1986 Coca-Cola 600 Explained

Type:NASWINSTON
Date:May 25
Scheduled Km:965.606
Distance Km:965.606
Avg:140.406mph
Pole Team:Hendrick Motorsports
Network:Jefferson-Pilot
Most Driver:Cale Yarborough
Bill Elliott
Radio:WSOC-FM
Announcers:Mike Hogewood, Jerry Punch
Most Team:Ranier-Lundy Racing
Melling Racing
First Driver:Dale Earnhardt
First Team:Richard Childress Racing
Most Laps:98
Season No:29
Location:Concord, North Carolina, Charlotte Motor Speedway
Pole Time:32.824
Attendance:158,000
Scheduled Mi:600
Distance Laps:400
Scheduled Laps:400
Course Km:2.41
Course Mi:1.5
Race No:11
Official Name:27th Annual Coca-Cola 600
Car:3
Race Name:Coca-Cola 600
Year:1986
Distance Mi:600
Pole Driver:Geoff Bodine

The 1986 Coca-Cola 600 was the 11th stock car race of the 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 27th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, May 25, 1986, before an audience of 158,000 in Concord, North Carolina, at Charlotte Motor Speedway, a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) permanent quad-oval. The race took the scheduled 400 laps to complete.[1]

After a poor start, Richard Childress Racing's Dale Earnhardt, crediting crew chief Kirk Shelmerdine, made several changes to the car afterward, making an improvement. As a result, Earnhardt steadily climbed through the field in the final stages of the race, taking the lead when Bill Elliott pitted for fuel with less than 20 laps left in the race, securing the victory. The victory was Earnhardt's 18th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his third victory of the season.[2] [3] To fill out the top three, Hendrick Motorsports' Tim Richmond and Ranier-Lundy Racing's Cale Yarborough finished second and third, respectively.

Background

Charlotte Motor Speedway is a motorsports complex located in Concord, North Carolina, United States 13 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. The complex features a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and the NEXTEL All-Star Challenge, as well as the UAW-GM Quality 500. The speedway was built in 1959 by Bruton Smith and is considered the home track for NASCAR with many race teams located in the Charlotte area. The track is owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports Inc. (SMI) with Marcus G. Smith (son of Bruton Smith) as track president.

Entry list

DriverTeamMakeSponsor
1Sterling MarlinEllington RacingChevroletBull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce
2Brett BodineHendrick MotorsportsChevroletExxon
02Mark MartinGunderman RacingFordGunderman Racing
3Dale EarnhardtRichard Childress RacingChevroletWrangler
4Lake SpeedMorgan–McClure MotorsportsOldsmobileAll Pro Auto Parts
5Geoff BodineHendrick MotorsportsChevroletLevi Garrett
6D. K. UlrichU.S. RacingChevroletSTP
7Kyle PettyWood Brothers RacingFord7-Eleven
8Bobby Hillin Jr.Stavola Brothers RacingChevroletMiller American
9Bill ElliottMelling RacingFordCoors
10Greg SacksDiGard MotorsportsPontiacTRW Automotive
11Darrell WaltripJunior Johnson & AssociatesChevroletBudweiser
12Neil BonnettJunior Johnson & AssociatesChevroletBudweiser
15Ricky RuddBud Moore EngineeringFordMotorcraft Quality Parts
17Doug HeveronHamby RacingChevroletKmart
18Tommy EllisFreedlander MotorsportsChevroletFreedlander Financial
21David PearsonPearson RacingChevroletChattanooga Chew
22Bobby AllisonStavola Brothers RacingBuickMiller American
23Michael Waltrip (R)Bahari RacingPontiacHawaiian Punch
25Tim RichmondHendrick MotorsportsChevroletFolgers
26Joe RuttmanKing RacingBuickQuaker State
27Rusty WallaceBlue Max RacingPontiacAlugard
28Cale YarboroughRanier-Lundy RacingFordHardee's
30Willy T. RibbsDiGard MotorsportsChevroletRed Roof Inn
32Eddie BierschwaleIngle RacingChevroletIngle Racing
33Harry GantMach 1 RacingChevroletSkoal Bandit
35Alan Kulwicki (R)AK RacingFordQuincy's Steakhouse
43Richard PettyPetty EnterprisesPontiacSTP
44Terry LabonteHagan EnterprisesOldsmobilePiedmont Airlines
45Ken RaganMorris RacingPontiacMorris Racing
47Morgan ShepherdRace Hill Farm TeamChevroletRace Hill Farm Team
51Connie SaylorSpohn RacingFordSpohn Racing
52Jimmy MeansJimmy Means RacingPontiacJimmy Means Racing
55Benny ParsonsJackson Bros. MotorsportsOldsmobileCopenhagen
66Phil ParsonsJackson Bros. MotorsportsOldsmobileSkoal
67Buddy ArringtonArrington RacingFordPannill Sweatshirts
70J. D. McDuffieMcDuffie RacingPontiacRumple Furniture
71Dave MarcisMarcis Auto RacingPontiacHelen Rae Special
75Jody RidleyRahMoc EnterprisesPontiacNationwise Automotive
79Derrike CopeRazore RacingFordPeterbilt
81Chet Fillip (R)Fillip RacingFordCircle Bar Truck Corral
88Buddy BakerBaker–Schiff RacingOldsmobileCrisco
90Ken SchraderDonlavey RacingFordRed Baron Frozen Pizza
94Trevor BoysEller RacingPontiacKodak Film
98Ron BouchardCurb RacingPontiacValvoline
99Brad TeagueBall MotorsportsChevroletBall Motorsports

