 3-Dale Earnhardt
2. 24-Jeff Gordon
3. 18-Dale Jarrett
4. 25-Ken Schrader
5. 4-Ernie Irvan
6. 11-Bill Elliott
7. 12-Jimmy Spencer
8. 22-Bobby Labonte
9. 21-Morgan Shepherd, 1 lap down
10. 15-Geoff Bodine, 1 lap down

Failed to qualify: 85-Ken Bouchard, 48-James Hylton, 84-Rick Crawford, 38-Bobby Hamilton, 65-Jerry O'Neil, 49-Stanley Smith, 64-Johnny Chapman

* Dale Earnhardt overcame two penalties (one for speeding on pit road; the other for going under Greg Sacks) to win his third Coca-Cola 600.

### Budweiser 500

The Budweiser 500 was held June 6 at Dover Downs International Speedway. Ernie Irvan won the pole.

**Top ten results**

1. 3-Dale Earnhardt
2. 18-Dale Jarrett
3. 28-Davey Allison
4. 6-Mark Martin
5. 25-Ken Schrader
6. 1-Rick Mast
7. 33-Harry Gant, 1 lap down
8. 12-Jimmy Spencer, 1 lap down
9. 21-Morgan Shepherd, 2 laps down
10. 38-Bobby Hamilton, 5 laps down

Failed to qualify: 80-Jimmy Horton, 56-Jerry Hill, 85-Ken Bouchard

### Champion Spark Plug 500

The Champion Spark Plug 500 was held June 13 at Pocono Raceway. Ken Schrader won the pole.

**Top ten results**

1. 42-Kyle Petty
2. 25-Ken Schrader
3. 33-Harry Gant
4. 12-Jimmy Spencer
5. 55-Ted Musgrave
6. 28-Davey Allison
7. 21-Morgan Shepherd
8. 8-Sterling Marlin
9. 5-Ricky Rudd
10. 11-Bill Elliott

Failed to qualify: 80-Jimmy Horton

### Miller Genuine Draft 400

The Miller Genuine Draft 400 was held June 20 at Michigan International Speedway. Brett Bodine won the pole.

**Top ten results**

1. 5-Ricky Rudd
2. 24-Jeff Gordon
3. 4-Ernie Irvan
4. 18-Dale Jarrett
5. 2-Rusty Wallace
6. 6-Mark Martin
7. 21-Morgan Shepherd
8. 8-Sterling Marlin
9. 11-Bill Elliott
10. 33-Harry Gant

Failed to qualify: 48-Trevor Boys, 81-Jeff Davis

This was Rudds final victory for Hendrick Motorsports as he would leave the team at seasons end to form his own team with Tide following him.

### Pepsi 400

The Pepsi 400 was held July 3 at Daytona International Speedway. Ernie Irvan won the pole.

**Top ten results**

1. 3-Dale Earnhardt
2. 8-Sterling Marlin
3. 25-Ken Schrader
4. 5-Ricky Rudd
5. 24-Jeff Gordon
6. 6-Mark Martin
7. 4-Ernie Irvan
8. 18-Dale Jarrett
9. 14-Terry Labonte
10. 55-Ted Musgrave

Failed to qualify: 45-Rich Bickle, 62-Clay Young, 29-Kerry Teague, 0-Delma Cowart, 31-Stan Fox, 49-Stanley Smith, 35-Bill Venturini, 65-Jerry O'Neil, 48-James Hylton, 73-Phil Barkdoll, 79-Andy Belmont, 77-Mike Potter, 86-Mark Thompson, 82-Mark Stahl, 83-Lake Speed, 85-Ken Bouchard, 89-Jim Sauter, 95-Jeremy Mayfield, 23-Eddie Bierschwale, 99-Brad Teague

### Slick 50 300

The Slick 50 300 was the first Winston Cup race held at New Hampshire International Speedway (July 11). Mark Martin won the pole. This was the last race for Davey Allison, who would die from injuries suffered in a helicopter accident during the next week. Jeff Burton and Joe Nemechek made their Winston Cup debuts in this race. Both would fall out before the halfway point.

