NASCAR: An Alternative History (Dead)
- Thread starter Chocolate Raines
- Start date
1991
1991 NASCAR SEASON
MANUFACTURERS: Same as last year.
RULES:
- NASCAR introduces a champion's provisional (aka the Petty Rule). If a past champion failed to qualify, which Petty did in 1989 and a few 90 races, they can claim a provisional that will let them race and not DNQ.
- Electronic timing and scoring is introduced for both series to accurately check the intervals between drivers. ESPN would do this during their broadcasts to see what the intervals were, and now NASCAR has adopted this.
- Some drivers and teams, namely Hendrick Motorsports, will test a new device called the HANS device. This will prevent the driver from lurching forward in a crash and causing skull fractures. This will go hand-in-hand with full face helmets. (Dale Earnhardt is wearing a full face helmet ITTL but not the HANS device.)
- The suggested pit road speed of 70 MPH (55 on short tracks) is now mandatory. NASCAR wanted to keep crew members safe and not have any crew members injured. Bill Elliott's crew member was not killed ITTL, but was injured. He should be back with the team for Daytona.
1991 Solo Cup Drivers
1991 SOLO CUP DRIVER LINEUP
#04 US Bank Pontiac: Herschel McGriff
Western races only.
#07 AK Racing Maxwell House Ford: Eddie Bierschwale
#0 Ford: Delma Cowart
Superspeedways only
#2 Roush Racing Folgers/Shitech Ford: Mark Martin
Defending champion
#3 RCR GM Goodwrench/Wrangler Chevrolet: Dale Earnhardt
#4 Morgan McClure Kodak Oldsmobile: Terry Schoonover
#5 Hendrick Motorsports Kelloggs Corn Flakes Chevrolet: Geoff Bodine
Kelloggs replaces Levi Garrett as the new sponsor for the #5
#6 RaDiUs Motorsports Motel 6 Pontiac: Ted Musgrave
D.K Ulrich merges with Ken Ragan's team with new business partner, Ray DeWitt. Musgrave will compete for Rookie of the year.
#7 AK Racing Hooters Ford: Alan Kulwicki
Kulwicki gets a new sponsor for 91'.
#8 SAR Super 8 Motel Chrysler: Bobby Hillin Jr
#9 Melling Racing Coors/Coors Light Ford: Bill Elliott
#10 Whitcomb Racing Purolator Chrysler: Derrike Cope
#11 Junior Johnson and Associates Budweiser/Bud Light Ford: Terry Labonte
#12 Junior Johnson and Associates Busch Ford: Bobby Hamilton
Hamilton took over for Mike Alexander after Michigan last August. He will compete for Rookie of the year.
#14 Slim Jim Oldsmobile: Bobby Labonte
Part-time
#15 Bud Moore Ford Motorcraft Ford: Brett Bodine
#16 Team Penske Marlboro Pontiac: Doug Heveron/Kenny Wallace
Wallace wants to compete another year in Busch so he and Hevron will split driving duties.
#17 Hendrick Motorsports WAL*MART Chevrolet: Darrell Waltrip
Waltrip made big news last year when he signed a contract extension with Hendrick and announced Wal-Mart as his new sponsor. As a joke, the show car has WAL* TRIP on it. Waltrip will also be in NASCAR themes commercials for the store a s they are now the office store of NASCAR.
#19 Tyson Chicken Ford: Chad Little
#20 Crown Gasoline Oldsmobile: Rob Moroso
#21 Wood Brothers Citgo Ford: Dale Jarrett
#22 SAR Raybestos Brakes Chrysler: Hut Stricklin
#23 Bahari Racing Mobil 1 Pontiac: Michael Waltrip
New sponsor for 91'.
#25 Hendrick Motorsports Kodiak/Levi Garrett Chevrolet: Tim Richmond
Levi Garrett joins as associate sponsor.
#26 King Racing Quaker State Ford: Ricky Rudd
#27 Team Penske Miller Genuine Draft Pontiac: Rusty Wallace
Penske fully takes over this car.
