1988 Miller High Life 400 (Richmond)
# 1988 Miller High Life 400 (Richmond)

The 1988 Miller High Life 400 was the 22nd stock car race of the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 31st iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, September 11, 1988, before an audience of 60,000 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. At race's end, Ranier-Lundy Racing's Davey Allison would manage to dominate the majority of the race, leading 262 laps to take his fourth career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his second and final victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Richard Childress Racing's Dale Earnhardt and Junior Johnson & Associates' Terry Labonte would finish second and third, respectively.

The race was the first ever race at the newly-built Richmond International Raceway, a track that replaced the old Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway.

## 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 |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 2 | Ernie Irvan (R) | U.S. Racing | Chevrolet | Kroger |
| 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | GM Goodwrench Service |
| 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Kodak |
| 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Levi Garrett |
| 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | Stroh Light |
| 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | Zerex |
| 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | Miller High Life |
| 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | Coors Light |
| 10 | Ken Bouchard (R) | Whitcomb Racing | Ford | Whitcomb Racing |
| 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | Budweiser |
| 12 | Mike Alexander | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | Miller High Life |
| 15 | Brett Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | Crisco |
| 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Tide |
| 20 | Rayven Clark | Zieglar Racing | Chevrolet | Zieglar Racing |
| 21 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Citgo |
| 23 | Eddie Bierschwale | B&B Racing | Oldsmobile | Wayne Paging |
| 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Folgers |
| 26 | Ricky Rudd | King Racing | Buick | Quaker State |
| 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | Kodiak |
| 28 | Davey Allison | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Ford | Havoline |
| 29 | Dale Jarrett | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Hardee's |
| 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | Country Time |
| 31 | Jim Sauter | Bob Clark Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Slender You Figure Salons |
| 32 | Lee Faulk | Bob Clark Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Slender You Figure Salons |
| 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | Skoal Bandit |
| 37 | Randy Morrison | Morrison Racing | Ford | Morrison Racing |
| 40 | Ben Hess | Hess Racing | Oldsmobile | Hess Racing |
| 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | Piedmont Airlines |
| 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | Eureka |
| 54 | Lennie Pond | Gray Racing | Chevrolet | Heritage Chevrolet |
| 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Crown Central Petroleum, Skoal Classic |
| 57 | Morgan Shepherd | Osterlund Racing | Buick | Heinz Ketchup |
| 66 | Bob Schacht | Reet Racing | Buick | Reet Racing |
| 67 | Ron Esau | Arrington Racing | Ford | Pannill Sweatshirts |
| 68 | Derrike Cope | Testa Racing | Ford | Purolator Filters |
| 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | Rumple Furniture |
| 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Lifebuoy |
| 75 | Neil Bonnett | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | Valvoline |
| 78 | Jay Sommers | Sommers Racing | Chevrolet | Doe & Associates |
| 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | Wynn's, Kmart |
| 88 | Greg Sacks | Baker-Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | Red Baron Frozen Pizza |
| 90 | Benny Parsons | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Bull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce |
| 97 | Rodney Combs | Winkle Motorsports | Buick | AC Spark Plug |
| 98 | Brad Noffsinger (R) | Curb Racing | Buick | Sunoco |

## Qualifying

Qualifying was originally scheduled to be split into two rounds. The first round was scheduled to be held on Friday, September 9, at 3:00 PM EST. Originally, the first 20 positions were going to be determined by first round qualifying, with positions 21-30 meant to be determined the following day on Saturday, September 10. However, due to rain, the first round was cancelled. As a result, qualifying was condensed into one round for all starting grid spots in the race, which was run on Saturday. 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; up to two were given.

Davey Allison, driving for Ranier-Lundy Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 21.978 and an average speed of 122.850 miles per hour (197.708 km/h).

The starting lineup was drastically changed due to consequences of an ongoing tire war between the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and Hoosier Racing Tire. A rule implemented at the time stated that if a driver who had managed to qualify for a race changed tire brands between the qualifying session and the race, the driver was forced to forfeit their starting position and start at the rear. Around half of qualified drivers decided to switch tire brands, all of them forfeiting their original starting positions. The decision was regarded as unprecedented. The lineup is still disputed to this day, as NASCAR officials at the time were still in dispute over the correct order of the official starting lineup at the start of the race.

