| 1992 NASCAR Winston Cup Series | |||
| Previous: | 1991 | Next: | 1993 |
The 1992 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 44th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 21st modern-era Cup season. The season began on January 26, 1992, and ended on November 15, 1992. Independent owner/driver Alan Kulwicki of AK Racing won the Winston Cup championship.
The 1992 season was considered one of the most dramatic and emotional years in NASCAR. The seven-time champion, and "King of stock car racing," Richard Petty retired from full-time driving at the season's end, concluding a year-long "Fan Appreciation Tour." Petty appeared across the country for autographs and diecasts were made of his No. 43 car for all 39 of the races he appeared in. He continued making part-time starts until 1997. 1983 series champion Bobby Allison also retired after this season; he continued as a team owner until 1996. The season also saw the quiet debut of a future champion Jeff Gordon, who was planning to move up after two seasons in the Busch Series. Gordon debuted the rainbow No. 24 Chevrolet at the final race of the year.
The season-long championship battle narrowed down to six drivers, the most ever going into the final race of the season. Davey Allison won the season-opening Daytona 500, and despite a roller-coaster season, remained first, or near the top of the standings all season. Bill Elliott and Alan Kulwicki experienced more consistent results, placing them comfortably near the top. Harry Gant, Mark Martin and Kyle Petty were also factors during the season. Two-time defending champion Dale Earnhardt, however, suffered a dismal season, winning only one race, dropping out several times, and finished outside the top ten at season's end, for just the second time in his Cup career.
The season's climax occurred at the final race of the season, the Hooters 500 at Atlanta. Six drivers entered the race with a mathematical chance at winning the Winston Cup championship. Davey Allison led the charge, but ultimately fell short when he was involved in an accident. The race and the championship came down to a two-man battle between Bill Elliott and Alan Kulwicki. Elliott won the race, while Kulwicki finished second. Kulwicki led 103 laps during the race (compared to 102 by Elliott), clinched the 5 bonus points for leading the most laps, and won the Winston Cup title.
The 1992 season was the final year of Chrysler as a manufacturer in the series, as starting in 1993, Chrysler Corporation exclusively ran Dodge. Oldsmobile also bowed out at the end of 1992, but returned to NASCAR in 1997, running until 2002. The 1992 season was also the first Manufacturers' championship for Ford since 1969. Ford swept the top three in points snapping GM's streak of 16 straight manufacturers' championships (between Chevrolet and Buick).
Manufacturers, teams, and drivers[]
Manufacturers[]
| Company | Marquee | Model | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Motors | Chevrolet | Corsica | Full factory support |
| Caprice | Full factory support | ||
| Lumina | Full factory support | ||
| Cavalier | Full factory support | ||
| Beretta | No factory support | ||
| Camaro | No factory support | ||
| Pontiac | Grand Prix | Full factory support | |
| J2000 | No factory support | ||
| Oldsmobile | Cutlass Supreme | Full factory support (final year) | |
| Buick | Regal | Factory support ended after 1991 | |
| Ford Motor Company | Ford | Thunderbird | Full factory support |
| Probe | Full factory support | ||
| Mustang | Full factory support | ||
| Escort | Full factory support | ||
| Crown Victoria | Full factory support | ||
| Tempo | Full factory support | ||
| Chrysler Corporation | Chrysler | LeBaron | Full factory support |
| Imperial | Full factory support | ||
| Dodge | Spirit | Full factory support | |
| Dynasty | Full factory support | ||
| Daytona | Full factory support |
Manufacturer notes[]
1992 saw Oldsmobile bow out of NASCAR, with General Motors deciding to rally their efforts around Chevrolet and Pontiac after Ford clinched the manufacturer's championship (it didn't help that, because of Chrysler and Dodge, there was only one team running the full schedule with Pontiac). It was also the final year for Chrysler, as Chrysler Corporation elected to focus solely on Dodge.
