1996 NASCAR Busch Series

The **1996 NASCAR Busch Series season** began February 17 and ended November 3. Randy LaJoie of BACE Motorsports was crowned the series champion.

## Teams and drivers

List of full-time teams at the start of 1996.

## Races

### Goody's Headache Powder 300

The Goody's Headache Powder 300 was held February 17 at Daytona International Speedway. Jeff Purvis won the pole.

**Top ten results**

1. 29-Steve Grissom
2. 32-Dale Jarrett
3. 60-Mark Martin
4. 92-Larry Pearson
5. 63-Curtis Markham
6. 43-Rodney Combs
7. 74-Randy LaJoie
8. 26-Derrike Cope
9. 44-Bobby Labonte
10. 20-Jimmy Spencer

* This was the first NASCAR start for Tony Stewart.

### Goodwrench Service 200

The Goodwrench Service 200 was held February 24 at North Carolina Speedway. Mark Martin won the pole.

**Top ten results**

1. 60-Mark Martin
2. 34-Mike McLaughlin
3. 4-Jeff Purvis
4. 2-Ricky Craven
5. 44-Bobby Labonte
6. 95-David Green
7. 74-Randy LaJoie
8. 57-Jason Keller
9. 5-Terry Labonte
10. 81-Todd Bodine

### Hardee's Fried Chicken 250

The Hardee's Fried Chicken 250 was Held March 2 at Richmond International Raceway. Jeff Purvis won the pole.

**Top ten results**

1. 4-Jeff Purvis
2. 87-Joe Nemechek
3. 95-David Green
4. 90-Mike Wallace
5. 63-Curtis Markham
6. 74-Randy LaJoie
7. 57-Jason Keller
8. 81-Todd Bodine
9. 32-Dale Jarrett
10. 5-Terry Labonte

### Busch Light 300

The Busch Light 300 was held March 9 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Dick Trickle won the pole.

**Top ten results**

1. 5-Terry Labonte
2. 95-David Green
3. 10-Phil Parsons
4. 29-Steve Grissom
5. 49-Stanton Barrett
6. 43-Rodney Combs
7. 60-Mark Martin
8. 22-Ward Burton
9. 44-Bobby Labonte
10. 87-Joe Nemechek

### BellSouth / Opryland USA 320

The BellSouth / Opryland USA 320 was held March 17 at Nashville Speedway USA. Sterling Marlin won the pole.

**Top ten results**

1. 44-Bobby Labonte
2. 95-David Green
3. 10-Phil Parsons
4. 5-Terry Labonte
5. 63-Curtis Markham
6. 87-Joe Nemechek
7. 99-Glenn Allen, Jr.
8. 64-Dick Trickle
9. 98-Jeremy Mayfield
10. 55-Bobby Dotter

### Dura Lube 200 (March 23)

The Dura Lube 200 was held March 23 at Darlington Raceway. Jeff Green won the pole.

**Top ten results**

1. 60-Mark Martin
2. 12-Michael Waltrip
3. 5-Terry Labonte
4. 2-Ricky Craven
5. 44-Bobby Labonte
6. 32-Dale Jarrett
7. 29-Steve Grissom
8. 81-Todd Bodine
9. 64-Dick Trickle
10. 22-Ward Burton

### Goody's Headache Powder 250

The Goody's Headache Powder 250 was held March 30 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Chad Little won the pole.

**Top ten results**

1. 60-Mark Martin
2. 3-Jeff Green
3. 8-Kenny Wallace
4. 10-Phil Parsons
5. 29-Steve Grissom
6. 74-Randy LaJoie
7. 95-David Green
8. 64-Dick Trickle
9. 90-Mike Wallace
10. 47-Jeff Fuller

### Sundrop 300

The Sundrop 300 was held April 6 at Hickory Motor Speedway. David Green won the pole.

