1992 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
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 February 9, 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 the sport 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 29 of the races he appeared in. 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. Tragically, only months later, both Alan Kulwicki and Davey Allison would be killed in separate aviation crashes. This season was the  first year of the Generation 4 car when the body panels were removed, the bumpers, nose and tail composed to mulled fiberglass based of production counterparts, teams spent hours in a wind tunnel to gain aero edge, and a highly-modified body was in place. The 1992 season was also the final year of Oldsmobile as a manufacturer in the series. 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). Races. Busch Clash. The Busch Clash , an exhibition event for all 1991 Busch Pole winners, and one "wild card" (from the fastest second round qualifiers from 1991) consisted of a 15-car field. The event was held Saturday, February 9 at Daytona International Speedway, a slight change from previous seasons, which usually saw the race held on Sunday. The move was made at the request of CBS, who wanted the additional time on Sunday for their coverage of the 1992 Winter Olympics. Brett Bodine drew the pole. Gatorade 125s. Sterling Marlin won the pole for the Daytona 500 during time trials on Sunday, February 9. His  Junior Johnson teammate Bill Elliott qualified second to take the "outside pole." The Gatorade 125-mile qualifying races for the Daytona 500 were held Thursday, February 13 at Daytona International Speedway. Sterling Marlin and Bill Elliott started first in each of the races, respectively. 34th Daytona 500 by STP. The Daytona 500 by STP was held on February 16th at Daytona International Speedway. Sterling Marlin won the pole. GM Goodwrench 500. The GM Goodwrench 500 was held March 1 at Rockingham. The #42 of Kyle Petty won the pole. Top ten results Pontiac Excitement 400. The Pontiac Excitement 400 was  held March 8 at Richmond International Raceway. Bill Elliott won the pole. Motorcraft Quality Parts 500. The Motorcraft Quality Parts 500 was held March 15 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The #6 of Mark Martin won the pole. Top ten results TranSouth 500. The TranSouth 500 was held March 29 at Darlington Raceway. The #22 of Sterling Marlin won the pole. Top ten results Food City 500. The Food City 500 was held April 5 at Bristol International Raceway. Alan Kulwicki won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 98-Jimmy Spencer First Union 400. The First Union 400 was  held April 12 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Alan Kulwicki won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 32-Jimmy Horton, 9-Dave Mader III*, 48-James Hylton. Hanes 500. The Hanes 500 was held April 26 at Martinsville Speedway. Darrell Waltrip won the pole. Top ten results Winston 500. The Winston 500 was held May 3 at Talladega Superspeedway. Ernie Irvan won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 0-Delma Cowart, 23-Eddie Bierschwale, 48-James Hylton, 73-Phil Barkdoll, 77-Mike Potter The Winston Open. The Winston Open, a last chance race to qualify for The  Winston, was held on May 16th, 1992 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Brett Bodine win the pole. The Winston. The 1992 edition of The Winston, took place on May 16, 1992. Davey Allison won the pole. Coca-Cola 600. The Coca-Cola 600 was held Sunday, May 24 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The #11 of Bill Elliott won the pole. Budweiser 500. The Budweiser 500 was held May 31 at Dover Downs International Speedway. The #26 driven by Brett Bodine won the pole. Top ten results Save Mart Supermarkets 300K. The Save Mart Supermarkets 300K was held June 7 at  Sears Point Raceway. For the third consecutive year in this event Ricky Rudd won the pole. Top ten results Champion Spark Plug 500. The Champion Spark Plug 500 was held June 14 at Pocono Raceway. Ken Schrader won the pole. Top ten results Miller Genuine Draft 400. The Miller Genuine Draft 400 was held June 21 at Michigan International Speedway. Davey Allison won the pole. Top ten results Indianapolis Motor Speedway test. On the way home from Michigan, on June 22–23, nine top NASCAR Winston Cup series teams were invited to Indianapolis to participate in a Goodyear tire test. Although  no official announcements were made, it was in fact an unofficial feasibility test to see if stock cars would be competitive at the circuit (see 1994 Brickyard 400). An estimated 10,000 spectators watched a rather exciting two days of history in the making. A. J. Foyt took a few laps around the track in Dale Earnhardt's car on the second day. ESPN covered the test. Pepsi 400. The Pepsi 400 was held Saturday, July 4 at Daytona International Speedway. Sterling Marlin won the pole position, and Richard Petty qualified second, in his final race at Daytona. Miller Genuine Draft  500. The Miller Genuine Draft 500 was held July 19 at Pocono Raceway. Davey Allison won the pole. Top ten results DieHard 500. The DieHard 500 was held July 26 at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama. Sterling Marlin won the pole. Top ten results Budweiser at The Glen. The Budweiser at The Glen was held August 9 at Watkins Glen International. Dale Earnhardt won the pole. The race was shortened to 51 laps due to rain as NASCAR did not have rain tires to use at the time; this would change at the 2020 Bank of America Roval 400. Top  ten results Champion Spark Plug 400. The Champion Spark Plug 400 was held August 16 at Michigan International Speedway. The #7 of Alan Kulwicki won the pole. Top ten results Bud 500. The Bud 500 was held Saturday night, August 29 at Bristol International Raceway. The #4 of Ernie Irvan won the pole. Mountain Dew Southern 500. The Mountain Dew Southern 500 was held September 6 at Darlington Raceway. The #22 of Sterling Marlin won the pole position. This race was shortened to 298 laps of 367 due to rain. Miller Genuine Draft 400. The Miller Genuine Draft 400 was  held Saturday night, September 12 at Richmond International Raceway. The #4 of Ernie Irvan won the pole. Peak Antifreeze 500. The Peak Antifreeze 500 was held September 20 at Dover Downs International Speedway. The #7 of Alan Kulwicki won the pole. Goody's 500. The Goody's 500 was held Monday, September 28 at Martinsville Speedway. Kyle Petty won the pole. Rain delayed the race from Sunday until Monday. Tyson Holly Farms 400. The Tyson Holly Farms 400 was held Monday, October 5 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. The #7 of Alan Kulwicki won the pole. This race was postponed to  Monday as a result of rain (the second week in a row that this occurred). Mello Yello 500. The Mello Yello 500 was held October 11 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Alan Kulwicki won the pole. AC Delco 500. The AC Delco 500 was held October 25 at North Carolina Speedway. Kyle Petty won the pole. Pyroil 500K. The Pyroil 500K was held November 1 at Phoenix International Raceway. The #2 of Rusty Wallace won the pole. Hooters 500. The Hooters 500 was held November 15 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Rick Mast won the pole. Final points standings. Bold - Pole  position awarded by time. "Italics" - Pole position set by owner's points standings. *- Most laps led. Rookie of the Year. Jimmy Hensley, driving Cale Yarborough's #66 Ford, was named Rookie of the Year after posting four top-ten finishes in 22 starts. Veteran Chad Little drove the car in the first six races, but was replaced by Bobby Hillin Jr. at North Wilkesboro and by Hensley in the following race at Martinsville. Hensley had previously never started more than 4 Winston Cup races in a season (doing so in 1984 and in 1991). Bob Schacht, Andy Belmont, and Dave  Mader III were also declared for the award, but did not run enough races to compete for the award.