1989 The Winston

The 1989 edition of The Winston was a stock car racing competition that took place on May 21, 1989. Held at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, the 135-lap race was an exhibition race in the 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Terry Labonte of Junior Johnson & Associates won the pole, but it was Rusty Wallace of Blue Max Racing who led the most laps (69) and won the race to collect US$240,000 after spinning Darrell Waltrip of Hendrick Motorsports out before the final lap.[2][3]

1989 The Winston
Race details[1]
Exhibition race in the 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
Date May 21, 1989 (1989-05-21)
Location Concord, North Carolina
Course Charlotte Motor Speedway
1.5 mi (2.4 km)
Distance 135 laps, 202.5 mi (324 km)
Weather Temperatures around 82 °F (28 °C), with 72% humidity and winds gusting to 10 miles per hour (16 km/h), partly sunny with 20% chance of rain
Average speed 133.15 mph (214.28 km/h)
Pole position
Driver
Junior Johnson & Associates
Most laps led
Driver Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing
Laps 69
Winner
No. 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing
Television in the United States
Network ABC
Announcers Paul Page, Benny Parsons, and Bobby Unser

Background
Charlotte Motor Speedway, the track where the race was held.

The Winston was open to race winners from last season through the 1989 Winston 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Because the field did not meet the minimum requirement of 19 cars, the remaining spots were awarded to the most recent winning drivers prior to the 1988 season.

Race winners in 1988 and 1989

Race winners from previous years, not eligible by the above criteria

Winner of The Winston Open

Race summary

Race 1 (75 laps)

Terry Labonte won the pole while Dale Earnhardt took the outside pole. Sterling Marlin made the starting grid by winning the Winston Open for the second year in the row. Darrell Waltrip and Kyle Petty served as the onboard camera cars throughout the race. Upon the waving of the green flag, Labonte had a good start while Rusty Wallace challenged Earnhardt for second place, but Earnhardt gained momentum and overtook Labonte to lead the first lap. Wallace and Alan Kulwicki zipped past Labonte, who then started losing positions to Geoff Bodine and Waltrip by the second lap. As Wallace closed in on Earnhardt, the first caution flag waved after Kyle Petty crashed on the turn three wall and Richard Petty spun out of control; the younger Petty was rushed to the hospital with only minor bruises. Earnhardt was forced to restart at the back of the field after his right front tire was punctured by the debris. Wallace led the field with Kulwicki and Waltrip behind him while Davey Allison and Bill Elliott overtook Labonte and Earnhardt inched his way back in the top 10. In the end, Wallace took the checkered flag and collected US$20,000.

Race 1 results
  1. 27-Rusty Wallace (US$20,000)
  2. 17-Darrell Waltrip
  3. 25-Ken Schrader
  4. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  5. 7-Alan Kulwicki

Race 2 (50 laps)

Wallace led the field on the single-line restart, but Waltrip passed him from the outside after the first three laps. Morgan Shepherd retired on lap 83 after his engine overheated. Waltrip won the 50-lap segment to collect US$20,000

Race 2 results
  1. 17-Darrell Waltrip (US$20,000)
  2. 27-Rusty Wallace
  3. 25-Ken Schrader
  4. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  5. 7-Alan Kulwicki

Race 3 (10 laps)

Waltrip led the field in the 10-lap shootout. He continued his lead while Wallace closed in on him. With two laps to go, Wallace tapped Waltrip on the left rear, sending Waltrip spinning across the infield grass and triggering the caution. It was decided by NASCAR that the restart would be a two-lap dash, which Wallace won to collect a combined US$240,000, including the US$200,000 prize for the final segment.

After the race, a fight ensued between the pit crews of Wallace and Waltrip as Wallace made his way to Victory Lane. Furious over the outcome of the race, Waltrip commented: "I hope Rusty chokes on that $200,000."[2]

Race results
Pos Grid Car Driver Owner Manufacturer Laps run Laps led
1 327Rusty WallaceBlue Max Racing Pontiac13569
2 1425Ken SchraderHendrick Motorsports Chevrolet1350
3 23Dale EarnhardtRichard Childress Racing Chevrolet1357
4 99Bill ElliottMelling Racing Ford1350
5 47Alan KulwickiAK Racing Ford1351
6 2094Sterling MarlinHagan Racing Oldsmobile1350
7 717Darrell WaltripHendrick Motorsports Chevrolet13554
8 1326Ricky RuddKing Racing Buick1350
9 55Geoff BodineHendrick Motorsports Chevrolet1350
10 1088Greg SacksBaker-Schiff Racing Pontiac1350
11 118Bobby Hillin Jr.Stavola Brothers Racing Buick1350
12 828Davey AllisonRobert Yates Racing Ford1350
13 1283Lake SpeedSpeed Racing Oldsmobile1353
14 111Terry LabonteJunior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet1351
15 621Neil BonnettWood Brothers Racing Ford1350
16 1943Richard PettyPetty Enterprises Pontiac1340
17 1533Harry GantJackson Motorsports Chevrolet1340
18 1655Phil ParsonsJackson Motorsports Oldsmobile1330
19 1875Morgan ShepherdRahMoc Enterprises Pontiac830
20 1242Kyle PettySABCO Racing Pontiac30
Source:[1]

References
  1. "1989 The Winston". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  2. Glick, Shav (February 14, 1990). "An Unhappy Champion: For Rusty Wallace, Success and Popularity Mix Like Water and Oil". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  3. "Photos: 30 years of NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race winners". Fox Sports. October 20, 2016. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
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