The 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 38th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 15th modern-era Cup series season. The season began on February 16 and ended November 16. Dale Earnhardt of RCR Enterprises won his second championship this year. This was the last season without Ernie Irvan until 2000. This would also unexpectedly be the last full season for Tim Richmond, whose health began to decline as a result of AIDS shortly after the season ended, ultimately claiming Richmond's life in 1989.

1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series drivers

Complete schedule

Limited schedule

Schedule

Races

Busch Clash

The 8th annual Busch Clash was held on February 9 at Daytona International Speedway. Harry Gant drew for the pole. Only eight drivers ran. Full Results Average speed: 195.865 mph

7-Eleven Twin 125's

The 7-Eleven Twin 125's, a pair of qualifying races for the Daytona 500, were held February 13 at Daytona International Speedway. Bill Elliott and Geoff Bodine won the poles for both races, respectively. Race One Top Ten Results Race Two Top Ten Results

Daytona 500

Top Ten Results

Miller High Life 400

The Miller High Life 400 was held February 23 at Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway. Geoff Bodine won the pole. This was Kyle Petty's first career Winston Cup Series victory. The race is widely considered one of the most controversial finishes in NASCAR history. Top Ten Results

Goodwrench 500

The Goodwrench 500 was held March 2 at North Carolina Motor Speedway. Terry Labonte won the pole. Top Ten Results

Motorcraft 500

The Motorcraft 500 was held March 16 at Atlanta International Raceway. Dale Earnhardt won the pole. Top Ten Results

Valleydale 500

The Valleydale 500 was held April 6 at Bristol International Raceway. The No. 5 of Geoff Bodine won the pole. Top Ten Results

TranSouth 500

The TranSouth 500 was held April 13 at Darlington Raceway. The No. 5 of Geoff Bodine won the pole. Top Ten Results

First Union 400

The First Union 400 was held April 20 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Geoff Bodine won the pole. Top Ten Results

Sovran Bank 500

The Sovran Bank 500 was held April 27 at Martinsville Speedway. No. 25 of Tim Richmond won the pole. Top Ten Results

Winston 500

The Winston 500 was held May 4 at Alabama International Motor Speedway. The No. 9 of Bill Elliott won the pole. Top Ten Results Failed to qualify: 35-Alan Kulwicki (R), 60-Dick Skillen, 70-J. D. McDuffie, 77-Ken Ragan, 95-Davey Allison, 02-Mark Martin, Steve Moore

The Winston

The second edition of The Winston, an all-star event for the previous season's race winners, was held at Atlanta International Raceway on Sunday May 11 (Mother's Day). The pole position was awarded to Darrell Waltrip as the defending Winston Cup champion. This was the only time the all-star race was held at Atlanta, and featured a 200-kilometer (83 lap) format, with a mandatory green flag pit stop. Because there were only nine race winners in 1985, the highest placed non-winner from the 1985 point standings (Geoff Bodine) was added to the field to make it an even ten cars. Bill Elliott led 82 of the 83 en route to a dominating victory. Elliott collected the $200,000 first place prize, plus $40,000 in additional cash bonuses for leading laps 20, 30, 50, and 60. Top Ten Results

Budweiser 500

The Budweiser 500 was held May 18 at Dover International Speedway. Ricky Rudd won the pole. Top Ten Results

Coca-Cola 600

The Coca-Cola 600 was held May 25 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The No. 5 of Geoff Bodine won the pole. Top Ten Results

Budweiser 400

The Budweiser 400 was held on June 1 at Riverside International Raceway. Darrell Waltrip won the pole. Top Ten Results

Miller High Life 500

The Miller High Life 500 was held June 8 at Pocono International Raceway. Geoff Bodine won the pole. Top Ten Results

Miller American 400

The Miller American 400 was held June 15 at Michigan International Speedway. Tim Richmond won the pole. Top Ten Results

Firecracker 400

The Firecracker 400 was held on July 4 at Daytona International Speedway. Cale Yarborough won the pole. Top Ten Results

Summer 500

The Summer 500 was held July 20 at Pocono International Raceway. Harry Gant won the pole. Top Ten Results

Talladega 500

The Talladega 500 was held July 27 at Alabama International Motor Speedway. The No. 9 of Bill Elliott won the pole. Top Ten Results

Budweiser at The Glen

The Budweiser at The Glen was held August 10 at Watkins Glen International. Tim Richmond won the pole. It was the first time a NASCAR race had been run at the track since 1965 but this was an entirely new configuration. Top Ten Results Withdrew: 30-Willy T. Ribbs

Champion Spark Plug 400

The Champion Spark Plug 400 was held August 17 at Michigan International Speedway. The No. 55 of Benny Parsons won the final pole of his hall of fame career. Top Ten Results

Busch 500

The Busch 500 was held August 23 at Bristol International Raceway. Geoff Bodine won the pole. Top Ten Results

Southern 500

The Southern 500 was held August 31 at Darlington Raceway. Tim Richmond won the pole. Top Ten Results

Wrangler Jeans Indigo 400

The Wrangler Jeans Indigo 400 was held September 7 at Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway. Harry Gant won the pole. Top Ten Results

Delaware 500

The Delaware 500 was held September 14 at Dover Downs International Speedway. The No. 5 of Geoff Bodine won the pole. Top Ten Results

Goody's 500

The Goody's 500 was held September 21 at Martinsville Speedway. Geoff Bodine won the pole. Top Ten Results

Holly Farms 400

The Holly Farms 400 was held September 28 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. The No. 25 of Tim Richmond won the pole. Top Ten Results

Oakwood Homes 500

The Oakwood Homes 500 was held on October 5 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The No. 25 of Tim Richmond won the pole. Top Ten Results

Nationwise 500

The Nationwise 500 was held on October 19 at North Carolina Motor Speedway. The No. 25 of Tim Richmond won the pole. Top Ten Results

Atlanta Journal 500

The Atlanta Journal 500 was held November 2 at Atlanta International Raceway. Bill Elliott won the pole. Top Ten Results

Winston Western 500

The Winston Western 500 was held on November 16 at Riverside International Raceway. Tim Richmond won the pole. Top Ten Results

Winston Cup Final Standings

(key) Bold – Pole position awarded by time. Italics – Pole position set by final practice results or 1985 Owner's points.

• – Most laps led.

Rookie of the Year

Alan Kulwicki, a future hall of famer (see Class of 2019 hall of fame) driving for a team that had only one car (which he would buy out before the Southern 500 and become an owner/driver), won the Rookie of the Year award in 1986 despite skipping 6 races (3 of those he failed to qualify for, rounds 1, 2, and 9), finishing in the top-ten four times. Of the rest of the candidates, only runner-up Michael Waltrip ran a complete schedule.