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1996 TranSouth Financial 400

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1996 TranSouth Financial 400
Race details
Race 5 of 31 in the 1996 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1996 TranSouth Financial 400 program cover, featuring Dale Earnhardt and Sterling Marlin.
The 1996 TranSouth Financial 400 program cover, featuring Dale Earnhardt and Sterling Marlin.
Date March 24, 1996
Official name 40th Annual TranSouth Financial 400
Location Darlington, South Carolina, Darlington Raceway
Course Permanent racing facility
1.366 mi (2.198 km)
Distance 293 laps, 400.238 mi (644.12 km)
Scheduled Distance 293 laps, 400.238 mi (644.12 km)
Average speed 124.792 miles per hour (200.833 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Bill Davis Racing
Time 28.295
Most laps led
Driver Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports
Laps 189
Winner
No. 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports
Television in the United States
Network ESPN
Announcers Bob Jenkins, Ned Jarrett, Benny Parsons
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

The 1996 TranSouth Financial 400 was the fifth stock car race of the 1996 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 40th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, March 24, 1996, in Darlington, South Carolina, at Darlington Raceway, a 1.366 miles (2.198 km) permanent egg-shaped oval racetrack. The race took the scheduled 293 laps to complete. With seven laps to go, Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon would manage to take advantage of a disaster-stricken Dale Jarrett and pull away to take his 11th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his second victory of the season.[1][2] To fill out the top three, Joe Gibbs Racing driver Bobby Labonte and Larry Hedrick Motorsports driver Ricky Craven would finish second and third, respectively.

Background

[edit]
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

[edit]
  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
1 Rick Mast Precision Products Racing Pontiac Hooters
2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford Miller
02 Robbie Faggart Miles Motorsports Chevrolet Miles Motorsports
3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet GM Goodwrench Service Plus
4 Sterling Marlin Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet Kodak
5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Kellogg's Frosted Flakes
6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford Valvoline
7 Geoff Bodine Geoff Bodine Racing Ford QVC
8 Hut Stricklin Stavola Brothers Racing Ford Circuit City
9 Lake Speed Melling Racing Ford Spam
10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford Tide
11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford Lowe's
12 Derrike Cope Bobby Allison Motorsports Ford Mane 'n Tail
15 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Bud Moore Engineering Ford Hayes Modems
16 Ted Musgrave Roush Racing Ford PrimeStar, The Family Channel
17 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet Parts America
18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet Interstate Batteries
19 Dick Trickle TriStar Motorsports Ford HealthSource RI
21 Michael Waltrip Wood Brothers Racing Ford Citgo
22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Pontiac MBNA
23 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford Camel Cigarettes
24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet DuPont
25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Budweiser
27 Elton Sawyer David Blair Motorsports Ford David Blair Motorsports
28 Ernie Irvan Robert Yates Racing Ford Texaco, Havoline
29 Steve Grissom Diamond Ridge Motorsports Chevrolet Cartoon Network, The Flintstones
30 Johnny Benson Jr. (R) Bahari Racing Pontiac Pennzoil
33 Robert Pressley Leo Jackson Motorsports Chevrolet Skoal
37 Jeremy Mayfield Kranefuss-Haas Racing Ford Kmart, Little Caesars
41 Ricky Craven Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet Kodiak
42 Kyle Petty Team SABCO Pontiac Coors Light Silver Bullet
43 Bobby Hamilton Petty Enterprises Pontiac STP
71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet Prodigy
75 Morgan Shepherd Butch Mock Motorsports Ford Remington Arms
77 Bobby Hillin Jr. Jasper Motorsports Ford Jasper Engines & Transmissions
78 Randy MacDonald Triad Motorsports Ford Diamond Rio
81 Kenny Wallace FILMAR Racing Ford Square D, TIC Financial Systems
87 Joe Nemechek NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet Burger King
88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford Quality Care Service, Ford Credit
90 Mike Wallace Donlavey Racing Ford Heilig-Meyers
94 Bill Elliott Bill Elliott Racing Ford McDonald's
95 Chuck Bown Sadler Brothers Racing Ford Shoney's Inn
98 Jeremy Mayfield Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford RCA
99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford Exide

Qualifying

[edit]

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, March 22, at 3:00 PM EST. Each driver would have one lap to set a time. During the first round, the top 25 drivers in the round would be 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 Saturday, March 23, at 11:30 AM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 26-38 would be 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.

