1996 in NASCAR

During 1996, NASCAR expanded its brand into several new entertainment areas. The NASCAR Online website went live during the year,Kelly 1997, p.22. while the first four NASCAR Thunder stores, operated in conjunction with Gaylord Entertainment, were opened.{{cite web|url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/1996/nov/10/new-nascar-stores-a-gas-you-used-to-be-only-able/|title=New Nascar Stores A Gas|date=November 10, 1996|work=The Spokesman-Review|accessdate=2014-04-06|location=Spokane, WA}} In addition, the NASCAR Racing Online Series, based on Papyrus's NASCAR Racing 2 game, was formed using the Total Entertainment Network system.{{cite web|url=http://www.ten.net/199706/html/12-3-96.html|title=NASCAR Speeds onto the Internet: TEN Puts Pedal to the Metal with Sierra On-Line and NASCAR|date=December 3, 1996|publisher=Total Entertainment Network|accessdate=2014-04-06}}

{{main|1996 NASCAR Winston Cup Series}}

File:Terry Labonte 1997.jpg

The 1996 NASCAR Winston Cup Series consisted of 31 events, run at 18 race tracks in 15 states.{{cite web|url=http://www.racing-reference.info/raceyear/1996/W|title=1996 NASCAR Winston Cup Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=USA Today Sports Media Group|accessdate=2014-04-05}} Terry Labonte won his second series championship, beating Jeff Gordon by 37 points;{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=348&dat=19961111&id=EZs0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=i0UDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6647,4371074|title='The Iceman' Cometh|date=November 11, 1996|work=Rome News-Tribune|page=B1|accessdate=2014-04-05|location=Rome, GA}} the Rick Hendrick-owned No. 5 Kellogg's Corn Flakes Chevrolet team won the series' owner's championship.Kelly 1997, p.52. Labonte's team, led by crew chief Gary DeHart, also won the series' Pit Crew Championship, held in October at North Carolina Motor Speedway.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1842&dat=19961020&id=P2ceAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9cgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1333,2767375|title=Labonte's crew wins pit stop championship|date=October 20, 1996|work=TimesDaily|page=8C|accessdate=2014-04-05|location=Florence, AL}}

Eleven drivers won races over the course of the 31-race season; Jeff Gordon won the most events, with ten victories.Kelly 1997, p.48. Bobby Hamilton was the season's only first-time winner, winning at Phoenix International Raceway in October.{{cite web|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/features/1997/nascar/nsphoe.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010508002424/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/features/1997/nascar/nsphoe.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 8, 2001|title=The King's Return|last=Hinton|first=Ed|date=October 27, 1996|work=Sports Illustrated|accessdate=2014-04-05}}

The Busch Pole Award was won by Jeff Gordon, who won five pole positions during the season.Kelly 1997, p.18. Johnny Benson Jr. won the series' Rookie of the Year title over Randy MacDonald and Stacy Compton,Kelly 1997, p.16. while Bill Elliott won his eleventh Most Popular Driver award.Kelly 1997, p.53. The series' Manufacturers' Championship was won by Chevrolet, whose teams won 17 of the series' races; Ford won 13 events while Pontiac drivers scored a single win.Kelly 1997, p. 34.

