1992 Pontiac Excitement 400
# 1992 Pontiac Excitement 400

The 1992 Pontiac Excitement 400 was the third stock car race of the 1992 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 38th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, March 8, 1992, before an audience of 65,200 in Richmond, Virginia, at Richmond International Raceway, a 0.75 miles (1.21 km) D-shaped oval. The race took the scheduled 400 laps to complete. In a close finish, Junior Johnson & Associates driver Bill Elliott would manage to complete a dominant performance by besting challenger Alan Kulwicki by 18 inches (46 cm) at the finish line to take his 36th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his second victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Leo Jackson Motorsports driver Harry Gant would finish third.

## Background

Richmond International Raceway (RIR) is a 3/4-mile (1.2 km), D-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in Henrico County. It hosts the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series. Known as "America's premier short track", it formerly hosted a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, an IndyCar Series race, and two USAC sprint car races.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.

| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Oldsmobile | Skoal |
| 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Pontiac | Miller Genuine Draft |
| 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | GM Goodwrench Service Plus |
| 4 | Ernie Irvan | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kodak |
| 5 | Ricky Rudd | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Tide |
| 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | Valvoline |
| 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | Hooters |
| 8 | Dick Trickle | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | Snickers |
| 10 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Chevrolet | Purolator Filters |
| 11 | Bill Elliott | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | Budweiser |
| 12 | Hut Stricklin | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Chevrolet | Raybestos |
| 15 | Geoff Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | Motorcraft |
| 16 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Roush Racing | Ford | Keystone |
| 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | Western Auto |
| 18 | Dale Jarrett | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | Interstate Batteries |
| 21 | Morgan Shepherd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Citgo |
| 22 | Sterling Marlin | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | Maxwell House |
| 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kodiak |
| 26 | Brett Bodine | King Racing | Ford | Quaker State |
| 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Texaco, Havoline |
| 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | Pennzoil |
| 32 | Randy Porter | Porter Racing | Pontiac | Porter Racing |
| 33 | Harry Gant | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Skoal Bandit |
| 41 | Greg Sacks | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kellogg's Frosted Flakes |
| 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | Mello Yello |
| 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 49 | Stanley Smith | BS&S Motorsports | Chevrolet | Ameritron Batteries |
| 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | Funshine RV |
| 55 | Ted Musgrave | RaDiUs Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Jasper Engines & Transmissions |
| 59 | Andy Belmont (R) | Pat Rissi Racing | Ford | Slick 50 |
| 66 | Chad Little | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | Phillips 66 TropArtic |
| 68 | Bobby Hamilton | TriStar Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Country Time |
| 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Abilene Boots |
| 88 | Jeff Fuller | Bandzul Racing | Pontiac | Bandzul Racing |
| 90 | Charlie Glotzbach | Donlavey Racing | Ford | SplitFire |
| 94 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | Sunoco |
| 98 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Chevrolet | Moly Black Gold |

## Qualifying

Qualifying was originally scheduled to be split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, March 6, at 2:30 PM EST. Originally, the first 20 positions were going to be determined by first round qualifying, with positions 21-40 meant to be determined the following day on Saturday, March 7. However, due to rain, the second round was cancelled. As a result, the rest of the starting lineup was set using the results from the first round.

Bill Elliott, driving for Junior Johnson & Associates, would win the pole, setting a time of 22.252 and an average speed of 121.337 miles per hour (195.273 km/h).