**Top ten results**

1. 95-David Green
2. 1-Hermie Sadler
3. 74-Randy LaJoie
4. 57-Jason Keller
5. 81-Todd Bodine
6. 51-Jimmy Spencer
7. 3-Jeff Green
8. 88-Kevin Lepage
9. 63-Curtis Markham
10. 92-Larry Pearson

### Meridian Advantage 200

The Meridian Advantage 200 was held May 19 at Nazareth Speedway. David Green won the pole.

**Top ten results**

1. 74-Randy LaJoie\*
2. 95-David Green
3. 3-Jeff Green
4. 64-Dick Trickle
5. 57-Jason Keller
6. 6-Tommy Houston
7. 88-Kevin Lepage
8. 40-Tim Fedewa
9. 81-Todd Bodine
10. 99-Glenn Allen, Jr.

Shane Hall flipped in this race.

* This was the first win for Randy LaJoie.

### Red Dog 300

The Red Dog 300 was held May 25 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Dale Jarrett won the pole. Future Cup Series champion Matt Kenseth made his debut.

**Top ten results**

1. 60-Mark Martin
2. 64-Dick Trickle
3. 44-Bobby Labonte
4. 5-Terry Labonte
5. 74-Randy LaJoie
6. 32-Dale Jarrett
7. 26-Derrike Cope
8. 87-Joe Nemechek
9. 90-Mike Wallace
10. 22-Ward Burton

### GM Goodwrench/Delco 200

The GM Goodwrench/Delco 200 was held June 1 at Dover International Speedway. Bobby Labonte won the pole.

**Top ten results**

1. 74-Randy LaJoie
2. 2-Ricky Craven
3. 5-Terry Labonte
4. 95-David Green
5. 90-Mike Wallace
6. 32-Dale Jarrett
7. 3-Jeff Green
8. 10-Phil Parsons
9. 92-Larry Pearson
10. 1-Hermie Sadler

### Winston Motorsports 300

The Winston Motorsports 300 was held June 8 at South Boston Speedway. Randy LaJoie won the pole.

**Top ten results**

1. 81-Todd Bodine
2. 34-Mike McLaughlin
3. 3-Jeff Green
4. 92-Larry Pearson
5. 74-Randy LaJoie
6. 63-Curtis Markham
7. 1-Hermie Sadler
8. 23-Chad Little
9. 88-Kevin Lepage
10. 72-Mike Dillon

### Carolina Pride / Red Dog 250

The Carolina Pride / Red Dog 250 was held June 22 at Myrtle Beach Speedway. David Green won the pole. This race marked the NASCAR debut of Dale Earnhardt, Jr., driving the #31 Chevrolet. Earnhardt started 7th and finished 14th.

**Top ten results**

1. 95-David Green
2. 4-Jeff Purvis
3. 57-Jason Keller
4. 88-Kevin Lepage
5. 3-Jeff Green
6. 34-Mike McLaughlin
7. 64-Dick Trickle
8. 43-Dennis Setzer
9. 63-Curtis Markham
10. 37-Mark Green

### Lysol 200

The Lysol 200 was held June 30 at Watkins Glen International Raceway. David Green won the pole.

**Top ten results**

1. 5-Terry Labonte
2. 81-Todd Bodine
3. 34-Mike McLaughlin
4. 44-Bobby Labonte
5. 95-David Green
6. 3-Jeff Green
7. 20-Jimmy Spencer
8. 23-Chad Little
9. 8-Kenny Wallace
10. 57-Jason Keller

### Sears Auto Center 250

The Sears Auto Center 250 was held July 7 at The Milwaukee Mile. Hermie Sadler won the pole.

**Top ten results**

1. 00-Buckshot Jones
2. 34-Mike McLaughlin
3. 74-Randy LaJoie
4. 8-Kenny Wallace
5. 44-Bobby Labonte
6. 75-Doug Heveron
7. 3-Jeff Green
8. 6-Tommy Houston
9. 47-Jeff Fuller
10. 57-Jason Keller

* This was Buckshot Jones's first Busch Series win.