**Top ten results**

1. 2-Rusty Wallace
2. 6-Mark Martin
3. 28-Davey Allison
4. 18-Dale Jarrett
5. 5-Ricky Rudd
6. 8-Sterling Marlin
7. 24-Jeff Gordon
8. 42-Kyle Petty, 1 lap down
9. 11-Bill Elliott, 1 lap down
10. 22-Bobby Labonte, 1 lap down

Failed to qualify: 62-Clay Young

* Rusty Wallace's victory would be all the more impressive considering he started 33rd.

### Miller Genuine Draft 500

The Miller Genuine Draft 500 was held July 18 at Pocono Raceway. Ken Schrader won the pole. This Would be the first race after the death of Davey Allison.

**Top ten results**

1. 3-Dale Earnhardt
2. 2-Rusty Wallace
3. 11-Bill Elliott
4. 21-Morgan Shepherd
5. 26-Brett Bodine
6. 25-Ken Schrader
7. 8-Sterling Marlin
8. 18-Dale Jarrett
9. 33-Harry Gant
10. 17-Darrell Waltrip

Failed to qualify: 52-Jimmy Means, 78-Jay Hedgecock, 56-Jerry Hill, 57-Bob Schacht

### DieHard 500

The DieHard 500 was held July 25 at Talladega Superspeedway. Bill Elliott won the pole.

The race was marked by two major accidents: Stanley Smith suffered near-fatal head injuries in a Lap 69 accident while Jimmy Horton flew over the wall and landed on an access road outside the track in the same crash. Later in the race, on Lap 132, Neil Bonnett flew into the catch fence similar to the Bobby Allison crash in 1987. That resulted in the introduction of roof flaps in 1994.

**Top ten results**

1. 3-Dale Earnhardt
2. 4-Ernie Irvan
3. 6-Mark Martin
4. 42-Kyle Petty
5. 18-Dale Jarrett
6. 68-Greg Sacks
7. 21-Morgan Shepherd
8. 33-Harry Gant
9. 26-Brett Bodine
10. 16-Wally Dallenbach, Jr.

Failed to qualify: 45-Rich Bickle, 38-Bobby Hamilton, 46-Buddy Baker, 62-Clay Young, 29-Kerry Teague

* The margin of victory was 5 one-thousandths of a second (.005), setting a new record.
* Race winner Dale Earnhardt made a Polish Victory Lap with the #28 flag of Davey Allison on his memory, who died 12 days before.
* This race marked the first time the Robert Yates Racing #28 Havoline-Texaco car was entered following the death of Davey Allison; with Robby Gordon serving as a substitute driver. During the pre-race ceremonies; the invocation was preceded by the reading of a poem by Davey Allison's widow Liz; while CBS ran a montage of Allison's life and career mixed with footage of Davey Allison's uncle Donnie driving the car around the track as the song "The Fans" by the group Alabama played in the background.

### Budweiser At The Glen

The Budweiser At The Glen was held August 8 at Watkins Glen International. Mark Martin won the pole and had the all-dominating car in the race. However, problems in the pits at one point put him out of the top 20 in the race. Martin raced up through the field and inherited the lead with 5 laps to go when the two leaders, Kyle Petty and Dale Earnhardt, crashed in the esses.

**Top ten results**

1. 6-Mark Martin
2. 16-Wally Dallenbach, Jr.
3. 12-Jimmy Spencer
4. 11-Bill Elliott
5. 25-Ken Schrader
6. 8-Sterling Marlin
7. 22-Bobby Labonte
8. 9-P. J. Jones
9. 40-Kenny Wallace
10. 33-Harry Gant

Failed to qualify: 77-Davy Jones, 71-Dave Marcis, 81-Jeff Davis, 29-Kerry Teague, 65-Jerry O'Neil

### Champion Spark Plug 400

The Champion Spark Plug 400 was held August 15 at Michigan International Speedway. Ken Schrader won the pole.

**Top ten results**

1. 6-Mark Martin
2. 21-Morgan Shepherd
3. 24-Jeff Gordon
4. 18-Dale Jarrett
5. 55-Ted Musgrave
6. 2-Rusty Wallace
7. 28-Lake Speed
8. 22-Bobby Labonte
9. 3-Dale Earnhardt
10. 11-Bill Elliott

Failed to qualify: 37-Loy Allen, 48-James Hylton,
95-Jeremy Mayfield, 53-Richie Petty, 85-Ken Bouchard, 76-Ron Hornaday, Jr., 62-Clay Young, 29-John Krebs, 81-Jeff Davis, 02-T. W. Taylor, 48-Andy Genzman

* Andy Genzman may have made a second attempt in the James Hylton car.

