1985 Daytona 500

The 1985 Daytona 500, the 27th running of the event, was held on February 17, 1985, at Daytona International Speedway, in Daytona Beach, Florida.

1985 Daytona 500
Race details[1]
Race 1 of 28 in the 1985 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season
Track map of Daytona International Speedway.
Date February 17, 1985 (1985-02-17)
Location Daytona International Speedway
Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S.
Course Permanent racing facility
2.5 mi (4.023 km)
Distance 200 laps, 500 mi (800 km)
Weather Temperatures of 73 °F (23 °C);
wind speeds of 14 mph (23 km/h)[2]
Average speed 172.265 mph (277.234 km/h)
Pole position
Driver
Melling Racing
Qualifying race winners
Duel 1 Winner Bill Elliott Melling Racing
Duel 2 Winner Cale Yarborough Ranier-Lundy
Most laps led
Driver Bill Elliott Melling Racing
Laps 136
Winner
No. 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing
Television in the United States
Network CBS
Announcers Host: Chris Economaki
Lap-by-lap: Ken Squier
Driver analyst: David Hobbs
Driver analyst: Ned Jarrett
Pit reporter: Chris Economaki
Pit reporter: Mike Joy
Nielsen Ratings 8.3/23
(9.8 million viewers)

Race report

Bill Elliott won the pole at a then-record speed of 205.114 mph. After a mediocre run in the Busch Clash, Elliott nearly lapped the field in his 125-mile qualifying race, then thoroughly dominated the Daytona 500, leading 136 of the 200 laps in his #9 Coors/Melling Ford Thunderbird. The race restarted on the last lap after a Neil Bonnett spin out with less than four laps to go; Bonnett got out of his car and was credited for a 10th-place finish. The race saw a number of engine problems, which knocked many of the contenders, including former Daytona 500 winners David Pearson, AJ Foyt, Benny Parsons, Bobby Allison, and two-time defending race winner Cale Yarborough, who was trying to win his third straight Daytona 500 victory.[3]

The only car that could consistently run with Elliott was Cale Yarborough, and when his engine went up in smoke on lap 62 the race was for all intents and purposes over.[1] Hendrick Motorsports landed its first big-time full-season sponsorship for 1985 with Levi Garrett chewing tobacco coming aboard to sponsor the #5 Chevrolet of Geoff Bodine. The car's first points race in its new yellow-and-white paint scheme saw Bodine post a solid top-10 run, kicking off a several-year partnership.[1]

There were 12 cars that were knocked out just from engine problems; with a lot of big names affected (Neil Bonnett, who somehow finished 10th even with a blown engine; defending champion Terry Labonte; both Parsons brothers; Kyle Petty; Harry Gant; David Pearson; Bobby Allison and 2-time defending Daytona 500 champion Cale Yarborough among them).[1]

Qualifying

Qualifying results
Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Speed
1 9Bill ElliottHarry MellingFord Thunderbird205.114
2 28Cale YarboroughHarry RanierFord Thunderbird
3 11Darrell WaltripJunior JohnsonChevrolet Monte Carlo
4 21David PearsonHoss EllingtonChevrolet Monte Carlo
5 55Benny ParsonsLeo/Richard JacksonChevrolet Monte Carlo
6 7Kyle PettyWood BrothersFord Thunderbird
7 88Buddy BakerBuddy Baker/Danny SchiffOldsmobile Cutlass
8 43Richard PettyMike CurbPontiac Grand Prix
9 15Ricky RuddBud MooreFord Thunderbird
10 33Harry GantHal NeedhamChevrolet Monte Carlo
11 1Dick BrooksPetty EnterprisesFord Thunderbird
12 66Phil ParsonsLeo/Richard JacksonChevrolet Monte Carlo
13 51Greg SacksArnie SacksChevrolet Monte Carlo
14 75Lake SpeedRahMoc EnterprisesPontiac Grand Prix
15 47Ron BouchardJack BeebeBuick Regal
16 14A.J. FoytA.J. FoytOldsmobile Cutlass
17 5Geoff BodineRick HendrickChevrolet Monte Carlo
18 3Dale EarnhardtRichard ChildressChevrolet Monte Carlo
19 12Neil BonnettJunior JohnsonChevrolet Monte Carlo
20 95Sterling MarlinSadler BrothersChevrolet Monte Carlo
21 71Dave MarcisDave MarcisChevrolet Monte Carlo
22 2Rusty WallaceCliff StewartPontiac Grand Prix
23 10Doug HeveronTom HeveronChevrolet Monte Carlo
24 90Ken SchraderJunie DonlaveyFord Thunderbird
25 52Jimmy MeansJimmy MeansChevrolet Monte Carlo
26 74Bobby WawakBobby WawakChevrolet Monte Carlo
27 48Lennie PondJames HyltonChevrolet Monte Carlo
28 89Jim SauterMueller BrothersPontiac Grand Prix
29 84Mike AlexanderSims BrothersChevrolet Monte Carlo
30 0Delma CowartH.L. WatersChevrolet Monte Carlo
31 44Terry LabonteBilly HaganChevrolet Monte Carlo
32 4Joe RuttmanLarry McClureChevrolet Monte Carlo
33 27Tim RichmondRaymond BeadlePontiac Grand Prix
34 22Bobby AllisonDiGardBuick Regal
35 98Trevor BoysRon BenfieldChevrolet Monte Carlo
36 67Morgan ShepherdBuddy ArringtonChrysler Imperial
36 17Ken RaganRoger HambyChevrolet Monte Carlo
37 8Bobby Hillin Jr.Stavola BrothersChevrolet Monte Carlo
38 64Clark DwyerElmo LangleyFord Thunderbird
39 31Slick JohnsonHenley GrayChevrolet Monte Carlo
Source[4]

Failed to qualify
Car # Driver Car Make
00Jody RidleyChevrolet Monte Carlo
05Dean RoperFord Thunderbird
6Eddie BierschwaleChevrolet Monte Carlo
06Joe ThurmanChevrolet Monte Carlo
07Randy LaJoieChevrolet Monte Carlo
08Craig SpetmanChevrolet Monte Carlo
19Bob ParkPontiac Grand Prix
20Rick NewsomChevrolet Monte Carlo
37Satch WorleyChevrolet Monte Carlo
41Glenn JarrettChevrolet Monte Carlo
42Tom SnevaPontiac Grand Prix
53Donny PaulChevrolet Monte Carlo
65Joey SonntagChevrolet Monte Carlo
70J.D. McDuffieChevrolet Monte Carlo
77Davey Allison (R)Chevrolet Monte Carlo
79Dick SkillenChevrolet Monte Carlo
82Mark StahlFord Thunderbird
99Connie SaylorChevrolet Monte Carlo
Source[4]

