1993 NASCAR Busch Series

The 1993 NASCAR Busch Series began February 13, 1993 and ended November 13, 1993, with Steve Grissom of Grissom Racing Enterprises winning the championship.

List of full-time teams at the start of 1993.

The Goody's 300 was held February 13 at Daytona International Speedway. Ken Schrader won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 3–Dale Earnhardt
2. 52–Ken Schrader
3. 7–Harry Gant
4. 14–Terry Labonte
5. 72–Tracy Leslie
6. 8–Jeff Burton
7. 17–Darrell Waltrip
8. 44–David Green
9. 87–Joe Nemechek
10. 5–Richard Lasater

Failed to qualify: #0 Rick Mast, #09 Scott Herberg, #18 Chad Mader, #29 Phil Parsons, #51 Jeff Purvis, #53 Tony Siscone, #58 Daniel Rogers, #60 Mark Martin, #70 Alan Russell^[1]

• After Mark Martin failed to qualify, his car owner Jack Roush bought out the #32 Chevrolet ride owned and driven by Dale Jarrett. Martin would start 34th. However he would crash out of the race on lap 39 and finish 42nd.

The Goodwrench 200 was held February 27 at North Carolina Speedway. Joe Nemechek won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 60–Mark Martin
2. 59–Robert Pressley
3. 3–Dale Earnhardt
4. 31–Steve Grissom
5. 44–David Green
6. 19–Tom Peck
7. 7–Harry Gant
8. 57–Jason Keller
9. 75–Butch Miller
10. 63–Chuck Bown

The Hardee's 200 was held March 6 at Richmond International Raceway. Rick Mast won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 60–Mark Martin
2. 87–Joe Nemechek
3. 8–Jeff Burton
4. 44–David Green
5. 59–Robert Pressley
6. 99–Ricky Craven
7. 19–Tom Peck
8. 0–Rick Mast
9. 34–Todd Bodine
10. 75–Butch Miller

Failed to qualify: #15 Clay Brown, #48 Tom Hessert Jr., #57 Jason Keller, #61 Chad Chaffin, #66 Nathan Buttke, #70 Alan Russell, #97 Joe Bessey^[2]

The Mark III Vans 200 was held March 27 at Darlington Raceway. David Green won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 59–Robert Pressley
2. 7–Harry Gant
3. 14–Terry Labonte
4. 2–Ward Burton
5. 34–Todd Bodine
6. 44–David Green
7. 72–Tracy Leslie
8. 92–Larry Pearson
9. 32–Dale Jarrett
10. 11–Bill Elliott

The Budweiser 250 was held April 3 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Ward Burton won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 30–Michael Waltrip
2. 34–Todd Bodine
3. 31–Steve Grissom
4. 87–Joe Nemechek
5. 16–Jeff Green
6. 25–Hermie Sadler
7. 8–Jeff Burton
8. 44–David Green
9. 14–Terry Labonte
10. 59–Robert Pressley

The Mountain Dew 400 was held April 10 at Hickory Motor Speedway. Ernie Irvan won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 31–Steve Grissom
2. 99–Ricky Craven
3. 87–Joe Nemechek
4. 6–Tommy Houston
5. 34–Todd Bodine
6. 44–David Green
7. 19–Tom Peck
8. 63–Chuck Bown
9. 25–Hermie Sadler
10. 9–Mike Wallace

Failed to qualify: Charlie Brown, Troy Beebe, Nathan Buttke, Tim Fedewa, Jerry Glanville, Eddie Goodson, Tom Hessert Jr., Robert Huffman, Mike McCurry, Roy Payne, Alan Russell, #23 Kenny Gragg^[3]

• None of the current full time Cup regulars that started (four) finished the race. Bobby Hamilton finished 23rd (crashed out), Mark Martin finished 26th (crashed out), Ernie Irvan finished 27th (crashed out), and Dale Jarrett finished 29th (engine failure).

The Roses Stores 300 was held May 1 at Orange County Speedway. Jeff Green won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 2–Ward Burton
2. 92–Larry Pearson
3. 31–Steve Grissom
4. 97–Joe Bessey
5. 75–Butch Miller
6. 63–Chuck Bown
7. 72–Tracy Leslie
8. 8–Jeff Burton
9. 08–Bobby Dotter
10. 19–Tom Peck

Failed to qualify: #82 Jerry Glanville

The Miller Genuine Draft 500 was held May 8 at Martinsville Speedway. Butch Miller won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 2–Ward Burton
2. 14–Bobby Labonte
3. 99–Ricky Craven
4. 25–Hermie Sadler
5. 63–Chuck Bown
6. 44–David Green
7. 8–Jeff Burton
8. 31–Steve Grissom
9. 74–Jack Sprague
10. 1–Rodney Combs

Failed to qualify: Tom Hessert Jr.^[4]

• Robert Pressley and Ed Berrier were involved in a rough driving incident on the track. They hit each other's cars numerous times. NASCAR officials ruled that both drivers were equally at fault. Therefore, they were both ejected from the race. Pressley finished 22nd and Berrier finished 23rd.
• This was the final Busch Grand National race victory for manufacturer Buick.

