The 1996 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 48th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 25th modern-era NASCAR Cup series. The season had been started on February 18 at Daytona International Speedway, and ended on November 10 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The season would be remembered for Terry Labonte pulling off a massive upset and winning his second Winston Cup Championship over teammate Jeff Gordon.
Pontiac's struggles in 1995 carried over to 1996, scoring just one win in the Dura Lube 500 with Bobby Hamilton. Hamilton was also the only Pontiac driver to finish in the top ten in points standings, placing ninth.
Overview The major story heading into 1996 was the 24-year old phenom Jeff Gordon, who won the 1995 NASCAR Winston Cup Championship. The youngest to win the Winston Cup Championship in the modern era (post 1971), Gordon looked to maintain his momentum. Dale Earnhardt, who finished second to Gordon in the point standings, was looking to make history by winning his eighth Winston Cup Championship, breaking a tie with Richard Petty. Other contenders for the Winston Cup Championship include the reigning back-to-back Daytona 500 winner and third-place points finisher Sterling Marlin, two-time runner-up points finisher Mark Martin, former Winston Cup Champions Terry Labonte and Rusty Wallace, and veteran Dale Jarrett.
The 1996 season would feature a unique series championship battle between teammates; Jeff Gordon and Terry Labonte of Hendrick Motorsports. While Gordon won ten races to Labonte's two, Labonte was more consistent than Gordon; Labonte averaged a 8.2 race finish while Gordon averaged a 9.5 race finish. This advantage for Labonte would win him a second Winston Cup Championship, edging Gordon by only 37 points.
Teams and drivers
Complete schedule ManufacturerTeamRace driverCrew chiefChevroletDarrell Waltrip Motorsports17 Darrell Waltrip Pete PetersonDiamond Ridge Motorsports29 Steve Grissom Bill Ingle Greg Sacks Butch Leitzinger Chad Little Jeff Green Robert Pressley Hendrick Motorsports5 Terry Labonte Gary DeHart24 Jeff Gordon Ray Evernham25 Ken Schrader Phil HammerJoe Gibbs Racing18 Bobby Labonte Jimmy MakarLarry Hedrick Motorsports41 Ricky Craven Charley PressleyLeo Jackson Motorsports33 Robert Pressley Andy Petree Greg Sacks Todd Bodine Marcis Auto Racing71 Dave Marcis Terry ShirleyMorgan-McClure Motorsports4 Sterling Marlin Tony GloverNEMCO Motorsports87 Joe Nemechek Jeff BuiceRichard Childress Racing3 Dale Earnhardt David Smith FordElliott-Hardy RacingBill Elliott Racing94 Bill Elliott Mike Beam Tommy Kendall Todd Bodine Dorsey Schroeder Bobby Hillin Jr. Bobby Allison Motorsports12 Derrike Cope Jimmy FennigBrett Bodine Racing11 Brett Bodine Donnie RichesonBud Moore Engineering15 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Jimmy MeansButch Mock Motorsports75 Morgan Shepherd Troy SelbergCale Yarborough Motorsports98 Jeremy Mayfield Tony Furr John Andretti Donlavey Racing90 Mike Wallace Bob Johnson Dick Trickle FILMAR Racing81 Kenny Wallace Gil MartinGeoff Bodine Racing7 Geoff Bodine Paul Andrews Dave Rezendes Jasper Motorsports77 Bobby Hillin Jr. Michael McSwainKranefuss-Haas Racing37 John Andretti Tim Brewer Jeremy Mayfield Melling Racing9 Lake Speed Jim LongPenske Racing South2 Rusty Wallace Robin PembertonRobert Yates Racing28 Ernie Irvan Larry McReynolds88 Dale Jarrett Todd ParrottRoush Racing6 Mark Martin Steve HmielJimmy Fennig16 Ted Musgrave Howard Comstock99 Jeff Burton Buddy ParrottRudd Performance Motorsports10 Ricky Rudd Richard BroomeTravis Carter Enterprises23 Jimmy Spencer Donnie WingoStavola Brothers Racing8 Hut Stricklin Phillipe LopezWood Brothers Racing21 Michael Waltrip Leonard WoodPontiacBahari Racing30 Johnny Benson (R) Doug HewittBill Davis Racing22 Ward Burton Chris HusseyPetty Enterprises43 Bobby Hamilton Robbie LoomisPrecision Products Racing1 Rick Mast Kevin HamlinTeam SABCO42 Kyle Petty William Woodruff Jim Sauter
