1990 NASCAR Winston Cup Series


The 1990 NASCAR Winston Cup was the 42nd season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 19th modern-era Cup Series. It began on Sunday, February 11, and ended on Sunday, November 18. Because of a highly controversial penalty to Mark Martin early in the season, Dale Earnhardt with Richard Childress Racing was crowned the Winston Cup champion for the fourth time, edging out Martin by 26 points.

Teams and drivers

Complete schedule

Limited schedule

Schedule

Races

Busch Clash

The exhibition Busch Clash race, for drivers who have won a pole position in the previous season or have won the event before, was held on February 11 at Daytona International Speedway. Jimmy Hensley drew the pole.
Results
  1. 25-Ken Schrader
  2. 46-Greg Sacks
  3. 28-Davey Allison
  4. 11-Geoffrey Bodine
  5. 9-Bill Elliott
  6. 6-Mark Martin
  7. 7-Alan Kulwicki
  8. 27-Rusty Wallace
  9. 15-Morgan Shepherd
  10. 20-Jimmy Hensley
The Gatorade Twin 125s qualifying for the Daytona 500 was held on February 15 at Daytona International Speedway.
Race One: Top Ten Results
  1. 11-Geoffrey Bodine
  2. 33-Harry Gant
  3. 6-Mark Martin
  4. 17-Darrell Waltrip
  5. 43-Richard Petty
  6. 14-A. J. Foyt
  7. 25-Ken Schrader
  8. 12-Mike Alexander
  9. 98-Butch Miller
  10. 5-Ricky Rudd
Race Two: Top Ten Results
  1. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  2. 9-Bill Elliott
  3. 57-Jimmy Spencer
  4. 4-Phil Parsons
  5. 8-Bobby Hillin Jr.
  6. 10-Derrike Cope
  7. 83-Lake Speed
  8. 28-Davey Allison
  9. 90-Ernie Irvan
  10. 1-Terry Labonte
The 32nd annual Daytona 500 was held on February 18 at Daytona International Speedway. Derrike Cope started off the 1990 season on a Cinderella note as he won his first ever Winston Cup race, the Daytona 500. It came when Dale Earnhardt, who had led 155 of 200 laps, ran over a piece of Rick Wilson's expired engine cutting a right rear tire in turn three on the final lap allowing Cope to shoot past for the win. Cope opted to not take a late pit stop and led briefly before relinquishing the lead in lap 196, not seeing the front again until the last lap. Ken Schrader won the pole.
Top Ten Results
  1. 10-Derrike Cope
  2. 1-Terry Labonte
  3. 9-Bill Elliott
  4. 5-Ricky Rudd
  5. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  6. 8-Bobby Hillin Jr.
  7. 27-Rusty Wallace
  8. 30-Michael Waltrip -1
  9. 11-Geoffrey Bodine -1
  10. 15-Morgan Shepherd -1
Failed to qualify: 0-Delma Cowart, 13-Mike Potter, 19-Chad Little, 29-Joe Booher, 34-Charlie Glotzbach, 35-Bill Venturini, 37-Dennis Langston, 39-Blackie Wangerin, 44-Jim Sauter, 48-Trevor Boys, 59-Mark Gibson, 70-J. D. McDuffie, 72-Stan Barrett, 77-Ken Ragan, 82-Mark Stahl, 85-Bobby Gerhart, 89-Rodney Combs, 96-Phillip Duffie, 01-Mickey Gibbs
The Pontiac Excitement 400 was held on February 25 at Richmond International Raceway. Ricky Rudd won the pole. Mark Martin won the race, only to lose 46 championship points after NASCAR officials discovered a somewhat oversized carburetor spacer plate in his car. This ultimately became a key factor in determining the 1990 championship. This was possibly the coldest race in NASCAR history, with a temperature in the mid-20s and winds gusting to 41 MPH, generating a wind chill of about 5 degrees.
Top Ten Results
  1. 6-Mark Martin
  2. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  3. 5-Ricky Rudd
  4. 9-Bill Elliott
  5. 66-Dick Trickle
  6. 27-Rusty Wallace
  7. 15-Morgan Shepherd
  8. 26-Brett Bodine
  9. 57-Jimmy Spencer
  10. 25-Ken Schrader
Failed to qualify: 70-J. D. McDuffie, 53-Jerry O'Neil
The GM Goodwrench 500 was held on March 4, 1990, at the North Carolina Motor Speedway. Kyle Petty won the pole and the race in the No. 42 Peak Pontiac owned by Felix Sabates and wrenched by crew chief Gary Nelson, later of NASCAR R&D.
Top Ten results
  1. 42-Kyle Petty
  2. 11-Geoffrey Bodine
  3. 25-Ken Schrader -1
  4. 94-Sterling Marlin -2
  5. 27-Rusty Wallace -2
  6. 17-Darrell Waltrip -3
  7. 15-Morgan Shepherd -3
  8. 57-Jimmy Spencer -3
  9. 1-Terry Labonte -3
  10. 3-Dale Earnhardt -3
