1988 Goodyear NASCAR 500
Encyclopedia
The Goodyear NASCAR 500 race was run at the then new A$
54 million Calder Park Thunderdome in Melbourne
, Australia
on February 28, 1988. The race was the first ever NASCAR
event held outside of North America
. Unlike NASCAR races in the United States
, the 500 was actually 500 kilometres which is only 310 miles.
Headlining the race were many Winston Cup and Winston West Series drivers such as Alabama Gang
members Bobby Allison
, who had won the Daytona 500
just two weeks prior, Neil Bonnett
, who had won the previous weekends Pontiac Excitement 400 at Richmond
, Michael Waltrip
, Dave Marcis
and Kyle Petty
. They took on Australians new to Super Speedway such as Touring car drivers
Allan Grice
, Jim Richards and Dick Johnson.
The race was 280 laps of the 1.8 km (1.1 mi) Tri-oval
Thunderdome. Neil Bonnett driving his Valvoline sponsored Pontiac
won the $10,000 Goodyear
-Parkroyal
Pole Shootout and sat on the pole with a time of 28.829 ahead of Allison driving a Buick and the fastest of the Aussies, Allan Grice driving a Foster's
sponsored Oldsmobile with a time of 28.971 seconds.
Bonnett and Allison dominated the race, swapping the lead many times in the heat of the afternoon where cabin temperatures were reported to reach over 57° Celsius (135° Fahrenheit). The race was marred by a multi-car crash early in turns 3 and 4 involving 8 cars including the Ford Thunderbird
of Dick Johnson and Grice who, after struggling with no brakes, ran into the wreck at speed and suffered a broken collarbone.
Neil Bonnett won the race from Bobby Allison and Dave Marcis. Only 13 of the 31 car field finished the race.
Australian dollar
The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
54 million Calder Park Thunderdome in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
on February 28, 1988. The race was the first ever NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
event held outside of North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. Unlike NASCAR races in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the 500 was actually 500 kilometres which is only 310 miles.
Headlining the race were many Winston Cup and Winston West Series drivers such as Alabama Gang
Alabama Gang
The Alabama Gang was the nickname for a group of NASCAR drivers who set up shop and operated out of Hueytown, Alabama, near Birmingham, Alabama. In the late 1950s, young auto racer Bobby Allison left Miami, Florida, looking for an area that had more opportunities to race. He discovered central...
members Bobby Allison
Bobby Allison
Robert Arthur Allison is a former NASCAR Winston Cup driver and was named one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers. His two sons, Clifford Allison and Davey Allison followed him into racing, and both died within a year of each other....
, who had won the Daytona 500
1988 Daytona 500
The 1988 Daytona 500 was held February 14 at Daytona International Speedway. Ken Schrader won the pole. The race is best remembered for Richard Petty's spectacular rollover crash in the tri-oval on lap 106, initiated when he was tagged from behind by Phil Barkdoll. Petty rolled over about eight...
just two weeks prior, Neil Bonnett
Neil Bonnett
Lawrence Neil Bonnett was a NASCAR driver who compiled 18 victories and 20 poles over his 18-year career. The Alabama native currently ranks 35th in all-time NASCAR Cup victories. He appeared in the 1983 film Stroker Ace and the 1990 film Days of Thunder...
, who had won the previous weekends Pontiac Excitement 400 at Richmond
Richmond International Raceway
Richmond International Raceway is a 3/4-mile , D-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in Henrico County. It hosts the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series...
, Michael Waltrip
Michael Waltrip
Michael Curtis Waltrip is a semi-former professional race car driver, co-owner of Michael Waltrip Racing, and a published author. He is the younger brother of three-time NASCAR champion and racing commentator Darrell Waltrip. Waltrip is a two-time winner of the Daytona 500; having won the race in...
, Dave Marcis
Dave Marcis
Dave Marcis is a retired driver on the NASCAR Winston Cup circuit whose career spanned five decades. Marcis won five times over this tenure, twice at Richmond, including his final win in 1982...
and Kyle Petty
Kyle Petty
Kyle Eugene Petty is a former American NASCAR driver and is currently a co-host for NASCAR RaceDay and panel member for NASCAR Smarts which are both on SPEED. He also commentates for TNT in the summer. He is the son of racer Richard Petty, grandson of racer Lee Petty, and father of the late Adam...
. They took on Australians new to Super Speedway such as Touring car drivers
Touring car racing
Touring car racing is a general term for a number of distinct auto racing competitions in heavily-modified street cars. It is notably popular in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Germany, Japan, Scandinavia and Britain.-Characteristics of a touring car:...
Allan Grice
Allan Grice
Allan Maxwell Grice OAM , known to motor-racing fans as Gricey, is an Australian former racing driver and politician, most famous for twice winning the prestigious Bathurst 1000 , and as a privateer driver of a Holden in the Australian Touring Car Championship.Grice also had a successful second...
, Jim Richards and Dick Johnson.
The race was 280 laps of the 1.8 km (1.1 mi) Tri-oval
Tri-oval
A tri-oval is a shape which derives its name from the two other shapes it most resembles, a triangle and an oval. Rather than meeting at sharp, definable angles as the sides of a triangle do, in a tri-oval these angles are instead rounded into smooth curves. While an oval has four turns, a...
Thunderdome. Neil Bonnett driving his Valvoline sponsored Pontiac
Pontiac Grand Prix
Picking up where the Pontiac Ventura model left off, the Grand Prix first appeared in the Pontiac line for 1962. It was essentially a standard Pontiac Catalina coupe with minimal outside chrome trim and a sportier interior...
won the $10,000 Goodyear
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company was founded in 1898 by Frank Seiberling. Goodyear manufactures tires for automobiles, commercial trucks, light trucks, SUVs, race cars, airplanes, farm equipment and heavy earth-mover machinery....
-Parkroyal
Parkroyal
The first Parkroyal hotel opened in Melbourne, Australia in 1961.In 1986, the world's first Parkroyal Saigon Floating Hotel with 186 rooms was built by Bethlehem Shipyard in Singapore and anchored in Queensland, Australia in 1987. The hotel was later towed across the Great Barrier Reef to the...
Pole Shootout and sat on the pole with a time of 28.829 ahead of Allison driving a Buick and the fastest of the Aussies, Allan Grice driving a Foster's
Foster's Lager
Foster's Lager is an internationally distributed Australian brand of 5.0% abv pale lager, It is a product of Foster's Group brewed under licence in several countries, including the U.S. and Russia...
sponsored Oldsmobile with a time of 28.971 seconds.
Bonnett and Allison dominated the race, swapping the lead many times in the heat of the afternoon where cabin temperatures were reported to reach over 57° Celsius (135° Fahrenheit). The race was marred by a multi-car crash early in turns 3 and 4 involving 8 cars including the Ford Thunderbird
Ford Thunderbird (ninth generation)
1983 saw a much improved and aerodynamic car and the launch of the Turbo Coupe, and a much sportier image. Reputedly, in 1980 following a change in leadership, the new chief designer Jack Telnack was asked by executive Don Petersen "is this what you would want in your driveway?" Telnack's negative...
of Dick Johnson and Grice who, after struggling with no brakes, ran into the wreck at speed and suffered a broken collarbone.
Neil Bonnett won the race from Bobby Allison and Dave Marcis. Only 13 of the 31 car field finished the race.