|| *Comments on the 1988 Budweiser 400:* View the most recent comment <#59> | Post a comment <#post> Tweet 1. Jacob posted: 11.21.2004 - 6:53 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Ruben Garcia plowed through a fence then blasted though a concrete wall then crashed into the crowd then crashed into a fence.In this last race at Riverside. 2. 4X posted: 01.17.2005 - 8:46 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) one of the best road course track ever! 3. Jake posted: 05.26.2005 - 11:58 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Riverside was definitely a great track. It's a shame it was torn down because there was a lot of history at that track. 4. Dalejrfan14 posted: 04.05.2006 - 8:05 pm Rate this comment: (0) (2) i wish they never got rid of it.i wasnt even alive when they tore it down 5. Evan posted: 04.06.2006 - 4:07 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) NASCAR Moment In History:1988 Rusty Wallace wins the final Winston Cup race at the old Riverside Road Course in California. After it is closed down, California real-estate developers turn it in to what it is now, an apartment complex. 6. Darrell posted: 04.14.2006 - 2:22 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) It's sad that it had to go, but it was pretty dangerous. 7. Thomas posted: 05.04.2006 - 3:47 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I could be totally wrong, but I heard that it was turned into a shopping mall, and that a Hot-Dog-On-A-Stick was located in a food court where turn 1 used to be. Regardless, it was another great track spoiled by greedy, heartless, bastard land developers. 8. MOST posted: 05.06.2006 - 5:50 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Rick Hendrick himself started this race, what the hell?!?!?!? 9. CanucksAndNASCAR Fan posted: 05.16.2006 - 10:48 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Yep, and Hendrick drove the car to a top 15 finish. 10. Steve posted: 07.07.2006 - 6:57 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Rick made 2 Winston Cup starts; both of them were right here at Riverside, in the final two races it hosted. He also has a Busch start (he finished 24th at Road Atlanta in 1987) and a Craftsman Truck Start (finishing 23rd at Topeaka in 1995). All four of Rick Hendrick's races were on road courses, and in his own equipment. 11. Doug posted: 07.17.2006 - 3:40 am Rate this comment: (2) (0) No, Rick Hendrick started this race, but got out of the car after something like 10-15 laps and allowed Elliot Forbes Robinson to run the remainder of the race. He even boasted on camera that he led a lap and seemed so proud of himself, only to find out that he had in fact not led a lap. 12. Darrell posted: 09.02.2006 - 9:57 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) That is correct Thomas. Riverside and Ontario Speedways are now shopping malls. 13. nascarman posted: 11.03.2006 - 8:10 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Benny Parsons had a top 10 going until the last lap when he spun. 14. Steve posted: 11.23.2006 - 9:13 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) first career Winston Cup laps led for Dale Jarrett weird because a road course was the one type of track he hasnt so far (and probably never will :( ) win at 15. Bill posted: 12.08.2006 - 6:51 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) The sponsor for Rick Hendrick's car is actually Exxon Superflo, not Levi Garrett. 16. myself posted: 02.16.2007 - 6:33 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) This is the last race Bobby Allison would finish. 17. Steve Minson posted: 03.06.2007 - 10:44 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Coming on ESPN Classic Wednesday March 7 at 2PM EST. 18. nascarman posted: 04.19.2007 - 9:43 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D24s6vLTrrg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep6lxvjVG0U http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9glJyVMXjM 19. Steve.M. posted: 08.22.2007 - 4:15 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) THE WHOLE RACE Part 1 = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzV8vy-1yRc Part 2 = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmB4izd-BM8 Part 3 = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6XdjY7d34A Part 4 = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOA6_P-bdTI Part 5 = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Zzu5S5jWpE Part 6 = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S13G81JFTnQ Part 7 = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdsDL4Dl-kQ Part 8 = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDCKKTgo90o