1985 NASCAR Winston Cup Series

The 1985 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 37th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 14th modern-era Cup series season. The season began on Sunday, February 10 and ended on Sunday, November 17. Darrell Waltrip, driving for Junior Johnson, was crowned champion (for the third time in his career) at the end of the season. Bill Elliott, driving for Harry Melling, had won 11 races in 1985 (as well as the Winston Million), but lost the title by 101 points to three-time race winner Waltrip. This was the first season where all races were televised in some form.

Teams and drivers

Complete schedule ManufacturerTeamRace DriverCrew Chief BuickDiGard Motorsports Bobby Allison Robin Pemberton Greg Sacks Race Hill Farm Team 47 Ron Bouchard Jake Elder Stavola Brothers Racing 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Chevrolet Hamby Motorsports 17 Ken Ragan Phil Parsons Bosco Lowe Lennie Pond Hendrick Motorsports 5 Geoff Bodine Harry Hyde Junior Johnson & Associates 11 Darrell Waltrip Jeff Hammond 12 Neil Bonnett Doug Richert Mach 1 Racing 33 Harry Gant Travis Carter Marcis Auto Racing 71 Dave Marcis Richard Childress Racing 3 Dale Earnhardt Kirk Shelmerdine Ford Bud Moore Engineering 15 Ricky Rudd Bud Moore Donlavey Racing 90 Ken Schrader (R) Langley Racing 64 Clark Dwyer Melling Racing 9 Bill Elliott Ernie Elliott Wood Brothers Racing 7 Kyle Petty Leonard Wood Oldsmobile Baker-Schiff Racing 88 Buddy Baker Hagan Racing 44 Terry Labonte Dale Inman Pontiac Blue Max Racing 27 Tim Richmond Barry Dodson Cliff Stewart Racing 2 Rusty Wallace Darrell Bryant Curb Racing 43 Richard Petty Mike Beam Means Racing 52 Jimmy Means RahMoc Enterprises 75 Lake Speed Bob Rahilly Chrysler Dodge Ford Arrington Racing 67 Morgan Shepherd Phil Good Buddy Arrington Joey Arrington

