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1994 Pontiac Excitement 400

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1994 Pontiac Excitement 400
Race details
Race 3 of 31 in the 1994 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1994 Pontiac Excitement 400 program cover. Artwork by Sam Bass.
The 1994 Pontiac Excitement 400 program cover. Artwork by Sam Bass.
Date March 6, 1994
Official name 40th Annual Pontiac Excitement 400
Location Richmond, Virginia, Richmond International Raceway
Course Permanent racing facility
0.75 mi (1.21 km)
Distance 400 laps, 300 mi (482.803 km)
Scheduled Distance 400 laps, 300 mi (482.803 km)
Average speed 98.334 miles per hour (158.253 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Roush Racing
Time 21.867
Most laps led
Driver Ernie Irvan Robert Yates Racing
Laps 189
Winner
No. 28 Ernie Irvan Robert Yates Racing
Television in the United States
Network TBS
Announcers Ken Squier, Dave Marcis, Kenny Wallace
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

The 1994 Pontiac Excitement 400 was the third stock car race of the 1994 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 40th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, March 6, 1994, 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 20 to go, Robert Yates Racing driver Ernie Irvan would manage to hold off the field, along with the help of a fast final pit stop to take his 10th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory, his first victory of the season, and the overall lead in the driver's championship.[1][2] To fill out the top three, Penske Racing South driver Rusty Wallace and Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon would finish second and third, respectively.

Background

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The layout of Richmond International Raceway, the venue where the race was at.

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

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
1 Rick Mast Precision Products Racing Ford Skoal
2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford Miller Genuine Draft
02 T. W. Taylor Taylor Racing Ford Children's Miracle Network Hospitals
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 Exide
8 Jeff Burton (R) Stavola Brothers Racing Ford Raybestos
10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford Tide
11 Bill Elliott Junior Johnson & Associates Ford Budweiser
12 Chuck Bown Bobby Allison Motorsports Ford Bobby Allison Motorsports
14 John Andretti (R) Hagan Racing Chevrolet Hagan Racing
15 Lake Speed 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 Dale Jarrett Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet Interstate Batteries
19 Loy Allen Jr. (R) TriStar Motorsports Ford Hooters
21 Morgan Shepherd Wood Brothers Racing Ford Citgo
22 Bobby Labonte Bill Davis Racing Pontiac Maxwell House
23 Hut Stricklin Travis Carter Enterprises Ford Smokin' Joe's
24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet DuPont
25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Kodiak
26 Brett Bodine King Racing Ford Quaker State
27 Jimmy Spencer Junior Johnson & Associates Ford McDonald's
28 Ernie Irvan Robert Yates Racing Ford Texaco, Havoline
29 Steve Grissom Diamond Ridge Motorsports Chevrolet Diamond Ridge Motorsports
30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac Pennzoil
31 Ward Burton A.G. Dillard Motorsports Chevrolet Hardee's
32 Dick Trickle Active Motorsports Chevrolet Metts Tours
33 Harry Gant Leo Jackson Motorsports Chevrolet Skoal Bandit
40 Bobby Hamilton SABCO Racing Pontiac Kendall
41 Joe Nemechek (R) Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet Meineke
42 Kyle Petty SABCO Racing Pontiac Mello Yello
43 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Petty Enterprises Pontiac STP
45 Rich Bickle (R) Terminal Trucking Motorsports Ford Terminal Trucking
47 Billy Standridge (R) Johnson Standridge Racing Ford Johnson Standridge Racing
55 Jimmy Hensley RaDiUs Motorsports Ford Petron Plus
61 Rick Carelli Chesrown Racing Chevrolet Total Petroleum
66 Mike Wallace (R) Owen Racing Chevrolet FDP Brakes
71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet Southwest Technical Group
75 Todd Bodine Butch Mock Motorsports Ford Factory Stores of America
77 Greg Sacks Jasper Motorsports Ford US Airways
90 Bobby Hillin Jr. Donlavey Racing Ford Heilig-Meyers
95 Jeremy Mayfield (R) Sadler Brothers Racing Ford Shoney's
98 Derrike Cope Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford Fingerhut

Qualifying

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Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, March 4, at 3:00 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 Saturday, March 5, at 11:00 AM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 21-34 would be decided on time,[3] 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 two. 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.