Part 9 = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqAPmIAmQwA Part 10 = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILb-PTkBBPQ Part 11 = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPs9_KrCWXU Part 12 = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_djRHzqGdI Enjoy :) 20. Anonymous posted: 10.30.2007 - 11:52 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Ruben Garcia had a hell of a crash in this race. 21. RaceFanX posted: 11.27.2007 - 5:08 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Going out with a smash. While not related to the crash, this was the last NASCAR race for Ruben Garcia. Ah well, Win or be Spectacular 22. DieselDan posted: 12.10.2007 - 4:25 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) That is correct Thomas. Riverside and Ontario Speedways are now shopping malls. Darrell If Fontana keeps up the sparse crowds, that'll be another shopping mall. LA doesn't give a crap about NASCAR. 23. nascarman posted: 01.31.2008 - 8:27 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) http://thumbsnap.com/v/F0TGmlg6.jpg Here it is now. 24. RaceFanX posted: 03.16.2008 - 6:18 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Richard Petty finished 6th in this event, he'd never finish higher than 8th in any NASCAR race he ran after this. 25. Jim Thurman posted: 09.21.2008 - 2:55 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Lots of errors here on what was built on the RIR site. No apartments. Definitely not "luxury homes with swimming pools" as Jerry Punch so claimed. The mall covers turns 6 and 7A. There are some homes built across the mid-portion, but not many. Parts of turn 9 and the frontstretch were still intact in the late 90's (!). No way was there a food court or a "Hot Dog On A Stick" at turn 1, since the mall is at 5/6. And the developer (Fritz Duda) got control when "NASCAR legend" Les Richter sold his shares to Duda. Now Richter says he wish he wouldn't have done it. Ontario did NOT become Ontario Mills Mall - that is across the street. After OMS had been closed close to 20 years, finally, buildings started being built with the OMS property. There are many things there now, but Ontario Mills Mall is not one of them. 26. Anonymous posted: 11.26.2008 - 6:41 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) bobby allisons last top 25 finish 27. Spen posted: 05.21.2009 - 8:08 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) In his third full season, Michael Waltrip finally gets his first lead lap finish. 28. Jim Bob posted: 10.25.2009 - 12:48 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) I heard the mall might not be doing too well due to gang activity in the area. That may just be rumors though playing off LA's "gang land" stereotype and NASCAR fans being bitter 29. Anonymous posted: 12.19.2009 - 8:58 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) DNQ Ken Bouchard 30. Neal posted: 01.07.2010 - 12:11 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) What a sad day when Riverside closed down. Sonoma was an ok replacement until Bruton's incessant tinkering ruined the track (sound familiar - Bristol anyone?). 31. Anonymous posted: 03.19.2010 - 6:23 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) What the heck! Rick Hendrick drove in Cup! I thought Richard Childress and a couple of owners drove but him! Never in a million years I thought he drove Cup. 32. AnonymousEFR posted: 05.03.2011 - 9:07 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) A great course to be sure. 33. 00andJoe posted: 07.24.2011 - 7:28 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Failed to qualify: Ken Bouchard (#10), Ron Esau (#67W), Billy Fulcher, Tony Spanos, D. Wayne Strout, Ray Kelly (#74W), Marta Leonard (#46W), Butch Gilliand (#14W), Jack Sellers (#41W), Reno Fontana (#16W), St. James Davis (#22W), Bob Howard (#89W), Scott Gaylord (#20W), Jim Danielson (#82W), George Follmer (#50W), Summer McKnight (#85W), Glen Steurer (#81W), Howard Mark 34. 00andJoe posted: 07.25.2011 - 8:48 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) To the back: Tommy Kendall (#76) missed drivers meeting 35. 00andJoe posted: 07.25.2011 - 8:55 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Geoff Bodine and Tommy Kendall used Hoosier tires. The remainder of the field was on Goodyears. 36. 00andJoe posted: 07.25.2011 - 9:08 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) #83 sponsor: Wynn's/K-Mart 37. 00andJoe posted: 07.25.2011 - 9:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Elliott Forbes-Robinson relief drove for Rick Hendrick starting at the second caution. 38. 