Complete schedule[]
| Make | Team | No. | Driver | Crew chief | Model | Primary Sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Jeff Hammond | 1992 Corsica | Western Auto |
| Hendrick Motorsports | 5 | Ricky Rudd | Gary DeHart | 1992 Lumina | Tide | |
| 25 | Tim Richmond | Ken Howes | Kodiak | |||
| Joe Gibbs Racing | 18 | Dale Jarrett | Jimmy Makar | 1992 Beretta | Interstate Batteries | |
| Larry Hedrick Motorsports | 41 | Greg Sacks | Dennis Conner | 1991 Lumina | Kellogg's | |
| Dave Marcis | ||||||
| Hut Stricklin | ||||||
| Marcis Auto Racing | 71 | Dave Marcis | Bob Marcis | 1992 Corsica | Abilene Boots | |
| Jim Sauter | ||||||
| Morgan-McClure Motorsports | 4 | Ernie Irvan | Tony Glover | 1992 Caprice | Kodak Film | |
| Richard Childress Racing | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Kirk Shelmerdine | 1992 Lumina | GM Goodwrench | |
| 31 | Neil Bonnett | Mom N Pop's Country Ham | ||||
| Whitcomb Racing | 10 | Derrike Cope | Barry Dodson | 1992 Cavalier | Purolator | |
| Chrysler | Donlavey Racing | 90 | Ken Schrader | Junie Donlavey | 1992 LeBaron | Whistler Radar |
| Means Racing | 52 | Jimmy Means | 1992 Imperial | unsponsored | ||
| SABCO Racing | 42 | Kyle Petty | Robin Pemberton | 1992 LeBaron | Mello Yello | |
| 45 | Patty Moise | 1992 LeBaron | Barbie | |||
| Dodge | Bahari Racing | 30 | Michael Waltrip | Doug Hewitt | 1992 Dynasty | Pennzoil |
| Hagan Racing | 94 | Terry Labonte | Dewey Livengood | 1992 Spirit | Sunoco | |
| Melling Racing | 9 | Bill Elliott | 1992 Dynasty | Coors Light | ||
| Moroso Racing | 20 | Rob Moroso | 1992 Spirit | Glad Bag | ||
| Petty Enterprises | 43 | Richard Petty | Robbie Loomis | 1992 Dynasty | STP | |
| Ford | AK Racing | 7 | Alan Kulwicki | Paul Andrews | 1992 Thunderbird | Zerex |
| Bobby Allison Racing | 12 | Hut Stricklin | Jimmy Fennig | 1992 Mustang | Raybestos Brakes | |
| Bud Moore Engineering | 15 | Geoff Bodine | Donnie Wingo | 1992 Escort | Motorcraft | |
| Cale Yarborough Racing | 66 | Chad Little | 1992 Thunderbird | TropArctic | ||
| Bobby Hillin Jr. | ||||||
| Jimmy Hensley (R) | ||||||
| Junior Johnson & Associates | 11 | TBA | Tim Brewer | 1992 Thunderbird | Budweiser | |
| 22 | Sterling Marlin | Mike Beam | Maxwell Coffee House | |||
| King Racing | 26 | Brett Bodine | Richard Broome | 1992 Crown Victoria | Quaker State | |
| RaDiUs Racing | 55 | Ted Musgrave | James Ince | 1992 Mustang | Jasper Engines | |
| Robert Yates Racing | 28 | Davey Allison | Larry MacReynolds | 1992 Thunderbird | Havoline | |
| Roush Racing | 6 | Mark Martin | Steve Hmiel | 1992 Probe | Valvoline | |
| 16 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Steve Lloyd | Keystone Beer | |||
| Stavola Bros Racing | 8 | Rick Wilson | Ken Wilson | 1992 Thunderbird | Snickers | |
| Dick Trickle | ||||||
| Wood Brothers Racing | 21 | Morgan Shepherd | Eddie Wood | 1992 Tempo | Citgo | |
| Oldsmobile | Leo Jackson Motorsports | 33 | Harry Gant | Andy Petree | 1992 Cutlass Supreme | Skoal Bandit |
| Precision Products Racing | 1 | Rick Mast | Richard Jackson | 1992 Cutlass Supreme | Skoal Classic | |
