1996 Pontiac Excitement 400
# 1996 Pontiac Excitement 400

The 1996 Pontiac Excitement 400 was the third stock car race of the 1996 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 42nd iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, March 3, 1996, 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. On the final restart with five to go, Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon would manage to pull away from the field to secure his 10th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his first of the season. To fill out the top three, Robert Yates Racing driver Dale Jarrett and Roush Racing driver Ted Musgrave would finish second and third, respectively.

## 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 |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Pontiac | Hooters |
| 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | Miller |
| 02 | Robbie Faggart | Miles Motorsports | Chevrolet | Miles Motorsports |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 1, at 10:30 AM 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 2, at 11:30 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.

Terry Labonte, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would win the pole, setting a time of 21.822 and an average speed of 123.728 miles per hour (199.121 km/h).

Three drivers would fail to qualify: Randy MacDonald, Robbie Faggart, and Dick Trickle.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 21.822 | 123.728 |
| 2 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 21.863 | 123.496 |
| 3 | 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 21.923 | 123.158 |
| 4 | 41 | Ricky Craven | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 21.931 | 123.113 |
| 5 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 21.940 | 123.063 |
| 6 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 21.941 | 123.057 |
| 7 | 29 | Steve Grissom | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | 21.954 | 122.984 |
| 8 | 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | 21.957 | 122.968 |
| 9 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 21.966 | 122.917 |
| 10 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | 21.970 | 122.895 |
| 11 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 21.971 | 122.889 |
| 12 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 21.972 | 122.884 |
| 13 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 21.977 | 122.856 |
| 14 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 21.981 | 122.833 |
| 15 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 22.013 | 122.655 |
| 16 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.023 | 122.599 |
| 17 | 15 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 22.030 | 122.560 |
| 18 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Pontiac | 22.063 | 122.377 |
| 19 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | 22.112 | 122.106 |
| 20 | 27 | Elton Sawyer | David Blair Motorsports | Ford | 22.123 | 122.045 |
| 21 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 22.127 | 122.023 |
| 22 | 75 | Morgan Shepherd | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 22.129 | 122.012 |
| 23 | 33 | Robert Pressley | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.137 | 121.968 |
| 24 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 22.161 | 121.836 |
| 25 | 90 | Mike Wallace | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 22.174 | 121.764 |
| Failed to lock in Round 1 |||||||
| 26 | 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 22.142 | 121.940 |
| 27 | 12 | Derrike Cope | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Ford | 22.181 | 121.726 |
| 28 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 22.186 | 121.698 |
| 29 | 98 | Jeremy Mayfield | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 22.186 | 121.698 |
| 30 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 22.187 | 121.693 |
| 31 | 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 22.209 | 121.572 |
| 32 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 22.225 | 121.485 |
| 33 | 30 | Johnny Benson Jr. (R) | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 22.227 | 121.474 |
| 34 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 22.229 | 121.463 |
| 35 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 22.233 | 121.441 |
| 36 | 42 | Kyle Petty | Team SABCO | Pontiac | 22.257 | 121.310 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 37 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 38 | 37 | John Andretti | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 39 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 40 | 77 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 41 | 78 | Randy MacDonald | Triad Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| 42 | 02 | Robbie Faggart | Miles Motorsports | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 43 | 19 | Dick Trickle | TriStar Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| Official first round qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

*Time not available.

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 2 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 400 | 124 | running | 180 | $92,400 |
| 2 | 11 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 400 | 23 | running | 175 | $44,225 |
| 3 | 15 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 400 | 0 | running | 165 | $42,200 |
| 4 | 21 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 400 | 54 | running | 165 | $22,350 |
| 5 | 5 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 400 | 0 | running | 155 | $37,850 |
| 6 | 3 | 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 400 | 129 | running | 160 | $37,900 |
| 7 | 14 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 400 | 26 | running | 151 | $28,375 |
| 8 | 1 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 400 | 3 | running | 147 | $34,475 |
| 9 | 34 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 400 | 0 | running | 138 | $27,875 |
| 10 | 6 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 400 | 26 | running | 139 | $27,225 |
| 11 | 16 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 400 | 0 | running | 130 | $28,675 |
| 12 | 38 | 37 | John Andretti | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | 400 | 0 | running | 127 | $25,675 |
| 13 | 28 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 400 | 0 | running | 124 | $26,725 |
| 14 | 13 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 399 | 0 | running | 121 | $22,925 |
| 15 | 10 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | 399 | 0 | running | 118 | $12,635 |
| 16 | 23 | 33 | Robert Pressley | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Chevrolet | 399 | 1 | running | 120 | $22,570 |
| 17 | 4 | 41 | Ricky Craven | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 399 | 0 | running | 112 | $21,870 |
| 18 | 39 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | 399 | 0 | running | 109 | $21,720 |
| 19 | 18 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Pontiac | 399 | 0 | running | 106 | $21,495 |
| 20 | 36 | 42 | Kyle Petty | Team SABCO | Pontiac | 399 | 0 | running | 103 | $23,170 |
| 21 | 7 | 29 | Steve Grissom | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | 399 | 0 | running | 100 | $22,210 |
| 22 | 27 | 12 | Derrike Cope | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Ford | 398 | 0 | running | 97 | $21,085 |
| 23 | 37 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 398 | 0 | running | 94 | $26,515 |
| 24 | 25 | 90 | Mike Wallace | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 397 | 0 | running | 91 | $13,890 |
| 25 | 24 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 397 | 0 | running | 88 | $20,940 |
| 26 | 40 | 77 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 397 | 0 | running | 85 | $13,615 |
| 27 | 12 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 396 | 0 | running | 82 | $20,490 |
| 28 | 29 | 98 | Jeremy Mayfield | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 395 | 0 | running | 79 | $13,365 |
| 29 | 30 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 394 | 1 | running | 81 | $20,340 |
| 30 | 20 | 27 | Elton Sawyer | David Blair Motorsports | Ford | 394 | 0 | running | 73 | $10,310 |
| 31 | 9 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 393 | 0 | running | 70 | $27,265 |
| 32 | 22 | 75 | Morgan Shepherd | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 392 | 0 | running | 67 | $12,740 |
| 33 | 19 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | 392 | 10 | running | 69 | $17,225 |
| 34 | 8 | 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | 391 | 0 | running | 61 | $17,215 |
| 35 | 32 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 391 | 3 | running | 63 | $10,215 |
| 36 | 35 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 386 | 0 | crash | 55 | $17,215 |
| 37 | 33 | 30 | Johnny Benson Jr. (R) | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 386 | 0 | running | 52 | $17,215 |
| 38 | 26 | 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 379 | 0 | overheating | 49 | $32,715 |
| 39 | 31 | 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 288 | 0 | running | 46 | $10,215 |
| 40 | 17 | 15 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 19 | 0 | crash | 43 | $18,215 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 41 | | 78 | Randy MacDonald | Triad Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| 42 | | 02 | Robbie Faggart | Miles Motorsports | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 43 | | 19 | Dick Trickle | TriStar Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||