The Motorcraft Quality Parts 500 was held on March 18 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Dale Earnhardt won the pole and enjoyed his first win since November 1989, which was also at Atlanta. Although he was suffering from an upset stomach, Earnhardt made up a lost lap to score a narrow victory over Morgan Shepherd. The race was virtually caution free as Earnhardt led 216 of 328 laps in recording a track record race average speed of 156.849 mph.
Top Ten Results
  1. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  2. 15-Morgan Shepherd
  3. 4-Ernie Irvan
  4. 25-Ken Schrader
  5. 6-Mark Martin
  6. 42-Kyle Petty
  7. 11-Geoffrey Bodine
  8. 7-Alan Kulwicki -1
  9. 33-Harry Gant -1
  10. 94-Sterling Marlin -2
Failed to qualify: 14-A. J. Foyt, 46-Greg Sacks, 70-J. D. McDuffie
The TranSouth 500 was held on April 1 at Darlington Speedway. Dale Earnhardt pulled away on two restarts in the final 18 laps and finished two car lengths in front of Mark Martin to earn his second victory of the 1990 season and second consecutive win at Darlington. The race came under some controversy, as Ernie Irvan, who was ten laps down, was racing aggressively against then-leader Ken Schrader, lost control and started a huge crash that almost ended the career of Neil Bonnett. Geoffrey Bodine started on the pole.
Top Ten Results
  1. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  2. 6-Mark Martin
  3. 28-Davey Allison
  4. 11-Geoffrey Bodine
  5. 15-Morgan Shepherd
  6. 33-Harry Gant
  7. 9-Bill Elliott
  8. 26-Brett Bodine
  9. 30-Michael Waltrip
  10. 25-Ken Schrader -1
Failed to qualify:
48-Norm Benning, 74-Mike Potter, 82-Mark Stahl
The Valleydale Meats 500 was held on April 8 at Bristol International Raceway. Davey Allison elected not to pit on the final caution on lap 391 while the other front runners took on fresh tires and fuel. The gamble paid off with Allison leading the rest of the way, holding off Mark Martin for an eight-inch victory at Bristol. Darrell Waltrip fell from contention with a cut tire with 25 laps left, leaving Allison, Martin, and Ricky Rudd in a bumper-to-bumper battle to the finish. Sterling Marlin was spun out with half a lap to go by Rudd. This resulted in a physical confrontation inside Rudd's transporter after the race. The No. 4 of Ernie Irvan won the pole. Michael Waltrip had a terrible crash in the previous day's Busch Series race when he hit the wall head on and his car collapsed into itself, but still managed to race in this race and finish 20th.
Top Ten Results
  1. 28-Davey Allison
  2. 6-Mark Martin
  3. 5-Ricky Rudd
  4. 1-Terry Labonte
  5. 75-Rick Wilson
  6. 25-Ken Schrader
  7. 94-Sterling Marlin
  8. 15-Morgan Shepherd -1
  9. 17-Darrell Waltrip -1
  10. 42-Kyle Petty -1
Failed to qualify:
19-Chad Little, 16-Larry Pearson
The First Union 400 was held at North Wilkesboro Speedway on April 22, 1990. Mark Martin was the polesitter. Brett Bodine won his only Winston Cup race.
Top Ten Results
  1. 26-Brett Bodine*
  2. 17-Darrell Waltrip
  3. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  4. 5-Ricky Rudd
  5. 15-Morgan Shepherd
  6. 6-Mark Martin
  7. 27-Rusty Wallace
  8. 11-Geoffrey Bodine
  9. 28-Davey Allison
  10. 42-Kyle Petty -1
Failed to qualify:
48-Freddie Crawford, 70-J. D. McDuffie, 76-Bill Sedgwick
The Hanes Activewear 500 was held on April 29 at Martinsville Speedway. Geoffrey Bodine won the pole, lost the lead on the first lap but held the lead four times during the race including the final 137 laps for his first win of the season at Martinsville. In an afternoon-long battle of the pit crews Rusty Wallace, Bodine's crew executed a four-tire change in 19.6 seconds during the 10th and final caution period to beat Wallace back onto the track on lap 364 and easily cruised to the checker flag.
Top Ten Results
  1. 11-Geoffrey Bodine
  2. 27-Rusty Wallace
  3. 15-Morgan Shepherd
  4. 17-Darrell Waltrip
  5. 3-Dale Earnhardt -1
  6. 25-Ken Schrader -2
  7. 6-Mark Martin -2
  8. 30-Michael Waltrip -3
  9. 66-Dick Trickle -3
  10. 9-Bill Elliott -3
Failed to qualify: none

