|| *Comments on the 1986 Budweiser 500:* View the most recent comment <#8> | Post a comment <#post> Tweet 1. Chuck Sakers posted: 06.07.2006 - 11:36 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) This was my first NASCAR race. The most memorable moment was Harry Gant's engine blowing on the backstretch right in front of us. We just went to our 20th race at Dover on June 4th. Three drivers from our first race ran this past Sunday. (Technically three since Ricky Rudd subbed for Tony Stewart). Amazing how things have changed in the past 20 years. 2. Darrell posted: 09.19.2006 - 11:23 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) First start for Gary Fedewa, who I believe is related to former Busch Series winner Tim Fedewa. 3. SK posted: 04.06.2007 - 2:19 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) The last start for Rick Baldwin. Four races later, he would crash in qualifying for the June event at Michigan, causing severe head injuries and putting him in a coma. Baldwin passed away on June 11, 1997, almost 11 years to the day of his accident. 4. Destiny posted: 09.19.2007 - 12:15 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Darrell, it looks like Gary is still a father of Tim Fedewa. 5. CFob posted: 07.19.2008 - 4:50 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Gary Fedewa is Tim Fedewa's Uncle. 6. Patrick posted: 09.30.2008 - 12:44 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) Michael Waltrip's first winston cup race led. 7. NewGuyOnTheBlock posted: 05.18.2020 - 11:01 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Mizlou broadcast this race. Steve Grad and Dick Brooks were in the booth with Mark Garrow in the pits. Much like Martinsville earlier in the year, this race was plagued by mechanical failures, many of which were due to the high temperatures that day. Geoff Bodine was able to outlast the competition to claim his second and final win of the season. 8. NewGuyOnTheBlock posted: 05.18.2020 - 11:39 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Dale Earnhardt jumped into an early lead, closely followed by Geoff Bodine and Terry Labonte. Following an early yellow for a crash between Joe Fields and Jerry Bowman, Bodine pulled ahead of Earnhardt for the lead, gapping the rest of the field by several seconds. Doug Heveron became the first of many drivers to fall victim to engine failures on lap 28; Oil on his tires caused him to spin out in turn 1, the windshield blowing out of the car as it spun. Harry Gant would inherit the lead after the first round of pitstops. The first 100 laps were marked by numerous engine failures. Rick Baldwin, Mike Potter, and Tim Richmond all brought out cautions due to their motors failing. Harry Gant led for some time before surrendering the lead under caution; Neil Bonnett, who had qualified poorly, found himself at the point as the field restarted on lap 90 following Richmond's engine expiration. Bonnett got a great jump on the restart and pulled away, Dale Earnhardt and Geoff Bodine fighting fiercely for second behind him. Harry Gant, who restarted fourth, moved his way into the battle for second, forcing his way past Bodine. The race ran green for the next 200 laps, with Bonnett, Gant, Bodine, and Labonte battling for the lead. Bill Elliott, who had started 21st, charged his way through the field up to fifth place, joining the battle for the lead. Earnhardt and Joe Ruttman soon joined the lead pack, making it a seven-way battle for first. Green flag pitstops would break up the lead battle, with Harry Gant cycling out as the new leader. Neil Bonnett would become the first of the leaders to retire from the event, having burnt out his clutch trying to retain first place. Gant, Labonte, and Bodine would dominate the next 150 laps, trading the lead back and forth during rounds of pitstops. Rick Newsom's spin on lap 281 brought a much-needed caution to the field. Terry Labonte led the field back to green, with Gant in hot pursuit. Gant eventually passed Labonte for the lead on lap 320 as another long green-flag run developed. Dale Earnhardt took the lead following another cycle of pitstops, while Bill Elliott's day was ruined when he ran out of fuel under green. Earnhardt, Gant, and Labonte continued to battle for the lead, Gant eventually pulling away from the other two. Ken Schrader had a frightening moment when he spun down the pits under green. Thankfully, no crew members were hit. With under 50 laps to go, Gant was steadily pulling away from Earnhardt, while Labonte had retired from the race with engine troubles. Suddenly, Jody Ridley, who had been running within the top 10 for much of the event, blew a tire in turn 4 and slammed into the wall. The #75 Pontiac then shot directly into the inside wall, bursting into flames. Ridley was pulled from his car and transported to the track hospital; thankfully, he avoided any serious injury. Geoffrey Bodine inherited the lead under the yellow, winning the race off of pit road. Bodine, Bobby Allison, and Gant led the field back to green, with Dale Earnhardt, the last car on the lead lap, pulling ahead of the leaders. Gant moved his way to second and began to hunt down Bodine for the lead. Disaster would strike as Gant's engine suddenly detonated as he made the move on Bodine for the lead. With Gant out of the event, Bodine cruised to victory. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *Post a comment:* Your comment may not appear immediately - all comments must be approved by the moderator. Name: Comment: