1989 Atlanta Journal 500

{{Short description|29th race of the 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Series}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2023}}

{{Infobox NASCAR race report|Type=NASWINSTON|Avg={{convert|140.229|mph|km/h}}|Radio=Motor Racing Network|Caption=The 1989 Atlanta Journal 500 program cover, featuring Rusty Wallace.|Official_name=30th Annual Atlanta Journal 500|Pole_Driver=Alan Kulwicki|Pole_Time=30.591|First_Team=Richard Childress Racing|Most_Team=Richard Childress Racing|First_Driver=Dale Earnhardt|Most_Driver=Dale Earnhardt|Most_laps=249|Car=3|Pole_Team=AK Racing|Date=November 19|Location=Hampton, Georgia, Atlanta International Raceway|Season_No=29|Race_No=29|Network=ESPN|Race_Name=Atlanta Journal 500|Year=1989|Scheduled_laps=328|Distance_laps=328|Distance_km=803.41|Scheduled_mi=499.216|Scheduled_km=803.41|Course_km=2.449|Course_mi=1.522|Distance_mi=499.216|Announcers=Bob Jenkins, Ned Jarrett, Benny Parsons|Image=1989 Atlanta Journal 500.jpeg|Attendance=83,000}}

The 1989 Atlanta Journal 500 was the 29th and final stock car race of the 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 30th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, November 19, 1989, before an audience of 83,000 in Hampton, Georgia, at Atlanta International Raceway, a {{Convert|1.522|mi|km}} permanent asphalt quad-oval intermediate speedway. The race took the scheduled 328 laps to complete. At race's end, Richard Childress Racing driver Dale Earnhardt would manage to dominate a majority of the race, leading 294 laps to take his 39th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his fifth victory of the season.{{Cite news |last=Higgins |first=Tom |date=November 20, 1989 |title=Wallace's Title Tempered (Part 1) |pages=26 |work=The Charlotte Observer |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-wallaces-title-t/126264564/ |access-date=June 12, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}{{Cite news |last=Higgins |first=Tom |date=November 20, 1989 |title=Wallace's Title Tempered (Part 2) |pages=34 |work=The Charlotte Observer |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-wallaces-title-t/126264584/ |access-date=June 12, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}{{Cite news |last=Robinson |first=Bill |date=November 20, 1989 |title=Triumph, Tragedy in 500 (Part 1) |pages=72 |work=The Atlanta Constitution |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-triumph-traged/126264637/ |access-date=June 12, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}{{Cite news |last=Robinson |first=Bill |date=November 20, 1989 |title=Triumph, Tragedy in 500 (Part 2) |pages=86 |work=The Atlanta Constitution |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-triumph-traged/126264656/ |access-date=June 12, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}

In the NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver's championship battle, Rusty Wallace, needing an 18th place finish or better to clinch the championship, would manage to overcome late-race issues and maintain the 15th position, finishing three laps behind Earnhardt to clinch his first and only Winston Cup Series championship.{{Cite news |last=Cawthon |first=Raad |date=November 20, 1989 |title=Wallace Couldn't Relax on Ride to Title |pages=85 |work=The Atlanta Constitution |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-wallace-couldn/126265681/ |access-date=June 12, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}

The race was marred by the death of independent driver Grant Adcox. On lap 203 of the race, Adcox would crash in the first turn, with the front of the car accelerating into the outside wall, destroying the front of the car and the car being set on fire. After being sent to the Georgia Baptist Hospital, Adcox was pronounced dead at 4:15 PM EST due to massive head and chest injuries.{{Cite news |last=McCollister |first=Tom |date=November 20, 1989 |title=Firey Crash Claims Adcox |pages=85 |work=The Atlanta Constitution |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-fiery-crash-cla/126265691/ |access-date=June 12, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}

Differing accounts on how the crash first occurred exist. According to Adcox's crew chief, Pete Card, Jim Sauter, who was ahead of Adcox, drifted down the turn and hit the right rear of Adcox's car. However, according to Sauter, Sauter stated that he was both was hit by Adcox and was behind Adcox at the time of the accident. A reporter for The Anniston Star who was at the track, Mark McCarter, reported that Adcox's car blew a tire.{{Cite news |last=McCarter |first=Mark |date=November 20, 1989 |title=NASCAR loses one of the good guys (Part 1) |pages=9 |work=The Anniston Star |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-anniston-star-nascar-loses-one-of-th/126266808/ |access-date=June 12, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}{{Cite news |last=McCarter |first=Mark |date=November 20, 1989 |title=NASCAR loses one of the good guys (Part 2) |pages=11 |work=The Anniston Star |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-anniston-star-nascar-loses-one-of-th/126266817/ |access-date=June 12, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}} In a press statement given out by Goodyear spokesman Bill King, he disputed this, saying that the crash was caused by a mechanical failure.