| Type: | NASWINSTON |
| Year: | 1986 |
| Official Name: | 18th Annual Budweiser 400 |
| Announcers: | Steve Evans, Brock Yates |
| Radio: | Motor Racing Network |
| Network: | TNN (via American Sports Cavalcade) |
| Pole Driver: | Darrell Waltrip |
| First Team: | Junior Johnson & Associates |
| Most Team: | Hendrick Motorsports |
| First Driver: | Darrell Waltrip |
| Most Driver: | Tim Richmond |
| Pole Team: | Junior Johnson & Associates |
| Most Laps: | 43 |
| Avg: | 105.083mph |
| Date: | June 1 |
| Season No: | 29 |
| Location: | Riverside International Raceway, Riverside, California |
| Race No: | 12 |
| Car: | 11 |
| Race Name: | Budweiser 400 |
| Scheduled Mi: | 248.9 |
| Course Km: | 4.216 |
| Scheduled Km: | 400.565 |
| Distance Km: | 400.565 |
| Scheduled Laps: | 95 |
| Distance Laps: | 95 |
| Course Mi: | 2.62 |
| Pole Time: | 1:20.611 |
| Distance Mi: | 248.9 |
| Attendance: | 45,126 |
The 1986 Budweiser 400 was the 12th stock car race of the 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, the second race of the 1986 NASCAR Winston West Series, and the 18th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, June 1, 1986, before an audience of 45,126 in Riverside, California, at the short layout of Riverside International Raceway, a 2.62miles permanent road course layout at the track. The race took the scheduled 95 laps to complete.
With two laps left in the race, a caution flag was called for a four car wreck. The top two at the time, Hendrick Motorsports' Tim Richmond and Junior Johnson & Associates' Darrell Waltrip, raced back to the line, with the driver leading by the start of the next lap essentially being guaranteed the victory. In the final turn of the track, Waltrip was able to pass Richmond exiting the turn, giving Waltrip the lead and the victory. The victory was Waltrip's 68th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his first victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Bud Moore Engineering's Ricky Rudd finished third.[1] [2]
Riverside International Raceway (sometimes known as Riverside, RIR, or Riverside Raceway) was a motorsports race track and road course established in the Edgemont area of Riverside County, California, just east of the city limits of Riverside and east of Los Angeles, in 1957. In 1984, the raceway became part of the newly incorporated city of Moreno Valley. Riverside was noted for its hot, dusty environment and for being somewhat of a complicated and dangerous track for drivers. It was also considered one of the finest tracks in the United States.
Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, May 30, at 6:30 PM EST. Each driver had one lap to set a time. During the first round, the top 20 drivers in the round were guaranteed a starting spot in the race.[3] If a driver was not able to guarantee a spot in the first round, they had the option to scrub their time from the first round and try and run a faster lap time in a second round qualifying run, held on Saturday, May 31, at 2:30 PM EST. As with the first round, each driver had one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 21-40 were decided on time, and depending on who needed it, a select amount of positions were given to cars who had not otherwise qualified but were high enough in owner's points; up to two provisionals were given.[4]
Darrell Waltrip, driving for Junior Johnson & Associates, won the pole, setting a time of 1:20.611 and an average speed of 117.006mph in the first round.[5]
No drivers failed to qualify.
