|| *Comments on the 1996 Brickyard 400:* View the most recent comment <#49> | Post a comment <#post> Tweet 1. Jake posted: 12.15.2004 - 2:46 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) After having a vicious crash at Talladega, Dale Earnhardt Sr. gave the no. 3 seat over to Mike Skinner several laps into the race. 2. --- posted: 05.03.2005 - 3:22 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Petty crashed HARD coming out of turn 4 with Marlin 3. je24go posted: 05.11.2005 - 6:18 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kyle Petty blew a tire coming out of turn 4 and slammed the wall at a 1 o'clock angle, the car then drove right into the path of the 4 car and was hit at full speed in the driver's side door. Petty then hit the outside wall again and, without brakes, almost nailed the pitwall, finally coming to rest against the inside wall. 4. MASH_guy posted: 08.15.2005 - 3:58 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) This was the 2st Brickyard 400 where the winning team kissed the bricks following the race. It has happened every year since, and this year Dan Wheldon carried the ceremony over to the Indy 500. 5. MASH_guy posted: 08.15.2005 - 3:58 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Edit, I meant to say first. 6. Darrell posted: 12.16.2005 - 3:33 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Here are the drivers that failed to qualify for this race: #02 Robbie Faggart - Jimmy Miles Chevrolet #19 Loy Allen - Health Source Ford - Tri-State Motorsports #27 Jason Keller - David Blair Motorsports Ford #44 Jeff Purvis - MCA Records Chevrolet - Phoenix Racing #46 Stacy Compton - Dean Monroe Motorsports Chevrolet #49 Erik Smith - 49 Express/Kendall Motor Oil Ford - Eileen Campbell #50 A.J. Foyt - Kennametal Ford - A.J. Foyt Enterprises #63 Clorox/Meijer Ford - Brittan Schnell(This team entered, but I don't think they made an attempt with a driver) #65 Steven Seligman - Matco Tools Ford - Georgia Seligman #78 Randy MacDonald - Diamond Rio Ford - Jim Wilson/TRIAD Motorsports #91 Ron Barfield - New Holland Tractor Ford - Bill Elliott Racing 7. Dalejrfan14 posted: 03.14.2006 - 8:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) morgan shephards last top 5 finish 8. D.E.I. JR #1 posted: 03.23.2006 - 11:28 pm Rate this comment: (0) (2) Dale Earnhardt, tough as he was, could not continue beyond the first caution, due to injuries suffered earlier in the season (2 weeks?) at Talladega. Mike Skinner took over and finished 15th. Good job. 9. NascarF1Fan posted: 05.02.2006 - 7:59 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Morgan Shephards last Top-5 was the 1997 PRIMESTAR 500 @ Atlanta, not the 1996 Brickyard 400. 10. Frogger49 posted: 09.16.2006 - 5:00 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Johnny Benson led the most laps in the race, but problems on the last pit stop dropped him back in the field. Kyle Petty was actually running 2nd at the time of his huge crash. 11. JJ Lehto posted: 10.16.2006 - 1:08 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Yea, imagine if Benson would've won the Brickyard, in his first year of racing. 12. James W. McLaughlin posted: 08.26.2007 - 12:22 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) This was the one where Kyle Petty wrecked, but was uninjured. Later, as he was being loaded on the stretcher, he started screaming at the top of his lungs. It turns out that one of the rescue workers was standing on Kyle's ponytail. OUCH! 13. Mark O. posted: 11.13.2007 - 6:34 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) I thought it was Mike Dillon, as opposed to Mike Skinner... 14. Senninha posted: 11.25.2007 - 3:09 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) No... even though Mike Dillon is kin to Richard Childress, RC would never be so stupid to use him as a relief driver when Mike Skinner is available. 15. Steve posted: 12.08.2007 - 5:21 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Dillon did sub for Skinner when he was injured in '98 (at Texas, I believe) for two races. 