The 1992 Champion Spark Plug 400 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series racing event that was held on August 16, 1992, at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan. Harry Gant would set a record for being the oldest winner of a NASCAR Cup Series racing at 52 years and 219 days in what was his 18th and final career victory. This is a record that might never be broken because most drivers don't race at age 50. Kevin Harvick could possibly beat the record if he wins a race in 2028, but he would likely retire before that year. Younger drivers like Joey Logano would find that record to be nearly impossible to beat because that would involve winning a race in 2043. Oldsmobile would get their final victory as an active manufacturer and would be sidelined in favor of Pontiac and Dodge. Davey Allison would die within months of this race the following year while his younger brother and Clifford would eventually be killed in a racing accident in 1992. Then-current IndyCar driver Lyn St. James was the grand marshal of the race who shouted "Gentlemen, start your engines!"
Background
is a four-turn superspeedway that is long. Opened in 1968, the track's turns are banked at eighteen degrees, while the 3,600-foot-long front stretch, the location of the finish line, is banked at twelve degrees. The back stretch, has a five degree banking and is 2,242 feet long.
Race report
Approximately 13% of this 200-lap race was run under a caution flag; each green flag lasted for an average of 30 laps. There were four accidents in this event; a total of nine different cars were involved. Greg Sacks was the last-place finisher on the fourth lap due to three-car pileup that also took Jimmy Means out of the race and severely affected Bobby Hamilton. It took nearly two hours and fifty minutes to decide the race; Harry Gant would defeat Darrell Waltrip by five seconds. All 18 of Harry Gant's wins came in the Skoal Bandit, making him the only driver to get each of his multiple Cup wins for a tobacco brand. Dale Earnhardt started 41st after failing post-qualifying inspection after second round qualifying. It was Gant's final NASCAR Cup series win, leading twice for 23 laps, including the last 15. The win was based on the fuel strategy devised by Harry Gant and crew chief Leo Jackson. Alan Kulwicki earned the pole position at during qualifying while the average race speed would be. Seven drivers failed to qualify for the race; including Delma Cowart. All of the drivers in this event were born in the United States of America. At the end of the event, only twelve drivers remained on the lead lap. Jeff McClure was the lowest finishing driver to complete the race; even though he was 33 laps the lead lap. Individual prize winnings varied from the winner's share of $71,545 to the last-place finishers' share of $7,140. The combined prize purse was $641,610.