#28 Robert Yates Texaco Havoline Ford: Davey Allison
#29 Diamond Ridge Chevrolet: Phil Parsons
New team for 91'. Phil Parsons joins them.
#31 RCR Mom n' Pops Chevrolet: Neil Bonnett
#33 Jackson Brothers Skoal Bandit Oldsmobile: Harry Gant
#35 Hendrick Motorsports Exxon Chevrolet: Ken Schrader
#36 Pontiac: H.B. Bailey
Part-time
#41 Larry Hedrick Tide Chevrolet: Larry Pearson
Forms a technical alliance with Hendrick Motorsports so this is almost a fifth Hendrick car. They will run all except short tracks.
#42 SABCO Mello Yello Chrysler: Kyle Petty
New sponsor.
#43 Petty Enterprises STP Chrysler: Richard Petty
#44 Billy Hagan Sunoco Oldsmobile:Sterling Marlin
#45 Amway Ford: Patty Moise
Will try to make all the races
#47 Cale Yarborough Hardees Chrysler: Dick Trickle
Another team hoping to make all races.
#48 Pontiac: James Hylton's
Part-time
#51 Phoenix Racing Chevrolet: Jeff Purvis
Part-time
#52 Alka-Seltzer Ford: Jimmy Means
Switches to Ford from Pontiac
#55 Skoal Classic Oldsmobile: Rick Mast
Replaces Phil Parsons.
#66 Travis Carter Enterprises Phillips 66 Pontiac: Jimmy Spencer
#70 Pontiac: JD McDuffie
#71 Chevrolet: Dave Marcis
#73 Oldsmobile: Phil Barkdoll
Part-time
#75 RahMoc Valvoline Pontiac: Joe Ruttmann
Rutmann was let go from U.S.Racing midseason last year and really didn't have a ride afterwards. He gets another chance in 91' with the RahMoc of team.
#76 Unocal Pontiac: Butch Miller
#77 RaDiUs Motorsports Jasper Engines Pontiac: Rich Vogler
Vogler is a former Sprint car driver and another rookie contender. That makes two rookies on one team.
#83 Banquet Foods Oldsmobile: Lake Speed
New sponsor.
#89 Mueller Brothers Evinrude Pontiac: Jim Sauter
Sauter returns to the #89 replacing Rodney Combs.
#90 Junie Donlavey Pepsi Ford: Ernie Irvan
#97 Texas Pete Chrysler: Morgan Shepherd
With the collapse of BOSS Motorsports due Heinz and Crisco backing out, and Buddy Baker's less than satisfactory return. Shepherd takes the former #57, renumbered it, and got a new sponsor.
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1991 Busch drivers
1991 NASCAR BUSCH SERIES DRIVERS
#01 Bill Davis Racing Carolina Ford Dealers Ford: Mark Martin
Part-time leech ride.
#05 Chevrolet: Richard Lassater
Rookie contender.
#08 Oldsmobile: Bobby Dotter
#1 Bill Davis Racing Carolina Ford Dealers Ford: Jeff Gordon
Gordons team shut down when Outback Steakhouse pulled out. Mark Martin had taken interest in him and suggested to Bill Davis that he sign Gordon.
#3 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet: Dale Earnhardt
Leech.
#4 Mac Tools Oldsmobile: Terry Schoonover
Leech.
#5 Sam Ard Chevrolet: Ed Barrier
#6 Roses Stores Buick: Tommy Houston
#7 Ed Whittaker Skoal Bandit Buick: Harry Gant
Leech
#8 FILMAR Oldsmobile: David Green
Rookie contender.
#9 Taco Bell Chevrolet: Ward Burton
#11 Skoal Chevrolet: Jack Ingram
Final season.
#12 SAR Piper Aircraft Chrysler: Jeff Burton
#14 Budweiser Ford: Terry Labonte
#15 Coors Oldsmobile: Mike McLaughlin
Part-time
#16 Day Enterprises Chevrolet: Jeff Green
Part-time
#17 Exxon Chevrolet: Darrell Waltrip
Leech
#19 Oldsmobile: Cecil Eunice
Rookie contender.
