The 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 41st season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 18th modern-era Cup season. It began February 12 and ended November 19. Rusty Wallace of Blue Max Racing won the championship. This was the first year that every Winston Cup race had flag to flag coverage, with almost all of them being televised live.
The 1989 season marked the end of the first of two tire wars between Goodyear and Hoosier, with Hoosier leaving NASCAR shortly after Goodyear debuted their new radial tires.
1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Drivers
Complete schedule ManufacturerTeamDriverCrew Chief Buick David Pearson Racing 16 Larry Pearson (R)Ricky PearsonKing Racing 26 Ricky Rudd Larry McReynolds Stavola Brothers Racing 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Harry Hyde84Mike Alexander Jimmy Fennig Dick Trickle (R) Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports 5 Geoff Bodine Waddell Wilson 17 Darrell Waltrip Jeff Hammond 25 Ken Schrader Richard Broome Marcis Auto Racing 71 Dave Marcis Richard Childress Racing 3 Dale Earnhardt Kirk ShelmerdineFord AK Racing 7 Alan Kulwicki Paul Andrews Bud Moore Engineering 15 Brett Bodine Donnie Wingo Junior Johnson & Associates 11 Terry Labonte Tim Brewer Melling Racing 9 Bill Elliott Ernie Elliott Robert Yates Racing 28 Davey Allison Robert Yates Roush Racing 6 Mark Martin Robin PembertonWood Brothers Racing21 Neil Bonnett Leonard WoodTommy Ellis Oldsmobile Hagan Racing 94 Sterling Marlin Jackson Brothers Motorsports 33 Harry Gant Andy Petree 55 Phil Parsons Morgan-McClure Motorsports 4 Rick Wilson Tony Glover Speed Racing 83 Lake Speed Joe Ruttman Eddie Bierschwale Rodney Combs Pontiac Bahari Racing 30 Michael Waltrip Bill IngleBaker-Schiff Racing88Greg Sacks Dennis ConnerJoe Ruttman Jimmy Spencer (R) Blue Max Racing 27 Rusty Wallace Barry Dodson Cale Yarborough Motorsports 29 Dale Jarrett Means Racing 52 Jimmy MeansOsterlund Racing 57 Hut Stricklin (R) Doug RichertPetty Enterprises 43 Richard Petty Dale InmanRahMoc Enterprises75 Morgan ShepherdBob RahillyU.S. Racing 2 Ernie Irvan Bob Johnson
Limited schedule ManufacturerTeamDriverCrew ChiefRound(s)BuickAAG Racing34Charlie GlotzbachRodney CombsJim BownChevroletHendrick Motorsports18Tommy KendallJake Elder42Kyle PettyGary Nelson46Greg Sacks51Bobby HamiltonMach 1 Racing66Rick Mast (R)Travis CarterMiller Racing1Butch Miller51FordDick Johnson Racing38Dick JohnsonRay EvernhamDonlavey Racing90Chad LittleStan BarrettLennie PondTracy LeslieGibbs Racing01Mickey GibbsOldsmobileA.J. Foyt Enterprises14A.J. FoytTracy LeslieAroneck Racing53Jerry O'NeilBarkdoll Racing73Phil BarkdollCliff ChampionB&B Racing23Eddie BierschwaleHess Racing40Ben Hess (R)Doug RichertPontiacArrington Racing67Mickey GibbsBuddy ArringtonBrad TeagueBob Clark Motorsports31Jim SauterDingman Brothers Racing50Jim SauterMickey GibbsGroup 4444Jim SauterLee ArterMcDuffie Racing70J.D. McDuffieJeff McDuffieMueller Brothers Racing89Rodney CombsSABCO Racing42Kyle PettyGary NelsonWhitcomb Racing10Ken BouchardBuddy Parrott Derrike CopeWinkle Motorsports48Mickey GibbsGreg Sacks
Schedule No. Race title Track DateBusch ClashDaytona International Speedway, Daytona BeachFebruary 12Twin 125 QualifiersFebruary 161Daytona 500February 192Goodwrench 500North Carolina Motor Speedway, RockinghamMarch 53Motorcraft Quality Parts 500Atlanta International Raceway, HamptonMarch 194Pontiac Excitement 400Richmond International Raceway, RichmondMarch 265TranSouth 500Darlington Raceway, DarlingtonApril 26Valleydale Meats 500Bristol International Raceway, BristolApril 97First Union 400North Wilkesboro Speedway, North WilkesboroApril 168Pannill Sweatshirts 500Martinsville Speedway, RidgewayApril 239Winston 500Talladega Superspeedway, TalladegaMay 7Winston OpenCharlotte Motor Speedway, ConcordMay 21The Winston10Coca-Cola 600May 2811Budweiser 500Dover Downs International Speedway, DoverJune 412Banquet Frozen Foods 300Sears