16. Billy Kingsley posted: 12.08.2007 - 7:51 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Dillon drove the #3 at the 1997 Southern 500 when Dale had that mysterious episode at the start of the race. 17. smiff posted: 12.28.2007 - 8:50 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Who was the guest analyst in the booth that day? 18. Anonymous posted: 01.26.2008 - 4:03 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Danny Sullivan 19. Aaron posted: 12.15.2009 - 7:15 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) If Johnny Benson would not have had problems on the last pit stop, he would have definetely won the race. 20. Aaron M posted: 07.27.2010 - 11:02 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) Yeah...Benson had a great race. Seems like Indy always comes down to that last pit stop... 21. Walleyewacker posted: 05.26.2011 - 3:26 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kyle Petty was never the same after his nasty crash. He never won again. 22. Ryan posted: 08.01.2011 - 12:14 am Rate this comment: (2) (1) As for the finish, Dale Jarrett made a nice move on Ernie with 6 laps to go and win. Dale solidified himself as a "big" race winner in this event. Even though he never did win the Darlington 500. 23. RaceFanX posted: 07.10.2012 - 12:24 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Sponsor: #25 Ken Schrader- Budweiser / US Olympic Team 24. John posted: 04.02.2013 - 7:02 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Noticed when they got Kyle out of the car he was wearing his HANS device. It probably saved his life. 25. Tim posted: 07.13.2013 - 4:19 pm Rate this comment: (1) (2) Big E almost cried when he had to get out of the old No.3. 26. Ryan W posted: 07.25.2013 - 2:03 am Rate this comment: (1) (2) I think everyone cried that liked Earnhardt that day. That was one of the toughest things I've ever had to deal with in sports (also his death and the 1990 Daytona 500). That was so tough to watch. And then we he told Jerry Punch to give him a minute. You know it about had to kill him to get out of that car. Not only that but he was the defending champ of the race. What did he do over those next three hours is a question I always wondered? It was lap 5 or 6 btw when he got out. I think if he would have went to lap 30 there is no way you could have got him out of the car. 27. Ryan W posted: 07.25.2013 - 2:05 am Rate this comment: (4) (2) Ernie blows another one at Indy! 28. 83andJoe posted: 10.02.2013 - 8:38 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) To the rear: Bobby Hillin, Jr. (#77) backup car 29. 83andJoe posted: 10.03.2013 - 4:11 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Per IMS Offical Trackside Reports, the #19, #49 and #63 scratched and should NOT be listed as DNQs. #19 crew chief: Dave Fuge #27 crew chief: Mike Hill #37 crew chief: Tim Brewer #71 crew chief: Terry Shirley #77 crew chief: Paul Wise (same for all races this year) #91 crew chief: Russ Bales 30. 83andJoe posted: 10.03.2013 - 4:11 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) ^ of course ignore the #19 crew chief line, I'd jotted that down from the entry list before seeing where they withdrew. 31. 83andJoe posted: 10.03.2013 - 4:30 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Qualifying Results 1 Jeff Gordon 24 Chevrolet 51.015 176.419 2 Mark Martin 6 Ford 51.159 175.922 3 Lake Speed 9 Ford 51.183 175.840 4 Ken Schrader 25 Chevrolet 51.298 175.445 5 Bobby Hillin 77 Ford 51.328 175.343 6 Joe Nemechek 87 Chevrolet 51.331 175.333 7 Bill Elliott 94 Ford 51.390 175.131 8 Rick Mast 1 Pontiac 51.406 175.077 9 Terry Labonte 5 Chevrolet 51.413 175.053 10 Greg Sacks 29 Chevrolet 51.439 174.965 11 Sterling Marlin 4 Chevrolet 51.443 174.951 12 Dale Earnhardt 3 Chevrolet 51.455 174.910 13 Kyle Petty 42 Pontiac 51.455 174.910 14 Johnny Benson, Jr. 30 Pontiac 51.465 174.876 15 Ernie Irvan 28 Ford 51.502 174.750 16 Hut Stricklin 8 Ford 51.513 174.713 17 Rusty Wallace 2 Ford 51.515 174.706 18 Wally Dallenbach, Jr. 15 Ford 51.589 174.456 19 Jeremy Mayfield 98 Ford 51.592 174.446 20 Jimmy Spencer 23 Ford 51.597 174.429 21 Ted Musgrave 16 Ford 51.600 174.419 22 Brett Bodine 11 Ford 51.607 174.395 23 Bobby Labonte 18 Chevrolet 51.628 174.324 24 Dale Jarrett 88 Ford 51.647 174.260 25 Dick Trickle 90 Ford 