1995 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1995 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 47th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 24th modern-era Cup series season. The season began on February 12 in Daytona Beach and concluded on November 12 at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports won his first career championship. Overview. The major story heading into the 1995 season was Dale Earnhardt's attempt to make history. After winning his seventh Winston Cup Championship in 1994, Earnhardt tied Richard Petty's record for Cup Championships. Going into the 1995  season, Earnhardt had won four of the last five Winston Cup points titles, and was considered the favorite to win his eighth in 1995. As the season progressed, the race for the series championship became a battle between Earnhardt, Sterling Marlin and Jeff Gordon. The majority of the spotlight soon shifted on the 24-year-old Gordon. Gordon, who had won two of 1994’s biggest races (Coca-Cola 600 and the Inaugural Brickyard 400), visited victory lane in three of the first six races of 1995. Gordon would become the most consistent driver of the season. During one stretch  of the season, he rattled off 14 straight top ten finishes, winning four times during that stretch. Despite a late season challenge by Earnhardt, Gordon would win the season’s championship by 34 points. In doing so, he became the youngest Winston Cup Champion of the modern era (post 1971). Gordon made light of this at the season ending banquet, toasting Earnhardt with a glass of milk instead of champagne. However, there were several other major stories in 1995. Races. Busch Clash. The 1995 Busch Clash, kicked off the season on February 12, at Daytona International Speedway. Geoff Bodine drew  the pole. As an exhibition race, no points are awarded. The race was between 1994 Winston Cup pole winners. Also, in a first for the event, the driver who collected the most poles in the 1994 Busch Season was also invited. This honor went to David Green. Dale Earnhardt got the season off to a dominating start, leading 18 of 20 laps to collect his 6th Clash win. Aside from that, the most noteworthy event happened on the first lap, when Loy Allen Jr. made contact with Greg Sacks in turn 3, sending Sacks into the wall. Sacks also collected  Mark Martin, ending Martin's day. Sterling Marlin finished second, Bill Elliott was third. Jeff Gordon and Todd Bodine rounded out the top five. Gatorade 125s. The Gatorade 125s, the qualifying races for the Daytona 500, were held on Thursday, February 16, at Daytona International Speedway. The lineups for the 125s were determined by qualifying the previous Sunday. The first race would consist of drivers who qualified in odd-numbered positions (1st fastest, 3rd fastest, 5th fastest, etc.), while the second race would be formed from even-numbered qualifiers. As the fastest driver, Dale Jarrett would start from the pole  in the first race, and second-fastest driver Dale Earnhardt would lead the field in the second race. Sterling Marlin would dominate the first race, leading 44 of 50 laps. His victory would ensure the 1994 Daytona 500 winner the 3rd starting spot on Sunday. Good finishes for Dave Marcis (10th), Joe Nemechek (12th), and Joe Ruttman (14th) assured them spots in the 500. In race 2, Earnhardt made it two-for-two for his Speedweeks, edging out Jeff Gordon for the victory. The race also contained two crashes. The first, on lap 15, collected Jimmy Spencer, Billy Standridge, and  Loy Allen Jr. Allen was forced to fall back on his qualifying time, while Spencer and Standridge went home. The second crash occurred on lap 42, and involved Chad Little, Phil Barkdoll, Phil Parsons, and Jim Sauter. Fortunately for Parsons, his qualifying time was good enough to get him into the 500. Little, Barkdoll, and Sauter weren't so lucky, and all three were forced to watch the 500 on TV. Daytona 500. The 1995 Daytona 500 was held February 19 at Daytona International Speedway. Dale Jarrett won his first career Winston Cup pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify : 20-Bobby Hillin Jr., 40-Greg Sacks, 14-Randy MacDonald, 95-Doug Heveron, 82-Terry Byers, 52-Gary Bradberry, 62-Ronnie Sanders, 81-Kenny Wallace, 73-Phil Barkdoll, 99-Shawna Robinson, 72-Jim Sauter, 51-Kerry Teague, 97-Chad Little, 68-Bob Strait, 23-Jimmy Spencer, 0-Delma Cowart, 47-Billy Standridge, 67-Ken Bouchard, 48-James Hylton, 53-Ritchie Petty, 32-Mike Chase, 65-Steve Seligman Goodwrench 500. The Goodwrench 500 was held February 26 at North Carolina Speedway. Jeff Gordon won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify (in order of speeds): 66-Ben Hess, 52-Gary  Bradberry, 48-James Hylton, 47-Billy Standridge, 19-Phil Parsons Pontiac Excitement 400. The Pontiac Excitement 400 was held March 5 at Richmond International Raceway. Jeff Gordon won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 32-Jimmy Hensley, 81-Kenny Wallace, 47-Billy Standridge, 78-Jay Hedgecock, 29-Steve Grissom, 52-Gary Bradberry, 66-Ben Hess, 49-Eric Smith, 77-Davy Jones Purolator 500. The Purolator 500 was held March 12 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Dale Earnhardt won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 31-Ward Burton, 52-Gary Bradberry, 27-Loy Allen Jr., 67-Ken Bouchard , 76-Johnny Chapman, 66-Ben Hess, 81-Kenny Wallace, 78-Pancho Carter TranSouth Financial 400. The TranSouth Financial 400 was held March 26 at Darlington Raceway. Jeff Gordon won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 81-Kenny Wallace, 52-Brad Teague, 19-Phil Parsons Food City 500. The Food City 500 was held April 2 at Bristol International Raceway. Mark Martin won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 98-Jeremy Mayfield, 87-Joe Nemechek, 26-Steve Kinser, 47-Billy Standridge, 78-Hut Stricklin, 66-Butch Miller, 52-Brad Teague, 27-Loy Allen Jr., 90-Mike Wallace  First Union 400. The First Union 400 was held April 9 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Jeff Gordon won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 98-Jeremy Mayfield, 81-Kenny Wallace, 32-Chuck Bown, 78-Jay Hedgecock, 77-Davy Jones, 47-Billy Standridge, 27-Jeff Purvis, 26-Steve Kinser, 52-Randy MacDonald Hanes 500. The Hanes 500 was held April 23 at Martinsville Speedway. Bobby Labonte won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 75-Todd Bodine, 23-Jimmy Spencer, 32-Chuck Bown, 78-Jay Hedgecock, 8-Jeff Burton, 22-Randy LaJoie, 77-Davy Jones Winston Select 500 . The Winston Select 500 was held April 30 at Talladega Superspeedway. The #5 of Terry Labonte won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 53-Ritchie Petty, 47-Billy Standridge, 87-Joe Nemechek, 65-Steve Seligman, 0-Delma Cowart Save Mart Supermarkets 300. The Save Mart Supermarkets 300 was held May 7 at Sears Point Raceway. Ricky Rudd won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 40-Greg Sacks, 98-Jeremy Mayfield, 27-Elton Sawyer, 00w-Scott Gaylord, 64-Garrett Evans, 22w-St. James Davis, 19-Ernie Cope Coca-Cola 600. The Coca-Cola 600 was held May  28 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The #24 of Jeff Gordon won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 40-Greg Sacks, 20-Bobby Hillin Jr., 95-Jimmy Hensley, 77-Davy Jones, 44-Jeff Purvis, 67-Johnny Chapman Miller Genuine Draft 500. The Miller Genuine Draft 500 was held June 4 at Dover Downs International Speedway. Jeff Gordon won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 79-Doug French, 19-Loy Allen Jr. UAW-GM Teamwork 500. The UAW-GM Teamwork 500 was held June 11 at Pocono Raceway. Ken Schrader won the pole. Top ten results Failed to  qualify: 79-Doug French Miller Genuine Draft 400. The Miller Genuine Draft 400 was held June 18 at Michigan International Speedway. Jeff Gordon won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 88-Gary Bradberry, 40-Greg Sacks Pepsi 400. The Pepsi 400 was held July 1 at Daytona International Speedway. Dale Earnhardt won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 81-Kenny Wallace, 0-Delma Cowart, 65-Steve Seligman Slick 