1996 NASCAR Winston Cup Series

The 1996 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 48th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 25th modern-era NASCAR Cup series. The season had been started on February 18 at Daytona International Speedway, and ended on November 10 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The season would be remembered for Terry Labonte pulling off a massive upset and winning his second Winston Cup Championship over teammate Jeff Gordon.

Pontiac’s struggles in 1995 carried over to 1996, scoring just one win in the Dura Lube 500 with Bobby Hamilton. Hamilton was also the only Pontiac driver to finish in the top ten in points standings, placing ninth.

Manufacturer	Team	No.	Race driver	Crew chief
Chevrolet	Darrell Waltrip Motorsports	17	Darrell Waltrip	Pete Peterson
	Diamond Ridge Motorsports	29	Steve Grissom 14	Bill Ingle
			Greg Sacks 6
			Butch Leitzinger 1
			Chad Little 5
			Jeff Green 2
			Robert Pressley 3
	Hendrick Motorsports	5	Terry Labonte	Gary DeHart
		24	Jeff Gordon	Ray Evernham
		25	Ken Schrader	Phil Hammer
	Joe Gibbs Racing	18	Bobby Labonte	Jimmy Makar
	Larry Hedrick Motorsports	41	Ricky Craven	Charley Pressley
	Leo Jackson Motorsports	33	Robert Pressley 27	Andy Petree
			Greg Sacks 1
			Todd Bodine 3
	Marcis Auto Racing	71	Dave Marcis	Terry Fisher
	Morgan-McClure Motorsports	4	Sterling Marlin	Tony Glover
	NEMCO Motorsports	87	Joe Nemechek	Jeff Buice
	Richard Childress Racing	3	Dale Earnhardt	David Smith
Ford	Elliott-Hardy Racing Bill Elliott Racing	94	Bill Elliott 24	Mike Beam
			Tommy Kendall 1
			Todd Bodine 4
			Dorsey Schroeder 1
			Bobby Hillin Jr. 1
	Bobby Allison Motorsports	12	Derrike Cope	Jimmy Fennig
	Brett Bodine Racing	11	Brett Bodine	Donnie Richeson
	Bud Moore Engineering	15	Wally Dallenbach Jr.	Jimmy Means
	Butch Mock Motorsports	75	Morgan Shepherd	Troy Selberg
	Cale Yarborough Motorsports	98	Jeremy Mayfield 23	Tony Furr
			John Andretti 8
	Donlavey Racing	90	Mike Wallace 12	Bob Johnson
			Dick Trickle 19
	FILMAR Racing	81	Kenny Wallace	Gil Martin
	Geoff Bodine Racing	7	Geoff Bodine	Paul Andrews
			Dave Rezendes 1
	Jasper Motorsports	77	Bobby Hillin Jr.	Michael McSwain
	Kranefuss-Haas Racing	37	John Andretti 23	Tim Brewer
			Jeremy Mayfield 8
	Melling Racing	9	Lake Speed	Jim Long
	Penske Racing South	2	Rusty Wallace	Robin Pemberton
	Robert Yates Racing	28	Ernie Irvan	Larry McReynolds
		88	Dale Jarrett	Todd Parrott
	Roush Racing	6	Mark Martin	Steve Hmiel Jimmy Fennig
		16	Ted Musgrave	Howard Comstock
		99	Jeff Burton	Buddy Parrott
	Rudd Performance Motorsports	10	Ricky Rudd	Richard Broome
	Travis Carter Enterprises	23	Jimmy Spencer	Donnie Wingo
	Stavola Brothers Racing	8	Hut Stricklin	Phillipe Lopez
	Wood Brothers Racing	21	Michael Waltrip	Leonard Wood
Pontiac	Bahari Racing	30	Johnny Benson (R)	Doug Hewitt
	Bill Davis Racing	22	Ward Burton	Chris Hussey
	Petty Enterprises	43	Bobby Hamilton	Robbie Loomis
	Precision Products Racing	1	Rick Mast	Kevin Hamlin
	Team SABCO	42	Kyle Petty 29	William Woodruff
			Jim Sauter 2

Manufacturer	Team	No.	Race driver	Crew chief	Round(s)
Chevrolet	Active Motorsports	32	Jimmy Hensley		1
	Balough Racing	57	Jim Bown		1
	Barkdoll Racing	73	Tracy Leslie		1
			Phil Barkdoll		1
	Bradberry Racing	93	Gary Bradberry		1
	Byers Racing	82	Terry Byers		1
	Cicci-Welliver Racing	34	Mike McLaughlin		1
	Dale Earnhardt, Inc.	14	Jeff Green		2
			Ron Hornaday Jr.		1
			Robby Gordon	Dave Charpentier	1
	JTC Racing	45	Chad Little		1
	Marcis Auto Racing	72	Jim Sauter		1
	Miles Motorsports	02	Robbie Faggart		6
			Randy Baker		1
	Monroe Motorsports	46	Stacy Compton (R)		4
	Phoenix Racing	44	Jeff Purvis	Marc Reno	5
	Richard Childress Racing	31	Mike Skinner		5
	Sadler Racing	26	Hermie Sadler		2
	Team SABCO	40	Greg Sacks	Tony Glover	1
			Robby Gordon		2
Ford	A. J. Foyt Enterprises	50	A. J. Foyt		1
	Berrier Racing	60	Ed Berrier		2
	Bill Elliott Racing	91	Ron Barfield Jr.		1
	Campbell Racing	49	Mark Gibson		1
			Eric Smith		2
	David Blair Motorsports	27	Elton Sawyer	Mike Hill	11
			Jason Keller		1
			Todd Bodine		3
			Ron Barfield Jr.		1
	Geoff Bodine Racing	07	Geoff Bodine		1
	H. L. Waters Racing	0	Delma Cowart		4
	Hover Motorsports	80	Joe Ruttman		1
	O'Neil Racing	65	Steve Seligman		3
	Ranier-Walsh Racing	20	Elton Sawyer		1
	Sadler Brothers Racing	95	Chuck Bown		6
			Gary Bradberry		13
	Schnell Motorsports	63	Dick Trickle		2
			Ed Berrier		1
			Mike Wallace		1
	Seligman Racing	57	Steve Seligman		3
	Triad Motorsports	78	Randy MacDonald (R)		12
			Billy Standridge		4
	TriStar Motorsports	19	Loy Allen Jr.	Peter Sospenzo	11
			Dick Trickle		10
			Mike Wallace		1
Pontiac	Hendrick Motorsports	52	Jack Sprague		2
	Mark Rypien Motorsports	97	Chad Little	Harold Holly	7
	Team SABCO	40	Jay Sauter	Brad Noffsinger	2
			Greg Sacks	Tony Glover	1
	T.R.I.X. Racing	79	Norm Benning		1

No.	Race Title	Track	Date
	Busch Clash	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	February 11
	Gatorade Twin 125s		February 15
1	Daytona 500		February 18
2	Goodwrench Service 400	North Carolina Motor Speedway, Rockingham	February 25
3	Pontiac Excitement 400	Richmond International Raceway, Richmond	March 3
4	Purolator 500	Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton	March 10
5	TranSouth Financial 400	Darlington Raceway, Darlington	March 24
6	Food City 500	Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol	March 31
7	First Union 400	North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro	April 14
8	Goody's Headache Powder 500	Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway	April 21
9	Winston Select 500	Talladega Superspeedway, Talladega	April 28
10	Save Mart Supermarkets 300	Sears Point Raceway, Sonoma	May 5
	Winston Open	Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord	May 20
	The Winston Select
11	Coca-Cola 600		May 26
12	Miller 500	Dover Downs International Speedway, Dover	June 2
13	UAW-GM Teamwork 500	Pocono Raceway, Long Pond	June 16
14	Miller 400	Michigan Speedway, Brooklyn	June 23
15	Pepsi 400	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	July 6
16	Jiffy Lube 300	New Hampshire International Speedway, Loudon	July 14
17	Miller 500	Pocono Raceway, Long Pond	July 21
18	DieHard 500	Talladega Superspeedway, Talladega	July 28
19	Brickyard 400	Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway	August 3
20	The Bud at The Glen	Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen	August 11
21	GM Goodwrench Dealer 400	Michigan Speedway, Brooklyn	August 18
22	Goody's Headache Powder 500	Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol	August 24
23	Mountain Dew Southern 500	Darlington Raceway, Darlington	September 1
24	Miller 400	Richmond International Raceway, Richmond	September 7
25	MBNA 500	Dover Downs International Speedway, Dover	September 15
26	Hanes 500	Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway	September 22
27	Tyson Holly Farms 400	North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro	September 29
28	UAW-GM Quality 500	Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord	October 6
29	AC Delco 400	North Carolina Motor Speedway, Rockingham	October 20
30	Dura Lube 500	Phoenix International Raceway, Phoenix	October 27
31	NAPA 500	Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton	November 10
	NASCAR Suzuka Thunder Special	Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka	November 24

