1985 Daytona 500
# 1985 Daytona 500

The 1985 Daytona 500, the 27th running of the event, was held on February 17, 1985, at Daytona International Speedway, in Daytona Beach, Florida.

## Race report

Bill Elliott won the pole at a then-record speed of 205.114 mph. After a mediocre run in the Busch Clash, Elliott nearly lapped the field in his 125-mile qualifying race, then thoroughly dominated the Daytona 500, leading 136 of the 200 laps in his #9 Coors/Melling Ford Thunderbird. The race restarted on the last lap after a Neil Bonnett spin out with less than four laps to go; Bonnett got out of his car and was credited for a 10th-place finish. The race saw a number of engine problems, which knocked many of the contenders, including former Daytona 500 winners David Pearson, A. J. Foyt, Benny Parsons, Bobby Allison, and two-time defending race winner Cale Yarborough, who was trying to win his third straight Daytona 500 victory.

The only car that could consistently run with Elliott was Cale Yarborough, and when his engine went up in smoke on lap 62 the race was for all intents and purposes over. Hendrick Motorsports landed its first big-time full-season sponsorship for 1985 with Levi Garrett chewing tobacco coming aboard to sponsor the #5 Chevrolet of Geoff Bodine. The car's first points race in its new yellow-and-white paint scheme saw Bodine post a solid top-10 run, kicking off a several-year partnership.

There were 12 cars that were knocked out just from engine problems; with a lot of big names affected (Neil Bonnett, who somehow finished 10th even with a blown engine; defending champion Terry Labonte; both Parsons brothers; Kyle Petty; Harry Gant; David Pearson; Bobby Allison and 2-time defending Daytona 500 champion Cale Yarborough among them).

## Qualifying

### Qualifying results

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Harry Melling | Ford Thunderbird | 205.114 |
| 2 | 28 | Cale Yarborough | Harry Ranier | Ford Thunderbird | 203.814 |
| 3 | 11 | Darrell Waltrip | Junior Johnson | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | |
| 4 | 21 | David Pearson | Hoss Ellington | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | |
| 5 | 55 | Benny Parsons | Leo/Richard Jackson | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | |
| 6 | 7 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers | Ford Thunderbird | |
| 7 | 88 | Buddy Baker | Buddy Baker/Danny Schiff | Oldsmobile Cutlass | |
| 8 | 43 | Richard Petty | Mike Curb | Pontiac Grand Prix | |
| 9 | 15 | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore | Ford Thunderbird | |
| 10 | 33 | Harry Gant | Hal Needham | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | |
| 11 | 1 | Dick Brooks | Petty Enterprises | Ford Thunderbird | |
| 12 | 66 | Phil Parsons | Leo/Richard Jackson | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | |
| 13 | 51 | Greg Sacks | Arnie Sacks | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | |
| 14 | 75 | Lake Speed | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac Grand Prix | |
| 15 | 47 | Ron Bouchard | Jack Beebe | Buick Regal | |
| 16 | 14 | A. J. Foyt | A. J. Foyt | Oldsmobile Cutlass | |
| 17 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Rick Hendrick | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | |
| 18 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | |
| 19 | 12 | Neil Bonnett | Junior Johnson | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | |
| 20 | 95 | Sterling Marlin | Sadler Brothers | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | |
| 21 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Dave Marcis | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | |
| 22 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Cliff Stewart | Pontiac Grand Prix | |
| 23 | 10 | Doug Heveron | Tom Heveron | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | |
| 24 | 90 | Ken Schrader | Junie Donlavey | Ford Thunderbird | |
| 25 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | |
| 26 | 74 | Bobby Wawak | Bobby Wawak | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | |
| 27 | 48 | Lennie Pond | James Hylton | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | |
| 28 | 89 | Jim Sauter | Mueller Brothers | Pontiac Grand Prix | |
| 29 | 84 | Mike Alexander | Sims Brothers | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | |
| 30 | 0 | Delma Cowart | H.L. Waters | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | |
| 31 | 44 | Terry Labonte | Billy Hagan | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | |
| 32 | 4 | Joe Ruttman | Larry McClure | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | |
| 33 | 27 | Tim Richmond | Raymond Beadle | Pontiac Grand Prix | |
| 34 | 22 | Bobby Allison | DiGard | Buick Regal | |
| 35 | 98 | Trevor Boys | Ron Benfield | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | |
| 36 | 67 | Morgan Shepherd | Buddy Arrington | Chrysler Imperial | |
| 36 | 17 | Ken Ragan | Roger Hamby | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | |
| 37 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | |
| 38 | 64 | Clark Dwyer | Elmo Langley | Ford Thunderbird | |
| 39 | 31 | Slick Johnson | Henley Gray | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | |
| Source ||||||