Ward Burton, driving for Bill Davis Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 28.295 and an average speed of 173.797 miles per hour (279.699 km/h).[4]

Three drivers would fail to qualify: Chuck Bown, Randy MacDonald, and Robbie Faggart.

Full qualifying results

[edit]
Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Pontiac 28.295 173.797
2 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 28.325 173.613
3 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 28.527 172.384
4 75 Morgan Shepherd Butch Mock Motorsports Ford 28.640 171.704
5 94 Bill Elliott Bill Elliott Racing Ford 28.652 171.632
6 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 28.657 171.602
7 81 Kenny Wallace FILMAR Racing Ford 28.686 171.429
8 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 28.687 171.423
9 98 Jeremy Mayfield Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford 28.704 171.321
10 27 Elton Sawyer David Blair Motorsports Ford 28.705 171.315
11 1 Rick Mast Precision Products Racing Pontiac 28.708 171.297
12 23 Jimmy Spencer Travis Carter Enterprises Ford 28.731 171.160
13 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 28.732 171.154
14 41 Ricky Craven Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet 28.746 171.071
15 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 28.746 171.071
16 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 28.747 171.065
17 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 28.749 171.053
18 16 Ted Musgrave Roush Racing Ford 28.758 170.999
19 7 Geoff Bodine Geoff Bodine Racing Ford 28.779 170.875
20 12 Derrike Cope Bobby Allison Motorsports Ford 28.782 170.857
21 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 28.804 170.726
22 19 Dick Trickle TriStar Motorsports Ford 28.805 170.720
23 43 Bobby Hamilton Petty Enterprises Pontiac 28.809 170.697
24 10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford 28.826 170.596
25 9 Lake Speed Melling Racing Ford 28.828 170.584
Failed to lock in Round 1
26 77 Bobby Hillin Jr. Jasper Motorsports Ford 28.842 170.502
27 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 28.891 170.212
28 29 Steve Grissom Diamond Ridge Motorsports Chevrolet 28.963 169.789
29 21 Michael Waltrip Wood Brothers Racing Ford 28.972 169.736
30 17 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet 28.972 169.736
31 33 Robert Pressley Leo Jackson Motorsports Chevrolet 28.985 169.660
32 28 Ernie Irvan Robert Yates Racing Ford 28.987 169.648
33 4 Sterling Marlin Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 29.000 169.572
34 8 Hut Stricklin Stavola Brothers Racing Ford 29.016 169.479
35 37 John Andretti Kranefuss-Haas Racing Ford 29.034 169.374
36 15 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Bud Moore Engineering Ford 29.053 169.263
37 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 29.059 169.228
38 30 Johnny Benson Jr. (R) Bahari Racing Pontiac 29.079 169.112
Provisionals
39 42 Kyle Petty Team SABCO Pontiac -* -*
40 87 Joe Nemechek NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet -* -*
41 90 Mike Wallace Donlavey Racing Ford -* -*
Failed to qualify
42 95 Chuck Bown Sadler Brothers Racing Ford -* -*
43 78 Randy MacDonald Triad Motorsports Ford -* -*
44 02 Robbie Faggart Miles Motorsports Chevrolet -* -*
Official first round qualifying results
Official starting lineup