Qualifying

Qualifying was split into three rounds. The first round was held on Wednesday, May 21, at 4:00 PM EST. Each driver had one lap to set a time. During the first round, the top 15 drivers in the round were guaranteed a starting spot in the race. 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 Thursday, May 22, at 2:00 PM EST. As with the first round, each driver had one lap to set a time. Positions 16-30 were decided on times in the second round. The third round was held on Friday, May 23, at 12:30 PM EST; if a driver was not able to guarantee a starting spot in the previous two rounds, they had the option to scrub their time again and run in the third round. As with the previous two rounds, each driver had one lap to set a time. Positions 31-40 were determined on times in the third round.[4] 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 were given.

Geoff Bodine, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, won the pole, setting a time of 32.824 and an average speed of 164.511mph in the first round.[5]

Four drivers failed to qualify.[6]

Full qualifying results

Pos.DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed
15Geoff BodineHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet32.824164.511
225Tim RichmondHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet32.840164.431
33Dale EarnhardtRichard Childress RacingChevrolet32.958163.842
41Sterling MarlinEllington RacingChevrolet33.068163.297
59Bill ElliottMelling RacingFord33.119163.048
655Benny ParsonsJackson Bros. MotorsportsOldsmobile33.139162.948
721David PearsonPearson RacingChevrolet33.164162.828
833Harry GantMach 1 RacingChevrolet33.238162.465
927Rusty WallaceBlue Max RacingPontiac33.255162.379
1047Morgan ShepherdRace Hill Farm TeamBuick33.299162.166
1112Neil BonnettJunior Johnson & AssociatesChevrolet33.349161.923
1228Cale YarboroughRanier-Lundy RacingFord33.364161.850
1315Ricky RuddBud Moore EngineeringFord33.394161.707
1402Mark MartinGunderman RacingFord33.441161.477
1511Darrell WaltripJunior Johnson & AssociatesChevrolet32.849164.389
Failed to lock in Round 1
1644Terry LabonteHagan EnterprisesOldsmobile32.862164.324
177Kyle PettyWood Brothers RacingFord33.068163.300
1822Bobby AllisonStavola Brothers RacingBuick33.133162.980
194Lake SpeedMorgan–McClure MotorsportsOldsmobile33.158162.857
2066Phil ParsonsJackson Bros. MotorsportsOldsmobile33.200162.651
2151Connie SaylorSpohn RacingFord33.221162.548
228Bobby Hillin Jr.Stavola Brothers RacingBuick33.236162.474
2326Joe RuttmanKing RacingBuick33.260162.357
2475Jody RidleyRahMoc EnterprisesPontiac33.272162.299
2510Greg SacksDiGard MotorsportsChevrolet33.279162.264
2699Brad TeagueBall MotorsportsChevrolet33.283162.245
2790Ken SchraderDonlavey RacingFord33.295162.187
2881Chet Fillip (R)Fillip RacingFord33.297162.177
2935Alan Kulwicki (R)AK RacingFord33.308162.123
3088Buddy BakerBaker–Schiff RacingOldsmobile32.671165.284
Failed to lock in Round 2
3198Ron BouchardCurb RacingPontiac32.831164.479
322Brett BodineHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet32.872164.274
3317Doug HeveronHamby RacingChevrolet32.894164.164
3423Michael Waltrip (R)Bahari RacingPontiac32.918164.044
3579Derrike CopeRazore RacingFord33.057163.354
3645Ken RaganMorris RacingPontiac33.073163.275
376D. K. UlrichU.S. RacingChevrolet33.077163.255
3832Eddie BierschwaleIngle RacingChevrolet33.143162.930
3994Trevor BoysEller RacingPontiac33.245162.430
Provisionals
4018Tommy EllisFreedlander MotorsportsChevrolet33.489161.247
4171Dave MarcisMarcis Auto RacingFord--
Failed to qualify
4267Buddy ArringtonArrington RacingFord33.276162.279
4352Jimmy MeansJimmy Means RacingPontiac33.309162.118
4430Willy T. RibbsDiGard MotorsportsChevrolet33.329162.021
4570J. D. McDuffieMcDuffie RacingPontiac33.969158.968
Withdrew after qualifying
WD43Richard PettyPetty EnterprisesPontiac33.441161.476
Official first round qualifying results
Official second round qualifying results
Official starting lineup