### Failed to qualify

| Car # | Driver | Car Make |
| - | - | - |
| 00 | Jody Ridley | Chevrolet Monte Carlo |
| 05 | Dean Roper | Ford Thunderbird |
| 6 | Eddie Bierschwale | Chevrolet Monte Carlo |
| 06 | Joe Thurman | Chevrolet Monte Carlo |
| 07 | Randy LaJoie | Chevrolet Monte Carlo |
| 08 | Craig Spetman | Chevrolet Monte Carlo |
| 19 | Bob Park | Pontiac Grand Prix |
| 20 | Rick Newsom | Chevrolet Monte Carlo |
| 37 | Satch Worley | Chevrolet Monte Carlo |
| 41 | Glenn Jarrett | Chevrolet Monte Carlo |
| 42 | Tom Sneva | Pontiac Grand Prix |
| 53 | Donny Paul | Chevrolet Monte Carlo |
| 65 | Joey Sonntag | Chevrolet Monte Carlo |
| 70 | J.D. McDuffie | Chevrolet Monte Carlo |
| 77 | Davey Allison (R) | Chevrolet Monte Carlo |
| 79 | Dick Skillen | Chevrolet Monte Carlo |
| 82 | Mark Stahl | Ford Thunderbird |
| 99 | Connie Saylor | Chevrolet Monte Carlo |
| Source |||