Limited schedule Manufacturer Team Race Driver Crew Chief Round(s) Buick Bahre Racing 23 Dick May Booher Farms 65 Joe Booher Ulrich Racing D. K. Ulrich Buck Baker Racing 87 Randy Baker Stolarcyk Racing Mike Stolarcyk Cooper Racing 80 Edward Cooper Edwards Racing 32 Jonathan Lee Edwards 40 41 Elliott Racing 72 Brent Elliott Kermit Elliott Kieper Racing 98 Jim Bown Newsom Racing 20 Rick Newsom Osborne Racing 16 Bill Osborne Petris Racing 63 Dale Perry U.S. Racing 50 Jim Southard Chevrolet Adcox Racing 29 Grant Adcox Anderson Racing 08 Craig Spetman Bahre Racing 23 Morgan Shepherd Jim Hull Eldon Dotson Ball Racing 99 Connie Saylor Blair Aiken Beahr Racing 35 Bud Hickey Benfield Racing 98 Trevor Boys Stoke Racing Ron Esau Kieper Racing Jim Bown Billy Matthews Racing 09 Dick Trickle Bob Johnson Racing 07 Randy LaJoie Bobby Hawkins Racing 16 Butch Lindley Morgan Shepherd Boys Racing 24 Trevor Boys Davis Racing 06 Joe Thurman Freelander Motorsports 18 Tommy Ellis Glen Steurer Hendrick Motorsports 1 Dick Brooks Ellington Racing Charles Poalillo Runt Pittman Davey Allison Pancho Carter Helen Rae Motorsports 00 Jody Ridley Ed Sanger Phil Barkdoll Morgan Shepherd Sterling Marlin Heveron Racing 10 Doug Heveron DiGard Motorsports Greg Sacks Gerhart Racing 25 Bobby Gerhart Henley Gray Racing 31 Slick Johnson Steve Gray 54 Bobby Wawak Goff Racing 79 Dick Skillen H. L. Waters Racing 0 Delma Cowart Hylton Racing 48 Lennie Pond Don Hume (R) 49 James Hylton Greg Sacks Trevor Boys Lennie Pond Ron Esau Jackson Brothers Motorsports 55 Benny Parsons Cliff Champion 66 Phil Parsons Lain Motorsports 37 Satch Worley McCray Racing 45 Rick McCray Morris Racing Rick Baldwin McDuffie Racing 70 J. D. McDuffie Morgan-McClure Motorsports 4 Joe Ruttman Tony Glover Newsom Racing 20 Rick Newsom Paul Racing 53 Donny Paul Scott Racing Bill Scott Jeff Hooker Ragan Racing 77 Davey Allison Marvin Ragan Sacks & Sons 51 Greg Sacks Cecil Gordon Sadler Brothers Racing 95 Sterling Marlin Mike Alexander Schmitt Motorsports 73 Bill Schmitt Steve Moore Shepherd Racing 38 Morgan Shepherd Sims Brothers Racing 84 Mike Alexander Sonntag Racing 65 Joey Sonntag Booher Farms Joe Booher Stoner Racing 96 Eldon Dotson Terry Motorsports 32 Ruben Garcia Tommy Houston U.S. Racing 6 Eddie Bierschwale (R) Thomas Racing 41 Glenn Jarrett Ronnie Thomas Williams Racing 63 Chuck Walton Wawak Racing 74 Bobby Wawak Rick Wilson Chrysler Good Racing 76 Phil Good Rick Baldwin Racing 04 Rick Baldwin MRE Racing 93 Maurice Randall Palmer Racing Norm Palmer St. James Racing 02 St. James Davis Dodge Good Racing 76 Phil Good Ford Beahr Racing 35 Dick May Morgan Shepherd Bowman Racing 96 Jerry Bowman DiGard Motorsports 10 Ken Ragan Jefferson Racing 07 Derrike Cope McDuffie Racing 70 J. D. McDuffie McKnight Racing 83 Sumner McKnight Circle Bar Racing 31 Chet Fillip Pearson Racing 21 David Pearson Leonard Wood Rick Wilson Petty Enterprises 1 Dick Brooks Morgan Shepherd Ranier-Lundy Racing 28 Cale Yarborough Waddell Wilson Spohn Racing 05 Dean Roper Slick Johnson 51 Doug Heveron Slick Johnson Stahl Racing 82 Mark Stahl Terry Motorsports 32 Alan Kulwicki 38 Walker Enterprises 68 Mike Potter Jimmy Walker Ed Baugess Wangerin Racing 39 Blackie Wangerin Oldsmobile A. J. Foyt Enterprises 14 A. J. Foyt Earle Canavan Racing 01 Earle Canavan KC Racing 91 John Krebs Midgley Racing 29 Scott Autrey Dick Midgley Williams Racing 78 Jim Robinson Pontiac Bahre Racing 23 Michael Waltrip Blue Max Racing 72 Sammy Swindell Curb Racing 42 Tom Sneva DiGard Motorsports 10 Dick Trickle Francis Racing 03 Glenn Francis H. B. Bailey Racing 36 H. B. Bailey Leonard Racing 85 Tommie Crozier McDuffie Racing 0 Jeff McDuffie 70 J. D. McDuffie Mueller Brothers Racing 89 Jim Sauter Park Racing 19 Bob Park Riley Racing 60 Bob Riley Sosres Racing 94 John Soares Jr. Smith Motorsports 04 Hershel McGriff Buick Chevrolet Ford Bobby Allison Motorsports 22 Bobby Allison Reds Kagle Chevrolet Buick Wawak Racing 74 Bobby Wawak

