1991 Motorcraft Quality Parts 500
# 1991 Motorcraft Quality Parts 500

The 1991 Motorcraft Quality Parts 500 was the fourth stock car race of the 1991 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 32nd iteration of the event. The race took place over the days of Sunday, March 17 and Monday, March 18, 1991, due to rain delays that left only the first 47 laps of the race being run on Sunday. The race was held in Hampton, Georgia, at Atlanta Motor Speedway, a 1.522 miles (2.449 km) permanent asphalt quad-oval intermediate speedway. The race took the scheduled 328 laps to complete. Depending on fuel mileage, Hendrick Motorsports driver Ken Schrader would manage to stretch the final 65 laps of the race on one tank of fuel to take his third career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his first victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Melling Racing driver Bill Elliott and Richard Childress Racing driver Dale Earnhardt would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

Atlanta Motor Speedway (formerly Atlanta International Raceway) is a 1.522-mile race track in Hampton, Georgia, United States, 20 miles (32 km) south of Atlanta. It has annually hosted NASCAR Winston Cup Series stock car races since its inauguration in 1960.

The venue was bought by Speedway Motorsports in 1990. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track. In 1997, to standardize the track with Speedway Motorsports' other two intermediate ovals, the entire track was almost completely rebuilt. The frontstretch and backstretch were swapped, and the configuration of the track was changed from oval to quad-oval, with a new official length of 1.54-mile (2.48 km) where before it was 1.522-mile (2.449 km). The project made the track one of the fastest on the NASCAR circuit.

### Entry list

* (R) - denotes rookie driver.

| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Oldsmobile | Skoal |
| 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Pontiac | Miller Genuine Draft |
| 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | GM Goodwrench Service Plus |
| 4 | Ernie Irvan | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kodak |
| 5 | Ricky Rudd | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Tide |
| 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | Folgers |
| 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | Hooters* |
| 8 | Rick Wilson | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | Snickers |
| 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | Coors Light |
| 10 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Chevrolet | Purolator Filters |
| 11 | Geoff Bodine | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | Budweiser |
| 12 | Hut Stricklin | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Buick | Raybestos |
| 13 | Mike Skinner | Mansion Motorsports | Chevrolet | Glidden |
| 15 | Morgan Shepherd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | Motorcraft |
| 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | Western Auto |
| 19 | Chad Little | Little Racing | Ford | Bull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce |
| 20 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Moroso Racing | Oldsmobile | Rob Moroso Memorial |
| 21 | Dale Jarrett | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Citgo |
| 22 | Sterling Marlin | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | Maxwell House |
| 24 | Mickey Gibbs | Team III Racing | Pontiac | Team III Racing |
| 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kodiak |
| 26 | Brett Bodine | King Racing | Buick | Quaker State |
| 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Texaco, Havoline |
| 29 | Andy Hillenburg | Andy Hillenburg Racing | Buick | Max Xorb |
| 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | Pennzoil |
| 33 | Harry Gant | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Skoal Bandit |
| 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | Mello Yello |
| 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 47 | Rich Bickle | Close Racing | Oldsmobile | Kanawha Insurance |
| 49 | Stanley Smith (R) | BS&S Motorsports | Buick | Interstate Batteries |
| 51 | Jeff Purvis (R) | Phoenix Racing | Oldsmobile | PlastiKote |
| 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | Alka-Seltzer |
| 55 | Ted Musgrave (R) | U.S. Racing | Pontiac | U.S. Racing |
| 65 | Dave Mader III | Bahre Racing | Pontiac | Jasper Engines & Transmissions |
| 66 | Dick Trickle | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Pontiac | Phillips 66 TropArtic |
| 68 | Bobby Hamilton (R) | TriStar Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Country Time |
| 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Big Apple Market |
| 75 | Joe Ruttman | RahMoc Enterprises | Oldsmobile | Dinner Bell Foods |
| 82 | Mark Stahl | Stahl Racing | Ford | Hooters |
| 90 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. (R) | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Ford Motorsport |
| 94 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | Sunoco |
| 98 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Chevrolet | Banquet Foods |

*Sponsored Alan Kulwicki in a one-race deal after their primary driver they sponsored, Mark Stahl failed to qualify.

## Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, March 15, at 2:00 PM EST. Each driver would have one lap to set a time. During the first round, the top 20 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, March 16, at 10:30 AM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 21-40 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; which was usually two. If needed, a past champion who did not qualify on either time or provisionals could use a champion's provisional, adding one more spot to the field.

