The 1992 Champion Spark Plug 400 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series racing event that was held on August 16, 1992, at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan. The race was won by Harry Gant, driving the #33 Skoal Bandit Oldsmobile for Leo Jackson Motorsports. This was the last victory for Oldsmobile in NASCAR; after the season General Motors, which had entered the 1990s fielding cars under four of its marques including Buick, decided to withdraw the brand from NASCAR in favor of keeping Chevrolet and Pontiac in the sport.
Race details[1] | |||
---|---|---|---|
Race 19 of 29 in the 1992 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season | |||
1992 Champion Spark Plug 400 program cover | |||
Date | August 16, 1992 | ||
Official name | Champion Spark Plug 400 | ||
Location | Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, Michigan | ||
Course | Permanent racing facility 2.000 mi (3.218 km) | ||
Distance | 200 laps, 400 mi (643 km) | ||
Weather | Mild with temperatures of 72 °F (22 °C); wind speeds of 8 miles per hour (13 km/h) | ||
Average speed | 145.056 miles per hour (233.445 km/h) | ||
Pole position | |||
Driver | Alan Kulwicki Racing | ||
Most laps led | |||
Driver | Bill Elliott | Junior Johnson & Associates | |
Laps | 73 | ||
Winner | |||
No. 33 | Harry Gant | Leo Jackson Motorsports | |
Television in the United States | |||
Network | ESPN | ||
Announcers | Bob Jenkins, Ned Jarrett, Benny Parsons |
Gant’s victory was the eighteenth of his career as well as his last, and he set a still-standing record with his win as the oldest driver in the history of the Cup series to win a race. Gant was 52 years, 219 days old at the time of his victory.
Background
Michigan International Speedway is a four-turn superspeedway that is 2 miles (3.2 km) long.[2] Opened in 1968, the track's turns are banked at eighteen degrees, while the 3,600-foot-long front stretch, the location of the finish line, is banked at twelve degrees.[2] The back stretch, has a five degree banking and is 2,242 feet long.[2]
Race report
Approximately 13% of this 200-lap race was run under a caution flag; each green flag lasted for an average of 30 laps. There were four accidents in this event; a total of nine different cars were involved. Greg Sacks was the last-place finisher on the fourth lap due to three-car pileup that also took Jimmy Means out of the race and severely affected Bobby Hamilton. It took nearly two hours and fifty minutes to decide the race; Harry Gant would defeat Darrell Waltrip by five seconds.[3] All 18 of Harry Gant's wins came in the Skoal Bandit, making him (at least from the 1980s onward) the only driver to get each of his multiple Cup wins for a tobacco brand.[4]
Dale Earnhardt started 41st after failing post-qualifying inspection after second round qualifying.[3]
It was Gant's final NASCAR Cup series win, leading twice for 23 laps, including the last 15.[5] The win was based on the fuel strategy devised by Harry Gant and crew chief Leo Jackson. Alan Kulwicki earned the pole position at 178.156 miles per hour or 286.714 kilometres per hour during qualifying while the average race speed would be 145.056 miles per hour or 233.445 kilometres per hour. Seven drivers failed to qualify for the race; including Delma Cowart. All of the drivers in this event were born in the United States of America.[3]
At the end of the event, only twelve drivers remained on the lead lap. Jeff McClure was the lowest finishing driver to complete the race; even though he was 33 laps the lead lap.[3] Individual prize winnings varied from the winner's share of $71,545 ($131,943 when considering inflation) to the last-place finishers' share of $7,140 ($13,168 when considering inflation). The combined prize purse was $641,610 ($1,183,258 when considering inflation).[6]
Qualifying
Grid | No. | Driver | Manufacturer | Owner |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | Ford | Alan Kulwicki |
2 | 6 | Mark Martin | Ford | Jack Roush |
3 | 28 | Davey Allison | Ford | Yates Racing |
4 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Chevrolet | Rick Hendrick |
5 | 4 | Ernie Irvan | Chevrolet | Larry McClure |
6 | 21 | Morgan Shepherd | Ford | Wood Brothers |
7 | 11 | Bill Elliott | Ford | Junior Johnson |
8 | 22 | Sterling Marlin | Ford | Junior Johnson |
9 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Chevrolet | Darrell Waltrip |
10 | 26 | Brett Bodine | Ford | Kenny Bernstein |
Failed to qualify: H.B. Bailey (#36), James Hylton (#48), Jerry O'Neil (#65), Andy Belmont (#59), Chuck Bown (#90), Delma Cowart (#0), Bill Venturini (#35)[7]
Finishing order
Source:[8] | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
POS | ST | # | DRIVER | SPONSOR / OWNER | CAR | LAPS | MONEY | STATUS | LED | PTS |
1 | 24 | 33 | Harry Gant | Skoal Bandit (Leo Jackson) | Oldsmobile | 200 | 71545 | running | 23 | 180 |
2 | 9 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Western Auto (Darrell Waltrip) | Chevrolet | 200 | 45670 | running | 6 | 175 |
3 | 7 | 11 | Bill Elliott | Budweiser (Junior Johnson) | Ford | 200 | 45820 | running | 72 | 175 |
4 | 5 | 4 | Ernie Irvan | Kodak Film (Larry McClure) | Chevrolet | 200 | 28920 | running | 35 | 165 |
5 | 3 | 28 | Davey Allison | Havoline (Yates Racing) | Ford | 200 | 29265 | running | 0 | 155 |
6 | 15 | 42 | Kyle Petty | Mello Yello (Felix Sabates) | Pontiac | 200 | 21715 | running | 0 | 150 |
7 | 8 | 22 | Sterling Marlin | Maxwell House Coffee (Junior Johnson) | Ford | 200 | 19515 | running | 0 | 146 |
8 | 14 | 18 | Dale Jarrett | Interstate Batteries (Joe Gibbs) | Chevrolet | 200 | 18265 | running | 4 | 147 |
9 | 2 | 6 | Mark Martin | Valvoline (Jack Roush) | Ford | 200 | 19715 | running | 7 | 143 |
10 | 6 | 21 | Morgan Shepherd | Citgo (Wood Brothers) | Ford | 200 | 18765 | running | 0 | 134 |
11 | 4 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Kodiak (Rick Hendrick) | Chevrolet | 200 | 19240 | running | 0 | 130 |
12 | 10 | 26 | Brett Bodine | Quaker State (Kenny Bernstein) | Ford | 200 | 16615 | running | 7 | 132 |
13 | 28 | 1 | Rick Mast | Skoal Classic (Richard Jackson) | Oldsmobile | 199 | 15115 | running | 0 | 124 |
14 | 1 | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | Hooters (Alan Kulwicki) | Ford | 199 | 19915 | running | 46 | 126 |
15 | 16 | 68 | Bobby Hamilton | Country Time (Mark Smith) | Ford | 199 | 14415 | running | 0 | 118 |
16 | 41 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Goodwrench (Richard Childress) | Chevrolet | 199 | 19665 | running | 0 | 115 |
17 | 31 | 9 | Chad Little | 1-800-4-A-CHILD Child Abuse Hotline (Harry Melling) | Ford | 199 | 7865 | running | 0 | 112 |
18 | 21 | 43 | Richard Petty | STP (Petty Enterprises) | Pontiac | 199 | 13165 | running | 0 | 109 |
19 | 18 | 8 | Dick Trickle | Snickers (Stavola Brothers) | Ford | 199 | 9665 | running | 0 | 106 |
20 | 27 | 16 | Wally Dallenbach, Jr. | Keystone Beer (Jack Roush) | Ford | 199 | 7965 | running | 0 | 103 |
21 | 33 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Miller Genuine Draft (Roger Penske) | Pontiac | 198 | 15040 | running | 0 | 100 |
22 | 26 | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Pennzoil (Chuck Rider) | Pontiac | 198 | 11940 | running | 0 | 97 |
23 | 13 | 94 | Terry Labonte | Sunoco (Billy Hagan) | Oldsmobile | 198 | 11740 | running | 0 | 94 |