| Tri-Star Motorsports | 68 | Bobby Hamilton | 1992 Cutlass Supreme | Country Time | ||
| Pontiac | Penske Racing | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Eddie Dickerson
Buddy Parrott |
1992 Grand Prix | Miller Genuine Draft |
Limited schedule[]
| Make | Team | No. | Driver | Crew Chief | Model |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buick | Balough Racing | 77 | Mike Potter | 1991 Regal | |
| Chevrolet | 1991 Beretta | ||||
| Ball Motorsports | 99 | Brad Teague | 1991 Lumina | ||
| Hendrick Motorsports | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Ray Evernham | 1992 Lumina | |
| Hylton Motorsports | 48 | James Hylton | 1990 Lumina | ||
| Mueller Brothers Racing | 89 | Jim Sauter | 1991 Lumina | ||
| Team Ireland | 13 | Bobby Hillin Jr | Doug Hewitt | 1989 Lumina | |
| Travis Carter Enterprises | 98 | Jimmy Spencer | 1991 Lumina | ||
| Chrysler | Donlavey Racing | 91 | Kerry Teague | 1992 LeBaron | |
| Means Racing | 53 | John McFadden | 1992 Imperial | ||
| Graham Taylor | |||||
| 77 | Mike Potter | ||||
| Speed Racing | 83 | Lake Speed | 1991 LeBaron | ||
| Dodge | B&B Racing | 23 | Eddie Bierschwale | 1992 Dynasty | |
| 88 Racing | 88 | Joe Booher | 1991 Spirit | ||
| Barkdoll Racing | 73 | Phil Barkdoll | 1992 Daytona | ||
| Bill Schmitt | |||||
| Ford | Gray Racing | 62 | Ben Hess | 1990 Thunderbird | |
| H.L. Waters Motorsports | 0 | Delma Cowart | 1991 Probe | ||
| Junior Johnson & Associates | 97 | Hut Stricklin | 1992 Thunderbird | ||
| Pat Rissi Racing | 59 | Andy Belmont | 1990 Escort | ||
| Oldsmobile | Close Racing | 47 | Buddy Baker | 1991 Cutlass Supreme | |
| Collins Racing | 97 | Mark Gibson | 1991 Cutlass Supreme | ||
| KT Motorsports | 04 | Kerry Teague | 1990 Cutlass Supreme | ||
| Pontiac | Gilliland Racing | 24 | Butch Gilliland | 1991 Grand Prix | |
| Rusty Wallace Racing | Kenny Wallace | 1991 J2000 | |||
| Hylton Racing | 48 | James Hylton | 1992 Grand Prix |
Schedule[]
| No. | Race title | Track | Date | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Save Mart Supermarkets 300K | Sears Point Raceway, Sonoma | January 26 | WBC |
| Busch Clash | Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach | February 9 | WBC | |
| Gatorade Twin 125 Qualifiers | February 13 | WBC | ||
| 2 | Daytona 500 | February 16 | WBC | |
| 3 | San Jose 500 | San Jose Motorplex, Gilroy | February 23 | WBC |
| 4 | GM Goodwrench 500 | North Carolina Motor Speedway, Rockingham | March 1 | TNN |
| 5 | Pontiac Excitement 400 | Richmond International Raceway, Richmond | March 8 | WBC |
| 6 | Motorcraft Quality Parts 500 | Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton | March 15 | WBC |
| 7 | Coors 400 | Pikes Peak International Raceway, Fountain | March 22 | WBC |
| 8 | TranSouth 500 | Darlington Raceway, Darlington | March 29 | ESPN |
| 9 | Food City 500 | Bristol International Raceway, Bristol | April 5 | ESPN |
| 10 | First Union 400 | North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro | April 12 | ESPN |
| 11 | Hanes 500 | Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway | April 26 | ESPN |
| 12 | Winston 500 | Talladega Superspeedway, Lincoln | May 3 | ESPN |
| 13 | Pabst Blue Ribbon 400 | Milwaukee Mile, West Allis | May 10 | WBC |
| Winston Open | Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord | May 16 | TNN | |
| The Winston | TNN | |||
| 14 | Coca-Cola 600 | May 24 | WBC | |
| 15 | Budweiser 500 | Dover Downs International Speedway, Dover | May 31 | TNN |
| 16 | Budweiser 400 | Riverside International Raceway, Riverside | June 7 | ESPN |
| 17 | Diet Coke 500 | Denver International Speedway, Denver | June 14 | WBC |
| 18 | Chrysler 400 | Nazareth Speedway, Nazareth | June 21 | WBC |
| 19 | Pepsi 400 | Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach | July 4 | ESPN |
| 20 | Mountain Dew 400 | Milwaukee Mile, West Alliss | July 12 | WBC |
| 21 | Miller Genuine Draft 500 | Pocono International Raceway, Long Pond | July 19 | ESPN |
| 22 | DieHard 500 | Talladega Superspeedway, Lincoln | July 26 | WBC |
| 23 | Denver Post 400 | Pikes Peak International Raceway, Fountain | August 2 | WBC |
| 24 | Budweiser At The Glen | Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen | August 9 | ESPN |
| 25 | Champion Spark Plug 400 | Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn | August 16 | ESPN |
| 26 | Music City USA 420 | Nashville Speedway USA, Nashville | August 22 | TNN |
| 27 | Bud 500 | Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol | August 29 | ESPN |
| 28 | Mountain Dew Southern 500 | Darlington Raceway, Darlington | September 6 | ESPN |
| 29 | Miller Genuine Draft 400 | Richmond International Raceway, Richmond | September 12 | WBC |
| 30 | Peak AntiFreeze 500 | Dover Downs International Speedway, Dover | September 20 | TNN |
| 31 | Goody's 500 | Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway | September 28 | ESPN |
| 32 | Tyson Holly Farms 400 | North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro | October 5 | ESPN |
| 33 | Mello Yello 500 | Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord | October 11 | WBC |
| 34 | Golden Gate 500 | San Jose Motorplex, Gilroy | October 18 | WBC |
| 35 | AC Delco 500 | North Carolina Motor Speedway, Rockingham | October 25 | TNN |
| 36 | Pyroil 500K | Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale | November 1 | TNN |
| 37 | Sprite 500 | Denver International Speedway, Denver | November 8 | WBC |
| 38 | Hooters 500 | Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton | November 15 | ESPN |
| 39 | Los Angeles Times 500 | Ontario Motor Speedway, Ontario | November 22 | WBC |
Season summary[]
Results[]
| No. | Race | Pole Position | Winner | Make/Model |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Save Mart Supermarkets 300K | Tim Richmond | Rob Moroso | Dodge Spirit |
| Busch Clash | Brett Bodine | Geoff Bodine | Ford Escort | |
| Gatorade 125s Race 1 | Sterling Marlin | Dale Earnhardt | Chevrolet Lumina | |
| Gatorade 125s Race 2 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott | Ford Thunderbird | |
| 2 | Daytona 500 by STP | Sterling Marlin | Davey Allison | Ford Thunderbird |
| 3 | San Jose 500 | Bill Elliott | Kyle Petty | Chrysler LeBaron |
| 4 | GM Goodwrench 500 | Kyle Petty | Bill Elliott | Ford Thunderbird |
| 5 | Pontiac Excitement 400 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott | Ford Thunderbird |
| 6 | Motorcraft Quality Parts 500 | Mark Martin | Bill Elliott | Ford Thunderbird |
| 7 | Coors 400 | Brett Bodine | Rusty Wallace | Pontiac Grand Prix |
| 8 | TranSouth 500 | Sterling Marlin | Bill Elliott | Ford Thunderbird |
| 9 | Food City 500 | Alan Kulwicki | Alan Kulwicki | Ford Thunderbird |
| 10 | First Union 400 | Alan Kulwicki | Davey Allison | Ford Thunderbird |
| 11 | Hanes 500 | Darrell Waltrip | Mark Martin | Ford Probe |
| 12 | Winston 500 | Ernie Irvan | Davey Allison | Ford Thunderbird |
| 13 | Pabst Blue Ribbon 400 | Geoff Bodine | Ricky Rudd | Chevrolet Lumina |
| Winston Open | Brett Bodine | Michael Waltrip | Dodge Dynasty | |
| The Winson | Davey Allison | Davey Allison | Ford Thunderbird | |
| 14 | Coca-Cola 600 | Bill Elliott | Dale Earnhardt | Chevrolet Lumina |
| 15 | Budweiser 500 | Brett Bodine | Harry Gant | Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme |
| 16 | Budweiser 400 | Ricky Rudd | Ernie Irvan | Chevrolet Caprice |
| 17 | Diet Coke 500 | Ken Schrader | Alan Kulwicki | Ford Thunderbird |
| 18 | Chrysler 400 | Neil Bonnett | Davey Allison | Ford Thunderbird |
| 19 | Pepsi 400 | Sterling Marlin | Richard Petty | Dodge Dynasty |
| 20 | Mountain Dew 400 | Tim Richmond | Alan Kulwicki | Ford Thunderbird |
| 21 | Miller Genuine Draft 500 | Davey Allison | Darrell Waltrip | Chevrolet Corsica |
| 22 | DieHard 500 | Sterling Marlin | Ernie Irvan | Chevrolet Caprice |
| 23 | Denver Post 400 | Dale Earnhardt | Ken Schrader | Chrysler LeBaron |
| 24 | Budweiser at The Glen | Dale Earnhardt | Kyle Petty | Chrysler LeBaron |
| 25 | Champion Spark Plug 400 | Alan Kulwicki | Harry Gant | Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme |
| 26 | Music City USA 420 | Geoff Bodine | Richard Petty | Dodge Dynasty |
| 27 | Bud 500 | Ernie Irvan | Darrell Waltrip | Chevrolet Corsica |
| 28 | Mountain Dew Southern 500 | Sterling Marlin | Darrell Waltrip | Chevrolet Corsica |
| 29 | Miller Genuine Draft 400 | Ernie Irvan | Rusty Wallace | Pontiac Grand Prix |
| 30 | Peak AntiFreeze 500 | Alan Kulwicki | Ricky Rudd | Chevrolet Lumina |
| 31 | Goody's 500 | Kyle Petty | Geoff Bodine | Ford Escort |
| 32 | Tyson Holly Farms 400 | Alan Kulwicki | Geoff Bodine | Ford Escort |
| 33 | Mello Yello 500 | Alan Kulwicki | Mark Martin | Ford Probe |
| 34 | Golden Gate 500 | Rob Moroso | Neil Bonnett | Chevrolet Lumina |
| 35 | AC Delco 500 | Kyle Petty | Kyle Petty | Chrysler LeBaron |
| 36 | Pyroil 500K | Rusty Wallace | Davey Allison | Ford Thunderbird |
| 37 | Sprite 500 | Bill Elliott | Rob Moroso | Dodge Spirit |
| 38 | Hooters 500 | Rick Mast | Bill Elliott | Ford Thunderbird |
| 39 | Los Angeles Times 500 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Petty | Dodge Dynasty |
Cars used in 1992 (incomplete)[]
