1987 NASCAR Winston Cup Series

Team changes

Preseason

• January 8, 1987 – Tim Richmond announced that he would miss the first part of 1987 due to "double pneumonia." Benny Parsons was hired to replace Richmond in the Folgers Chevrolet for car owner Rick Hendrick. The car number was changed to 35, saving the 25 for Richmond's return. He returned for eight races mid-season, winning his first 2 races back at Pocono and Riverside. These eight races were the last races that Richmond would ever run in NASCAR.
• February 4, 1987 – Bruce Jacobi died at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, IN. Jacobi was injured in the first Twin 125-mile qualifying race on February 17, 1983, and had been in a coma since then.

Season summary

Busch Clash

1. # 9 – Bill Elliott
2. #5 – Geoff Bodine
3. #17 – Darrell Waltrip
4. #3 – Dale Earnhardt
5. #7 – Alan Kulwicki
6. #29 – Cale Yarborough
7. #35 – Benny Parsons
8. #33 – Harry Gant
9. #11 – Terry Labonte
10. #15 – Ricky Rudd

7-Eleven Twin 125's

1. #90 – Ken Schrader
2. #9 – Bill Elliott
3. #17 – Darrell Waltrip
4. #88 – Buddy Baker
5. #4 – Rick Wilson
6. #43 – Richard Petty
7. #3 – Dale Earnhardt
8. #75 – Neil Bonnett
9. #1 – Ron Bouchard
10. #55 – Phil Parsons

• Jocko Maggiacomo DNS.
• This race featured two flips: Phil Barkdoll and Tommy Ellis. A. J. Foyt was involved in the Ellis wreck and suffered a shoulder injury.

1. #35-Benny Parsons
2. #22-Bobby Allison
3. #5-Geoff Bodine
4. #44-Sterling Marlin
5. #33-Harry Gant
6. #28-Davey Allison
7. #11-Terry Labonte
8. #71-Dave Marcis
9. #30-Michael Waltrip
10. #21-Kyle Petty

Round 1: Daytona 500">1987 Daytona 500">Daytona 500

Top Ten Results

1. #9 – Bill Elliott
2. #35 – Benny Parsons
3. #43 – Richard Petty
4. #88 – Buddy Baker
5. #3 – Dale Earnhardt
6. #22 – Bobby Allison
7. #90 – Ken Schrader
8. #17 – Darrell Waltrip
9. #15 – Ricky Rudd
10. #29 – Cale Yarborough

Round 2: Goodwrench 500">1987 Goodwrench 500">Goodwrench 500

1. #3 – Dale Earnhardt
2. #15 – Ricky Rudd
3. #75 – Neil Bonnett
4. #9 – Bill Elliott
5. #26 – Morgan Shepherd
6. #27 – Rusty Wallace
7. #17 – Darrell Waltrip
8. #11 – Terry Labonte
9. #28 – Davey Allison
10. #90 – Ken Schrader

• Dale Earnhardt led 319 out of 492 laps en route to his first victory of the season.

Round 3: [1987 [Miller High Life 400|Miller High Life 400]]

1. #3 – Dale Earnhardt
2. #5 – Geoff Bodine
3. #27 – Rusty Wallace
4. #9 – Bill Elliott
5. #11 – Terry Labonte
6. #7 – Alan Kulwicki
7. #21 – Kyle Petty
8. #71 – Dave Marcis
9. #22 – Bobby Allison
10. #35 – Benny Parsons

Round 4: Motorcraft Quality Parts 500">1987 Motorcraft Quality Parts 500">Motorcraft Quality Parts 500

1. #15 – Ricky Rudd
2. #35 – Benny Parsons
3. #27 – Rusty Wallace
4. #11 – Terry Labonte
5. #28 – Davey Allison
6. #17 – Darrell Waltrip
7. #75 – Neil Bonnett
8. #29 – Cale Yarborough
9. #42 – Kyle Petty
10. #26 – Morgan Shepherd

• Dale Earnhardt led 196 laps, but a mechanical problem would leave him out of contention.
• A restart with eight laps remaining left a four car battle for the victory. Ricky Rudd managed to pull away from Benny Parsons to take his first victory of the season, and seventh of his career.

