1996 AC Delco 400
# 1996 AC Delco 400

The 1996 AC Delco 400 was the 29th stock car race of the 1996 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 22nd iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, October 20, 1996, in Rockingham, North Carolina, at North Carolina Speedway, a 1.017 miles (1.637 km) permanent high-banked racetrack. The race took the scheduled 393 laps to complete. At race's end, Ricky Rudd, driving for his own Rudd Performance Motorsports team, would manage to dominate the late stages of the race to take his 17th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his only victory of the season. Meanwhile, third-place finisher, Hendrick Motorsports driver Terry Labonte, would manage to overtake the points lead from teammate Jeff Gordon, leading Gordon by 32 points. To fill out the top three, Robert Yates Racing driver Dale Jarrett would finish second.

## Background

North Carolina Speedway was opened as a flat, one-mile oval on October 31, 1965. In 1969, the track was extensively reconfigured to a high-banked, D-shaped oval just over one mile in length. In 1997, North Carolina Motor Speedway merged with Penske Motorsports, and was renamed North Carolina Speedway. Shortly thereafter, the infield was reconfigured, and competition on the infield road course, mostly by the SCCA, was discontinued. Currently, the track is home to the Fast Track High Performance Driving School.

### 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 Silver Splash |
| 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 | Robert Pressley | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | Cartoon Network, The Flintstones |
| 30 | Johnny Benson Jr. (R) | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | Pennzoil |
| 33 | Todd Bodine | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | Skoal |
| 37 | Jeremy Mayfield | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | Kmart, Little Caesars |
| 40 | Robby Gordon | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | First Union |
| 41 | Ricky Craven | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kodiak |
| 42 | Kyle Petty | Team SABCO | Pontiac | Coors Light |
| 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 60 | Ed Berrier | Berrier Racing | Ford | Berrier 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 | Billy Standridge | Triad Motorsports | Ford | Diamond Rio |
| 79 | Norm Benning | T.R.I.X. Racing | Pontiac | T.R.I.X. Racing |
| 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | Square D, TIC Financial Systems |
| 82 | Terry Byers | Byers Racing | Chevrolet | Byers Racing |
| 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 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | McDonald's |
| 95 | Gary Bradberry | 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, October 18, 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, October 19, at 9:30 AM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 26-32 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 Jarrett, driving for Robert Yates Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 23.291 and an average speed of 157.194 miles per hour (252.979 km/h).