### Stanley 200

The Stanley 200 was held July 12 at New Hampshire International Speedway. David Green won the pole.

**Top ten results**

1. 74-Randy LaJoie
2. 5-Terry Labonte
3. 95-David Green
4. 3-Jeff Green
5. 44-Bobby Labonte
6. 1-Hermie Sadler
7. 81-Todd Bodine
8. 57-Jason Keller
9. 34-Mike McLaughlin
10. 90-Mike Wallace

### Humminbird Fishfinder 500K

The Humminbird Fishfinder 500K was held July 27 at Talladega Superspeedway. Joe Nemechek won the pole.

**Top ten results**

1. 29-Greg Sacks
2. 87-Joe Nemechek
3. 74-Randy LaJoie
4. 5-Terry Labonte
5. 12-Michael Waltrip
6. 4-Jeff Purvis
7. 64-Dick Trickle
8. 47-Jeff Fuller
9. 88-Kevin Lepage
10. 95-David Green

### Kroger 200

The Kroger 200 was held August 2 at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Randy LaJoie won the pole.

**Top ten results**

1. 74-Randy LaJoie
2. 34-Mike McLaughlin
3. 95-David Green
4. 40-Tim Fedewa
5. 32-Dale Jarrett
6. 43-Dennis Setzer
7. 4-Jeff Purvis
8. 64-Dick Trickle
9. 00-Buckshot Jones
10. 11-Tracy Leslie

### Detroit Gasket 200

The Detroit Gasket 200 was held August 16 at Michigan International Speedway. Ricky Craven won the pole.

**Top ten results**

1. 4-Jeff Purvis
2. 88-Kevin Lepage
3. 5-Terry Labonte
4. 60-Mark Martin
5. 2-Ricky Craven
6. 44-Bobby Labonte
7. 95-David Green
8. 28-Hut Stricklin
9. 29-Elliott Sadler
10. 74-Randy LaJoie

### Food City 250

The Food City 250 was held August 23 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Jeff Fuller won the pole.

**Top ten results**

1. 47-Jeff Fuller
2. 32-Dale Jarrett
3. 10-Phil Parsons
4. 20-Jimmy Spencer
5. 12-Michael Waltrip
6. 26-Derrike Cope
7. 63-Curtis Markham
8. 3-Jeff Green
9. 57-Jason Keller
10. 5-Terry Labonte

* This was Jeff Fuller's first (and only) Busch Series win.

### Dura Lube 200 (August 31)

The Dura Lube 200 was held August 31 at Darlington Raceway. Mark Martin won the pole.

**Top ten results**

1. 5-Terry Labonte
2. 60-Mark Martin
3. 64-Dick Trickle
4. 95-David Green
5. 74-Randy LaJoie
6. 2-Ricky Craven
7. 3-Jeff Green
8. 32-Dale Jarrett
9. 88-Kevin Lepage
10. 6-Tommy Houston

### Autolite Platinum 250

The Autolite Platinum 250 was held September 8 at Richmond International Raceway. Michael Waltrip won the pole.

**Top ten results**

1. 8-Kenny Wallace
2. 95-David Green
3. 23-Chad Little
4. 60-Mark Martin
5. 64-Dick Trickle
6. 4-Jeff Purvis
7. 98-Jeremy Mayfield
8. 74-Randy LaJoie
9. 44-Bobby Labonte
10. 5-Terry Labonte

### MBNA 200

The MBNA 200 was held September 14 at Dover International Speedway. Ricky Craven won the pole.

**Top ten results**

1. 74-Randy LaJoie
2. 32-Dale Jarrett
3. 10-Phil Parsons
4. 5-Terry Labonte
5. 2-Ricky Craven
6. 34-Mike McLaughlin
7. 29-Elliott Sadler
8. 38-Elton Sawyer
9. 23-Chad Little
10. 1-Hermie Sadler

### All Pro Bumper to Bumper 300

The All Pro Bumper to Bumper 300 was held October 5 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Bobby Labonte won the pole.