50 300. The Slick 50 300 was held July 9 at New Hampshire International Speedway. Mark Martin won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 49-Eric  Smith Miller Genuine Draft 500. The Miller Genuine Draft 500 was held July 16 at Pocono Raceway. Bill Elliott won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 14-Randy MacDonald, 82-Terry Byers DieHard 500. The DieHard 500 was held July 23 at Talladega Superspeedway. Sterling Marlin won the pole. The race was most remembered for Ken Schrader's wild end-over-end tumble in "The Big One" on lap 139, which collected 13 other cars. He was not injured, though. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 22-Jimmy Hensley, 0-Delma Cowart, 65-Steve Seligman Brickyard 400. The  second Brickyard 400 was held Saturday, August 5, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The popular event returned for a second year, after the tremendous success of the first running. The weekend was expanded by the addition of practice on Wednesday afternoon. Pole qualifying. Defending champion Jeff Gordon won the pole position on Thursday, August 3, with a track record speed of 172.536 mph. A hot day saw most speeds down, and Gordon was the only driver to break the existing track record. Bobby Hamilton put the fans on their feet when he put the popular Petty #43 STP Pontiac on  the outside of the front row with a run of 172.222 mph. Second round qualifying. On Friday, August 4, the remnants of Hurricane Erin overtook the midwest, and rain settled in for two days. Friday morning practice was lost, and second round qualifying was also rained out. As a result, all cars reverted to their time trials speed from the first round, and the field was filled accordingly. Without a chance in second round qualifying, A. J. Foyt notably failed to qualify, the first time he failed to qualify in a race he attempted at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway since  1958. The field managed a brief "happy hour" practice late Friday evening, and rain began to fall again. Race recap. On Saturday, August 5, steady rain fell all morning, and threatened to wash out the day. The forecast was marginal for Sunday as well, threatening to washout the whole weekend. Many fans left the grounds as local media speculated (and some erroneously reported) that the race would be postponed. In an unexpected turn of events, at approximately 3:30 p.m. EST (4:30 p.m. EDT), the skies suddenly cleared, and track drying efforts began in earnest. The teams scrambled to get their  cars prepared, and the field hastily lined up in the garage area. The Chevrolet C/K pace truck led them on to the track and the race began with many fans still scurrying to their seats. Many of the pit crews were also scrambling to get their equipment set up in the pit area. Some fans driving home on the interstate reportedly turned around and drove back to the track when the radio reported the race was starting. The green flag dropped at 4:25 p.m. EST (5:25 p.m. EDT) with live coverage only on the radio. ABC-TV had signed  off before the race began, and it was instead aired on tape delay on Sunday morning on ESPN. It stands as one of the last NASCAR races not aired live on television. Dale Earnhardt beat Rusty Wallace to the finish line in a race slowed by only one caution for 4 laps. Jeff Burton spun off turn two right in front of eventual winner Earnhardt with 27 laps to go. The race was completed at 7:03 p.m. EST (8:03 p.m. EDT), shortly before sunset. Top ten results. Failed to qualify The Bud at The Glen. The Bud at The Glen  was held August 12 at Watkins Glen International. Mark Martin won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 61-David Murry, 90-Mike Wallace, 49-Eric Smith GM Goodwrench 400. The GM Goodwrench 400 was held August 19 at Michigan International Speedway. Bobby Labonte won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 40-Rich Bickle, 72-Tracy Leslie, 02-Tim Steele, 95-Loy Allen Jr. Goody's 500. The Goody's 500 was held August 26 at Bristol International Raceway. Mark Martin won the pole. This race is likely the most memorable race of the entire 1995 season  due to the infamous finish of the event where Dale Earnhardt ran Terry Labonte down from 3 seconds behind in the late stages of the race and tapped him coming off turn 4 on the last lap. This tap got Labonte loose, and then Labonte overcorrected (slightly grazing the #31 Chevrolet of Greg Sacks in the process). This put Labonte head on into the outside wall just beyond the start-finish line, still ahead of Earnhardt to claim the victory. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 42-Kyle Petty, 95-Joe Ruttman, 81-Kenny Wallace, 32-Jimmy Hensley, 77-Bobby  Hillin Jr., 75-Todd Bodine, 27-Elton Sawyer Mountain Dew Southern 500. The Mountain Dew Southern 500 was held September 3 at Darlington Raceway. The #37 of John Andretti won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 66-Billy Standridge, 52-Brad Teague, 88-Gary Bradberry Miller Genuine Draft 400. The Miller Genuine Draft 400 was held September 9 at Richmond International Raceway. Dale Earnhardt won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 32-Ed Berrier, 78-Jay Hedgecock, 40-Shane Hall, 29-Steve Grissom, 90-Mike Wallace, 49-Eric Smith MBNA 500. The MBNA 500 was held  September 17 at Dover Downs International Speedway. The #1 of Rick Mast won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: ??-Billy Standridge, 66-Terry Fisher, 31-Greg Sacks Goody's 500. The Goody's 500 was held September 24 at Martinsville Speedway. Qualifying was rained out, so point leader Jeff Gordon was awarded with the pole position. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 31-Jimmy Hensley, 32-Greg Sacks, 40-Rich Bickle, 71-Dave Marcis, 77-Bobby Hillin Jr., 81-Kenny Wallace Tyson Holly Farms 400. The Tyson Holly Farms 400 was held October 1 at North Wilkesboro Speedway . The #16 of Ted Musgrave won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 75-Todd Bodine, 32-Greg Sacks, 98-Jeremy Mayfield, 22-Ward Burton, 8-Jeff Burton, 90-Mike Wallace, 78-Jay Hedgecock UAW-GM Quality 500. The UAW-GM Quality 500 was held October 8 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Ricky Rudd won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 97-Chad Little, 81-Kenny Wallace, 44-Jeff Purvis, 0-Delma Cowart, 66-Billy Standridge AC Delco 400. The AC Delco 400 was held October 22 at North Carolina Speedway. The #26 of Hut Stricklin won the  pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 71-Dave Marcis, 88-Ernie Irvan, 19-Loy Allen Jr., 78-Jay Hedgecock, 84-Norm Benning, 70-Alan Russell, 14-Richard Brickhouse Dura Lube 500. The Dura Lube 500 was held October 29 at Phoenix International Raceway. The #94 of Bill Elliott won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 50-A. J. Foyt, 97-Chad Little, 08-Mike Bliss, 40-Shane Hall, 00w-Scott Gaylord, 58w-Wayne Jacks, 7w-L. J. Pryor, 36w-Rich Woodland Jr. NAPA 500. The NAPA 500 was held November 12 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The #17  of Darrell Waltrip won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 66-Billy Standridge, 59-Jack Sprague, 90-Mike Wallace, 40-Shane Hall, 0-Delma Cowart, 49-Eric Smith 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. 29-year-old Ricky Craven from Newburgh, Maine received the 1995 Rookie of the Year award. Craven took the #41 Chevy owned by Sue and Larry Hedrick to four top-tens and finished 24th in the points. Runner-up was Craven's former Busch Series  opponent Robert Pressley, posting one top-ten in the Leo Jackson Motorsports Chevy. The next runner-up, Randy LaJoie, began the year in the 22 car, but struggled and was released midway through the year. Steve Kinser and Davy Jones, a pair of open-wheel veterans who struggled in their transition to stock cars, were both released from their rides before the season reached the one-third point, while Mike Chase was released by his team after failing to qualify for the Daytona 500. Gary Bradberry and Terry Byers filed for Rookie of the Year contention but only ran limited  schedules.