00andJoe posted: 07.25.2011 - 9:30 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) #18 sponsor: Superflo Motor Oil 39. 00andJoe posted: 07.25.2011 - 9:40 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Correction to DNQ: Sumner McKnight (not Summer) in #85W. 40. 00andJoe posted: 07.25.2011 - 10:09 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) There was a scoring kerfuffle during the final caution. The pace car attempted to pick up the field too early, in the middle of the backstretch, before the leaders had taken the caution at the start-finish line. Wallace slowed and was passed by Rudd, who then slowed and had Earnhardt and several other cars blow past them back to the start-finish line, with Phil Parsons second, Wallace third, Terry Labonte fourth and Rusty Wallace fifth. After reviewing the situation, it was determined that the leaders had slowed to honor the pace car, and the field was re-set with Wallace and Rudd leading, followed by Phil Parsons, Labonte and Earnhardt. 41. 00andJoe posted: 07.25.2011 - 10:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Reasons for the cautions: First caution: #52 stalled esses Second caution: ? Third caution: Oil on track Fourth caution: #32 accident turn 9B Fifth caution: ? Sixth caution: #2 stalled backstretch Seventh caution: #11,25,44,71,75 accident turn 9B (the ESPN Classic broadcast of the race omitted portions of the race, including the starts of the second and fifth caution periods) 42. Steve.M posted: 08.22.2011 - 12:31 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I believe the 2nd caution was due to a crash involving Davey Allison 43. Schroeder51 posted: 10.31.2011 - 11:23 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Second caution was for an spin involving Davey Allison and Bobby Hillin Jr. 44. CBASS posted: 12.12.2012 - 9:31 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Sponsor corrections #28 Havoline Motor Oil #15 Crisco/ Motorcraft #6 Quaker State with DSX #43 STP Oil Treatment #76 Spears 45. Paul8 posted: 12.26.2014 - 2:31 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Entry List: http://hostingbytes.us/images/3/8671219.jpg #14W Butch Gilliland - Anaheim Brake & Wheel - Buick #16W Reno Fontana - Hollywood Reporter/Renfon Investments - Pontiac #20W Scott Gaylord - Oliver Mfg./One Grand Car Care - Oldsmobile #22W St. James Davis - St. James Racing - Buick #41W Jack Sellers - Coca-Cola - Chevrolet #46W Marta Leonard - The Leonard Company - Chevrolet #67 Ron Esau - Pannill Knitting - Buick #74W Ray Kelly - Kelly Allison Transmissions - Pontiac #81W Glen Steurer - TOE/Stick Only/Ramjet Rear Ends - Chevrolet #82W Jim Danielson - Chico Auto Parts - Buick #89W Bob Howard - Pennzoil - Oldsmobile #97 Rodney Combs - AC Spark Plug - Buick 46. Sebastien posted: 07.14.2016 - 12:18 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) To continue post #41 : 2nd caution : #8 Hillin & #28 Allison spin in the esses. 5th caution : oil in turn 8. Admin, cautions are now complete for this race ;) 47. Evan posted: 11.26.2016 - 7:14 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Rick Hendrick did drive a few races, but I think he just wanted to try it out, but I think he knew he was better at owning the car instead of driving it and his son Ricky Hendrick was on that same path until he perished in that crash in 2004. 48. RaceFanX posted: 01.17.2017 - 5:19 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Bobby Allison won six times at Riverside, what no one knew at the time was that the final race here would be Bobby's penultimate appearance behind the wheel in Cup competition... 49. Jim posted: 03.03.2017 - 2:56 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) My hero Terry Labonte was pretty good at this track. 50. Canadianfan posted: 12.13.2017 - 3:09 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Richard Petty drove a back-up car in this race. He wrecked his primary '88 Grand Prix in qualifying in the esses. His back-up was an '87 Grand Prix 2+2 that both he and Dale Inman had finally gotten comfortable with towards the end of '87 only to have Pontiac completely redesign the car making them start all over again. Richard was never really able to become comfortable with the new Grand Prix and it showed from this point till his retirement. 