The 1986 TranSouth 500 was the sixth stock car race of the 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, April 13, 1986, in Darlington, South Carolina, at Darlington Raceway, a 1.366 miles (2.198 km) permanent egg-shaped oval racetrack. The race took the scheduled 367 laps to complete.

1986 TranSouth 500
Race details
Race 6 of 29 in the 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1986 TranSouth 500 program cover, featuring Bill Elliott and Jack Ingram.
The 1986 TranSouth 500 program cover, featuring Bill Elliott and Jack Ingram.
Date April 13, 1986
Official name 30th Annual TranSouth 500
Location Darlington, South Carolina, Darlington Raceway
Course Permanent racing facility
1.366 mi (2.198 km)
Distance 367 laps, 501.322 mi (806.799 km)
Scheduled Distance 367 laps, 501.322 mi (806.799 km)
Average speed 128.994 miles per hour (207.596 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Hendrick Motorsports
Time 30.890
Most laps led
Driver Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing
Laps 335
Winner
No. 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing
Television in the United States
Network ESPN
Announcers Bob Jenkins, Jack Arute
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

In a race of attrition, Richard Childress Racing's Dale Earnhardt managed to fend off Junior Johnson & Associates' Darrell Waltrip on the final restart with two laps left, completing a dominant performance where he led 335 of the total 367 laps. The victory was Earnhardt's 16th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his first victory of the season.[1][2] To fill out the top three, the aforementioned Waltrip and Stavola Brothers Racing's Bobby Allison finished second and third, respectively.

Background

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The layout of Darlington Raceway, the venue where the race was held.

Darlington Raceway is a race track built for NASCAR racing located near Darlington, South Carolina. It is nicknamed "The Lady in Black" and "The Track Too Tough to Tame" by many NASCAR fans and drivers and advertised as "A NASCAR Tradition." It is of a unique, somewhat egg-shaped design, an oval with the ends of very different configurations, a condition which supposedly arose from the proximity of one end of the track to a minnow pond the owner refused to relocate. This situation makes it very challenging for the crews to set up their cars' handling in a way that is effective at both ends.

Entry list

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
1 Sterling Marlin Ellington Racing Chevrolet Bull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce
01 Earle Canavan Canavan Racing Pontiac Gates Hydraulics
3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Wrangler
4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile Cap'n Coty's
5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Levi Garrett
6 Trevor Boys U.S. Racing Chevrolet U.S. Racing
7 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 7-Eleven
8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Chevrolet Miller American
9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford Coors
11 Darrell Waltrip Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet Budweiser
12 Neil Bonnett Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet Budweiser
15 Ricky Rudd Bud Moore Engineering Ford Motorcraft Quality Parts
17 Doug Heveron Hamby Racing Chevrolet Protecta Truck Bed Liner
18 Tommy Ellis Freedlander Motorsports Chevrolet Freedlander Financial
22 Bobby Allison Stavola Brothers Racing Buick Miller American
23 Michael Waltrip (R) Bahari Racing Pontiac Hawaiian Punch
25 Tim Richmond Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Folgers
26 Joe Ruttman King Racing Buick Quaker State
27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac Alugard
28 Cale Yarborough Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford Hardee's
33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet Skoal Bandit
35 Alan Kulwicki (R) AK Racing Ford Quincy's Steakhouse
36 H. B. Bailey Bailey Racing Pontiac Almeda Auto Parts
43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac STP
44 Terry Labonte Hagan Enterprises Oldsmobile Piedmont Airlines
47 Morgan Shepherd Race Hill Farm Team Chevrolet Race Hill Farm Team
48 Ronnie Thomas Hylton Motorsports Chevrolet Hylton Motorsports
52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac Jimmy Means Racing
55 Benny Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile Copenhagen
64 Connie Saylor Langley Racing Ford Sunny King Ford
66 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile Skoal
67 Buddy Arrington Arrington Racing Ford Pannill Sweatshirts
68 Mike Potter Jimmy Walker Enterprises Ford Jimmy Walker Enterprises
70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac Rumple Furniture
71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Pontiac Helen Rae Special
74 Bobby Wawak Wawak Racing Chevrolet Superior Piping
75 Jody Ridley RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac Nationwise Automotive
82 Mark Stahl Stahl Racing Ford Auto Bell Car Wash
88 Buddy Baker Baker–Schiff Racing Oldsmobile Crisco
90 Ken Schrader Donlavey Racing Ford Red Baron Frozen Pizza
91 David Sosebee Sosebee Racing Chevrolet Sosebee Racing
92 Jonathan Lee Edwards Edwards Racing Buick Edwards Racing
94 Eddie Bierschwale Eller Racing Pontiac Kodak Film
95 Davey Allison Sadler Brothers Racing Chevrolet Martha Washington Inn
98 Ron Bouchard Curb Racing Pontiac Valvoline

