1994 Miller Genuine Draft 400 (Richmond) Explained

Type:NASWINSTON
Location:Richmond, Virginia, Richmond International Raceway
Distance Mi:300
Pole Time:21.765
Most Laps:237
Most Driver:Terry Labonte
Pole Driver:Ted Musgrave
Car:5
First Driver:Terry Labonte
Most Team:Hendrick Motorsports
First Team:Hendrick Motorsports
Pole Team:Roush Racing
Network:TBS
Radio:Motor Racing Network
Announcers:Ken Squier, Chuck Bown
Scheduled Laps:400
Distance Laps:400
Scheduled Mi:300
Scheduled Km:482.803
Distance Km:482.803
Course Mi:0.75
Course Km:1.21
Year:1994
Race No:24
Season No:31
Caption:The 1994 Miller Genuine Draft 400 program cover, featuring Rusty Wallace. Artwork by NASCAR artist Sam Bass.
Date:September 10
Avg:104.156mph
Race Name:Miller Genuine Draft 400
Official Name:37th Annual Miller Genuine Draft 400

The 1994 Miller Genuine Draft 400 was the 24th stock car race of the 1994 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 37th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, September 10, 1994, in Richmond, Virginia, at Richmond International Raceway, a 0.75 miles (1.21 km) D-shaped oval. The race took the scheduled 400 laps to complete. On lap 373 of the race, Hendrick Motorsports driver Terry Labonte would make a late-race pass for the lead and hold the field off to take his 13th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his second victory of the season.[1] [2] To fill out the top three, Richard Childress Racing driver Dale Earnhardt and owner-driver Darrell Waltrip would finish second and third, respectively.

Background

Richmond International Raceway (RIR) is a 3/4-mile (1.2 km), D-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in Henrico County. It hosts the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series. Known as "America's premier short track", it formerly hosted a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, an IndyCar Series race, and two USAC sprint car races.

Entry list

DriverTeamMakeSponsor
1Rick MastPrecision Products RacingFordSkoal
01Billy Ogle Jr.Ogle RacingChevroletDiecast Digest
2Rusty WallacePenske Racing SouthFordMiller Genuine Draft
3Dale EarnhardtRichard Childress RacingChevroletGM Goodwrench Service Plus
4Sterling MarlinMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevroletKodak
5Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevroletKellogg's Frosted Flakes
6Mark MartinRoush RacingFordValvoline
7Geoff BodineGeoff Bodine RacingFordExide
8Jeff Burton (R)Stavola Brothers RacingFordRaybestos
9Phil ParsonsMelling RacingFordMelling Racing
10Ricky RuddRudd Performance MotorsportsFordTide
11Bill ElliottJunior Johnson & AssociatesFordBudweiser
12Derrike CopeBobby Allison MotorsportsFordMane 'n Tail
15Lake SpeedBud Moore EngineeringFordFord Quality Care
16Ted MusgraveRoush RacingFordThe Family Channel
17Darrell WaltripDarrell Waltrip MotorsportsChevroletWestern Auto
18Dale JarrettJoe Gibbs RacingChevroletInterstate Batteries
19Loy Allen Jr. (R)TriStar MotorsportsFordHooters
21Morgan ShepherdWood Brothers RacingFordCitgo
22Bobby LabonteBill Davis RacingPontiacMaxwell House
23Hut StricklinTravis Carter EnterprisesFordSmokin' Joe's
24Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevroletDuPont
25Ken SchraderHendrick MotorsportsChevroletKodiak
26Brett BodineKing RacingFordQuaker State
27Jimmy SpencerJunior Johnson & AssociatesFordMcDonald's
28Kenny WallaceRobert Yates RacingFordTexaco, Havoline
29Steve GrissomDiamond Ridge MotorsportsChevroletRaybestos
30Michael WaltripBahari RacingPontiacPennzoil
31Ward BurtonA.G. Dillard MotorsportsChevroletHardee's
32Dick TrickleActive MotorsportsChevroletActive Motorsports
33Harry GantLeo Jackson MotorsportsChevroletSkoal Bandit
40Bobby HamiltonSABCO RacingPontiacKendall
41Joe Nemechek (R)Larry Hedrick MotorsportsChevroletMeineke
42Kyle PettySABCO RacingPontiacMello Yello
43John Andretti (R)Petty EnterprisesPontiacSTP
47Billy Standridge (R)Johnson Standridge RacingFordJohnson Standridge Racing
51Dirk StephensWhitcomb RacingFordGreased Lightning Degreaser
52Brad TeagueJimmy Means RacingFordNAPA Auto Parts
71Dave MarcisMarcis Auto RacingChevroletOlive Garden
75Todd BodineButch Mock MotorsportsFordFactory Stores of America
77Greg SacksU.S. Motorsports Inc.FordUS Airways
80Joe RuttmanHover MotorsportsFordHover Motorsports
90Mike Wallace (R)Donlavey RacingFordHeilig-Meyers
95Jeff GreenSadler Brothers RacingFordShoney's Inn
98Jeremy Mayfield (R)Cale Yarborough MotorsportsFordFingerhut

Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, September 9, at 5:30 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, September 10, at 2:00 PM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 21-36 would be decided on time,[3] 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. 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.

Ted Musgrave, driving for Roush Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 21.765 and an average speed of 124.052mph in the first round.[4]

Seven drivers would fail to qualify.

Full qualifying results

Pos.DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed
116Ted MusgraveRoush RacingFord21.765124.052
223Hut StricklinTravis Carter EnterprisesFord21.808123.808
35Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet21.820123.740
422Bobby LabonteBill Davis RacingPontiac21.827123.700
52Rusty WallacePenske Racing SouthFord21.836123.649
677Greg SacksU.S. Motorsports Inc.Ford21.844123.604
740Bobby HamiltonSABCO RacingPontiac21.845123.598
829Steve Grissom (R)Diamond Ridge MotorsportsChevrolet21.860123.513
97Geoff BodineGeoff Bodine RacingFord21.891123.338
1025Ken SchraderHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet21.898123.299
111Rick MastPrecision Products RacingFord21.902123.276
123Dale EarnhardtRichard Childress RacingChevrolet21.907123.248
1324Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet21.909123.237
146Mark MartinRoush RacingFord21.914123.209
1531Ward Burton (R)A.G. Dillard MotorsportsChevrolet21.936123.085
1675Todd BodineButch Mock MotorsportsFord21.943123.046
1728Kenny WallaceRobert Yates RacingFord21.959122.956
1812Derrike CopeBobby Allison MotorsportsFord21.963122.934
1943John Andretti (R)Petty EnterprisesPontiac21.973122.878
2030Michael WaltripBahari RacingPontiac21.987122.800
Failed to lock in Round 1
214Sterling MarlinMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevrolet21.990122.783
2271Dave MarcisMarcis Auto RacingChevrolet22.007122.688
2327Jimmy SpencerJunior Johnson & AssociatesFord22.035122.532
2442Kyle PettySABCO RacingPontiac22.044122.482
2518Dale JarrettJoe Gibbs RacingChevrolet22.050122.449
2690Mike Wallace (R)Donlavey RacingFord22.051122.443
2726Brett BodineKing RacingFord22.055122.421
2821Morgan ShepherdWood Brothers RacingFord22.068122.349
2917Darrell WaltripDarrell Waltrip MotorsportsChevrolet22.081122.277
3032Dick TrickleActive MotorsportsChevrolet22.088122.238
3133Harry GantLeo Jackson MotorsportsChevrolet22.121122.056
3210Ricky RuddRudd Performance MotorsportsFord22.126122.028
3341Joe Nemechek (R)Larry Hedrick MotorsportsChevrolet22.128122.017
3495Jeff GreenSadler Brothers RacingFord22.129122.012
3519Loy Allen Jr. (R)TriStar MotorsportsFord22.165121.814
Provisionals
3615Lake SpeedBud Moore EngineeringFord-*-*
3798Jeremy Mayfield (R)Cale Yarborough MotorsportsFord-*-*
Champion's Provisional
3811Bill ElliottJunior Johnson & AssociatesFord-*-*
Failed to qualify
3947Billy Standridge (R)Johnson Standridge RacingFord-*-*
4051Dirk StephensWhitcomb RacingFord-*-*
4180Joe RuttmanHover MotorsportsFord-*-*
429Phil ParsonsMelling RacingFord-*-*
4352Brad TeagueJimmy Means RacingFord-*-*
4401Billy Ogle Jr.Ogle RacingChevrolet-*-*
458Jeff Burton
  • (R)
Stavola Brothers RacingFord22.000122.727
Official first round qualifying results
*Time disallowed due to the car's roll cage having unapproved drilled holes.[5]

