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1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series

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The 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Season, the 40th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 17th modern-era Cup series, began February 7 and ended November 20. Bill Elliott of Melling Racing won the championship.

1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Drivers

Make Team No. Driver Crew Chief
Buick Curb Racing 98 Brad Noffsinger (R)
King Racing 26 Ricky Rudd Larry McReynolds
Stavola Brothers Racing 8 Bobby Hillin, Jr.
12 Bobby Allison14 Jimmy Fennig
Mike Alexander15
Winkle Motorsports 97 Rodney Combs
Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports 5 Geoff Bodine Waddell Wilson
17 Darrell Waltrip Jeff Hammond
25 Ken Schrader Harry Hyde
Junior Johnson & Associates 11 Terry Labonte Tim Brewer
Mach 1 Racing 33 Harry Gant Travis Carter
Marcis Auto Racing 71 Dave Marcis
Richard Childress Racing 3 Dale Earnhardt Kirk Shelmerdine
Whitcomb Racing 10 Ken Bouchard (R)
Ford AK Racing 7 Alan Kulwicki Paul Andrews
Bud Moore Engineering 15 Brett Bodine Bud Moore
Donlavey Racing 90 Benny Parsons Doug Richert
Melling Racing 9 Bill Elliott Ernie Elliott
Ranier-Lundy Racing 28 Davey Allison Robert Yates
Roush Racing 6 Mark Martin Robin Pemberton
Shepherd Racing 57 Morgan Shepherd
Testa Racing 68 Derrike Cope Dave Fuge
Wood Brothers Racing 21 Kyle Petty Leonard Wood
Oldsmobile B&B Racing 23 Eddie Bierschwale
Cale Yarborough Motorsports 29 Cale Yarborough10 Elmo Langley
Dale Jarrett19
Hagan Racing 44 Sterling Marlin
Jackson Brothers Motorsports 55 Phil Parsons Andy Petree
Morgan-McClure Motorsports 4 Rick Wilson Tony Glover
Speed Racing 83 Lake Speed Darrell Bryant
Pontiac Bahari Racing 30 Michael Waltrip Mike Beam
Baker-Schiff Racing 88 Greg Sacks Joey Knuckles
Blue Max Racing 27 Rusty Wallace Barry Dodson
Means Racing 52 Jimmy Means
Petty Enterprises 43 Richard Petty Dale Inman
RahMoc Enterprises 75 Neil Bonnett Bob Rahilly
U.S. Racing 2 Ernie Irvan (R) Bob Johnson

Schedule

No. Race Title Track Date
Busch Clash Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach February 7
Twin 125 Qualifiers February 11
1 Daytona 500 February 14
2 Pontiac Excitement 400 Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway, Richmond February 21
Goodyear NASCAR 500 Calder Park Thunderdome, Melbourne February 28
3 Goodwrench 500 North Carolina Motor Speedway, Rockingham March 6
4 Motorcraft Quality Parts 500 Atlanta International Raceway, Hampton March 20
5 TranSouth 500 Darlington Raceway, Darlington March 27
6 Valleydale Meats 500 Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol April 10
7 First Union 400 North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro April 17
8 Pannill Sweatshirts 500 Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway April 24
9 Winston 500 Alabama International Motor Speedway, Talladega May 1
Winston Open Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord May 22
The Winston
10 Coca-Cola 600 May 29
11 Budweiser 500 Dover Downs International Speedway, Dover June 5
12 Budweiser 400 Riverside International Raceway, Riverside June 12
13 Miller High Life 500 Pocono Raceway, Long Pond June 19
14 Miller High Life 400 Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn June 26
15 Pepsi Firecracker 400 Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach July 2
16 AC Spark Plug 500 Pocono Raceway, Long Pond July 24
17 Talladega DieHard 500 Alabama International Motor Speedway, Talladega July 31
18 Budweiser At The Glen Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen August 14
19 Champion Spark Plug 400 Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn August 21
20 Busch 500 Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol August 27
21 Southern 500 Darlington Raceway, Darlington September 4
22 Miller High Life 400 Richmond International Raceway, Richmond September 11
23 Delaware 500 Dover Downs International Speedway, Dover September 18
24 Goody's 500 Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway September 25
25 Oakwood Homes 500 Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord October 9
26 Holly Farms 400 North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro October 16
27 AC Delco 500 North Carolina Motor Speedway, Rockingham October 23
28 Checker 500 Phoenix International Raceway, Phoenix November 6
29 Atlanta Journal 500 Atlanta International Raceway, Hampton November 20

Busch Clash

The Busch Clash, an invitational event for all Busch Pole winners the previous season, was held February 7 at Daytona International Speedway. Geoffrey Bodine drew for the pole.

Top Ten Results

  1. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  2. 28-Davey Allison
  3. 12-Bobby Allison
  4. 5-Geoffrey Bodine
  5. 9-Bill Elliott
  6. 27-Rusty Wallace
  7. 25-Ken Schrader
  8. 97-Morgan Shepherd
  9. 11-Terry Labonte
  10. 33-Harry Gant
  • Tim Richmond was eligible to race in this event, but was without a ride.

Gatorade 125s

The Gatorade 125s, a pair of qualifying races for the Daytona 500, were held February 11 at Daytona International Speedway. Ken Schrader and Davey Allison won the poles for both races, respectively.

Race One: Top Ten Results

  1. 12-Bobby Allison
  2. 27-Rusty Wallace
  3. 25-Ken Schrader
  4. 50-Greg Sacks
  5. 8-Bobby Hillin, Jr.
  6. 97-Morgan Shepherd
  7. 4-Rick Wilson
  8. 5-Geoff Bodine
  9. 14-A. J. Foyt
  10. 55-Phil Parsons

Race Two: Top Ten Results

  1. 17-Darrell Waltrip
  2. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  3. 28-Davey Allison
  4. 11-Terry Labonte
  5. 83-Lake Speed
  6. 44-Sterling Marlin
  7. 75-Neil Bonnett
  8. 7-Alan Kulwicki
  9. 88-Buddy Baker
  10. 33-Harry Gant

Daytona 500

Pontiac Excitement 400

The Pontiac Excitement 400 was held February 21 at Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway. The No. 97 of Morgan Shepherd won the pole.

Top Ten Results

  1. 75-Neil Bonnett
  2. 26-Ricky Rudd
  3. 43-Richard Petty
  4. 17-Darrell Waltrip
  5. 44-Sterling Marlin
  6. 83-Lake Speed
  7. 27-Rusty Wallace
  8. 8-Bobby Hillin, Jr.
  9. 11-Terry Labonte
  10. 3-Dale Earnhardt

Failed to qualify: 2-Ernie Irvan, 4-Rick Wilson, 25*-Ken Schrader,

  • Ken Schrader's team bought the No. 67 entry (normally driven by Buddy Arrington) in order to get Schrader into the race.
  • This was the last race on the old half-mile Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway. After the race, workers got going to convert the track into a more modern-looking 3/4-mile oval.
  • A scoring error failed to show Bonnett was one lap down after making a green flag pit stop. A post-race protest filed by Ricky Rudd's car owner Kenny Bernstein did not resolve the NASCAR scoring error and Bonnett's win stood even though a review of the race tape showed Rudd should have won

Goodyear NASCAR 500k

The Goodyear NASCAR 500k was a non-points exhibition race held on February 28 at the Calder Park Thunderdome in Melbourne, Australia - the first NASCAR-style high-banked paved oval built outside of North America. It was also the first NASCAR sanctioned race outside of North America. Neil Bonnett won the pole.

Top Ten Results

  1. 75-Neil Bonnett
  2. 12-Bobby Allison
  3. 71-Dave Marcis
  4. 18-Glen Steurer
  5. 83-Sumner McKnight
  6. 98-Hershel McGriff
  7. 15-Terry Petris
  8. 19-Chad Little
  9. 82-Jim Danielson
  10. 21-Kyle Petty
  • The race had 32 starters - 24 American's, 7 Australian's and 1 New Zealander. Of the locals only Allan Grice had previously driven a NASCAR race having competed in the 1987 World 600. The 'visiting' American drivers were a mix of those from the Winston Cup and Winston West Series.
  • The Thunderdome, a 1.119 mi (1.801 km) track with 24° banking in the turns, was actually modelled on a scaled down version of the Charlotte Motor Speedway and was opened in 1987.
  • As the race was run in Australia where they use the Metric system, the '500' was actually 500 kilometers (310 miles), or around the same distance as a Busch Series race.
  • Bonnett's pole speed was 139.734 mp/h. The race's average speed over the 280 laps was 101.67 mp/h. 52 laps were run under caution.

Goodwrench 500

The Goodwrench 500 was held March 6 at North Carolina Motor Speedway. Bill Elliott won the pole.

Top Ten Results

  1. 75-Neil Bonnett*
  2. 83-Lake Speed
  3. 44-Sterling Marlin
  4. 7-Alan Kulwicki
  5. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  6. 9-Bill Elliott
  7. 97-Morgan Shepherd
  8. 10-Ken Bouchard
  9. 28-Davey Allison
  10. 25-Ken Schrader

Motorcraft Quality Parts 500

The Motorcraft Quality Parts 500 was held March 20 at Atlanta International Raceway. The No. 5 of Geoff Bodine won the pole.

Top Ten Results

  1. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  2. 27-Rusty Wallace
  3. 17-Darrell Waltrip
  4. 11-Terry Labonte
  5. 21-Kyle Petty
  6. 8-Bobby Hillin, Jr.
  7. 88-Buddy Baker
  8. 25-Ken Schrader
  9. 15-Brett Bodine
  10. 4-Rick Wilson

TranSouth 500

The TranSouth 500 was held March 27 at Darlington Raceway. The No. 25 of Ken Schrader won the pole.

Top Ten Results

  1. 83-Lake Speed*
  2. 7-Alan Kulwicki
  3. 28-Davey Allison
  4. 9-Bill Elliott
  5. 44-Sterling Marlin
  6. 6-Mark Martin
  7. 5-Geoff Bodine
  8. 55-Phil Parsons
  9. 12-Bobby Allison
  10. 88-Buddy Baker

Valleydale Meats 500

The Valleydale Meats 500 was held April 10 at Bristol International Raceway. The No. 4 of Rick Wilson won the pole.

Top Ten Results

  1. 9-Bill Elliott
  2. 6-Mark Martin
  3. 5-Geoff Bodine
  4. 27-Rusty Wallace
  5. 12-Bobby Allison
  6. 43-Richard Petty
  7. 21-Kyle Petty
  8. 44-Sterling Marlin
  9. 71-Dave Marcis
  10. 25-Ken Schrader

First Union 400

The First Union 400 was held April 17 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Terry Labonte won the pole. Labonte passed Dale Earnhardt with 10 laps to go when Earnhardt suffered a slow leak of air from his right rear tire.

Top Ten Results

  1. 11-Terry Labonte
  2. 26-Ricky Rudd
  3. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  4. 27-Rusty Wallace
  5. 21-Kyle Petty
  6. 43-Richard Petty
  7. 55-Phil Parsons
  8. 28-Davey Allison
  9. 5-Geoff Bodine
  10. 9-Bill Elliott

Failed to Qualify: 00-Gary Brooks, 04-Bill Meacham, 09-Doug French, 20-Alan Russell, 31-Brad Teague, 46-Glenn Moffat, 67-Rick Jeffrey, 70-Jeff McDuffie, 78- Jay Sommers, 98-Brad Noffsinger

Pannill Sweatshirts 500

The Pannill Sweatshirts 500 was held April 24 at Martinsville Speedway. The No. 26 of Ricky Rudd won the pole.

Top Ten Results

  1. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  2. 44-Sterling Marlin
  3. 8-Bobby Hillin, Jr.
  4. 11-Terry Labonte
  5. 17-Darrell Waltrip
  6. 28-Davey Allison
  7. 88-Buddy Baker
  8. 12-Bobby Allison
  9. 55-Phil Parsons
  10. 25-Ken Schrader

Failed to qualify: 2-Ernie Irvan, 52-Jimmy Means

Winston 500

The Winston 500 was held May 1 at Alabama International Motor Speedway. The No. 28 of Davey Allison won the pole. During the race, AJ Foyt had a series of incidents and penalties. He intentionally wrecked Alan Kulwicki, spun out on pit road out of anger, and drove through several pit stalls doing pass-through penalties, nearly hurting many pit crew members. For his actions, Foyt was issued a 6-month ban from NASCAR (which was later reduced to 2 months following an appeal).

Top Ten Results

  1. 55-Phil Parsons*
  2. 12-Bobby Allison
  3. 5-Geoff Bodine
  4. 11-Terry Labonte
  5. 25-Ken Schrader
  6. 44-Sterling Marlin
  7. 9-Bill Elliott
  8. 21-Kyle Petty
  9. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  10. 27-Rusty Wallace

Failed to qualify: 10-Ken Bouchard

Coca-Cola 600

The Coca-Cola 600 was held May 29 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Davey Allison won the pole.

Top Ten Results

  1. 17-Darrell Waltrip
  2. 27-Rusty Wallace
  3. 7-Alan Kulwicki
  4. 15-Brett Bodine
  5. 28-Davey Allison
  6. 25-Ken Schrader
  7. 26-Ricky Rudd*
  8. 55-Phil Parsons
  9. 11-Terry Labonte
  10. 50-Greg Sacks

Budweiser 500

The Budweiser 500 was held June 5 at Dover Downs International Speedway. Alan Kulwicki won the pole.

Top Ten Results

  1. 9-Bill Elliott
  2. 33-Morgan Shepherd*
  3. 27-Rusty Wallace
  4. 83-Lake Speed
  5. 28-Davey Allison
  6. 7-Alan Kulwicki
  7. 4-Rick Wilson
  8. 5-Geoff Bodine
  9. 6-Mark Martin
  10. 12-Bobby Allison

Budweiser 400

The final Budweiser 400 was held June 12 at Riverside International Raceway. Ricky Rudd won the pole. It was the last NASCAR race held at Riverside before the track's closure.

Top Ten Results

  1. 27-Rusty Wallace
  2. 11-Terry Labonte
  3. 26-Ricky Rudd
  4. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  5. 55-Phil Parsons
  6. 43-Richard Petty
  7. 6-Mark Martin
  8. 29-Dale Jarrett
  9. 44-Sterling Marlin
  10. 75-Neil Bonnett

Failed to qualify: 10-Ken Bouchard

Miller High Life 500

The Miller High Life 500 was held June 19 at Pocono Raceway. The No. 7 of Alan Kulwicki won the pole. On the opening lap of this race, Bobby Allison suffered career-ending injuries when he spun and was T-boned by the No. 63 of Jocko Maggiacomo.

Top Ten Results

  1. 5-Geoff Bodine
  2. 30-Michael Waltrip
  3. 27-Rusty Wallace
  4. 6-Mark Martin
  5. 28-Davey Allison
  6. 17-Darrell Waltrip
  7. 88-Buddy Baker
  8. 55-Phil Parsons
  9. 25-Ken Schrader
  10. 9-Bill Elliott

Miller High Life 400

The Miller High Life 400 was held June 26 at Michigan International Speedway. Bill Elliott won the pole.

Top Ten Results

  1. 27-Rusty Wallace
  2. 9-Bill Elliott
  3. 11-Terry Labonte
  4. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  5. 5-Geoff Bodine
  6. 25-Ken Schrader
  7. 55-Phil Parsons
  8. 17-Darrell Waltrip
  9. 29-Cale Yarborough
  10. 12-Mike Alexander

Pepsi Firecracker 400

The Pepsi Firecracker 400 was held July 2 at Daytona International Speedway. Darrell Waltrip won the pole.

Top Ten Results

  1. 9-Bill Elliott
  2. 4-Rick Wilson
  3. 55-Phil Parsons
  4. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  5. 17-Darrell Waltrip
  6. 88-Buddy Baker
  7. 33-Morgan Shepherd
  8. 25-Ken Schrader
  9. 83-Lake Speed
  10. 50-Greg Sacks
  • This was the first Pepsi Firecracker 400 run with restrictor plates since 1973, and was notable for a very close finish. Bill Elliott charged from 38th starting position, and nearly fell a lap down at one point. On the final lap, Elliott battled with Rick Wilson out of the final turn, with Elliott taking the win by 18 inches. The second place would be Wilson's best-career finish.
  • This race marked the final start at Daytona for Cale Yarborough. He was involved in a crash on the second lap, dropped out and finished 41st.

AC Spark Plug 500

The AC Spark Plug 500 was held July 24 at Pocono Raceway. Morgan Shepherd won the pole.

Top Ten Results

  1. 9-Bill Elliott
  2. 25-Ken Schrader
  3. 28-Davey Allison
  4. 5-Geoff Bodine
  5. 17-Darrell Waltrip
  6. 75-Morgan Shepherd*
  7. 6-Mark Martin
  8. 7-Alan Kulwicki
  9. 11-Terry Labonte
  10. 33-Harry Gant*

Talladega DieHard 500

The Talladega DieHard 500 was held July 31 at Talladega Superspeedway. The No. 17 of Darrell Waltrip won the pole.

Top Ten Results

  1. 25-Ken Schrader*
  2. 5-Geoff Bodine
  3. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  4. 4-Rick Wilson
  5. 27-Rusty Wallace
  6. 44-Sterling Marlin
  7. 6-Mark Martin
  8. 9-Bill Elliott
  9. 29-Cale Yarborough
  10. 88-Buddy Baker

The Budweiser at the Glen

The Budweiser at the Glen was held August 14 at Watkins Glen International Raceway. Geoff Bodine won the pole.

Top Ten Results

  1. 26-Ricky Rudd
  2. 27-Rusty Wallace
  3. 9-Bill Elliott
  4. 55-Phil Parsons
  5. 12-Mike Alexander
  6. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  7. 88-Morgan Shepherd*
  8. 44-Sterling Marlin
  9. 31-Joe Ruttman*
  10. 25-Ken Schrader

Champion Spark Plug 400

The Champion Spark Plug 400 was held August 21 at Michigan International Speedway. Bill Elliott won the pole.

Top Ten Results

  1. 28-Davey Allison
  2. 27-Rusty Wallace
  3. 9-Bill Elliott
  4. 88-Morgan Shepherd
  5. 83-Lake Speed
  6. 15-Brett Bodine
  7. 30-Michael Waltrip
  8. 21-Kyle Petty
  9. 4-Rick Wilson
  10. 5-Geoff Bodine

Busch 500

The Busch 500 was held August 27 at Bristol International Raceway. Alan Kulwicki won the pole.

Top Ten Results

  1. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  2. 9-Bill Elliott
  3. 5-Geoff Bodine
  4. 28-Davey Allison
  5. 7-Alan Kulwicki
  6. 33-Harry Gant
  7. 17-Darrell Waltrip
  8. 43-Richard Petty
  9. 27-Rusty Wallace
  10. 8-Bobby Hillin, Jr.

Failed to qualify: 10-Ken Bouchard, 90-Benny Parsons

  • During practice on Friday, Rusty Wallace wrecked and barrel-rolled down the frontstretch, knocking him unconscious. ESPN pit reporter Dr. Jerry Punch happened to be the first person on the scene and actually revived Wallace. Wallace would recover, and started the race Saturday night, but eventually turned the car over to a relief driver.

Southern 500

The Southern 500 was held September 4 at Darlington Raceway. Bill Elliott won the pole.

Top Ten Results

  1. 9-Bill Elliott
  2. 27-Rusty Wallace
  3. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  4. 17-Darrell Waltrip
  5. 44-Sterling Marlin
  6. 55-Phil Parsons
  7. 5-Geoff Bodine
  8. 11-Terry Labonte
  9. 28-Davey Allison
  10. 26-Ricky Rudd

Miller High Life 400

The Miller High Life 400 was held September 11 at Richmond International Raceway. Davey Allison won the pole. This race was the first on the new 3/4-mile Richmond International Raceway.

Top Ten Results

  1. 28-Davey Allison
  2. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  3. 11-Terry Labonte
  4. 6-Mark Martin
  5. 7-Alan Kulwicki
  6. 21-Kyle Petty
  7. 9-Bill Elliott
  8. 17-Darrell Waltrip
  9. 75-Neil Bonnett
  10. 71-Dave Marcis

Failed to qualify: 68-Derrike Cope

Delaware 500

The Delaware 500 was held September 18 at Dover International Speedway. The No. 6 of Mark Martin won the pole.

Top Ten Results

  1. 9-Bill Elliott
  2. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  3. 27-Rusty Wallace
  4. 28-Davey Allison
  5. 5-Geoff Bodine
  6. 21-Kyle Petty
  7. 12-Mike Alexander
  8. 75-Neil Bonnett
  9. 83-Lake Speed
  10. 26-Ricky Rudd

Goody's 500

The Goody's 500 was held September 25 at Martinsville Speedway. Rusty Wallace won the pole.

Top Ten Results

  1. 17-Darrell Waltrip
  2. 7-Alan Kulwicki
  3. 27-Rusty Wallace
  4. 25-Ken Schrader
  5. 5-Geoff Bodine
  6. 9-Bill Elliott
  7. 11-Terry Labonte
  8. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  9. 6-Mark Martin
  10. 15-Brett Bodine

Failed to qualify: 68-Derrike Cope

Oakwood Homes 500

The Oakwood Homes 500 was held October 9 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The No. 7 of Alan Kulwicki won the pole.

Top Ten Results

  1. 27-Rusty Wallace
  2. 17-Darrell Waltrip
  3. 15-Brett Bodine
  4. 9-Bill Elliott
  5. 44-Sterling Marlin
  6. 8-Bobby Hillin, Jr.
  7. 25-Ken Schrader
  8. 26-Ricky Rudd
  9. 6-Mark Martin
  10. 11-Terry Labonte

Failed to qualify: 2-Ernie Irvan

Holly Farms 400

The Holly Farms 400 was held October 16 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. The event was originally scheduled for October 2, but two consecutive days of rain caused it to be rescheduled for October 16. Bill Elliott won the pole.

Top Ten Results

  1. 27-Rusty Wallace
  2. 55-Phil Parsons
  3. 5-Geoff Bodine
  4. 11-Terry Labonte
  5. 9-Bill Elliott
  6. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  7. 26-Ricky Rudd
  8. 25-Ken Schrader
  9. 12-Mike Alexander
  10. 88-Greg Sacks*

Failed to qualify: 68-Derrike Cope

  • Greg Sacks subbed for the still recovering Buddy Baker.

AC Delco 500

The AC Delco 500 was held October 23 at North Carolina Motor Speedway. Bill Elliott won the pole.

Top Ten Results

  1. 27-Rusty Wallace
  2. 26-Ricky Rudd
  3. 11-Terry Labonte
  4. 9-Bill Elliott
  5. 3-Dale Earnhardt
  6. 12-Mike Alexander
  7. 33-Harry Gant
  8. 55-Phil Parsons
  9. 21-Kyle Petty
  10. 75-Neil Bonnett

Checker 500

The inaugural Checker 500 was held November 6 at Phoenix International Raceway. Geoff Bodine won the pole.

Top Ten Results

  1. 7-Alan Kulwicki*
  2. 11-Terry Labonte
  3. 28-Davey Allison
  4. 9-Bill Elliott
  5. 27-Rusty Wallace
  6. 5-Geoff Bodine
  7. 8-Bobby Hillin, Jr.
  8. 90-Benny Parsons
  9. 55-Phil Parsons
  10. 44-Sterling Marlin

Atlanta Journal 500

The Atlanta Journal 500 was held November 20 at Atlanta International Raceway. Rusty Wallace won the pole.

Top Ten Results

  1. 27-Rusty Wallace
  2. 28-Davey Allison
  3. 12-Mike Alexander
  4. 26-Ricky Rudd
  5. 17-Darrell Waltrip
  6. 25-Ken Schrader
  7. 30-Michael Waltrip
  8. 11-Terry Labonte
  9. 8-Bobby Hillin, Jr.
  10. 29-Cale Yarborough*

Failed to qualify: 10-Ken Bouchard

Final points standings

  1. Bill Elliott – 4488
  2. Rusty Wallace – 4464
  3. Dale Earnhardt – 4256
  4. Terry Labonte – 4007
  5. Ken Schrader – 3858
  6. Geoff Bodine – 3799
  7. Darrell Waltrip – 3764
  8. Davey Allison – 3631
  9. Phil Parsons – 3630
  10. Sterling Marlin – 3621
  11. Ricky Rudd – 3547
  12. Bobby Hillin, Jr. – 3446
  13. Kyle Petty – 3296
  14. Alan Kulwicki – 3176
  15. Mark Martin – 3142
  16. Neil Bonnett – 3040
  17. Lake Speed – 2984
  18. Michael Waltrip – 2949
  19. Dave Marcis – 2854
  20. Brett Bodine – 2828
  21. Rick Wilson – 2762
  22. Richard Petty – 2644
  23. Dale Jarrett – 2622
  24. Benny Parsons – 2559
  25. Ken Bouchard – 2378
  26. Ernie Irvan – 2319
  27. Harry Gant – 2266
  28. Morgan Shepherd – 2193
  29. Buddy Baker – 2056
  30. Jimmy Means – 2045
  31. Derrike Cope – 1985
  32. Mike Alexander – 1931
  33. Bobby Allison – 1654
  34. Eddie Bierschwale – 1481
  35. Rodney Combs – 1468
  36. Brad Noffsinger – 1316
  37. Greg Sacks – 1237
  38. Cale Yarborough – 940
  39. Joe Ruttman – 803
  40. Brad Teague – 802
  41. Jimmy Horton – 647
  42. A. J. Foyt – 523
  43. H.B. Bailey – 478
  44. Jim Sauter – 463
  45. Chad Little – 405
  46. Buddy Arrington – 352
  47. Ken Ragan – 314
  48. Dana Patten – 313
  49. Rick Jeffrey – 307
  50. Mickey Gibbs – 283

Rookie of the Year

Ken Bouchard defeated Ernie Irvan by 59 points to win the Rookie of the Year title in 1988, driving for Bob Whitcomb. Bouchard raced only eight more times in the Cup series over his career, while Irvan won fifteen races over the next twelve years. The only other contenders were USAC driver Brad Noffsinger and Jimmy Horton, both of whom ran part-time schedules that season.