Winston 500

The Winston 500 was held on May 6 at Talladega Superspeedway. Dale Earnhardt dominated the field to lead eight times for 107 of 188 laps to earn his third win of the season. Drafting with one other driver after the sixth of seven cautions, the field was left behind when the final caution ended on the 172nd lap and Dale sped to victory. The No. 9 of Bill Elliott won the pole.*
Top Ten Results
  1. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  2. 18-Greg Sacks
  3. 6-Mark Martin
  4. 4-Ernie Irvan
  5. 30-Michael Waltrip
  6. 1-Terry Labonte
  7. 42-Kyle Petty -1
  8. 15-Morgan Shepherd -1
  9. 12-Hut Stricklin -1
  10. 17-Darrell Waltrip -1
Failed to qualify: 70-J. D. McDuffie, 80-Jimmy Horton, 82-Mark Stahl, 85-Bobby Gerhart
was held May 20 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Dale Earnhardt continued his early-season domination of the Winston Cup circuit with a runaway victory in the annual All-Star event. The 1990 edition was the 6th annual running of The Winston & the second victory in the "winners-only" event for Earnhardt and Richard Childress Racing. Earnhardt led all 70 laps after starting from the pole position & won $325,000. Earnhardt became the first 2-time winner of the race.
Top Ten Results
  1. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  2. 25-Ken Schrader
  3. 6-Mark Martin
  4. 9-Bill Elliott
  5. 28-Davey Allison
  6. 66-Dick Trickle
  7. 33-Harry Gant
  8. 7-Alan Kulwicki
  9. 15-Morgan Shepherd
  10. 8-Bobby Hillin Jr.

    Winston Open

The Winston Open, a shootout race for drivers who are normally not eligible for The Winston, was held May 20 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Top Ten Results
  1. 66-Dick Trickle
  2. 20-Rob Moroso
  3. 4-Ernie Irvan
  4. 94-Sterling Marlin
  5. 12-Hut Stricklin
  6. 75-Rick Wilson
  7. 43-Richard Petty
  8. 71-Dave Marcis
  9. 16-Larry Pearson
  10. 98-Butch Miller