No.	Race	Pole position	Most laps led	Winning driver	Manufacturer
	Busch Clash	Rick Mast	Sterling Marlin	Dale Jarrett	Ford
	Gatorade Twin 125 #1	Dale Earnhardt	Sterling Marlin	Dale Earnhardt	Chevrolet
	Gatorade Twin 125 #2	Ernie Irvan	Ernie Irvan	Ernie Irvan	Ford
1	Daytona 500	Dale Earnhardt	Terry Labonte	Dale Jarrett	Ford
2	Goodwrench Service 400	Terry Labonte	Terry Labonte	Dale Earnhardt	Chevrolet
3	Pontiac Excitement 400	Terry Labonte	Bobby Hamilton	Jeff Gordon	Chevrolet
4	Purolator 500	Johnny Benson Jr.	Dale Earnhardt	Dale Earnhardt	Chevrolet
5	TranSouth Financial 400	Ward Burton	Jeff Gordon	Jeff Gordon	Chevrolet
6	Food City 500	Mark Martin	Jeff Gordon	Jeff Gordon	Chevrolet
7	First Union 400	Terry Labonte	Terry Labonte	Terry Labonte	Chevrolet
8	Goody's Headache Powder 500	Ricky Craven	Jeff Gordon	Rusty Wallace	Ford
9	Winston Select 500	Ernie Irvan	Sterling Marlin	Sterling Marlin	Chevrolet
10	Save Mart Supermarkets 300	Terry Labonte	Rusty Wallace	Rusty Wallace	Ford
	Winston Open	Lake Speed	Lake Speed	Jimmy Spencer	Ford
	The Winston Select	Jeff Gordon	Terry Labonte	Michael Waltrip	Ford
11	Coca-Cola 600	Jeff Gordon	Dale Jarrett	Dale Jarrett	Ford
12	Miller 500	Jeff Gordon	Jeff Gordon	Jeff Gordon	Chevrolet
13	UAW-GM Teamwork 500	Jeff Gordon	Jeff Gordon	Jeff Gordon	Chevrolet
14	Miller 400	Bobby Hamilton	Sterling Marlin	Rusty Wallace	Ford
15	Pepsi 400	Jeff Gordon	Sterling Marlin	Sterling Marlin	Chevrolet
16	Jiffy Lube 300	Ricky Craven	Jeff Gordon	Ernie Irvan	Ford
17	Miller 500	Mark Martin	Mark Martin	Rusty Wallace	Ford
18	DieHard 500	Jeremy Mayfield	Dale Earnhardt	Jeff Gordon	Chevrolet
19	Brickyard 400	Jeff Gordon	Johnny Benson Jr.	Dale Jarrett	Ford
20	The Bud at The Glen	Dale Earnhardt	Dale Earnhardt	Geoff Bodine	Ford
21	GM Goodwrench Dealer 400	Jeff Burton	Mark Martin	Dale Jarrett	Ford
22	Goody's Headache Powder 500	Mark Martin	Rusty Wallace	Rusty Wallace	Ford
23	Mountain Dew Southern 500	Dale Jarrett	Hut Stricklin	Jeff Gordon	Chevrolet
24	Miller 400	Mark Martin	Jeff Gordon	Ernie Irvan	Ford
25	MBNA 500	Bobby Labonte	Jeff Gordon	Jeff Gordon	Chevrolet
26	Hanes 500	Bobby Hamilton	Bobby Hamilton	Jeff Gordon	Chevrolet
27	Tyson Holly Farms 400	Ted Musgrave	Jeff Gordon	Jeff Gordon	Chevrolet
28	UAW-GM Quality 500	Bobby Labonte	Terry Labonte	Terry Labonte	Chevrolet
29	AC Delco 400	Dale Jarrett	Dale Jarrett	Ricky Rudd	Ford
30	Dura Lube 500	Bobby Labonte	Mark Martin	Bobby Hamilton	Pontiac
31	NAPA 500	Bobby Labonte	Bobby Labonte	Bobby Labonte	Chevrolet

The Busch Clash is the exhibition race that honors the drivers who won a pole in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series the previous year. Dale Jarrett won his first Busch Clash. Rick Mast won the random draw for the pole.

Top ten results

1. 88-Dale Jarrett
2. 4-Sterling Marlin
3. 3-Dale Earnhardt
4. 5-Terry Labonte
5. 25-Ken Schrader
6. 10-Ricky Rudd
7. 6-Mark Martin
8. 94-Bill Elliott
9. 24-Jeff Gordon
10. 16-Ted Musgrave

The Gatorade Twin 125s, qualifying races for the Daytona 500, were held on February 15.

Race one top ten results

1. 3-Dale Earnhardt
2. 4-Sterling Marlin
3. 5-Terry Labonte
4. 88-Dale Jarrett
5. 15-Wally Dallenbach Jr.
6. 21-Michael Waltrip
7. 22-Ward Burton
8. 6-Mark Martin
9. 90-Mike Wallace
10. 23-Jimmy Spencer

• Marlin passed Earnhardt on the opening lap but Earnhardt repassed and led the last 22 laps.
• Bobby Labonte flipped over on the backstretch after being tagged by Brett Bodine.

Race two top ten results

1. 28-Ernie Irvan
2. 25-Ken Schrader
3. 37-John Andretti
4. 24-Jeff Gordon
5. 10-Ricky Rudd
6. 75-Morgan Shepherd
7. 98-Jeremy Mayfield
8. 99-Jeff Burton
9. 27-Elton Sawyer
10. 16-Ted Musgrave

• Irvan led wire-to-wire with Schrader alongside in the final lap.

Top ten results:

1. 88-Dale Jarrett
2. 3-Dale Earnhardt
3. 25-Ken Schrader
4. 6-Mark Martin
5. 99-Jeff Burton
6. 15-Wally Dallenbach Jr.
7. 16-Ted Musgrave
8. 94-Bill Elliott
9. 10-Ricky Rudd
10. 21-Michael Waltrip

• This was Dale Jarrett's second career Daytona 500 victory. He also won the 1996 Busch Clash. Both of those victories saw Dale Earnhardt finish second to Jarrett.
• When the white flag was displayed, play-by-play analyst Ken Squier gave the privileges to color analyst Ned Jarrett so he can call the final lap solo and lead his son on to the victory, as he did in 1993.

The Goodwrench Service 400 was held on February 25 at North Carolina Speedway. The #5 of Terry Labonte won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 3-Dale Earnhardt
2. 88-Dale Jarrett
3. 41-Ricky Craven
4. 10-Ricky Rudd
5. 29-Steve Grissom
6. 4-Sterling Marlin
7. 81-Kenny Wallace
8. 12-Derrike Cope, 1 lap down
9. 87-Joe Nemechek, 1 lap down
10. 1-Rick Mast, 2 laps down

• On lap 343 Earnhardt and Bobby Hamilton had traded the lead three times in the previous three laps when Earnhardt punted Hamilton in Turn Four; Hamilton scraped the wall and later crashed because of damage from the earlier scrape.
• Failed to qualify: 27-Elton Sawyer, 78-Randy MacDonald, 93-Gary Bradberry, 63-Dick Trickle

The Pontiac Excitement 400 was run on March 3 at Richmond International Raceway. Terry Labonte won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 24-Jeff Gordon
2. 88-Dale Jarrett
3. 16-Ted Musgrave
4. 99-Jeff Burton
5. 6-Mark Martin
6. 43-Bobby Hamilton
7. 2-Rusty Wallace
8. 5-Terry Labonte
9. 10-Ricky Rudd
10. 94-Bill Elliott

• Failed to qualify: 78-Randy MacDonald, 02-Robbie Faggart, 19-Dick Trickle
• Coming into this race, Terry Labonte had led the most laps at Daytona and Rockingham but was 30th in the points standings, while Jeff Gordon was 43rd. After this race they were 17th and 27th, respectively.

The Purolator 500 was run on March 10 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The No. 30 of Johnny Benson won the pole, but crashed in Happy Hour, forcing him to a backup car (and to the back of the field for the start).

Top ten results

1. 3-Dale Earnhardt
2. 5-Terry Labonte
3. 24-Jeff Gordon
4. 28-Ernie Irvan
5. 98-Jeremy Mayfield
6. 25-Ken Schrader
7. 23-Jimmy Spencer, 1 lap down
8. 10-Ricky Rudd, 1 lap down
9. 21-Michael Waltrip, 1 lap down
10. 94-Bill Elliott, 1 lap down

• Failed to qualify: 65-Steve Seligman, 78-Randy MacDonald, 99-Jeff Burton
• Jeff Burton failing to qualify sparked a lot of controversy, as he was 2nd in the points standings going into this race. Provisionals for the first 4 races defaulted from 1995 driver and owner points, and he missed the field due to the 99 car being a new team. As a result, he fell from 2nd to 14th in the standings and never found his way back into the top 10 in points the rest of the season.
• This race would be the last victory for Dale Earnhardt until the 1998 Daytona 500.

