1986 First Union 400
Seventh race of the 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 1986 First Union 400 was the seventh stock car race of the 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 36th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, April 20, 1986, before an audience of 29,500 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina at the North Wilkesboro Speedway, a 0.625 miles (1.006 km) oval short track. The race took the scheduled 400 laps to complete.[1]
Race details | |||
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Race 7 of 29 in the 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series | |||
![]() The 1986 First Union 400 program cover, featuring Neil Bonnett. | |||
Date | April 20, 1986 | ||
Official name | 36th Annual First Union 400 | ||
Location | North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro, North Carolina | ||
Course |
Permanent racing facility 0.625 mi (1.006 km) | ||
Distance | 400 laps, 250 mi (402.336 km) | ||
Scheduled Distance | 400 laps, 250 mi (402.336 km) | ||
Average speed | 88.408 miles per hour (142.279 km/h) | ||
Attendance | 29,500 | ||
Pole position | |||
Driver | Hendrick Motorsports | ||
Time | 20.014 | ||
Most laps led | |||
Driver | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | |
Laps | 195 | ||
Winner | |||
No. 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | |
Television in the United States | |||
Network | ESPN | ||
Announcers | Bob Jenkins, Larry Nuber, Benny Parsons | ||
Radio in the United States | |||
Radio | Motor Racing Network |
By race's end, Richard Childress Racing's Dale Earnhardt was able to hold off a late-race charge by Bud Moore Engineering's Ricky Rudd, securing his 17th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his second victory of the season.[2][3] To fill out the top three, Hendrick Motorsports' Geoff Bodine finished third.
The race was the first start for African-American driver Willy T. Ribbs, after previous failed attempts in the 1986 season. With the start, Ribbs became the sixth African-American driver to make a start in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the first African-American driver since George Wiltshire in 1975.[4]