1996 Miller 500 (Pocono)
# 1996 Miller 500 (Pocono)

The 1996 Miller 500 was the 17th stock car race of the 1996 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 24th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, July 21, 1996, in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, at Pocono Raceway, a 2.5 miles (4.0 km) triangular permanent course. The race took the scheduled 200 laps to complete. In the final laps of the race, Penske Racing South driver Rusty Wallace would manage to pull away from the field on the final restart with 14 to go to take his 45th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his fifth victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Rudd Performance Motorsports driver Ricky Rudd and Robert Yates Racing driver Dale Jarrett would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

The race was held at Pocono Raceway, which is a three-turn superspeedway located in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. The track hosts two annual NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, as well as one Xfinity Series and Camping World Truck Series event. Until 2019, the track also hosted an IndyCar Series race.

Pocono Raceway is one of a very few NASCAR tracks not owned by either Speedway Motorsports, Inc. or International Speedway Corporation. It is operated by the Igdalsky siblings Brandon, Nicholas, and sister Ashley, and cousins Joseph IV and Chase Mattioli, all of whom are third-generation members of the family-owned Mattco Inc, started by Joseph II and Rose Mattioli.

Outside of the NASCAR races, the track is used throughout the year by Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and motorcycle clubs as well as racing schools and an IndyCar race. The triangular oval also has three separate infield sections of racetrack – North Course, East Course and South Course. Each of these infield sections use a separate portion of the tri-oval to complete the track. During regular non-race weekends, multiple clubs can use the track by running on different infield sections. Also some of the infield sections can be run in either direction, or multiple infield sections can be put together – such as running the North Course and the South Course and using the tri-oval to connect the two.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.

| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Pontiac | Hooters |
| 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | Miller |
| 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | GM Goodwrench Service Plus |
| 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kodak |
| 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kellogg's Frosted Flakes |
| 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | Valvoline |
| 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | QVC |
| 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | Circuit City |
| 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | Spam |
| 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | Tide |
| 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | Lowe's |
| 12 | Derrike Cope | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Ford | Badcock Home Furniture |
| 14 | Jeff Green | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | Racing for Kids |
| 15 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | Hayes Modems |
| 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | PrimeStar, The Family Channel |
| 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | Parts America |
| 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | Interstate Batteries |
| 19 | Loy Allen Jr. | TriStar Motorsports | Ford | HealthSource RI |
| 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Citgo |
| 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | MBNA |
| 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | Camel Cigarettes |
| 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | DuPont |
| 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Budweiser, 1996 Summer Olympics |
| 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Texaco, Havoline |
| 29 | Greg Sacks | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | Cartoon Network, The Flintstones |
| 30 | Johnny Benson Jr. (R) | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | Pennzoil |
| 33 | Robert Pressley | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Chevrolet | Skoal |
| 37 | Jeremy Mayfield | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | Kmart, Little Caesars |
| 41 | Ricky Craven | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kodiak |
| 42 | Kyle Petty | Team SABCO | Pontiac | Coors Light |
| 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Prodigy |
| 75 | Morgan Shepherd | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | Remington Arms |
| 77 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | Jasper Engines & Transmissions |
| 78 | Randy MacDonald | Triad Motorsports | Ford | Diamond Rio |
| 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | Square D, TIC Financial Systems |
| 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | Burger King |
| 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Quality Care Service, Ford Credit |
| 90 | Dick Trickle | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Heilig-Meyers |
| 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | McDonald's |
| 98 | Jeremy Mayfield | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | RCA |
| 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | Exide |

## Qualifying

Qualifying was originally scheduled to be split into two rounds. The first round was scheduled to be held on Friday, July 19, at 3:00 PM EST. However, only six drivers were able to set a lap before qualifying was rained out and postponed until Friday, July 20, at 9:00 AM EST. Qualifying was eventually combined into only one round. Each driver would have one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 26-38 would be decided on time, and depending on who needed it, a select amount of positions were given to cars who had not otherwise qualified but were high enough in owner's points.

Mark Martin, driving for Roush Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 53.441 and an average speed of 168.410 miles per hour (271.030 km/h).