In addition to the 31-race regular season, three exhibition races were run during the year. The Busch Clash, an event for the previous year's pole-winning drivers at Daytona International Speedway in February, was won by Dale Jarrett,{{cite web|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1996-02-12/sports/9602110218_1_busch-clash-second-segment-gordon-and-earnhardt|title=Busch Clash Newcomer Jarrett Wins With Superior Car, Luck|last=Williams|first=Charean|date=February 12, 1996|work=Orlando Sentinel|accessdate=2014-04-05|location=Orlando, FL|archive-date=2016-03-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303214415/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1996-02-12/sports/9602110218_1_busch-clash-second-segment-gordon-and-earnhardt|url-status=dead}} while The Winston, the series' all-star race for race winners at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May, was won by Michael Waltrip, who had advanced into the event as a wild card from the last chance race for non-winning drivers.{{cite web|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1996/05/19/winless-waltrip-wins-winston-select/|title=Winless Waltrip Wins Winston Select|last=Coble|first=Don|date=May 19, 1996|work=Orlando Sentinel|access-date=2014-04-05|location=Orlando, FL}} Following the regular season, the Winston Cup Series ran the first NASCAR exhibition race in Japan, and the first overseas exhibition race since the 1988 Goodyear NASCAR 500 in Australia,{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1454&dat=19961119&id=CmhSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ihUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2025,1371355|title='Mushi-Mushi, I'm going to drive the No. 3 car'|last=Higgins|first=Tom|date=November 19, 1996|work=Morning Star|page=1C|accessdate=2014-04-30|location=Wilmington, NC}} the Suzuka Thunder Special run on November 24 at Suzuka Circuit; competed in by invited drivers from the Winston Cup Series, Busch Series, Craftsman Truck Series and Winston West Series, the event was won by Rusty Wallace.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1454&dat=19961125&id=EGhSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ihUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3023,4761271|title=Wallace wins Japan's Thunder Special|date=November 25, 1996|work=Morning Star|page=4C|accessdate=2014-04-05|location=Wilmington, NC}}

{{main|1996 NASCAR Busch Series}}

File:Randy LaJoie.jpg

The 1996 NASCAR Busch Series consisted of 26 events, run at 20 race tracks in 14 states.{{cite web|url=http://www.racing-reference.info/raceyear/1996/B|title=1996 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=USA Today Sports Media Group|accessdate=2014-04-05}} Randy LaJoie won his first series championship, beating David Green by 29 points.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1298&dat=19961104&id=wOkyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zwcGAAAAIBAJ&pg=2607,744314|title=LaJoie bounces back to win Busch crown|work=The Free Lance–Star|page=B1|accessdate=2014-04-05|location=Fredericksburg, VA}}

Thirteen drivers won races over the course of the 26-race season; Mark Martin won the most events, with six victories.Kelly 1997, p.282. Randy LaJoie,{{cite web|url=https://www.mcall.com/1996/05/20/lajoie-stays-cool-under-heat-advantage-200-winner-credits-cooler-temperament-brought-about-by-better-equipment/|title=Lajoie Stays Cool Under Heat|last=Fox|first=John Jay|date=May 20, 1996|work=The Morning Call|access-date=2014-04-05|location=Allentown, PA|archive-date=2014-04-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407073559/http://articles.mcall.com/1996-05-20/sports/3090806_1_randy-lajoie-busch-driver-meridian-advantage|url-status=live}} Buckshot Jones,{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1955&dat=19960708&id=0xtVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dj0NAAAAIBAJ&pg=3514,3437788|title='Buckshot' Jones fires off a win|date=July 8, 1996|work=Reading Eagle|page=D4|accessdate=2014-04-05|location=Reading, PA}} Greg Sacks,{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/fb5a0eedae145fb26fe6e9bf46da982d|title=Sacks Gets First Busch Series Victory|last=Harris|first=Mike|date=July 27, 1996|publisher=The Associated Press|accessdate=2014-04-05}} Jeff Fuller,{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/651e9a36a8e78bc8692fa2c41b156656|title=Jeff Fuller Gets First Busch Series Win|last=Harris|first=Mike|date=August 23, 1996|publisher=The Associated Press|accessdate=2014-04-05}} and Kevin Lepage were first-time winners during the season.{{cite web|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1996-11-04/sports/9611040060_1_randy-lajoie-david-hutto-kevin-lepage|title=Lepage Wins A Safe Jiffy Lube|last=Biebrich|first=Richard Jr.|date=November 4, 1996|work=Sun-Sentinel|accessdate=2014-04-05|location=Fort Lauderdale, FL|archive-date=2016-03-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303221659/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1996-11-04/sports/9611040060_1_randy-lajoie-david-hutto-kevin-lepage|url-status=dead}}

The series' Busch Pole Award was won by David Green for the third consecutive season, winning four pole positions during the season.Kelly 1997, p.281. Glenn Allen Jr. won the series' Rookie of the Year title over Mike Dillon and Shane Hall, while David Green won the series' Most Popular Driver award.Kelly 1997, p.284. The series' Manufacturers' Championship, the Bill France Performance Cup, was won by Chevrolet.