#23 Mobil 1 Pontiac: Michael Waltrip
Leech
#27 A.G. Dillard Gwaltney Meats Oldsmobile: Elton Sawyer
Switches to Oldsmobile from Buick.
#28 Texaco Havoline Ford: Davey Allison
Leech
#31 Roddenberry Oldsmobile: Steve Grissom
#32 Nestle Crunch Pontiac: Dale Jarrett
Leech
#34 Buick: Todd Bodine
Rookie contender.
#44 Penrose Fireworks Oldsmobile: Bobby Labonte
#45 Buick: Jimmy Spencer
Leech
#48 Staff America Oldsmobile: Jack Sprague
Part-time
#49 Buick: Ed Ferree
#51 Phoenix Racing Chevrolet: Jeff Purvis
#52 Kodiak Chevrolet: Ken Schrader
Leech
#55 Crown Gasoline Oldsmobile: Jimmy Hensley
#56 SAR Raybestos Brakes Chrysler: Tommy Ellis
Ellis decides not to retire and will run in the second SAR car.
#59 Alliance Truck Parts Oldsmobile: Robert Pressley
#63 Hensley Racing Nestle Nescafe Pontiac: Chuck Bown
Defending champion. Bown was hoping to move to cup but his deal fell through.
#66 Cox Specially Treated Wood Products Pontiac: Kenny Wallace
#72 Detroit Gasket Oldsmobile: Tracy Leslie
Rookie contender.
#75 Henderson brothers Food Country Oldsmobile: Rodney Combs
#76 Unocal Pontiac: Butch Miller
Leech
#79 Oldsmobile: Dave Rezendes
#87 Chevrolet: Joe Nemechek
#92 Pontiac: Dick Trickle
Leech
#96 Oldsmobile: Tom Peck
#97 Texas Pete Chrysler: Morgan Shepherd
Leech
#99 J&J Racing Armour Meats/Food Lion Chrysler: Ricky Craven
Rookie contender
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1991 Schedule
1991 NASCAR SCHEDULE
FEBRUARY 10-17:
CUP: Busch Clash- CBS
CUP: Duels- CBS
BUSCH: Goody's 300- KSN
CUP: Daytona 500- CBS
FEBRUARY 23-24
BUSCH: Goodyear International 300K- ESPN
CUP: Goodyear International 500K-ESPN
NASCAR decided to drop the spring Richmond race and have Australia on the schedule.
MARCH 2-3
BUSCH: GM Goodwrench 200-KSN
CUP: GM Goodwrench 500-KSN
MARCH 9-10
BUSCH: Miller 200-KSN
On Sunday
CUP: BYE WEEK
MARCH 18-19
BUSCH: BYE Week
CUP: Ford Motorcraft 500- ESPN
MARCH 23-24
BUSCH: Spring 200: Volusia Speedway-KSN
CUP: BYE
MARCH 30-31
BUSCH: Miller Classic-KSN
CUP:BYE
APRIL 6-7
BUSCH: Coleman 200: Darlington Raceway-ESPN
CUP: Transouth Financial 400-ESPN
APRIL 14-15
BUSCH: Budweiser 250- Bristol International Raceway-ESPN
CUP: Valleydale Meats 500-ESPN
APRIL 20-21
BUSCH: BYE
CUP: First Union 400-ESPN
APRIL 28-29
BUSCH: Nestle 200: Lanier Speedway-KSN
CUP: Hanes Activewear 500-ESPN
MAY 4-6
BUSCH: Carquest 300: South Boston Speedway
KSN
CUP: Solo 500-ESPN
MAY 10-11
BUSCH: Pontiac 300-Nazareth Speedway
Not televised.
CUP: Shitech Music City 420-KSN
MAY 18-19
BUSCH: BYE
CUP: Solo All-STAR Weekend: Ontario Motor Speedway-CBS
This was supposed to be at Riverside, but they will be repaving the track during this time, so Ontario will host it again.
