1991 AC Delco 500
# 1991 AC Delco 500

The 1991 AC Delco 500 was the 27th stock car race of the 1991 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 17th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, October 20, 1991, before an audience of 57,700 in Rockingham, North Carolina, at North Carolina Speedway, a 1.017 miles (1.637 km) permanent high-banked racetrack. The race took the scheduled 492 laps to complete. In the final laps of the race, Leo Jackson Motorsports driver Harry Gant would suffer a faulty final pit-stop on lap 452, leading towards Robert Yates Racing driver Davey Allison to take the lead for the final 17 laps of the race. The victory was Allison's 12th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his fourth victory of the season. To fill out the top three, the aforementioned Harry Gant and Roush Racing driver Mark Martin would finish second and third, respectively.

With a 19-point increase over competitor Ricky Rudd in the driver's championship standings, Dale Earnhardt was considered the heavy favorite to win the championship, having a 157-point lead over Rudd.

## 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 | Oldsmobile | Skoal |
| 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Pontiac | Miller Genuine Draft |
| 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | GM Goodwrench Service Plus |
| 4 | Ernie Irvan | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kodak |
| 5 | Ricky Rudd | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Tide |
| 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | Folgers |
| 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | Hooters |
| 8 | Rick Wilson | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | Snickers |
| 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | Coors Light |
| 10 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Chevrolet | Purolator Filters |
| 11 | Geoff Bodine | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | Budweiser |
| 12 | Hut Stricklin | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Buick | Raybestos |
| 15 | Morgan Shepherd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | Motorcraft |
| 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | Western Auto |
| 19 | Chad Little | Little Racing | Ford | Bull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce |
| 20 | Ricky Craven | Moroso Racing | Oldsmobile | SpeeDee Oil & Auto Service |
| 21 | Dale Jarrett | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Citgo |
| 22 | Sterling Marlin | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | Maxwell House |
| 24 | Jimmy Hensley | Team III Racing | Pontiac | Team III Racing |
| 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kodiak |
| 26 | Brett Bodine | King Racing | Buick | Quaker State |
| 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Texaco, Havoline |
| 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | Pennzoil |
| 33 | Harry Gant | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Skoal Bandit |
| 35 | Keith Van Houten | Van Houten Racing | Pontiac | Van Houten Racing |
| 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | Mello Yello |
| 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 47 | Greg Sacks | Close Racing | Oldsmobile | Kanawha Insurance |
| 48 | James Hylton | Hylton Motorsports | Buick | Hylton Motorsports |
| 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | Alka-Seltzer |
| 55 | Ted Musgrave (R) | U.S. Racing | Pontiac | Jasper Engines & Transmissions |
| 56 | Jerry Hill | Hill Motorsports | Pontiac | Hill Motorsports |
| 66 | Randy LaJoie | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Pontiac | Phillips 66 TropArtic |
| 68 | Bobby Hamilton (R) | TriStar Motorsports | Oldsmobile | Country Time |
| 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Big Apple Market |
| 75 | Joe Ruttman | RahMoc Enterprises | Oldsmobile | Dinner Bell Foods |
| 77 | Gary Brooks | Brooks Racing | Oldsmobile | Brooks Racing |
| 82 | Mark Stahl | Stahl Racing | Ford | Auto Bell Car Wash |
| 94 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | Sunoco |
| 98 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Chevrolet | Banquet Foods |

## Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Thursday, October 17, at 2:30 PM EST. Each driver would have one lap to set a time. During the first round, the top 20 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 Friday, October 18, at 2:00 PM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 21-40 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; up to two were given. 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.

Kyle Petty, driving for SABCO Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 24.496 and an average speed of 149.461 miles per hour (240.534 km/h) in the first round.