{{main|1996 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series}}

File:Ron Hornaday 1996 Championship.jpg

The 1996 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, renamed from the SuperTruck Series presented by Craftsman,{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1454&dat=19960223&id=yYpOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NxUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2446,3449850|title=New truck logo makes debut|date=February 23, 1996|work=Morning Star|page=8|accessdate=2014-04-05|location=Wilmington, NC}} consisted of 24 events, run at 23 race tracks in 19 states.{{cite web|url=http://www.racing-reference.info/raceyear/1996/C|title=1996 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=USA Today Sports Media Group|accessdate=2014-04-05}} Ron Hornaday Jr. won his first series championship, beating Jack Sprague by 53 points.{{cite web|url=http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/1996/nov/04/hornaday-earnhardt-share-truck-series-title/|title=Hornaday, Earnhardt share truck series title|last=Kantowski|first=Ron|date=November 4, 1996|work=Las Vegas Sun|accessdate=2014-04-05|location=Las Vegas, NV}}

Seven drivers won races over the course of the 26-race season; Mike Skinner won the most events, with eight victories.Kelly 1997, p.300. Dave Rezendes,{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2199&dat=19960318&id=yKcyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5OYFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2549,1481051|title=Rezendes holds off Sprague|date=March 18, 1996|work=Lawrence Journal-World|page=9C|accessdate=2014-04-05|location=Lawrence, KS}} Jack Sprague,{{cite web|url=http://www.mrn.com/Race-Series/NASCAR-Nationwide/Drivers/Driver-Bio.aspx?DriverID=396&SubSeriesID=2&q=Jack+Sprague%7cNASCAR+Nationwide|title=Driver Bio: Jack Sprague|publisher=Motor Racing Network|accessdate=2014-04-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407093849/http://www.mrn.com/Race-Series/NASCAR-Nationwide/Drivers/Driver-Bio.aspx?DriverID=396&SubSeriesID=2&q=Jack+Sprague%7cNASCAR+Nationwide|archive-date=2014-04-07|url-status=dead}} Rick Carelli,{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/e1560a67b8e784f008483e5a2484e8c5|title=Carelli Scores First Victory|date=June 23, 1996|publisher=The Associated Press|accessdate=2014-04-05}} and Mark Martin were first-time winners during the season.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=348&dat=19960929&id=yGYwAAAAIBAJ&sjid=cjMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4460,8568693|title=Martin coasts in Lowe's 250|date=September 29, 1996|work=Rome News-Tribune|page=8B|accessdate=2014-04-05|location=Rome, GA}}

The series' Busch Pole Award was won by Mike Skinner, winning five pole positions during the season.Kelly 1997, p.298. Bryan Reffner won the series' Rookie of the Year title over Doug George and Lance Norick, while Jimmy Hensley won the series' Most Popular Driver award.Kelly 1997, p.302. The series' Manufacturers' Championship was won by Chevrolet, followed by Ford and Dodge.

The 1996 NASCAR Winston West Series consisted of 15 events, run at 11 race tracks in 6 states; two races, at Sears Point Raceway in May and at Phoenix International Raceway in October, were combination events with the Winston Cup Series.{{cite web|url=http://www.racing-reference.info/raceyear/1996/P|title=1996 NASCAR Winston West Series Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=USA Today Sports Media Group|accessdate=2014-04-06}} Lance Hooper won his first series championship, beating Jeff Krogh by 30 points;{{cite web|url=http://www.motorsport.com/nascar-ns/news/busch-hooper-to-drive-twice-at-fontana/|title=BUSCH: Hooper to Drive Twice at Fontana|date=July 16, 1998|work=Motorsport.com|accessdate=2014-04-06|archive-date=2014-04-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407082629/http://www.motorsport.com/nascar-ns/news/busch-hooper-to-drive-twice-at-fontana/|url-status=dead}} Hooper was the first driver to win the championship during his rookie year in the series.{{cite web|url=http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2003/oct/28/columnist-brian-hilderbrand-busch-calls-eighth-pla/|title=Busch calls eighth-place Atlanta finish ‘great’|last=Hilderbrand|first=Brian|date=October 28, 2003|work=Las Vegas Sun|accessdate=2014-04-06|location=Las Vegas, NV}}

Eight drivers won races over the course of the 15-race season; Hooper won the most events, with four victories, in addition to finishing first among Winston West competitors in the Phoenix combination race;Kelly 1997, p.394. the four overall wins were a series record for a rookie driver.Kelly 1997, p.393.