Ted Musgrave, driving for Roush Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 21.867 and an average speed of 123.474 miles per hour (198.712 km/h) in the first round.[4]

Nine drivers would fail to qualify.

Full qualifying results

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 16 Ted Musgrave Roush Racing Ford 21.867 123.474
2 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 21.949 123.012
3 12 Chuck Bown Bobby Allison Motorsports Ford 21.956 122.973
4 1 Rick Mast Precision Products Racing Ford 22.000 122.727
5 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 22.018 122.627
6 4 Sterling Marlin Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 22.033 122.543
7 28 Ernie Irvan Robert Yates Racing Ford 22.066 122.360
8 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 22.086 122.249
9 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 22.096 122.194
10 27 Jimmy Spencer Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 22.100 122.172
11 41 Joe Nemechek (R) Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet 22.100 122.172
12 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 22.103 122.155
13 26 Brett Bodine King Racing Ford 22.110 122.117
14 75 Todd Bodine Butch Mock Motorsports Ford 22.110 122.117
15 29 Steve Grissom (R) Diamond Ridge Motorsports Chevrolet 22.114 122.095
16 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 22.117 122.078
17 7 Geoff Bodine Geoff Bodine Racing Ford 22.130 122.006
18 95 Jeremy Mayfield (R) Sadler Brothers Racing Ford 22.135 121.979
19 42 Kyle Petty SABCO Racing Pontiac 22.137 121.968
20 32 Dick Trickle Active Motorsports Chevrolet 22.150 121.896
Failed to lock in Round 1
21 77 Greg Sacks U.S. Motorsports Inc. Ford 22.125 122.034
22 18 Dale Jarrett Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 22.172 121.775
23 55 Jimmy Hensley RaDiUs Motorsports Ford 22.190 121.676
24 14 John Andretti (R) Hagan Racing Chevrolet 22.197 121.638
25 8 Jeff Burton (R) Stavola Brothers Racing Ford 22.198 121.633
26 11 Bill Elliott Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 22.202 121.611
27 17 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet 22.202 121.611
28 33 Harry Gant Leo Jackson Motorsports Chevrolet 22.205 121.594
29 31 Ward Burton (R) A.G. Dillard Motorsports Chevrolet 22.206 121.589
30 15 Lake Speed Bud Moore Engineering Ford 22.226 121.479
31 22 Bobby Labonte Bill Davis Racing Pontiac 22.227 121.474
32 21 Morgan Shepherd Wood Brothers Racing Ford 22.232 121.447
33 98 Derrike Cope Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford 22.232 121.447
34 10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford 22.239 121.408
Provisionals
35 40 Bobby Hamilton SABCO Racing Pontiac -* -*
36 90 Bobby Hillin Jr. Donlavey Racing Ford -* -*
Champion's Provisional
37 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet -* -*
Failed to qualify
38 19 Loy Allen Jr. (R) TriStar Motorsports Ford -* -*
39 45 Rich Bickle (R) Terminal Trucking Motorsports Ford -* -*
40 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet -* -*
41 43 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Petty Enterprises Pontiac -* -*
42 23 Hut Stricklin Travis Carter Enterprises Ford -* -*
43 47 Billy Standridge (R) Johnson Standridge Racing Ford -* -*
44 61 Rick Carelli Chesrown Racing Chevrolet -* -*
45 02 T. W. Taylor Taylor Racing Ford -* -*
46 66 Mike Wallace (R) Owen Racing Chevrolet -* -*
Official first round qualifying results
Official starting lineup