Schedule No. Race title Track DateNCBusch ClashDaytona International Speedway, Daytona BeachFebruary 107-Eleven Twin 125'sFebruary 14Daytona 500 Consolation RaceFebruary 151Daytona 500February 172Miller High Life 400Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway, RichmondFebruary 243Carolina 500North Carolina Motor Speedway, RockinghamMarch 34Coca-Cola 500Atlanta International Raceway, HamptonMarch 175Valleydale 500Bristol International Raceway, BristolApril 66TranSouth 500Darlington Raceway, DarlingtonApril 147Northwestern Bank 400North Wilkesboro Speedway, North WilkesboroApril 218Sovran Bank 500Martinsville Speedway, RidgewayApril 289Winston 500Alabama International Motor Speedway, TalladegaMay 510Budweiser 500Dover Downs International Speedway, DoverMay 19NCThe WinstonCharlotte Motor Speedway, ConcordMay 2511Coca-Cola World 600May 2612Budweiser 400Riverside International Raceway, RiversideJune 213Van Scoy Diamond Mine 500Pocono International Raceway, Long PondJune 914Michigan 400Michigan International Speedway, BrooklynJune 1615Pepsi Firecracker 400Daytona International Speedway, Daytona BeachJuly 416Summer 500Pocono International Raceway, Long PondJuly 2117Talladega 500Alabama International Motor Speedway, TalladegaJuly 2818Champion Spark Plug 400Michigan International Speedway, BrooklynAugust 1119Busch 500Bristol International Raceway, BristolAugust 2420Southern 500Darlington Raceway, DarlingtonSeptember 121Wrangler Sanfor-Set 400Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway, RichmondSeptember 822Delaware 500Dover Downs International Speedway, DoverSeptember 1523Goody's 500Martinsville Speedway, RidgewaySeptember 2224Holly Farms 400North Wilkesboro Speedway, North WilkesboroSeptember 2925Miller High Life 500Charlotte Motor Speedway, ConcordOctober 626Nationwise 500North Carolina Motor Speedway, RockinghamOctober 2027Atlanta Journal 500Atlanta International Raceway, HamptonNovember 328Winston Western 500Riverside International Raceway, RiversideNovember 17 Bold indicates the race was part of the Winston Million.

Races No.RacePole positionMost laps ledWinning driverBusch ClashRicky RuddTerry LabonteTerry LabonteChevrolet7-Eleven 125 #1Bill ElliottBill ElliottBill ElliottFord7-Eleven 125 #2Cale YarboroughUnknownCale YarboroughFordDaytona 500 Consolation RaceRick NewsomRandy LaJoieRandy LaJoieChevrolet1Daytona 500Bill ElliottBill ElliottBill ElliottFord2Miller High Life 400Darrell WaltripDarrell WaltripDale EarnhardtChevrolet3Carolina 500Terry LabonteTerry LabonteNeil BonnettChevrolet4Coca-Cola 500Neil BonnettBill ElliottBill ElliottFord5Valleydale 500Harry GantDale EarnhardtDale EarnhardtChevrolet6TranSouth 500Bill ElliottBill ElliottBill ElliottFord7Northwestern Bank 400Darrell WaltripNeil BonnettNeil BonnettChevrolet8Sovran Bank 500Darrell WaltripHarry GantHarry GantChevrolet9Winston 500Bill ElliottCale YarboroughBill ElliottFord10Budweiser 500Terry LabonteBill ElliottBill ElliottFordThe WinstonTerry LabonteHarry GantDarrell WaltripChevrolet11Coca-Cola World 600Bill ElliottDale EarnhardtDarrell WaltripChevrolet12Budweiser 400Darrell WaltripTerry LabonteTerry LabonteChevrolet13Van Scoy Diamond Mine 500Bill ElliottGeoff BodineBill ElliottFord14Miller 400Bill ElliottDarrell WaltripBill ElliottFord15Pepsi Firecracker 400Bill ElliottBill ElliottGreg SacksChevrolet16Summer 500Darrell WaltripNeil BonnettBill ElliottFord17Talladega 500Bill ElliottBill ElliottCale YarboroughFord18Champion Spark Plug 400Bill ElliottDarrell WaltripBill ElliottFord19Busch 500Dale EarnhardtDale EarnhardtDale EarnhardtChevrolet20Southern 500Bill ElliottDale EarnhardtBill ElliottFord21Wrangler Sanfor-Set 400Geoff BodineTerry LabonteDarrell WaltripChevrolet22Delaware 500Bill ElliottHarry GantHarry GantChevrolet23Goody's 500Geoff BodineTim RichmondDale EarnhardtChevrolet24Holly Farms 400Geoff BodineHarry GantHarry GantChevrolet25Miller High Life 500Harry GantHarry GantCale YarboroughFord26Nationwise 500Terry LabonteCale YarboroughDarrell WaltripChevrolet27Atlanta Journal 500Harry GantBill ElliottBill ElliottFord28Winston Western 500Terry LabonteTerry LabonteRicky RuddFord