Three drivers would fail to qualify: Ed Berrier, Norm Benning, and Terry Byers.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 23.291 | 157.194 |
| 2 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 23.367 | 156.683 |
| 3 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.399 | 156.468 |
| 4 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 23.411 | 156.388 |
| 5 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 23.472 | 155.982 |
| 6 | 98 | John Andretti | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 23.480 | 155.928 |
| 7 | 40 | Robby Gordon | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 23.492 | 155.849 |
| 8 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | 23.536 | 155.557 |
| 9 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 23.538 | 155.544 |
| 10 | 33 | Todd Bodine | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 23.551 | 155.458 |
| 11 | 42 | Kyle Petty | Team SABCO | Pontiac | 23.560 | 155.399 |
| 12 | 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 23.584 | 155.241 |
| 13 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | 23.592 | 155.188 |
| 14 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 23.601 | 155.129 |
| 15 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 23.602 | 155.122 |
| 16 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 23.602 | 155.122 |
| 17 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 23.604 | 155.109 |
| 18 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Pontiac | 23.614 | 155.044 |
| 19 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.633 | 154.919 |
| 20 | 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 23.640 | 154.873 |
| 21 | 90 | Dick Trickle | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 23.651 | 154.801 |
| 22 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 23.652 | 154.795 |
| 23 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | 23.659 | 154.749 |
| 24 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.691 | 154.540 |
| 25 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 23.693 | 154.527 |
| Failed to lock in Round 1 |||||||
| 26 | 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 23.601 | 155.129 |
| 27 | 12 | Derrike Cope | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Ford | 23.637 | 154.893 |
| 28 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.677 | 154.631 |
| 29 | 41 | Ricky Craven | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.693 | 154.527 |
| 30 | 29 | Robert Pressley | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.731 | 154.279 |
| 31 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.735 | 154.253 |
| 32 | 95 | Gary Bradberry | Sadler Brothers Racing | Ford | 23.766 | 154.052 |
| 33 | 37 | Jeremy Mayfield | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | 23.771 | 154.020 |
| 34 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 23.772 | 154.013 |
| 35 | 78 | Billy Standridge | Triad Motorsports | Ford | 23.830 | 153.638 |
| 36 | 15 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 23.836 | 153.600 |
| 37 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 23.869 | 153.387 |
| 38 | 30 | Johnny Benson Jr. (R) | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 23.887 | 153.272 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 39 | 75 | Morgan Shepherd | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| 40 | 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 41 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| 42 | 77 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 43 | 60 | Ed Berrier | Berrier Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 44 | 79 | Norm Benning | T.R.I.X. Racing | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| 45 | 82 | Terry Byers | Byers Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| Official first round qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 2 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 393 | 81 | running | 180 | $90,025 |
| 2 | 1 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 393 | 207 | running | 180 | $62,125 |
| 3 | 19 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 393 | 0 | running | 165 | $46,725 |
| 4 | 20 | 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 393 | 47 | running | 165 | $35,950 |
| 5 | 22 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 393 | 14 | running | 160 | $25,675 |
| 6 | 5 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 393 | 1 | running | 155 | $33,300 |
| 7 | 4 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 393 | 0 | running | 146 | $31,100 |
| 8 | 25 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 393 | 0 | running | 142 | $28,900 |
| 9 | 15 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 393 | 37 | running | 143 | $30,700 |
| 10 | 14 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 393 | 0 | running | 134 | $28,100 |
| 11 | 12 | 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 393 | 0 | running | 130 | $17,400 |
| 12 | 3 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 392 | 1 | running | 132 | $35,000 |
| 13 | 28 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 392 | 0 | running | 124 | $29,150 |
| 14 | 34 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 392 | 1 | running | 126 | $23,700 |
| 15 | 13 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | 392 | 0 | running | 118 | $28,200 |
| 16 | 17 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 392 | 0 | running | 115 | $23,200 |
| 17 | 41 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 391 | 0 | running | 112 | $29,200 |
| 18 | 9 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 391 | 0 | running | 109 | $22,700 |
| 19 | 8 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | 391 | 0 | running | 106 | $15,400 |
| 20 | 10 | 33 | Todd Bodine | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 390 | 0 | running | 103 | $25,850 |
| 21 | 24 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 390 | 0 | running | 100 | $21,525 |
| 22 | 29 | 41 | Ricky Craven | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 390 | 0 | running | 97 | $21,325 |
| 23 | 31 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 390 | 0 | running | 94 | $21,125 |
| 24 | 40 | 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | 389 | 0 | running | 91 | $20,925 |
| 25 | 11 | 42 | Kyle Petty | Team SABCO | Pontiac | 389 | 0 | running | 88 | $20,925 |
| 26 | 6 | 98 | John Andretti | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 387 | 1 | running | 90 | $13,525 |
| 27 | 32 | 95 | Gary Bradberry | Sadler Brothers Racing | Ford | 387 | 0 | running | 82 | $10,125 |
| 28 | 26 | 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 386 | 0 | running | 79 | $20,225 |
| 29 | 39 | 75 | Morgan Shepherd | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 385 | 0 | running | 76 | $13,025 |
| 30 | 37 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 377 | 0 | running | 73 | $12,825 |
| 31 | 21 | 90 | Dick Trickle | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 353 | 0 | running | 70 | $12,600 |
| 32 | 16 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 326 | 0 | handling | 67 | $19,000 |
| 33 | 42 | 77 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 311 | 0 | water pump | 64 | $9,400 |
| 34 | 33 | 37 | Jeremy Mayfield | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | 311 | 0 | crash | 61 | $16,300 |
| 35 | 23 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | 305 | 0 | crash | 58 | $16,200 |
| 36 | 36 | 15 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 303 | 0 | crash | 55 | $16,175 |
| 37 | 30 | 29 | Robert Pressley | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | 294 | 0 | engine | 52 | $16,175 |
| 38 | 18 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Pontiac | 281 | 0 | crash | 49 | $16,100 |
| 39 | 27 | 12 | Derrike Cope | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Ford | 267 | 3 | crash | 51 | $17,675 |
| 40 | 38 | 30 | Johnny Benson Jr. (R) | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 225 | 0 | crash | 43 | $17,100 |
| 41 | 35 | 78 | Billy Standridge | Triad Motorsports | Ford | 140 | 0 | handling | 40 | $9,100 |
| 42 | 7 | 40 | Robby Gordon | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 4 | 0 | crash | 37 | $9,100 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 43 | | 60 | Ed Berrier | Berrier Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 44 | | 79 | Norm Benning | T.R.I.X. Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 45 | | 82 | Terry Byers | Byers Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||