**Top ten results**

1. 60-Mark Martin
2. 44-Bobby Labonte
3. 92-Sterling Marlin
4. 23-Chad Little
5. 34-Mike McLaughlin
6. 74-Randy LaJoie
7. 88-Kevin Lepage
8. 3-Jeff Green
9. 20-Jimmy Spencer
10. 57-Jason Keller

### AC-Delco 200

The AC-Delco 200 was held October 19 at North Carolina Speedway. Buckshot Jones won the pole.

**Top ten results**

1. 60-Mark Martin
2. 32-Dale Jarrett
3. 2-Ricky Craven
4. 34-Mike McLaughlin
5. 95-David Green
6. 5-Terry Labonte
7. 88-Kevin Lepage
8. 3-Jeff Green
9. 74-Randy LaJoie
10. 23-Chad Little

### Jiffy Lube Miami 300

The Jiffy Lube Miami 300 was held November 3 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Bobby Labonte won the pole.

**Top ten results**

1. 88-Kevin Lepage
2. 44-Bobby Labonte
3. 60-Mark Martin
4. 87-Joe Nemechek
5. 29-Elliott Sadler
6. 20-Jimmy Spencer
7. 23-Chad Little
8. 81-Todd Bodine
9. 95-David Green
10. 74-Randy LaJoie

* This was Kevin Lepage's first career victory.

## Final points standings

See also: List of NASCAR points scoring systems
1. **Randy LaJoie - 3714**
2. David Green - 3685
3. Todd Bodine - 3064
4. Jeff Green - 3059
5. Chad Little - 2984
6. Jason Keller - 2900
7. Jeff Purvis - 2894
8. Kevin Lepage - 2870
9. Phil Parsons - 2854
10. Mike McLaughlin - 2853
11. Curtis Markham - 2838
12. Dick Trickle - 2728
13. Terry Labonte - 2699
14. Glenn Allen, Jr. - 2593
15. Hermie Sadler - 2588
16. Larry Pearson - 2471
17. Jeff Fuller - 2399
18. Rodney Combs - 2396
19. Bobby Labonte - 2374
20. Tim Fedewa - 2320
21. Mark Martin - 2186
22. Dale Jarrett - 2109
23. Mike Dillon - 1945
24. Bobby Dotter - 1832
25. Buckshot Jones - 1708
26. Mike Wallace - 1664
27. Dennis Setzer - 1567
28. Tommy Houston - 1563
29. Ricky Craven - 1503
30. Doug Heveron - 1488
31. Patty Moise - 1458
32. Jimmy Spencer - 1392
33. Jim Bown - 1346
34. Michael Waltrip - 1342
35. Elliott Sadler - 1301
36. Stevie Reeves - 1290
37. Randy Porter - 1283
38. Joe Nemechek - 1282
39. Elton Sawyer - 1217
40. Derrike Cope - 1200
41. Kenny Wallace - 1189
42. Shane Hall - 1175
43. Jeremy Mayfield - 1051
44. Joe Bessey - 1023
45. Steve Grissom - 1005
46. Mark Green - 947
47. Ward Burton - 919
48. Hut Stricklin - 791
49. Tony Stewart - 753
50. Tracy Leslie - 645

## Rookie of the Year

Former short track racer Glenn Allen, Jr. was named Rookie of the Year in 1996, posting two top-ten finishes early in the season, as well as being of only two full-time contenders for the award. Mike Dillon was the other, finishing 23rd in points. Shane Hall, Mark Green and Tony Stewart were the other contenders, all running part-time schedules.

## See also

* 1996 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
* 1996 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series

## External links

* Busch Series standings and statistics for 1996