Round 5: TranSouth 500">1987 TranSouth 500">TranSouth 500

1. #3 – Dale Earnhardt
2. #9 – Bill Elliott
3. #43 – Richard Petty
4. #44 – Sterling Marlin
5. #90 – Ken Schrader
6. #75 – Neil Bonnett
7. #33 – Harry Gant
8. #1 – Ron Bouchard
9. #55 – Phil Parsons
10. #17 – Darrell Waltrip

• Bill Elliott was leading at the white flag but ran out of gas in Turn 3. This allowed Dale Earnhardt to overtake Elliott and cruise to victory.
• At one point in the race, Benny Parsons, having hit the wall early, attempted to make a pit stop only for crew chief Harry Hyde to tell him that the crew was in the middle of a break for ice cream, inspiring a scene in the film Days of Thunder, where fictional driver Cole Trickle, played by Tom Cruise, is denied a pit stop due to his team eating ice cream.

Round 6: First Union 400">1987 First Union 400">First Union 400

1. #3 – Dale Earnhardt
2. #21 – Kyle Petty
3. #75 – Neil Bonnett
4. #7 – Alan Kulwicki
5. #15 – Ricky Rudd
6. #43 – Richard Petty
7. #55 – Phil Parsons
8. #11 – Terry Labonte*
9. #27 – Rusty Wallace
10. #9 – Bill Elliott

• Dale Earnhardt won the race in dominating fashion, leading 319 out of 500 laps to claim his second straight victory and fourth of the season.
• Terry Labonte was injured the previous week at Darlington, and was relieved by Brett Bodine at an early pit stop.
• This was the final race for DiGard Motorsports, as the team's assets were sold to Whitcomb Racing before the 1988 season.

Round 7: Valleydale Meats 500">1987 Valleydale Meats 500">Valleydale Meats 500

1. #3 – Dale Earnhardt
2. #43 – Richard Petty
3. #15 – Ricky Rudd
4. #9 – Bill Elliott
5. #7 – Alan Kulwicki
6. #33 – Harry Gant
7. #21 – Kyle Petty
8. #26 – Morgan Shepherd
9. #11 – Terry Labonte
10. #18 – Dale Jarrett

• After leading the most laps, Bill Elliott was surpassed by Dale Earnhardt with 115 laps to go. Earnhardt would hold on for his fifth victory of the season.

Round 8: Sovran Bank 500">1987 Sovran Bank 500">Sovran Bank 500

1. #3 – Dale Earnhardt
2. #27 – Rusty Wallace
3. #5 – Geoff Bodine
4. #55 – Phil Parsons
5. #11 – Terry Labonte
6. #9 – Bill Elliott
7. #90 – Ken Schrader
8. #22 – Bobby Allison
9. #75 – Neil Bonnett
10. #30 – Michael Waltrip

Round 9: Winston 500">1987 Winston 500">Winston 500

1. #28 – Davey Allison
2. #11 – Terry Labonte
3. #21 – Kyle Petty
4. #3 – Dale Earnhardt
5. #8 – Bobby Hillin Jr.
6. #27 – Rusty Wallace
7. #75 – Neil Bonnett
8. #90 – Ken Schrader
9. #83 – Lake Speed
10. #26 – Morgan Shepherd

• This race was remembered for a near-tragedy early when Bobby Allison flew into the fence and nearly landed in the front stretch grandstands. Though Allison was not injured, a female fan lost an eye as a result of being struck by debris. Eventually, this crash would lead to the introduction of restrictor plates in 1988, and the practice would continue until the 2019 Daytona 500. Allison's crash caused a 2½ hour red flag to repair the catch fence, and the race was shortened to 178 laps due to darkness.
• This was Davey Allison's first career Winston Cup victory, in only his 14th career start.

Exhibition: The Winston">1987 The Winston">The Winston

1. #3 – Dale Earnhardt
2. #11 – Terry Labonte
3. #25 – Tim Richmond
4. #5 – Geoff Bodine
5. #27 – Rusty Wallace
6. #21 – Kyle Petty
7. #26 – Morgan Shepherd
8. #22 – Bobby Allison
9. #17 – Darrell Waltrip
10. #55 – Benny Parsons

• At one point, Bill Elliott's car nicked the rear of Earnhardt's, sending the latter into the infield grass. But no sooner did Earnhardt drive through the grass than he drove onto the track once more. That incident came to be known as "The Pass in the Grass." With eight laps to go, contact with Earnhardt cut down Elliott's tire. An angry Elliott retaliated by bumping Earnhardt after the race was over.
• This race would be the breakthrough edition NASCAR envisioned, with the adoption of the non-winners "last chance" race and the 19 most recent NASCAR race winners in the feature of 75, 50, and 10 laps.