Two drivers would fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 11 | Bill Elliott | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 22.252 | 121.337 |
| 2 | 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 22.394 | 120.568 |
| 3 | 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | 22.463 | 120.198 |
| 4 | 22 | Sterling Marlin | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 22.473 | 120.144 |
| 5 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 22.476 | 120.128 |
| 6 | 33 | Harry Gant | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 22.502 | 119.989 |
| 7 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 22.530 | 119.840 |
| 8 | 12 | Hut Stricklin | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.547 | 119.750 |
| 9 | 26 | Brett Bodine | King Racing | Ford | 22.548 | 119.745 |
| 10 | 4 | Ernie Irvan | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.551 | 119.729 |
| 11 | 21 | Morgan Shepherd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 22.567 | 119.644 |
| 12 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Pontiac | 22.568 | 119.638 |
| 13 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.573 | 119.612 |
| 14 | 15 | Geoff Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 22.592 | 119.511 |
| 15 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 22.602 | 119.458 |
| 16 | 98 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Chevrolet | 22.640 | 119.258 |
| 17 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Oldsmobile | 22.649 | 119.211 |
| 18 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.668 | 119.111 |
| 19 | 94 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 22.709 | 118.896 |
| 20 | 41 | Greg Sacks | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.710 | 118.890 |
| 21 | 18 | Dale Jarrett | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 22.758 | 118.640 |
| 22 | 8 | Dick Trickle | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 22.793 | 118.457 |
| 23 | 66 | Chad Little | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 22.816 | 118.338 |
| 24 | 68 | Bobby Hamilton | TriStar Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 22.829 | 118.271 |
| 25 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 22.842 | 118.203 |
| 26 | 10 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Chevrolet | 22.854 | 118.141 |
| 27 | 5 | Ricky Rudd | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.861 | 118.105 |
| 28 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 22.890 | 117.955 |
| 29 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 22.954 | 117.627 |
| 30 | 88 | Jeff Fuller | Bandzul Racing | Pontiac | 23.082 | 116.974 |
| 31 | 16 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Roush Racing | Ford | 23.103 | 116.868 |
| 32 | 55 | Ted Musgrave | RaDiUs Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 23.129 | 116.737 |
| 33 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 23.158 | 116.590 |
| 34 | 49 | Stanley Smith | BS&S Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.361 | 115.577 |
| Provisional |||||||
| 35 | 90 | Charlie Glotzbach | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 23.373 | 115.518 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 36 | 59 | Andy Belmont (R) | Pat Rissi Racing | Ford | 24.372 | 110.783 |
| 37 | 32 | Randy Porter | Porter Racing | Pontiac | - | - |
| Official first round qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 1 | 11 | Bill Elliott | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 400 | 348 | running | 185 | $272,700 |
| 2 | 5 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 400 | 0 | running | 170 | $36,525 |
| 3 | 6 | 33 | Harry Gant | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 400 | 48 | running | 170 | $31,950 |
| 4 | 2 | 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 400 | 1 | running | 165 | $25,100 |
| 5 | 18 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 400 | 3 | running | 160 | $21,775 |
| 6 | 27 | 5 | Ricky Rudd | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 400 | 0 | running | 150 | $16,050 |
| 7 | 4 | 22 | Sterling Marlin | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 399 | 0 | running | 146 | $13,700 |
| 8 | 19 | 94 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 399 | 0 | running | 142 | $12,250 |
| 9 | 8 | 12 | Hut Stricklin | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Chevrolet | 399 | 0 | running | 138 | $11,950 |
| 10 | 11 | 21 | Morgan Shepherd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 399 | 0 | running | 134 | $13,600 |
| 11 | 29 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 399 | 0 | running | 130 | $16,600 |
| 12 | 16 | 98 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Chevrolet | 398 | 0 | running | 127 | $10,650 |
| 13 | 21 | 18 | Dale Jarrett | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 398 | 0 | running | 124 | $4,800 |
| 14 | 13 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 397 | 0 | running | 121 | $13,700 |
| 15 | 10 | 4 | Ernie Irvan | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 397 | 0 | running | 118 | $14,360 |
| 16 | 14 | 15 | Geoff Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 397 | 0 | running | 115 | $12,225 |
| 17 | 12 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Pontiac | 396 | 0 | running | 112 | $12,425 |
| 18 | 17 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Oldsmobile | 396 | 0 | running | 109 | $9,875 |
| 19 | 26 | 10 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Chevrolet | 396 | 0 | running | 106 | $5,550 |
| 20 | 3 | 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | 395 | 0 | running | 103 | $9,325 |
| 21 | 25 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 395 | 0 | running | 100 | $9,875 |
| 22 | 22 | 8 | Dick Trickle | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 394 | 0 | running | 97 | $9,100 |
| 23 | 23 | 66 | Chad Little | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 393 | 0 | running | 94 | $5,925 |
| 24 | 31 | 16 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Roush Racing | Ford | 393 | 0 | running | 91 | $4,150 |
| 25 | 32 | 55 | Ted Musgrave | RaDiUs Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 393 | 0 | running | 88 | $8,750 |
| 26 | 35 | 90 | Charlie Glotzbach | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 392 | 0 | running | 85 | $5,675 |
| 27 | 34 | 49 | Stanley Smith | BS&S Motorsports | Chevrolet | 392 | 0 | running | 82 | $4,050 |
| 28 | 28 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 389 | 0 | running | 79 | $5,600 |
| 29 | 30 | 88 | Jeff Fuller | Bandzul Racing | Pontiac | 386 | 0 | water pump | 76 | $4,000 |
| 30 | 15 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 363 | 0 | running | 73 | $11,970 |
| 31 | 24 | 68 | Bobby Hamilton | TriStar Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 353 | 0 | rear end | 70 | $9,500 |
| 32 | 20 | 41 | Greg Sacks | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 342 | 0 | running | 67 | $3,925 |
| 33 | 9 | 26 | Brett Bodine | King Racing | Ford | 267 | 0 | axle | 64 | $9,435 |
| 34 | 7 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 259 | 0 | engine | 61 | $8,400 |
| 35 | 33 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 93 | 0 | engine | 58 | $4,400 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 36 | | 59 | Andy Belmont (R) | Pat Rissi Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 37 | | 32 | Randy Porter | Porter Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| - | - | - | - |
| | 1 | Davey Allison | 525 |
| 1 | 2 | Harry Gant | 462 (-63) |
| 3 | 3 | Bill Elliott | 457 (-68) |
| 2 | 4 | Morgan Shepherd | 438 (–87) |
| 1 | 5 | Terry Labonte | 434 (–91) |
| 1 | 6 | Geoff Bodine | 401 (–124) |
| 4 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | 400 (–125) |
| 8 | 8 | Darrell Waltrip | 384 (–141) |
| 4 | 9 | Hut Stricklin | 367 (–158) |
| 1 | 10 | Rick Mast | 360 (–165) |
| Official driver's standings ||||