    Coca-Cola 600

The Coca-Cola 600 was held May 27 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Rusty Wallace emerged from early season mediocrity to announce his return to dominance with a shootout win over Bill Elliott. Wallace led 306 of the 400 laps for his first win of the season, resuming his final lead on lap 310 when Geoffrey Bodine made a green-flag pit stop. A two-lap caution beginning on lap 297 set up the duel between Wallace and Elliott, who had regained a lap he lost early in the race. The No. 25 of Ken Schrader won the pole.
Top Ten Results
  1. 27-Rusty Wallace
  2. 9-Bill Elliott
  3. 6-Mark Martin
  4. 30-Michael Waltrip
  5. 4-Ernie Irvan
  6. 7-Alan Kulwicki
  7. 28-Davey Allison
  8. 15-Morgan Shepherd
  9. 10-Derrike Cope
  10. 11-Geoffrey Bodine
Failed to Qualify:
0-Delma Cowart, 35-Bill Venturini, 36-H. B. Bailey, 38-Dick Johnson, 52-Jimmy Means, 53-Jerry O'Neil, 70-J. D. McDuffie, 74-Mike Potter, 82-Mark Stahl, 01-Mickey Gibbs, 04-Bill Meacham, 48-Robin Best
The Budweiser 500 was held at the Dover Downs International Speedway on June 3, 1990. Dick Trickle won the pole.
Top Ten Results
  1. 10-Derrike Cope
  2. 25-Ken Schrader
  3. 66-Dick Trickle
  4. 6-Mark Martin
  5. 94-Sterling Marlin
  6. 15-Morgan Shepherd
  7. 4-Ernie Irvan
  8. 9-Bill Elliott
  9. 42-Kyle Petty
  10. 27-Rusty Wallace
The Banquet Frozen Foods 300 was held June 10 at Sears Point International Raceway. Ricky Rudd won the pole. Rusty Wallace continued his Winston Cup road course mastery in earning his second win of the season at Sears Point. It was his fifth road course win in the last seven, finishing second in the other two. Wallace overtook Ricky Rudd on the 11th turn on lap 60 and led the rest of the way, beating Mark Martin to the caution on lap 73, earning the win under caution in the final lap. Martin overtook the Winston Cup points race at 1800.
Top Ten Results
  1. 27-Rusty Wallace
  2. 6-Mark Martin
  3. 5-Ricky Rudd
  4. 11-Geoffrey Bodine
  5. 8-Bobby Hillin Jr.
  6. 94-Sterling Marlin
  7. 4-Ernie Irvan
  8. 0-Irv Hoerr*
  9. 30-Michael Waltrip
  10. 75-Rick Wilson
Failed to qualify: 52-Jimmy Means, J.C. Danielson, St. James Davis, Mike Hickingbottom
The Miller Genuine Draft 500 was held at Pocono International Raceway on June 17, 1990. Ernie Irvan started on the pole.
Top Ten Results
  1. 33-Harry Gant
  2. 27-Rusty Wallace
  3. 11-Geoffrey Bodine
  4. 26-Brett Bodine
  5. 28-Davey Allison
  6. 12-Hut Stricklin
  7. 18-Greg Sacks
  8. 17-Darrell Waltrip
  9. 94-Sterling Marlin
  10. 42-Kyle Petty
Failed to qualify: 74-John Linville
The Miller Genuine Draft 400 was held at Michigan International Speedway on June 24, 1990. Mark Martin won the pole via points as qualifying was rained out.
Top Ten Results
  1. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  2. 4-Ernie Irvan
  3. 11-Geoffrey Bodine
  4. 6-Mark Martin
  5. 33-Harry Gant
  6. 7-Alan Kulwicki
  7. 1-Terry Labonte
  8. 42-Kyle Petty
  9. 5-Ricky Rudd
  10. 75-Rick Wilson
Failed to Qualify: 50-Rich Vogler, 77-Ken Ragan, 34-Charlie Glotzbach
The Pepsi 400 was held at the Daytona International Speedway on July 7, 1990. Greg Sacks won the pole, but got involved in The Big One on lap two, which involved 24 cars and took 11 cars immediately out of the race. Dale Earnhardt dominated the race and led 127 laps on his first points race win at Daytona.
Top Ten Results
  1. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  2. 7-Alan Kulwicki
  3. 25-Ken Schrader
  4. 1-Terry Labonte
  5. 94-Sterling Marlin
  6. 8-Bobby Hillin Jr.
  7. 33-Harry Gant
  8. 21-Dale Jarrett
  9. 20-Rob Moroso