Race results

FinStDriverTeamMakeLapsLedStatusPtsWinnings
135Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet400237running185$67,765
21324Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet4002running175$40,365
3123Dale EarnhardtRichard Childress RacingChevrolet40041running170$38,830
452Rusty WallacePenske Racing SouthFord40090running165$30,780
53210Ricky RuddRudd Performance MotorsportsFord4000running155$26,705
6146Mark MartinRoush RacingFord4000running150$22,780
7829Steve Grissom (R)Diamond Ridge MotorsportsChevrolet4000running146$19,380
82726Brett BodineKing RacingFord3990running142$16,580
91025Ken SchraderHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet3990running138$16,280
102917Darrell WaltripDarrell Waltrip MotorsportsChevrolet3995running139$18,280
111943John Andretti (R)Petty EnterprisesPontiac3990running130$11,680
123032Dick TrickleActive MotorsportsChevrolet3990running127$10,855
13214Sterling MarlinMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevrolet3980running124$17,705
142821Morgan ShepherdWood Brothers RacingFord3980running121$17,605
153811Bill ElliottJunior Johnson & AssociatesFord3970running118$14,855
162518Dale JarrettJoe Gibbs RacingChevrolet3970running115$18,830
17116Ted MusgraveRoush RacingFord3971running117$18,630
1897Geoff BodineGeoff Bodine RacingFord3970running109$13,980
191812Derrike CopeBobby Allison MotorsportsFord3960running106$13,855
201675Todd BodineButch Mock MotorsportsFord3960running103$10,380
213615Lake SpeedBud Moore EngineeringFord3960running100$17,180
223133Harry GantLeo Jackson MotorsportsChevrolet3950running97$13,655
232690Mike Wallace (R)Donlavey RacingFord3940running94$9,480
24422Bobby LabonteBill Davis RacingPontiac3940running91$13,355
251531Ward Burton (R)A.G. Dillard MotorsportsChevrolet3940running88$7,005
262030Michael WaltripBahari RacingPontiac3930running85$13,180
27677Greg SacksU.S. Motorsports Inc.Ford3930running82$9,055
283341Joe Nemechek (R)Larry Hedrick MotorsportsChevrolet3920running79$8,930
292271Dave MarcisMarcis Auto RacingChevrolet3880running76$8,905
30223Hut StricklinTravis Carter EnterprisesFord3845running78$8,355
313519Loy Allen Jr. (R)TriStar MotorsportsFord3830running70$6,805
321728Kenny WallaceRobert Yates RacingFord3640rear end67$18,380
33111Rick MastPrecision Products RacingFord3100rear end64$10,775
34740Bobby HamiltonSABCO RacingPontiac30219engine66$11,255
352327Jimmy SpencerJunior Johnson & AssociatesFord1590ignition58$6,755
363495Jeff GreenSadler Brothers RacingFord420transmission55$6,755
373798Jeremy Mayfield (R)Cale Yarborough MotorsportsFord290crash52$6,755
382442Kyle PettySABCO RacingPontiac220oil pump49$17,755
Failed to qualify
3947Billy Standridge (R)Johnson Standridge RacingFord
4051Dirk StephensWhitcomb RacingFord
4180Joe RuttmanHover MotorsportsFord
429Phil ParsonsMelling RacingFord
4352Brad TeagueJimmy Means RacingFord
4401Billy Ogle Jr.Ogle RacingChevrolet
458Jeff Burton (R)Stavola Brothers RacingFord
Official race results

Standings after the race

Drivers' Championship standings
PosDriverPoints
1Dale Earnhardt3,620
12Rusty Wallace3,388 (-232)
13Mark Martin3,317 (-303)
4Ricky Rudd3,210 (–410)
15Ken Schrader3,139 (–481)
16Morgan Shepherd3,077 (–543)
27Ernie Irvan3,026 (–594)
18Jeff Gordon2,921 (–699)
19Bill Elliott2,887 (–733)
10Michael Waltrip2,829 (–791)
Official driver's standings

Notes and References

  1. News: Higgins . Tom . September 12, 1994 . Labonte waits patiently, then blasts past field at Richmond . 12 . . December 19, 2022 . Newspapers.com.
  2. News: Macenka . Joe . September 12, 1994 . Labonte grabbing veteran status . 21 . Sun-Journal . December 19, 2022 . Newspapers.com.
  3. News: September 9, 1994 . NASCAR today . 22 . . December 19, 2022 . Newspapers.com.
  4. News: Macenka . Joe . September 10, 1994 . Musgrave races to pole for Miller 400 . 10 . Bennington Banner . December 19, 2022 . Newspapers.com.
  5. News: Blake . Ben W. . September 11, 1994 . J. Burton's car disqualified because of illegal roll cage . 46 . Richmond Times-Dispatch . December 19, 2022 . Newspapers.com.