Finishing Order
Pos Grid No. Driver Car Make Laps Status Laps
led		 Points
1 19Bill ElliottFord Thunderbird2002:54:09136185 (10)
2 1475Lake SpeedPontiac Grand Prix200-0.94 seconds2175 (5)
3 311Darrell WaltripChevrolet Monte Carlo199Flagged165
4 788Buddy BakerOldsmobile Cutlass199Flagged160
5 915Ricky RuddFord Thunderbird199Flagged155
6 1351Greg SacksChevrolet Monte Carlo199Flagged2155 (5)
7 175Geoffrey BodineChevrolet Monte Carlo198Flagged146
8 222Rusty WallacePontiac Grand Prix197Flagged142
9 388Bobby Hillin Jr.Chevrolet Monte Carlo197Flagged138
10 1912Neil BonnettChevrolet Monte Carlo195Engine22139 (5)
11 2490Ken SchraderFord Thunderbird195Flagged130
12 2984Mike AlexanderChevrolet Monte Carlo194Flagged127
13 2674Bobby WawakChevrolet Monte Carlo192Flagged124
14 2552Jimmy MeansChevrolet Monte Carlo192Flagged121
15 3667Morgan ShepherdChrysler Imperial190Flagged118
16 2095Sterling MarlinChevrolet Monte Carlo188Oil pump115
17 324Joe RuttmanChevrolet Monte Carlo185Transmission112
18 3964Clark DwyerFord Thunderbird182Flagged109
19 2748Lennie PondChevrolet Monte Carlo178Crash106
20 4031Slick JohnsonChevrolet Monte Carlo175Flagged103
21 3717Ken RaganChevrolet Monte Carlo172Flagged100
22 111Dick BrooksFord Thunderbird171Wheel97
23 2889Jim SauterPontiac Grand Prix161Flagged94
24 2171Dave MarcisChevrolet Monte Carlo156Clutch91
25 3144Terry LabonteChevrolet Monte Carlo154Engine293 (5)
26 1033Harry GantChevrolet Monte Carlo124Engine190 (5)
27 3598Trevor BoysChevrolet Monte Carlo103Rear end82
28 421David PearsonChevrolet Monte Carlo98Engine79
29 1266Phil ParsonsChevrolet Monte Carlo91Engine76
30 1614A.J. FoytOldsmobile Cutlass90Engine73
31 555Benny ParsonsChevrolet Monte Carlo84Engine70
32 183Dale EarnhardtChevrolet Monte Carlo84Engine67
33 3422Bobby AllisonBuick Regal82Engine169 (5)
34 843Richard Petty (W)Pontiac Grand Prix80Clutch266 (5)
35 3327Tim RichmondPontiac Grand Prix66Crash58
36 228Cale YarboroughFord Thunderbird62Engine3260 (5)
37 67Kyle PettyFord Thunderbird58Engine52
38 1547Ron BouchardBuick Regal45Camshaft49
39 2310Doug HeveronChevrolet Monte Carlo44Engine46
40 300Delma CowartChevrolet Monte Carlo38Oil leak43
Source[1]

(5) Indicates 5 bonus points added to normal race points scored for leading 1 lap
(10) Indicates 10 bonus points added to normal race points scored for leading 1 lap & leading the most laps[4]

Cautions

5 for 18 laps[1]

From
Lap		 To
Lap		 Number
of laps		 Reason
72776Car #27 accident, backstretch
1621643Car #71 stalled, turn 4
1741763Car #1 accident, turn 2
1921943Car #48 spin, frontstretch
1971993Car #12 engine

Lap Leader Breakdown

Lead changes: 22[1]

Driver From
Lap		 To
Lap		 Number
of Laps
Bill Elliott122
Cale Yarborough342
Bill Elliott51410
Cale Yarborough152410
Bill Elliott253511
Richard Petty36372
Greg Sacks38381
Terry Labonte39401
Cale Yarborough416020
Bill Elliott617212
Bobby Allison73731
Bill Elliott7410734
Neil Bonnett1081103
Harry Gant1111111
Greg Sacks1121121
Bill Elliott11314432
Lake Speed1451462
Neil Bonnett1471548
Bill Elliott15516511
Neil Bonnett1661738
Bill Elliott17419118
Neil Bonnett1921943
Bill Elliott1952006

Notes
  • This was Chrysler's last entry in the Daytona 500 as Mopar disappeared from the sport (Cup racing) completely until 2001. Morgan Shepherd drove Buddy Arrington's Chrysler's Imperial to a solid 15th place finish.[1] Until 2016, this was the last Daytona 500 with a field of 40 cars.[1]

Standings after the race
Pos Driver Points[4] Difference
1 Bill Elliott 185 0
2 Lake Speed 175 -10
3 Darrell Waltrip 165 -20
4 Buddy Baker 160 -25
5 Ricky Rudd 155 -30
5 Greg Sacks 155 -30
7 Geoffrey Bodine 146 -39
8 Rusty Wallace 142 -43
9 Neil Bonnett 139 -46
10 Bobby Hillin Jr. 138 -74

References
  1. "1985 Daytona 500". Racing-Reference. 17 February 1985. Retrieved 25 February 2011.
  2. "Weather of the 1985 Daytona 500". The Old Farmers' Almanac. Archived from the original on 2 July 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  3. Mark Aumann, Turner Sports Interactive (29 January 2003). "1985: Absolutely awesome – January 29, 2003". NASCAR.com. Retrieved 25 February 2011.
  4. "1985 Daytona 500". Racing-Reference. Retrieved 3 July 2017.
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