Limited schedule ManufacturerTeamRace driverCrew chiefRound(s) ChevroletActive Motorsports 32 Jimmy Hensley Balough Racing 57 Jim Bown Barkdoll Racing 73 Tracy Leslie Phil Barkdoll Bradberry Racing 93 Gary Bradberry Byers Racing 82 Terry Byers Cicci-Welliver Racing 34 Mike McLaughlin Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 14 Jeff Green Ron Hornaday Jr. Robby Gordon Dave Charpentier JTC Racing 45 Chad Little Marcis Auto Racing 72 Jim Sauter Miles Motorsports 02 Robbie Faggart Randy Baker Monroe Motorsports 46 Stacy Compton (R) Phoenix Racing 44 Jeff Purvis Marc Reno Richard Childress Racing 31 Mike Skinner Sadler Racing 26 Hermie Sadler Team SABCO 40 Greg Sacks Tony Glover Robby Gordon FordA. J. Foyt Enterprises 50 A. J. Foyt Berrier Racing 60 Ed Berrier Bill Elliott Racing 91 Ron Barfield Jr. Campbell Racing 49 Mark Gibson Eric Smith David Blair Motorsports 27 Elton Sawyer Mike Hill Jason Keller Todd Bodine Ron Barfield Jr. Geoff Bodine Racing 07 Geoff Bodine H. L. Waters Racing 0 Delma Cowart Hover Motorsports 80 Joe Ruttman O'Neil Racing 65 Steve Seligman Ranier-Walsh Racing 20 Elton Sawyer Sadler Brothers Racing 95 Chuck Bown Gary Bradberry Schnell Motorsports 63 Dick Trickle Ed Berrier Mike Wallace Seligman Racing 57 Steve Seligman Triad Motorsports 78 Randy MacDonald (R) Billy Standridge TriStar Motorsports 19 Loy Allen Jr. Peter Sospenzo Dick Trickle Mike Wallace PontiacKen Schrader Racing 52 Jack Sprague Mark Rypien Motorsports 97 Chad Little Harold Holly Team SABCO 40 Jay Sauter Brad Noffsinger Greg Sacks Tony Glover T.R.I.X. Racing 79 Norm Benning
Schedule No. Race title Track DateBusch ClashDaytona International Speedway, Daytona BeachFebruary 11Gatorade Twin 125sFebruary 151Daytona 500February 182Goodwrench Service 400North Carolina Motor Speedway, RockinghamFebruary 253Pontiac Excitement 400Richmond International Raceway, RichmondMarch 34Purolator 500Atlanta Motor Speedway, HamptonMarch 105TranSouth Financial 400Darlington Raceway, DarlingtonMarch 246Food City 500Bristol Motor Speedway, BristolMarch 317First Union 400North Wilkesboro Speedway, North WilkesboroApril 148Goody's Headache Powder 500Martinsville Speedway, RidgewayApril 219Winston Select 500Talladega Superspeedway, TalladegaApril 2810Save Mart Supermarkets 300Sears Point Raceway, SonomaMay 5Winston OpenCharlotte Motor Speedway, ConcordMay 20The Winston Select11Coca-Cola 600May 2612Miller 500Dover Downs International Speedway, DoverJune 213UAW-GM Teamwork 500Pocono Raceway, Long PondJune 1614Miller 400Michigan Speedway, BrooklynJune 2315Pepsi 400Daytona International Speedway, Daytona BeachJuly 616Jiffy Lube 300New Hampshire International Speedway, LoudonJuly 1417Miller 500Pocono Raceway, Long PondJuly 2118DieHard 500Talladega Superspeedway, TalladegaJuly 2819Brickyard 400Indianapolis Motor Speedway, SpeedwayAugust 320The Bud at The GlenWatkins Glen International, Watkins GlenAugust 1121GM Goodwrench Dealer 400Michigan Speedway, BrooklynAugust 1822Goody's Headache Powder 500Bristol Motor Speedway, BristolAugust 2423Mountain Dew Southern 500Darlington Raceway, DarlingtonSeptember 124Miller 400Richmond International Raceway, RichmondSeptember 725MBNA 500Dover Downs International Speedway, DoverSeptember 1526Hanes 500Martinsville Speedway, RidgewaySeptember 2227Tyson Holly Farms 400North Wilkesboro Speedway, North WilkesboroSeptember 2928UAW-GM Quality 500Charlotte Motor Speedway, ConcordOctober 629AC Delco 400North Carolina Motor Speedway, RockinghamOctober 2030Dura Lube 500Phoenix International Raceway, PhoenixOctober 2731NAPA 500Atlanta Motor Speedway, HamptonNovember 10NASCAR Suzuka Thunder SpecialSuzuka Circuit, SuzukaNovember 24