### Brickyard 400 test session

A day after the Champion Spark Plug 400, the top 35 teams in the standings were invited to participate in an open test session for the 1994 Brickyard 400. On the way home from Michigan, the teams stopped at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for two days of practice. Retired driver Richard Petty took a few fast laps on the second day, then donated the car to the Speedway museum.

### Bud 500

The Bud 500 was held August 28 at Bristol International Raceway. Mark Martin won the pole.

**Top ten results**

1. 6-Mark Martin
2. 2-Rusty Wallace
3. 3-Dale Earnhardt
4. 33-Harry Gant
5. 1-Rick Mast
6. 7-Jimmy Hensley
7. 26-Brett Bodine
8. 15-Geoff Bodine
9. 40-Kenny Wallace\*, 1 lap down
10. 30-Michael Waltrip, 2 laps down

* Dick Trickle relieved Wallace in the car. Wallace had broken his scapula during testing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in preparation for next year's inaugural running of the Brickyard 400.

Failed to qualify: 55-Ted Musgrave, 75-Todd Bodine, 9-P. J. Jones, 45-Rich Bickle

### Mountain Dew Southern 500

The Mountain Dew Southern 500 was held September 5 at Darlington Raceway. Ken Schrader won the pole. Ernie Irvan negotiated out of his contract with Morgan-McClure Motorsports in order to take over the #28 Ford for Robert Yates Racing. Mark Martin won his fourth Winston Cup race in a row. Due to a long rain delay, this race started at 4 PM ET and ended at approximately 7:30 PM ET.

**Top ten results**

1. 6-Mark Martin
2. 26-Brett Bodine
3. 2-Rusty Wallace
4. 3-Dale Earnhardt
5. 28-Ernie Irvan, 1 lap down
6. 5-Ricky Rudd, 1 lap down
7. 33-Harry Gant, 1 lap down
8. 21-Morgan Shepherd, 2 laps down
9. 25-Ken Schrader, 2 laps down
10. 40-Kenny Wallace, 3 laps down

Failed to qualify: 48-Trevor Boys, 56-Jerry Hill, 29-Jeff McClure

* This was Mark Martin's 4th consecutive victory, tying the Modern-era record for most consecutive victories.
* The race was shortened by 15 laps. The start of the race had been delayed by more than 3 hours. As the race came towards the end the teams were told on a restart with 25 laps to go that there would only be 10 laps remaining due to darkness

### Miller Genuine Draft 400

The Miller Genuine Draft 400 was held September 11 at Richmond International Raceway. Bobby Labonte won the pole.

**Top ten results**

1. 2-Rusty Wallace
2. 11-Bill Elliott
3. 3-Dale Earnhardt
4. 5-Ricky Rudd
5. 26-Brett Bodine
6. 6-Mark Martin
7. 17-Darrell Waltrip
8. 14-Terry Labonte
9. 42-Kyle Petty
10. 24-Jeff Gordon

Failed to qualify: 80-Jimmy Horton, 45-Rich Bickle, 53-Richie Petty, 02-T. W. Taylor

### SplitFire Spark Plug 500

The SplitFire Spark Plug 500 was held September 19 at Dover Downs International Speedway. Rusty Wallace won the pole. Among other driver changes, Geoff Bodine left Bud Moore Engineering after the previous race to drive for the #7 Ford team, a car that he had just purchased from the family of the late Alan Kulwicki.

**Top ten results**

1. 2-Rusty Wallace
2. 25-Ken Schrader
3. 17-Darrell Waltrip
4. 18-Dale Jarrett
5. 33-Harry Gant
6. 12-Jimmy Spencer
7. 22-Bobby Labonte
8. 14-Terry Labonte
9. 21-Morgan Shepherd, 1 lap down
10. 11-Bill Elliott, 2 laps down

Failed to qualify: 48-Trevor Boys, 84-Norm Benning, 66-Mike Wallace, 02-T. W. Taylor, 9-P. J. Jones, 77-Mike Potter

* This race was mired with tire issues resulting in cut tires and 16 cautions for 103 of the 500 laps, and the average speed was 100.334 mph. The race took 4 hours and 59 minutes to complete.