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 | Darrell Waltrip | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 1:20.611 | 117.006 | |
| 2 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1:20.782 | 116.759 | |
| 3 | 25 | Tim Richmond | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1:20.783 | 116.757 | |
| 4 | 12 | Neil Bonnett | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 1:21.340 | 115.958 | |
| 5 | 44 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Enterprises | Oldsmobile | 1:21.377 | 115.905 | |
| 6 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 1:21.540 | 115.673 | |
| 7 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 1:21.593 | 115.598 | |
| 8 | 15 | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 1:21.784 | 115.328 | |
| 9 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 1:22.107 | 114.874 | |
| 10 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 1:22.468 | 114.372 | |
| 11 | 22 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 1:22.474 | 114.363 | |
| 12 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 1:22.609 | 114.176 | |
| 13 | 04 | Hershel McGriff | Smith Racing | Pontiac | 1:22.875 | 113.810 | |
| 14 | 75 | Morgan Shepherd | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 1:23.001 | 113.637 | |
| 15 | 79 | Derrike Cope | Razore Racing | Ford | 1:23.107 | 113.492 | |
| 16 | 7 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 1:23.252 | 113.295 | |
| 17 | 90 | Ken Schrader | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 1:23.330 | 113.189 | |
| 18 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Pontiac | 1:23.364 | 113.142 | |
| 19 | 73 | Bill Schmitt | Schmitt Racing | Chevrolet | 1:23.964 | 112.334 | |
| 20 | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | 1:24.141 | 112.098 | |
| Failed to lock in Round 1 | |||||||
| 21 | 26 | Joe Ruttman | King Racing | Buick | 1:21.910 | 115.151 | |
| 22 | 18 | Glen Steurer | Steurer Racing | Chevrolet | 1:23.620 | 112.796 | |
| 23 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 1:23.982 | 112.310 | |
| 24 | 32 | Ruben Garcia | Stoke Racing | Chevrolet | 1:24.005 | 112.279 | |
| 25 | 28 | Chad Little | George Jefferson Racing | Ford | 1:24.488 | 111.637 | |
| 26 | 62 | Terry Petris | Petris Racing | Chevrolet | 1:24.619 | 111.464 | |
| 27 | 6 | D. K. Ulrich | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | 1:24.674 | 111.391 | |
| 28 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 1:24.691 | 111.370 | |
| 29 | 48 | Ron Esau | Hylton Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1:24.797 | 111.230 | |
| 30 | 64 | Willy T. Ribbs | DiGard Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1:24.854 | 111.156 | |
| 31 | 08 | Rick McCray | McCray Racing | Buick | 1:24.975 | 110.997 | |
| 32 | 17 | Doug Heveron | Hamby Racing | Chevrolet | 1:25.450 | 110.380 | |
| 33 | 67 | Buddy Arrington | Arrington Racing | Ford | 1:25.509 | 110.304 | |
| 34 | 38 | John Krebs | Krebs Racing | Oldsmobile | 1:25.818 | 109.907 | |
| 35 | 99 | Ted Kennedy | Stoke Racing | Chevrolet | 1:26.130 | 109.509 | |
| 36 | 23 | Michael Waltrip (R) | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 1:26.324 | 109.263 | |
| 37 | 86 | Clay Young | Clay Young Racing | Buick | 1:26.468 | 109.081 | |
| 38 | 94 | Trevor Boys | Eller Racing | Pontiac | 1:27.268 | 108.081 | |
| 39 | 77 | Richard Lach | Stoke Racing | Buick | 1:27.281 | 108.065 | |
| 40 | 74 | Ray Kelly | Ray Kelly Racing | Pontiac | 1:27.317 | 108.020 | |
| 41 | 78 | Jim Robinson | Lois Williams Racing | Oldsmobile | 1:27.407 | 107.909 | |
| 42 | 1 | Bill Osborne | Osborne Racing | Buick | 1:27.472 | 107.829 | |
| Official first round qualifying results | |||||||
| Official starting lineup | |||||||
| Fin | St | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 11 | Darrell Waltrip | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 95 | 21 | running | 180 | $49,000 | |
| 2 | 3 | 25 | Tim Richmond | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 95 | 43 | running | 180 | $22,155 | |
| 3 | 8 | 15 | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 95 | 0 | running | 165 | $18,650 | |
| 4 | 6 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 95 | 0 | running | 160 | $12,775 | |
| 5 | 10 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 95 | 0 | running | 155 | $14,125 | |
