1996 The Bud at The Glen
# 1996 The Bud at The Glen

The 1996 The Bud at The Glen was the 20th stock car race of the 1996 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 11th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, August 11, 1996, in Watkins Glen, New York, at the shortened layout of Watkins Glen International, a 2.45 miles (3.943 km) permanent road course layout. The race took the scheduled 90 laps to complete. In the final laps of the race, Geoff Bodine, driving for his family-owned team Geoff Bodine Racing, would manage to come victorious in a battle for the lead with eight to go and pull away to win his 18th and final NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his only victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Hendrick Motorsports driver Terry Labonte and Roush Racing driver Mark Martin would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

Watkins Glen International (nicknamed "The Glen") is an automobile race track located in Watkins Glen, New York at the southern tip of Seneca Lake. It was long known around the world as the home of the Formula One United States Grand Prix, which it hosted for twenty consecutive years (1961–1980), but the site has been home to road racing of nearly every class, including the World Sportscar Championship, Trans-Am, Can-Am, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, the International Motor Sports Association and the IndyCar Series.

Initially, public roads in the village were used for the race course. In 1956 a permanent circuit for the race was built. In 1968 the race was extended to six hours, becoming the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen. The circuit's current layout has more or less been the same since 1971, although a chicane was installed at the uphill Esses in 1975 to slow cars through these corners, where there was a fatality during practice at the 1973 United States Grand Prix. The chicane was removed in 1985, but another chicane called the "Inner Loop" was installed in 1992 after J.D. McDuffie's fatal accident during the previous year's NASCAR Winston Cup event.

The circuit is known as the Mecca of North American road racing and is a very popular venue among fans and drivers. The facility is currently owned by International Speedway Corporation.

### 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 |
| 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 |
| 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Texaco, Havoline |
| 29 | Butch Leitzinger | 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 |
| 34 | Mike McLaughlin | Team 34 | Chevrolet | Hardinge Machine Tools |
| 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 |
| 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 | Dick Trickle | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Heilig-Meyers |
| 94 | Dorsey Schroeder | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | McDonald's |
| 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, August 9, at 2:00 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, August 10, 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 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.

Dale Earnhardt, driving for Richard Childress Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 1:13.054 and an average speed of 120.733 miles per hour (194.301 km/h).

Mike McLaughlin was the only driver to fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 1:13.054 | 120.733 |
| 2 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 1:13.271 | 120.375 |
| 3 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 1:13.303 | 120.322 |
| 4 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1:13.347 | 120.250 |
| 5 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1:13.543 | 119.930 |
| 6 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 1:13.550 | 119.918 |
| 7 | 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 1:13.554 | 119.912 |
| 8 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 1:13.693 | 119.686 |
| 9 | 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1:13.693 | 119.686 |
| 10 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 1:13.698 | 119.678 |
| 11 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1:13.783 | 119.540 |
| 12 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 1:13.997 | 119.194 |
| 13 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | 1:14.062 | 119.089 |
| 14 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 1:14.073 | 119.072 |
| 15 | 37 | John Andretti | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | 1:14.118 | 118.999 |
| 16 | 42 | Kyle Petty | Team SABCO | Pontiac | 1:14.195 | 118.876 |
| 17 | 29 | Butch Leitzinger | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1:14.201 | 118.866 |
| 18 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | 1:14.216 | 118.842 |
| 19 | 94 | Dorsey Schroeder | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 1:14.254 | 118.781 |
| 20 | 33 | Robert Pressley | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1:14.277 | 118.745 |
| 21 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 1:14.428 | 118.504 |
| 22 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 1:14.435 | 118.493 |
| 23 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 1:14.475 | 118.429 |
| 24 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Pontiac | 1:14.570 | 118.278 |
| 25 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | 1:14.574 | 118.272 |
| 26 | 77 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 1:14.466 | 118.443 |
| 27 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1:14.503 | 118.384 |
| 28 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1:14.578 | 118.265 |
| 29 | 98 | Jeremy Mayfield | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 1:14.587 | 118.251 |
| 30 | 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 1:14.741 | 118.008 |
| 31 | 15 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 1:14.774 | 117.955 |
| 32 | 12 | Derrike Cope | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Ford | 1:14.795 | 117.922 |
| 33 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 1:14.871 | 117.803 |
| 34 | 90 | Dick Trickle | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 1:14.925 | 117.718 |
| 35 | 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 1:15.421 | 116.944 |
| 36 | 30 | Johnny Benson Jr. (R) | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 1:15.489 | 116.838 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 37 | 41 | Ricky Craven | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 38 | 75 | Morgan Shepherd | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| 39 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 40 | 34 | Mike McLaughlin | Team 34 | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| Official first round qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 13 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | 90 | 15 | running | 180 | $88,740 |
| 2 | 4 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 90 | 2 | running | 175 | $51,390 |
| 3 | 10 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 90 | 0 | running | 165 | $44,755 |
| 4 | 5 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 90 | 0 | running | 160 | $44,370 |
| 5 | 14 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 90 | 3 | running | 160 | $35,325 |
| 6 | 1 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 90 | 54 | running | 160 | $52,960 |
| 7 | 8 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 90 | 0 | running | 146 | $26,640 |
| 8 | 9 | 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | 90 | 0 | running | 142 | $25,330 |
| 9 | 38 | 75 | Morgan Shepherd | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 90 | 0 | running | 138 | $20,100 |
| 10 | 31 | 15 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 90 | 0 | running | 134 | $26,850 |
| 11 | 27 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 90 | 0 | running | 130 | $28,675 |
| 12 | 22 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 90 | 0 | running | 127 | $23,035 |
| 13 | 19 | 94 | Dorsey Schroeder | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 90 | 1 | running | 129 | $22,745 |
| 14 | 12 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 90 | 0 | running | 121 | $22,405 |
| 15 | 36 | 30 | Johnny Benson Jr. (R) | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 90 | 0 | running | 118 | $23,015 |
| 16 | 32 | 12 | Derrike Cope | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Ford | 90 | 0 | running | 115 | $21,795 |
| 17 | 18 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | 90 | 0 | running | 112 | $21,575 |
| 18 | 28 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 90 | 0 | running | 109 | $21,355 |
| 19 | 33 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 90 | 0 | running | 106 | $21,100 |
| 20 | 17 | 29 | Butch Leitzinger | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | 90 | 0 | running | 103 | $22,705 |
| 21 | 23 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 90 | 0 | running | 100 | $13,580 |
| 22 | 29 | 98 | Jeremy Mayfield | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 90 | 0 | running | 97 | $13,360 |
| 23 | 16 | 42 | Kyle Petty | Team SABCO | Pontiac | 90 | 0 | running | 94 | $20,165 |
| 24 | 2 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 90 | 0 | running | 91 | $18,105 |
| 25 | 11 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 89 | 15 | running | 93 | $20,270 |
| 26 | 15 | 37 | John Andretti | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | 89 | 0 | running | 85 | $19,510 |
| 27 | 24 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Pontiac | 89 | 0 | running | 82 | $16,900 |
| 28 | 39 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 89 | 0 | running | 79 | $9,840 |
| 29 | 26 | 77 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 87 | 0 | running | 76 | $10,280 |
| 30 | 20 | 33 | Robert Pressley | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Chevrolet | 87 | 0 | running | 73 | $16,720 |
| 31 | 25 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | 78 | 0 | running | 70 | $9,555 |
| 32 | 21 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 77 | 0 | engine | 67 | $24,490 |
| 33 | 6 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 74 | 0 | running | 64 | $24,430 |
| 34 | 3 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 69 | 0 | running | 61 | $24,370 |
| 35 | 7 | 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 68 | 0 | running | 58 | $24,310 |
| 36 | 37 | 41 | Ricky Craven | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 61 | 0 | engine | 55 | $17,215 |
| 37 | 35 | 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 44 | 0 | running | 52 | $9,215 |
| 38 | 30 | 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 31 | 0 | timing chain | 49 | $16,215 |
| 39 | 34 | 90 | Dick Trickle | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 29 | 0 | transmission | 46 | $10,215 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 40 | | 34 | Mike McLaughlin | Team 34 | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||