## Finishing Order

| Pos | Grid | No. | Driver | Car Make | Laps | Status | Laps led | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 1 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Ford Thunderbird | 200 | 2:54:09 | 136 | 185 (10) |
| 2 | 14 | 75 | Lake Speed | Pontiac Grand Prix | 200 | +0.94 seconds | 2 | 175 (5) |
| 3 | 3 | 11 | Darrell Waltrip | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 199 | Flagged | | 165 |
| 4 | 7 | 88 | Buddy Baker | Oldsmobile Cutlass | 199 | Flagged | | 160 |
| 5 | 9 | 15 | Ricky Rudd | Ford Thunderbird | 199 | Flagged | | 155 |
| 6 | 13 | 51 | Greg Sacks | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 199 | Flagged | 2 | 155 (5) |
| 7 | 17 | 5 | Geoffrey Bodine | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 198 | Flagged | | 146 |
| 8 | 22 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Pontiac Grand Prix | 197 | Flagged | | 142 |
| 9 | 38 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 197 | Flagged | | 138 |
| 10 | 19 | 12 | Neil Bonnett | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 195 | Engine | 22 | 139 (5) |
| 11 | 24 | 90 | Ken Schrader | Ford Thunderbird | 195 | Flagged | | 130 |
| 12 | 29 | 84 | Mike Alexander | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 194 | Flagged | | 127 |
| 13 | 26 | 74 | Bobby Wawak | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 192 | Flagged | | 124 |
| 14 | 25 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 192 | Flagged | | 121 |
| 15 | 36 | 67 | Morgan Shepherd | Chrysler Imperial | 190 | Flagged | | 118 |
| 16 | 20 | 95 | Sterling Marlin | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 188 | Oil pump | | 115 |
| 17 | 32 | 4 | Joe Ruttman | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 185 | Transmission | | 112 |
| 18 | 39 | 64 | Clark Dwyer | Ford Thunderbird | 182 | Flagged | | 109 |
| 19 | 27 | 48 | Lennie Pond | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 178 | Crash | | 106 |
| 20 | 40 | 31 | Slick Johnson | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 175 | Flagged | | 103 |
| 21 | 37 | 17 | Ken Ragan | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 172 | Flagged | | 100 |
| 22 | 11 | 1 | Dick Brooks | Ford Thunderbird | 171 | Wheel | | 97 |
| 23 | 28 | 89 | Jim Sauter | Pontiac Grand Prix | 161 | Flagged | | 94 |
| 24 | 21 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 156 | Clutch | | 91 |
| 25 | 31 | 44 | Terry Labonte | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 154 | Engine | 2 | 93 (5) |
| 26 | 10 | 33 | Harry Gant | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 124 | Engine | 1 | 90 (5) |
| 27 | 35 | 98 | Trevor Boys | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 103 | Rear end | | 82 |
| 28 | 4 | 21 | David Pearson | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 98 | Engine | | 79 |
| 29 | 12 | 66 | Phil Parsons | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 91 | Engine | | 76 |
| 30 | 16 | 14 | A. J. Foyt | Oldsmobile Cutlass | 90 | Engine | | 73 |
| 31 | 5 | 55 | Benny Parsons | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 84 | Engine | | 70 |
| 32 | 18 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 84 | Engine | | 67 |
| 33 | 34 | 22 | Bobby Allison | Buick Regal | 82 | Engine | 1 | 69 (5) |
| 34 | 8 | 43 | Richard Petty (W) | Pontiac Grand Prix | 80 | Clutch | 2 | 66 (5) |
| 35 | 33 | 27 | Tim Richmond | Pontiac Grand Prix | 66 | Crash | | 58 |
| 36 | 2 | 28 | Cale Yarborough | Ford Thunderbird | 62 | Engine | 32 | 60 (5) |
| 37 | 6 | 7 | Kyle Petty | Ford Thunderbird | 58 | Engine | | 52 |
| 38 | 15 | 47 | Ron Bouchard | Buick Regal | 45 | Camshaft | | 49 |
| 39 | 23 | 10 | Doug Heveron | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 44 | Engine | | 46 |
| 40 | 30 | 0 | Delma Cowart | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 38 | Oil leak | | 43 |
| Source |||||||||

(5) Indicates 5 bonus points added to normal race points scored for leading 1 lap (10) Indicates 10 bonus points added to normal race points scored for leading 1 lap & leading the most laps

### Cautions

5 for 18 laps

| From Lap | To Lap | Number of laps | Reason |
| - | - | - | - |
| 72 | 77 | 6 | Car #27 accident, backstretch |
| 162 | 164 | 3 | Car #71 stalled, turn 4 |
| 174 | 176 | 3 | Car #1 accident, turn 2 |
| 192 | 194 | 3 | Car #48 spin, frontstretch |
| 197 | 199 | 3 | Car #12 engine |

### Lap Leader Breakdown

Lead changes: 22

| Driver | From Lap | To Lap | Number of Laps |
| - | - | - | - |
| Bill Elliott | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Cale Yarborough | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| Bill Elliott | 5 | 14 | 10 |
| Cale Yarborough | 15 | 24 | 10 |
| Bill Elliott | 25 | 35 | 11 |
| Richard Petty | 36 | 37 | 2 |
| Greg Sacks | 38 | 38 | 1 |
| Terry Labonte | 39 | 40 | 1 |
| Cale Yarborough | 41 | 60 | 20 |
| Bill Elliott | 61 | 72 | 12 |
| Bobby Allison | 73 | 73 | 1 |
| Bill Elliott | 74 | 107 | 34 |
| Neil Bonnett | 108 | 110 | 3 |
| Harry Gant | 111 | 111 | 1 |
| Greg Sacks | 112 | 112 | 1 |
| Bill Elliott | 113 | 144 | 32 |
| Lake Speed | 145 | 146 | 2 |
| Neil Bonnett | 147 | 154 | 8 |
| Bill Elliott | 155 | 165 | 11 |
| Neil Bonnett | 166 | 173 | 8 |
| Bill Elliott | 174 | 191 | 18 |
| Neil Bonnett | 192 | 194 | 3 |
| Bill Elliott | 195 | 200 | 6 |