Round 10: Coca-Cola 600">1987 Coca-Cola 600">Coca-Cola 600

1. #21 – Kyle Petty
2. #26 – Morgan Shepherd
3. #83 – Lake Speed
4. #43 – Richard Petty
5. #17 – Darrell Waltrip
6. #11 – Terry Labonte
7. #88 – Buddy Baker
8. #55 – Phil Parsons
9. #89 – Jim Sauter
10. #27 – Rusty Wallace

• This race was notable for the sheer amount of attrition. Out of the 42 cars that started the 600 mile event, only 17 of them finished the race.
• 21 years before Marcos Ambrose made his debut in the series, Allan Grice became the first Australian driver to qualify for a Winston Cup race. In his first ever run on an oval track, Grice qualified his Oldsmobile Delta 88 in 35th position.
• Kyle Petty won this race by over 1 lap over Morgan Shepherd. This would be Kyle Petty’s last win with the Wood Brothers. Petty left the team following a dismal 1988 season to drive for Felix Sabates.

Round 11: Budweiser 500">1987 Budweiser 500">Budweiser 500

1. #28 – Davey Allison
2. #9 – Bill Elliott
3. #11 – Terry Labonte
4. #3 – Dale Earnhardt
5. #35 – Benny Parsons
6. #90 – Ken Schrader
7. #17 – Darrell Waltrip
8. #71 – Dave Marcis
9. #75 – Neil Bonnett
10. #44 – Sterling Marlin

• This was Davey Allison's second and last victory of his rookie season. It would make him the last rookie to win a Winston Cup race until Tony Stewart won 3 races in 1999.

Round 12: Miller High Life 500">1987 Miller High Life 500">Miller High Life 500

1. #25 – Tim Richmond
2. #9 – Bill Elliott
3. #21 – Kyle Petty
4. #29 – Cale Yarborough
5. #3 – Dale Earnhardt
6. #22 – Bobby Allison
7. #15 – Ricky Rudd
8. #75 – Neil Bonnett
9. #5 – Geoff Bodine
10. #88 – Buddy Baker

• This was Tim Richmond's first start of 1987. Late in the 1986 season, Richmond came down with what was thought of as "double pneumonia." This caused him to miss most of the season.

Round 13: Budweiser 400">1987 Budweiser 400">Budweiser 400

1. #25 – Tim Richmond
2. #15 – Ricky Rudd
3. #75 – Neil Bonnett
4. #11 – Terry Labonte
5. #9 – Bill Elliott
6. #43 – Richard Petty
7. #3 – Dale Earnhardt
8. #22 – Bobby Allison
9. #44 – Sterling Marlin
10. #90 – Ken Schrader

• Richard Petty, not fully recovered from rib injuries sustained in a crash at the Miller High Life 500 at Pocono a week earlier, ran only the pace lap before giving way to Joe Ruttman while Petty moved to the ESPN broadcast booth.
• This was Tim Richmond's final career victory.

Round 14: Miller American 400">1987 Miller American 400">Miller American 400

1. #3 – Dale Earnhardt
2. #28 – Davey Allison
3. #21 – Kyle Petty
4. #25 – Tim Richmond
5. #27 – Rusty Wallace
6. #8 – Bobby Hillin Jr.
7. #17 – Darrell Waltrip
8. #90 – Ken Schrader
9. #35 – Benny Parsons
10. #83 – Lake Speed

Round 15: Pepsi Firecracker 400">1987 Pepsi Firecracker 400">Pepsi Firecracker 400

1. #22 – Bobby Allison
2. #88 – Buddy Baker
3. #71 – Dave Marcis
4. #17 – Darrell Waltrip
5. #26 – Morgan Shepherd
6. #3 – Dale Earnhardt
7. #90 – Ken Schrader
8. #27 – Rusty Wallace
9. #33 – Harry Gant
10. #11 – Terry Labonte

• In this race, smaller carburetors were mandated by NASCAR at Daytona and Talladega in an attempt to slow the cars. The pole speed was just over 198 mph as compared to over 210 mph in February.
• NASCAR officials experienced scoring difficulties late in the race, and at one point, were scoring leader Bobby Allison as one lap down. Final results properly restored the missing lap to Allison's total, and he was credited with the victory.
• On the final lap, Ken Schrader got loose coming out of turn four, spun, and barrel-rolled in the tri-oval just shy of the start/finish line. He collected Harry Gant, slid across the finish line, and still finished in 7th place. Schrader's flip can be seen in the movie ''Days of Thunder.''