Race results

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Fin St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 7 28 Ernie Irvan Robert Yates Racing Ford 400 189 running 185 $71,175
2 12 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 400 96 running 175 $39,575
3 8 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 400 2 running 170 $34,000
4 9 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 400 10 running 165 $29,550
5 19 42 Kyle Petty SABCO Racing Pontiac 400 0 running 155 $26,500
6 2 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 400 27 running 155 $23,150
7 4 1 Rick Mast Precision Products Racing Ford 400 30 running 151 $9,725
8 13 26 Brett Bodine King Racing Ford 400 0 running 142 $16,525
9 37 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 400 1 running 143 $20,825
10 22 18 Dale Jarrett Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 399 0 running 134 $21,825
11 16 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 399 0 running 130 $15,325
12 26 11 Bill Elliott Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 399 0 running 127 $15,025
13 1 16 Ted Musgrave Roush Racing Ford 399 45 running 129 $19,375
14 30 15 Lake Speed Bud Moore Engineering Ford 399 0 running 121 $17,575
15 32 21 Morgan Shepherd Wood Brothers Racing Ford 398 0 running 118 $17,835
16 27 17 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet 398 0 running 115 $14,500
17 3 12 Chuck Bown Bobby Allison Motorsports Ford 398 0 running 112 $14,300
18 34 10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford 398 0 running 109 $7,250
19 6 4 Sterling Marlin Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 397 0 running 106 $17,225
20 25 8 Jeff Burton (R) Stavola Brothers Racing Ford 397 0 running 103 $15,350
21 11 41 Joe Nemechek (R) Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet 397 0 running 100 $9,850
22 10 27 Jimmy Spencer Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 397 0 running 97 $9,725
23 15 29 Steve Grissom (R) Diamond Ridge Motorsports Chevrolet 396 0 running 94 $7,550
24 31 22 Bobby Labonte Bill Davis Racing Pontiac 396 0 running 91 $13,525
25 14 75 Todd Bodine Butch Mock Motorsports Ford 396 0 running 88 $9,375
26 36 90 Bobby Hillin Jr. Donlavey Racing Ford 390 0 running 85 $9,250
27 18 95 Jeremy Mayfield (R) Sadler Brothers Racing Ford 390 0 running 82 $6,925
28 21 77 Greg Sacks U.S. Motorsports Inc. Ford 385 0 running 79 $7,400
29 33 98 Derrike Cope Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford 381 0 running 76 $9,075
30 24 14 John Andretti (R) Hagan Racing Chevrolet 355 0 engine 73 $12,945
31 5 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 328 0 running 70 $12,825
32 17 7 Geoff Bodine Geoff Bodine Racing Ford 301 0 engine 67 $12,800
33 35 40 Bobby Hamilton SABCO Racing Pontiac 180 0 engine 65 $12,285
34 28 33 Harry Gant Leo Jackson Motorsports Chevrolet 72 0 accident 62 $11,775
35 29 31 Ward Burton (R) A.G. Dillard Motorsports Chevrolet 71 0 piston 59 $6,775
36 23 55 Jimmy Hensley RaDiUs Motorsports Ford 50 0 engine 56 $7,275
37 20 32 Dick Trickle Active Motorsports Chevrolet 1 0 accident 53 $6,775
Failed to qualify
38 19 Loy Allen Jr. (R) TriStar Motorsports Ford
39 45 Rich Bickle (R) Terminal Trucking Motorsports Ford
40 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet
41 43 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Petty Enterprises Pontiac
42 23 Hut Stricklin Travis Carter Enterprises Ford
43 47 Billy Standridge (R) Johnson Standridge Racing Ford
44 61 Rick Carelli Chesrown Racing Chevrolet
45 02 T. W. Taylor Taylor Racing Ford
46 66 Mike Wallace (R) Owen Racing Chevrolet
Official race results

Standings after the race

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References

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  1. ^ Higgins, Tom (March 7, 1994). "Standout pit crew effort helps Irvan clinch victory". The Charlotte Observer. p. 31. Retrieved November 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  2. ^ Pearce, Al (March 7, 1994). "Irvan cruises to win". Sun Herald. p. 29. Retrieved November 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ "Pontiac Excitement 400". The Charlotte Observer. March 3, 1996. p. 8. Retrieved November 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  4. ^ Harris, Mike (March 5, 1994). "Musgrave earns pole over teammate Martin". The Indianapolis Star. p. 58. Retrieved November 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
Previous race:
1994 Goodwrench 500
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1994 season
Next race:
1994 Purolator 500