51.664 174.203 26 Gary Bradberry 95 Ford 51.551 174.584 27 John Andretti 37 Ford 51.676 174.162 28 Jeff Burton 99 Ford 51.715 174.031 29 Geoff Bodine 7 Ford 51.785 173.796 30 Michael Waltrip 21 Ford 51.873 173.501 31 Kenny Wallace 81 Ford 51.877 173.487 32 Ward Burton 22 Pontiac 51.941 173.274 33 Darrell Waltrip 17 Chevrolet 51.960 173.210 34 Robert Pressley 33 Chevrolet 51.971 173.174 35 Ricky Rudd 10 Ford 51.977 173.154 36 Derrike Cope 12 Ford 51.977 173.154 37 Bobby Hamilton 43 Pontiac 52.037 172.954 38 Morgan Shepherd 75 Ford 52.045 172.927 39 Ricky Carven 41 Chevrolet 52.098 172.751 PR 40 Ron Barfield, Jr 91 Ford 52.101 172.471 41 Jason Keller 27 Ford 52.332 171.979 42 Randy MacDonald 78 Ford 52.532 171.324 43 Jeff Purvis 44 Chevrolet 52.535 171.314 44 Stacy Compton 46 Chevrolet 52.611 171.067 45 Robby Faggart 02 Chevrolet 52.668 170.882 46 Dave Marcis 71 Chevrolet 52.802 170.448 PR 47 A.J. Foyt 50 Ford 52.818 170.396 48 Steve Seligman 57 Ford 53.663 167.713 32. Anonymous posted: 12.12.2013 - 8:25 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Sponsor - 9 - Lake Speed - SPAM/Melling/Delta Faucet 33. Nascar Lead Lap Points posted: 01.31.2014 - 4:43 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Webmaster Erik Smith,Mike Wallace, and Loy Allen Jr did not attempt this race Watching the qualifying tape and seeing the results these 3 cars did not make runs or mention by the ESPN broadcast 34. Josh posted: 07.26.2016 - 5:14 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) Once Gordon fell out I remember pulling hard for Benson. But as per Benson's typical racing luck in the Cup Series, his pit crew screwed him on the last crucial pit stop. 35. HD11 posted: 02.18.2017 - 9:28 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) Kyle Petty found out two weeks later that he'd broken five ribs and split his scapula down the middle. He actually started the Watkins Glen race the next week before ceding to Todd Bodine, but then realized how badly he was hurt and didn't run at Michigan. That was a vile crash and he's lucky it wasn't worse. 36. Josh posted: 05.04.2017 - 12:52 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Why was the field set at only 40 cars for this race? 37. 3Earnhardt3fan posted: 05.04.2017 - 2:27 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Why was the field set at only 40 cars for this race? Not sure but I remember Morgan Shepherd durning 2nd round qualifying being shown on ESPN standing around being a nervous wreck, afraid he might miss the race. Little did he know he'd come away with a Top 5 finish a day later in this race. -This was when NASCAR was worth watching, moments like this you don't get anymore in Brain Frances awful world of NA$CAR 38. Anonymous posted: 05.04.2017 - 3:57 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) So edgy, using a dollar sign instead of an s. Is it the early days of this site again? 39. 23andJoe posted: 05.04.2017 - 7:23 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) >This was when NASCAR was worth watching The 1995 and especially 1996 Brickyard 400s were some of the first races where aero-push appeared as an issue. >Why was the field set at only 40 cars for this race? The field wasn't set at 40 cars; it was set at a maximum of 43. However, before a rules change early in the 1997 season, if not all of the provisional starting positions were taken, the remaining ones were not filled in*, and provisionals were only granted to teams in the top 40 in owners' points. After Craven and Marcis took their provisionals, there were no remaining unqualified teams in the top 40 in points, and no unqualified past champions, so grid positions 41-43 were not filled. (It's intersting to note that there are some drivers in this era who, had the later "start 43 cars, period" rules been in effect, would have Cup Series starts instead of DNQ-only, such as Doug French at Pocono in 1995.) * I want to say it was either at Bristol or Martinsville, probably Bristol, in the spring of '97, where it was noted in either the second-round qualifying or Happy Hour telecast that the Jasper Motorsports team had been loading up Bobby Hillin's car when a NASCAR official asked them why they were doing that because they were in the race - the rules change had been that-recent that they weren't aware they had gotten a provisional. 40. Brett posted: 01.07.2018 - 6:03 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Rather a pity for Sterling Marlin & Morgan-McClure. This marks two consecutive weeks in which they lost possibly the two best cars in their stable from 1996, through no real fault of their own. The week prior to this they lost the restrictor plate monster that had dominated at Daytona & Talladega over the past 2 years in the crash with Earnhardt, and then during this race they lost the car that had dominated at Michigan earlier in the season and was one of the fastest cars on the racetrack at the time of the crash with Kyle Petty. Over a 5 race period from Talladega to Bristol, the 4 car was involved in crashes in 4 out of 5 races. 41. Mile501 posted: 01.07.2018 - 8:07 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) That's an interesting observation about Morgan-McClure, Brett. After those two superspeedway crashes, the team never again won a superspeedway race after claiming 13 wins (most of them at Daytona or Talladega) in the early to mid 1990s. The team only won once more--in 1998 with Bobby Hamilton at Martinsville. And out of their 63 total top-5 finishes, only 7 were earned after those cars were lost. Of course, the rise in multi-car teams at the same time is probably the biggest factor in Morgan-McClure's demise, but it is interesting to ponder that they might have been successful at least a little while longer had they not lost those two very strong race cars. 42. SK posted: 01.07.2018 - 9:14 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) It should be noted that they were still particularly strong on the plates in 1997 (even as their program on every other type of track fell apart). 5th and 3rd place finishes at Daytona, and 10+ laps led in both Talladega 500s before losing a motor in the spring and getting caught in the Big One that fall. But the rise of the superteams really sunk them in a matter of years. 43. Brett posted: 01.11.2018 - 6:22 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I think M-M's downturn may have had more to do with the fact that longtime crew chief Tony Glover departed the team toward the end of the '96 season. Glover had been with the team since it's inception, working with drivers Rick Wilson and Ernie Irvan, in addition to Marlin. When he left for SABCO, M-M just never could seem to recapture the magic that they had prior to his departure. 44. RaceFanX posted: 08.16.2018 - 1:47 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Terry Labonte's third-place run with eight laps led here, during his run to his second championship, was his best run at Indianapolis. This was his only top-5 and the first of just two top-10s for Texas Terry at the Brickyard. 45. Evan posted: 10.29.2018 - 12:11 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Driver Change:3 Mike Skinner GM Goodwrench Mike Skinner relieved Dale Earnhardt during the race. 46. BadBooking posted: 11.02.2019 - 3:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kenny Wallace lost the engine at last 151, he did not crash. 47. Dylan21222Penske posted: 03.27.2020 - 7:11 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) Believe it or not, this would also be the only race in Johnny Benson's Cup Series career in which he led the most laps. 48. SweetRich posted: 07.18.2020 - 11:43 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Jeff Gordon had five DNFs in 1996. His Crash on lap 40 would be his final DNF of the year as he would go on a tear from Watkins Glen to North Wilkesboro with eight consecutive top five finishes, four of which were wins. 49. Rich posted: 12.30.2020 - 7:28 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Bob Jenkins, Benny Parsons and Danny Sullivan were the commentators. Dr. Jerry Punch, Jack Arute and Gary Gerould were the pit road reporters. Paul Page was the studio host. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *Post a comment:* Your comment may not appear immediately - all comments must be approved by the moderator. Name: Comment: