1995 AC Delco 400
# 1995 AC Delco 400

The 1995 AC Delco 400 was the 29th stock car race of the 1995 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 21st iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, October 22, 1995, in Rockingham, North Carolina, at North Carolina Motor Speedway, a 1.017 miles (1.637 km) permanent high-banked racetrack. The race took the scheduled 393 laps to complete. On the final restart of the race with 10 to go, Bill Davis Racing driver Ward Burton would manage to defend the field to take his first career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his only victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Penske Racing South driver Rusty Wallace and Roush Racing driver Mark Martin would finish second and third, respectively.

The race was marred in controversy when late in the race, a NASCAR official had mistaken a dark-colored lug-nut on championship contender Dale Earnhardt's car as missing, when in reality the lug-nut was on the car. Initially, Earnhardt was forced to suffer a one-lap penalty. However, after NASCAR had realized the mistake, NASCAR would declare an extended caution period to ensure that Earnhardt could gain his lost lap back. This decision led to extreme anger from drivers and their crews, saying that the caution had ruined their strategies and that the decision had preferred a single driver that had been a deterrent to every other driver.

In the overall driver's championship points race, second-place driver Dale Earnhardt was able to close the gap between himself and points leader Jeff Gordon by 43 points, decreasing Gordon's lead to 162 points. With only two races left in the season, Gordon was listed as the heavy favorite to win the championship.

## 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 | Skoal |
| 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | Miller Genuine Draft |
| 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | GM Goodwrench Service Plus |
| 03 | Richard Brickhouse | Skillen Racing | Chevrolet | Skillen Racing |
| 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 | Exide |
| 8 | Jeff Burton | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | Raybestos |
| 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | Spam |
| 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | Tide |
| 11 | Brett Bodine | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | Lowe's |
| 12 | Derrike Cope | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Ford | Mane 'n Tail |
| 15 | Dick Trickle | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | Ford Quality Care |
| 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | The Family Channel |
| 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | Western Auto |
| 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | Interstate Batteries |
| 19 | Loy Allen Jr. | TriStar Motorsports | Ford | HealthSource RI |
| 21 | Morgan Shepherd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Citgo |
| 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | MBNA |
| 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | Smokin' Joe's |
| 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | DuPont |
| 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Budweiser |
| 26 | Hut Stricklin | King Racing | Ford | Quaker State |
| 27 | Elton Sawyer | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | Hooters |
| 28 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Texaco, Havoline |
| 29 | Steve Grissom | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | Meineke |
| 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | Pennzoil |
| 31 | Gary Bradberry | A.G. Dillard Motorsports | Chevrolet | Hardee's |
| 32 | Greg Sacks | Active Motorsports | Chevrolet | ATS Wood Recycling |
| 33 | Robert Pressley (R) | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Chevrolet | Skoal Bandit |
| 37 | John Andretti | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | Little Caesars, Kmart |
| 40 | Shane Hall | Dick Brooks Racing | Pontiac | Kendall |
| 41 | Ricky Craven (R) | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kodiak |
| 42 | Kyle Petty | Team SABCO | Pontiac | Coors Light Great Pumpkin |
| 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 70 | Alan Russell | Russell Racing | Chevrolet | Page Sales |
| 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Olive Garden |
| 75 | Todd Bodine | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | Factory Stores of America |
| 77 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | US Airways, Jasper Engines & Transmissions |
| 78 | Jay Hedgecock | Triad Motorsports | Ford | Hauser Rental |
| 84 | Norm Benning | Norm Benning Racing | Ford | Norm Benning Racing |
| 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | Burger King |
| 88 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Texaco, Havoline |
| 90 | Mike Wallace | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Heilig-Meyers |
| 94 | Bill Elliott | Elliott-Hardy Racing | Ford | McDonald's |
| 98 | Jeremy Mayfield | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | RCA |

## Qualifying

Qualifying was originally scheduled to be split into two rounds. The first round was scheduled to be held on Friday, October 20, at 2:30 PM EST. However, first-round qualifying was rained out and postponed until Saturday, October 21, at 9:30 AM EST. As a result of the rain delay, qualifying was decided to be combined into only one round. For this specific race, positions 1-38 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; which was usually four. 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.

Hut Stricklin, driving for King Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 23.563 and an average speed of 155.379 miles per hour (250.058 km/h).

Seven drivers would fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 26 | Hut Stricklin | King Racing | Ford | 23.563 | 155.379 |
| 2 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 23.572 | 155.320 |
| 3 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 23.575 | 155.300 |
| 4 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.591 | 155.195 |
| 5 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 23.592 | 155.188 |
| 6 | 15 | Dick Trickle | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 23.610 | 155.070 |
| 7 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 23.664 | 154.716 |
| 8 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.670 | 154.677 |
| 9 | 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.671 | 154.670 |
| 10 | 12 | Derrike Cope | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Ford | 23.673 | 154.657 |
| 11 | 21 | Morgan Shepherd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 23.675 | 154.644 |
| 12 | 31 | Gary Bradberry | A.G. Dillard Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.685 | 154.579 |
| 13 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.692 | 154.533 |
| 14 | 37 | John Andretti | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | 23.692 | 154.533 |
| 15 | 42 | Kyle Petty | Team SABCO | Pontiac | 23.696 | 154.507 |
| 16 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Ford | 23.706 | 154.442 |
| 17 | 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 23.711 | 154.409 |
| 18 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 23.734 | 154.260 |
| 19 | 98 | Jeremy Mayfield | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 23.744 | 154.195 |
| 20 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 23.764 | 154.065 |
| 21 | 41 | Ricky Craven (R) | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.769 | 154.033 |
| 22 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | 23.790 | 153.897 |
| 23 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Elliott-Hardy Racing | Ford | 23.807 | 153.787 |
| 24 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.807 | 153.787 |
| 25 | 33 | Robert Pressley (R) | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.826 | 153.664 |
| 26 | 77 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 23.829 | 153.645 |
| 27 | 28 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 23.907 | 153.143 |
| 28 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.913 | 153.105 |
| 29 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 23.921 | 153.054 |
| 30 | 90 | Mike Wallace | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 23.932 | 152.983 |
| 31 | 29 | Steve Grissom | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.947 | 152.888 |
| 32 | 8 | Jeff Burton | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 23.954 | 152.843 |
| 33 | 75 | Todd Bodine | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 23.978 | 152.690 |
| 34 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 23.994 | 152.588 |
| 35 | 27 | Elton Sawyer | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 23.995 | 152.582 |
| 36 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 23.998 | 152.563 |
| 37 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 24.004 | 152.525 |
| 38 | 32 | Greg Sacks | Active Motorsports | Chevrolet | 24.051 | 152.227 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 39 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 40 | 40 | Shane Hall | Dick Brooks Racing | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 41 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 42 | 88 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 43 | 19 | Loy Allen Jr. | TriStar Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| 44 | 78 | Jay Hedgecock | Triad Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| 45 | 84 | Norm Benning | Norm Benning Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 46 | 70 | Alan Russell | Russell Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 47 | 03 | Richard Brickhouse | Skillen Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 3 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 393 | 87 | running | 180 | $70,250 |
| 2 | 18 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 393 | 21 | running | 175 | $50,050 |
| 3 | 5 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 393 | 2 | running | 170 | $44,850 |
| 4 | 13 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 393 | 0 | running | 160 | $34,925 |
| 5 | 32 | 8 | Jeff Burton | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 393 | 0 | running | 155 | $40,325 |
| 6 | 28 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 393 | 33 | running | 155 | $27,550 |
| 7 | 20 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 393 | 39 | running | 151 | $34,050 |
| 8 | 21 | 41 | Ricky Craven (R) | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 393 | 0 | running | 142 | $19,650 |
| 9 | 9 | 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | 393 | 0 | running | 138 | $18,650 |
| 10 | 23 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Elliott-Hardy Racing | Ford | 393 | 0 | running | 134 | $17,650 |
| 11 | 19 | 98 | Jeremy Mayfield | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 393 | 6 | running | 135 | $16,950 |
| 12 | 8 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 392 | 1 | crash | 132 | $21,650 |
| 13 | 7 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 392 | 0 | running | 124 | $21,950 |
| 14 | 31 | 29 | Steve Grissom | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | 392 | 0 | running | 121 | $16,050 |
| 15 | 22 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | 392 | 0 | running | 118 | $27,450 |
| 16 | 6 | 15 | Dick Trickle | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 392 | 0 | running | 115 | $20,450 |
| 17 | 33 | 75 | Todd Bodine | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 391 | 0 | running | 112 | $20,740 |
| 18 | 11 | 21 | Morgan Shepherd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 391 | 0 | running | 109 | $19,850 |
| 19 | 10 | 12 | Derrike Cope | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Ford | 391 | 0 | running | 106 | $17,650 |
| 20 | 4 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 391 | 57 | running | 108 | $25,550 |
| 21 | 26 | 77 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 391 | 0 | running | 100 | $10,500 |
| 22 | 37 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 391 | 0 | running | 97 | $14,300 |
| 23 | 27 | 28 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 390 | 0 | running | 94 | $24,700 |
| 24 | 39 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | 390 | 0 | running | 91 | $13,500 |
| 25 | 14 | 37 | John Andretti | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | 390 | 0 | running | 88 | $13,500 |
| 26 | 34 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 390 | 0 | running | 85 | $13,100 |
| 27 | 36 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 387 | 0 | running | 82 | $33,000 |
| 28 | 1 | 26 | Hut Stricklin | King Racing | Ford | 386 | 8 | running | 84 | $21,300 |
| 29 | 25 | 33 | Robert Pressley (R) | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Chevrolet | 384 | 0 | running | 76 | $18,200 |
| 30 | 17 | 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 372 | 0 | running | 73 | $12,600 |
| 31 | 35 | 27 | Elton Sawyer | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 357 | 0 | handling | 70 | $17,400 |
| 32 | 15 | 42 | Kyle Petty | Team SABCO | Pontiac | 327 | 0 | crash | 67 | $21,900 |
| 33 | 24 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 321 | 0 | running | 64 | $14,200 |
| 34 | 16 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Ford | 257 | 139 | engine | 71 | $25,100 |
| 35 | 12 | 31 | Gary Bradberry | A.G. Dillard Motorsports | Chevrolet | 254 | 0 | crash | 58 | $9,000 |
| 36 | 40 | 40 | Shane Hall | Dick Brooks Racing | Pontiac | 205 | 0 | crash | 55 | $13,975 |
| 37 | 38 | 32 | Greg Sacks | Active Motorsports | Chevrolet | 149 | 0 | oil pump | 52 | $8,950 |
| 38 | 2 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 113 | 0 | crash | 49 | $14,150 |
| 39 | 30 | 90 | Mike Wallace | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 84 | 0 | crash | 46 | $8,900 |
| 40 | 29 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 47 | 0 | engine | 43 | $22,700 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 41 | | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 42 | | 88 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 43 | | 19 | Loy Allen Jr. | TriStar Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| 44 | | 78 | Jay Hedgecock | Triad Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| 45 | | 84 | Norm Benning | Norm Benning Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 46 | | 70 | Alan Russell | Russell Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 47 | | 03 | Richard Brickhouse | Skillen Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||
