The 1995 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 47th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 24th modern-era Cup series season. The season began on February 12 in Daytona Beach and concluded on November 12 at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports won his first career championship.
Overview The major story heading into the 1995 season was Dale Earnhardt's attempt to make history. After winning his seventh Winston Cup Championship in 1994, Earnhardt tied Richard Petty's record for Cup Championships. Going into the 1995 season, Earnhardt had won four of the last five Winston Cup points titles, and was considered the favorite to win his eighth in 1995. Mark Martin, who finished second in the points to Earnhardt, was still considered a strong contender for the title. Former Winston Cup Champions Terry Labonte, Bill Elliott and Rusty Wallace were in the mix as well.
As the season progressed, the race for the series championship became a battle between the seven-time Winston Cup Champ Earnhardt, veteran journeyman and back-to-back Daytona 500 winner Sterling Marlin and the ascending Jeff Gordon. The majority of the spotlight soon shifted on the 24-year-old Gordon. Gordon, who had won two of 1994’s biggest races (Coca-Cola 600 and the Inaugural Brickyard 400), visited victory lane in three of the first six races of 1995. Gordon would become the most consistent driver of the season. During one stretch of the season, he rattled off 14 straight top ten finishes, winning four times during that stretch. Despite a late season challenge by Earnhardt, Gordon would win the season's championship by 34 points. In doing so, he became the youngest Winston Cup Champion of the modern era (post 1971). Gordon made light of this at the season ending banquet, toasting Earnhardt with a glass of milk instead of champagne.
However, there were several other major stories in 1995. 1995 saw the Lumina, which had been Chevrolet's official car in NASCAR since the 1989 Winston 500, being replaced by the new Chevrolet Monte Carlo. The Monte Carlo would prove to be the dominant car in 1995, winning 21 of the season's 31 races. After winning each of the season's first seven races, NASCAR gave advantages to the two other makes: Ford and Pontiac. In contrast to its GM counterpart, Pontiac continued to struggle. The manufacturer won only twice in 1995, and did not have a single driver in the top ten in points (12th place Michael Waltrip was the highest). Goodyear was the sole tire supplier in 1995, after winning the "tire war" against Hoosier. Despite three wins in 1994 with driver/owner Geoff Bodine, Hoosier decided to leave NASCAR after the 1994 season. Its reasoning, according to Hoosier president Bob Newton, was "to concentrate our efforts in short track racing, which remains our bread and butter."
1995 changes Robert Yates Racing: After a practice crash at Michigan International Speedway in August 1994, Ernie Irvan spent the rest of the 1994 season recuperating from his injuries. While Irvan continued to make great progress in his recovery, it was becoming clear that he would have to sit out the 1995 season. Thus, RYR began to search for a new driver to take over the #28 Ford. After securing a buyout from his contract at Joe Gibbs Racing, it was announced that Dale Jarrett would be the driver for 1995. Joe Gibbs Racing: After the departure of Dale Jarrett, Joe Gibbs Racing was forced to find a new driver for the #18 Chevy. With encouragement from General Motors, JGR signed Bobby Labonte, who left Bill Davis Racing, Elliott-Hardy Racing: After struggling the last two years driving for Junior Johnson, Bill Elliott formed his own team for 1995, sharing ownership with Georgia businessman Charles Hardy. Elliott would reunite with brothers Ernie and Dan, with whom he had great success during his time at Melling Racing. Elliott selected 94 as the number for his Ford and McDonald's as his sponsor. The number had been used by Bill's nephew Casey Elliott, before Casey was diagnosed with cancer (Casey would ultimately lose his battle with the disease in 1996). Junior Johnson: For 1995, Johnson was forced to look for new drivers and sponsors for both of his cars. Budweiser, the long time sponsor of the #11, left to sponsor the #25 at Hendrick Motorsports and Bill Elliott took the sponsor of the #27, McDonald's, to his new team. For the #11 team, Johnson replaced driver Elliott with Brett Bodine and got sponsorship from Lowe's. For the #27 car, sophomore Loy Allen Jr. took over for Jimmy Spencer with sponsorship from Hooters. Before the April Bristol race, Allen left the team. Various drivers drove the #27 for the rest of 1995; the majority of starts went to veteran Busch Series driver Elton Sawyer. King Racing: Bodine would be replaced by sprint car legend Steve Kinser. Kinser, who had won 14 World of Outlaws championships, had limited exposure to stock car racing; his only experience had been in the IROC series. After failing to qualify for the spring races at Bristol and North Wilkesboro, Kinser and the team mutually