Races No.RacePole positionMost laps ledWinning driverBusch ClashRick MastSterling MarlinDale JarrettFordGatorade Twin 125 #1Dale EarnhardtSterling MarlinDale EarnhardtChevroletGatorade Twin 125 #2Ernie IrvanErnie IrvanErnie IrvanFord1Daytona 500Dale EarnhardtTerry LabonteDale JarrettFord2Goodwrench Service 400Terry LabonteTerry LabonteDale EarnhardtChevrolet3Pontiac Excitement 400Terry LabonteBobby HamiltonJeff GordonChevrolet4Purolator 500Johnny Benson Jr.Dale EarnhardtDale EarnhardtChevrolet5TranSouth Financial 400Ward BurtonJeff GordonJeff GordonChevrolet6Food City 500Mark MartinJeff GordonJeff GordonChevrolet7First Union 400Terry LabonteTerry LabonteTerry LabonteChevrolet8Goody's Headache Powder 500Ricky CravenJeff GordonRusty WallaceFord9Winston Select 500Ernie IrvanSterling MarlinSterling MarlinChevrolet10Save Mart Supermarkets 300Terry LabonteRusty WallaceRusty WallaceFordWinston OpenLake SpeedLake SpeedJimmy SpencerFordThe Winston SelectJeff GordonTerry LabonteMichael WaltripFord11Coca-Cola 600Jeff GordonDale JarrettDale JarrettFord12Miller 500Jeff GordonJeff GordonJeff GordonChevrolet13UAW-GM Teamwork 500Jeff GordonJeff GordonJeff GordonChevrolet14Miller 400Bobby HamiltonSterling MarlinRusty WallaceFord15Pepsi 400Jeff GordonSterling MarlinSterling MarlinChevrolet16Jiffy Lube 300Ricky CravenJeff GordonErnie IrvanFord17Miller 500Mark MartinMark MartinRusty WallaceFord18DieHard 500Jeremy MayfieldDale EarnhardtJeff GordonChevrolet19Brickyard 400Jeff GordonJohnny Benson Jr.Dale JarrettFord20The Bud at The GlenDale EarnhardtDale EarnhardtGeoff BodineFord21GM Goodwrench Dealer 400Jeff BurtonMark MartinDale JarrettFord22Goody's Headache Powder 500Mark MartinRusty WallaceRusty WallaceFord23Mountain Dew Southern 500Dale JarrettHut StricklinJeff GordonChevrolet24Miller 400Mark MartinJeff GordonErnie IrvanFord25MBNA 500Bobby LabonteJeff GordonJeff GordonChevrolet26Hanes 500Bobby HamiltonBobby HamiltonJeff GordonChevrolet27Tyson Holly Farms 400Ted MusgraveJeff GordonJeff GordonChevrolet28UAW-GM Quality 500Bobby LabonteTerry LabonteTerry LabonteChevrolet29AC Delco 400Dale JarrettDale JarrettRicky RuddFord30Dura Lube 500Bobby LabonteMark MartinBobby HamiltonPontiac31NAPA 500Bobby LabonteBobby LabonteBobby LabonteChevrolet
Busch Clash The Busch Clash is the exhibition race that honors the drivers who won a pole in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series the previous year. Dale Jarrett won his first Busch Clash. Rick Mast won the random draw for the pole.
Top ten results #88 - Dale Jarrett #4 - Sterling Marlin #3 - Dale Earnhardt #5 - Terry Labonte #25 - Ken Schrader #10 - Ricky Rudd #6 - Mark Martin #94 - Bill Elliott #24 - Jeff Gordon #16 - Ted Musgrave
For the second and final time, the winner of the most poles in the NASCAR Busch Series the previous year was invited to compete, with David Green being the winner both times.
Gatorade Twin 125s
The Gatorade Twin 125s, qualifying races for the Daytona 500, were held on February 15.
Race one top ten results #3 - Dale Earnhardt #4 - Sterling Marlin* #5 - Terry Labonte #88 - Dale Jarrett #15 - Wally Dallenbach Jr. #21 - Michael Waltrip #22 - Ward Burton #6 - Mark Martin #90 - Mike Wallace #23 - Jimmy Spencer
Marlin passed Earnhardt on the opening lap but Earnhardt repassed and led the last 22 laps. Bobby Labonte flipped over on the backstretch after being tagged by Brett Bodine.
Race two top ten results #28 - Ernie Irvan* #25 - Ken Schrader #37 - John Andretti #24 - Jeff Gordon #10 - Ricky Rudd #75 - Morgan Shepherd #98 - Jeremy Mayfield #99 - Jeff Burton #27 - Elton Sawyer #16 - Ted Musgrave
Irvan led wire-to-wire with Schrader alongside in the final lap.
Daytona 500
Top ten results: #88 - Dale Jarrett* #3 - Dale Earnhardt #25 - Ken Schrader #6 - Mark Martin #99 - Jeff Burton #15 - Wally Dallenbach Jr. #16 - Ted Musgrave #94 - Bill Elliott #10 - Ricky Rudd #21 - Michael Waltrip
This was Dale Jarrett's second career Daytona 500 victory. Both of those victories saw Dale Earnhardt finish second to Jarrett. When the white flag was displayed, play-by-play analyst Ken Squier gave the privileges to color analyst Ned Jarrett so he can call the final lap solo and lead his son on to the victory, as he did in 1993.
Goodwrench Service 400