  10. 42-Kyle Petty -1
Failed to qualify: 70-J. D. McDuffie*, 72-Tracy Leslie, 80-Jimmy Horton*
The AC Spark Plug 500 was held July 22 at Pocono Raceway. Mark Martin qualified on the top spot. Junior Johnson's team gambled on the amount of fuel in Geoffrey Bodine's tank and elected not to make a pit stop as Bodine nearly coasted to victory over Bill Elliott at Pocono. Bodine led nine times for 119 of the 200 laps. Elliott had pitted on lap 157 and needed no fuel for the finish while other contenders made fuel stops beginning with 11 laps left. After a four-lap caution, the race was restarted on the final lap and Bodine finished with a half-gallon to spare. Martin won the pole. One car that qualified for this race did not roll off the grid. Rich Vogler was set to make his Winston Cup debut at this event, but on the night before, he was killed in a sprint car race at Salem Speedway.
Top Ten Results
  1. 11-Geoffrey Bodine
  2. 9-Bill Elliott
  3. 27-Rusty Wallace
  4. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  5. 28-Davey Allison
  6. 6-Mark Martin
  7. 5-Ricky Rudd
  8. 98-Butch Miller
  9. 43-Richard Petty
  10. 1-Terry Labonte
Failed to qualify: 2-Troy Beebe, 70-J. D. McDuffie, 85-Bobby Gerhart
The Diehard 500 was held July 29, 1990, at Talladega Superspeedway. Dale Earnhardt made it three of four major superspeedway titles so far in the 1990 season by winning the pole, leading a record-breaking 134 laps and winning the race. Earnhardt got the win by dropping behind another driver to draft and conserve fuel on lap 151, then passing him on turn four with 20 laps left, and leading the rest of the way to the checkered flag. As of 2017, this marks the only time in NASCAR history that a driver won 3 straight restrictor plate races. Amateur driver Stanley Smith was involved in a pit road mishap when he lost control of his car and hit several crew members for Tracy Leslie's team. No one was seriously injured.
Top Ten Results
  1. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  2. 9-Bill Elliott
  3. 94-Sterling Marlin
  4. 7-Alan Kulwicki
  5. 5-Ricky Rudd
  6. 4-Ernie Irvan
  7. 10-Derrike Cope
  8. 42-Kyle Petty
  9. 6-Mark Martin
  10. 8-Bobby Hillin Jr. -1
Failed to qualify: 0-Delma Cowart, 70-J. D. McDuffie, 77-Ken Ragan
The Budweiser at the Glen was held at Watkins Glen International raceway on August 12, 1990. Dale Earnhardt won the pole.
Top Ten Results
  1. 5-Ricky Rudd
  2. 11-Geoffrey Bodine
  3. 26-Brett Bodine
  4. 30-Michael Waltrip
  5. 6-Mark Martin
  6. 15-Morgan Shepherd
  7. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  8. 40-Tommy Kendall
  9. 25-Ken Schrader
  10. 0-Irv Hoerr
Failed to qualify: 93-Troy Beebe
The Champion Spark Plug 400 was held on August 19, 1990, at Michigan International Speedway. Mark Martin started on the outside of the front row, hovered in the top five the first half of the race, then demonstrated his dominance by leading 70 of the last 100 laps to win at Michigan. Martin and Rusty Wallace linked up for a side-by-side duel on lap 124 with Martin emerging ahead never to be challenged again. He regained the lead on lap 162 after a flurry of green-flag pit stops and led the rest of the 200 laps. The No. 7 of Alan Kulwicki won the pole.
Top Ten Results
  1. 6-Mark Martin
  2. 17-Greg Sacks
  3. 27-Rusty Wallace
  4. 9-Bill Elliott
  5. 5-Ricky Rudd
  6. 28-Davey Allison
  7. 11-Geoffrey Bodine
  8. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  9. 15-Morgan Shepherd
  10. 21-Dale Jarrett
Failed to qualify: 34-Charlie Glotzbach, 36-H. B. Bailey, 70-J. D. McDuffie, 72-Tracy Leslie

