The 1994 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 46th season of NASCAR professional stock car racing in the United States and the 23rd modern-era Cup series. The season began on Sunday, February 20, and ended on Sunday, November 13. Dale Earnhardt of Richard Childress Racing was crowned champion at season's end, winning consecutive Winston Cups for the third time in his career and tying Richard Petty for the record of most top-level NASCAR championships with seven. It was also the 7th and final NASCAR Winston Cup Series Championship for Dale Earnhardt before his death 7 years later in 2001, this was also the final season for 18-time Winston Cup winner Harry Gant.
One of the highlights of the season occurred on August 6, when the NASCAR Winston Cup Series made a highly publicized first visit to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the inaugural Brickyard 400. This season also marked the end of the second of two tire wars, as Hoosier left NASCAR after the season-ending Atlanta race, leaving Goodyear as the series' exclusive tire distributor.
The season was marred with tragedy, as Neil Bonnett and Rodney Orr were killed in separate practice crashes prior to the Daytona 500 and in August at Michigan International Speedway when Ernie Irvan suffered near fatal injuries due to a practice crash.
Teams and drivers
Complete schedule ManufacturerTeamTiresRace driverCrew chief Chevrolet Active Motorsports 32 Dick Trickle Mike Hillman A. G. Dillard Motorsports 31 Ward Burton (R) Philippe Lopez Darrell Waltrip Motorsports later 17 Darrell Waltrip Pete Peterson Diamond Ridge Motorsports 29 Steve Grissom (R) Bryant Frazier Hendrick Motorsports 5 Terry Labonte Gary DeHart 24 Jeff Gordon Ray Evernham 25 Ken Schrader Ken Howes Joe Gibbs Racing 18 Dale Jarrett Jimmy Makar Larry Hedrick Motorsports later 41 Joe Nemechek (R) Doug Richert Leo Jackson Motorsports later 33 Harry Gant Charley Pressley Marcis Auto Racing 71 Dave Marcis Bob Marcis Morgan–McClure Motorsports 4 Sterling Marlin Tony Glover Richard Childress Racing 3 Dale Earnhardt Andy Petree FordBobby Allison Motorsports 12 Chuck Bown Jimmy Fennig Tim Steele Derrike Cope Bud Moore Engineering 15 Lake Speed Donnie Wingo Butch Mock Motorsports75 Todd Bodine Butch Mock Cale Yarborough Motorsports98 Derrike Cope Ken Glen Jeremy Mayfield (R) Donlavey Racing 90 Bobby Hillin Jr. Freddy Fryar Mike Wallace Geoff Bodine Racing 7 Geoff Bodine Paul Andrews Junior Johnson & Associates 11 Bill Elliott Mike Beam 27 Jimmy Spencer Mike Hill Tommy Kendall King Racing 26 Brett Bodine Donnie Richeson Penske Racing 2 Rusty Wallace Buddy Parrott Precision Products Racing later 1 Rick Mast Kevin HamlinRobert Yates Racing28 Ernie Irvan Larry McReynolds Kenny Wallace Roush Racing 6 Mark Martin Steve Hmiel 16 Ted Musgrave Howard Comstock Rudd Performance Motorsports 10 Ricky Rudd Bill Ingle Smokin' Joe's Racing 23 Hut Stricklin Travis Carter Stavola Brothers Racing 8 Jeff Burton (R) Buddy Barnes Tri-Star Motorsports 19 Loy Allen Jr. (R) Dennis Conner U.S. Racing 77 Greg Sacks Tony Furr Wood Brothers Racing 21 Morgan Shepherd Eddie WoodPontiac Bahari Racing 30 Michael Waltrip Doug Hewitt Bill Davis Racing 22 Bobby Labonte Chris HusseyPetty Enterprises 43 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Robbie Loomis John Andretti (R) SABCO Racing 40 Bobby Hamilton Jeff Hammond 42 Kyle Petty Jim Long
Limited schedule ManufacturerTeamRace driverCrew chiefRound(s)ChevroletButch Lietzinger Racing03Butch Lietzinger Diamond Ridge Motorsports 9 John Krebs Gilliland Racing 36 Butch Gilliland Rich Woodland Jr. 86W Butch Gilliland Rich Woodland Jr. Hagan Racing 14 John Andretti (R) Phil Parsons Randy MacDonald Linro Motorsports 13 Kerry Teague Phoenix Racing 51 Neil Bonnett Tony Eury Sr. Johnny Allen Jeff Purvis Spears Motorsports76Ron Hornaday Jr. Team 34 34 Mike McLaughlin Venturini Motorsports 35 Bill Venturini Ford Brevak Racing 34 Bob Brevak Charles Hardy Racing 44 Bobby Hillin Jr. Tony Gibson Kenny Wallace Jimmy Hensley FILMAR Racing 81 Kenny Wallace Gil Martin H.L. Waters Racing0Delma CowartKranefuss-Haas Racing07Robby GordonTim BrewerGeoff Brabham Melling Racing 9 Joe Ruttman Peter Sospenzo Rich Bickle Phil Parsons Means Racing52Brad TeagueMike SkinnerKirk ShelmerdineScott GaylordBob KeselowskiGary Bradberry53Kirk ShelmerdineBrad Teague Moroso Racing 20 Buddy Baker Randy LaJoie Bobby Hillin Jr. Jimmy Hensley Venable Racing Gary Collins Orr Motorsports 37 Rodney Orr Petty Brothers Racing53Ritchie PettyMaurice PettySadler Brothers Racing95Jeremy MayfieldLee LeslieBen HessJeff Green Stroppe Motorsports 38 P. J. Jones Taylor Racing 02 T.W. Taylor Jeff Buckner Curtis Markham Ronnie SandersJeremy MayfieldDerrike CopeJeff PurvisBrad NoffsingerRandy LaJoie Ultra Motorsports 06 P. J. Jones U.S. Racing 88 Davy Jones P. J. Jones Whitcomb Racing 51 Dirk Stephens Oldsmobile J&J Racing 99 Phil Parsons Pontiac Bailey Racing 36 H. B. Bailey
Schedule No. Race title Track DateBusch ClashDaytona International Speedway, Daytona BeachFebruary 13Gatorade Twin 125sFebruary 171Daytona 500February 202Goodwrench 500North Carolina Motor Speedway, RockinghamFebruary 273Pontiac Excitement 400Richmond International Raceway, RichmondMarch 64Purolator 500Atlanta Motor Speedway, HamptonMarch 135TranSouth Financial 400Darlington Raceway, DarlingtonMarch 276Food City 500Bristol International Raceway, BristolApril 107First Union 400North Wilkesboro Speedway, North WilkesboroApril 178Hanes 500Martinsville Speedway, RidgewayApril 249Winston Select 500Talladega Superspeedway, TalladegaMay 110Save Mart Supermarkets 300Sears Point Raceway, SonomaMay 15Winston OpenCharlotte Motor Speedway, ConcordMay 21The Winston Select11Coca-Cola 600May 2912Budweiser 500Dover Downs International Speedway, DoverJune 513UAW-GM Teamwork 500Pocono International Raceway, Long PondJune 1214Miller Genuine Draft 400Michigan International Speedway, BrooklynJune 1915Pepsi 400Daytona International Speedway, Daytona BeachJuly 216Slick 50 300New Hampshire International Speedway, LoudonJuly 1017Miller Genuine Draft 500Pocono International Raceway, Long PondJuly 1718DieHard 500Talladega Superspeedway, TalladegaJuly 2419Brickyard 400Indianapolis Motor Speedway, SpeedwayAugust 620The Bud at The GlenWatkins Glen International, Watkins GlenAugust 1421GM Goodwrench Dealers 400Michigan International Speedway, BrooklynAugust 2122Goody's 500Bristol International Raceway, BristolAugust 2723Mountain Dew Southern 500Darlington Raceway, DarlingtonSeptember 424Miller Genuine Draft 400Richmond International Raceway, RichmondSeptember 1025SplitFire Spark Plug 500Dover Downs International Speedway, DoverSeptember 1826Goody's 500Martinsville Speedway, RidgewaySeptember 2527Tyson Holly Farms 400North Wilkesboro Speedway, North WilkesboroOctober 228Mello Yello 500Charlotte Motor Speedway, ConcordOctober 929AC Delco 500North Carolina Motor Speedway, RockinghamOctober 2330Slick 50 500Phoenix International Raceway, PhoenixOctober 3031Hooters 500Atlanta Motor Speedway, HamptonNovember 13
Races No.RacePole positionMost laps ledWinning driverBusch ClashKen SchraderDale EarnhardtJeff GordonChevroletGatorade Twin 125 #1Loy Allen Jr.Ernie IrvanErnie IrvanFordGatorade Twin 125 #2Dale EarnhardtDale EarnhardtDale EarnhardtChevrolet1Daytona 500Loy Allen Jr.Ernie IrvanSterling MarlinChevrolet2Goodwrench 500Geoff BodineRusty WallaceRusty WallaceFord3Pontiac Excitement 400Ted MusgraveErnie IrvanErnie IrvanFord4Purolator 500Loy Allen Jr.Ernie IrvanErnie IrvanFord5TranSouth Financial 400Bill ElliottDale EarnhardtDale EarnhardtChevrolet6Food City 500Chuck BownDale EarnhardtDale EarnhardtChevrolet7First Union 400Ernie IrvanErnie IrvanTerry LabonteChevrolet8Hanes 500Rusty WallaceRusty WallaceRusty WallaceFord9Winston Select 500Ernie IrvanErnie IrvanDale EarnhardtChevrolet10Save Mart Supermarkets 300Ernie IrvanErnie IrvanErnie IrvanFordWinston OpenJoe NemechekJoe NemechekJeff GordonChevroletThe Winston SelectRusty WallaceErnie IrvanGeoff BodineFord11Coca-Cola 600Jeff GordonRusty WallaceJeff GordonChevrolet12Budweiser 500Ernie IrvanErnie IrvanRusty WallaceFord13UAW-GM Teamwork 500Rusty WallaceRusty WallaceRusty WallaceFord14Miller Genuine Draft 400Loy Allen Jr.Rusty WallaceRusty WallaceFord15Pepsi 400Dale EarnhardtErnie IrvanJimmy SpencerFord16Slick 50 300Ernie IrvanErnie IrvanRicky RuddFord17Miller Genuine Draft 500Geoff BodineGeoff BodineGeoff BodineFord18DieHard 500Dale EarnhardtErnie IrvanJimmy SpencerFord19Brickyard 400Rick MastJeff GordonJeff GordonChevrolet20The Bud at The GlenMark MartinMark MartinMark MartinFord21GM Goodwrench Dealer 400Geoff BodineGeoff BodineGeoff BodineFord22Goody's 500Harry GantGeoff BodineRusty WallaceFord23Mountain Dew Southern 500Geoff BodineKen SchraderBill ElliottFord24Miller Genuine Draft 400Ted MusgraveTerry LabonteTerry LabonteChevrolet25SplitFire Spark Plug 500Geoff BodineGeoff BodineRusty WallaceFord26Goody's 500Ted MusgraveRusty WallaceRusty WallaceFord27Tyson Holly Farms 400Jimmy SpencerGeoff BodineGeoff BodineFord28Mello Yello 500Ward BurtonGeoff BodineDale JarrettChevrolet29AC Delco 500Ricky RuddDale EarnhardtDale EarnhardtChevrolet30Slick 50 500Sterling MarlinTerry LabonteTerry LabonteChevrolet31Hooters 500Greg SacksMark MartinMark MartinFord
Busch Clash
The Busch Clash was held February 13 at Daytona International Speedway. Ken Schrader drew for the pole.
Top ten results #24 - Jeff Gordon #26 - Brett Bodine #3 - Dale Earnhardt #28 - Ernie Irvan #6 - Mark Martin #42 - Kyle Petty #11 - Bill Elliott #25 - Ken Schrader #2 - Rusty Wallace #33 - Harry Gant
Two days earlier, during Daytona 500 practice, Neil Bonnett died of massive head injuries after losing control of his car in turn 3 and hit the wall head-on. The day after this race, Rodney Orr died of massive head and chest injuries after his car slammed into the outside retaining wall and catch fence in turn 2, with the caution light piercing through the roof.
Gatorade 125s
The Gatorade 125s, the qualifying races for the Daytona 500, were held February 17 at Daytona International Speedway.
Race one: top ten results #28 - Ernie Irvan #2 - Rusty Wallace #6 - Mark Martin #5 - Terry Labonte #75 - Todd Bodine #25 - Ken Schrader #14 - John Andretti #97 - Chad Little #54 - Robert Pressley #27 - Jimmy Spencer
Race two: top ten results #3 - Dale Earnhardt #4 - Sterling Marlin #24 - Jeff Gordon #11 - Bill Elliott #26 - Brett Bodine #21 - Morgan Shepherd #30 - Michael Waltrip #98 - Derrike Cope #43 - Wally Dallenbach Jr. #10 - Ricky Rudd
Daytona 500
The 36th Daytona 500 was held on February 20 in Daytona International Speedway. Rookie Loy Allen Jr. won the pole.
Top ten results #4 - Sterling Marlin* #28 - Ernie Irvan #5 - Terry Labonte #24 - Jeff Gordon #21 - Morgan Shepherd #77 - Greg Sacks #3 - Dale Earnhardt #10 - Ricky Rudd #11 - Bill Elliott #25 - Ken Schrader
Failed to qualify: #89 - Jim Sauter, #41 - Joe Nemechek, #52 - Brad Teague, #45 - Rich Bickle, #34 - Bob Brevak, #02 - T. W. Taylor, #0 - Delma Cowart, #48 - Trevor Boys, #47 - Billy Standridge, #56 - Jerry Hill, #74 - Kerry Teague, #29 - Steve Grissom, #73 - Phil Barkdoll, #20 - Buddy Baker, #53 - Ritchie Petty, #61 - Rick Carelli, #31 - Ward Burton This was Marlin's first career Cup Series victory, becoming the 5th driver in history to do score it in the Daytona 500. Marlin's first victory came in his 279th start, which included eight 2nd-place finishes, tying Bill Elliott for most runner-up finishes before their first victory. Despite not leading a single lap, Loy Allen Jr. became the first rookie to win the pole for the Daytona 500. This was the first points Cup race when cars were mandated to have roof flaps after multiple violent flips at both Daytona & Talladega in 1993.
Goodwrench 500
The Goodwrench 500 was held February 27 at North Carolina Speedway. Geoff Bodine was on the pole.
Top ten results #2 - Rusty Wallace* #4 - Sterling Marlin #1 - Rick Mast #6 - Mark Martin, -1 lap