Qualifying

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Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Thursday, April 10, at 3:00 PM EST. Each driver had one lap to set a time. During the first round, the top 20 drivers in the round were 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 Friday, April 11, at 2:00 PM EST. As with the first round, each driver had one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 21-40 were 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 were given.

Geoff Bodine, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, won the pole, setting a time of 30.890 and an average speed of 159.197 miles per hour (256.203 km/h) in the first round.[4]

Five drivers failed to qualify.

Full qualifying results

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 30.890 159.197
2 25 Tim Richmond Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 30.928 159.002
3 55 Benny Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 30.949 158.891
4 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 31.009 158.586
5 12 Neil Bonnett Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 31.215 157.540
6 26 Joe Ruttman King Racing Buick 31.380 156.711
7 1 Sterling Marlin Ellington Racing Chevrolet 31.404 156.592
8 15 Ricky Rudd Bud Moore Engineering Ford 31.418 156.522
9 33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 31.451 156.358
10 11 Darrell Waltrip Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 31.529 155.971
11 44 Terry Labonte Hagan Enterprises Oldsmobile 31.546 155.887
12 22 Bobby Allison Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 31.549 155.872
13 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 31.563 155.803
14 88 Buddy Baker Baker–Schiff Racing Chevrolet 31.567 155.783
15 47 Morgan Shepherd Race Hill Farm Team Buick 31.578 155.729
16 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 31.589 155.674
17 75 Jody Ridley RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 31.707 155.095
18 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 31.725 155.007
19 23 Michael Waltrip (R) Bahari Racing Pontiac 31.806 154.612
20 66 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Pontiac 31.813 154.578
Failed to lock in the first round
21 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 31.821 154.539
22 90 Ken Schrader Donlavey Racing Ford 31.927 154.026
23 28 Cale Yarborough Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford 31.942 153.954
24 98 Ron Bouchard Curb Racing Pontiac 32.052 153.426
25 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 32.139 153.010
26 95 Davey Allison Sadler Brothers Racing Chevrolet 32.158 152.920
27 7 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 32.232 152.569
28 36 H. B. Bailey Bailey Racing Pontiac 32.253 152.470
29 35 Alan Kulwicki (R) AK Racing Ford 32.352 152.003
30 6 Trevor Boys U.S. Racing Chevrolet 32.399 151.782
31 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 32.439 151.595
32 18 Tommy Ellis Freedlander Motorsports Oldsmobile 32.451 151.539
33 94 Eddie Bierschwale Eller Racing Pontiac 32.453 151.530
34 48 Ronnie Thomas Hylton Motorsports Chevrolet 32.462 151.488
35 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 32.637 150.676
36 17 Doug Heveron Hamby Racing Oldsmobile 32.717 150.307
37 64 Connie Saylor Langley Racing Ford 32.822 149.826
38 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac 32.937 149.303
39 74 Bobby Wawak Wawak Racing Buick 33.057 148.761
40 82 Mark Stahl Stahl Racing Ford 33.990 144.678
Failed to qualify (results unknown)
41 01 Earle Canavan Canavan Racing Pontiac -* -*
42 67 Buddy Arrington Arrington Racing Ford -* -*
43 68 Mike Potter Walker Enterprises Ford -* -*
44 91 David Sosebee Sosebee Racing Chevrolet -* -*
45 92 Jonathan Lee Edwards Edwards Racing Buick -* -*
Official first round qualifying results
Official starting lineup