Point Raceway, SonomaJune 1113Miller High Life 500Pocono International Raceway, Long PondJune 1814Miller High Life 400Michigan International Speedway, BrooklynJune 2515Pepsi 400Daytona International Speedway, Daytona BeachJuly 116AC Spark Plug 500Pocono International Raceway, Long PondJuly 2317Talladega DieHard 500Talladega Superspeedway, TalladegaJuly 3018Budweiser at The GlenWatkins Glen International, Watkins GlenAugust 1319Champion Spark Plug 400Michigan International Speedway, BrooklynAugust 2020Busch 500Bristol International Raceway, BristolAugust 2621Heinz Southern 500Darlington Raceway, DarlingtonSeptember 322Miller High Life 400Richmond International Raceway, RichmondSeptember 1023Peak Performance 500Dover Downs International Speedway, DoverSeptember 1724Goody's 500Martinsville Speedway, RidgewaySeptember 2425All Pro Auto Parts 500Charlotte Motor Speedway, ConcordOctober 826Holly Farms 400North Wilkesboro Speedway, North WilkesboroOctober 1527AC Delco 500North Carolina Motor Speedway, RockinghamOctober 2228Autoworks 500Phoenix International Raceway, PhoenixNovember 529Atlanta Journal 500Atlanta International Raceway, HamptonNovember 19
Races No.RacePole positionMost laps ledWinning driverBusch ClashKen SchraderKen SchraderKen SchraderChevroletTwin 125 #1Ken SchraderKen SchraderKen SchraderChevroletTwin 125 #2Darrell WaltripDale EarnhardtTerry LabonteFord1Daytona 500Ken SchraderKen SchraderDarrell WaltripChevrolet2Goodwrench 500Rusty WallaceRusty WallaceRusty WallacePontiac3Motorcraft Quality Parts 500Alan KulwickiRusty WallaceDarrell WaltripChevrolet4Pontiac Excitement 400Geoff BodineGeoff BodineRusty WallacePontiac5TranSouth 500Mark MartinHarry GantHarry GantOldsmobile6Valleydale Meats 500Mark MartinGreg SacksRusty WallacePontiac7First Union 400Rusty WallaceDale EarnhardtDale EarnhardtChevrolet8Pannill Sweatshirts 500Geoff BodineDarrell WaltripDarrell WaltripChevrolet9Winston 500Mark MartinDavey AllisonDavey AllisonFordWinston OpenMark MartinSterling MarlinSterling MarlinOldsmobileThe WinstonTerry LabonteRusty WallaceRusty WallacePontiac10Coca-Cola 600Alan KulwickiAlan KulwickiDarrell WaltripChevrolet11Budweiser 500Mark MartinDale EarnhardtDale EarnhardtChevrolet12Banquet Frozen Foods 300Rusty WallaceRicky RuddRicky RuddBuick13Miller High Life 500Rusty WallaceRusty WallaceTerry LabonteFord14Miller High Life 400Ken SchraderRusty WallaceBill ElliottFord15Pepsi 400Mark MartinBill ElliottDavey AllisonFord16AC Spark Plug 500Ken SchraderRusty WallaceBill ElliottFord17Talladega DieHard 500Mark MartinMorgan ShepherdTerry LabonteFord18Budweiser at The GlenMorgan ShepherdMorgan ShepherdRusty WallacePontiac19Champion Spark Plug 400Geoff BodineRusty WallaceRusty WallacePontiac20Busch 500Alan KulwickiDarrell WaltripDarrell WaltripChevrolet21Heinz Southern 500Alan KulwickiDale EarnhardtDale EarnhardtChevrolet22Miller High Life 400Bill ElliottRusty WallaceRusty WallacePontiac23Peak Performance 500Davey AllisonDale EarnhardtDale EarnhardtChevrolet24Goody's 500Dale EarnhardtRusty WallaceDarrell WaltripChevrolet25All Pro Auto Parts 500Bill ElliottBill ElliottKen SchraderChevrolet26Holly Farms 400Dale EarnhardtDale EarnhardtGeoff BodineChevrolet27AC Delco 500Alan KulwickiRusty WallaceMark MartinFord28Autoworks 500Ken SchraderAlan KulwickiBill ElliottFord29Atlanta Journal 500Alan KulwickiDale EarnhardtDale EarnhardtChevrolet
Busch Clash
The Busch Clash, an annual invitational event for all winners of the Busch Pole award from the previous season, was held February 12 at Daytona International Speedway. Ken Schrader drew for the pole.
Top Ten Results
25-Ken Schrader 28-Davey Allison 11-Terry Labonte 5-Geoff Bodine 4-Rick Wilson 27-Rusty Wallace 6-Mark Martin 17-Darrell Waltrip 75-Morgan Shepherd 66-Rick Mast
Gatorade 125s
The Gatorade 125s, a pair of qualifying races for the Daytona 500, were held February 16 at Daytona International Speedway. Ken Schrader and Darrell Waltrip won the poles for each event, respectively.
Race One Top Ten Results
25-Ken Schrader 75-Morgan Shepherd 6-Mark Martin 55-Phil Parsons 7-Alan Kulwicki 66-Rick Mast 9-Jody Ridley 10-Ken Bouchard -1 45-Joe Ruttman -1 71-Dave Marcis -1
Race Two Top Ten Results
11-Terry Labonte 94-Sterling Marlin 3-Dale Earnhardt 5-Geoff Bodine 33-Harry Gant 16-Larry Pearson 28-Davey Allison 17-Darrell Waltrip -1 15-Brett Bodine -1 29-Dale Jarrett -1
Jody Ridley substituted for Bill Elliott, who injured his wrist in a practice crash.
Daytona 500 The Daytona 500 was held February 19. Ken Schrader won the pole.
Top Ten Results 17-Darrell Waltrip 25-Ken Schrader 3-Dale Earnhardt 5-Geoff Bodine 55-Phil Parsons 66-Rick Mast* 7-Alan Kulwicki 4-Rick Wilson 11-Terry Labonte 23-Eddie Bierschwale
Darrell Waltrip stretched his fuel for 53 laps, and won the Daytona 500 for the first time after 17 attempts.
Goodwrench 500
The Goodwrench 500 was held March 5 at North Carolina Motor Speedway. Rusty Wallace won the pole.
Top Ten Results
27-Rusty Wallace 7-Alan Kulwicki 3-Dale Earnhardt 5-Geoff Bodine 6-Mark Martin 28-Davey Allison 94-Sterling Marlin 83-Lake Speed 88-Greg Sacks 31-Jim Sauter
Rusty Wallace became the first driver to claim the Unocal 76 Challenge. After one rollover, and bonus money added at the season ending banquet, Wallace received an additional $22,800 for winning from the pole.
Motorcraft Quality Parts 500
The Motorcraft Quality Parts 500 was held March 19 at Atlanta International Raceway. Alan Kulwicki won the pole.
Top Ten Results
17-Darrell Waltrip 3-Dale Earnhardt 84-Dick Trickle 42-Kyle Petty 94-Sterling Marlin 4-Rick Wilson 21-Neil Bonnett 57-Hut Stricklin 29-Dale Jarrett 75-Morgan Shepherd
Failed to qualify: #36-H. B. Baily, #69-Lee Raymond, #70-J. D. McDuffie, Rodney Combs, Rick Jeffrey
Richard Petty was a factor among the leaders, and led 9 laps. But during a pit stop, the gas can leaked fuel onto the exhaust pipe, and started a bad pit fire. Crew member Robert Callicutt suffered second degree burns over 40% of his body and was hospitalized. Petty was forced to drop out of the race. The incident led to new rules regarding crew member fire protection, and newly designed gas can nozzles to prevent leakage. In addition, all pit road reporters for ABC and ESPN would be required to wear fire protected suits for future races telecast by either network.
Pontiac Excitement 400
The Pontiac Excitement 400 was held March 26 at Richmond International Raceway. Geoff Bodine won the pole.
Top Ten Results
27-Rusty Wallace 7-Alan Kulwicki 3-Dale Earnhardt 26-Ricky Rudd 28-Davey Allison 16-Larry Pearson 17-Darrell Waltrip 94-Sterling Marlin 2-Ernie Irvan 9-Bill Elliott
Failed to qualify: 43-Richard Petty
This race was scheduled for the weekend after the Daytona 500 (February 26), but snow fell in Richmond and blanketed the Speedway. The race was postponed a month, and in subsequent seasons, the spring Richmond race was moved later and later into the season. It is one of the rare times a NASCAR race has been held on Easter Sunday, a weekend that has not had an originally scheduled NASCAR Cup race in the modern era. After qualifying for 513 consecutive races, Richard Petty failed to make the field for this race for the first time since the 1971 Georgia 500. He wrecked his primary car during practice, and could not get the backup car up to speed. His consecutive starts record would stand until the 1996 First Union 400 when Terry Labonte broke the record. Petty's failure to qualify would not be this isolated race however as he would fail to qualify for three additional races later in the season. This would eventually lead to the past champion's provisional being added for former Cup champions failing to qualify on speed or normal provisionals.
TranSouth 500
The TranSouth 500 was held April 2 at Darlington Raceway. Mark Martin won the pole.
Top Ten Results
33-Harry Gant 28-Davey Allison 5-Geoff Bodine 6-Mark Martin 94-Sterling Marlin 9-Bill Elliott 7-Alan Kulwicki 27-Rusty Wallace