1989 Autoworks 500

{{Short description|28th race of the 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Series}}

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

{{Infobox NASCAR race report|Type=NASWINSTON|Date=November 5|Caption=The 1989 Autoworks 500 program cover.|Pole_Team=Hendrick Motorsports|First_Team=Melling Racing|First_Driver=Bill Elliott|Most_Team=AK Racing|Most_Driver=Alan Kulwicki|Most_laps=96|Pole_Driver=Ken Schrader|Network=ESPN|Announcers=Bob Jenkins, Benny Parsons, Ned Jarrett|Car=9|Radio=Motor Racing Network|Avg={{convert|105.683|mph|km/h}}|Season_No=29|Location=Avondale, Arizona, Phoenix International Raceway|Race_No=28|Scheduled_km=502.115|Distance_km=502.115|Scheduled_laps=312|Distance_laps=312|Course_km=1.6|Scheduled_mi=312|Course_mi=1|Official_name=2nd Annual Autoworks 500|Race_Name=Autoworks 500|Year=1989|Pole_Time=28.882|Distance_mi=312|Attendance=65,000|Image=1989 Autoworks 500.jpeg}}

The 1989 Autoworks 500 was the 28th and penultimate stock car race of the 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season, the 11th and final race of the 1989 NASCAR Winston West Series season, and the second iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, November 5, 1989, before an audience of 65,000 in Avondale, Arizona at Phoenix International Raceway, a 1-mile (1.6 km) permanent low-banked tri-oval race track. The race took the scheduled 312 laps to complete. Assisted by a late-race crash from the championship leader at the time, Rusty Wallace, Melling Racing driver Bill Elliott would manage to take over control for the final 48 laps of the race to take his 32nd career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his third and final victory of the season.{{Cite news |last=Higgins |first=Tom |date=November 6, 1989 |title=Wallace's Crash Opens Way For Elliott Win (Part 1) |pages=13 |work=The Charlotte Observer |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-wallaces-crash-o/126152544/ |access-date=June 9, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}{{Cite news |last=Higgins |first=Tom |date=November 6, 1989 |title=Wallace's Crash Opens Way For Elliott Win (Part 2) |pages=17 |work=The Charlotte Observer |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-wallaces-crash-o/126152548/ |access-date=June 9, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}{{Cite news |last=Armijo |first=Mark |date=November 6, 1989 |title=Wallace waiting– Elliott wins Autoworks 500 (Part 1) |pages=29 |work=The Arizona Republic |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-republic-wallace-waiting-elliot/126152755/ |access-date=June 9, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}{{Cite news |last=Armijo |first=Mark |date=November 6, 1989 |title=Wallace waiting– Elliott wins Autoworks 500 (Part 2) |pages=34 |work=The Arizona Republic |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-republic-wallace-waiting-elliot/126152782/ |access-date=June 9, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}} To fill out the top three, Junior Johnson & Associates driver Terry Labonte and Roush Racing driver Mark Martin would finish second and third, respectively.

In the NASCAR Winston West Series championship race, Bill Schmitt was able to defeat competitor Bill Sedgwick by 56 points to take his third career Winston West Series championship.{{Cite news |date=November 7, 1989 |title=Redding man captures third stock car title |pages=13 |work=Redding Record Searchlight |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/record-searchlight-redding-man-captures/126153818/ |access-date=June 9, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}

Headed into the final race of the Winston Cup Series season, the 1989 Atlanta Journal 500, three drivers were mathematically eligible to clinch the championship, with Rusty Wallace leading the standings with 4,058 points, Mark Martin in second with 3,980 points, and Dale Earnhardt in third with 3,979 points. Wallace, who came into the race leading then second-place Earnhardt by 109 points, had a poor finish due to a crash caused by Stan Barrett, decreasing his lead by 31 points.{{Cite news |last=Wallace |first=Rusty |author-link=Rusty Wallace |date=November 6, 1989 |title='Bad luck' extends points race to Atlanta |pages=35 |work=The Arizona Republic |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-republic-bad-luck-extends-poin/126154141/ |access-date=June 9, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}} In order for Wallace to clinch the championship, Wallace would need an 18th place finish or better to earn his first Winston Cup Series title.{{Cite news |last=Higgins |first=Tom |date=November 19, 1989 |title=Race Watchers Focus On Wallace's Driving Style |pages=84 |work=The Charlotte Observer |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-race-watchers-foc/126154589/ |access-date=June 10, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}