### Goody's 500

The Goody's 500 was held September 26 at Martinsville Speedway. Ernie Irvan won the pole. It was the Robert Yates team's first trip to victory lane since Davey Allison's death and the crew was reported to have had tears in their eyes as they went to victory lane.

**Top ten results**

1. 28-Ernie Irvan
2. 2-Rusty Wallace
3. 12-Jimmy Spencer
4. 5-Ricky Rudd
5. 18-Dale Jarrett, 1 lap down
6. 26-Brett Bodine, 1 lap down
7. 14-Terry Labonte, 1 lap down
8. 30-Michael Waltrip, 1 lap down
9. 21-Morgan Shepherd, 2 laps down
10. 42-Kyle Petty, 2 laps down

Failed to qualify: 52-Jimmy Means

* This was the last race with an entry list of less than 40 cars until the 2016 Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500, when only 39 cars entered. NASCAR limited race fields to a maximum of 40 cars starting with the 2016 season.

### Tyson/Holly Farms 400

The Tyson/Holly Farms 400 was held October 3 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Ernie Irvan won the pole.

**Top ten results**

1. 2-Rusty Wallace
2. 3-Dale Earnhardt
3. 28-Ernie Irvan
4. 42-Kyle Petty
5. 5-Ricky Rudd, 1 lap down
6. 33-Harry Gant, 2 laps down
7. 14-Terry Labonte, 2 laps down
8. 1-Rick Mast, 3 laps down
9. 18-Dale Jarrett, 3 laps down
10. 25-Ken Schrader, 3 laps down

Failed to qualify: 52-Jimmy Means, 48-James Hylton, 68-Greg Sacks, 71-Dave Marcis, 45-Rich Bickle, 37-Loy Allen Jr.

### Mello Yello 500

The Mello Yello 500 was held October 10 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Jeff Gordon won the pole, the first in his Cup Series career.

**Top ten results**

1. 28-Ernie Irvan
2. 6-Mark Martin
3. 3-Dale Earnhardt
4. 2-Rusty Wallace
5. 24-Jeff Gordon
6. 12-Jimmy Spencer
7. 42-Kyle Petty
8. 5-Ricky Rudd, 1 lap down
9. 25-Ken Schrader, 2 laps down
10. 11-Bill Elliott, 2 laps down

Failed to qualify: 71-Dave Marcis, 47-Billy Standridge, 37-Loy Allen Jr., 35-Bill Venturini, 63-Norm Benning, 99-Brad Teague, 83-Jeff McClure, 02-T. W. Taylor

* This would be the first race in NASCAR History that 2 sets of 3 brothers all competed against each other: The Wallace's (Rusty, Mike, & Kenny), and The Bodine's (Geoff, Brett, & Todd). The eldest brother of each set (Rusty & Geoff) finished ahead of the younger brothers. The Wallace's finished 4th (Rusty), 30th (Mike), & 35th (Kenny). The Bodine's finished 13th (Geoff), 15th (Brett), & 42nd/Last (Todd). All drivers but Todd saw the checkered flag and finished the race. Rusty was the only one to finish on the lead lap.

Note: This was the final race Neil Bonnett called on TBS before his death at Daytona in February 1994.

### AC Delco 500

The AC Delco 500 was held October 24 at North Carolina Speedway. Mark Martin won the pole.

**Top ten results**

1. 2-Rusty Wallace
2. 3-Dale Earnhardt
3. 11-Bill Elliott
4. 33-Harry Gant
5. 6-Mark Martin, 1 lap down
6. 28-Ernie Irvan, 1 lap down
7. 17-Darrell Waltrip, 1 lap down
8. 25-Ken Schrader, 1 lap down
9. 41-Dick Trickle, 2 laps down
10. 7-Geoff Bodine, 2 laps down

Failed to qualify: 47-Billy Standridge, 63-Norm Benning, 65-Jerry O'Neil, 05-Ed Ferree

### Slick 50 500

The Slick 50 500 was held October 31 at Phoenix International Raceway. Bill Elliott won the pole.