Race results

[edit]
Fin St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 2 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 293 189 running 185 $97,310
2 13 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 293 38 running 175 $57,550
3 14 41 Ricky Craven Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet 293 0 running 165 $46,690
4 8 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 293 0 running 160 $29,480
5 17 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 293 0 running 155 $34,325
6 16 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 293 0 running 150 $31,275
7 18 16 Ted Musgrave Roush Racing Ford 293 0 running 146 $25,695
8 4 75 Morgan Shepherd Butch Mock Motorsports Ford 292 0 running 142 $17,565
9 24 10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford 292 0 running 138 $27,560
10 21 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 292 15 running 139 $15,055
11 33 4 Sterling Marlin Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 292 20 running 135 $30,800
12 39 42 Kyle Petty Team SABCO Pontiac 292 0 running 127 $22,870
13 5 94 Bill Elliott Bill Elliott Racing Ford 292 0 running 124 $22,585
14 27 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 292 1 running 126 $28,080
15 3 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 291 10 out of gas 123 $22,950
16 23 43 Bobby Hamilton Petty Enterprises Pontiac 291 0 out of gas 115 $21,905
17 7 81 Kenny Wallace FILMAR Racing Ford 291 0 running 112 $10,550
18 9 98 Jeremy Mayfield Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford 291 0 running 109 $14,515
19 11 1 Rick Mast Precision Products Racing Pontiac 290 0 running 106 $21,270
20 34 8 Hut Stricklin Stavola Brothers Racing Ford 290 0 running 103 $15,690
21 41 90 Mike Wallace Donlavey Racing Ford 289 0 running 100 $13,670
22 19 7 Geoff Bodine Geoff Bodine Racing Ford 289 0 running 97 $20,450
23 37 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 289 1 running 99 $13,205
24 38 30 Johnny Benson Jr. (R) Bahari Racing Pontiac 288 0 handling 91 $21,485
25 25 9 Lake Speed Melling Racing Ford 283 0 out of gas 88 $19,965
26 28 29 Steve Grissom Diamond Ridge Motorsports Chevrolet 282 0 running 85 $19,550
27 15 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 281 0 engine 82 $19,385
28 6 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 281 0 running 79 $19,225
29 29 21 Michael Waltrip Wood Brothers Racing Ford 277 0 running 76 $19,115
30 10 27 Elton Sawyer David Blair Motorsports Ford 268 0 out of gas 73 $9,080
31 40 87 Joe Nemechek NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet 242 0 handling 70 $16,020
32 12 23 Jimmy Spencer Travis Carter Enterprises Ford 233 0 running 67 $15,985
33 32 28 Ernie Irvan Robert Yates Racing Ford 230 0 running 64 $23,895
34 30 17 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet 203 0 handling 61 $15,860
35 22 19 Dick Trickle TriStar Motorsports Ford 165 0 handling 58 $8,825
36 31 33 Robert Pressley Leo Jackson Motorsports Chevrolet 161 12 crash 60 15,790
37 36 15 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Bud Moore Engineering Ford 152 0 crash 52 $15,776
38 1 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Pontiac 137 7 crash 54 $29,029
39 20 12 Derrike Cope Bobby Allison Motorsports Ford 130 0 engine 46 $15,654
40 35 37 John Andretti Kranefuss-Haas Racing Ford 87 0 crash 43 $15,654
41 26 77 Bobby Hillin Jr. Jasper Motorsports Ford 29 0 crash 40 $9,279
Failed to qualify
42 95 Chuck Bown Sadler Brothers Racing Ford
43 78 Randy MacDonald Triad Motorsports Ford
44 02 Robbie Faggart Miles Motorsports Chevrolet
Official race results

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Higgins, Tom (March 25, 1997). "Gordon seizes chance to win". That's Racin'. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on August 15, 2000. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  2. ^ Harris, Mike (March 25, 1996). "Gordon roars to second straight win at Darlington". Citizens' Voice. p. 48. Retrieved October 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ "Nuts and Bolts". The Charlotte Observer. March 22, 1996. p. 36. Retrieved October 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  4. ^ "Burton wins record pole". Hattiesburg American. March 23, 1996. p. 19. Retrieved October 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
Previous race:
1996 Purolator 500
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1996 season
Next race:
1996 Food City 500