split. Kinser returned to the WoO series, while Hut Stricklin was hired to replace him in the 26 car. Larry Hedrick Motorsports: LHM was left without a driver and sponsor for 1995. Former Busch Grand National Series Champion Joe Nemechek left to start his own team, Rookie Ricky Craven would drive the #41 Chevy. Craven won the Rookie of the Year award in 1995. Diamond Ridge Motorsports: Former Busch Grand National champ Steve Grissom would return for a second Cup season. NEMCO Motorsports: As he had done en route to the 1992 Busch Grand National Series Championship, Joe Nemechek formed his own team in 1995. Leo Jackson Motorsports: Harry Gant called it a career after the 1994 season. BGN series regular Robert Pressley would replace Gant in the Skoal Bandit Chevy, and would also compete for Rookie of the Year for 1995. Bill Davis Racing: BDR found itself in a similar position to many teams, needing to replace both a driver (Bobby Labonte) and a sponsor. BDR hoped to find success with manufacturer Pontiac with driver Randy LaJoie. However, the combo experienced lackluster results, and LaJoie was fired in July. After going through several drivers, Davis settled on Ward Burton, who had been let go from the Alan Dillard Jr. owned team earlier in the year. Burton shocked the stock car world by winning his first career Cup Series race at the North Carolina Motor Speedway in October. LaJoie would also find success, winning the Busch Grand National Title in 1996 and 1997. Melling Racing: After running part-time for the last three seasons, Melling returned to full-time competition in 1995. Mississippian Lake Speed was hired to be driver and general manager of the team. Bud Moore: After Lake Speed left the team at the end of 1994, Bud Moore hired short track legend (and Sportscenter favorite) Dick Trickle to drive the #15 Ford. Travis Carter Motorsports: After struggling during the 1994 season, the team parted ways with driver Hut Stricklin. He would be replaced by Jimmy Spencer, who had won two races driving for Junior Johnson in 1994. Petty Enterprises: John Andretti, who had replaced Wally Dallenbach Jr. midway through 1994, did not return in 1995. Replacing Andretti would be Tennessee driver Bobby Hamilton. SABCO Racing: After Hamilton left for Petty Enterprises, owner Felix Sabates hired Greg Sacks to drive the #40 Pontiac. After a dismal 14-race stint, Sacks was let go. Several drivers took the reins of the #40, with most of the duties going to Rich Bickle. Sabates' other car, the #42 driven by Kyle Petty, had new colors for 1995. Jasper Motorsports: Owner D. K. Ulrich hired veteran open wheel and sports car driver Davy Jones to pilot the #77 Ford. Bobby Hillin Jr. replaced Jones beginning at the June Dover race. Kranefuss-Haas Racing: After racing part-time in 1994, the team co-owned by Michael Kranefuss and Carl Haas went full-time in 1995. Former CART driver John Andretti was selected to drive the #37 Ford.
Teams and drivers
Complete schedule ManufacturerTeamRace DriverCrew ChiefChevroletDarWal Inc. 17 Darrell Waltrip Pete PetersonDiamond Ridge Motorsports 29 Steve Grissom Bryant FrazierHendrick Motorsports 5 Terry Labonte Gary DeHart 24 Jeff Gordon Ray Evernham 25 Ken Schrader Ken HowesJoe Gibbs Racing 18 Bobby Labonte Jimmy MakarLarry Hedrick Motorsports 41 Ricky Craven (R) Rick RenLeo Jackson Motorsports 33 Robert Pressley (R) Charley PressleyMarcis Auto Racing 71 Dave Marcis Bob MarcisMorgan-McClure Motorsports 4 Sterling Marlin Tony GloverNEMCO Motorsports 87 Joe Nemechek Mike BoerschingerRichard Childress Racing 3 Dale Earnhardt Andy PetreeFordBobby Allison Motorsports 12 Derrike Cope Jimmy FennigBud Moore Engineering 15 Dick Trickle Donnie WingoButch Mock Motorsports 75 Todd Bodine Troy SelbergCale Yarborough Motorsports 98 Jeremy Mayfield Tony FurrDonlavey Racing 90 Mike Wallace Junie DonlaveyElliott-Hardy Racing 94 Bill Elliott Tony Gibson Mike Beam Geoff Bodine Racing 7 Geoff Bodine Paul AndrewsJasper Motorsports 77 Davy Jones (R) Paul Wise Bobby Hillin Jr. Junior Johnson & Associates 11 Brett Bodine Dean Combs 27 Loy Allen Jr. Mike Hill Jeff Purvis Elton Sawyer Jimmy Horton Greg Sacks King Racing 26 Steve Kinser (R) Richard Broome Hut Stricklin Kranefuss-Haas Racing 37 John Andretti Tim BrewerMelling Racing 9 Lake Speed Peter SospenzoPenske Racing South 2 Rusty Wallace Robin PembertonPrecision Products Racing 1 Rick Mast Kevin HamlinRobert Yates Racing 28 Dale Jarrett Larry McReynoldsRoush Racing 6 Mark Martin Steve Hmiel 16 Ted Musgrave Howard ComstockRudd Performance Motorsports 10 Ricky Rudd Bill IngleTravis Carter Enterprises 23 Jimmy Spencer Cecil GordonStavola Brothers Racing 8 Jeff Burton Donnie RichesonWood Brothers Racing 21 Morgan Shepherd Eddie WoodPontiacBahari Racing 30 Michael Waltrip Doug HewittBill Davis Racing 22 Randy LaJoie (R) Chris Hussey Jimmy Hensley Wally Dallenbach Jr. Ward Burton Dick Brooks Racing 40 Greg Sacks Jeff Hammond Andy Hillenburg Rich Bickle Randy LaJoie (R) Butch Leitzinger Shane Hall Petty Enterprises 43 Bobby Hamilton Robbie LoomisTeam SABCO 42 Kyle Petty Keith Simmons
Limited schedule