1996 Purolator 500
# 1996 Purolator 500

The 1996 Purolator 500 was the fourth stock car race of the 1996 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 37th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, March 10, 1996, 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. With the help of a fast final pit stop with 38 laps to go, Richard Childress Racing driver Dale Earnhardt would manage to charge to the front and secure his 70th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his second and final victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Terry Labonte and Jeff Gordon, both drivers for Hendrick Motorsports, 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 | 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 | Mane 'n Tail |
| 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 |
| 27 | Elton Sawyer | David Blair Motorsports | Ford | David Blair Motorsports |
| 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 Silver Bullet |
| 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 65 | Steve Seligman | O'Neil Racing | Ford | O'Neil Racing |
| 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 |
| 78 | Randy MacDonald | Triad Motorsports | Ford | Diamond Rio |
| 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 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | McDonald's |
| 95 | Chuck Bown | 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, March 8, at 12:30 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, March 9, at 11:00 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.

Johnny Benson Jr., driving for Bahari Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 29.548 and an average speed of 185.434 miles per hour (298.427 km/h).

Three drivers would fail to qualify: Jeff Burton, Steve Seligman, and Randy MacDonald.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 30 | Johnny Benson Jr. (R) | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 29.548 | 185.434 |
| 2 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 29.588 | 185.183 |
| 3 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.602 | 185.096 |
| 4 | 98 | Jeremy Mayfield | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 29.626 | 184.946 |
| 5 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | 29.653 | 184.777 |
| 6 | 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 29.658 | 184.746 |
| 7 | 37 | John Andretti | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | 29.696 | 184.510 |
| 8 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 29.700 | 184.485 |
| 9 | 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 29.747 | 184.193 |
| 10 | 15 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 29.772 | 184.039 |
| 11 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | 29.793 | 183.909 |
| 12 | 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.817 | 183.761 |
| 13 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.851 | 183.552 |
| 14 | 33 | Robert Pressley | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.857 | 183.515 |
| 15 | 41 | Ricky Craven | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.860 | 183.496 |
| 16 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 29.861 | 183.490 |
| 17 | 19 | Dick Trickle | TriStar Motorsports | Ford | 29.867 | 183.453 |
| 18 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 29.870 | 183.435 |
| 19 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 29.887 | 183.331 |
| 20 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 29.904 | 183.226 |
| 21 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.922 | 183.116 |
| 22 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 29.941 | 183.000 |
| 23 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 29.952 | 182.933 |
| 24 | 29 | Steve Grissom | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.952 | 182.933 |
| 25 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 29.968 | 182.835 |
| Failed to lock in Round 1 |||||||
| 26 | 12 | Derrike Cope | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Ford | 29.978 | 182.774 |
| 27 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 30.013 | 182.561 |
| 28 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.022 | 182.506 |
| 29 | 77 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 30.045 | 182.366 |
| 30 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.047 | 182.354 |
| 31 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Pontiac | 30.050 | 182.336 |
| 32 | 75 | Morgan Shepherd | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 30.071 | 182.209 |
| 33 | 42 | Kyle Petty | Team SABCO | Pontiac | 30.147 | 181.749 |
| 34 | 95 | Chuck Bown | Sadler Brothers Racing | Ford | 30.169 | 181.617 |
| 35 | 27 | Elton Sawyer | David Blair Motorsports | Ford | 30.173 | 181.593 |
| 36 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 30.178 | 181.563 |
| 37 | 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 30.192 | 181.479 |
| 38 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | 30.221 | 181.304 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 39 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | -* | -* |
| 40 | 90 | Mike Wallace | Donlavey Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 41 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 42 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 43 | 65 | Steve Seligman | O'Neil Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 44 | 78 | Randy MacDonald | Triad Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| Official first round qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 18 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 328 | 136 | running | 185 | $91,050 |
| 2 | 3 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 328 | 100 | running | 175 | $60,500 |
| 3 | 21 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 328 | 24 | running | 170 | $61,600 |
| 4 | 37 | 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 328 | 6 | running | 165 | $40,400 |
| 5 | 4 | 98 | Jeremy Mayfield | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 328 | 4 | running | 160 | $32,100 |
| 6 | 30 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 328 | 5 | running | 155 | $28,500 |
| 7 | 39 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 327 | 0 | running | 146 | $27,150 |
| 8 | 20 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 327 | 1 | running | 147 | $29,650 |
| 9 | 27 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 327 | 2 | running | 143 | $25,450 |
| 10 | 23 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 327 | 7 | running | 139 | $27,950 |
| 11 | 36 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 326 | 0 | running | 130 | $20,820 |
| 12 | 15 | 41 | Ricky Craven | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 326 | 0 | running | 127 | $23,600 |
| 13 | 28 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 325 | 0 | running | 124 | $28,780 |
| 14 | 17 | 19 | Dick Trickle | TriStar Motorsports | Ford | 325 | 0 | running | 121 | $12,060 |
| 15 | 16 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 325 | 0 | running | 118 | $28,030 |
| 16 | 6 | 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 325 | 0 | running | 115 | $22,870 |
| 17 | 12 | 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | 323 | 0 | running | 112 | $22,660 |
| 18 | 25 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 323 | 0 | running | 109 | $22,340 |
| 19 | 35 | 27 | Elton Sawyer | David Blair Motorsports | Ford | 322 | 0 | running | 106 | $11,430 |
| 20 | 10 | 15 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 321 | 0 | running | 103 | $23,760 |
| 21 | 7 | 37 | John Andretti | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | 320 | 0 | running | 100 | $21,800 |
| 22 | 33 | 42 | Kyle Petty | Team SABCO | Pontiac | 315 | 0 | running | 97 | $21,640 |
| 23 | 5 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | 314 | 0 | running | 94 | $21,430 |
| 24 | 19 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 314 | 0 | running | 91 | $21,195 |
| 25 | 9 | 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 312 | 0 | running | 88 | $14,190 |
| 26 | 2 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 300 | 0 | engine | 85 | $27,535 |
| 27 | 14 | 33 | Robert Pressley | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Chevrolet | 297 | 0 | engine | 82 | $21,725 |
| 28 | 29 | 77 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 294 | 0 | running | 79 | $13,550 |
| 29 | 41 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 293 | 0 | running | 76 | $13,410 |
| 30 | 32 | 75 | Morgan Shepherd | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 293 | 0 | running | 73 | $12,750 |
| 31 | 8 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 286 | 4 | running | 75 | $26,190 |
| 32 | 13 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 236 | 0 | running | 67 | $17,130 |
| 33 | 40 | 90 | Mike Wallace | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 235 | 3 | engine | 69 | $10,035 |
| 34 | 31 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Pontiac | 205 | 0 | engine | 61 | $17,000 |
| 35 | 26 | 12 | Derrike Cope | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Ford | 181 | 0 | overheating | 58 | $16,965 |
| 36 | 22 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 178 | 36 | engine | 60 | $25,540 |
| 37 | 38 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | 155 | 0 | engine | 52 | $9,925 |
| 38 | 1 | 30 | Johnny Benson Jr. (R) | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 107 | 0 | handling | 49 | $24,345 |
| 39 | 24 | 29 | Steve Grissom | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | 99 | 0 | engine | 46 | $16,845 |
| 40 | 34 | 95 | Chuck Bown | Sadler Brothers Racing | Ford | 85 | 0 | rear end | 43 | $9,275 |
| 41 | 11 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | 29 | 0 | engine | 40 | $16,845 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 42 | | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 43 | | 65 | Steve Seligman | O'Neil Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 44 | | 78 | Randy MacDonald | Triad Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||