Busch 500

The Busch 500 was held August 25, 1990, at Bristol International Raceway. Ernie Irvan and the Morgan-McClure Motorsports team captured their first ever Winston Cup victory at Bristol. The last 50 laps of the 500-lap race was a shootout between Irvan and Rusty Wallace. Irvan never relinquished the lead to Wallace, which he gained on lap 411. Irvan finished one car length ahead of Wallace. Dale Earnhardt won the pole.
Top Ten Results
  1. 4-Ernie Irvan
  2. 27-Rusty Wallace
  3. 6-Mark Martin
  4. 1-Terry Labonte
  5. 94-Sterling Marlin
  6. 7-Alan Kulwicki
  7. 21-Dale Jarrett -1
  8. 3-Dale Earnhardt -1
  9. 30-Michael Waltrip -1
  10. 5-Ricky Rudd -1
Failed to qualify: 19-Chad Little, 70-J. D. McDuffie, 74-Mike Potter

Heinz Southern 500

The Heinz Southern 500 was held on September 2, 1990, at Darlington Raceway. The traditional Labor Day event saw Dale Earnhardt capture the Richard Childress Racing's fourth pole of the season before winning the race. Even with an ill-handling racecar, Earnhardt recovered, made up a lost lap and then having to battle a vibrating tire to outrun Ernie Irvan to the checkered flag. With the $200,000 payday, Dale became the first race car driver in history to pass the $11,000,000 mark in career winnings. During the race, Morgan Shepherd and Ken Schrader made contact, sending Schrader into the wall. An angry Schrader returned to the race, and rammed Shepherd into the wall, knocking both drivers out of the race.
Top Ten Results
  1. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  2. 4-Ernie Irvan
  3. 7-Alan Kulwicki
  4. 9-Bill Elliott
  5. 33-Harry Gant
  6. 6-Mark Martin
  7. 5-Ricky Rudd
  8. 11-Geoffrey Bodine
  9. 10-Derrike Cope -1
  10. 26-Brett Bodine -1
Failed to Qualify:
70-J. D. McDuffie
The Miller Genuine Draft 400 was held September 9, 1990, at Richmond International Raceway. This would be the final day race at Richmond that would be run during the fall. Dale Earnhardt won his fifth of the last nine races, gambling on his fuel mileage to lead the last 25 laps of the race. As the car coasted toward victory lane, it ran out of gas. "We figured our only chance was to win it on gas mileage and we did," said Dale. "I nursed it as much as I could for the last twenty laps and it was sputtering when I took the checkered flag. Luckily we made the right decision." Ernie Irvan won the pole.
Top Ten Results
  1. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  2. 6-Mark Martin
  3. 17-Darrell Waltrip*
  4. 9-Bill Elliott
  5. 27-Rusty Wallace
  6. 42-Kyle Petty
  7. 66-Dick Trickle
  8. 5-Ricky Rudd -1
  9. 11-Geoffrey Bodine -1
  10. 25-Ken Schrader -1
Failed to qualify: 70-J. D. McDuffie, 47-Jack Pennington, 13-Kerry Teague
The Peak AntiFreeze 500 was held at Dover Downs International Speedway on September 16, 1990. Bill Elliott won the pole and dominated the race leading 364 laps of the 500 lap race.
Top Ten Results
  1. 9-Bill Elliott
  2. 6-Mark Martin
  3. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  4. 33-Harry Gant -1
  5. 30-Michael Waltrip -1
  6. 21-Dale Jarrett -1
  7. 27-Rusty Wallace -1
  8. 42-Kyle Petty -1
  9. 28-Davey Allison -1
  10. 25-Ken Schrader -2
Failed to qualify: 13-Kerry Teague

Goody's 500

The Goody's 500 was held at Martinsville Speedway on September 23, 1990. Mark Martin won the pole. Geoffrey Bodine won and swept on Martinsville in 1990.
Top ten results
  1. 11-Geoffrey Bodine
  2. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  3. 6-Mark Martin
  4. 26-Brett Bodine
  5. 33-Harry Gant
  6. 7-Alan Kulwicki
  7. 28-Davey Allison
  8. 9-Bill Elliott
  9. 1-Terry Labonte -2
  10. 21-Dale Jarrett -3
Failed to qualify: 2–Ron Esau, 70–J. D. McDuffie

Tyson Holly Farms 400

The Tyson Holly Farms 400 was held September 30, 1990, at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Kyle Petty won the pole. Dale Earnhardt dominated, leading 291 of 400 laps, but Mark Martin snatched the leading on lap 363, and held onto it until the finish. With the win, Martin retained his 16-point advantage in the Winston Cup Championship race. Two pit stops to remove spring rubber left him in 12th place on lap 196, but by lap 288 he was in second place. On lap 263, Martin was the only driver to pass Earnhardt under green. The race was marked by tragedy, as rookie driver Rob Moroso, who finished in 21st place in this race, was killed in a highway accident hours after this race had concluded. Police reports said that Moroso was above the legal alcohol limit when he crashed.
Top Ten Results
  1. 6-Mark Martin
  2. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  3. 26-Brett Bodine
  4. 9-Bill Elliott
  5. 25-Ken Schrader
  6. 4-Ernie Irvan
  7. 17-Darrell Waltrip
  8. 27-Rusty Wallace
  9. 7-Alan Kulwicki
  10. 42-Kyle Petty -1
Failed to qualify:
2-Ron Esau, 40-Tommy Kendall, 41-Larry Pearson, 47-Jack Pennington, 70-J. D. McDuffie

