1986 Firecracker 400
Race details[1][2]
Race 15 of 29 in the 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season
Track map of Daytona International Speedway.
Track map of Daytona International Speedway.
Date July 4, 1986 (1986-July-04)
Official name Firecracker 400
Location Daytona Speedway, Daytona Beach, Florida
Course Permanent racing facility
2.000 mi (3.218 km)
Distance 160 laps, 400 mi (643 km)
Weather Very hot with temperatures of 87.1 °F (30.6 °C); wind speeds of 13.00 miles per hour (20.92 km/h)
Average speed 131.916 miles per hour (212.298 km/h)
Attendance 78,000[3]
Pole position
Driver
Ranier-Lundy Racing
Time 44.222 seconds
Most laps led
Driver Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing
Laps 69
Winner
No. 3 Tim Richmond Hendrick Motorsports
Television in the United States
Network ABC
Announcers Sam Posey (color commentator)
Al Trautwig (lap-by-lap announcer)

The 1986 Firecracker 400 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series race that took place on 4 July 1986, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Race report

The field restarted with three laps to go, with Tim Richmond leading ahead of Sterling Marlin and Darrell Waltrip. Marlin, having competed in NASCAR since the mid-'70s, had never finished on the lead lap in his career. His chances for victory were compounded by the lapped cars of Bobby Allison, Cale Yarborough, and Bill Elliott who sat between him and Richmond. Caught behind the traffic, Marlin never had a chance to challenge as Richmond pulled away.[2][3] It took three hours and one minute for Tim Richmond to defeat Sterling Marlin by 1.35 seconds after 160 laps.[2][3] Putting aside his win in the 1982 consolation race, this was Tim Richmond's only win at Daytona in his career.[2][3] Starting with his win at Pocono two races before this, he went on a tear for the rest of the 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season, culminating in the best season of his career.

With seven laps to go, Dale Earnhardt, running a lap down ahead of the leaders, blew his engine heading into turn 1. As oil coated his back tires, Earnhardt lost control and spun head-on into the wall. Race leader Buddy Baker went low to avoid the accident, striking the side of Connie Saylor's lapped Ford. As Baker struggled to keep control of his Oldsmobile, Richmond shot past into the race lead and led the field back to the yellow flag. Baker managed to limp around, but the fastest car that day was out of contention.[2][3]

Rain would bring out the day's sixth caution on lap 86, resulting in a nearly 30-lap caution period to dry the track.[2][3] Cale Yarborough earned the pole position with a speed of 203.519 miles per hour (327.532 km/h).[3] There were eight cautions for 51 laps; making the average speed of the race 131.916 miles per hour (212.298 km/h).[2][3] There was an attendance of 78000. A. J. Foyt's had the last-place finish due to an engine problem on lap 2.[2][3] Other notable drivers at the race included: Sterling Marlin, Darrell Waltrip, Kyle Petty, Ricky Rudd, Rusty Wallace, and Bill Elliott.[2][3] All of the 42 drivers on the grid were born in the United States of America.[3]

Richard Petty made his 1000th start in this race; making him one of the most durable figures in NASCAR history. Sterling Marlin got his first top-five finish here and in several other races before going on to win the 1994 Daytona 500. Yarborough made one of his final starts from the pole position in his NASCAR career in this race. Jody Ridley retired from NASCAR after this race. [3]

Notable crew chiefs for the race included Junie Donlavey, Robin Pemberton, Jeff McDuffie, Joey Arrington, Dale Inman, Travis Carter, Waddell Wilson, Larry McReynolds among others.[4]

Qualifying

Drivers who failed qualify for this race were Phil Barkdoll, Blackie Wangerin, Ronnie Thomas, James Hylton, Harold Marks, J.D. McDuffie and Brad Teague. Qualifying times ranged from 44.2 seconds to 45.6 seconds; speeds varied from 196.993 miles per hour (317.030 km/h) for the 40th-place starter to 203.519 miles per hour (327.532 km/h) for the pole position winner.[5]

Finishing order

Section reference:[3]

  1. Tim Richmond
  2. Sterling Marlin
  3. Bobby Hillin Jr.
  4. Darrell Waltrip
  5. Kyle Petty
  6. Ricky Rudd
  7. Joe Ruttman
  8. Rusty Wallace
  9. Phil Parsons
  10. Alan Kulwicki
  11. Neil Bonnett
  12. Ken Schrader
  13. Jody Ridley
  14. Buddy Baker
  15. Bobby Allison
  16. Bill Elliott
  17. Cale Yarborough
  18. Michael Waltrip
  19. Terry Labonte
  20. Dave Marcis
  21. Rick Wilson
  22. Richard Petty
  23. Jim Sauter
  24. Jimmy Means
  25. Buddy Arrington
  26. Grant Adcox
  27. Dale Earnhardt
  28. Pancho Carter
  29. Geoffrey Bodine
  30. Connie Saylor
  31. Harry Gant
  32. Rodney Combs
  33. Doug Heveron
  34. Ken Ragan
  35. Eddie Bierschwale
  36. Benny Parsons
  37. Morgan Shepherd
  38. Tommy Ellis
  39. Greg Sacks
  40. Chet Fillip
  41. Ron Bouchard
  42. A. J. Foyt

Timeline

Section reference:[3]

  • Start: Buddy Baker was leading the starting grid as the race entered its first official lap.
  • Lap 2: A. J. Foyt's engine was giving him troubles, forcing him to exit the race.
  • Lap 13: Ron Bouchard had a terminal crash.
  • Lap 14: Ched Filip had a terminal crash.
  • Lap 33: Greg Sacks had a terminal crash, Tommy Ellis' engine stopped working properly.
  • Lap 50: Morgan Shepherd just could not handle his vehicle properly anymore.
  • Lap 78: Benny Parsons fell out with engine failure.
  • Lap 83: Eddie Bierschwale fell out with engine failure.
  • Lap 92: Ken Ragan's transmission started to act in a strange manner.
  • Lap 106: The clutch on Doug Heveron's vehicle no longer worked properly.
  • Lap 130: The brakes on Rodney Combs' vehicle were no longer satisfactory.
  • Lap 143: Harry Gant fell out with engine failure.
  • Lap 145: Connie Saylor had a terminal crash.
  • Lap 147: Geoffrey Bodine fell out with engine failure.
  • Lap 151: Dale Earnhardt had a terminal crash.
  • Finish: Tim Richmond was officially declared the winner of the event.

Standings after the race

Pos Driver Points[3] Differential
1 Dale Earnhardt 2344 0
2 Darrell Waltrip 2166 -178
3 Increase Tim Richmond 2045 -299
4 Decrease Bill Elliott 2037 -307
5 Decrease Bobby Allison 2033 -311
6 Rusty Wallace 1998 -346
7 Ricky Rudd 1958 -386
8 Increase Terry Labonte 1859 -485
9 Decrease Harry Gant 1858 -486
10 Increase Bobby Hillin Jr. 1815 -529

References

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