Race results

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Fin St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 4 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 367 335 running 185 $52,250
2 10 11 Darrell Waltrip Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 367 13 running 175 $31,600
3 12 22 Bobby Allison Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 366 1 running 170 $13,355
4 5 12 Neil Bonnett Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 366 0 running 160 $16,480
5 2 25 Tim Richmond Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 364 5 running 160 $7,305
6 13 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 364 0 running 150 $12,575
7 16 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 364 0 running 146 $9,600
8 21 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 362 0 running 142 $13,685
9 27 7 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 361 0 running 138 $11,030
10 22 90 Ken Schrader Donlavey Racing Ford 356 0 running 134 $10,525
11 29 35 Alan Kulwicki (R) AK Racing Ford 344 0 running 130 $3,900
12 28 36 H. B. Bailey Bailey Racing Pontiac 343 0 running 127 $3,195
13 19 23 Michael Waltrip (R) Bahari Racing Pontiac 340 0 engine 124 $3,515
14 9 33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 330 10 running 126 $11,435
15 25 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 329 0 running 118 $3,065
16 40 82 Mark Stahl Stahl Racing Ford 320 0 running 115 $2,520
17 38 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac 319 0 running 112 $6,585
18 37 64 Connie Saylor Langley Racing Ford 313 0 running 0 $6,365
19 39 74 Bobby Wawak Wawak Racing Buick 300 0 accident 106 $2,190
20 17 75 Jody Ridley RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 292 0 running 103 $6,585
21 6 26 Joe Ruttman King Racing Buick 285 0 radiator 100 $1,995
22 23 28 Cale Yarborough Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford 267 0 engine 97 $2,535
23 15 47 Morgan Shepherd Race Hill Farm Team Buick 234 0 accident 94 $1,825
24 30 6 Trevor Boys U.S. Racing Chevrolet 227 0 brakes 91 $5,575
25 31 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 212 0 accident 88 $5,435
26 8 15 Ricky Rudd Bud Moore Engineering Ford 207 1 accident 90 $9,605
27 35 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 201 1 water pump 87 $4,965
28 3 55 Benny Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 199 1 engine 84 $1,580
29 32 18 Tommy Ellis Freedlander Motorsports Oldsmobile 197 0 accident 76 $1,460
30 14 88 Buddy Baker Baker–Schiff Racing Chevrolet 149 0 valve 73 $1,420
31 20 66 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Pontiac 147 0 accident 70 $1,380
32 11 44 Terry Labonte Hagan Enterprises Oldsmobile 146 0 timing chain 67 $8,090
33 7 1 Sterling Marlin Ellington Racing Chevrolet 140 0 engine 64 $1,300
34 33 94 Eddie Bierschwale Eller Racing Pontiac 130 0 a-frame 61 $1,265
35 36 17 Doug Heveron Hamby Racing Oldsmobile 111 0 engine 58 $4,440
36 34 48 Ronnie Thomas Hylton Motorsports Chevrolet 83 0 engine 55 $4,250
37 24 98 Ron Bouchard Curb Racing Pontiac 65 0 brakes 52 $3,950
38 18 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 42 0 accident 49 $3,925
39 26 95 Davey Allison Sadler Brothers Racing Chevrolet 1 0 accident 46 $1,195
40 1 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1 0 camshaft 43 $11,005
Failed to qualify (results unknown)
41 01 Earle Canavan Canavan Racing Pontiac
42 67 Buddy Arrington Arrington Racing Ford
43 68 Mike Potter Walker Enterprises Ford
44 91 David Sosebee Sosebee Racing Chevrolet
45 92 Jonathan Lee Edwards Edwards Racing Buick
Official race results

Standings after the race

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References

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  1. ^ Higgins, Tom (April 14, 1986). "Earnhardt Holds Off Waltrip Run". The Charlotte Observer. pp. 1C, 5C. Retrieved December 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ Gilbert, Bill (April 14, 1986). "Earnhardt Humbles Darlington". Florence Morning News. pp. 7A. Retrieved December 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ Whitlock, Joe (April 10, 1986). "Drivers will try to tame Darlington Sunday". The Sun News. pp. 5B. Retrieved December 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  4. ^ Higgins, Tom (April 11, 1986). "Bodine Charges To Darlington Qualifying Record". The Charlotte Observer. pp. 1C, 4C. Retrieved December 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  


Previous race:
1986 Valleydale 500
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1986 season
Next race:
1986 First Union 400