Mello Yello 500

The Mello Yello 500 was held on October 7, 1990, at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Brett Bodine won the pole. It seemed that Bill Elliott had the dominant car but blew the engine on Lap 331 after leading 243 laps.
Top Ten Results
  1. 28-Davey Allison
  2. 15-Morgan Shepherd
  3. 30-Michael Waltrip
  4. 42-Kyle Petty
  5. 7-Alan Kulwicki
  6. 5-Ricky Rudd
  7. 10-Derrike Cope
  8. 26-Brett Bodine
  9. 17-Darrell Waltrip
  10. 21-Dale Jarrett -1
Failed to qualify: 13-Mike Skinner, 65-Dave Mader III, 89-Rodney Combs, 64-Gary Wright, 40-Tommy Kendall, 13-Kerry Teague, 70-J. D. McDuffie, 74-Mike Potter, 93-Troy Beebe, 72-Tracy Leslie, 53-Jerry O'Neil, 36-H. B. Bailey, 54-Bob Schacht, 0-Delma Cowart, 04-Bill Meacham, 35-Bill Venturini.
The AC Delco 500 was held October 21, 1990, at North Carolina Speedway. Alan Kulwicki led six times for 155 of 492 laps, including the last 55 after taking the lead from Bill Elliott, to post his first win since November 1988 at Phoenix International Raceway. The race ended under caution. With both finishing three laps back, the Richard Childress Racing team gained five points on Mark Martin in the Winston Cup Championship race, though Martin still held a 45-point lead with two races remaining. Ken Schrader won the pole.
Top Ten Results
  1. 7-Alan Kulwicki
  2. 9-Bill Elliott
  3. 33-Harry Gant
  4. 11-Geoffrey Bodine
  5. 25-Ken Schrader
  6. 94-Sterling Marlin -1
  7. 5-Ricky Rudd -1
  8. 17-Darrell Waltrip -1
  9. 4-Ernie Irvan -2
  10. 3-Dale Earnhardt -2
Failed to qualify: 0-Delma Cowart, 48-James Hylton, 70-J. D. McDuffie, 82-Mark Stahl
The Checker 500 was held November 4, 1990, at Phoenix International Raceway. Rusty Wallace won the pole. Dale Earnhardt won his first race at Phoenix in a dominant way. He also took the points lead.
Top Ten Results
  1. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  2. 25-Ken Schrader
  3. 15-Morgan Shepherd
  4. 17-Darrell Waltrip
  5. 9-Bill Elliott
  6. 7-Alan Kulwicki
  7. 98-Rick Mast
  8. 11-Geoffrey Bodine
  9. 4-Ernie Irvan
  10. 6-Mark Martin
Failed to Qualify:
04-Hershel McGriff, 34-Ted Kennedy, 24-Butch Gilliland, 61-Rick Scribner, 44-Jack Sellers, 22-St. James Davis
The final race of the season was held on November 18, 1990, at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Rusty Wallace won the pole. Tragedy struck during the race, when Ricky Rudd driving the Levi Garrett No. 5 locked his brakes up, lost control of the car on pit road, and struck and killed Mike Ritch, a pit crew member on Bill Elliott's team.
Top Ten Results
  1. 15-Morgan Shepherd
  2. 11-Geoffrey Bodine
  3. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  4. 21-Dale Jarrett
  5. 17-Darrell Waltrip
  6. 6-Mark Martin
  7. 4-Ernie Irvan
  8. 7-Alan Kulwicki
  9. 27-Rusty Wallace
  10. 18-Greg Sacks -1
Failed to qualify: 82-Mark Stahl
  1. Dale Earnhardt – 4430
  2. Mark Martin – 4404
  3. Geoffrey Bodine – 4017
  4. Bill Elliott – 3999
  5. Morgan Shepherd – 3689
  6. Rusty Wallace – 3676
  7. Ricky Rudd – 3601
  8. Alan Kulwicki – 3599
  9. Ernie Irvan – 3593
  10. Ken Schrader – 3572
  11. Kyle Petty – 3501
  12. Brett Bodine – 3440
  13. Davey Allison – 3423
  14. Sterling Marlin – 3387
  15. Terry Labonte – 3371
  16. Michael Waltrip – 3251
  17. Harry Gant – 3182
  18. Derrike Cope – 3140
  19. Bobby Hillin Jr. – 3048
  20. Darrell Waltrip – 3013
  21. Dave Marcis – 2944
  22. Dick Trickle – 2863
  23. Rick Wilson – 2666
  24. Jimmy Spencer – 2579
  25. Dale Jarrett – 2558
  26. Richard Petty – 2556
  27. Butch Miller – 2377
  28. Hut Stricklin – 2316
  29. Jimmy Means – 2271
  30. Rob Moroso – 2184
  31. Rick Mast – 1719
  32. Greg Sacks – 1663
  33. Chad Little – 1632
  34. Jack Pennington – 1278
  35. Larry Pearson – 822
  36. Jimmy Horton – 756
  37. Mickey Gibbs – 755
  38. Mike Alexander – 682
  39. Phil Parsons – 632
  40. J. D. McDuffie – 557
  41. Buddy Baker – 498
  42. Lake Speed – 479
  43. Neil Bonnett – 455
  44. Mark Stahl – 371
  45. Bill Venturini – 349
  46. Rodney Combs – 323
  47. Irv Hoerr – 281
  48. Tommy Kendall – 281
  49. Ted Musgrave – 280
  50. Chuck Bown – 276

    Winston Cup Standings

Bold – Pole position awarded by time. Italics – Pole position set by final practice results or 1989 Owner's points. * – Most laps led.
#DriverMake
311Geoffrey BodineFord933274*2481*241015433251*1727118936116364824017
1226Brett BodineBuick17825118221*1212291841414221633317251031204381715183440
#DriverMake

Rookie of the Year

The 1990 season was a slim season for Rookie of the Year contenders. 1989 Busch Series champion Rob Moroso had a top-ten finish and qualified for every race, but he was killed in a car crash before the end of the year and was awarded the top rookie award posthumously. His top runner-up was Jack Pennington, a late-model dirt racing champion, who had 14 starts and no top-tens in an unsponsored car. The only other declarees were Jerry O'Neil and Jeff Purvis, who did not run enough races to be completely eligible for the honor.