1986 Miller American 400

The 1986 Miller American 400 was the 14th stock car race of the 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 18th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, June 15, 1986, before an audience of 80,000 in Brooklyn, Michigan, at Michigan International Speedway, a two-mile (3.2 km) moderate-banked D-shaped speedway. The race took the scheduled 200 laps to complete.

1986 Miller American 400
Race details
Race 14 of 29 in the 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1986 Miller American 400 program cover, featuring Richard Petty. Petty made his thousandth career NASCAR Winston Cup Series start during the race.
The 1986 Miller American 400 program cover, featuring Richard Petty. Petty made his thousandth career NASCAR Winston Cup Series start during the race.
Date June 15, 1986
Official name 18th Annual Miller American 400
Location Brooklyn, Michigan, Michigan International Speedway
Course Permanent racing facility
2 mi (3.2 km)
Distance 200 laps, 400 mi (643.737 km)
Scheduled Distance 200 laps, 400 mi (643.737 km)
Average speed 138.851 miles per hour (223.459 km/h)
Attendance 80,000
Pole position
Driver Hendrick Motorsports
Time 41.853
Most laps led
Driver Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing
Laps 66
Winner
No. 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing
Television in the United States
Network CBS
Announcers Ken Squier, Ned Jarrett
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

In the late laps of the race, Melling Racing's Bill Elliott, who had been a non-contender throughout most of the race, made a late race surge to contest with the leader, Mach 1 Racing's Harry Gant. The two fought for the lead for around 50 laps until lap 195, when Elliott passed Gant and managed to hold off Gant the rest of the way to secure the victory. The victory was Elliott's 16th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his first victory of the season.[1][2] To fill out the top three, Hendrick Motorsports' Geoff Bodine finished third.

During the race's qualifying session, Rick Baldwin, replacing the injured Buddy Arrington, was involved in a crash at the track's first turn during his qualifying lap. Baldwin's car spun, hitting the outside wall on the driver's side. As a result of the crash, Baldwin suffered head injuries that induced him into an 11-year coma that he did not recover from, dying on June 12, 1997. The incident was the first fatal accident in over a year in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series since Terry Schoonover at the 1984 Atlanta Journal 500.

Background

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The layout of Michigan International Speedway, the venue where the race was held.

The race was held at Michigan International Speedway, a two-mile (3.2 km) moderate-banked D-shaped speedway located in Brooklyn, Michigan. The track is used primarily for NASCAR events. It is known as a "sister track" to Texas World Speedway as MIS's oval design was a direct basis of TWS, with moderate modifications to the banking in the corners, and was used as the basis of Auto Club Speedway. The track is owned by International Speedway Corporation. Michigan International Speedway is recognized as one of motorsports' premier facilities because of its wide racing surface and high banking (by open-wheel standards; the 18-degree banking is modest by stock car standards).

