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1990 Pontiac Excitement 400

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1990 Pontiac Excitement 400
Race details
Race 2 of 29 in the 1990 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1990 Pontiac Excitement 400 program cover, with artwork by NASCAR artist Sam Bass.
The 1990 Pontiac Excitement 400 program cover, with artwork by NASCAR artist Sam Bass.
Date February 25, 1990
Official name 36th 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 92.158 miles per hour (148.314 km/h)
Attendance 50,000
Pole position
Driver Hendrick Motorsports
Time 22.572
Most laps led
Driver Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing
Laps 148
Winner
No. 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing
Television in the United States
Network TBS
Announcers Ken Squier, Chris Economaki
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

The 1990 Pontiac Excitement 400 was the second stock car race of the 1990 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 36th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, February 25, 1990, before an audience of 50,000 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. In the final laps of the race, Roush Racing driver Mark Martin would manage to make a late-race charge to the front, passing for the lead with 16 laps left in the race to take his second career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his first victory of the season.[1][2][3][4] To fill out the top three, Richard Childress Racing driver Dale Earnhardt and Hendrick Motorsports driver Ricky Rudd would finish second and third, respectively.

After the race, Martin's car was found to have an illegal carburetor spacer, with the spacer being half an inch wider than the maximum allowance of 2 inches (5.1 cm) NASCAR had set according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch. In response, NASCAR officials decided to fine Martin USD$40,000 (adjusted for inflation, USD$93,286), the largest fine ever levied in NASCAR history up to that point, along with 46 driver's championship points.[5][6] The punishment was considered extremely harsh and severe by NASCAR media along with Martin's team, in which Martin said in an interview with The Charlotte Observer "It's like running a stop sign when nothing's coming, but a policeman catches you... you shouldn't get a ticket for it, but you broke the law and you have to pay for it. But this is like getting the death penalty for it."[7][8]

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 Terry Labonte Precision Products Racing Oldsmobile Skoal
01 Mickey Gibbs Gibbs Racing Ford Special Days Inn
2 Rick Mast U.S. Racing Pontiac U.S. Racing
3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet GM Goodwrench Service Plus
4 Phil Parsons Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile Kodak
04 Bill Meacham Meacham Racing Oldsmobile Meacham Racing
5 Ricky Rudd Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Levi Garrett
6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford Folgers
7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford Zerex
8 Bobby Hillin Jr. 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 Mike Alexander Bobby Allison Motorsports Buick Raybestos
15 Morgan Shepherd Bud Moore Engineering Ford Motorcraft
16 Larry Pearson Pearson Racing Buick Pearson Racing
17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Tide
19 Chad Little Little Racing Ford Bull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce
20 Rob Moroso (R) Moroso Racing Oldsmobile Crown Central Petroleum
21 Neil Bonnett Wood Brothers Racing Ford Citgo
25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Kodiak
26 Brett Bodine King Racing Buick Quaker State
27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac Miller Genuine Draft
28 Davey Allison Robert Yates Racing Ford Texaco, Havoline
30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac Country Time
33 Harry Gant Leo Jackson Motorsports Oldsmobile Skoal Bandit
42 Kyle Petty SABCO Racing Pontiac Peak Antifreeze
43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac STP
52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac Alka-Seltzer
53 Jerry O'Neil (R) Aroneck Racing Oldsmobile Aroneck Racing
57 Jimmy Spencer Osterlund Racing Pontiac Heinz
66 Dick Trickle Cale Yarborough Motorsports Pontiac Phillips 66 TropArtic
70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac McDuffie Racing
71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet Big Apple Market
75 Rick Wilson RahMoc Enterprises Oldsmobile Dinner Bell Foods
83 Tommy Ellis Speed Racing Oldsmobile Prestone
90 Ernie Irvan Donlavey Racing Ford Diet Pepsi
94 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile Sunoco
98 Butch Miller Travis Carter Enterprises Chevrolet Farm Fresh Food & Pharmacy

Qualifying

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Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, February 22, 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, February 23, 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,[9] 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.

