1994 Winston Select 500

{{Short description|Ninth race of the 1994 NASCAR Winston Cup Series}}

{{Infobox NASCAR race report|Type=NASWINSTON|Course_km=4.28|Caption=The 1994 Winston Select 500 program cover.|Pole_Time=49.540|First_Team=Richard Childress Racing|First_Driver=Dale Earnhardt|Attendance=150,000|Announcers=Bob Jenkins, Ned Jarrett, Benny Parsons|Radio=Motor Racing Network|Network=ESPN|Most_Team=Robert Yates Racing|Car=3|Most_laps=78|Most_Driver=Ernie Irvan|Pole_Driver=Ernie Irvan|Avg={{convert|157.478|mph|km/h}}|Location=Lincoln, Alabama, Talladega Superspeedway|Pole_Team=Robert Yates Racing|Scheduled_km=804.8|Distance_km=804.8|Distance_laps=188|Scheduled_laps=188|Scheduled_mi=500.08|Season_No=31|Race_No=9|Race_Name=Winston Select 500|Course_mi=2.66|Date=May 1|Year=1994|Distance_mi=500.08|Official_name=25th Annual Winston Select 500|Image=1994 Winston Select 500.jpeg}}The 1994 Winston Select 500 was the ninth stock car race of the 1994 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 25th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, May 1, 1994, before an audience of 150,000 in Lincoln, Alabama, at Talladega Superspeedway, a {{convert|2.66|mi|km|adj=on}} permanent triangle-shaped superspeedway. The race took the scheduled 188 laps to complete. In the final laps of the race, Richard Childress Racing driver Dale Earnhardt would make a charge to the front with six to go, defending the lead for the final five laps to take his 62nd career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his third victory of the season.{{Cite news |last=Harris |first=Mike |date=May 2, 1994 |title=Earnhardt wins a Talladega classic |pages=18 |work=Intelligencer Journal |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115823402/earnhardt-wins-a-talladega-classic/ |access-date=January 5, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}{{Cite news |last=Higgins |first=Tom |date=May 2, 1994 |title=After 30 lead changes, Earnhardt scrambles into first place |pages=26 |work=Muncie Evening Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115823663/after-30-lead-changes-earnhardt/ |access-date=January 5, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}} Earnhardt dedicated his win to the late Ayrton Senna, who lost his life earlier that day in a crash at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. To fill out the top three, Robert Yates Racing driver Ernie Irvan and Bahari Racing driver Michael Waltrip would finish second and third, respectively.

Background

File:Talladega_Superspeedway.svg, the venue where the race was held.]]

Talladega Superspeedway, originally known as Alabama International Motor Superspeedway (AIMS), is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base in the small city of Lincoln. The track is a tri-oval and was constructed in the 1960s by the International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France family. Talladega is most known for its steep banking and the unique location of the start/finish line that's located just past the exit to pit road. The track currently hosts the NASCAR series such as the NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series and the Camping World Truck Series. Talladega is the longest NASCAR oval, a {{convert|2.66|mi|km|-long|adj=mid}} tri-oval like the Daytona International Speedway, which also is a {{convert|2.5|mi|km|-long|adj=mid}} tri-oval.

= Entry list =

(R) denotes rookie driver.

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!Driver

!Team

!Make

!Sponsor

1994 Winston Select 500

Background

= Entry list =

Qualifying

= Full qualifying results =

Race results

Standings after the race

References