1991 Hardee's 500 Explained

Type:NASWINSTON
Avg:137.968mph
Radio:Motor Racing Network
Caption:The 1991 Hardee's 500 program cover, featuring Dale Earnhardt.
Official Name:32nd Annual Hardee's 500
Pole Driver:Bill Elliott
Pole Time:30.793
First Team:Roush Racing
Most Team:Roush Racing
First Driver:Mark Martin
Most Driver:Mark Martin
Most Laps:190
Car:6
Pole Team:Melling Racing
Date:November 17
Location:Hampton, Georgia, Atlanta Motor Speedway
Season No:29
Race No:29
Network:ESPN
Race Name:Hardee's 500
Year:1991
Scheduled Laps:328
Distance Laps:328
Distance Km:803.41
Scheduled Mi:499.216
Scheduled Km:803.41
Course Km:2.449
Course Mi:1.522
Distance Mi:499.216
Announcers:Bob Jenkins, Ned Jarrett, Benny Parsons
Attendance:125,000

The 1991 Hardee's 500 was the 29th and final stock car race of the 1991 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 32nd iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, November 17, 1991, before an audience of 125,000 in Hampton, Georgia, at Atlanta Motor Speedway, a 1.522miles permanent asphalt quad-oval intermediate speedway. The race took the scheduled 328 laps to complete. At race's end, Roush Racing driver Mark Martin would manage to dominate the majority of the race to take his fifth career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his only victory of the season.[1] [2] [3] [4]

By starting the race, Richard Childress Racing driver Dale Earnhardt would clinch his fifth NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship. With the championship, he was two championships away from tying Richard Petty for the record of the most NASCAR Winston Cup Series championships, with Petty having seven.[5]

Background

Atlanta Motor Speedway (formerly Atlanta International Raceway) is a 1.522-mile race track in Hampton, Georgia, United States, 20 miles (32 km) south of Atlanta. It has annually hosted NASCAR Winston Cup Series stock car races since its inauguration in 1960.

The venue was bought by Speedway Motorsports in 1990. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track. In 1997, to standardize the track with Speedway Motorsports' other two intermediate ovals, the entire track was almost completely rebuilt. The frontstretch and backstretch were swapped, and the configuration of the track was changed from oval to quad-oval, with a new official length of 1.54miles where before it was 1.522miles. The project made the track one of the fastest on the NASCAR circuit.

Entry list

DriverTeamMakeSponsor
0Delma CowartH. L. Waters RacingFordMasters Inn
1Rick MastPrecision Products RacingOldsmobileSkoal
2Rusty WallacePenske Racing SouthPontiacMiller Genuine Draft
3Dale EarnhardtRichard Childress RacingChevroletGM Goodwrench Service Plus
4Ernie IrvanMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevroletKodak
5Ricky RuddHendrick MotorsportsChevroletTide
6Mark MartinRoush RacingFordFolgers
7Alan KulwickiAK RacingFordHooters
8Rick WilsonStavola Brothers RacingBuickSnickers
9Bill ElliottMelling RacingFordCoors Light
10Derrike CopeWhitcomb RacingChevroletPurolator Filters
11Geoff BodineJunior Johnson & AssociatesFordBudweiser
12Hut StricklinBobby Allison MotorsportsBuickRaybestos
13Kerry TeagueLinro MotorsportsBuickLinro Motorsports
15Morgan ShepherdBud Moore EngineeringFordMotorcraft
17Darrell WaltripDarrell Waltrip MotorsportsChevroletWestern Auto
19Chad LittleLittle RacingFordBull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce
21Dale JarrettWood Brothers RacingFordCitgo
22Sterling MarlinJunior Johnson & AssociatesFordMaxwell House
24Kenny WallaceTeam III RacingPontiacTeam III Racing
25Ken SchraderHendrick MotorsportsChevroletKodiak
26Brett BodineKing RacingBuickQuaker State
28Davey AllisonRobert Yates RacingFordTexaco, Havoline
30Michael WaltripBahari RacingPontiacPennzoil
33Harry GantLeo Jackson MotorsportsOldsmobileSkoal Bandit
35Bill VenturiniVenturini MotorsportsChevroletRain-X
36H. B. BaileyBailey RacingPontiacAlmeda Auto Parts
41Larry PearsonLarry Hedrick MotorsportsChevroletKellogg's Frosted Flakes
42Kyle PettySABCO RacingPontiacMello Yello
43Richard PettyPetty EnterprisesPontiacSTP
47Greg SacksClose RacingOldsmobileKanawha Insurance
49Stanley Smith (R)BS&S MotorsportsBuickInterstate Batteries
52Mike WallaceJimmy Means RacingPontiacAlka-Seltzer
53Bobby Hillin Jr.Team IrelandChevroletLonghorn Steaks
55Ted Musgrave (R)U.S. RacingPontiacJasper Engines & Transmissions
59Mark GibsonGibson RacingPontiacGibson Racing
66Randy LaJoieCale Yarborough MotorsportsPontiacPhillips 66 TropArtic
68Bobby Hamilton (R)TriStar MotorsportsOldsmobileCountry Time
71Dave MarcisMarcis Auto RacingChevroletBig Apple Market
75Joe RuttmanRahMoc EnterprisesOldsmobileDinner Bell Foods
89Jim SauterMueller Brothers RacingPontiacEvinrude Outboard Motors
90Wally Dallenbach Jr. (R)Donlavey RacingFordDonlavey Racing
94Terry LabonteHagan RacingOldsmobileSunoco
95Eddie BierschwaleSadler Brothers RacingChevroletTexaco
98Jimmy SpencerTravis Carter EnterprisesChevroletBanquet Foods

Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, November 15, at 2:00 PM EST. Each driver would have one lap to set a time. During the first round, the top 20 drivers in the round would be 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 Saturday, November 16, at 10:30 AM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 21-40 would be decided on time,[6] 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 were given. If needed, a past champion who did not qualify on either time or provisionals could use a champion's provisional, adding one more spot to the field.

Bill Elliott, driving for Melling Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 30.793 and an average speed of 177.937mph in the first round.[7]

Five drivers would fail to qualify.

Full qualifying results

Pos.DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed
19Bill ElliottMelling RacingFord30.793177.937
211Geoff BodineJunior Johnson & AssociatesFord30.984176.840
34Ernie IrvanMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevrolet31.055176.435
46Mark MartinRoush RacingFord31.057176.424
53Dale EarnhardtRichard Childress RacingChevrolet31.123176.050
628Davey AllisonRobert Yates RacingFord31.260175.278
730Michael WaltripBahari RacingPontiac31.270175.222
87Alan KulwickiAK RacingFord31.297175.071
933Harry GantLeo Jackson MotorsportsOldsmobile31.352174.764
1021Dale JarrettWood Brothers RacingFord31.392174.541
1122Sterling MarlinJunior Johnson & AssociatesFord31.411174.436
1242Kyle PettySABCO RacingPontiac31.435174.303
1325Ken SchraderHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet31.473174.092
1498Jimmy SpencerTravis Carter EnterprisesChevrolet31.532173.766
1510Derrike CopeWhitcomb RacingChevrolet31.532173.766
1668Bobby Hamilton (R)TriStar MotorsportsOldsmobile31.578173.513
1794Terry LabonteHagan RacingOldsmobile31.581173.497
1812Hut StricklinBobby Allison MotorsportsBuick31.588173.458
1955Ted Musgrave (R)U.S. RacingPontiac31.600173.392
2019Chad LittleLittle RacingFord31.625173.255
Failed to lock in Round 1
2153Bobby Hillin Jr.Team IrelandChevrolet31.442174.264
2217Darrell WaltripDarrell Waltrip MotorsportsChevrolet31.512173.877
2326Brett BodineKing RacingBuick31.539173.728
242Rusty WallacePenske Racing SouthPontiac31.698172.856
2515Morgan ShepherdBud Moore EngineeringFord31.709172.796
2649Stanley Smith (R)BS&S MotorsportsBuick31.715172.764
2771Dave MarcisMarcis Auto RacingChevrolet31.733172.666
281Rick MastPrecision Products RacingOldsmobile31.748172.584
295Ricky RuddHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet31.749172.579
3043Richard PettyPetty EnterprisesPontiac31.786172.378
3124Kenny WallaceTeam III RacingPontiac31.790172.356
328Rick WilsonStavola Brothers RacingBuick31.812172.237
3341Larry PearsonLarry Hedrick MotorsportsChevrolet31.838172.096
3466Randy LaJoieCale Yarborough MotorsportsPontiac31.948171.504
3547Greg SacksClose RacingOldsmobile31.949171.498
3652Mike WallaceJimmy Means RacingPontiac32.045170.985
3795Eddie BierschwaleSadler Brothers RacingChevrolet32.125170.559
3889Jim SauterMueller Brothers RacingPontiac32.142170.469
3990Wally Dallenbach Jr. (R)Donlavey RacingFord32.216170.077
Failed to qualify
4075Joe RuttmanRahMoc EnterprisesChevrolet32.224170.035
4135Bill VenturiniVenturini MotorsportsChevrolet-*-*
420Delma CowartH. L. Waters RacingFord-*-*
4336H. B. BaileyBailey RacingPontiac-*-*
4413Kerry TeagueLinro MotorsportsBuick-*-*
4559Mark GibsonGibson RacingPontiac-*-*
Official first round qualifying results
Official starting lineup

Race results

FinStDriverTeamMakeLapsLedStatusPtsWinnings
146Mark MartinRoush RacingFord328190running185$88,950
234Ernie IrvanMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevrolet32811running175$39,025
319Bill ElliottMelling RacingFord32829running170$36,950
4933Harry GantLeo Jackson MotorsportsOldsmobile32810running165$21,250
553Dale EarnhardtRichard Childress RacingChevrolet32839running160$27,825
62515Morgan ShepherdBud Moore EngineeringFord3285running155$17,050
71122Sterling MarlinJunior Johnson & AssociatesFord3270running146$11,150
8211Geoff BodineJunior Johnson & AssociatesFord3273running147$16,850
987Alan KulwickiAK RacingFord3260running138$16,000
102217Darrell WaltripDarrell Waltrip MotorsportsChevrolet3264running139$11,600
11295Ricky RuddHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet3260running130$12,800
122771Dave MarcisMarcis Auto RacingChevrolet3260running127$9,675
131812Hut StricklinBobby Allison MotorsportsBuick3250running124$9,575
143341Larry PearsonLarry Hedrick MotorsportsChevrolet3240running121$5,300
151794Terry LabonteHagan RacingOldsmobile3240running118$9,750
161021Dale JarrettWood Brothers RacingFord3240running115$8,750
17628Davey AllisonRobert Yates RacingFord32424running117$16,850
181668Bobby Hamilton (R)TriStar MotorsportsOldsmobile3231running114$7,200
191242Kyle PettySABCO RacingPontiac3220running106$11,650
204075Joe RuttmanRahMoc EnterprisesChevrolet3220running103$8,800
212019Chad LittleLittle RacingFord3200running100$4,425
223043Richard PettyPetty EnterprisesPontiac3190running97$7,425
233124Kenny WallaceTeam III RacingPontiac3190running94$5,225
241510Derrike CopeWhitcomb RacingChevrolet3180engine91$12,525
252649Stanley Smith (R)BS&S MotorsportsBuick3180running88$4,375
263547Greg SacksClose RacingOldsmobile3100engine85$3,975
273795Eddie BierschwaleSadler Brothers RacingChevrolet3100running82$3,875
28281Rick MastPrecision Products RacingOldsmobile2710valve79$6,775
292326Brett BodineKing RacingBuick2690valve76$6,575
301955Ted Musgrave (R)U.S. RacingPontiac2572overheating78$4,675
313466Randy LaJoieCale Yarborough MotorsportsPontiac2440valve70$6,225
322153Bobby Hillin Jr.Team IrelandChevrolet23010block72$6,375
33328Rick WilsonStavola Brothers RacingBuick2070valve64$6,075
34242Rusty WallacePenske Racing SouthPontiac1970accident61$4,025
353889Jim SauterMueller Brothers RacingPontiac1950accident58$3,350
363990Wally Dallenbach Jr. (R)Donlavey RacingFord1730engine55$3,325
371325Ken SchraderHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet860accident52$5,945
381498Jimmy SpencerTravis Carter EnterprisesChevrolet710head49$5,915
393652Mike WallaceJimmy Means RacingPontiac690accident46$3,300
40730Michael WaltripBahari RacingPontiac260accident43$5,275
Failed to qualify
4135Bill VenturiniVenturini MotorsportsChevrolet
420Delma CowartH. L. Waters RacingFord
4336H. B. BaileyBailey RacingPontiac
4413Kerry TeagueLinro MotorsportsBuick
4559Mark GibsonGibson RacingPontiac
Official race results

Standings after the race

Drivers' Championship standings
PosDriverPoints
1Dale Earnhardt4,287
12Ricky Rudd4,092 (-195)
13Davey Allison4,088 (-199)
4Harry Gant3,985 (–302)
5Ernie Irvan3,925 (–362)
6Mark Martin3,914 (–373)
7Sterling Marlin3,839 (–448)
18Darrell Waltrip3,711 (–576)
19Ken Schrader3,690 (–597)
10Rusty Wallace3,582 (–705)
Official driver's standings

Notes and References

  1. News: Higgins . Tom . November 18, 1991 . Martin finishes tough season a winner (Part 1) . 11 . . March 11, 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  2. News: Higgins . Tom . November 18, 1991 . Martin finishes tough season a winner (Part 2) . 16 . . March 11, 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  3. News: Branham . H. A. . November 18, 1991 . Pressure off as Martin wins finale (Part 1) . 13 . . March 11, 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  4. News: Branham . H. A. . November 18, 1991 . Pressure off as Martin wins finale (Part 2) . 17 . . March 11, 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  5. News: Pearson . Harold . November 18, 1991 . Earnhardt says third straight title not out of question . 27 . . March 11, 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  6. News: November 15, 1991 . NASCAR today . 22 . . March 11, 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  7. News: Higgins . Tom . November 16, 1991 . Elliott takes Atlanta pole in farewell race with Melling . 17 . . March 11, 2023 . Newspapers.com.