51. Aussie fan x posted: 02.11.2018 - 5:19 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) Race was broadcast on ESPN. Bob Jenkins in the booth with Ned Jarrett. Dr Jerry Punch and Dick Bergren in pit lane. NASCAR installed a chicane at the start of pit lane to slow the cars down following a number of incidents and injuries in previous races. Riverside pitlane was very tight. Reuben Garcia's crash brought out a red flag lasting 25 minutes while NASCAR brought in concrete barriers to fix the wall to protect spectators 52. Jimnsimforever posted: 12.10.2018 - 9:18 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Nascar jobbed Earnhardt out of a win at Riverside. At the last caution, poor Rusty got confused cause he saw the pace car somewhere with lights on. Nevermind the fact that Dale, Ricky Rudd, and Phil Parsons all alertly followed the rules and realized we are supposed to be racing back to the start finish line when the caution came out. Rusty whined and cried about it, even when Nascar let him go back to the front after he made the mistake of not racing, he was still crying about it over the radio to commentators Bob Jenkins and Ned Jarrett. 53. Anonymous posted: 12.10.2018 - 10:14 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Are there any Dale Earnhardt fans who don't act all smug about every single little thing that didn't go in his favor? Hey Jim, remember when NASCAR through a yellow flag at Rockingham in 1995 to give him a lap back? Don't think they ever did that for Rusty. 54. Anonymous posted: 12.11.2018 - 7:42 am Rate this comment: (0) (1) How did Nascar job Earnhardt out of the win? He hadn't led since lap 29 and two other drivers besides Rusty finished ahead of him anyway. Maybe he got "jobbed" out of a third place finish. And speaking of whining, Earnhardt was the biggest whiner in the history of the sport. He'd whine about other drivers racing him for the win instead of pushing him to the win at restrictor plate tracks, and he'd whine about other car makes having some sort of imaginary unfair advantage everywhere else. The worst part? His fans were dumb enough to believe it. 55. Jimnsimforever posted: 12.11.2018 - 3:31 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @ 53, Your answers are, I assume there are some, and I don't know (specifically) what happened in the 95 race, didn't become a fan until attending the 98 spring Richmond races (Busch and Winston) and fell in love with it. Watching all the races now and seeing exactly how all this stuff happened before then. Getting ready to watch the 88 Firecracker 400 and just can't wait to see who screwed Dale to get him to finish 4th when I see he led the most laps. LOL @ 54, The caution came out, Dale was in 4th (or 5th) and got the jump on everybody who started to slow down. Then everybody but Rusty woke up and realized they were supposed to be racing to the line. Dale got there first to take the lead, Rusty cried, then they went against the rules and reset the field to what it was when the caution came out. Bobby Hillin Jr had just literally done the same thing Dale did and won his first career Busch race right around this same time. 56. Anonymous posted: 12.11.2018 - 8:21 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 55, it sounds like Earnhardt was almost gifted the win, and then wasn't gifted the win. Saying someone got robbed of a win that they were only going to win due to a fluke anyway makes no sense. Typical Earnhardt fan delusional drivel. Keep on whining. 57. NEPAracefan posted: 02.01.2019 - 1:41 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) The caution setup for this race in itself was strange. The pace car basically controlled the field from the long back stretch. On restarts the field would go flying by it at near race speed. I definitely understand Rusty's frustration. The Corvette pace car was literally parked right along the track with the lights on when the field raced by. The pit road rules were weird too. There was a short cut the drivers could use in lieu of a 30 second "penalty". The chicane setup was bizarre too. It was a useless attempt at controlling speed. 58. RaceFanX posted: 09.08.2019 - 10:09 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Ricky Rudd broke the Riverside NASCAR track record in qualifying as he put the green #26 Quaker State Buick on the pole for the final race. ESPN announcer Bob Jenkins highlighted on the broadcast how that record would stand forever. 59. Anonymous posted: 04.23.2020 - 9:05 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @55 I'm watching the race on YouTube right now, and as it was explained, the pace car was out and had its lights on, so many in the field were under the belief that NASCAR was telling the field to slow down (via that), however some (like Earnhardt) was running to the flag like they were supposed to, so more or less, NASCAR screwed up. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *Post a comment:* Your comment may not appear immediately - all comments must be approved by the moderator. Name: Comment: