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The 1996 Winston Cup Series was the 48th season of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. The season began with the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 18 and ended with the NAPA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on November 10.

Terry Labonte won his second NASCAR Winston Cup Series Championship in his 18th full time season. It came 12 years after his first championship in 1984, the longest span between championships in Cup history. Terry Labonte also became NASCAR's "Ironman" by breaking Richard Petty's consecutive start streak in his 514th consecutive race at the First Union 400. He held off teammate Jeff Gordon, who won 10 races to Labonte's 2, but had a more inconsistent season than Labonte. It was the second driver's championship won by Hendrick Motorsports.

The season was notable for being the final season with official races at North Wilkesboro Speedway (as of 2023), as well as the first season where NASCAR ran an exhibition race in Japan. Petty Enterprises returned to victory lane for the first time since 1984 with Bobby Hamilton's first career win at Phoenix, and they posted their best points finish since 1987.

Ernie Irvan returned to full time Cup competition driving the #28 Robert Yates Racing Ford, which led to the creation of a second Robert Yates Racing team, the #88, driven by Dale Jarrett. Jarrett would win 4 races with his new team, including the Daytona 500. Michael Waltrip left Bahari Racing, replacing Morgan Shepherd at Wood Brothers, and he scored a win at the Winston Select All-Star Race. Finally, Jeff Burton joined Roush Racing in a new third team, the #99. He would drive the #99 for the next 9 seasons. Johnny Benson, the 1995 Busch Grand National Series Champion, moved up to the Cup Series, replacing Waltrip at Bahari. He would win the Rookie of the Year award by default.

1996 Winston Cup Team Chart[]

No. Driver Sponsor Make Team/Owner
1 Rick Mast Hooters Ford logo Richard Jackson
2 Rusty Wallace Miller Ford logo Penske Racing
3 Dale Earnhardt GM Goodwrench Chevrolet bowtie 2023 Richard Childress Racing
4 Sterling Marlin Kodak Max Chevrolet bowtie 2023 Morgan-McClure Motorsports
5 Terry Labonte Kellogg's Corn Flakes Chevrolet bowtie 2023 Hendrick Motorsports
6 Mark Martin Valvoline Ford logo Roush Racing
7 Geoffery Bodine QVC Ford logo himself
8 Hut Stricklin Circuit City Ford logo Stavola Brothers
9 Lake Speed Spam Ford logo Harry Melling
10 Ricky Rudd Tide Ford logo himself
11 Brett Bodine Lowe's Ford logo Junior Johnson
12 Derrike Cope Badcock/Mane N' Tail Ford logo Bobby Allison
15 Wally Dallenbach, Jr Hayes Modems Ford logo Bud Moore
16 Ted Musgrave Family Channel Ford logo Roush Racing
17 Darrell Waltrip Western Auto Chevrolet bowtie 2023 himself
18 Bobby Labonte Interstate Batteries Chevrolet bowtie 2023 Joe Gibbs Racing
19 Loy Allen, Jr. Healthsource Ford logo Tri-Star Motorsports
21 Michael Waltrip Citgo Ford logo Wood Brothers Racing
22 Ward Burton MBNA Pontiac badge Bill Davis Racing
23 Jimmy Spencer Smokin' Joes Ford logo Travis Carter
24 Jeff Gordon (C) DuPont Chevrolet bowtie 2023 Hendrick Motorsports
25 Ken Schrader Budweiser Chevrolet bowtie 2023 Hendrick Motorsports
27 Elton Sawyer Ford logo Junior Johnson
28 Ernie Irvan Texaco/Havoline Ford logo Robert Yates Racing
29 Steve Grissom Cartoon Network Chevrolet bowtie 2023 Gary Bechtel
30 Johnny Benson, Jr. (ROTY) Pennzoil Pontiac badge Chuck Rider
33 Robert Pressley Skoal Bandit Chevrolet bowtie 2023 Leo Jackson
37 John Andretti K-Mart/Little Caesars Ford logo Michael Kranefuss
41 Ricky Craven Kodiak Chevrolet bowtie 2023 Larry Hedrick Motorsports
42 Kyle Petty Coors Light Pontiac badge Felix Sabates
43 Bobby Hamilton STP Pontiac badge Petty Enterprises
44 Jeff Purvis Jackaroo Chevrolet bowtie 2023 James Finch
71 Dave Marcis Prodigy Internet Chevrolet bowtie 2023 himself
75 Morgan Shepherd Remington Arms Ford logo Butch Mock
77 Bobby Hillin, Jr. Jasper Engines Ford logo Jasper Racing
81 Kenny Wallace Square D Ford logo Fil Martocci
87 Joe Nemechek Burger King Chevrolet bowtie 2023 himself
88 Dale Jarrett Quality Care/Red Carpet Lease Ford logo Robert Yates Racing
90 Mike Wallace
Dick Trickle
Heilig Meyers Ford logo Junie Donlavey
94 Bill Elliott McDonalds Ford logo himself
98 Jeremy Mayfield RCA Ford logo Cale Yarborough
99 Jeff Burton Exide Batteries Ford logo Roush Racing
  • (C)=Champion
  • (ROTY)=Rookie of the Year

Schedule[]

Round Date Race Name Track TV
February 11, 1996 Busch Clash Daytona International Speedway CBS
February 15, 1996 Gatorade Twin 125s Daytona International Speedway CBS
1 February 18, 1996 Daytona 500 Daytona International Speedway CBS
2 February 25, 1996 Goodwrench Service 400 North Carolina Speedway TNN
3 March 3, 1996 Pontiac Excitement 400 Richmond International Raceway ESPN
4 March 10, 1996 Purolator 500 Atlanta Motor Speedway ABC
5 March 24, 1996 TranSouth Financial 400 Darlington Raceway ESPN
6 March 31, 1996 Food City 500 Bristol Motor Speedway ESPN
7 April 14, 1996 First Union 400 North Wilkesboro Speedway ESPN
8 April 21, 1996 Goody's Headache Powder 500 Martinsville Speedway ESPN
9 April 28, 1996 Winston Select 500 Talladega Superspeedway ESPN
10 May 5, 1996 Save Mart Supermarkets 300 Sears Point Raceway ESPN
May 18, 1996 Winston Select Charlotte Motor Speedway TNN
11 May 26, 1996 Coca-Cola 600 Charlotte Motor Speedway TBS
12 June 2, 1996 Miller 500 Dover Downs International Speedway TNN
13 June 16, 1996 UAW-GM Teamwork 500 Pocono Raceway TNN
14 June 23, 1996 Miller 400 Michigan Speedway CBS
15 July 6, 1996 Pepsi 400 Daytona International Speedway ESPN
16 July 14, 1996 Jiffy Lube 300 New Hampshire International Speedway TNN
17 July 21, 1996 Miller 500 Pocono Raceway TBS
18 July 28, 1996 DieHard 500 Talladega Superspeedway CBS
19 August 3, 1996 Brickyard 400 Indianapolis Motor Speedway ABC
20 August 11, 1996 The Bud At The Glen Watkins Glen International ESPN
21 August 18, 1996 GM Goodwrench Dealer 400 Michigan Speedway ESPN
22 August 24, 1996 Goody's Headache Powder 500 Bristol Motor Speedway ESPN
23 September 1, 1996 Mountain Dew Southern 500 Darlington Raceway ESPN
24 September 7, 1996 Miller 400 Richmond International Raceway ESPN
25 September 15, 1996 MBNA 500 Dover Downs International Speedway TNN
26 September 22, 1996 Hanes 500 Martinsville Speedway ESPN
27 September 29, 1996 Tyson Holly Farms 400 North Wilkesboro Speedway ESPN
28 October 6, 1996 UAW-GM Quality 500 Lowe's Motor Speedway TBS
29 October 20, 1996 AC-Delco 400 North Carolina Speedway TNN
30 October 27, 1996 Dura Lube 500 Phoenix International Raceway TNN
31 November 10, 1996 NAPA 500 Atlanta Motor Speedway ESPN
November 24, 1996 NASCAR Suzuka Thunder Special Suzuka Circuit TBS

Results[]