No drivers would fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | 24.496 | 149.461 |
| 2 | 4 | Ernie Irvan | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 24.604 | 148.805 |
| 3 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 24.757 | 147.885 |
| 4 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 24.768 | 147.820 |
| 5 | 5 | Ricky Rudd | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 24.893 | 147.077 |
| 6 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 24.899 | 147.042 |
| 7 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 24.930 | 146.859 |
| 8 | 21 | Dale Jarrett | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 24.961 | 146.677 |
| 9 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Pontiac | 24.963 | 146.665 |
| 10 | 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 24.972 | 146.612 |
| 11 | 11 | Geoff Bodine | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 24.991 | 146.501 |
| 12 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 25.003 | 146.430 |
| 13 | 33 | Harry Gant | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 25.012 | 146.378 |
| 14 | 47 | Greg Sacks | Close Racing | Oldsmobile | 25.015 | 146.360 |
| 15 | 10 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Chevrolet | 25.038 | 146.226 |
| 16 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 25.055 | 146.127 |
| 17 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 25.058 | 146.109 |
| 18 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 25.091 | 145.917 |
| 19 | 15 | Morgan Shepherd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 25.109 | 145.812 |
| 20 | 26 | Brett Bodine | King Racing | Buick | 25.114 | 145.783 |
| Failed to lock in Round 1 |||||||
| 21 | 68 | Bobby Hamilton (R) | TriStar Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 25.148 | 145.586 |
| 22 | 94 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 25.163 | 145.499 |
| 23 | 66 | Randy LaJoie | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Pontiac | 25.178 | 145.413 |
| 24 | 22 | Sterling Marlin | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 25.199 | 145.291 |
| 25 | 8 | Rick Wilson | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 25.297 | 144.729 |
| 26 | 75 | Joe Ruttman | RahMoc Enterprises | Chevrolet | 25.300 | 144.711 |
| 27 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Oldsmobile | 25.315 | 144.626 |
| 28 | 98 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Chevrolet | 25.336 | 144.506 |
| 29 | 24 | Jimmy Hensley | Team III Racing | Pontiac | 25.351 | 144.420 |
| 30 | 12 | Hut Stricklin | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Buick | 25.356 | 144.392 |
| 31 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 25.413 | 144.068 |
| 32 | 55 | Ted Musgrave (R) | U.S. Racing | Pontiac | 25.414 | 144.062 |
| 33 | 19 | Chad Little | Little Racing | Ford | 25.694 | 142.492 |
| 34 | 20 | Ricky Craven | Moroso Racing | Oldsmobile | 25.905 | 141.332 |
| 35 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 25.975 | 140.951 |
| 36 | 82 | Mark Stahl | Stahl Racing | Ford | 26.545 | 137.924 |
| 37 | 56 | Jerry Hill | Hill Motorsports | Pontiac | 27.630 | 132.508 |
| 38 | 48 | James Hylton | Hylton Motorsports | Buick | 27.852 | 131.452 |
| 39 | 35 | Keith Van Houten | Van Houten Racing | Pontiac | 28.339 | 129.193 |
| 40 | 77 | Gary Brooks | Brooks Racing | Oldsmobile | 30.092 | 121.667 |
| Official first round qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 10 | 28 | Davey Allison | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 492 | 100 | running | 180 | $66,050 |
| 2 | 13 | 33 | Harry Gant | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 492 | 258 | running | 180 | $34,675 |
| 3 | 3 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 492 | 28 | running | 170 | $29,350 |
| 4 | 11 | 11 | Geoff Bodine | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 492 | 27 | running | 165 | $26,450 |
| 5 | 6 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 491 | 15 | running | 160 | $17,325 |
| 6 | 21 | 68 | Bobby Hamilton (R) | TriStar Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 490 | 0 | running | 150 | $11,650 |
| 7 | 4 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 490 | 0 | running | 146 | $19,250 |
| 8 | 24 | 22 | Sterling Marlin | Junior Johnson & Associates | Ford | 490 | 0 | running | 142 | $10,000 |
| 9 | 1 | 42 | Kyle Petty | SABCO Racing | Pontiac | 490 | 64 | running | 143 | $22,950 |
| 10 | 12 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 490 | 0 | running | 134 | $18,500 |
| 11 | 9 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Pontiac | 489 | 0 | running | 130 | $9,000 |
| 12 | 5 | 5 | Ricky Rudd | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 489 | 0 | running | 127 | $13,800 |
| 13 | 30 | 12 | Hut Stricklin | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Buick | 486 | 0 | running | 124 | $11,000 |
| 14 | 29 | 24 | Jimmy Hensley | Team III Racing | Pontiac | 486 | 0 | running | 121 | $8,700 |
| 15 | 15 | 10 | Derrike Cope | Whitcomb Racing | Chevrolet | 485 | 0 | running | 118 | $15,050 |
| 16 | 31 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 485 | 0 | running | 115 | $9,700 |
| 17 | 19 | 15 | Morgan Shepherd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 485 | 0 | running | 112 | $22,400 |
| 18 | 27 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Oldsmobile | 485 | 0 | running | 109 | $8,900 |
| 19 | 18 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 484 | 0 | running | 106 | $11,000 |
| 20 | 25 | 8 | Rick Wilson | Stavola Brothers Racing | Buick | 484 | 0 | running | 103 | $9,200 |
| 21 | 32 | 55 | Ted Musgrave (R) | U.S. Racing | Pontiac | 483 | 0 | running | 100 | $6,100 |
| 22 | 28 | 98 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Chevrolet | 482 | 0 | running | 97 | $7,650 |
| 23 | 33 | 19 | Chad Little | Little Racing | Ford | 481 | 0 | running | 94 | $6,025 |
| 24 | 23 | 66 | Randy LaJoie | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Pontiac | 479 | 0 | running | 91 | $7,300 |
| 25 | 8 | 21 | Dale Jarrett | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 479 | 0 | running | 88 | $7,275 |
| 26 | 7 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 479 | 0 | running | 85 | $7,050 |
| 27 | 26 | 75 | Joe Ruttman | RahMoc Enterprises | Chevrolet | 473 | 0 | running | 82 | $6,925 |
| 28 | 22 | 94 | Terry Labonte | Hagan Racing | Oldsmobile | 471 | 0 | running | 79 | $6,850 |
| 29 | 14 | 47 | Greg Sacks | Close Racing | Oldsmobile | 470 | 0 | running | 76 | $4,200 |
| 30 | 20 | 26 | Brett Bodine | King Racing | Buick | 401 | 0 | engine | 73 | $9,250 |
| 31 | 2 | 4 | Ernie Irvan | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 365 | 0 | accident | 70 | $12,700 |
| 32 | 17 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 362 | 0 | engine | 67 | $3,900 |
| 33 | 16 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | AK Racing | Ford | 318 | 0 | engine | 64 | $10,750 |
| 34 | 34 | 20 | Ricky Craven | Moroso Racing | Oldsmobile | 221 | 0 | engine | 61 | $3,750 |
| 35 | 35 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means Racing | Pontiac | 203 | 0 | ignition | 58 | $3,600 |
| 36 | 36 | 82 | Mark Stahl | Stahl Racing | Ford | 16 | 0 | handling | 55 | $3,525 |
| 37 | 39 | 35 | Keith Van Houten | Van Houten Racing | Pontiac | 13 | 0 | handling | 0 | $3,475 |
| 38 | 37 | 56 | Jerry Hill | Hill Motorsports | Pontiac | 13 | 0 | handling | 49 | $3,475 |
| 39 | 40 | 77 | Gary Brooks | Brooks Racing | Oldsmobile | 11 | 0 | handling | 46 | $3,425 |
| 40 | 38 | 48 | James Hylton | Hylton Motorsports | Buick | 7 | 0 | engine | 43 | $3,400 |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| - | - | - | - |
| | 1 | Dale Earnhardt | 3,989 |
| | 2 | Ricky Rudd | 3,832 (-157) |
| | 3 | Davey Allison | 3,786 (-203) |
| | 4 | Harry Gant | 3,726 (–263) |
| 1 | 5 | Mark Martin | 3,618 (–371) |
| 1 | 6 | Ernie Irvan | 3,595 (–394) |
| 1 | 7 | Ken Schrader | 3,526 (–463) |
| 1 | 8 | Sterling Marlin | 3,526 (–466) |
| | 9 | Darrell Waltrip | 3,397 (–592) |
| | 10 | Rusty Wallace | 3,366 (–623) |
| Official driver's standings ||||