Nine drivers would fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results (disputed)

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 28 | Davey Allison | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Ford | 21.978 | 122.850 |
| 2 | 12 | Mike Alexander | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 22.150 | 121.896 |
| 3 | 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 22.162 | 121.830 |
| 4 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.251 | 121.343 |
| 5 | 31 | Butch Miller | Bob Clark Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 22.296 | 121.098 |
| 6 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 22.256 | 121.316 |
| 7 | 15 | Brett Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 22.407 | 120.498 |
| 8 | 88 | Greg Sacks | Baker–Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | 22.284 | 121.163 |
| 9 | 97 | Rodney Combs | Winkle Motorsports | Buick | 22.545 | 119.760 |
| 10 | 90 | Benny Parsons | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 22.343 | 120.843 |
| 11 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 22.668 | 119.111 |
| 12 | 26 | Ricky Rudd | King Racing | Buick | 22.373 | 120.681 |
| 13 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | - | - |
| 14 | 32 | Lee Faulk | Bob Clark Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 22.539 | 119.792 |
| 15 | 10 | Ken Bouchard (R) | Whitcomb Racing | Ford | 22.705 | 118.917 |
| 16 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 22.547 | 119.750 |
| 17 | 23 | Eddie Bierschwale | B&B Racing | Oldsmobile | - | - |
| 18 | 66 | Bob Schacht | Reet Racing | Buick | 22.630 | 119.311 |
| Forfeit starting positions |||||||
| 19 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 22.384 | 120.622 |
| 20 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 22.083 | 122.266 |
| 21 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 22.253 | 121.332 |
| 22 | 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 22.389 | 120.595 |
| 23 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.274 | 121.218 |
| 24 | 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 22.319 | 120.973 |
| 25 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.116 | 122.084 |
| 26 | 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 22.604 | 119.448 |
| 27 | 21 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 22.352 | 120.795 |
| 28 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 22.105 | 122.144 |
| 29 | 75 | Neil Bonnett | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 22.591 | 119.517 |
| 30 | 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | 22.316 | 120.989 |
| 31 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 22.070 | 122.338 |
| 32 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 22.508 | 119.957 |
| 33 | 29 | Dale Jarrett | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 22.500 | 120.000 |
| 34 | 57 | Morgan Shepherd | Osterlund Racing | Buick | 22.447 | 120.283 |
| 35 | 2 | Ernie Irvan (R) | U.S. Racing | Pontiac | 22.516 | 119.915 |
| 36 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 22.553 | 119.718 |
| Failed to qualify (results unknown) |||||||
| 37 | 20 | Rayven Clark | Zieglar Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 38 | 37 | Randy Morrison | Morrison Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 39 | 40 | Ben Hess | Hess Racing | Oldsmobile | -* | -* |
| 40 | 54 | Lennie Pond | Gray Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 41 | 67 | Ron Esau | Arrington Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 42 | 68 | Derrike Cope | Testa Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 43 | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| 44 | 78 | Jay Sommers | Sommers Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 45 | 98 | Brad Noffsinger (R) | Curb Racing | Buick | -* | -* |
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 1 | 28 | Davey Allison | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Ford | 400 | 262 | running | 185 | $57,800 |
| 2 | 19 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 400 | 78 | running | 175 | $29,625 |
| 3 | 22 | 11 | Terry Labonte | Junior Johnson & Associates | Chevrolet | 400 | 5 | running | 170 | $20,525 |
| 4 | 28 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 400 | 0 | running | 160 | $10,925 |
| 5 | 31 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 400 | 0 | running | 155 | $15,825 |
