The 1984 Winston 500 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series racing event that took place on May 6, 1984, at Alabama International Motor Speedway in Talladega, Alabama.Talladega Superspeedway at the Encyclopedia of Alabama
Background Talladega Superspeedway, originally known as Alabama International Motor Superspeedway (AIMS), is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base in the small city of Lincoln. The track is a Tri-oval and was constructed by International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France Family, in the 1960s. Talladega is most known for its steep banking and the unique location of the start/finish line - located just past the exit to pit road. The track currently hosts the NASCAR series such as the Monster Energy Cup Series, Xfinity Series, and the Camping World Truck Series. Talladega Superspeedway is the longest NASCAR oval with a length of , and the track at its peak had a seating capacity of 175,000 spectators.
Race report Forty drivers competed in this 188-lap race; 39 of them were born in the United States while Trevor Boys was born in Canada.1984 Winston 500 racing information at Racing Reference The pole position was won by Yarborough with a speed of ; one of the times where the qualifying speed exceeded . This race featured 75 lead changes and laps exceeding 200 mph with unrestricted engines. The NBC TV coverage featured Bruce Jenner (now Caitlyn Jenner) as the pit reporter.
Notable crew chiefs in this race were Kenny Wallace, Junie Donlavey, Darrell Bryant, Joey Arrington, Cecil Gordon, Dale Inman, Waddell Wilson, Jake Elder, Harry Hyde, and Kirk Shelmerdine.1984 Winston 500 crew chiefs at Racing Reference
The average speed of the race was . Four cautions covered 17 laps. Chevrolet was the manufacturer for the majority of the grid. Cale Yarborough defeated Harry Gant by two car lengths after nearly three hours of racing in front of more than 110000 spectators; marking the 80th race win in Yarborough's NASCAR Winston Cup Series career. 75 lead changes occurred; the most ever in NASCAR Cup Series history.
It would exceed the record set by the 1978 Talladega 500 for the number of leader changes in the race. This record would eventually be broken at the 2010 Aaron's 499 and be tied at the 2011 Aaron's 499.Lead, lead or get out of the way at All About Racin'
Jimmy Means suffered an oil pressure problem on the sixth lap and ended up in last place. Bill Elliott, Terry Labonte, Dale Earnhardt, Rusty Wallace, and David Pearson all took turns leading. Phil Barkdoll would make his NASCAR debut in this race.1984 Winston 500 racing information at Race Database
Qualifying Grid Driver Manufacturer Owner 1 28 Cale Yarborough Chevrolet Harry Ranier 2 9 Bill Elliott Ford Harry Melling 3 44 Terry Labonte Chevrolet Bill Hagan 4 55 Benny Parsons Chevrolet Johnny Hayes 5 3 Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet Richard Childress 6 16 David Pearson Chevrolet Bobby Hawkins 7 21 Buddy Baker Ford Wood Brothers 8 5 Geoffrey Bodine Chevrolet Rick Hendrick 9 11 Darrell Waltrip Chevrolet Junior Johnson 10 15 Ricky Rudd Ford Bud Moore 11 33 Harry Gant Chevrolet Hal Needham 12 1 Lake Speed Chevrolet Hoss Ellington 13 43 Richard Petty Pontiac Mike Curb 14 22 Bobby Allison Buick DiGard Racing 15 12 Neil Bonnett Chevrolet Junior Johnson 16 38 Phil Barkdoll Chevrolet Phil Barkdoll 17 17 Clark Dwyer Chevrolet Roger Hamby 18 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Chevrolet Stavola Brothers 19 47 Ron Bouchard Buick Jack Beebe 20 84 Jody Ridley Chevrolet Robert McEntyre 21 66 Phil Parsons Chevrolet Johnny Hayes 22 4 Tommy Ellis Chevrolet Larry McClure 23 75 Dave Marcis Pontiac RahMoc Enterprises 24 98 Joe Ruttman Chevrolet Ron Benfield 25 90 Dick Brooks Ford Junie Donlavey
Top 20 finishers Pos Driver Manufacturer Time/Status 128Cale YarboroughChevrolet18819 2:53:27 233Harry GantChevrolet18814 +2 car lengths 321Buddy BakerFord18843 Lead lap under green flag 422Bobby AllisonBuick18813 Lead lap under green flag 555Benny ParsonsChevrolet18856 Lead lap under green flag 643Richard PettyPontiac18718 +1 lap 766Phil ParsonsChevrolet1874 +1 lap 875Dave MarcisPontiac1870 +1 lap 99Bill ElliottFord1871 +1 lap 1047Ron BouchardBuick1863 +2 laps 118Bobby Hillin Jr.Chevrolet1860 +2 laps 1295Sterling MarlinChevrolet1860 +2 laps 134Tommy EllisChevrolet1850 +3 laps 1451Greg SacksChevrolet1850+3 laps 157Kyle PettyFord1840 +4 laps 1684Jody RidleyChevrolet1820+6 laps 1771Mike AlexanderOldsmobile1810 +7 laps 1848Trevor BoysChevrolet1790 +9 laps 1964Tommy GaleFord1770 +11 laps 2041Ronnie ThomasChevrolet1770 +11 laps
Standings after the race Pos Driver Points Differential 1 Darrell Waltrip 1357 0 2 Bill Elliott 1328 -29 3 Terry Labonte 1327 -30 4 Dale Earnhardt 1299 -58 5 Ricky Rudd 1293 -64 6 Harry Gant 1266 -91 7 Richard Petty 1215 -142 8 Neil Bonnett 1129 -228 9 Bobby Allison 1125 -232 10 Ron Bouchard 1122 -235
References