The Laneco 200 was held May 23 at Nazareth Speedway. Todd Bodine won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 59–Robert Pressley
2. 31–Steve Grissom
3. 2–Ward Burton
4. 44–David Green
5. 75–Butch Miller
6. 63–Chuck Bown
7. 55–Tim Fedewa
8. 99–Ricky Craven
9. 51–Mike McLaughlin
10. 1–Rodney Combs

• This was Pressley's penultimate Busch Grand National race victory.

The Champion 300 was held May 29 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Tracy Leslie won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 30–Michael Waltrip
2. 4–Ernie Irvan
3. 32–Dale Jarrett
4. 52–Ken Schrader
5. 59–Robert Pressley
6. 29–Phil Parsons
7. 23–Chad Little
8. 63–Chuck Bown
9. 8–Jeff Burton
10. 0–Rick Mast

• Ward Burton looked to have this race won, but his team mistakenly put the tires on the wrong side of the car during the last set of pit stops, which took away his car's handling for the final 16 laps and contributed to his 11th-place finish.^[5]

The Goodwrench/Delco 200 was held June 5 at Dover International Speedway. Ward Burton won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 34–Todd Bodine
2. 23–Chad Little
3. 8–Jeff Burton
4. 32–Dale Jarrett
5. 29–Phil Parsons
6. 92–Larry Pearson
7. 59–Robert Pressley
8. 99–Ricky Craven
9. 64–Jimmy Spencer
10. 14–Terry Labonte

The Carolina Pride/Budweiser 250 was held June 12 at Myrtle Beach Speedway. Ward Burton won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 8–Jeff Burton
2. 2–Ward Burton
3. 87–Joe Nemechek
4. 59–Robert Pressley
5. 31–Steve Grissom
6. 34–Todd Bodine
7. 72–Tracy Leslie
8. 44–David Green
9. 27–Roy Payne
10. 98–Jim Bown

• This was the first time brothers finished 1–2 in a Busch Grand National race.^[6]

The Fay's 150 was held June 26 at Watkins Glen International. Ernie Irvan won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 11–Bill Elliott
2. 14–Terry Labonte
3. 2–Ward Burton
4. 87–Joe Nemechek
5. 34–Todd Bodine
6. 63–Chuck Bown
7. 72–Tracy Leslie
8. 19–Tom Peck
9. 08–Bobby Dotter
10. 9–Mike Wallace

Failed to qualify: #5N Barney McRae, #24 Eddie Sharp, #69 Jeff Spraker, #93 Troy Beebe

• This would be Elliott's only Busch Series victory
• The race started under the Green and Yellow flags to allow the track to finish drying.

The Havoline Formula 3 250 was held July 4 at The Milwaukee Mile, the first Busch Grand National race at the track in 8 years. Bobby Dotter won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 31–Steve Grissom
2. 92–Larry Pearson
3. 25–Hermie Sadler
4. 44–David Green
5. 19–Tom Peck
6. 8–Jeff Burton
7. 55–Tim Fedewa
8. 1–Rodney Combs
9. 87–Joe Nemechek
10. 99–Ricky Craven

• This was Davey Allison's final Busch Grand National race. He would finish 27th after completing 200 of the 250 laps due to engine failure.

The Fram Filter 500K was held July 24 at Talladega Superspeedway. Bill Elliott won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 3–Dale Earnhardt
2. 20–Randy LaJoie
3. 14–Terry Labonte
4. 72–Tracy Leslie
5. 11–Bill Elliott
6. 30–Michael Waltrip
7. 59–Robert Pressley
8. 48–Sterling Marlin
9. 25–Hermie Sadler
10. 99–Ricky Craven

• Richard Lasater flipped in this race.
• This was Dale Earnhardt's penultimate Busch Grand National victory.

The Kroger 200 was held July 31 at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Ernie Irvan won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 72–Tracy Leslie
2. 44–David Green
3. 14–Terry Labonte
4. 2–Ward Burton
5. 55–Tim Fedewa
6. 9–Mike Wallace
7. 99–Ricky Craven
8. 8–Jeff Burton
9. 38–Bobby Hamilton
10. 6–Tommy Houston

• This was Tracy Leslie's only Busch Grand National race victory.

The Detroit Gasket 200 was held August 14 at Michigan International Speedway. Bill Elliott won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 60–Mark Martin
2. 59–Robert Pressley
3. 14–Terry Labonte
4. 31–Steve Grissom
5. 75–Rick Wilson
6. 99–Ricky Craven
7. 34–Todd Bodine
8. 52–Ken Schrader
9. 74–Jack Sprague
10. 63–Chuck Bown

• This was the Busch Grand National Series debut for Bill Elliott's nephew, the late Casey Elliott. He finished 1 lap down in 20th.
• This was also the Busch Grand National Series debut of Johnny Benson. On the backstretch, after he completed the 1st lap he tumbled end over end and finished 40th.
• Dale Earnhardt after finishing 2nd on track had an issue in post-race inspection. He was disqualified for the car having an Illegal carburetor and placed in last (41st).^[7]

The NE Chevy 250 was held August 22 at New Hampshire International Speedway. Joe Nemechek won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 59–Robert Pressley
2. 87–Joe Nemechek
3. 08–Bobby Dotter
4. 31–Steve Grissom
5. 61–Tommy Houston
6. 55–Tim Fedewa
7. 25–Hermie Sadler
8. 99–Ricky Craven
9. 44–David Green
10. 92–Larry Pearson

• This was Pressley's last career NASCAR Busch Series victory.

The Food City 250 was held August 27 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Steve Grissom won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 34–Todd Bodine
2. 87–Joe Nemechek
3. 08–Bobby Dotter
4. 9–Mike Wallace
5. 63–Chuck Bown
6. 99–Ricky Craven
7. 31–Steve Grissom
8. 6–Tommy Houston
9. 79–Dave Rezendes
10. 75–Rick Wilson

The Gatorade 200 was held September 4 at Darlington Raceway. Ricky Craven won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 60–Mark Martin
2. 20–Randy LaJoie
3. 23–Chad Little
4. 87–Joe Nemechek
5. 31–Steve Grissom
6. 72–Tracy Leslie
7. 22–Ed Berrier
8. 9–Mike Wallace
9. 99–Ricky Craven
10. 0–Rick Mast

Failed to qualify: #24 Eddie Sharp^[8]

The Autolite 250 was held September 10 at Richmond International Raceway. Chuck Bown won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 60–Mark Martin
2. 72–Tracy Leslie
3. 25–Hermie Sadler
4. 0–Tommy Houston
5. 11–Bill Elliott
6. 08–Bobby Dotter
7. 44–David Green
8. 97–Joe Bessey
9. 32–Dale Jarrett
10. 31–Steve Grissom

Failed to qualify: #1 Rodney Combs, #5 Richard Lasater, #6 Tommy Houston, #9 Mike Wallace, #12 David Bonnett, #15 Clay Brown, #16 Chad Chaffin, #17 Darrell Waltrip, #35 Shawna Robinson, #39 Mike Hovis, #46 Steve Hoddick, #57 Jason Keller, #73 Brian Ross, #79 Dave Rezendes, #94 Casey Elliott^[9]

Driver changes: #0 Rick Mast (driven by Tommy Houston, was relieved by Mast mid race, finished in 4th place), #64 Jimmy Spencer (driven by Mike Wallace to 33rd place)

The SplitFire 200 was held September 18 at Dover International Speedway. Terry Labonte won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 34–Todd Bodine
2. 99–Ricky Craven
3. 72–Tracy Leslie
4. 74–Jack Sprague
5. 44–David Green
6. 10–Jimmy Spencer
7. 31–Steve Grissom
8. 29–Phil Parsons
9. 9–Mike Wallace
10. 97–Joe Bessey

The Polaroid 300 was held October 2 at Orange County Speedway. Joe Nemechek won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 25–Hermie Sadler
2. 99–Ricky Craven
3. 63–Chuck Bown
4. 74–Randy LaJoie
5. 08–Bobby Dotter
6. 44–David Green
7. 19–Tom Peck
8. 72–Tracy Leslie
9. 4–Jack Sprague
10. 97–Joe Bessey

• This was Hermie Sadler's first Busch Grand National Series race victory.

The All Pro 300 was held October 9 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Bobby Dotter won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 60–Mark Martin
2. 30–Michael Waltrip
3. 3–Dale Earnhardt
4. 11–Bill Elliott
5. 34–Todd Bodine
6. 14–Terry Labonte
7. 2–Ward Burton
8. 63–Chuck Bown
9. 08–Bobby Dotter
10. 9–Mike Wallace

Failed to qualify: Dirk Stephens, #07 George Crenshaw, #10 Jimmy Spencer, #17 Darrell Waltrip, #22 Ed Berrier, #24 Eddie Sharp, #28 Tim Steele, #35 Shawna Robinson, #36 Tim Bender, #56 Brandon Sperling, #66 Nathan Buttke, #84 Robert Powell, #91 Stanton Barrett, #91 Steve Perry, #98 Jim Bown^[10]

• This was Robert Pressley's last race for the #59 Daniel Welch owned team. He fell out of the race after completing 16 laps due to engine failure finishing 43rd.
• This was also the last Busch Grand National start for Casey Elliott, nephew of Bill Elliott. He crashed out of the race on lap 16 finishing last (44th)
• This race featured a halftime break.

The Advance Auto Parts 500 was held October 17 at Martinsville Speedway. Joe Nemechek won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 63–Chuck Bown
2. 31–Steve Grissom
3. 99–Ricky Craven
4. 75–Jimmy Hensley
5. 19–Tom Peck
6. 44–David Green
7. 9–Mike Wallace
8. 72–Tracy Leslie
9. 74–Ernie Irvan
10. 59–Dennis Setzer

Failed to qualify: Steve Darne, Pat Davison, Tommy Ellis, Jamie James, Buckshot Jones, Steve McEachern, #07 George Crenshaw, #12 David Bonnett, #48 Tom Hessert Jr., #93 Troy Beebe

• This was Chuck Bown's final Busch Grand National Series win.
• This was Setzer's first race for the #59 Daniel Welch owned team.
• Robert Pressley made his debut for the #0 Richard Jackson owned team. He had 2 spins in the race and finished 15 laps down in 23rd.

The AC-Delco 200 was held October 23 at North Carolina Speedway. Ward Burton won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 60–Mark Martin
2. 2–Ward Burton
3. 97–Joe Bessey
4. 34–Todd Bodine
5. 14–Terry Labonte
6. 72–Tracy Leslie
7. 31–Steve Grissom
8. 20–Randy LaJoie
9. 0–Robert Pressley
10. 99–Ricky Craven

Failed to qualify: Tommy Ellis, Stevie Reeves, #29 Phil Parsons, #57 Jason Keller, #59 Dennis Setzer, #74 Johnny Benson^[11]

• During the race there was a dust-up between Joe Bessey and Jimmy Spencer. It later became a brawl, and led to Spencer being fined plus suspended for the rest of the year from the series.^[12]

The Pantry 500 was held November 7 at Hickory Motor Speedway. Bobby Labonte won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 00–Johnny Rumley
2. 63–Chuck Bown
3. 6–Tommy Houston
4. 99–Ricky Craven
5. 05–Tommy Ellis
6. 08–Bobby Dotter
7. 32–Dale Jarrett
8. 66–Nathan Buttke
9. 31–Steve Grissom
10. 34–Todd Bodine

Failed to qualify: Steve Darne, Pat Davison, Mike Dillon, Andy Houston, Buckshot Jones, Mike McCurry, Steve McEachern, Ronnie Silver, #5 Richard Lasater, #12 David Bonnett, #16 Chad Chaffin, #21 Tommy Sigmon, #35 Shawna Robinson, #55 Tim Fedewa, #56 Brandon Sperling, #97 Joe Bessey^[13]

• Because David Green finished 17th, with his 9th-place finish Steve Grissom clinched the championship with 1 race remaining.
• This was the final Busch Grand National victory for manufacturer Oldsmobile.
• This was also the final race Neil Bonnett would call on TV (TNN) before his death in February 1994.
• This race was called 500 because there was a 200 lap late model race in addition to the Busch Grand National race.

The Slick 50 300 was held November 13 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Mark Martin won the pole. This race was delayed 8 months due to a blizzard.

Top ten results

1. 2–Ward Burton
2. 92–Larry Pearson
3. 30–Michael Waltrip
4. 7–Harry Gant
5. 70–Sterling Marlin
6. 87–Joe Nemechek
7. 0–Robert Pressley
8. 9–Mike Wallace
9. 31–Steve Grissom
10. 19–Tom Peck

• This was Ward Burton's final Busch Grand National race victory.
• This was Neil Bonnett's last Busch Grand National race before his death in February 1994. He crashed out on lap 84, finishing 35th driving for Dale Earnhardt. He gave a funny TV interview stating "We were supposed to go hunting next week. I don't think I'm gonna go, Dale might shoot me!"

(key) Bold – Pole position awarded by time. Italics – Pole position set by owner's points. * – Most laps led.

Hermie Sadler won his first career race and the Rookie of the Year title in 1993, finishing in the top-ten eight times and ended the season tenth in the final standings. He was followed by Joe Bessey, Tim Fedewa, and Roy Payne. Due to sponsor issues, Nathan Buttke and Jason Keller did not attempt the full schedule.

• 1993 NASCAR Winston Cup Series

• Busch Series standings and statistics for 1993