**Top ten results**

1. 6-Mark Martin
2. 28-Ernie Irvan
3. 42-Kyle Petty
4. 3-Dale Earnhardt
5. 11-Bill Elliott
6. 5-Ricky Rudd
7. 17-Darrell Waltrip
8. 22-Bobby Labonte
9. 30-Michael Waltrip
10. 1-Rick Mast

Failed to qualify: 52-Scott Gaylord, 36-Butch Gilliland, 13-Stan Fox, 48-Jack Sellers, 81-Jeff Davis, 51-Rick Scribner

Note: This was the final race Neil Bonnett called on TNN before his death at Daytona in February 1994.

### Hooters 500

The Hooters 500 was held November 14 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Harry Gant won the pole. In this race, Dale Earnhardt clinched his sixth championship, only needing a 34th-place finish or better to claim the title; he finished 10th. 1989 champion Rusty Wallace gave his maximum effort in his 300th Winston Cup start, and he did so by winning the race and leading the most laps. Even though it was his 10th win of 1993, it still wasn't enough as he remained 2nd to Dale Earnhardt, 80 points short of the Winston Cup Championship. This would be the 2nd time in Bob Latford's Winston Cup points system history that a driver winning 10 or more races in a season failed to win the championship.

During practice, Dale Earnhardt, Ken Schrader, and Jeff Gordon all had crashes. However, all three were uninjured and qualified for the race.

This race was a day of remembrance, as mentioned in the television broadcast opening. Exactly a one-year prior, the 1992 race ended up being one of the greatest races of all time - and two of the key fixtures, Alan Kulwicki and Davey Allison were killed in aviation accidents during the season.

**Top ten results**

1. 2-Rusty Wallace
2. 5-Ricky Rudd
3. 17-Darrell Waltrip
4. 11-Bill Elliott
5. 41-Dick Trickle
6. 30-Michael Waltrip
7. 18-Dale Jarrett
8. 55-Ted Musgrave
9. 75-Phil Parsons
10. 3-Dale Earnhardt, 1 lap down

Failed to qualify: 47-Billy Standridge, 95-Jeremy Mayfield, 52-Jimmy Means, 62-Clay Young, 57-Bob Schacht, 72-John Andretti, 63-Norm Benning, 9-P. J. Jones, 84-Rick Crawford, 48-Andy Genzman

Neil Bonnett qualified for the race in a backup car (#31) for RCR, and executed one of the first start and park situations in NASCAR. The team arranged that Bonnett would step aside from the #31 car, in the last minute, in the event that Earnhardt's car, after pre-race inspection, suffered mechanical failure on the grid or during the pace laps. If Earnhardt started the race in the #31 car, by rule, he would be awarded full points for that entry. The car Bonnett qualified was set up with Earnhardt's exact chassis set up. Earnhardt started his primary car as expected, and Bonnett pulled off the track to finish last after 3 laps. The team gave the reason of "engine failure." Bonnett's intentional "start and park" helped maximize Earnhardt's finishing position, as only seven other cars had to drop out for Earnhardt to clinch the title. RCR pulled out all the stops in preparation for the race. They brought a truck filled with extra spare parts, including an entire pre-assembled rear end and a framing machine to fix the car in case of a crash. This was also Bonnetts final ever NASCAR race he competed in before his death at Daytona in February 1994.

Due to fog at the airport, several pit crew members on several teams were late arriving at the track. Darrell Waltrip started the race without his entire pit crew.

By lap 117, enough cars had dropped out of the race to mathematically clinch the championship for Earnhardt.

Jeff Gordon secured the rookie of the year award; but in a mild surprise, he did not manage to win a points-paying race during the season.

## Rookie of the Year

After his contract was bought from Bill Davis Racing, Jeff Gordon drove the #24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy in 1993. He won one pole, had eleven top-tens and finished 14th in points. His next closest competitor was Bobby Labonte who had replaced Gordon at BDR. He had six top-tens and one pole, while third-place finisher Kenny Wallace had only three top-tens. The last place runner was P. J. Jones, who declared late in the season and only ran six races for Melling Racing.

## References

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## External links

* Winston Cup Standings and Statistics for 1993