No drivers would fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 53.441 | 168.410 |
| 2 | 75 | Morgan Shepherd | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 53.737 | 167.482 |
| 3 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 53.738 | 167.479 |
| 4 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | 53.906 | 166.957 |
| 5 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 53.910 | 166.945 |
| 6 | 30 | Johnny Benson Jr. (R) | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 53.976 | 166.741 |
| 7 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 53.993 | 166.688 |
| 8 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 53.997 | 166.676 |
| 9 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 53.998 | 166.673 |
| 10 | 12 | Derrike Cope | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Ford | 54.007 | 166.645 |
| 11 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | 54.070 | 166.451 |
| 12 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 54.109 | 166.331 |
| 13 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 54.118 | 166.303 |
| 14 | 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | 54.131 | 166.263 |
| 15 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 54.136 | 166.248 |
| 16 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 54.271 | 165.834 |
| 17 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 54.297 | 165.755 |
| 18 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 54.306 | 165.728 |
| 19 | 78 | Randy MacDonald | Triad Motorsports | Ford | 54.315 | 165.700 |
| 20 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 54.357 | 165.572 |
| 21 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 54.367 | 165.542 |
| 22 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 54.377 | 165.511 |
| 23 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Pontiac | 54.400 | 165.441 |
| 24 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 54.418 | 165.386 |
| 25 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | 54.440 | 165.320 |
| 26 | 42 | Kyle Petty | Team SABCO | Pontiac | 54.479 | 165.201 |
| 27 | 15 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 54.482 | 165.192 |
| 28 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 54.485 | 165.183 |
| 29 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 54.504 | 165.125 |
| 30 | 77 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 54.541 | 165.013 |
| 31 | 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 54.548 | 164.992 |
| 32 | 98 | Jeremy Mayfield | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 54.569 | 164.929 |
| 33 | 90 | Dick Trickle | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 54.601 | 164.832 |
| 34 | 41 | Ricky Craven | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 54.661 | 164.651 |
| 35 | 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 54.737 | 164.423 |
| 36 | 37 | John Andretti | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | 54.965 | 163.741 |
| 37 | 14 | Jeff Green | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 55.088 | 163.375 |
| 38 | 29 | Greg Sacks | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | 55.100 | 163.339 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 39 | 33 | Robert Pressley | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 40 | 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 41 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 13 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 200 | 30 | running | 180 | $59,165 |
| 2 | 7 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 200 | 9 | running | 175 | $56,615 |
| 3 | 20 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 200 | 13 | running | 170 | $35,705 |
| 4 | 35 | 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 200 | 10 | running | 165 | $44,590 |
| 5 | 6 | 30 | Johnny Benson Jr. (R) | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 200 | 5 | running | 160 | $36,400 |
| 6 | 17 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 150 | $35,925 |
| 7 | 15 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 1 | running | 151 | $35,825 |
| 8 | 11 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 142 | $24,925 |
| 9 | 1 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 200 | 121 | running | 148 | $46,950 |
| 10 | 10 | 12 | Derrike Cope | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 134 | $27,825 |
| 11 | 4 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | 200 | 3 | running | 135 | $22,975 |
| 12 | 32 | 98 | Jeremy Mayfield | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 199 | 0 | running | 127 | $15,625 |
| 13 | 24 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 199 | 0 | running | 124 | $22,325 |
| 14 | 8 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | running | 121 | $27,925 |
| 15 | 22 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | running | 118 | $22,925 |
| 16 | 21 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | running | 115 | $27,025 |
| 17 | 2 | 75 | Morgan Shepherd | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 199 | 2 | running | 117 | $14,525 |
| 18 | 33 | 90 | Dick Trickle | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 199 | 0 | running | 109 | $14,225 |
| 19 | 28 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 199 | 0 | running | 106 | $20,975 |
| 20 | 34 | 41 | Ricky Craven | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | running | 103 | $22,550 |
| 21 | 12 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 199 | 0 | running | 100 | $20,425 |
| 22 | 5 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 199 | 0 | running | 97 | $24,825 |
| 23 | 36 | 37 | John Andretti | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | 199 | 0 | running | 94 | $20,100 |
| 24 | 18 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 198 | 0 | running | 91 | $19,950 |
| 25 | 39 | 33 | Robert Pressley | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Chevrolet | 198 | 0 | running | 88 | $19,975 |
| 26 | 26 | 42 | Kyle Petty | Team SABCO | Pontiac | 198 | 1 | running | 90 | $19,625 |
| 27 | 16 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 198 | 0 | running | 82 | $19,475 |
| 28 | 29 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 197 | 0 | running | 79 | $12,425 |
| 29 | 38 | 29 | Greg Sacks | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | 197 | 3 | running | 81 | $18,875 |
| 30 | 23 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Pontiac | 196 | 0 | running | 73 | $16,325 |
| 31 | 19 | 78 | Randy MacDonald | Triad Motorsports | Ford | 195 | 0 | running | 70 | $9,275 |
| 32 | 40 | 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 194 | 0 | running | 67 | $9,225 |
| 33 | 27 | 15 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 189 | 0 | running | 64 | $16,175 |
| 34 | 14 | 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | 179 | 2 | crash | 66 | $16,050 |
| 35 | 9 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 176 | 0 | running | 58 | $8,975 |
| 36 | 25 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | 175 | 0 | engine | 55 | $8,900 |
| 37 | 3 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 168 | 0 | engine | 52 | $24,835 |
| 38 | 30 | 77 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 139 | 0 | engine | 49 | $8,125 |
| 39 | 31 | 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 6 | 0 | crash | 46 | $16,125 |
| 40 | 41 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 4 | 0 | crash | 43 | $15,125 |
| 41 | 37 | 14 | Jeff Green | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 2 | 0 | crash | 40 | $8,125 |
| Official race results |||||||||||