The TranSouth Financial 400 was run on March 24 at Darlington Raceway. Ward Burton won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 24-Jeff Gordon
2. 18-Bobby Labonte
3. 41-Ricky Craven
4. 2-Rusty Wallace
5. 5-Terry Labonte
6. 6-Mark Martin
7. 16-Ted Musgrave
8. 75-Morgan Shepherd, 1 lap down
9. 10-Ricky Rudd, 1 lap down
10. 99-Jeff Burton, 1 lap down

• Failed to qualify: 95-Chuck Bown, 78-Randy MacDonald, 02-Robbie Faggart, 32-Jimmy Hensley

The Food City 500 was run on March 31 at Bristol International Raceway. Mark Martin won the pole. The race was shortened to 342 laps due to rain.

Top ten results

1. 24-Jeff Gordon
2. 5-Terry Labonte
3. 6-Mark Martin
4. 3-Dale Earnhardt
5. 2-Rusty Wallace
6. 88-Dale Jarrett
7. 18-Bobby Labonte, 1 lap down
8. 19-Dick Trickle, 1 lap down
9. 41-Ricky Craven, 1 lap down
10. 21-Michael Waltrip, 2 laps down

• Failed to qualify: 90-Mike Wallace, 37-John Andretti, 30-Johnny Benson, 71-Dave Marcis, 77-Bobby Hillin Jr., 95-Chuck Bown
• There were 3 red flags during the race. Prior to the first red flag, Bill Elliott crashed on lap 321 prior to the caution for rain. After the race resumed following a 1-hour rain delay, Darrell Waltrip crashed and spilled fuel, which caused another stoppage on lap 335. Moments after the race resumed, more rain came down. With dusk settling in, the rain continued and the race was stopped.
• Final race at this track under the name Bristol International Raceway.

The First Union 400 was run on April 14 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Terry Labonte won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 5-Terry Labonte
2. 24-Jeff Gordon
3. 3-Dale Earnhardt
4. 33-Robert Pressley
5. 4-Sterling Marlin
6. 28-Ernie Irvan, 1 lap down
7. 41-Ricky Craven, 1 lap down
8. 43-Bobby Hamilton, 2 laps down
9. 25-Ken Schrader, 2 laps down
10. 18-Bobby Labonte, 2 laps down

• Failed to qualify: 71-Dave Marcis, 78-Randy MacDonald, 90-Mike Wallace, 22-Ward Burton, 77-Bobby Hillin Jr.
• This was the first race run at North Wilkesboro following the passing of track president Enoch Staley, which threw the track's NASCAR future into doubt.
• Terry Labonte tied Richard Petty's record streak of 513 consecutive Winston Cup Series starts. Labonte's car carried a special silver "Ironman" paint scheme for this race and the following weekend at Martinsville.

The Goody's Headache Powder 500 was run on April 21 at Martinsville Speedway. The #41 of Ricky Craven won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 2-Rusty Wallace
2. 28-Ernie Irvan
3. 24-Jeff Gordon
4. 98-Jeremy Mayfield
5. 3-Dale Earnhardt
6. 43-Bobby Hamilton, 1 lap down
7. 25-Ken Schrader, 2 laps down
8. 18-Bobby Labonte, 2 laps down
9. 16-Ted Musgrave, 2 laps down
10. 4-Sterling Marlin, 2 laps down

• Failed to qualify: 78-Randy MacDonald, 27-Elton Sawyer, 29-Steve Grissom, 19-Dick Trickle, 77-Bobby Hillin Jr., 15-Wally Dallenbach Jr., 22-Ward Burton
• Terry Labonte, by starting this race, broke the record for most consecutive starts with his 514th consecutive start. The previous record, 513, was held by Richard Petty. A special "Iron Man" paint scheme was used to commemorate this feat.

The Winston Select 500 was run on April 28 at Talladega Superspeedway. Ernie Irvan won the pole.

Top 10 results

1. 4-Sterling Marlin
2. 88-Dale Jarrett
3. 3-Dale Earnhardt
4. 5-Terry Labonte
5. 21-Michael Waltrip
6. 29-Steve Grissom
7. 33-Robert Pressley
8. 16-Ted Musgrave
9. 37-John Andretti
10. 30-Johnny Benson

• Failed to qualify: 73-Phil Barkdoll, 65-Steve Seligman, 77-Bobby Hillin Jr., 0-Delma Cowart, 97-Chad Little
• Controversy developed before the race; after winning the pole, Ernie Irvan's Ford was taken to a flatbed-mounted chassis dynamometer and "driven" by Gary Nelson to check horsepower; the engine was over-revved and subsequently damaged beyond repair. Sterling Marlin's Chevrolet was supposed to be tested as well but the chassis dyno failed to produce a horsepower figure and the test was scrapped. Several reporters in the garage area questioned Nelson on the test and crew chief Larry McReynolds got into a heated dispute with Nelson over the test. Irvan struggled in the race and reacted after the Ricky Craven crash where he was buried in midpack, "It's all a result of what happened on Friday when (NASCAR) blew our motor up."
• Two major accidents marred the race: Bill Elliott suffered a broken femur after going airborne and landing driver side-first in a single-car crash on lap 77. Then, "The Big One" hit on lap 130, collecting 14 cars and sending the #41 of Ricky Craven flying into the catch fence and nearly over it. The race was red-flagged for clean-up on lap 131 because Craven's car had completely destroyed the catch fence in turn two. Bob Jenkins, ESPN's lap-by-lap announcer, was so shocked by the crash that he said "Oh shit!" over the raw satellite feed when Craven's car was flipping. Craven sustained compression fractures in his back and a concussion, injuries that derailed what had been a successful 1996 campaign. Fourth in points going into the race, Craven fell to twentieth by season’s end.

• Sterling Marlin won by passing the entire field on three separate occasions after pit stops.

The Save Mart Supermarkets 300 was run on May 5 at Sears Point Raceway. Terry Labonte won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 2-Rusty Wallace
2. 6-Mark Martin
3. 15-Wally Dallenbach Jr.
4. 3-Dale Earnhardt
5. 5-Terry Labonte
6. 24-Jeff Gordon
7. 10-Ricky Rudd
8. 25-Ken Schrader
9. 18-Bobby Labonte
10. 22-Ward Burton

• Failed to qualify: 07-Geoff Bodine, 45-Chad Little, 20-Mark Krogh, 03-Joe Bean, 58-Wayne Jacks, 02-Bill McAnally, 07W-Lance Hooper (Note: Bodine replaced Dave Rezendes in the No. 7 in the race)

• Tommy Kendall and Ron Hornaday Jr. served as relief drivers for Bill Elliott and Ricky Craven respectively for this race.

The Winston is the 2nd exhibition race run each year at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Jimmy Spencer won the Winston Select Open, while Lake Speed, Hut Stricklin, Jeff Burton and Michael Waltrip transferred into the race by finishing in the top 5. Jeff Gordon won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 21-Michael Waltrip
2. 2-Rusty Wallace
3. 3-Dale Earnhardt
4. 6-Mark Martin
5. 5-Terry Labonte
6. 10-Ricky Rudd
7. 28-Ernie Irvan
8. 24-Jeff Gordon
9. 88-Dale Jarrett
10. 4-Sterling Marlin

• Harry Gant came out of retirement for this race to sub for Bill Elliott who was recovering from the injuries he suffered at Talladega in April.

The Coca-Cola 600 was run on May 26 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Jeff Gordon won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 88-Dale Jarrett
2. 3-Dale Earnhardt
3. 5-Terry Labonte
4. 24-Jeff Gordon
5. 25-Ken Schrader, 1 lap down
6. 4-Sterling Marlin, 1 lap down
7. 6-Mark Martin, 1 lap down
8. 21-Michael Waltrip, 1 lap down
9. 28-Ernie Irvan, 2 laps down
10. 7-Geoff Bodine, 2 laps down

Failed to qualify: 78-Randy MacDonald, 63-Ed Berrier, 26-Hermie Sadler, 49-Mark Gibson, 02-Robbie Faggart, 0-Delma Cowart, 57-Steve Seligman

• Johnny Benson was knocked unconscious briefly when his Pontiac hit the turn two wall then slid into the path of Ricky Craven, who blasted through the rear deck of his car at full speed.

