The 1990 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 42nd season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 19th modern-era Cup Series. It began on Sunday, February 11, and ended on Sunday, November 18. Because of a highly controversial penalty to Mark Martin early in the season, Dale Earnhardt with Richard Childress Racing was crowned the Winston Cup champion for the fourth time, edging out Martin by 26 points.

Teams and drivers

Complete schedule

Limited schedule

Schedule

Races

Busch Clash

The exhibition Busch Clash race, for drivers who have won a pole position in the previous season or have won the event before, was held on February 11 at Daytona International Speedway. Jimmy Hensley drew the pole. Results

Gatorade Twin 125s

The Gatorade Twin 125s qualifying for the Daytona 500 was held on February 15 at Daytona International Speedway. Race One: Top Ten Results Race Two: Top Ten Results

Daytona 500

The 32nd annual Daytona 500 was held on February 18 at Daytona International Speedway. Ken Schrader won the pole position. However, Schrader crashed his pole-winning car during the first of Thursday's Twin 125 qualifying races. Schrader moved to a backup car, and by rule, was moved to the rear of the field. Geoff Bodine (winner of the first Twin 125) slid up into the pole spot to start the race. It was announced that Schrader would still be eligible for the Unocal 76 Challenge, which at that point, had rolled over to $212,800. Top Ten Results Failed to qualify: 0-Delma Cowart, 13-Mike Potter, 19-Chad Little, 29-Joe Booher, 34-Charlie Glotzbach, 35-Bill Venturini, 37-Dennis Langston, 39-Blackie Wangerin, 44-Jim Sauter, 48-Trevor Boys, 59-Mark Gibson, 70-J. D. McDuffie, 72-Stan Barrett, 77-Ken Ragan, 82-Mark Stahl, 85-Bobby Gerhart, 89-Rodney Combs, 96-Phillip Duffie, 01-Mickey Gibbs

Pontiac Excitement 400

The Pontiac Excitement 400 was held on February 25 at Richmond International Raceway. Ricky Rudd won the pole. Top Ten Results Failed to qualify: 70-J. D. McDuffie, 53-Jerry O'Neil

GM Goodwrench 500

The GM Goodwrench 500 was held on March 4, 1990, at North Carolina Motor Speedway. Kyle Petty won the pole. Top Ten results

Motorcraft Quality Parts 500

The Motorcraft Quality Parts 500 was held on March 18 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Dale Earnhardt won the pole. Top Ten Results Failed to qualify: 14-A. J. Foyt, 46-Greg Sacks, 70-J. D. McDuffie

TranSouth 500

The TranSouth 500 was held on April 1 at Darlington Raceway. Geoff Bodine started on the pole. Top Ten Results Failed to qualify: 48-Norm Benning, 74-Mike Potter, 82-Mark Stahl

Valleydale Meats 500

The Valleydale Meats 500 was held on April 8 at Bristol International Raceway. The No. 4 of Ernie Irvan won the pole. Top Ten Results Failed to qualify: 19-Chad Little, 16-Larry Pearson

First Union 400

The First Union 400 was held at North Wilkesboro Speedway on April 22, 1990. Mark Martin was the polesitter. Top Ten Results Failed to qualify: 48-Freddie Crawford, 70-J. D. McDuffie, 76-Bill Sedgwick

Hanes Activewear 500

The Hanes Activewear 500 was held on April 29 at Martinsville Speedway. Geoff Bodine won the pole. Top Ten Results Failed to qualify: none

Winston 500

The Winston 500 was held on May 6 at Talladega Superspeedway. The No. 9 of Bill Elliott won the pole.* Top Ten Results Failed to qualify: 70-J. D. McDuffie, 80-Jimmy Horton, 82-Mark Stahl, 85-Bobby Gerhart

Winston Open

The Winston Open, a shootout race for drivers who are normally not eligible for The Winston, was held May 20 at Charlotte Motor Speedway with the winner transferring to The Winston later in the day. Ernie Irvan was on the pole. Top Ten Results

The Winston

The Winston was held May 20 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Dale Earnhardt started on the pole. Top Ten Results

Coca-Cola 600

The Coca-Cola 600 was held May 27 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The No. 25 of Ken Schrader won the pole. Top Ten Results Failed to qualify: 0-Delma Cowart, 35-Bill Venturini, 36-H. B. Bailey, 38-Dick Johnson, 52-Jimmy Means, 53-Jerry O'Neil, 70-J. D. McDuffie, 74-Mike Potter, 82-Mark Stahl, 01-Mickey Gibbs, 04-Bill Meacham, 48-Robin Best

Budweiser 500

The Budweiser 500 was held at Dover Downs International Speedway on June 3, 1990. Dick Trickle won the pole. Top Ten Results

Banquet Frozen Foods 300

The Banquet Frozen Foods 300 was held June 10 at Sears Point Raceway. Ricky Rudd won the pole. Top Ten Results Failed to qualify: 52-Jimmy Means, J. C. Danielson, St. James Davis, Mike Hickingbottom

Miller Genuine Draft 500

The Miller Genuine Draft 500 was held at Pocono International Raceway on June 17, 1990. Ernie Irvan started on the pole. Top Ten Results Failed to qualify: 74-John Linville

Miller Genuine Draft 400

The Miller Genuine Draft 400 was held at Michigan International Speedway on June 24, 1990. Mark Martin won the pole via points as qualifying was rained out. Top Ten Results Failed to qualify: 50-Rich Vogler, 77-Ken Ragan, 34-Charlie Glotzbach

Pepsi 400

The Pepsi 400 was held at Daytona International Speedway on July 7, 1990. Greg Sacks won the pole. Top Ten Results Failed to qualify: 70-J. D. McDuffie, 72-Tracy Leslie, 80-Jimmy Horton

AC Spark Plug 500

The AC Spark Plug 500 was held July 22 at Pocono Raceway. Mark Martin qualified on the top spot. Top Ten Results Did not start: 50-Rich Vogler (credited with 40th-place finish ) Failed to qualify: 2-Troy Beebe, 70-J. D. McDuffie, 85-Bobby Gerhart

DieHard 500

The DieHard 500 was held July 29, 1990, at Talladega Superspeedway. Dale Earnhardt won the pole. Top Ten Results Failed to qualify: 0-Delma Cowart, 70-J. D. McDuffie, 77-Ken Ragan

Budweiser at The Glen

The Budweiser at The Glen was held at Watkins Glen International on August 12, 1990. Dale Earnhardt won the pole. Top Ten Results Failed to qualify: 93-Troy Beebe

Champion Spark Plug 400

The Champion Spark Plug 400 was held on August 19, 1990, at Michigan International Speedway. The No. 7 of Alan Kulwicki won the pole. Top Ten Results Failed to qualify: 34-Charlie Glotzbach, 36-H. B. Bailey, 70-J. D. McDuffie, 72-Tracy Leslie

Busch 500

The Busch 500 was held August 25, 1990, at Bristol International Raceway. Dale Earnhardt won the pole. Top Ten Results Failed to qualify: 19-Chad Little, 70-J. D. McDuffie, 74-Mike Potter

Heinz Southern 500

The Heinz Southern 500 was held on September 2, 1990, at Darlington Raceway. Dale Earnhardt won the pole. Top Ten Results Failed to qualify: 70-J. D. McDuffie

Miller Genuine Draft 400

The Miller Genuine Draft 400 was held September 9, 1990, at Richmond International Raceway. Ernie Irvan won the pole. ** Top Ten Results** Failed to qualify: 70-J. D. McDuffie, 47-Jack Pennington, 13-Kerry Teague

Peak AntiFreeze 500

The Peak AntiFreeze 500 was held at Dover Downs International Speedway on September 16, 1990. Bill Elliott won the pole Top Ten Results Failed to qualify: 13-Kerry Teague

Goody's 500

The Goody's 500 was held at Martinsville Speedway on September 23, 1990. Mark Martin won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 2–Ron Esau, 70–J. D. McDuffie

Tyson Holly Farms 400

The Tyson Holly Farms 400 was held September 30, 1990, at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Kyle Petty won the pole. Top Ten Results Failed to qualify: 2-Ron Esau, 40-Tommy Kendall, 41-Larry Pearson, 47-Jack Pennington, 70-J. D. McDuffie

Mello Yello 500

The Mello Yello 500 was held on October 7, 1990, at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Brett Bodine won the pole. Top Ten Results Failed to qualify: 13-Mike Skinner, 65-Dave Mader III, 89-Rodney Combs, 64-Gary Wright, 40-Tommy Kendall, 13-Kerry Teague, 70-J. D. McDuffie, 74-Mike Potter, 93-Troy Beebe, 72-Tracy Leslie, 53-Jerry O'Neil, 36-H. B. Bailey, 54-Bob Schacht, 0-Delma Cowart, 04-Bill Meacham, 35-Bill Venturini.

AC Delco 500

The AC Delco 500 was held October 21, 1990, at North Carolina Speedway. Ken Schrader won the pole. Top Ten Results Failed to qualify: 0-Delma Cowart, 48-James Hylton, 70-J. D. McDuffie, 82-Mark Stahl

Checker 500

The Checker 500 was held November 4, 1990, at Phoenix International Raceway. Rusty Wallace won the pole. Top Ten Results Failed to qualify: 04-Hershel McGriff, 34-Ted Kennedy, 24-Butch Gilliland, 61-Rick Scribner, 44-Jack Sellers, 22-St. James Davis

Atlanta Journal 500

The final race of the season was held on November 18, 1990, at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Rusty Wallace won the pole. Top Ten Results Failed to qualify: 82-Mark Stahl

Full Drivers' Championship

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

• – Most laps led.

Rookie of the Year

The 1990 season was a slim season for Rookie of the Year contenders. 1989 Busch Series champion Rob Moroso had a top-ten finish and qualified for every race, but he was killed in a car crash before the end of the year and was awarded the top rookie award posthumously. His top runner-up was Jack Pennington, a late-model dirt racing champion, who had 16 starts and no top-tens in an unsponsored car. The only other declarees were Jerry O'Neil and Jeff Purvis, who did not run enough races to be completely eligible for the honor.