The series' Busch Pole Award was tied for by Mark Krogh and Butch Gilliland, who each won three pole positions during the season. Hooper won the series' Rookie of the Year title, while Larry Gunselman won the series' Most Popular Driver award.Kelly 1997, p.396. The series' Manufacturers' Championship was won by Chevrolet, followed by Ford, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, and Buick.

The 1996 NASCAR Busch North Series consisted of 21 events, run at 14 race tracks in 8 states; two races, at Daytona International Speedway in February and at Nazareth Speedway in May, were combination events with the Busch Series.{{cite web|url=http://www.racing-reference.info/raceyear/1996/E|title=1996 NASCAR Busch North Series Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=USA Today Sports Media Group|accessdate=2014-04-06}} Dave Dion won his first series championship, beating Andy Santerre by 116 points.{{cite web|url=http://hometracks.nascar.com/records/NKNPSE_Champions|title=K&N Pro Series East: Champions|work=NASCAR.com|accessdate=2014-04-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407075527/http://hometracks.nascar.com/records/NKNPSE_Champions|archive-date=2014-04-07|url-status=dead}}

Eight drivers won races over the course of the 21-race season; Andy Santerre won the most events, with four victories.Kelly 1997, p.404. The series' Busch Pole Award was won by Santerre, who won eight pole positions during the season. Brad Leighton won the series' Rookie of the Year title, while Brandon Butler won the series' Most Popular Driver award.Kelly 1997, p.406.

The 1996 NASCAR Featherlite Modified Tour consisted of 20 events, run at 11 race tracks in 7 states.{{cite web|url=http://www.racing-reference.info/raceyear/1996/N|title=1996 NASCAR Winston Modified Tour Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=USA Today Sports Media Group|accessdate=2014-04-06}} Tony Hirschman won the series championship for the second consecutive year, beating Steve Park by 12 points.Kelly 1997, p.398.

Eight drivers won races over the course of the 20-race season; Steve Park won the most events, with five victories;Kelly 1997, p.400. Park also won the series' Busch Pole Award, winning won four pole positions during the season,{{cite web|url=http://www.racing-reference.info/yeardet/1996/N|title=NASCAR Winston Modified Tour standings for 1996|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=USA Today Sports Media Group|accessdate=2014-04-06}} and the series' Most Popular Driver award.Kelly 1997, p.402.

The 1996 NASCAR Goody's Dash Series consisted of 21 events, run at 18 race tracks in 5 states. Lyndon Amick won his first series championship, beating Robert Huffman by 34 points.Kelly 1997, p.409.

Eight drivers won races over the course of the 21-race season; Amick and Will Hobgood tied for winning the most events, with four victories.[42] Hobgood also won the series' Busch Pole Award, winning five pole positions during the season.Kelly 1997, p.408. Jimmy Foster won the series' Rookie of the Year title over Andy Houston and Brian Sockwell, while Andy Houston won the series' Most Popular Driver award.Kelly 1997, p.410.

The 1996 NASCAR Slim Jim All Pro Series consisted of 23 events, run at 19 race tracks in 11 states. Mike Cope won his second series championship, beating Toby Porter by 184 points.Kelly 1997, p.413.

Eleven drivers won races over the course of the 21-race season; Toby Porter and Ron Young tied for winning the most events, with four victories each.Kelly 1997, p.415. The series' Busch Pole Award was won by Wayne Anderson, who won five pole positions during the season; Tammy Jo Kirk won two poles, becoming the series' first female pole winner.Kelly 1997, p.412. Steven Christian won the series' Rookie of the Year title over Wayne Anderson and Nipper Alsup, while Tammy Jo Kirk won the series' Most Popular Driver award.Kelly 1997, p.414.

The 1996 NASCAR Reb-Co Northwest Tour consisted of 13 events, run at 7 race tracks in Washington and Oregon. Kelly Tanner won his first series championship, beating Garrett Evans by 156 points.Kelly 1997, p.417.

Eight drivers won races over the course of the 13-race season; Garrett Evans won the most events, scoring four victories. The series' Busch Pole Award was won by Kelly Tanner, who won four pole positions during the season;Kelly 1997, p.416. Marc Groskreutz won the series' Rookie of the Year award.

The 1996 NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Tour consisted of 18 events, run at 13 race tracks in 5 states. Chris Raudman won his first series championship,{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/0b929bd77ebc5f29aa8311bdcfbd75bd|title=NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Tour: NASCAR Winter Heat|date=December 8, 1996|publisher=The Associated Press|accessdate=2014-04-06}} beating Bryan Germone by 160 points.Kelly 1997, p.421.

Twelve drivers won races over the course of the 18-race season; Craig Raudman won the most events, with three victories each.Kelly 1997, p.422. The series' Busch Pole Award was tied for by Chris Raudman, Craig Raudman, and M. K. Kanke, who won three pole positions each; Chris Raudman won the series' Rookie of the Year title as well as the championship.Kelly 1997, p.420. Chris Raudman also won the series' "Winter Heat" exhibition race at Tucson Raceway Park in December.

The only NASCAR regional series to compete on dirt tracks,Kelly 1997, p.424. the 1996 NASCAR Busch All-Star Tour consisted of 16 events, run at 11 race tracks in 5 states. Joe Kosiski won his fourth series championship, beating Ray Guss Jr. by 19 points.Kelly 1997, p.425.

Eight drivers won races over the course of the 18-race season; Joe Kosiski won the most events, with four victories. Donnie McClellan won the series' Rookie of the Year title, while Denny Osborn was named the series' Most Popular Driver.

The 1996 NASCAR Winston Racing Series was a local racing series operating under NASCAR sanction, comprising 100 member tracks grouped into 10 regions. Each track ran weekly races in a variety of classes, with one class being the track's featured class; each featured class champion at each track was then ranked using a Competition Performance Index (CPI), based on the driver's winning percentage, a weighed car count for the region's tracks, and percentage of races competed in, with the driver having the highest CPI being declared the regional champion. The regional champions' CPIs were then ranked, with the highest-ranking driver being awarded the national championship.Kelly 1997, p.316.

Larry Phillips, competing in the Grand American Late Model class at I-44 Speedway in the Heartland Region,Kelly 1997, p.323. won the series' national championship in 1996, his fifth Winston Racing Series national championship.{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/956ec667e651c038e6b454fc7cf32b59|title=Phillips Wins Short Track Title For Fifth Time|date=September 11, 1996|publisher=The Associated Press|accessdate=2014-04-06}} Second in the national rankings was John Blewett III, competing at Flemington Speedway in the Northeast Region,Kelly 1997, p.330. third was Wes Troup of Old Dominion Speedway in the Atlantic Seaboard Region,Kelly 1997, p.337. fourth was Steven Howard competing at Greenville-Pickens Speedway in the Blue Ridge Region,Kelly 1997, p.344. fifth was Steve Boley from West Liberty Raceway in the Midwest Region,Kelly 1997, p.351. sixth was Bobby Hogge IV competing at Antioch Speedway and Altamont Raceway Park in the Pacific Coast Region,Kelly 1997, p.358. seventh was Eddie McKean of Magic Valley Speedway in the Great West Region,Kelly 1997, p.365. eighth was Mike VanSparrentak from Kalamazoo Speedway in the Mid-America Region,Kelly 1997, p.372. ninth was Carl Trimmer of Tucson Raceway Park in the Sunbelt Region,Kelly 1997, p.379. and tenth was Dale Planck, who competed at Fulton Speedway and Utica-Rome Speedway in the New England Region.Kelly 1997, p.386.

;Citations

{{reflist}}

;Bibliography

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite book|editor=Bob Kelly|title=The Official NASCAR Preview and Press Guide 1997|year=1997|publisher=UMI Publications|location=Charlotte, NC|asin=B002I7L7UU }}

{{refend}}

{{s-start}}

{{succession box

| before = 1995 in NASCAR

| after = 1997 in NASCAR

| title = NASCAR seasons

| years = 1996

}}

{{s-end}}

Category:NASCAR seasons