MAY 25-26
BUSCH: Champion Spark Plugs 300-TBS
CUP: Coca-Cola 600-TBS
JUNE 1-2
BUSCH: Budweiser 200: Dover Downs International Speedway-KSN
CUP: Budweiser 400-KSN
JUNE 8-9
BUSCH- Roses Stores 300: Orange County Speedway-KSN
CUP: Banquet 300-ESPN
JUNE 15-16
BUSCH: Granger 400K, Hickory Speedway: KSN
CUP: Miller High Life 500-KSN
JUNE 22-23
BUSCH: Budweiser 250: Myrtle Beach Speedway- KSN
CUP: Miller Genuine Draft 400-CBS
JUNE 29-30
BUSCH: Fay's 150- Watkins Glen
First Glen race for the series.
Not televised.
CUP: BYE
JULY 6-7
BUSCH: Oxford 250-Oxford Plains Speedway
Not televised. Ran on Sunday.
CUP: Pepsi Firecracker 400-ESPN
Ran on Saturday.
JULY 14-15
BUSCH: SHITECH PRODUCTS 200- Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway-KSN
CUP: Mountain Dew 420-KSN
JULY 20-21
BUSCH- Coors Light 300: South Boston Speedway
Not televised.
CUP: A.C. Spark Plugs 500- TBS
JULY 27-28
BUSCH: New River 200- New River Valley Speedway
Not televised.
CUP: Diehard 500-CBS
AUGUST 3-4
BUSCH: Kroger 200: Indianapolis Raceway Park-ESPN
CUP: Texaco Havoline 500-ESPN
AUGUST 10-11
BUSCH: Texas Pete 200: Orange County Speedway-KSN
CUP: Budweiser at the Glen-ESPN
AUGUST 17-18
BUSCH: BYE
CUP: Champion Spark Plugs 400-ESPN
AUGUST 23-24
BUSCH: Busch 200: Bristol International Speedway-ESPN
CUP: Busch 500-ESPN
AUGUST 31- SEPTEMBER 1
BUSCH: Gatorade 200: Darlington Raceway-ESPN
CUP: Heinz Southern 500-ESPN
Cutoff race for playoffs.
SEPTEMBER 7-8
BUSCH: Autolite 200: Richmond International Raceway
TBS
CUP: Wrangler 400-TBS
First night race for both series here.
SEPTEMBER 14-15
BUSCH: Ames 200: Dover Downs International Speedway-KSN
CUP: Peak Antifreeze 400-KSN
Elimination race.
SEPTEMBER 21-22
BUSCH: Zerex 150: Martinsville Speedway-ESPN
CUP: Goody's 500-ESPN
SEPTEMBER 28-29
BUSCH: BYE
CUP: Tyson Holly Farms 400-ESPN
Elimination race.
OCTOBER 5-6
BUSCH: All Pro Auto Parts 300- Charlotte Motor Speedway
TBS
CUP: Mello Yello 500-TBS
OCTOBER 12-13
BUSCH: Chevrolet 250: Burlington Raceway
Not televised. Run on Sunday.
CUP: BYE
OCTOBER 19-20
BUSCH: AC Delco 200: Rockingham Speedway-KSN
Season finale.
CUP: AC Delco 500-KSN
Elimination race.
OCTOBER 27: Hooters 500-ESPN
NOVEMBER 3: Checker Auto Parts 500-KSN
Elimination race
NOVEMBER 10: Coors 500-TBS
Championship 2 qualifier.
NOVEMBER 17- L.A. Times 500-CBS
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Uh-Oh, Looks Like TNN's run with NASCAR is Over at least we got KSN and maybe where's Mike Joy and Eli Gold despite NASCAR will look like without TNN, are they going to KSN?
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Mike Joy and Eli Gold are with CBS. KSN has there people. Read about it in the KSN Nascar story in threadmarks.
RACE REPORTS: DAYTONA SPEEDWEEKS
BUSCH CLASH: A new format is introduced that divides the race into two 10 lap segments with the field being inversed for the second half. Dale Earnhardt dominated the first and drove up from the back in the second to win.
DUELS: Davey Allison won the first duel with Richard Petty edging out Hut Stricklin by inches for second. In the other duel, Dale Earnhardt beat Terry Schoonover and Kyle Petty. Allison is the pole sitter for the 500.
GOODYS 300: Dale Earnhardt wins his second Goody's 300 in a row beating Davey Allison, Michael Waltrip, and Kenny Schrader. It was another WRECKFEST of a race. Many of the series regulars were wiped out in crashes. The highest finishing series regular was Tom Peck in sixth.
DAYTONA 500: Terry Schoonover survives a series of wrecks towards the end of the race to win his first Daytona 500. Dale Earnhardt looked to win two in a row, but spun and crashed while battling Davey Allison for second. Kyle Petty had a strong day, but was caught up in one of the crashes. Notable dnq's were Lake Speed, Dick Trickle, Morgan Shepherd, and Phil Parsons.
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RACE REPORTS: AUSTRALIA AND ROCKINGHAM
GOODYEAR INTERNATIONAL 300K: Australian drive Bob Jane wins his first Busch series race. This race was run as a combination race between Busch and AUSCAR drivers similar to the combined races in the Northeast.GOODYEAR 500K: Dale Earnhardt and Geoff Bodine put on a great fight for the win with Earnhardt getting it. Davey Allison won his second pole in a row, but ended up 12th. Terry Schoonover struggled to finish 29th.
GOODWRENCH 200: Bobby Labonte looks to win his first Busch series race until a late caution. On the restart, Dale Jarrett gets by. Labonte tries everything to get back in the lead, but spins out trying. Jarrett goes on to win.
GOODWRENCH 500: Kyle Petty and Rusty Wallace battle throughout the race but Wallace is no match as Petty wins the race for the second year in a row. Before the race, KSN's Dylan Jacobs had an interview feature with 1990 champion Mark Martin. A transcript of the interview will be in the next post.
This thread is so close to 10K! Thank you for reading!!!
KSN MARK MARTIN CHAMPIONSHIP INTERVIEW
This is an interview that aired on KSN prior to the Rockingham race. KSN's Dylan Jacobs interviewed Mark Martin about winning the championship last year.
JACOBS: "So Mark, congrats on your championship."
MARTIN: "Thanks Dylan; it feels good to win this championship.
JACOBS: "I'm sure it does. You were able to beat Dale Earnhardt, that's a pretty big feat."
"Yeah it is. I can't believe I accomplished it in only our third year in NASCAR". Jack Roush wanted a competitive team when we started. Our first year showed promise and then we won here at the Rock in 89' which was also my first win".
"Six years ago, you were left out in the cold after failing to secure a ride for 1985 and fell to ASA racing." "Did you think you'd be back in NASCAR?"
"I hoped for it. I ran part time in 86' before I caught the eye of Bill Davis and he gave me a ride in the Busch series in 87'.
JACOBS: "I remember that ride. The #31 Ford. You were the only competitive Ford in the field."
MARTIN: "Yeah".
"When you joined Roush in 88', did you expect a career turnaround and a second chance?
"I hoped so. Jack was getting direct funding from Ford Performance as a former engineer for them". "We were looking to overturn Melling Racing for the best Ford team and now I believe we accomplished that".
"Where do you and the team go from here?"
"Hopefully another championship (laughs)". Hopefully we become the best team in NASCAR". Jack is looking to start a second car next year and he's looking for a promising Busch series driver". "There's a lot of good talent that's up and coming".
"Any driver in particular?"
"I don't know" "Jack isn't telling me"
"Alright, well, thanks Mark and good luck"
"Thank you too Dylan."
OMFG 10K!!!!!!! It's great to see people appreciating this timeline! Thank you so much! Much more to come!
RACE REPORTS: MARTINSVILLE AND ATLANTA
MILLER 200: Jimmy Hensley survives a WRECKFEST of a race to win at his home track. Harry Gant looked to steal a win but got caught up in a crash.FORD MOTORCRAFT 500: It rained most of Sunday even though they got 39 laps completed. When the race was postponed to Monday, Bobby Hamilton had the lead. It rained again Monday. Finally, around 2 P.M, the race was called and Hamilton won his first Solo Cup race and the #12 car it's first win since 1986.
RACE REPORTS: VOLUSIA AND HICKORY: A BUSCH SERIES DOUBLE POST
SPRING 200: Kenny Wallace wins his first Busch series race beating last year's winner, Tommy Houston. Butch Miller was third and was the highest finishing leech as Ken Schrader finished further back. They were the only two leeches in the race.MOUNTAIN DEW 500K: Jimmy Hensley and Butch Miller battle all Easter Sunday, but Miller pulled it off and beat Hensley by a car length. The race was a WRECKFEST with a record 17 cautions. Many drivers dnq'd including series regulars, Rodney Combs, Ricky Craven, and Jeff Burton.
RACE REPORTS: DARLINGTON AND BRISTOL
PONTIAC PACESETTERS 200: Dale Jarrett gets his second leech win of the season.Bobby Labonte finished second after trying to run down Jarrett. Michael Waltrip led early, but blew his engine on lap 52.
TRANSOUTH 400: Michael Waltrip gets to the lead early and stays out front all day and goes onto win his first Solo Cup race. In victory lane, Mikey says,
Darrell joined his little brother in victory lane as well as their parents, sisters, and middle brother Bobby, a former go-kart driver and currently Darrell's motorhome driver.
BUDWEISER 250: Bobby Labonte wins his first Busch series race. Rookie David Green finished second. Terry Schoonover led the most laps, but crashed with 54 laps remaining.
VALLEYDALE MEATS 500: Terry Schoonover stays up front all day and beats Geoff Bodine and Davey Allison to win his second race of the season and take the points lead. Rusty Wallace led early until he blew an engine. Butch Miller, Ted Musgrave, and Chad Little all had good days, but Musgrave and Little fell out of the top ten towards the end while Miller got eighth. Bobby Hamilton looked to possibly win until he crashed and caught on fire. He was okay. A race record 40 lead changes happened in the race: the most ever for a short track.
RACE REPORTS: NORTH WILKESBORO, LANIER, AND MARTINSVILLE
FIRST UNION 400: Butch Miller holds off Darrell Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt to win his first Solo Cup race and the first for the Unocal 76 team. Ricky Rudd led early until Geoff Bodine wrecked him. Davey Allison was parked for two separate incidents involving himself with Terry Labonte and Kyle Petty.NESTLE 200: David Green wins his first Busch series race continuing the trend of first time winners in each series. Jeff Gordon is second and Clifford Allison, Davey's little brother, is third in his brother's car.
HANES 500: Davey Allison looked to win until a shock absorber broke and he slammed into the wall. After this, Dale Earnhardt went on to win. Harry Gant led early until he spun himself but went on to finish fifth. A huge DNQ list had Eddie Bierschewale, Derrike Cope, Jimmy Means, Rich Vogler, JD McDuffie, Greg Sacks, Ernie Irvan, and Dave Marcis.
RACE REPORTS: SOUTH BOSTON, TALLADEGA, NASHVILLE AND NAZARETH
CARQUEST 300: Ricky Craven wins in a caution filled race. Steve Grissom, Kenny Wallace, and Chuck Bown all had chances to win until each developed problem. Grissom was able to finish even though he was a lap down.SOLO 500: After the race was delayed to Monday, Harry Gant got pushed by his teammate, Rick Mast to win the race. Darrell Waltrip beat Dale Earnhardt for second in a close battle. A huge crash took out half the field and Mark Martin was involved. KSN was doing a live watch along and here's how Dylan Jacobs reacted to the crash:
SHITECH MUSIC CITY 420: Darrell Waltrip wins yet another Nashville race and his first win with WAL-MART. Bobby Hamilton finished second, and Harry Gant third. Points leader Geoff Bodine finished seventh.
PONTIAC 200: The next day, Chuck Bown won at Nazareth getting his first win of 91'. Kenny Wallace finished third and is 8 points behind leader Bobby Labonte.