Race results

FinStDriverTeamMakeLapsLedStatusPtsWinnings
133Dale EarnhardtRichard Childress RacingChevrolet40026running180$98,150
2225Tim RichmondHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet40094running175$64,355
31228Cale YarboroughRanier-Lundy RacingFord40098running175$34,375
4833Harry GantMach 1 RacingChevrolet40050running165$35,630
51511Darrell WaltripJunior Johnson & AssociatesChevrolet4003running160$27,250
659Bill ElliottMelling RacingFord40098running160$34,750
741Sterling MarlinEllington RacingChevrolet3990running146$13,000
81315Ricky RuddBud Moore EngineeringFord3990running142$18,200
91047Morgan ShepherdRace Hill Farm TeamBuick39912running143$14,450
10927Rusty WallaceBlue Max RacingPontiac3985running139$16,750
111644Terry LabonteHagan EnterprisesOldsmobile3980running130$14,800
121822Bobby AllisonStavola Brothers RacingBuick3981running132$14,200
131112Neil BonnettJunior Johnson & AssociatesChevrolet3972running129$15,400
14194Lake SpeedMorgan–McClure MotorsportsOldsmobile3976running126$6,400
15228Bobby Hillin Jr.Stavola Brothers RacingBuick3960running118$10,795
164171Dave MarcisMarcis Auto RacingFord3950running115$9,825
173088Buddy BakerBaker–Schiff RacingOldsmobile3950running112$5,300
18322Brett BodineHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet3940running109$10,100
193198Ron BouchardCurb RacingPontiac3940running106$4,900
20177Kyle PettyWood Brothers RacingFord3940running103$12,150
212475Jody RidleyRahMoc EnterprisesPontiac3920running100$8,315
221402Mark MartinGunderman RacingFord3910running97$4,200
232790Ken SchraderDonlavey RacingFord3910running94$8,705
242066Phil ParsonsJackson Bros. MotorsportsOldsmobile3890running91$3,500
253994Trevor BoysEller RacingPontiac3890running88$2,800
263423Michael Waltrip (R)Bahari RacingPontiac3890running85$3,850
272935Alan Kulwicki (R)AK RacingFord3820running82$2,500
282151Connie SaylorSpohn RacingFord3760running0$2,200
293832Eddie BierschwaleIngle RacingChevrolet3741running81$2,000
303579Derrike CopeRazore RacingFord3610running73$1,900
3115Geoff BodineHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet3192camshaft75$33,850
322326Joe RuttmanKing RacingBuick2920running67$5,635
333317Doug HeveronHamby RacingChevrolet2780engine64$5,475
34655Benny ParsonsJackson Bros. MotorsportsOldsmobile1981shocks66$2,200
354018Tommy EllisFreedlander MotorsportsChevrolet1721overheating63$1,650
36721David PearsonPearson RacingChevrolet1380head gasket0$1,800
372881Chet Fillip (R)Fillip RacingFord1240accident52$1,575
38376Richard PettyU.S. RacingChevrolet1230engine49$5,465
392510Greg SacksDiGard MotorsportsChevrolet730accident46$1,525
402699Brad TeagueBall MotorsportsChevrolet370accident43$1,500
413645Ken RaganMorris RacingPontiac50accident40$1,500
Failed to qualify or withdrew
4267Buddy ArringtonArrington RacingFord
4352Jimmy MeansJimmy Means RacingPontiac
4430Willy T. RibbsDiGard MotorsportsChevrolet
4570J. D. McDuffieMcDuffie RacingPontiac
WD43Richard PettyPetty EnterprisesPontiac
Official race results

Standings after the race

Drivers' Championship standings
PosDriverPoints
1Dale Earnhardt1,767
2Darrell Waltrip1,623 (-144)
13Bobby Allison1,505 (-262)
14Terry Labonte1,447 (–320)
25Rusty Wallace1,440 (–327)
16Bill Elliott1,436 (–331)
27Harry Gant1,380 (–387)
38Tim Richmond1,377 (–390)
19Kyle Petty1,361 (–406)
10Ricky Rudd1,344 (–423)
Official driver's standings

Notes

  1. News: Hardesty . Abe . May 24, 1986 . Earnhardt grabs a dream . 1C, 8C . . January 2, 2024 . Newspapers.com.
  2. News: Higgins . Tom . May 26, 1986 . Earnhardt Waits And Wins 600 . 1B, 4B . . January 2, 2024 . Newspapers.com.
  3. News: Mulhurn . Mike . May 26, 1986 . Earnhardt Charges to World 600 Victory . 13, 17 . . January 2, 2024 . Newspapers.com.
  4. News: May 20, 1986 . Race Week Schedule . 1B . . January 2, 2024 . Newspapers.com.
  5. News: Higgins . Tom . May 22, 1986 . 600 Pole Belongs To Bodine . 1B, 8B . . January 2, 2024 . Newspapers.com.
  6. News: Higgins . Tom . May 24, 1986 . Baker Leads Final Day Of 600 Qualifying . 3D . . January 2, 2024 . Newspapers.com.