Round 16: Summer 500">1987 Summer 500">Summer 500

1. #3 – Dale Earnhardt
2. #7 – Alan Kulwicki
3. #88 – Buddy Baker
4. #35 – Benny Parsons
5. #28 – Davey Allison
6. #11 – Terry Labonte
7. #75 – Neil Bonnett
8. #43 – Richard Petty
9. #71 – Dave Marcis
10. #90 – Ken Schrader

Round 17: Talladega 500">1987 Talladega 500">Talladega 500

1. #9 – Bill Elliott
2. #28 – Davey Allison
3. #3 – Dale Earnhardt
4. #17 – Darrell Waltrip
5. #29 – Cale Yarborough
6. #11 – Terry Labonte
7. #83 – Lake Speed
8. #27 – Rusty Wallace
9. #21 – Kyle Petty
10. #88 – Buddy Baker

Round 18: The Budweiser at The Glen">1987 The Budweiser at The Glen">The Budweiser at The Glen

1. #27 – Rusty Wallace
2. #11 – Terry Labonte
3. #71 – Dave Marcis
4. #15 – Ricky Rudd
5. #35 – Benny Parsons
6. #7 – Alan Kulwicki
7. #55 – Phil Parsons
8. #3 – Dale Earnhardt
9. #22 – Bobby Allison
10. #25 – Tim Richmond

• Rusty Wallace had a commanding lead in the final laps of the race, but prior to the white flag, he started running out of fuel. Rusty made a quick pit stop for gas, but kept his lead and held on for the win.

Round 19: Champion Spark Plug 400">1987 Champion Spark Plug 400">Champion Spark Plug 400

1. #9 – Bill Elliott
2. #3 – Dale Earnhardt
3. #26 – Morgan Shepherd
4. #27 – Rusty Wallace
5. #28 – Davey Allison
6. #7 – Alan Kulwicki
7. #22 – Bobby Allison
8. #88 – Buddy Baker
9. #75 – Neil Bonnett
10. #5 – Geoff Bodine

• This was Tim Richmond's final race; he was running 8th when his engine blew. He would be credited with a 29th place finish.
• Members of the print media covering the race were witnesses to the Northwest Airlines Flight 255 plane crash later in the day. Tom Higgins of The Charlotte Observer was involved in coverage of the plane crash, as he had just checked into the nearby hotel awaiting a Monday morning flight to Charlotte following the race.

Round 20: Busch 500">1987 Busch 500">Busch 500

1. #3 – Dale Earnhardt
2. #27 – Rusty Wallace
3. #15 – Ricky Rudd
4. #11 – Terry Labonte
5. #43 – Richard Petty
6. #5 – Geoff Bodine
7. #4 – Rick Wilson
8. #33 – Harry Gant
9. #9 – Bill Elliott
10. #75 – Neil Bonnett

Round 21: Southern 500">1987 Southern 500">Southern 500

1. #3 – Dale Earnhardt
2. #27 – Rusty Wallace
3. #43 – Richard Petty
4. #44 – Sterling Marlin
5. #11 – Terry Labonte
6. #8 – Bobby Hillin Jr.
7. #15 – Ricky Rudd
8. #9 – Bill Elliott
9. #26 – Morgan Shepherd
10. #17 – Darrell Waltrip

• The race was shortened to 202 laps due to rain.
• Going into this race three drivers had a shot at a special $100,000 bonus from Winston if they won this race because they had won the three previous Winston Million races. Bill Elliott won the Daytona 500, Davey Allison won the Winston 500, and Kyle Petty won the Coca Cola 600. Davey crashed out of the race on lap 164 finishing 29th. Kyle finished 14th 2 laps down to the winner. Bill could only muster 8th so ultimately no one won the bonus for 1987.

Round 22: Wrangler Jeans Indigo 400">1987 Wrangler Jeans Indigo 400">Wrangler Jeans Indigo 400

1. #3 – Dale Earnhardt
2. #17 – Darrell Waltrip
3. #15 – Ricky Rudd
4. #9 – Bill Elliott
5. #43 – Richard Petty
6. #5 – Geoff Bodine
7. #71 – Dave Marcis
8. #11 – Terry Labonte
9. #52 – Jimmy Means
10. #75 – Neil Bonnett

Round 23: Delaware 500">1987 Delaware 500">Delaware 500

1. #15 – Ricky Rudd
2. #28 – Davey Allison
3. #75 – Neil Bonnett
4. #9 – Bill Elliott
5. #44 – Sterling Marlin
6. #5 – Geoff Bodine
7. #22 – Bobby Allison
8. #88 – Buddy Baker
9. #43 – Richard Petty
10. #17 – Darrell Waltrip

Round 24: Goody's 500">1987 Goody's 500">Goody's 500

1. #17 – Darrell Waltrip
2. #3 – Dale Earnhardt
3. #11 – Terry Labonte
4. #75 – Neil Bonnett
5. #26 – Morgan Shepherd
6. #7 – Alan Kulwicki
7. #44 – Sterling Marlin
8. #22 – Bobby Allison
9. #21 – Kyle Petty
10. #18 – Dale Jarrett

• A late race caution set up an intense 3-lap sprint among Dale Earnhardt, Terry Labonte and Darrell Waltrip. On the final lap, going into turn 3, Labonte hooked Earnhardt's left rear quarter-panel, sending Earnhardt sideways and Labonte spinning towards the outside wall in turn 4. The contact enabled Waltrip to sneak underneath and grab the win.

