1996 Miller 400 (Richmond)
# 1996 Miller 400 (Richmond)

The 1996 Miller 400 was the 24th stock car race of the 1996 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 39th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, September 7, 1996, 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 the final laps of the race, Robert Yates Racing driver Ernie Irvan would manage to defend and come out victorious against Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon, only beating Gordon by a tenth of a second. The win was Irvan's 14th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his second and final victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Roush Racing driver Jeff Burton 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 | Pontiac | Hooters |
| 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | Miller Silver Splash |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 27 | Todd Bodine | David Blair Motorsports | Ford | David Blair Motorsports |
| 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Texaco, Havoline |
| 29 | Chad Little | 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 |
| 40 | Jay Sauter | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | First Union |
| 41 | Ricky Craven | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kodiak |
| 42 | Kyle Petty | Team SABCO | Pontiac | Coors Light |
| 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 46 | Stacy Compton | Monroe Racing | Chevrolet | Monroe Racing |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 95 | Gary Bradberry | Sadler Brothers Racing | Ford | Shoney's Inn |
| 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, September 6, at 5:30 PM EST. However, only six drivers were able to set a lap before qualifying was rained out and postponed until Saturday, September 7, at 12:00 PM EST. Qualifying was eventually combined into only one round. Each driver would have one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 26-36 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 21.997 and an average speed of 122.744 miles per hour (197.537 km/h).

Three drivers would fail to qualify: Stacy Compton, Jay Sauter, and Gary Bradberry.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 21.997 | 122.744 |
| 2 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.022 | 122.605 |
| 3 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 22.060 | 122.393 |
| 4 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 22.065 | 122.366 |
| 5 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 22.078 | 122.294 |
| 6 | 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.079 | 122.288 |
| 7 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 22.085 | 122.255 |
| 8 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 22.088 | 122.238 |
| 9 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 22.132 | 121.995 |
| 10 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 22.145 | 121.924 |
| 11 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.149 | 121.902 |
| 12 | 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 22.169 | 121.792 |
| 13 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | 22.172 | 121.775 |
| 14 | 27 | Todd Bodine | David Blair Motorsports | Ford | 22.183 | 121.715 |
| 15 | 90 | Dick Trickle | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 22.187 | 121.693 |
| 16 | 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 22.189 | 121.682 |
| 17 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.199 | 121.627 |
| 18 | 12 | Derrike Cope | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Ford | 22.205 | 121.594 |
| 19 | 42 | Kyle Petty | Team SABCO | Pontiac | 22.208 | 121.578 |
| 20 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | 22.214 | 121.545 |
| 21 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Pontiac | 22.225 | 121.485 |
| 22 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 22.229 | 121.463 |
| 23 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 22.241 | 121.397 |
| 24 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.250 | 121.348 |
| 25 | 41 | Ricky Craven | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.258 | 121.305 |
| 26 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 22.263 | 121.277 |
| 27 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 22.275 | 121.212 |
| 28 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 22.276 | 121.207 |
| 29 | 33 | Robert Pressley | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.278 | 121.196 |
| 30 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | 22.285 | 121.158 |
| 31 | 98 | John Andretti | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 22.338 | 120.870 |
| 32 | 29 | Chad Little | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.309 | 121.027 |
| 33 | 15 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 22.336 | 120.881 |
| 34 | 30 | Johnny Benson Jr. (R) | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 22.338 | 120.870 |
| 35 | 37 | Jeremy Mayfield | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | 22.306 | 121.044 |
| 36 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.349 | 120.811 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 37 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| 38 | 75 | Morgan Shepherd | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| 39 | 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 40 | 77 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 41 | 46 | Stacy Compton | Monroe Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 42 | 40 | Jay Sauter | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 43 | 95 | Gary Bradberry | Sadler Brothers Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 16 | 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 400 | 88 | running | 180 | $86,665 |
| 2 | 2 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 400 | 168 | running | 180 | $59,640 |
| 3 | 3 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 400 | 113 | running | 170 | $50,755 |
| 4 | 8 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 400 | 11 | running | 165 | $30,505 |
| 5 | 24 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 400 | 1 | running | 160 | $37,155 |
| 6 | 10 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 400 | 0 | running | 150 | $30,005 |
| 7 | 12 | 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 400 | 0 | running | 146 | $29,005 |
| 8 | 18 | 12 | Derrike Cope | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Ford | 400 | 0 | running | 142 | $24,705 |
| 9 | 1 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 400 | 1 | running | 143 | $34,805 |
| 10 | 34 | 30 | Johnny Benson Jr. (R) | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 400 | 13 | running | 139 | $26,155 |
| 11 | 4 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 400 | 0 | running | 130 | $28,105 |
| 12 | 37 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 399 | 0 | running | 127 | $29,405 |
| 13 | 11 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 399 | 0 | running | 124 | $23,155 |
| 14 | 22 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 399 | 0 | running | 121 | $22,955 |
| 15 | 9 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 399 | 0 | running | 118 | $23,855 |
| 16 | 7 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 399 | 4 | running | 120 | $23,500 |
| 17 | 30 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | 399 | 0 | running | 112 | $26,400 |
| 18 | 19 | 42 | Kyle Petty | Team SABCO | Pontiac | 399 | 0 | running | 109 | $22,150 |
| 19 | 21 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Pontiac | 398 | 0 | running | 106 | $22,025 |
| 20 | 23 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 398 | 0 | running | 103 | $30,100 |
| 21 | 17 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 398 | 0 | running | 100 | $27,850 |
| 22 | 36 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 398 | 0 | running | 97 | $21,825 |
| 23 | 38 | 75 | Morgan Shepherd | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 398 | 0 | running | 94 | $14,650 |
| 24 | 39 | 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 398 | 0 | running | 91 | $14,525 |
| 25 | 26 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 397 | 0 | running | 88 | $21,575 |
| 26 | 29 | 33 | Robert Pressley | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Chevrolet | 397 | 0 | running | 85 | $21,250 |
| 27 | 15 | 90 | Dick Trickle | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 397 | 0 | running | 82 | $14,125 |
| 28 | 25 | 41 | Ricky Craven | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 397 | 0 | running | 79 | $21,000 |
| 29 | 35 | 37 | Jeremy Mayfield | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | 396 | 0 | running | 76 | $20,975 |
| 30 | 28 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 396 | 0 | running | 73 | $20,925 |
| 31 | 13 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | 396 | 0 | running | 70 | $20,375 |
| 32 | 40 | 77 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 396 | 0 | running | 67 | $10,850 |
| 33 | 33 | 15 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 395 | 0 | running | 64 | $17,845 |
| 34 | 27 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 395 | 1 | running | 66 | $10,825 |
| 35 | 14 | 27 | Todd Bodine | David Blair Motorsports | Ford | 395 | 0 | running | 58 | $10,825 |
| 36 | 31 | 98 | John Andretti | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 394 | 0 | running | 55 | $10,825 |
| 37 | 5 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 362 | 0 | crash | 52 | $25,825 |
| 38 | 20 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | 308 | 0 | rear end | 49 | $10,825 |
| 39 | 6 | 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | 301 | 0 | transmission | 46 | $17,825 |
| 40 | 32 | 29 | Chad Little | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | 38 | 0 | crash | 43 | $17,825 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 41 | | 46 | Stacy Compton | Monroe Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 42 | | 40 | Jay Sauter | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 43 | | 95 | Gary Bradberry | Sadler Brothers Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||