Alan Kulwicki, driving for his own AK Racing team, would win the pole, setting a time of 31.415 and an average speed of 174.413 miles per hour (280.691 km/h) in the first round. In the second round, Richard Childress Racing driver Dale Earnhardt would manage to beat his time with a time of 31.247; however, since the time was in the second round, Earnhardt would only garner the 21st starting position.

Two drivers would fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 31.415 | 174.413 |
| 2 | 26 | Brett Bodine | King Racing | Buick | 31.494 | 173.976 |
| 3 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Pontiac | 31.501 | 173.937 |
| 4 | 22 | Sterling Marlin | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 31.532 | 173.766 |
| 5 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 31.618 | 173.294 |
| 6 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 31.621 | 173.277 |
| 7 | 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | 31.623 | 173.266 |
| 8 | 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 31.632 | 173.217 |
| 9 | 10 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Chevrolet | 31.682 | 172.932 |
| 10 | 4 | Ernie Irvan | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 31.776 | 172.432 |
| 11 | 5 | Ricky Rudd | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 31.780 | 172.410 |
| 12 | 33 | Harry Gant | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 31.809 | 172.253 |
| 13 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 31.821 | 172.188 |
| 14 | 20 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Moroso Racing | Oldsmobile | 31.823 | 172.177 |
| 15 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 31.853 | 172.015 |
| 16 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 31.871 | 171.918 |
| 17 | 98 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Chevrolet | 31.927 | 171.617 |
| 18 | 12 | Hut Stricklin | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Buick | 31.931 | 171.595 |
| 19 | 68 | Bobby Hamilton (R) | TriStar Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 31.961 | 171.434 |
| 20 | 15 | Morgan Shepherd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 31.967 | 171.402 |
| Failed to lock in Round 1 |||||||
| 21 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 31.247 | 175.351 |
| 22 | 21 | Dale Jarrett | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 31.595 | 173.420 |
| 23 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Oldsmobile | 31.853 | 172.015 |
| 24 | 89 | Jim Sauter | Mueller Brothers Racing | Pontiac | 31.902 | 171.751 |
| 25 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 31.973 | 171.370 |
| 26 | 11 | Geoff Bodine | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 32.001 | 171.220 |
| 27 | 66 | Dick Trickle | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Pontiac | 32.009 | 171.177 |
| 28 | 19 | Chad Little | Little Racing | Ford | 32.027 | 171.081 |
| 29 | 51 | Jeff Purvis (R) | Phoenix Racing | Oldsmobile | 32.079 | 170.803 |
| 30 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 32.106 | 170.660 |
| 31 | 8 | Rick Wilson | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 32.120 | 170.585 |
| 32 | 94 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 32.129 | 170.538 |
| 33 | 90 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. (R) | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 32.152 | 170.416 |
| 34 | 55 | Ted Musgrave (R) | RaDiUs Motorsports | Pontiac | 32.189 | 170.220 |
| 35 | 24 | Mickey Gibbs | Team III Racing | Pontiac | 32.223 | 169.987 |
| 36 | 65 | Dave Mader III | Bahre Racing | Pontiac | 32.255 | 169.871 |
| 37 | 29 | Andy Hillenburg | Andy Hillenburg Racing | Buick | 32.320 | 169.530 |
| 38 | 75 | Joe Ruttman | RahMoc Enterprises | Oldsmobile | 32.364 | 169.299 |
| 39 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 32.370 | 169.268 |
| 40 | 47 | Rich Bickle | Close Racing | Oldsmobile | 32.441 | 168.897 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 41 | 49 | Stanley Smith (R) | BS&S Motorsports | Buick | -* | -* |
| 42 | 82 | Mark Stahl | Stahl Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| Official first round qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 5 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 328 | 59 | running | 180 | $69,250 |
| 2 | 15 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 328 | 102 | running | 180 | $47,675 |
| 3 | 21 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 328 | 29 | running | 170 | $37,000 |
| 4 | 20 | 15 | Morgan Shepherd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 328 | 0 | running | 160 | $23,600 |