Busch Clash

The Busch Clash was run on February 10 at Daytona International Speedway. Ricky Rudd drew for the pole.

Top Ten Results

44 – Terry Labonte 11 – Darrell Waltrip 9 – Bill Elliott 5 – Geoff Bodine 33 – Harry Gant 15 – Ricky Rudd 88 – Buddy Baker 2 – Rusty Wallace 4 – Joe Ruttman 28 – Cale Yarborough

7-Eleven Twin 125's

The 7-Eleven Twin 125's were run on February 14 at Daytona. Bill Elliott won the pole for race 1 with a lap average speed of . Cale Yarborough won the pole for race 2 with a lap average speed of .

Race One Top Ten Results

9 – Bill Elliott 11 – Darrell Waltrip 55 – Benny Parsons 88 – Buddy Baker 15 – Ricky Rudd 1 – Dick Brooks 51 – Greg Sacks 47 – Ron Bouchard 5 – Geoff Bodine 12 – Neil Bonnett

Race Two Top Ten Results

28 – Cale Yarborough 21 – David Pearson 7 – Kyle Petty 43 – Richard Petty 33 – Harry Gant 66 – Phil Parsons 75 – Lake Speed 14 – A. J. Foyt 3 – Dale Earnhardt 95 – Sterling Marlin

Daytona 500 Consolation Race For the final time to date, all 9 drivers that failed to qualify for the Daytona 500 were allowed to race in a 30 lap () race on February 15. Rick Newsom was on the pole.

Full Results FinishGridCarno.DriverCar MakeLapsStatusLapsLedMoney1 5 07 Randy LaJoie Chevrolet Monte Carlo 30 0:23:46 36 $3,5002 7 41 Glenn Jarrett Chevrolet Monte Carlo 30 -3 seconds 0 $5003 6 37 Satch Worley Chevrolet Monte Carlo 30 Flagged 2 $1004 1 20 Rick Newsom Chevrolet Monte Carlo 30 Flagged 3 5 2 05 Dean Roper Ford Thunderbird 29 -1 lap 0 6 3 06 Joe Thurman Chevrolet Monte Carlo 29 -1 lap 0 7 9 65 Joey Sonntag Chevrolet Monte Carlo 28 -2 laps 0 8 4 82 Mark Stahl Ford Thunderbird 11 Engine 0 9 8 19 Bob Park Pontiac Grand Prix 2 Engine 0 Source: Average speed: Caution flags: none Lead changes: 2FromlapTolapTotallapsDriver 1 3 3 Rick Newsom 4 5 2 Satch Worley 6 30 25 Randy LaJoie

Daytona 500

The Daytona 500, the 27th running of the event, was held on February 17, 1985, at Daytona International Speedway, in Daytona Beach, Florida. Bill Elliott won the pole with a new track record (at the time) speed of , he also won his qualifying race.

Top Ten Results

9 - Bill Elliott 75 - Lake Speed