Round 25: Holly Farms 400">1987 Holly Farms 400">Holly Farms 400

1. #11 – Terry Labonte
2. #3 – Dale Earnhardt
3. #9 – Bill Elliott
4. #26 – Morgan Shepherd
5. #5 – Geoff Bodine
6. #21 – Kyle Petty
7. #7 – Alan Kulwicki
8. #8 – Bobby Hillin Jr.
9. #43 – Richard Petty
10. #27 – Rusty Wallace

• This win was Labonte's first for Junior Johnson.

Round 26: Oakwood Homes 500">1987 Oakwood Homes 500">Oakwood Homes 500

1. #9 – Bill Elliott
2. #22 – Bobby Allison
3. #44 – Sterling Marlin
4. #11 – Terry Labonte
5. #43 – Richard Petty
6. #16 – Larry Pearson
7. #83 – Lake Speed
8. #56 – Ernie Irvan
9. #17 – Darrell Waltrip
10. #21 – Kyle Petty

• A crash at lap 57 ended Neil Bonnett's season as the crash shattered his leg.
• A big chain reaction crash at lap 125 took out Geoff Bodine, Brett Bodine, Alan Kulwicki and Bobby Hillin Jr. among others.

Round 27: [1987 [AC Delco 500|AC Delco 500]]

1. #9 – Bill Elliott
2. #3 – Dale Earnhardt
3. #17 – Darrell Waltrip
4. #11 – Terry Labonte
5. #26 – Morgan Shepherd
6. #21 – Kyle Petty
7. #88 – Buddy Baker
8. #5 – Geoff Bodine
9. #55 – Phil Parsons
10. #75 – Joe Ruttman

• Dale Earnhardt clinched his 3rd NASCAR Winston Cup Championship with two races to go. In the Bob Latford Winston Cup points system, a driver can clinch the championship with two races to go if he has a 370+ point lead over 2nd, and Earnhardt did just that by having a 515 point lead over Bill Elliott at the end of the race. Earnhardt would become the third driver in NASCAR history to clinch the Winston Cup Championship with two or more races to go, joining Richard Petty and Cale Yarborough, but as of 2018, Earnhardt is the only driver in NASCAR history to clinch the title twice with two races to go. He would accomplish it again in 1994 when he clinched his seventh and final championship with two races to go by 448 points over Rusty Wallace. In 1978, Yarborough clinched his third consecutive Winston Cup Championship with two races to go by 396 points over Bobby Allison, but in 1975, however, Petty clinched his sixth championship with four races to go because his point lead was 740+ over second. His margin was 827 points over James Hylton. Petty's championship win with four races to go is the earliest for a driver to clinch a championship in NASCAR history. Also as of 2018, this feat can never happen again due to several changes in the points system after 2003.

Round 28: Winston Western 500">1987 Winston Western 500">Winston Western 500

1. #27 – Rusty Wallace
2. #35 – Benny Parsons
3. #21 – Kyle Petty
4. #43 – Richard Petty
5. #22 – Bobby Allison
6. #17 – Darrell Waltrip
7. #75 – Joe Ruttman
8. #11 – Terry Labonte
9. #71 – Dave Marcis
10. #5 – Geoff Bodine

Round 29: Atlanta Journal 500">1987 Atlanta Journal 500">Atlanta Journal 500

1. #9 – Bill Elliott
2. #3 – Dale Earnhardt
3. #15 – Ricky Rudd
4. #22 – Bobby Allison
5. #28 – Davey Allison
6. #7 – Alan Kulwicki
7. #35 – Benny Parsons
8. #55 – Phil Parsons
9. #44 – Sterling Marlin
10. #88 – Buddy Baker

• This was the 1st time that Atlanta was the season finale.
• Dale Earnhardt officially won his third Winston Cup Championship by 489 points over Bill Elliott, the second largest point margin in Bob Latford's Winston Cup points system history. As of 2022, Richard Petty holds the record for the largest point margin, dating back to 1975, when he won his sixth championship by 722 points over Dave Marcis.

Results and standings

Drivers' championship

Rookie of the Year