The Miller 500 was run on June 2 at Dover Downs International Speedway. Jeff Gordon won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 24-Jeff Gordon
2. 5-Terry Labonte
3. 3-Dale Earnhardt
4. 28-Ernie Irvan
5. 18-Bobby Labonte, 1 lap down
6. 23-Jimmy Spencer, 1 lap down
7. 2-Rusty Wallace, 1 lap down
8. 10-Ricky Rudd, 1 lap down
9. 99-Jeff Burton, 1 lap down
10. 25-Ken Schrader, 1 lap down

• No DNQ

The UAW-GM Teamwork 500 was run on June 16 at Pocono Raceway. Jeff Gordon won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 24-Jeff Gordon
2. 10-Ricky Rudd
3. 7-Geoff Bodine
4. 6-Mark Martin
5. 43-Bobby Hamilton
6. 75-Morgan Shepherd
7. 5-Terry Labonte
8. 23-Jimmy Spencer
9. 99-Jeff Burton
10. 94-Todd Bodine*

Failed to qualify: 71-Dave Marcis

• Todd Bodine was subbing for Bill Elliott, who was still recovering from his broken femur at Talladega.
• It was the first race at Pocono since the track was repaved; the lead changed two to three times a lap on some ten separate laps during the race's first half, primarily between Gordon, Hut Stricklin, and Derrike Cope.

The Miller 400 was run on June 23 at Michigan Speedway. The #43 of Bobby Hamilton won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 2-Rusty Wallace
2. 5-Terry Labonte
3. 4-Sterling Marlin
4. 23-Jimmy Spencer
5. 28-Ernie Irvan
6. 24-Jeff Gordon
7. 6-Mark Martin
8. 16-Ted Musgrave
9. 3-Dale Earnhardt
10. 88-Dale Jarrett

• No DNQ

The Pepsi 400 was run on July 6 at Daytona International Speedway. Jeff Gordon started on the pole. The race was shortened to 117 laps due to rain.

Top ten results

1. 4-Sterling Marlin
2. 5-Terry Labonte
3. 24-Jeff Gordon
4. 3-Dale Earnhardt
5. 28-Ernie Irvan
6. 88-Dale Jarrett
7. 21-Michael Waltrip
8. 25-Ken Schrader
9. 11-Brett Bodine
10. 23-Jimmy Spencer

Failed to qualify: 57-Steve Seligman

• Bill Elliott returned in this race from his broken femur suffered back at Talladega.
• Morning rain delayed the start for 3 hours. After only 117 of 160 laps, the race was red-flagged and ended for rain once again.

The Jiffy Lube 300 was run on July 14 at New Hampshire International Speedway. The #41 of Ricky Craven won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 28-Ernie Irvan
2. 88-Dale Jarrett
3. 10-Ricky Rudd
4. 99-Jeff Burton
5. 33-Robert Pressley
6. 5-Terry Labonte
7. 2-Rusty Wallace
8. 25-Ken Schrader
9. 30-Johnny Benson
10. 21-Michael Waltrip

• Failed to qualify: 19-Loy Allen Jr.
• This was Ernie Irvan's 1st victory since his comeback from his near-fatal injuries at Michigan in 1994.

The Miller 500 was run on July 21 at Pocono Raceway. Mark Martin won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 2-Rusty Wallace
2. 10-Ricky Rudd
3. 88-Dale Jarrett
4. 28-Ernie Irvan
5. 30-Johnny Benson
6. 4-Sterling Marlin
7. 24-Jeff Gordon
8. 9-Lake Speed
9. 6-Mark Martin
10. 12-Derrike Cope

• No DNQ

The DieHard 500 was run on July 28 at Talladega Superspeedway. The #98 of Jeremy Mayfield won the pole. The race was shortened to 129 laps due to darkness.

Top ten results

1. 24-Jeff Gordon
2. 88-Dale Jarrett
3. 6-Mark Martin
4. 28-Ernie Irvan
5. 23-Jimmy Spencer
6. 7-Geoff Bodine
7. 99-Jeff Burton
8. 18-Bobby Labonte
9. 17-Darrell Waltrip
10. 2-Rusty Wallace

Failed to qualify: 97-Chad Little

• The race started late due to rain delays, and was marred by "The Big One" on lap 117 that injured Dale Earnhardt after he, Ernie Irvan and Sterling Marlin got together, sending Earnhardt and Marlin head-on into the tri-oval wall at approximately 200 miles per hour. Earnhardt flipped onto his roof and collected 11 other cars. Earnhardt took a hit to the roof from Robert Pressley's #33 and another big hit from Derrike Cope's #12. Earnhardt suffered a broken collarbone and sternum in the crash. Marlin suffered several contusions from the hard impact. Due to darkness caused by the rain delay and red flag, the race was shortened to 129 laps.
• CBS moved away from its live coverage of the race during the rain delay in order to show the final round of the Senior PGA Tour Ameritech Senior Open. The race aired flag to flag on tape delay the following week (August 4). This is the most recent time a NASCAR points race was televised on tape delay.
• The final time that Talladega's second race was run in July, which was run since the inaugural running. For the 1997 schedule, the race was moved to October where temperatures would be cooler and the weather more suitable. Today, the race remains in the October slot on the schedule.

The Brickyard 400 was run on August 3 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The #24 of Jeff Gordon won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 88-Dale Jarrett
2. 28-Ernie Irvan
3. 5-Terry Labonte
4. 6-Mark Martin
5. 75-Morgan Shepherd
6. 10-Ricky Rudd
7. 2-Rusty Wallace
8. 30-Johnny Benson
9. 1-Rick Mast
10. 94-Bill Elliott

Failed to qualify: 91-Ron Barfield Jr., 27-Jason Keller, 78-Randy MacDonald, 46-Stacy Compton, 02-Robbie Faggart, 50-A. J. Foyt, 57-Steve Seligman, 44-Jeff Purvis, 19-Loy Allen Jr., 49-Erik Smith, 63-Mike Wallace

• Jarrett took the lead for good when he passed his teammate Irvan in the south chute with 7 laps to go. The race ended under caution when Robert Pressley crashed in turn 4 with 2 laps left.
• Dale Earnhardt had to be relieved by Mike Skinner as a result of the injuries Earnhardt suffered the previous week at Talladega. Skinner took over the car during the first caution and drove the car to a 15th place finish.
• A violent crash occurred on lap 38 when Kyle Petty blew his right front tire and hit the turn 4 wall. Petty drifted into the path of Sterling Marlin, who hit Petty on the driver's side. Petty's car bounced into the wall again, just in front of Mark Martin who barely managed to get by, then sped across the track and hard into the inside barrier. Petty escaped with minor injuries.
• During the weekend, a fight erupted in the garage area between Ernie Irvan and Sterling Marlin and some crewmen from Morgan-McClure Motorsports over the crash at Talladega the previous weekend. Some of Marlin's crew had posted signs in the garage area deriding Irvan and mocking his eyesight.

The Bud at The Glen was run on August 11 at Watkins Glen International. Dale Earnhardt won the pole with a new track record of 120.733 mph while driving with the injuries suffered 2 weeks earlier. When asked what he thought of the lap, he was quoted as saying "It hurt so good." 1994 NASCAR Busch Series Champion David Green was standing by to relieve Earnhardt during the race, but Earnhardt decided to drive the full race eventually finishing 6th.

Top ten results

1. 7-Geoff Bodine
2. 5-Terry Labonte
3. 6-Mark Martin
4. 24-Jeff Gordon
5. 18-Bobby Labonte
6. 3-Dale Earnhardt
7. 21-Michael Waltrip
8. 87-Joe Nemechek
9. 75-Morgan Shepherd
10. 15-Wally Dallenbach Jr.

Failed to qualify: 34-Mike McLaughlin

• Geoff Bodine from nearby Chemung broke a 55-race winless streak, dating back to October 2 in the 1994 Tyson Holly Farms 400. It was an emotional and very popular victory for Bodine, following a 2-year struggle with his competitiveness and his personal life.
• This was the last win for Geoff Bodine.
• This was the last pole position for Dale Earnhardt.
• Geoff Bodine had won by short pitting - stopping before he needed fuel and tires so that he could stay out and improve track position when everyone else went to the pits.
• As of 2022, this is the last time that car number 7 went to victory lane.
• In addition to David Green; Dorsey Schroeder replaced an injured Bill Elliott in Elliott's #94 car (Elliott would serve as a guest commentator on ESPN's coverage until lap 54) and Todd Bodine, the youngest brother of eventual race winner Geoff, ended up relieving Kyle Petty after Petty was unable to continue due to the effects of his own injuries from the Brickyard 400 a week prior.

The GM Goodwrench Dealer 400 was run on August 18 at Michigan Speedway. Jeff Burton won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 88-Dale Jarrett
2. 6-Mark Martin
3. 5-Terry Labonte
4. 28-Ernie Irvan
5. 24-Jeff Gordon
6. 18-Bobby Labonte
7. 30-Johnny Benson
8. 10-Ricky Rudd
9. 99-Jeff Burton
10. 23-Jimmy Spencer

Failed to qualify: 14-Ron Hornaday Jr., 27-Elton Sawyer

The Goody's Headache Powder 500 was run on August 24 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Mark Martin won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 2-Rusty Wallace
2. 24-Jeff Gordon
3. 6-Mark Martin
4. 88-Dale Jarrett
5. 5-Terry Labonte
6. 21-Michael Waltrip
7. 23-Jimmy Spencer
8. 22-Ward Burton
9. 10-Ricky Rudd
10. 43-Bobby Hamilton

Failed to qualify: 77-Bobby Hillin Jr.

The Mountain Dew Southern 500 was run on September 1 at Darlington Raceway. Dale Jarrett won the pole and had the chance to win the Winston Million if he won the race. Jarrett lost his chance at the bonus after hitting oil early in the race.

Top ten results

1. 24-Jeff Gordon
2. 8-Hut Stricklin
3. 6-Mark Martin
4. 25-Ken Schrader, 1 lap down
5. 37-John Andretti, 1 lap down
6. 18-Bobby Labonte, 1 lap down
7. 28-Ernie Irvan, 1 lap down
8. 4-Sterling Marlin, 1 lap down
9. 94-Bill Elliott, 1 lap down
10. 9-Lake Speed, 1 lap down

Failed to qualify: 78-Randy MacDonald, 87-Joe Nemechek, 40-Jay Sauter, 02-Robbie Faggart

• Hut Stricklin led the most laps in the race and was in position for his first career Winston Cup victory in his 217th start, but Jeff Gordon started to reel him in. After a long battle, Gordon passed Stricklin for the lead on the backstretch on lap 353 and proceeded to win by over 5 seconds.

The Miller 400 was run on September 7 at Richmond International Raceway. Mark Martin won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 28-Ernie Irvan
2. 24-Jeff Gordon
3. 99-Jeff Burton
4. 88-Dale Jarrett
5. 5-Terry Labonte
6. 2-Rusty Wallace
7. 43-Bobby Hamilton
8. 12-Derrike Cope
9. 6-Mark Martin
10. 30-Johnny Benson

Failed to qualify: 46-Stacy Compton, 40-Jay Sauter, 95-Gary Bradberry

• A driver change happened during the week after Darlington. Kranefuss-Haas Racing's No. 37 and Cale Yarborough Motorsports' No. 98 switched drivers. So John Andretti moved to the No. 98 and Jeremy Mayfield moved to the No. 37.

The MBNA 500 was run on September 15 at Dover Downs International Speedway. Bobby Labonte won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 24-Jeff Gordon
2. 2-Rusty Wallace
3. 88-Dale Jarrett
4. 18-Bobby Labonte
5. 6-Mark Martin
6. 1-Rick Mast
7. 22-Ward Burton
8. 42-Kyle Petty
9. 21-Michael Waltrip
10. 43-Bobby Hamilton

Failed to qualify: 49-Eric Smith

• On lap 456, a wreck involving the #23 of Jimmy Spencer, the #16 of Ted Musgrave, the #11 of Brett Bodine and the #15 of Wally Dallenbach Jr. occurred on the front straight. Spencer blamed Dallenbach for the wreck, and after the cars rolled to a stop, Spencer got out of his car, ran over to Dallenbach's, and tried to punch Wally through the window net. Spencer had to be restrained by a Winston Cup official.

• Another fight occurred in the garage area when Derrike Cope crashed and was assaulted by crew chief Larry McReynolds over an earlier wreck that eliminated Ernie Irvan.

• As the cars stopped on pit road after the race a third fight occurred as Kyle Petty and Michael Waltrip got into an argument.

The Hanes 500 was run on September 22 at Martinsville Speedway. Bobby Hamilton won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 24-Jeff Gordon
2. 5-Terry Labonte
3. 43-Bobby Hamilton
4. 1-Rick Mast
5. 98-John Andretti
6. 75-Morgan Shepherd
7. 7-Geoff Bodine
8. 42-Kyle Petty
9. 6-Mark Martin, 1 lap down
10. 81-Kenny Wallace, 1 lap down

Failed to qualify: 12-Derrike Cope, 11-Brett Bodine, 29-Chad Little, 22-Ward Burton, 78-Billy Standridge, 95-Gary Bradberry

• This is the fastest Martinsville race in NASCAR history, with an average speed of 82.223 mph.

The Tyson Holly Farms 400 was run on September 29 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Ted Musgrave won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 24-Jeff Gordon
2. 3-Dale Earnhardt
3. 88-Dale Jarrett
4. 99-Jeff Burton
5. 5-Terry Labonte
6. 1-Rick Mast
7. 10-Ricky Rudd
8. 43-Bobby Hamilton
9. 6-Mark Martin
10. 2-Rusty Wallace

Failed to qualify: 22-Ward Burton, 90-Dick Trickle, 95-Gary Bradberry

• This was the final NASCAR race at North Wilkesboro Speedway until 2023, which closed down after the race. It was the only track other than Martinsville that NASCAR had been running at since NASCAR's first full season in 1949.
• 10th and final win of 1996 for Jeff Gordon.
• Jeff Gordon became the 1st driver since Rusty Wallace in 1993 to score 10 victories in a single season.
• This was the final race until New Hampshire in September 2007 that had every car running at the finish.
• Only 37 cars started this race. It was the last Cup Series race in which fewer than 40 cars started until the 2016 Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500, the second race after NASCAR reduced field sizes in the Cup Series from 43 to 40. A total of 39 cars entered that race.^[1]

The UAW-GM Quality 500 was run on October 6 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The #18 of Bobby Labonte won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 5-Terry Labonte
2. 6-Mark Martin
3. 88-Dale Jarrett
4. 4-Sterling Marlin
5. 41-Ricky Craven
6. 3-Dale Earnhardt
7. 22-Ward Burton
8. 2-Rusty Wallace
9. 21-Michael Waltrip
10. 94-Bill Elliott

• Ernie Irvan escaped serious injury in a savage melee when he spun in turn two, clipped Robby Gordon, then slid into the path of John Andretti, who annihilated the nose of Irvan's Ford while Gordon hit the inside concrete wall and dislodged it.
• With Terry Labonte winning the race, and Jeff Gordon finishing 31st, Gordon went from a 111 point lead to a 1 point lead over Labonte.
• Final time in his career that Terry Labonte won multiple races in a season.

Failed to qualify: 87-Joe Nemechek, 95-Gary Bradberry, 71-Dave Marcis, 02-Robbie Faggart, 0-Delma Cowart

The AC Delco 400 was run on October 20 at North Carolina Motor Speedway. Dale Jarrett won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 10-Ricky Rudd
2. 88-Dale Jarrett
3. 5-Terry Labonte
4. 28-Ernie Irvan
5. 99-Jeff Burton
6. 18-Bobby Labonte
7. 6-Mark Martin
8. 2-Rusty Wallace
9. 3-Dale Earnhardt
10. 23-Jimmy Spencer

Failed to qualify: 60-Ed Berrier, 79-Norm Benning, 82-Terry Byers

• Terry Labonte finished 3rd, and Jeff Gordon would finish 12th. Labonte gained 33 points on Gordon in this race. With that points gain, Labonte would become the new point leader by 32 points over Gordon, and he would hold on to the point lead for the rest of the season.

The Dura Lube 500 was run on October 27 at Phoenix International Raceway. Bobby Labonte won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 43-Bobby Hamilton
2. 6-Mark Martin
3. 5-Terry Labonte
4. 16-Ted Musgrave
5. 24-Jeff Gordon
6. 7-Geoff Bodine
7. 28-Ernie Irvan
8. 88-Dale Jarrett
9. 18-Bobby Labonte
10. 17-Darrell Waltrip

Failed to qualify: 20-Mark Krogh, 00-Scott Gaylord, 35-Larry Gunselman, 38-Rich Woodland, 03-Joe Bean, 02-Bill McAnally

• This was Bobby Hamilton's first career Winston Cup Series win, and the first for the Petty Enterprises team since 1983 (it was the first for the No. 43 car since 1984 when Richard Petty won driving for Mike Curb).
• 44 cars started the race, the last Cup race to date to have more than 43 starters.

The NAPA 500 was run on November 10 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Bobby Labonte won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 18-Bobby Labonte
2. 88-Dale Jarrett
3. 24-Jeff Gordon
4. 3-Dale Earnhardt
5. 5-Terry Labonte
6. 43-Bobby Hamilton
7. 6-Mark Martin
8. 10-Ricky Rudd
9. 99-Jeff Burton
10. 2-Rusty Wallace

Failed to qualify: 12-Derrike Cope, 37-Jeremy Mayfield, 90-Dick Trickle, 81-Kenny Wallace, 27-Ron Barfield Jr., 42-Kyle Petty

• This race was most remembered by both of the Labonte brothers having reasons to celebrate. Bobby would win the race, and Terry would win the series championship, and together, both brothers would take a victory lap around the race track. As of 2022, this would be the only time in NASCAR history that in the season finale, one brother would win the race, and the other brother would win the championship.
• This was Terry Labonte's second championship. His first one came 12 years earlier in 1984, making this the longest time span between 1st and 2nd championships for any driver in NASCAR history.
• All 3 championship contenders (Terry Labonte, Jeff Gordon, and Dale Jarrett) started the race in the top 5 (Gordon 2nd, Labonte 3rd, and Jarrett 5th), and they all finished in the top 5 (Jarrett 2nd, Gordon 3rd, and Labonte 5th). Labonte won the title by 37 points over Gordon, and 89 points over Jarrett.
• Terry Labonte's 2 wins gave him the championship over Jeff Gordon's 10 wins. Even though Gordon scored the most wins of 1996, he lacked consistency in the final stretch of the season. Labonte's consistency in the last 4 races of the season was better than Gordon's. Labonte won the title by 37 points. This would be the 3rd and final time in Bob Latford's Winston Cup points system that a driver winning 10 or more races in a season failed to win the championship due to lack of consistency. The 1st time was in 1985 when Bill Elliott won 11 races but lost the title to Darrell Waltrip, who had 3 wins, due to lack of consistency in the final stretch of the season. Waltrip won the title by 101 points. The 2nd time was in 1993 when Rusty Wallace won 10 races, but lost the title to Dale Earnhardt, who had 6 wins, also due to lack of consistency in the final stretch of the season. Earnhardt won the title by 80 points.
• Terry Labonte would join the late Alan Kulwicki and win the championship by winning only 2 races in a season. Only Matt Kenseth, who won one race in 2003, has won fewer races while winning a championship.
• Ross Perot Jr. was the grand marshal for this race.
• Bobby Labonte's victory was also the last victory for Joe Gibbs Racing fielding Chevrolets until 2003, as the following season would see the team switch to the Pontiac Grand Prix.

The NASCAR Suzuka Thunder Special was a non-points exhibition race ran on November 23 at Suzuka Circuit - East Circuit. Rusty Wallace won the pole. This was the first ever NASCAR race in Japan.

Top ten results

1. 2-Rusty Wallace
2. 3-Dale Earnhardt
3. 24-Jeff Gordon
4. 5-Terry Labonte
5. 15-Wally Dallenbach Jr.
6. 30-Johnny Benson
7. 77-Bobby Hillin Jr.
8. 31-Mike Skinner
9. 61-Rick Carelli
10. 38-Butch Gilliland

• NASCAR legend Elmo Langley was intended to drive the pace car for this race, but suffered a massive heart attack 2 days prior in the pace car when trying to get familiar with the course. Langley was 68 when he died in a nearby hospital.

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

Pos.	Driver	DAY	CAR	RCH	ATL	DAR	BRI	NWS	MAR	TAL	SON	CLT	DOV	POC	MCH	DAY	NHA	POC	TAL	IND	GLN	MCH	BRI	DAR	RCH	DOV	MAR	NWS	CLT	CAR	PHO	ATL	Pts
1	Terry Labonte	24*	34*	8	2	5	2	1*	24	4	5	3	2	7	2	2	6	16	24	3	2	3	5	26	5	21	2	5	1*	3	3	5	4657
2	Jeff Gordon	42	40	1	3	1*	1*	2	3*	33	6	4	1*	1*	6	3	34*	7	1	37	4	5	2	1	2*	1*	1	1*	31	12	5	3	4620
3	Dale Jarrett	1	2	2	11	15	6	11	29	2	12	1*	36	38	10	6	2	3	2	1	24	1	4	14	4	3	16	3	3	2*	8	2	4568
4	Dale Earnhardt	2	1	31	1*	14	4	3	5	3	4	2	3	32	9	4	12	14	28*	15	6*	17	24	12	20	16	15	2	6	9	12	4	4327
5	Mark Martin	4	32	5	26	6	3	37	21	34	2	7	40	4	7	11	33	9*	3	4	3	2*	3	3	9	5	9	9	2	7	2*	7	4278
6	Ricky Rudd	9	4	9	8	9	14	15	23	28	7	15	8	2	31	33	3	2	37	6	34	8	9	16	12	34	35	7	13	1	14	8	3845
7	Rusty Wallace	16	22	7	36	4	5	33	1	30	1*	34	7	31	1	31	7	1	10	7	33	39	1*	38	6	2	36	10	8	8	40	10	3717
8	Sterling Marlin	40	6	11	13	11	18	5	10	1*	15	6	41	11	3*	1*	29	6	29	39	11	33	18	8	21	17	31	11	4	13	27	15	3682
9	Bobby Hamilton	20	24	6*	16	16	32	8	6	11	17	31	21	5	15	16	20	39	17	31	38	13	10	19	7	10	3*	8	19	28	1	6	3639
10	Ernie Irvan	35	14	38	4	33	16	6	2	31	42	9	4	39	5	5	1	4	4	2	35	4	36	7	1	36	12	36	37	4	7	36	3632
11	Bobby Labonte	17	33	23	31	2	7	10	8	24	9	22	5	41	12	40	31	37	8	24	5	6	32	6	11	4	21	13	40	6	9	1*	3590
12	Ken Schrader	3	29	14	6	28	29	9	7	20	8	5	10	18	16	8	8	15	26	16	25	15	13	4	13	22	30	18	29	23	35	30	3540
13	Jeff Burton	5	13	4	DNQ	10	23	29	22	16	26	18	9	9	17	14	4	35	7	11	21	9	37	31	3	40	11	4	11	5	31	9	3538
14	Michael Waltrip	10	35	36	9	29	10	17	17	5	22	8	11	14	32	7	10	13	42	28	7	25	6	33	14	9	14	12	9	14	16	11	3535
15	Jimmy Spencer	11	27	29	7	32	13	31	19	40	21	17	6	8	4	10	17	24	5	12	19	10	7	23	30	30	19	20	16	10	18	14	3476
16	Ted Musgrave	7	31	3	18	7	25	12	9	8	23	30	13	19	8	13	11	19	36	21	12	23	12	29	15	33	20	19	17	18	4	31	3466
17	Geoff Bodine	34	39	33	23	22	19	19	27	26	40	10	30	3	21	34	15	11	6	20	1	12	39	21	17	11	7	30	20	15	6	26	3218
18	Rick Mast	28	10	19	34	19	12	14	15	15	19	12	35	28	18	20	13	30	41	9	27	16	35	22	19	6	4	6	15	38	38	13	3190
19	Morgan Shepherd	31	37	32	30	8	30	27	20	43	24	29	32	6	11	15	22	17	14	5	9	11	19	24	23	18	6	14	23	29	17	28	3133
20	Ricky Craven	13	3	17	12	3	9	7	12	36	31	37	14	17	29	22	26	20	19	34	36	18	21	42	28	35	26	22	5	22	34	35	3078
21	Johnny Benson (R)	23	20	37	38	24	DNQ	24	25	10	18	38	17	25	37	25	9	5	18	8*	15	7	28	11	10	24	17	17	14	40	32	27	3004
22	Hut Stricklin	22	30	39	25	20	11	16	31	22	13	28	34	29	27	19	23	32	34	18	37	26	20	2*	24	38	25	16	25	11	30	17	2854
23	Lake Speed	14	25	18	41	25	35	35	11	42	16	35	26	34	19	29	24	8	30	13	17	32	16	10	31	13	28	25	12	35	28	19	2834
24	Brett Bodine	32	28	25	24	27	20	23	18	23	20	24	24	40	22	9	16	27	22	22	14	28	14	28	25	27	DNQ	23	28	16	26	21	2814
25	Wally Dallenbach Jr.	6	23	40	20	37	24	28	DNQ	12	3	19	22	12	13	12	18	33	32	17	10	34	25	25	33	29	22	34	33	36	15	40	2786
26	Jeremy Mayfield	19	19	28	5	18	21	20	4	32	32	41	12	15	30	27	36	12	16	25	22	20	17	37	29	15	34	28	43	34	44	DNQ	2721
27	Kyle Petty	18	11	20	22	12	15	30	30	18	30	23	18	20	38	24	28	26	12	38	23			17	18	8	8	31	41	25	29	DNQ	2696
28	Kenny Wallace	21	7	15	37	17	34	18	14	14	27	32	20	37	33	38	19	36	20	33	31	37	15	13	38	20	10	15	30	19	37	DNQ	2694
29	Darrell Waltrip	29	16	27	32	34	26	25	16	21	14	13	39	30	25	26	37	40	9	40	18	22	11	32	22	39	23	27	42	21	10	37	2657
30	Bill Elliott	8	15	10	10	13	28	21	13	41						37	14	21	13	10		14	INQ4	9	16	28	18	21	10	32	21	20	2627
31	John Andretti	38	38	12	21	40	DNQ	34	36	9	11	27	33	16	24	23	40	23	39	19	26	31	38	5	36	14	5	24	39	26	19	24	2621
32	Robert Pressley	30	26	16	27	36	17	4	34	7	34	33		33	23	17	5	25	31	30	30	41	33	27	26	32	32	33	32	37	36	33	2485
33	Ward Burton	26	41	13	15	38	33	DNQ	DNQ	27	10	11	16	35	35	41	25	22	33	36	32	35	8	40	37	7	DNQ	DNQ	7	17	22	12	2411
34	Joe Nemechek	39	9	34	17	31	31	36	26	13	41	25	25	21	36	18	35	34	15	27	8	27	34	DNQ	39	25	27	26	DNQ	24	25	34	2391
35	Derrike Cope	41	8	22	35	39	22	13	28	29	39	14	23	27	40	42	38	10	27	14	16	24	29	34	8	31	DNQ	37	18	39	43	DNQ	2374
36	Dick Trickle	43	DNQ	DNQ	14	35	8	22	DNQ	19	29	20	28	26	39	28	27	18	38	23	39	38	26	36	27	23	13	DNQ	35	31	20	DNQ	2131
37	Bobby Hillin Jr.	DNQ	18	26	28	41	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	43	26	29	13	14	32	21	38	35	26	29	19	22	18	32	12	24	35	36	33	39	16	2128
38	Dave Marcis	15	21	35	29	23	DNQ	DNQ	35	39	33	40	31	DNQ	26	36	39	28	11	35	28	40	27	30	34	26	29	29	DNQ	30	24	25	2047
39	Steve Grissom	27	5	21	39	26	27	26	DNQ	6	25	16	42	22	34																		1188
40	Todd Bodine		QL1									36	15	10	20									15	35				21	20	11	32	991
41	Mike Wallace	37	17	24	33	21	DNQ	DNQ	32	38	44	39	19									29											799
42	Greg Sacks												27			39	30	29	25	32		30							24			18	710
43	Elton Sawyer	25	DNQ	30	19	30	37	32	DNQ	37		21										DNQ										23	705
44	Chad Little	33								DNQ	DNQ	43							DNQ			36	23	20	40	41	DNQ		22			22	627
45	Loy Allen Jr.	36	36											23	28	30	DNQ		21					41					34			39	603
46	Gary Bradberry		DNQ										38			35			23	29			30	35	DNQ	37	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	27		38	591
47	Mike Skinner		12				36			17																19					13		529
48	Jeff Purvis	12								35						21			40	DNQ													328
49	Jeff Green													36				41										32	26				247
50	Randy MacDonald (R)		DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ		DNQ	DNQ			DNQ		24			32	31		DNQ				DNQ									228
51	Billy Standridge																										DNQ		27	41		29	198
52	Jim Sauter	DNQ																				21	31										170
53	Chuck Bown	DNQ			40	DNQ	DNQ			25		42																					168
54	Jack Sprague																														23	42	136
55	Dorsey Schroeder																				13												129
56	Stacy Compton (R)								33											DNQ					DNQ		33						128
57	Robby Gordon																												38	42	42		123
58	Butch Leitzinger																				20												103
59	Jeff Krogh										35																				41		98
60	Tommy Kendall										28																						84
61	Lance Hooper										DNQ																				33		64
62	Larry Gunselman										36																				DNQ		55
63	Rich Woodland Jr.										37																				DNQ		52
64	Hermie Sadler											DNQ	37																				52
65	Scott Gaylord										38																				DNQ		49
66	Ed Berrier											DNQ												39						DNQ			46
67	Randy Baker																															41	40
Pos	Driver	DAY	CAR	RCH	ATL	DAR	BRI	NWS	MAR	TAL	SON	CLT	DOV	POC	MCH	DAY	NHA	POC	TAL	IND	GLN	MCH	BRI	DAR	RCH	DOV	MAR	NWS	CLT	CAR	PHO	ATL	Pts
	Steve Seligman	DNQ			DNQ					DNQ		DNQ				DNQ				DNQ
	Tracy Leslie	DNQ
	Delma Cowart	DNQ								DNQ		DNQ																	DNQ
	Jim Bown	DNQ
	Joe Ruttman	DNQ
	Robbie Faggart			DNQ		DNQ						DNQ								DNQ				DNQ					DNQ
	Jimmy Hensley					DNQ
	Phil Barkdoll									DNQ
	Mark Krogh										DNQ																				DNQ
	Joe Bean										DNQ																				DNQ
	Wayne Jacks										DNQ
	Bill McAnally										DNQ																				DNQ
	Mark Gibson											DNQ
	Ron Barfield Jr.														QL3					DNQ												DNQ
	Jason Keller																			DNQ
	A. J. Foyt																			DNQ
	Eric Smith																									DNQ
	Mike McLaughlin																				DNQ
	Ron Hornaday Jr.																					DNQ
	Jay Sauter																							DNQ	DNQ
	Norm Benning																													DNQ
	Terry Byers																													DNQ
	Dave Rezendes										QL2
Pos	Driver	DAY	CAR	RCH	ATL	DAR	BRI	NWS	MAR	TAL	SON	CLT	DOV	POC	MCH	DAY	NHA	POC	TAL	IND	GLN	MCH	BRI	DAR	RCH	DOV	MAR	NWS	CLT	CAR	PHO	ATL	Pts
1At Rockingham, Geoff Bodine had his younger brother Todd qualify his No. 7 car, as Geoff Bodine had suffered broken ribs from a crash in the previous race, which was the 1996 Daytona 500.
2Geoff Bodine failed to qualify car No. 07 at Sonoma, but his Craftsman Truck driver Dave Rezendes timed in 23rd in the No. 7. Team owner Geoff Bodine drove the qualified entry, his regular car, in the race.
3Ron Barfield Jr. qualified the No. 94 of the injured Bill Elliott at Michigan for Todd Bodine who was competing in the Busch Series' race at Myrtle Beach.
4Bobby Hillin Jr. failed to qualify his regular ride at Bristol, but filled in for Bill Elliott who was still feeling effects from a crash earlier in the year at Talladega.

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

Pos[2]	Car	Owner	Drivers	DAY	CAR	RCH	ATL	DAR	BRI	NWS	MAR	TAL	SON	CLT	DOV	POC	MCH	DAY	NHA	POC	TAL	IND	GLN	MCH	BRI	DAR	RCH	DOV	MAR	NWS	CLT	CAR	PHO	ATL	Points
1	5	Hendrick Motorsports	T. Labonte	24*	34*	8	2	5	2	1*	24	4	5	3	2	7	2	2	6	16	24	3	2	3	5	26	5	21	2	5	1*	3	3	5	4657
2	24	Hendrick Motorsports	J. Gordon	42	40	1	3	1*	1*	2	3*	33	6	4	1*	1*	6	3	34*	7	1	37	4	5	2	1	2*	1*	1	1*	31	12	5	3	4620
3	88	Robert Yates Racing	Jarrett	1	2	2	11	15	6	11	29	2	12	1*	36	38	10	6	2	3	2	1	24	1	4	14	4	3	16	3	3	2*	8	2	4568
4	3	Richard Childress Racing	Earnhardt	2	1	31	1*	14	4	3	5	3	4	2	3	32	9	4	12	14	28*	15	6*	17	24	12	20	16	15	2	6	9	12	4	4327
5	6	Roush Racing	Martin	4	32	5	26	6	3	37	21	34	2	7	40	4	7	11	33	9*	3	4	3	2*	3	3	9	5	9	9	2	7	2*	7	4278
6	10	Rudd Performance Motorsports	Rudd	9	4	9	8	9	14	15	23	28	7	15	8	2	31	33	3	2	37	6	34	8	9	16	12	34	35	7	13	1	14	8	3845
7	2	Penske Racing South	R. Wallace	16	22	7	36	4	5	33	1	30	1*	34	7	31	1	31	7	1	10	7	33	39	1*	38	6	2	36	10	8	8	40	10	3717
8	4	Morgan-McClure Motorsports	Marlin	40	6	11	13	11	18	5	10	1*	15	6	41	11	3*	1*	29	6	29	39	11	33	18	8	21	17	31	11	4	13	27	15	3682
9	43	Petty Enterprises	Hamiliton	20	24	6*	16	16	32	8	6	11	17	31	21	5	15	16	20	39	17	31	38	13	10	19	7	10	3*	8	19	28	1	6	3639
10	28	Robert Yates Racing	Irvan	35	14	38	4	33	16	6	2	31	42	9	4	39	5	5	1	4	4	2	35	4	36	7	1	36	12	36	37	4	7	36	3632
11	18	Joe Gibbs Racing	B. Labonte	17	33	23	31	2	7	10	8	24	9	22	5	41	12	40	31	37	8	24	5	6	32	6	11	4	21	13	40	6	9	1*	3590
12	99	Roush Racing	J. Burton	5	13	4	DNQ	10	23	29	22	16	26	18	9	9	17	14	4	35	7	11	21	9	37	31	3	40	11	4	11	5	31	9	3575
13	25	Hendrick Motorsports	Schrader	3	29	14	6	28	29	9	7	20	8	5	10	18	16	8	8	15	26	16	25	15	13	4	13	22	30	18	29	23	35	30	3540
14	21	Wood Brothers Racing	M. Waltrip	10	35	36	9	29	10	17	17	5	22	8	11	14	32	7	10	13	42	28	7	25	6	33	14	9	14	12	9	14	16	11	3535
15	23	Travis Carter Enterprises	Spencer	11	27	29	7	32	13	31	19	40	21	17	6	8	4	10	17	24	5	12	19	10	7	23	30	30	19	20	16	10	18	14	3476
16	16	Roush Racing	Musgrave	7	31	3	18	7	25	12	9	8	23	30	13	19	8	13	11	19	36	21	12	23	12	29	15	33	20	19	17	18	4	31	3466
17	94	Elliott-Hardy Racing	Kendall										28																						3347
			T. Bodine											36	15	10	20
			Elliott	8	15	10	10	13	28	21	13	41						37	14
		Bill Elliott Racing																		21	13	10		14		9	16	28	18	21	10	32	21	20
			Schroeder																				13
			Hillin Jr.																						22
18	7	Geoff Bodine Racing	G. Bodine	34	39	33	23	22	19	19	27	26	40	10	30	3	21	34	15	11	6	20	1	12	39	21	17	11	7	30	20	15	6	26	3218
19	1	Precision Products Racing	Mast	28	10	19	34	19	12	14	15	15	19	12	35	28	18	20	13	30	41	9	27	16	35	22	19	6	4	6	15	38	38	13	3190
20	75	Butch Mock Motorsports	Shepherd	31	37	32	30	8	30	27	20	43	24	29	32	6	11	15	22	17	14	5	9	11	19	24	23	18	6	14	23	29	17	28	3133
21	41	Larry Hedrick Motorsports	Craven	13	3	17	12	3	9	7	12	36	31	37	14	17	29	22	26	20	19	34	36	18	21	42	28	35	26	22	5	22	34	35	3078
22	30	Bahari Racing	Benson	23	20	37	38	24	DNQ	24	25	10	18	38	17	25	37	25	9	5	18	8*	15	7	28	11	10	24	17	17	14	40	32	27	3047
23	98	Cale Yarborough Motorsports	Mayfield	19	19	28	5	18	21	20	4	32	32	41	12	15	30	27	36	12	16	25	22	20	17	37									3016
			Andretti																								36	14	5	24	39	26	19	24
24	42	Team SABCO	Petty	18	11	20	22	12	15	30	30	18	30	23	18	20	38	24	28	26	12	38	23			17	18	8	8	31	41	25	29	DNQ	2885
			Jim Sauter																					21	31
25	11	Brett Bodine Racing	B. Bodine	32	28	25	24	27	20	23	18	23	20	24	24	40	22	9	16	27	22	22	14	28	14	28	25	27	DNQ	23	28	16	26	21	2863
26	8	Stavola Brothers Racing	Stricklin	22	30	39	25	20	11	16	31	22	13	28	34	29	27	19	23	32	34	18	37	26	20	2*	24	38	25	16	25	11	30	17	2854
27	9	Melling Racing	Speed	14	25	18	41	25	35	35	11	42	16	35	26	34	19	29	24	8	30	13	17	32	16	10	31	13	28	25	12	35	28	19	2834
28	15	Bud Moore Engineering	Dallenbach Jr.	6	23	40	20	37	24	28	DNQ	12	3	19	22	12	13	12	18	33	32	17	10	34	25	25	33	29	22	34	33	36	15	40	2823
29	81	FILMAR Racing	K. Wallace	21	7	15	37	17	34	18	14	14	27	32	20	37	33	38	19	36	20	33	31	37	15	13	38	20	10	15	30	19	37	DNQ	2719
30	33	Leo Jackson Motorsports	Sacks												27																				2696
			Pressley	30	26	16	27	36	17	4	34	7	34	33		33	23	17	5	25	31	30	30	41	33	27	26	32	32	33
		Andy Petree Racing																													32
			T. Bodine																													20	11	32
31	17	Darrell Waltrip Motorsports	D. Waltrip	29	16	27	32	34	26	25	16	21	14	13	39	30	25	26	37	40	9	40	18	22	11	32	22	39	23	27	42	21	10	37	2657
32	22	Bill Davis Racing	W. Burton	26	41	13	15	38	33	DNQ	DNQ	27	10	11	16	35	35	41	25	22	33	36	32	35	8	40	37	7	DNQ	DNQ	7	17	22	12	2577
33	12	Bobby Allison Motorsports	Cope	41	8	22	35	39	22	13	28	29	39	14	23	27	40	42	38	10	27	14	16	24	29	34	8	31	DNQ	37	18	39	43	DNQ	2460
34	87	NEMCO Motorsports	Nemechek	39	9	34	17	31	31	36	26	13	41	25	25	21	36	18	35	34	15	27	8	27	34	DNQ	39	25	27	26	DNQ	24	25	34	2453
35	29	Diamond Ridge Motorsports	Grissom	27	5	21	39	26	27	26	DNQ	6	25	16	42	22	34																		2414
			Sacks															39	30	29	25	32		30
			Leitzinger																				20
			Little																						23	20	40	41	DNQ
			Green																											32	26
			Pressley																													37	36	33
36	37	Kranefuss-Haas Racing	Andretti	38	38	12	21	40	DNQ	34	36	9	11	27	33	16	24	23	40	23	39	19	26	31	38	5									2403
			Mayfield																								29	15	34	28	43	34	44	DNQ
37	77	Jasper Motorsports	Hillin Jr.	DNQ	18	26	28	41	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	43	26	29	13	14	32	21	38	35	26	29	19	DNQ	18	32	12	24	35	36	33	39	16	2238
38	90	Donlavey Racing	M. Wallace	37	17	24	33	21	DNQ	DNQ	32	38	44	39	19																				2204
			Trickle													26	39	28	27	18	38	23	39	38	26	36	27	23	13	DNQ	35	31	20	DNQ
39	71	Marcis Auto Racing	Marcis	15	21	35	29	23	DNQ	DNQ	35	39	33	40	31	DNQ	26	36	39	28	11	35	28	40	27	30	34	26	29	29	DNQ	30	24	25	2198
40	19	TriStar Motorsports	Allen Jr.	36	36											23	28	30	DNQ		21	Wth				41					34			39	1578
			Trickle			DNQ	14	35	8	22	DNQ	19	29	20	28
			M. Wallace																					29
41	27	David Blair Motorsports	Sawyer	25	DNQ	30	19	30	37	32	DNQ	37		21										DNQ											1074
			Keller																			DNQ
			T. Bodine																							15	35				21
			Barfield Jr.																															DNQ
42	95	Sadler Brothers Racing	C. Bown	DNQ			40	DNQ	DNQ			25		42																					1000
			Bradberry												38			35			23	29			30	35	DNQ	37	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	27		38
43	78	Triad Motorsports	MacDonald		DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ		DNQ	DNQ			DNQ		24			32	31		DNQ				DNQ									802
			Standridge																										DNQ		27	41		29
44	31	Richard Childress Racing	Skinner		12				36			17																19					13		529
45	97	Mark Rypien Racing	Little	33								DNQ		43							DNQ			36							22			22	400
46	44	Phoenix Racing	Purvis	12								35						21			40	DNQ													359
47	40	Team Sabco	Sacks																												24			18	339
			R. Gordon																													42	42
			Jay Sauter																							DNQ	DNQ
48	02	Miles Motorsports	Faggart			DNQ		DNQ						DNQ								DNQ				DNQ					DNQ				199
			Baker																															41
49	46	Monroe Motorsports	Compton								33											DNQ					DNQ		33						196
50	14	Dale Earnhardt, Inc.	Green													36				41															178
			Hornaday Jr.																					DNQ
			R. Gordon																												38
51	52	Hendrick Motorsports	Sprague																														23	42	136
52	101	Excel Motorsports	J. Krogh										35																				41		98
53	20	Ranier-Walsh Racing	Sawyer																															23	94
54	63	Schnell Motorsports	Trickle	43	DNQ																														90
			Berrier											DNQ
			M. Wallace																			Wth
55	26	Sadler Racing	Sadler											DNQ	37																				77
56	137	Olson Technology Racing	Gunselman										36																				DNQ		77
57	60	Berrier Racing	Berrier																							39						DNQ			74
58	107	Golden West Motorsports	Hooper										DNQ																				33		74
59	100	Oliver Racing	Gaylord										38																				DNQ		74
60	138	Woodland Racing	Woodland Jr.										37																				DNQ		71
Pos	Car	Owner	Drivers	DAY	CAR	RCH	ATL	DAR	BRI	NWS	MAR	TAL	SON	CLT	DOV	POC	MCH	DAY	NHA	POC	TAL	IND	GLN	MCH	BRI	DAR	RCH	DOV	MAR	NWS	CLT	CAR	PHO	ATL	Points

Johnny Benson was the only rookie to make a full-time run in the 1996 season, making him the 1996 Rookie of the Year. Benson ended the year with one top 5, six top 10s, and one pole. Randy MacDonald and Stacy Compton made attempts at the award as well, but did not run enough times to catch Benson.

• 1996 NASCAR Busch Series
• 1996 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series

• Winston Cup Standings and Statistics for 1996 Archived April 4, 2009, at the Wayback Machine