| 6 | 7 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 95 | 0 | running | 150 | $7,745 | |
| 7 | 11 | 22 | Bobby Allison | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 95 | 0 | running | 146 | $9,800 | |
| 8 | 4 | 12 | Neil Bonnett | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 95 | 0 | running | 142 | $11,000 | |
| 9 | 9 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 95 | 2 | running | 143 | $11,000 | |
| 10 | 22 | 18 | Glen Steurer | Steurer Racing | Chevrolet | 94 | 0 | running | 134 | $6,975 | |
| 11 | 12 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 94 | 0 | running | 130 | $11,300 | |
| 12 | 5 | 44 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Enterprises | Oldsmobile | 93 | 21 | accident | 132 | $9,000 | |
| 13 | 25 | 28 | Chad Little | George Jefferson Racing | Ford | 92 | 0 | running | 124 | $4,965 | |
| 14 | 20 | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | 92 | 0 | running | 121 | $5,755 | |
| 15 | 41 | 78 | Jim Robinson | Lois Williams Racing | Oldsmobile | 92 | 0 | running | 118 | $5,835 | |
| 16 | 29 | 48 | Ron Esau | Hylton Motorsports | Chevrolet | 92 | 0 | running | 0 | $5,325 | |
| 17 | 17 | 90 | Ken Schrader | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 91 | 0 | running | 112 | $6,040 | |
| 18 | 19 | 73 | Bill Schmitt | Schmitt Racing | Chevrolet | 91 | 0 | running | 109 | $3,755 | |
| 19 | 33 | 67 | Buddy Arrington | Arrington Racing | Ford | 90 | 0 | running | 106 | $4,545 | |
| 20 | 32 | 17 | Doug Heveron | Hamby Racing | Chevrolet | 90 | 0 | running | 103 | $4,775 | |
| 21 | 37 | 86 | Clay Young | Clay Young Racing | Buick | 90 | 0 | running | 100 | $1,400 | |
| 22 | 28 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 90 | 0 | running | 97 | $4,115 | |
| 23 | 35 | 99 | Ted Kennedy | Stoke Racing | Chevrolet | 89 | 0 | running | 94 | $2,030 | |
| 24 | 26 | 62 | Terry Petris | Petris Racing | Chevrolet | 88 | 0 | accident | 91 | $1,985 | |
| 25 | 36 | 23 | Michael Waltrip (R) | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 85 | 0 | running | 88 | $1,800 | |
| 26 | 34 | 38 | John Krebs | Krebs Racing | Oldsmobile | 77 | 0 | running | 85 | $1,150 | |
| 27 | 14 | 75 | Morgan Shepherd | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 75 | 0 | transmission | 82 | $3,125 | |
| 28 | 13 | 04 | Hershel McGriff | Smith Racing | Pontiac | 73 | 0 | running | 79 | $2,100 | |
| 29 | 30 | 64 | Willy T. Ribbs | DiGard Motorsports | Chevrolet | 64 | 0 | engine | 76 | $1,075 | |
| 30 | 24 | 32 | Ruben Garcia | Stoke Racing | Chevrolet | 61 | 0 | transmission | 73 | $2,050 | |
| 31 | 15 | 79 | Derrike Cope | Razore Racing | Ford | 58 | 0 | engine | 70 | $1,000 | |
| 32 | 23 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 58 | 0 | running | 67 | $2,975 | |
| 33 | 27 | 6 | D. K. Ulrich | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | 53 | 0 | running | 64 | $2,950 | |
| 34 | 38 | 94 | Trevor Boys | Eller Racing | Pontiac | 41 | 0 | engine | 61 | $925 | |
| 35 | 42 | 1 | Bill Osborne | Osborne Racing | Buick | 38 | 0 | engine | 0 | $850 | |
| 36 | 40 | 74 | Ray Kelly | Ray Kelly Racing | Pontiac | 36 | 0 | running | 55 | $850 | |
| 37 | 31 | 08 | Rick McCray | McCray Racing | Buick | 33 | 0 | engine | 52 | $850 | |
| 38 | 18 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Pontiac | 32 | 0 | accident | 49 | $2,850 | |
| 39 | 2 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 28 | 8 | engine | 51 | $7,850 | |
| 40 | 39 | 77 | Richard Lach | Stoke Racing | Buick | 20 | 0 | engine | 43 | $825 | |
| 41 | 16 | 7 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 13 | 0 | engine | 40 | $7,825 | |
| 42 | 21 | 26 | Joe Ruttman | King Racing | Buick | 5 | 0 | engine | 37 | $3,325 | |
| Official race results | |||||||||||
| Pos | Driver | Points | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dale Earnhardt | 1,922 | |||||||
| 2 | Darrell Waltrip | 1,803 (-119) | |||||||
| 3 | Bobby Allison | 1,651 (-271) | |||||||
| 1 | 4 | Rusty Wallace | 1,600 (–322) | ||||||
| 1 | 5 | Bill Elliott | 1,577 (–345) | ||||||
| 2 | 6 | Terry Labonte | 1,568 (–354) | ||||||
| 1 | 7 | Tim Richmond | 1,557 (–365) | ||||||
| 1 | 8 | Harry Gant | 1,523 (–399) | ||||||
| 1 | 9 | Ricky Rudd | 1,509 (–413) | ||||||
| 1 | 10 | Kyle Petty | 1,401 (–521) | ||||||
| Official driver's standings | |||||||||