Entry list

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Wrangler
4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile Kodak
5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Levi Garrett
6 D. K. Ulrich U.S. Racing Chevrolet U.S. Racing
7 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 7-Eleven
8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Chevrolet Miller American
08 Butch Miller Throop Racing Chevrolet Classic Chevrolet
9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford Coors
11 Darrell Waltrip Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet Budweiser
12 Neil Bonnett Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet Budweiser
15 Ricky Rudd Bud Moore Engineering Ford Motorcraft Quality Parts
17 Pancho Carter Hamby Racing Chevrolet Kmart
18 Tommy Ellis Freedlander Motorsports Chevrolet Freedlander Financial
22 Bobby Allison Stavola Brothers Racing Buick Miller American
23 Michael Waltrip (R) Bahari Racing Pontiac Hawaiian Punch
25 Tim Richmond Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Folgers
26 Joe Ruttman King Racing Buick Quaker State
27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac Alugard
28 Cale Yarborough Ranier-Lundy Racing Ford Hardee's
30 Willy T. Ribbs DiGard Motorsports Chevrolet Red Roof Inn
33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet Skoal Bandit
35 Alan Kulwicki (R) AK Racing Ford Quincy's Steakhouse
38 Mike Laws Laws Racing Chevrolet Laws Racing
43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac STP
44 Terry Labonte Hagan Enterprises Oldsmobile Piedmont Airlines
47 Morgan Shepherd Race Hill Farm Team Chevrolet Race Hill Farm Team
48 James Hylton Hylton Motorsports Chevrolet Hylton Motorsports
52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac Jimmy Means Racing
55 Benny Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile Copenhagen
64 Eddie Bierschwale Langley Racing Ford Sunny King Ford
66 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile Skoal
67 Rick Baldwin Arrington Racing Ford Pannill Sweatshirts
68 Jerry Holden Holden Racing Ford Holden Racing
70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac Rumple Furniture
71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Pontiac Helen Rae Special
74 Bobby Wawak Wawak Racing Chevrolet Wawak Racing
75 Jody Ridley RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac Nationwise Automotive
79 Derrike Cope Razore Racing Ford Peterbilt
80 Gary Fedewa Burke Racing Chevrolet Burke Racing
81 Chet Fillip (R) Fillip Racing Ford Circle Bar Truck Corral
82 Mark Stahl Stahl Racing Ford Auto Bell Car Wash
88 Buddy Baker Baker–Schiff Racing Oldsmobile Crisco
89 Jim Sauter Mueller Brothers Racing Pontiac Evinrude Outboard Motors
90 Ken Schrader Donlavey Racing Ford Red Baron Frozen Pizza
92 Jonathan Lee Edwards Edwards Racing Buick Edwards Racing
98 Ron Bouchard Curb Racing Pontiac Valvoline

Qualifying

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Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Saturday, June 14, at 11:30 AM EST. Each driver had one lap to set a time. During the first round, the top 20 drivers in the round were 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, at 2:00 PM EST. As with the first round, each driver had one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 21-40 were 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; up to two were given.

Tim Richmond, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, won the pole, setting a time of 41.853 and an average speed of 172.031 miles per hour (276.857 km/h) in the first round.[4]

Five drivers failed to qualify.

Crashes of Rick Baldwin and Mark Stahl

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After Ricky Rudd made his qualifying lap, Rick Baldwin was scheduled to make his qualifying lap. Baldwin was tapped by owner-driver Buddy Arrington to qualify the car after Arrington suffered a concussion at the previous race, the 1986 Miller High Life 500. Arrington, if Baldwin had made the race, to start the race, then hand over driving duties to Baldwin so that Arrington could obtain driver's championship points for the race.[5][6] Heading into the first turn of his qualifying lap, according to Detroit Free Press writer Charlie Vincent, "the car took control of the man and his fate. The car spun, slamming back-end into the wall, then the front end whipped around, smashing the driver's side of the car into the concrete... in an instant, he lost consciousness."[6] After Baldwin wrecked, driver Mark Stahl also crashed in the first turn of his qualifying lap, suffering an ankle injury. Both drivers failed to qualify for the race.[7] In the aftermath of Baldwin's incident, Baldwin was transported to the W. A. Foote Memorial Hospital in Jackson, Michigan where he was diagnosed with multiple head and neck injuries.[8] Baldwin remained in a coma for 11 years, never fully recovering from his injuries and dying on June 12, 1997.[9]

Responses from the NASCAR community to the accident displayed sympathy for Baldwin. Arrington, the driver who Baldwin replaced, stated, "I feel really bad about what happened. What else can I say?... He's a good kid."[10] Corpus Christi Caller-Times writer Emil Tagliabue remarked Baldwin as chasing the dream to join the "clan of good ol' boys", stating, "There are those whom fate somehow seems to mock usually with no apparent good reason. Rick Baldwin is one of those."[11]

Full qualifying results

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 25 Tim Richmond Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 41.853 172.031
2 55 Benny Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 42.015 171.367
3 33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 42.078 171.111
4 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 42.155 170.798
5 22 Bobby Allison Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 42.176 170.713
6 47 Morgan Shepherd Race Hill Farm Team Buick 42.213 170.564
7 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 42.245 170.434
8 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 42.255 170.394
9 44 Terry Labonte Hagan Enterprises Oldsmobile 42.305 170.193
10 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 42.337 170.064
11 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 42.344 170.036
12 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 42.537 169.264
13 26 Joe Ruttman King Racing Buick 42.574 169.117
14 88 Buddy Baker Baker–Schiff Racing Oldsmobile 42.593 169.042
15 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 42.632 168.887
16 11 Darrell Waltrip Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 42.708 168.587
17 75 Jody Ridley RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 42.722 168.531
18 15 Ricky Rudd Bud Moore Engineering Ford 42.730 168.500
19 18 Tommy Ellis Freedlander Motorsports Chevrolet 42.751 168.417
20 12 Neil Bonnett Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 42.843 168.055
Failed to lock in Round 1
21 66 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 42.474 169.515
22 17 Pancho Carter Hamby Racing Chevrolet 42.586 169.070
23 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Pontiac 42.768 168.350
24 90 Ken Schrader Donlavey Racing Ford 42.806 168.201
25 98 Ron Bouchard Curb Racing Pontiac 42.922 167.746
26 81 Chet Fillip (R) Fillip Racing Ford 42.979 167.524
27 79 Derrike Cope Razore Racing Ford 42.980 167.520
28 28 Cale Yarborough Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford 42.996 167.457
29 08 Butch Miller Throop Racing Chevrolet 43.020 167.364
30 6 D. K. Ulrich U.S. Racing Chevrolet 43.036 167.302
31 7 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 43.088 167.100
32 35 Alan Kulwicki (R) AK Racing Ford 43.100 167.053
33 89 Jim Sauter Mueller Brothers Racing Pontiac 43.137 166.910
34 64 Eddie Bierschwale Langley Racing Ford 43.301 166.278
35 38 Mike Laws Laws Racing Chevrolet 43.343 166.117
36 23 Michael Waltrip (R) Bahari Racing Pontiac 43.424 165.807
37 30 Willy T. Ribbs DiGard Motorsports Chevrolet 43.425 165.803
38 74 Bobby Wawak Wawak Racing Chevrolet 43.450 165.708
39 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac 43.534 165.388
40 80 Gary Fedewa Burke Racing Chevrolet 43.802 164.376
Provisional
41 48 James Hylton Hylton Motorsports Chevrolet 44.388 162.206
Failed to qualify
42 92 Jonathan Lee Edwards Edwards Racing Chevrolet 44.396 162.177
43 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac -* -*
44 68 Jerry Holden Holden Racing Ford -* -*
45 67 Rick Baldwin Arrington Racing Ford - -
46 82 Mark Stahl Stahl Racing Ford - -
Official starting lineup

Race results

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Fin St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 8 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 200 28 running 180 $56,900
2 3 33 Harry Gant Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 200 66 running 180 $37,400
3 4 5 Geoff Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 200 55 running 170 $25,600
4 14 88 Buddy Baker Baker–Schiff Racing Oldsmobile 200 0 running 160 $11,825
5 16 11 Darrell Waltrip Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 200 0 running 155 $21,625
6 11 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 200 21 running 155 $17,650
7 12 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 200 0 running 146 $12,305
8 10 4 Rick Wilson Morgan–McClure Motorsports Oldsmobile 200 0 running 142 $6,950
9 13 26 Joe Ruttman King Racing Buick 200 0 running 138 $10,845
10 18 15 Ricky Rudd Bud Moore Engineering Ford 200 0 running 134 $15,150
11 5 22 Bobby Allison Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 199 2 running 135 $12,175
12 9 44 Terry Labonte Hagan Enterprises Oldsmobile 199 0 running 127 $12,800
13 15 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 199 0 running 124 $8,625
14 19 18 Tommy Ellis Freedlander Motorsports Chevrolet 199 0 running 121 $6,165
15 1 25 Tim Richmond Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 199 8 running 123 $10,505
16 32 35 Alan Kulwicki (R) AK Racing Ford 198 1 running 120 $4,025
17 22 17 Pancho Carter Hamby Racing Chevrolet 198 0 running 112 $7,135
18 33 89 Jim Sauter Mueller Brothers Racing Pontiac 197 0 running 109 $3,075
19 7 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 195 0 running 106 $9,860
20 24 90 Ken Schrader Donlavey Racing Ford 195 0 running 103 $7,870
21 29 08 Butch Miller Throop Racing Chevrolet 195 0 running 100 $2,500
22 36 23 Michael Waltrip (R) Bahari Racing Pontiac 194 2 running 102 $2,385
23 40 80 Gary Fedewa Burke Racing Chevrolet 194 0 running 94 $2,275
24 38 74 Bobby Wawak Wawak Racing Chevrolet 188 0 running 91 $2,165
25 20 12 Neil Bonnett Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 184 3 accident 93 $11,055
26 26 81 Chet Fillip (R) Fillip Racing Ford 182 0 accident 85 $1,970
27 34 64 Eddie Bierschwale Langley Racing Ford 180 0 overheating 82 $5,325
28 27 79 Derrike Cope Razore Racing Ford 173 0 running 79 $1,850
29 6 47 Morgan Shepherd Race Hill Farm Team Buick 139 11 transmission 81 $1,790
30 28 28 Cale Yarborough Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford 130 2 accident 78 $1,730
31 35 38 Mike Laws Laws Racing Chevrolet 116 0 timing chain 70 $1,675
32 31 7 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 108 0 engine 67 $8,625
33 21 66 Phil Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 104 0 engine 64 $2,075
34 17 75 Jody Ridley RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 86 0 engine 61 $4,705
35 39 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing Pontiac 83 1 valve 63 $4,510
36 25 98 Ron Bouchard Curb Racing Pontiac 80 0 engine 55 $1,435
37 23 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Pontiac 79 0 engine 52 $4,210
38 41 48 James Hylton Hylton Motorsports Chevrolet 73 0 transmission 49 $4,200
39 37 30 Willy T. Ribbs DiGard Motorsports Chevrolet 65 0 engine 46 $1,435
40 30 6 D. K. Ulrich U.S. Racing Chevrolet 27 0 engine 43 $4,180
41 2 55 Benny Parsons Jackson Bros. Motorsports Oldsmobile 4 0 engine 40 $2,425
Failed to qualify
42 92 Jonathan Lee Edwards Edwards Racing Chevrolet
43 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Racing Pontiac
44 68 Jerry Holden Holden Racing Ford
45 67 Rick Baldwin Arrington Racing Ford
46 82 Mark Stahl Stahl Racing Ford
Official race results

Standings after the race

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References

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  1. ^ Higgins, Tom (June 16, 1986). "Elliott Breaks His Season-Long Losing Streak". The Charlotte Observer. pp. 1B, 3B. Retrieved January 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ Vincent, Charlie (June 16, 1986). "Late surge by Elliott wins race". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1H, 8H. Retrieved January 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ Vincent, Charlie (June 14, 1986). "Speedway speedier for NASCAR drivers". Detroit Free Press. pp. 2D. Retrieved January 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.  
  4. ^ Higgins, Tom (June 15, 1986). "Richmond Streaks To Michigan Pole; Baldwin Critically Injured". The Charlotte Observer. pp. 5B. Retrieved January 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.  
  5. ^ Oliver, Richard (June 15, 1986). "Local racer's 'best chance' ends in disaster, injuries". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. pp. 1A, 10A. Retrieved January 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.  
  6. ^ a b Vincent, Charlie (June 15, 1986). "An instant on the MIS track takes charge of the driver's life". Detroit Free Press. pp. 12C. Retrieved January 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.  
  7. ^ "Richmond wins pole for Miller 400 race". Kingsport Times-News. United Press International. June 15, 1986. pp. 4C. Retrieved January 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.  
  8. ^ Higgins, Tom (June 28, 1987). "Wallace, Cope form Unlikely Front Row". The Charlotte Observer. pp. 1D, 7D. Retrieved October 27, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  9. ^ "CC racer Baldwin dies at 42". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. June 14, 1997. pp. C6. Retrieved January 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.  
  10. ^ King, Randy (June 17, 1986). "It's not the two wrecked cars that are tearing Arrington up". The Roanoke Times. pp. B5. Retrieved January 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.  
  11. ^ Tagliabue, Emil (June 16, 1986). "Fate deals a tragic hand". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. pp. 9A. Retrieved January 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.  


Previous race:
1986 Miller High Life 500
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1986 season
Next race:
1986 Firecracker 400