Round Race Pole Winner Winner Make Cautions Caution Laps Average Speed Number of Lead Changes
1996 Busch Clash Rick Mast Dale Jarrett Ford logo 1 0 184.995 3
1996 Gatorade Twin 125 (Race #1) Dale Earnhardt Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet bowtie 2023 3 10 143.039 2
1996 Gatorade Twin 125 (Race #2) Ernie Irvan Ernie Irvan Ford logo 0 0 186.027 0
1 1996 Daytona 500 Dale Earnhardt Dale Jarrett Ford logo 6 26 154.308 32
2 1996 Goodwrench Service 400 Terry Labonte Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet bowtie 2023 10 66 113.959 22
3 1996 Pontiac Excitement 400 Terry Labonte Jeff Gordon Chevrolet bowtie 2023 8 36 102.750 25
4 1996 Purolator 500 Johnny Benson, Jr Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet bowtie 2023 3 13 161.298 30
5 1996 TranSouth Financial 400 Ward Burton Jeff Gordon Chevrolet bowtie 2023 11 56 124.792 15
6 1996 Food City 500 Mark Martin Jeff Gordon Chevrolet bowtie 2023 5 37 91.308 7
7 1996 First Union 400 Terry Labonte Terry Labonte Chevrolet bowtie 2023 3 25 96.370 17
8 1996 Goody's Headache Powder 500 Ricky Craven Rusty Wallace Ford logo 6 36 81.410 18
9 1996 Winston Select 500 Ernie Irvan Sterling Marlin Chevrolet bowtie 2023 6 31 149.999 24
10 1996 Save Mart Supermarkets 300 Terry Labonte Rusty Wallace Ford logo 5 10 77.673 9
1996 Winston Select Jeff Gordon Michael Waltrip Ford logo 1 3 162.721 6
11 1996 Coca-Cola 600 Jeff Gordon Dale Jarrett Ford logo 6 35 147.581 20
12 1996 Miller 500 Jeff Gordon Jeff Gordon Chevrolet bowtie 2023 5 38 122.741 19
13 1996 UAW-GM Teamwork 500 Jeff Gordon Jeff Gordon Chevrolet bowtie 2023 4 23 139.104 26
14 1996 Miller 400 Bobby Hamilton Rusty Wallace Ford logo 2 8 166.033 17
15 1996 Pepsi 400 Jeff Gordon Sterling Marlin Chevrolet bowtie 2023 3 11 161.602 9
16 1996 Jiffy Lube 300 Ricky Craven Ernie Irvan Ford logo 8 49 98.930 23
17 1996 Miller 500 Mark Martin Rusty Wallace Ford logo 4 17 144.892 23
18 1996 DieHard 500 Jeremy Mayfield Jeff Gordon Chevrolet bowtie 2023 5 35 133.387 24
19 1996 Brickyard 400 Jeff Gordon Dale Jarrett Ford logo 5 21 139.508 18
20 1996 The Bud At The Glen Dale Earnhardt Geoffrey Bodine Ford logo 4 11 92.334 8
21 1996 GM Goodwrench Dealer 400 Jeff Burton Dale Jarrett Ford logo 8 36 139.792 13
22 1996 Goody's Headache Powder 500 Mark Martin Rusty Wallace Ford logo 8 67 91.267 8
23 1996 Mountain Dew Southern 500 Dale Jarrett Jeff Gordon Chevrolet bowtie 2023 6 37 135.757 29
24 1996 Miller 400 Mark Martin Ernie Irvan Ford logo 4 24 105.469 16
25 1996 MBNA 500 Bobby Labonte Jeff Gordon Chevrolet bowtie 2023 14 91 105.646 28
26 1996 Hanes 500 Bobby Hamilton Jeff Gordon Chevrolet bowtie 2023 7 35 82.223 11
27 1996 Tyson Holly Farms 400 Ted Musgrave Jeff Gordon Chevrolet bowtie 2023 4 29 96.837 18
28 1996 UAW-GM Quality 500 Bobby Labonte Terry Labonte Chevrolet bowtie 2023 5 37 143.143 21
29 1996 AC-Delco 400 Dale Jarrett Ricky Rudd Ford logo 7 46 122.320 21
30 1996 Dura Lube 500 Bobby Labonte Bobby Hamilton Pontiac badge 5 25 109.709 19
31 1996 NAPA 500 Bobby Labonte Bobby Labonte Chevrolet bowtie 2023 8 47 134.661 27
1996 NASCAR Suzuka Thunder Special Rusty Wallace Rusty Wallace Ford logo 5 10 71.897 4

Final Point Standings[]

Pos. Driver Races Wins Top 5s Top 10s Poles Points Difference
1 Terry Labonte 31 2 21 24 4 4657
2 Jeff Gordon 31 10 21 24 5 4620 -37
3 Dale Jarrett 31 4 17 21 2 4568 -89
4 Dale Earnhardt 31 2 13 17 2 4327 -330
5 Mark Martin 31 0 14 23 4 4278 -379
6 Ricky Rudd 31 1 5 16 0 3845 -812
7 Rusty Wallace 31 5 8 18 0 3717 -940
8 Sterling Marlin 31 2 5 10 0 3682 -975
9 Bobby Hamilton 31 1 3 11 2 3639 -1,018
10 Ernie Irvan 31 2 12 16 1 3632 -1,025
11 Bobby Labonte 31 1 5 14 4 3590 -1,067
12 Ken Schrader 31 0 3 10 0 3540 -1,117
13 Jeff Burton 30 0 6 12 1 3538 -1,119
14 Michael Waltrip 31 0 1 11 0 3535 -1,122
15 Jimmy Spencer 31 0 2 9 0 3476 -1,181
16 Ted Musgrave 31 0 2 7 1 3466 -1,191
17 Geoffrey Bodine 31 1 2 6 0 3218 -1,439
18 Rick Mast 31 0 1 5 0 3190 -1,467
19 Morgan Shepherd 31 0 1 5 0 3133 -1,524
20 Ricky Craven 31 0 3 5 2 3078 -1,579
21 Johnny Benson, Jr. 30 0 1 6 1 3004 -1,653
22 Hut Stricklin 31 0 1 1 0 2854 -1,803
23 Lake Speed 31 0 0 2 0 2834 -1,823
24 Brett Bodine 30 0 0 1 0 2814 -1,843
25 Wally Dallenbach, Jr. 30 0 1 3 0 2786 -1,871
26 Jeremy Mayfield 30 0 2 2 1 2721 -1,936
27 Kyle Petty 28 0 0 2 0 2696 -1,961
28 Kenny Wallace 30 0 0 2 0 2694 -1,963
29 Darrell Waltrip 31 0 0 2 0 2657 -2,000
30 Bill Elliott 24 0 0 6 0 2627 -2,030
31 John Andretti 30 0 2 3 0 2621 -2,036
32 Robert Pressley 30 0 2 3 0 2485 -2,172
33 Ward Burton 27 0 0 4 1 2411 -2,246
34 Joe Nemechek 29 0 0 2 0 2391 -2,266
35 Derrike Cope 29 0 0 3 0 2374 -2,283
36 Dick Trickle 26 0 0 1 0 2131 -2,526
37 Bobby Hillin, Jr. 26 0 0 0 0 2128 -2,529
38 Dave Marcis 27 0 0 0 0 2047 -2,610
39 Steve Grissom 13 0 1 2 0 1188 -3,469
40 Todd Bodine 10 0 0 1 0 991 -3,666
41 Mike Wallace 11 0 0 0 0 799 -3,858
42 Greg Sacks 9 0 0 0 0 710 -3,947
43 Elton Sawyer 9 0 0 0 0 705 -3,952
44 Chad Little 9 0 0 0 0 627 -4,030
45 Loy Allen, Jr. 9 0 0 0 0 603 -4,054
46 Gary Bradberry 9 0 0 0 0 591 -4,066
47 Mike Skinner 5 0 0 0 0 529 -4,128
48 Jeff Purvis 4 0 0 0 0 328 -4,329
49 Jeff Green 4 0 0 0 0 247 -4,410
50 Randy MacDonald 3 0 0 0 0 228 -4,429

Complete statistics can be found at Racing-Reference.info.

Rookie of the Year[]

Johnny Benson, Jr. won the Rookie of the Year award for 1996. He was the only eligible competitor for the award, as Randy MacDonald and Stacy Compton both declared for the Rookie of the Year award, but did not run the minimum required 7 races to be eligible. Gary Bradberry did not declare for the award, but ran 9 races, making him ineligible from competing for the Rookie of the Year award in future seasons.

Rookie of the Year Standings[1]
Position Driver Points Race Wins
1 Johnny Benson, Jr 216 0

Manufacturer's Championship[]

With 17 wins, Chevrolet won the 1996 Manufacturer's Championship.[2]

Position Make Points Race Wins
1 Chevrolet bowtie 2023 233 17
2 Ford logo 223 13
3 Pontiac badge 133 1

External Links[]

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