24 | 20 | 12 | Hut Stricklin | Raybestos Brakes (Bobby Allison) | Chevrolet | 198 | 11590 | running | 0 | 91 |
25 | 35 | 55 | Ted Musgrave | Jasper Engines (Ray DeWitt) | Ford | 197 | 11340 | running | 0 | 88 |
26 | 30 | 31 | Bobby Hillin, Jr. | MAXX Race Cards (Martin Birrane) | Chevrolet | 197 | 6390 | running | 0 | 85 |
27 | 36 | 51 | Jeff Purvis | Phoenix Construction (James Finch) | Chevrolet | 197 | 6340 | running | 0 | 82 |
28 | 32 | 23 | Eddie Bierschwale | SplitFire (Don Bierschwale) | Oldsmobile | 193 | 6290 | running | 0 | 79 |
29 | 19 | 66 | Jimmy Hensley | TropArtic (Cale Yarborough) | Ford | 191 | 8590 | running | 0 | 76 |
30 | 40 | 77 | Mike Potter | Kenova Construction (Steve Balogh) | Chevrolet | 175 | 6140 | running | 0 | 73 |
31 | 39 | 27 | Jeff McClure | Showcase Racing Collectibles / Race for Life (Jim Rosenblum) | Chevrolet | 173 | 5990 | running | 0 | 70 |
32 | 29 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Transmissions Unlimited (Dave Marcis) | Chevrolet | 101 | 7540 | engine | 0 | 67 |
33 | 17 | 10 | Derrike Cope | Purolator (Bob Whitcomb) | Chevrolet | 96 | 7465 | crash | 0 | 64 |
34 | 34 | 83 | Lake Speed | Purex (Lake Speed) | Ford | 87 | 6840 | crash | 0 | 61 |
35 | 23 | 49 | Stanley Smith | Ameritron Batteries (Stanley Smith) | Chevrolet | 61 | 5790 | crash | 0 | 58 |
36 | 11 | 5 | Ricky Rudd | Tide (Rick Hendrick) | Chevrolet | 55 | 13765 | crash | 0 | 55 |
37 | 38 | 13 | Stan Fox | Carrier (Clint Folsom) | Chevrolet | 44 | 5740 | crash | 0 | 52 |
38 | 22 | 32 | Jimmy Horton | Active Trucking (Joe Horner) | Chevrolet | 21 | 5715 | engine | 0 | 49 |
39 | 37 | 52 | Jimmy Means | Suburban Printery (Jimmy Means) | Pontiac | 8 | 7240 | engine | 0 | 46 |
40 | 12 | 15 | Geoffrey Bodine | Motorcraft (Bud Moore) | Ford | 4 | 10165 | crash | 0 | 43 |
41 | 25 | 41 | Greg Sacks | Kellogg's (Larry Hedrick) | Chevrolet | 4 | 7140 | crash | 0 | 40 |
Failed to qualify | ||||||||||
POS | NAME | NBR | SPONSOR | OWNER | CAR | |||||
42 | H.B. Bailey | 36 | Almeda Auto Parts | H.B. Bailey | Pontiac | |||||
43 | James Hylton | 48 | Valtrol Steam Traps | James Hylton | Chevrolet | |||||
44 | Jerry O'Neil | 65 | Wheels Discount Auto | Alan Aroneck | Oldsmobile | |||||
45 | Andy Belmont | 59 | FDP Brakes | Pat Rissi | Ford | |||||
46 | Chuck Bown | 90 | Team USA | Junie Donlavey | Ford | |||||
47 | Delma Cowart | 0 | Master's Economy Inn | H.L. Waters | Ford | |||||
48 | Bill Venturini | 35 | Amoco | Bill Venturini | Chevrolet |
Standings after the race
Pos | Driver | Points[3] | Differential |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Bill Elliott | 2796 | 0 |
2 | Davey Allison | 2759 | -37 |
3 | Harry Gant | 2661 | -135 |
4 | Alan Kulwicki | 2653 | -143 |
5 | Mark Martin | 2511 | -285 |
6 | Kyle Petty | 2431 | -365 |
7 | Ernie Irvan | 2429 | -367 |
8 | Morgan Shepherd | 2415 | -381 |
9 | Terry Labonte | 2401 | -395 |
10 | Dale Earnhardt | 2400 | -396 |
References
- ^ Weather information for the 1992 Champion Spark Plug 400 at The Old Farmers' Almanac
- ^ a b c "Michigan International Speedway". CBS Sports. Retrieved 2013-06-11.
- ^ a b c d e Racing information for the 1992 Champion Spark Plug 400 at Racing Reference
- ^ Driver Harry Gant Career Statistics at Racing Reference
- ^ Racing information for the 1992 Champion Spark Plug 400 at Race Database
- ^ Race information for the 1992 Champion Spark Plug 400 at Fantasy Racing Cheat Sheet
- ^ Qualifying information at Racing Reference
- ^ "Race Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved 2021-05-28.
Preceded by 1992 Budweiser At The Glen | NASCAR Winston Cup Series Season 1992 | Succeeded by 1992 Bud 500 |