1996 Miller 500 (Dover)
# 1996 Miller 500 (Dover)

The 1996 Miller 500 was the 12th stock car race of the 1996 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 28th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, June 2, 1996, in Dover, Delaware at Dover International Speedway, a 1-mile (1.6 km) permanent oval-shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 500 laps to complete. At race's end, Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon would manage to dominate the late stages of the race to take his 13th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his fourth victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Hendrick Motorsports driver Terry Labonte and Richard Childress Racing driver Dale Earnhardt would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

Dover International Speedway is an oval race track in Dover, Delaware, United States that has held at least two NASCAR races since it opened in 1969. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosted USAC and the NTT IndyCar Series. The track features one layout, a 1-mile (1.6 km) concrete oval, with 24° banking in the turns and 9° banking on the straights. The speedway is owned and operated by Dover Motorsports.

The track, nicknamed "The Monster Mile", was built in 1969 by Melvin Joseph of Melvin L. Joseph Construction Company, Inc., with an asphalt surface, but was replaced with concrete in 1995. Six years later in 2001, the track's capacity moved to 135,000 seats, making the track have the largest capacity of sports venue in the mid-Atlantic. In 2002, the name changed to Dover International Speedway from Dover Downs International Speedway after Dover Downs Gaming and Entertainment split, making Dover Motorsports. From 2007 to 2009, the speedway worked on an improvement project called "The Monster Makeover", which expanded facilities at the track and beautified the track. After the 2014 season, the track's capacity was reduced to 95,500 seats.

### 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 |
| 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 | Dick Trickle | 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 |
| 26 | Hermie Sadler | Sadler Racing | Chevrolet | Peebles Department Stores |
| 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Texaco, Havoline |
| 29 | Steve Grissom | 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 Earnhardt Protest |
| 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 |
| 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 | Mike Wallace | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Heilig-Meyers |
| 94 | Todd Bodine | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | McDonald's Monopoly |
| 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 split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, May 31, at 3:00 pm EST. Each driver would have one lap to set a time. During the first round, the top 25 drivers in the round would be guaranteed a starting spot in the race. If a driver was not able to guarantee a spot in the first round, they had the option to scrub their time from the first round and try and run a faster lap time in a second round qualifying run, held on Saturday, June 1, at 11:30 am EST. As with the first 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.

Jeff Gordon, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would win the pole, setting a time of 23.258 and an average speed of 154.785 miles per hour (249.102 km/h).

No drivers would fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.258 | 154.785 |
| 2 | 19 | Dick Trickle | TriStar Motorsports | Ford | 23.390 | 153.912 |
| 3 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 23.392 | 153.899 |
| 4 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.428 | 153.662 |
| 5 | 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 23.461 | 153.446 |
| 6 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 23.497 | 153.211 |
| 7 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 23.499 | 153.198 |
| 8 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 23.503 | 153.172 |
| 9 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | 23.505 | 153.159 |
| 10 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Pontiac | 23.514 | 153.100 |
| 11 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 23.519 | 153.068 |
| 12 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 23.542 | 152.918 |
| 13 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | 23.550 | 152.866 |
| 14 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 23.554 | 152.840 |
| 15 | 42 | Kyle Petty | Team SABCO | Pontiac | 23.560 | 152.801 |
| 16 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 23.580 | 152.672 |
| 17 | 12 | Derrike Cope | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Ford | 23.594 | 152.581 |
| 18 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 23.597 | 152.562 |
| 19 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.637 | 152.304 |
| 20 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 23.670 | 152.091 |
| 21 | 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 23.671 | 152.085 |
| 22 | 77 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 23.671 | 152.085 |
| 23 | 30 | Johnny Benson Jr. (R) | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 23.686 | 151.989 |
| 24 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 23.690 | 151.963 |
| 25 | 37 | John Andretti | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | 23.699 | 151.905 |
| Failed to lock in Round 1 |||||||
| 26 | 95 | Gary Bradberry | Sadler Brothers Racing | Ford | 23.637 | 152.304 |
| 27 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 23.681 | 152.021 |
| 28 | 90 | Mike Wallace | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 23.685 | 151.995 |
| 29 | 41 | Ricky Craven | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.712 | 151.822 |
| 30 | 26 | Hermie Sadler | Sadler Racing | Chevrolet | 23.713 | 151/815 |
| 31 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.726 | 151.732 |
| 32 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | 23.737 | 151.662 |
| 33 | 94 | Todd Bodine | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 23.740 | 151.815 |
| 34 | 15 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 23.757 | 151.534 |
| 35 | 29 | Steve Grissom | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.772 | 151.439 |
| 36 | 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.774 | 151.426 |
| 37 | 75 | Morgan Shepherd | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 23.777 | 151.407 |
| 38 | 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 23.779 | 151.394 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 39 | 98 | Jeremy Mayfield | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| 40 | 33 | Greg Sacks | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 41 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 42 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| Official first round qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 1 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 307 | running | 185 | $138,730 |
| 2 | 4 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 0 | running | 170 | $57,480 |
| 3 | 14 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 500 | 90 | running | 170 | $60,080 |
| 4 | 21 | 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 500 | 16 | running | 165 | $42,440 |
| 5 | 7 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 499 | 0 | running | 155 | $42,295 |
| 6 | 24 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 499 | 0 | running | 150 | $37,215 |
| 7 | 8 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 499 | 0 | running | 146 | $22,265 |
| 8 | 16 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 499 | 0 | running | 142 | $32,765 |
| 9 | 18 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 499 | 0 | running | 138 | $22,115 |
| 10 | 31 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 499 | 0 | running | 134 | $32,465 |
| 11 | 27 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 498 | 0 | running | 130 | $27,365 |
| 12 | 39 | 98 | Jeremy Mayfield | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 497 | 0 | running | 127 | $19,765 |
| 13 | 20 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 497 | 0 | running | 124 | $26,365 |
| 14 | 29 | 41 | Ricky Craven | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 497 | 1 | running | 126 | $25,965 |
| 15 | 33 | 94 | Todd Bodine | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 496 | 0 | running | 118 | $25,765 |
| 16 | 3 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 496 | 0 | running | 115 | $29,490 |
| 17 | 23 | 30 | Johnny Benson Jr. (R) | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 496 | 0 | running | 112 | $26,065 |
| 18 | 15 | 42 | Kyle Petty | Team SABCO | Pontiac | 496 | 0 | running | 109 | $24,850 |
| 19 | 28 | 90 | Mike Wallace | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 495 | 0 | running | 106 | $17,665 |
| 20 | 9 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | 495 | 0 | running | 103 | $19,315 |
| 21 | 38 | 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 495 | 0 | running | 100 | $24,365 |
| 22 | 34 | 15 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 493 | 0 | running | 97 | $24,215 |
| 23 | 17 | 12 | Derrike Cope | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Ford | 492 | 0 | running | 94 | $24,065 |
| 24 | 11 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 490 | 0 | running | 91 | $23,915 |
| 25 | 36 | 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | 488 | 0 | running | 88 | $23,940 |
| 26 | 32 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | 481 | 0 | running | 85 | $23,690 |
| 27 | 40 | 33 | Greg Sacks | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Chevrolet | 480 | 0 | running | 82 | $24,140 |
| 28 | 2 | 19 | Dick Trickle | TriStar Motorsports | Ford | 471 | 0 | running | 79 | $13,990 |
| 29 | 22 | 77 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 467 | 0 | running | 76 | $13,540 |
| 30 | 13 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | 467 | 0 | running | 73 | $20,490 |
| 31 | 42 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 452 | 0 | running | 70 | $13,450 |
| 32 | 37 | 75 | Morgan Shepherd | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 434 | 0 | running | 67 | $13,380 |
| 33 | 25 | 37 | John Andretti | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | 429 | 3 | engine | 69 | $20,330 |
| 34 | 5 | 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 421 | 0 | engine | 61 | $13,280 |
| 35 | 10 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Pontiac | 405 | 0 | crash | 58 | $20,080 |
| 36 | 6 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 374 | 83 | crash | 60 | $22,055 |
| 37 | 30 | 26 | Hermie Sadler | Sadler Racing | Chevrolet | 349 | 0 | handling | 52 | $13,055 |
| 38 | 26 | 95 | Gary Bradberry | Sadler Brothers Racing | Ford | 345 | 0 | engine | 49 | $13,055 |
| 39 | 41 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 229 | 0 | handling | 46 | $20,055 |
| 40 | 12 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 219 | 0 | engine | 43 | $29,855 |
| 41 | 19 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 87 | 0 | engine | 40 | $29,655 |
| 42 | 35 | 29 | Steve Grissom | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | 64 | 0 | crash | 37 | $20,055 |
| Official race results |||||||||||