| 6 | 27 | 21 | Kyle Petty | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 399 | 0 | running | 150 | $10,400 |
| 7 | 20 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 399 | 1 | running | 151 | $11,600 |
| 8 | 25 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 398 | 0 | running | 142 | $9,100 |
| 9 | 29 | 75 | Neil Bonnett | RahMoc Enterprises | Pontiac | 398 | 0 | running | 138 | $8,900 |
| 10 | 13 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 397 | 0 | running | 134 | $8,600 |
| 11 | 7 | 15 | Brett Bodine | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 397 | 0 | running | 130 | $10,070 |
| 12 | 6 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 397 | 0 | running | 127 | $6,000 |
| 13 | 8 | 88 | Greg Sacks | Baker–Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | 396 | 0 | running | 0 | $5,750 |
| 14 | 11 | 8 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 396 | 0 | running | 121 | $5,160 |
| 15 | 33 | 29 | Dale Jarrett | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 395 | 0 | running | 118 | $4,430 |
| 16 | 24 | 44 | Sterling Marlin | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 394 | 0 | running | 115 | $5,130 |
| 17 | 2 | 12 | Mike Alexander | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 394 | 22 | running | 117 | $7,975 |
| 18 | 4 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 393 | 0 | running | 109 | $8,865 |
| 19 | 15 | 10 | Ken Bouchard (R) | Whitcomb Racing | Ford | 392 | 0 | running | 106 | $4,050 |
| 20 | 10 | 90 | Benny Parsons | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 392 | 0 | running | 103 | $5,275 |
| 21 | 9 | 97 | Rodney Combs | Winkle Motorsports | Buick | 392 | 0 | running | 100 | $2,020 |
| 22 | 23 | 5 | Geoff Bodine | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 390 | 0 | running | 97 | $4,315 |
| 23 | 14 | 32 | Lee Faulk | Bob Clark Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 388 | 0 | running | 0 | $1,920 |
| 24 | 26 | 55 | Phil Parsons | Jackson Bros. Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 361 | 0 | running | 91 | $4,175 |
| 25 | 5 | 31 | Butch Miller | Bob Clark Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 352 | 18 | axle | 0 | $2,730 |
| 26 | 12 | 26 | Ricky Rudd | King Racing | Buick | 349 | 14 | engine | 90 | $5,010 |
| 27 | 17 | 23 | Eddie Bierschwale | B&B Racing | Oldsmobile | 339 | 0 | engine | 82 | $1,760 |
| 28 | 35 | 2 | Ernie Irvan (R) | U.S. Racing | Pontiac | 292 | 0 | engine | 79 | $1,990 |
| 29 | 36 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 259 | 0 | fatigue | 76 | $3,210 |
| 30 | 18 | 66 | Bob Schacht | Reet Racing | Buick | 138 | 0 | brakes | 0 | $1,650 |
| 31 | 34 | 57 | Morgan Shepherd | Osterlund Racing | Buick | 59 | 0 | handling | 70 | $1,590 |
| 32 | 16 | 33 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing | Chevrolet | 36 | 0 | crash | 67 | $3,710 |
| 33 | 3 | 4 | Rick Wilson | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 36 | 0 | engine | 64 | $2,150 |
| 34 | 32 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 26 | 0 | crash | 61 | $2,900 |
| 35 | 21 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 18 | 0 | crash | 58 | $9,650 |
| 36 | 30 | 83 | Lake Speed | Speed Racing | Oldsmobile | 11 | 0 | crash | 55 | $1,400 |
| Failed to qualify (results unknown) |||||||||||
| 37 | | 20 | Rayven Clark | Zieglar Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 38 | | 37 | Randy Morrison | Morrison Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 39 | | 40 | Ben Hess | Hess Racing | Oldsmobile | | | | | |
| 40 | | 54 | Lennie Pond | Gray Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 41 | | 67 | Ron Esau | Arrington Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 42 | | 68 | Derrike Cope | Testa Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 43 | | 70 | J. D. McDuffie | McDuffie Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 44 | | 78 | Jay Sommers | Sommers Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 45 | | 98 | Brad Noffsinger (R) | Curb Racing | Buick | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| - | - | - | - |
| | 1 | Bill Elliott | 3,363 |
| 1 | 2 | Dale Earnhardt | 3,246 (-117) |
| 1 | 3 | Rusty Wallace | 3,244 (-119) |
| 1 | 4 | Terry Labonte | 2,966 (–397) |
| 1 | 5 | Ken Schrader | 2,941 (–422) |
| | 6 | Geoff Bodine | 2,888 (–475) |
| | 7 | Sterling Marlin | 2,819 (–544) |
| | 8 | Darrell Waltrip | 2,811 (–552) |
| | 9 | Phil Parsons | 2,752 (–611) |
| | 10 | Davey Allison | 2,694 (–669) |
| Official driver's standings ||||