Ricky Rudd, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would win the pole, setting a time of 22.572 and an average speed of 119.617 miles per hour (192.505 km/h) in the first round.[10][11]

Full qualifying results

[edit]
Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 5 Ricky Rudd Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 22.572 119.617
2 11 Geoff Bodine Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 22.575 119.601
3 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 22.588 119.532
4 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 22.598 119.480
5 66 Dick Trickle Cale Yarborough Motorsports Pontiac 22.616 119.385
6 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 22.627 119.326
7 42 Kyle Petty SABCO Racing Pontiac 22.641 119.253
8 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 22.688 119.006
9 20 Rob Moroso (R) Moroso Racing Oldsmobile 22.724 118.817
10 26 Brett Bodine King Racing Buick 22.767 118.593
11 94 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 22.786 118.494
12 21 Neil Bonnett Wood Brothers Racing Ford 22.805 118.395
13 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 22.816 118.338
14 15 Morgan Shepherd Bud Moore Engineering Ford 22.832 118.255
15 4 Phil Parsons Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 22.847 118.177
16 90 Ernie Irvan Donlavey Racing Ford 22.865 118.084
17 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 22.875 118.033
18 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 22.891 117.950
19 98 Butch Miller Travis Carter Enterprises Chevrolet 22.891 117.950
20 10 Derrike Cope Whitcomb Racing Chevrolet 22.928 117.760
Failed to lock in Round 1
21 57 Jimmy Spencer Osterlund Racing Pontiac 22.765 118.603
22 33 Harry Gant Leo Jackson Motorsports Oldsmobile 22.809 118.374
23 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 22.897 117.919
24 12 Mike Alexander Bobby Allison Motorsports Buick 22.974 117.524
25 1 Terry Labonte Precision Products Racing Oldsmobile 22.985 117.468
26 75 Rick Wilson RahMoc Enterprises Oldsmobile 22.986 117.463
27 19 Chad Little Little Racing Ford 23.042 117.177
28 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 23.067 117.050
29 01 Mickey Gibbs Gibbs Racing Ford 23.119 116.787
30 16 Larry Pearson Pearson Racing Buick 23.126 116.752
31 28 Davey Allison Robert Yates Racing Ford 23.199 116.384
32 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 23.214 116.309
33 04 Bill Meacham Meacham Racing Oldsmobile 23.232 116.219
34 2 Rick Mast U.S. Racing Pontiac 23.286 115.949
Provisionals
35 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet -* -*
36 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac -* -*
Failed to qualify
37 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac -* -*
38 53 Jerry O'Neil (R) Aroneck Racing Oldsmobile -* -*
39 83 Tommy Ellis Speed Racing Oldsmobile -* -*
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 6 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 400 16 running 134 $59,150
2 4 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 400 41 running 175 $42,600
3 1 5 Ricky Rudd Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 400 40 running 170 $25,050
4 17 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 400 0 running 160 $16,650
5 5 66 Dick Trickle Cale Yarborough Motorsports Pontiac 400 13 running 160 $14,325
6 18 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 400 148 running 160 $15,400
7 14 15 Morgan Shepherd Bud Moore Engineering Ford 400 0 running 146 $8,525
8 10 26 Brett Bodine King Racing Buick 400 0 running 142 $8,025
9 21 57 Jimmy Spencer Osterlund Racing Pontiac 400 0 running 138 $6,425
10 13 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 400 0 running 134 $11,800
11 7 42 Kyle Petty SABCO Racing Pontiac 399 0 running 130 $5,075
12 8 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 399 0 running 127 $10,450
13 11 94 Sterling Marlin Hagan Racing Oldsmobile 399 0 running 124 $6,725
14 24 12 Mike Alexander Bobby Allison Motorsports Buick 397 0 running 121 $3,275
15 9 20 Rob Moroso (R) Moroso Racing Oldsmobile 397 0 running 118 $4,400
16 27 19 Chad Little Little Racing Ford 397 0 running 115 $3,125
17 35 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 397 0 running 112 $6,832
18 32 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac 394 0 running 109 $4,125
19 29 01 Mickey Gibbs Gibbs Racing Ford 394 0 running 106 $2,900
20 31 28 Davey Allison Robert Yates Racing Ford 393 0 running 103 $9,650
21 34 2 Rick Mast U.S. Racing Pontiac 392 0 running 100 $5,825
22 16 90 Ernie Irvan Donlavey Racing Ford 387 0 clutch 97 $2,775
23 30 16 Larry Pearson Pearson Racing Buick 386 0 running 94 $5,550
24 3 7 Alan Kulwicki AK Racing Ford 358 100 running 96 $7,025
25 12 21 Neil Bonnett Wood Brothers Racing Ford 354 0 battery 88 $5,450
26 15 4 Phil Parsons Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 354 0 running 85 $5,275
27 23 30 Michael Waltrip Bahari Racing Pontiac 350 0 running 82 $5,275
28 19 98 Butch Miller Travis Carter Enterprises Chevrolet 307 1 accident 84 $2,545
29 20 10 Derrike Cope Whitcomb Racing Chevrolet 305 0 accident 76 $8,225
30 26 75 Rick Wilson RahMoc Enterprises Oldsmobile 283 0 accident 73 $6,100
31 28 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 230 0 accident 70 $4,475
32 25 1 Terry Labonte Precision Products Racing Oldsmobile 229 0 engine 67 $4,450
33 2 11 Geoff Bodine Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 200 41 engine 69 $8,560
34 33 04 Bill Meacham Meacham Racing Oldsmobile 87 0 rear end 61 $2,425
35 36 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 83 0 accident 58 $2,425
36 22 33 Harry Gant Leo Jackson Motorsports Oldsmobile 75 0 engine 55 $8,250
Failed to qualify
37 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac
38 53 Jerry O'Neil (R) Aroneck Racing Oldsmobile
39 83 Tommy Ellis Speed Racing Oldsmobile
Official race results

Standings after the race

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References

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  1. ^ Higgins, Tom (February 26, 1990). "Martin's Victory At Richmond A Costly One (Part 1)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 9. Retrieved April 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  2. ^ Higgins, Tom (February 26, 1990). "Martin's Victory At Richmond A Costly One (Part 2)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 11. Retrieved April 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ Millsaps, Bill (February 26, 1990). "Winner of 400 kept his cool in the cold at RIR (Part 1)". Richmond Times-Dispatch. p. 21. Retrieved April 2, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  4. ^ Millsaps, Bill (February 26, 1990). "Winner of 400 kept his cool in the cold at RIR (Part 2)". Richmond Times-Dispatch. p. 25. Retrieved April 2, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  5. ^ Pearson, Harold (February 26, 1990). "Martin wins but draws $40,000 fine (Part 1)". Richmond Times-Dispatch. p. 21. Retrieved April 2, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  6. ^ Pearson, Harold (February 26, 1990). "Martin wins but draws $40,000 fine (Part 2)". Richmond Times-Dispatch. p. 26. Retrieved April 2, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  7. ^ Higgins, Tom (February 27, 1990). "Martin Surprised At Severe Penalty (Part 1)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 11. Retrieved April 2, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  8. ^ Higgins, Tom (February 27, 1990). "Martin Surprised At Severe Penalty (Part 2)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 12. Retrieved April 2, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  9. ^ "Inside motorsports". The Charlotte Observer. February 23, 1990. p. 63. Retrieved April 2, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  10. ^ Higgins, Tom (February 24, 2023). "Rudd On Pole By Length Of A Hood Ornament (Part 1)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 75. Retrieved April 2, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  11. ^ Higgins, Tom (February 24, 2023). "Rudd On Pole By Length Of A Hood Ornament (Part 2)". The Charlotte Observer. p. 76. Retrieved April 2, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
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1990 Daytona 500
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1990 season
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1990 GM Goodwrench 500