| 5 | 13 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 328 | 30 | running | 160 | $21,400 |
| 6 | 11 | 5 | Ricky Rudd | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 328 | 0 | running | 150 | $17,750 |
| 7 | 4 | 22 | Sterling Marlin | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 328 | 41 | running | 151 | $17,600 |
| 8 | 1 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 327 | 8 | running | 147 | $20,150 |
| 9 | 16 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 327 | 0 | running | 138 | $7,450 |
| 10 | 3 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Pontiac | 327 | 0 | running | 134 | $6,700 |
| 11 | 9 | 10 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Chevrolet | 327 | 0 | running | 130 | $14,670 |
| 12 | 31 | 8 | Rick Wilson | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 326 | 0 | running | 127 | $12,725 |
| 13 | 18 | 12 | Hut Stricklin | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Buick | 326 | 0 | running | 124 | $11,930 |
| 14 | 10 | 4 | Ernie Irvan | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 326 | 0 | running | 121 | $12,710 |
| 15 | 2 | 26 | Brett Bodine | King Racing | Buick | 325 | 0 | running | 118 | $10,230 |
| 16 | 17 | 98 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Chevrolet | 325 | 0 | running | 115 | $11,070 |
| 17 | 6 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 325 | 21 | running | 117 | $15,310 |
| 18 | 28 | 19 | Chad Little | Little Racing | Ford | 325 | 0 | running | 109 | $8,500 |
| 19 | 12 | 33 | Harry Gant | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 325 | 0 | running | 106 | $8,690 |
| 20 | 22 | 21 | Dale Jarrett | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 325 | 0 | running | 103 | $10,470 |
| 21 | 14 | 20 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Moroso Racing | Oldsmobile | 324 | 0 | running | 100 | $5,960 |
| 22 | 24 | 89 | Jim Sauter | Mueller Brothers Racing | Pontiac | 323 | 0 | running | 97 | $5,800 |
| 23 | 26 | 11 | Geoff Bodine | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 323 | 1 | running | 99 | $13,490 |
| 24 | 29 | 51 | Jeff Purvis (R) | Phoenix Racing | Oldsmobile | 321 | 0 | running | 91 | $5,380 |
| 25 | 35 | 24 | Mickey Gibbs | Team III Racing | Pontiac | 320 | 0 | running | 88 | $5,075 |
| 26 | 33 | 90 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. (R) | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 319 | 0 | running | 85 | $4,420 |
| 27 | 38 | 75 | Joe Ruttman | RahMoc Enterprises | Oldsmobile | 319 | 0 | running | 82 | $7,310 |
| 28 | 27 | 66 | Dick Trickle | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Pontiac | 319 | 0 | running | 79 | $7,175 |
| 29 | 23 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Oldsmobile | 319 | 0 | running | 76 | $6,975 |
| 30 | 36 | 65 | Dave Mader III | Bahre Racing | Pontiac | 318 | 0 | running | 73 | $4,740 |
| 31 | 25 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 316 | 0 | running | 70 | $4,680 |
| 32 | 37 | 29 | Andy Hillenburg | Andy Hillenburg Racing | Buick | 314 | 0 | running | 67 | $4,120 |
| 33 | 19 | 68 | Bobby Hamilton (R) | TriStar Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 290 | 0 | running | 64 | $3,780 |
| 34 | 40 | 47 | Rich Bickle | Close Racing | Oldsmobile | 282 | 0 | engine | 61 | $4,445 |
| 35 | 32 | 94 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 256 | 0 | camshaft | 58 | $6,385 |
| 36 | 39 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 240 | 0 | engine | 55 | $6,220 |
| 37 | 34 | 55 | Ted Musgrave (R) | RaDiUs Motorsports | Pontiac | 210 | 0 | engine | 52 | $4,280 |
| 38 | 30 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 188 | 0 | engine | 49 | $6,240 |
| 39 | 7 | 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | 173 | 37 | engine | 51 | $12,115 |
| 40 | 8 | 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 56 | 0 | crash | 43 | $13,175 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 41 | | 49 | Stanley Smith (R) | BS&S Motorsports | Buick | | | | | |
| 42 | | 82 | Mark Stahl | Stahl Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| - | - | - | - |
| | 1 | Dale Earnhardt | 652 |
| | 2 | Ricky Rudd | 628 (-24) |
| 1 | 3 | Alan Kulwicki | 561 (-91) |
| 5 | 4 | Ken Schrader | 559 (–93) |
| | 5 | Ernie Irvan | 533 (–119) |
| 3 | 6 | Harry Gant | 529 (–123) |
| 4 | 7 | Sterling Marlin | 528 (–124) |
| 1 | 8 | Darrell Waltrip | 523 (–129) |
| 7 | 9 | Morgan Shepherd | 497 (–155) |
| 13 | 10 | Bill Elliott | 492 (–160) |
| Official driver's standings ||||
