The 1991 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 43rd of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 20th modern-era Cup Season. It began February 10 and ended November 17. Dale Earnhardt of Richard Childress Racing won his fifth Winston Cup championship at the conclusion of the season. The season was marred by the death of driver and team owner J. D. McDuffie, who was killed in a wreck at Watkins Glen. A bevy of new Pit rules were introduced at Daytona to start out the 1991 season, in response to the death of a Melling Racing rear tire changer in a pit road accident at Atlanta the previous November. The new rules changed the complexity of the races, and over the course of the season, they would be tweaked and revised. By mid-season, most of the more complicated rules were scrapped, but a few were made permanent. The pit road speed limit (at all times) and use of the "lollipop" style signboard were the significant changes made permanent (and remain to this day). The 1991 season introduced the past champion's provisional (also known as the "Petty rule"), which allowed a former Cup Series champion to claim the final starting position in a race if he failed to qualify on speed, and if he was too low in the points standings to secure an ordinary provisional spot. If there were two or more former champions that failed to qualify, the Champion's Provisional would be awarded to the most recent champion. This rule was implemented after Richard Petty failed to qualify for four races in 1989, resulting in a drop in ratings that season. The 1991 season was also the final year for Buick as a full-time manufacturer in the series; Buick cars would run only limited schedules in 1992 and 1993 before leaving the series for good. The Nashville Network debuted as a cable television partner with the Cup Series in 1991. For 1991, there were five television networks broadcasting the 29-race Winston Cup Series schedule: CBS, ABC, ESPN, TBS, and TNN. This would be the last season until 2017 without Jeff Gordon.

1991 NASCAR Winston Cup Series drivers

Full-time teams

Part-time teams

Schedule

Races

Busch Clash

The Busch Clash, an invitational event for all Busch Pole winners the previous year, was held February 10 at Daytona International Speedway. The #10 of Derrike Cope started in first (the starting grid was determined by a blind draw). Top ten results

Gatorade 125s

The Gatorade 125s, qualifying races for the Daytona 500 were held February 14 at Daytona International Speedway. Davey Allison and Ernie Irvan won the pole for each race, respectively. Race one: top ten results Race two: top ten results

Daytona 500 by STP

The Daytona 500 by STP was held on February 17 at Daytona International Speedway. Davey Allison won the pole. Top ten results

Pontiac Excitement 400

The Pontiac Excitement 400 was held February 24 at Richmond International Raceway. The #28 of Davey Allison won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 70–J. D. McDuffie

Goodwrench 500

The Goodwrench 500 was held March 3 at North Carolina Motor Speedway. Kyle Petty won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 64–Gary Wright, 70–J. D. McDuffie, 82–Mark Stahl

Motorcraft 500

The Motorcraft 500 started on March 18 but heavy rain forced the finish of the race to be postponed to March 19, the race was run at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Alan Kulwicki won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 49–Stanley Smith, 82–Mark Stahl*

TranSouth 500

The TranSouth 500 was held April 7 at Darlington Raceway. Geoff Bodine won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: #82–Mark Stahl

Valleydale Meats 500

The Valleydale Meats 500 was held April 14 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Rusty Wallace won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 52–Jimmy Means, 70–J. D. McDuffie, 71–Dave Marcis

First Union 400

The First Union 400 was held April 21 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. The #26 of Brett Bodine won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 19–Chad Little, 41–Larry Pearson, 44–Irv Hoerr, 47–Rich Bickle, 51–Jeff Purvis, 52–Jimmy Means, 70–J. D. McDuffie, 76–Bill Sedgwick

Hanes 500

The Hanes 500 was held April 28 at Martinsville Speedway. The #6 of Mark Martin won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 10–Derrike Cope, 52–Jimmy Means, 68–Bobby Hamilton, 70–J. D. McDuffie, 71–Dave Marcis

Winston 500

The Winston 500 was scheduled for Sunday, May 5 but was delayed to Monday, May 6 due to rain at Talladega Superspeedway. Ernie Irvan won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 59–Mark Gibson, 65–Dave Mader III, 70–J. D. McDuffie, 77–Ken Ragan, 53–Don Paul

The Winston

The Winston, an invitational event for all past winners in the Cup series and the top three finishers in The Winston Open, was held May 19 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Davey Allison won the pole. Top ten results

Winston Open

The Winston Open, a qualifying race for drivers who are normally not eligible for The Winston, was held May 19 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Michael Waltrip won the pole. The top three finishers would be eligible to run in The Winston later that day. Top ten results

Winston Legends Race

During the festivities of The Winston, a special exhibition race of 22 retired NASCAR legends took place on a quarter-mile oval paved in the quad oval segment of the speedway. Elmo Langley battled Cale Yarborough on the final lap, and held him off for the victory by less than a car length. Dick Brooks started on the pole. Top ten results

Coca-Cola 600

The Coca-Cola 600 was held May 26 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The #6 of Mark Martin won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 29–Kerry Teague, 44–Bobby Labonte, 70–J. D. McDuffie, 82–Mark Stahl, 99–Brad Teague, 86–Jeff Green

Budweiser 500

The Budweiser 500 was held June 3 at Dover Downs International Speedway. The #30 of Michael Waltrip* won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 45-Billy Fulcher, 80-Jimmy Horton, 85-Bobby Gerhart, 47-Rich Bickle

Banquet Frozen Foods 300

The Banquet Frozen Foods 300 was held June 9 at Sears Point Raceway. Ricky Rudd won the pole. Top ten results

Champion Spark Plug 500

The Champion Spark Plug 500 was held June 16 at Pocono Raceway. Mark Martin won the pole. Top ten results

Miller Genuine Draft 400

The Miller Genuine Draft 400 was held June 23 at Michigan International Speedway. The #30 of Michael Waltrip won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: #70–J. D. McDuffie, #53–Don Paul

Pepsi 400

The Pepsi 400 was held July 6 at Daytona International Speedway. Sterling Marlin won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 95–Kerry Teague, 70–J. D. McDuffie, 80–Jimmy Horton, 95–Eddie Bierschwale, 0–Delma Cowart

Miller Genuine Draft 500

The Miller Genuine Draft 500 was held July 21 at Pocono Raceway. The #7 of Alan Kulwicki won the pole. The race was shortened to 179 laps due to rain. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 85–Bobby Gerhart, Walter Surma, Norm Benning

DieHard 500

The DieHard 500 was held July 28 at Talladega Superspeedway. Sterling Marlin won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 0–Delma Cowart, 51–Jeff Purvis, Walter Surma

Budweiser at The Glen

The Budweiser at The Glen was held August 11 at Watkins Glen International. Terry Labonte won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 89–Jim Sauter, 65–Jerry O'Neil, 45–Ed Ferree

Champion Spark Plug 400

The Champion Spark Plug 400 was held August 18 at Michigan International Speedway. Alan Kulwicki won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 53–John Paul Jr., 82–Mark Stahl

Bud 500

The Bud 500 was held August 24 at Bristol International Raceway. The #9 of Bill Elliott won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 41–Larry Pearson, 52–Jimmy Means

Heinz Southern 500

The Heinz Southern 500 was held September 1 at Darlington Raceway. The #28 of Davey Allison won the pole. Top ten results

Miller Genuine Draft 400

The Miller Genuine Draft 400 was held September 7 at Richmond International Raceway. Rusty Wallace won the pole. Top ten results

Peak Antifreeze 500

The Peak Antifreeze 500 was held September 15 at Dover Downs International Speedway. The #7 of Alan Kulwicki won the pole. Top ten results

Goody's 500

The Goody's 500 was held September 22 at Martinsville Speedway. Mark Martin won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 52–Jimmy Means

Tyson Holly Farms 400

The Tyson Holly Farms 400 was held September 29 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Harry Gant won the pole. Top ten results

Mello Yello 500

The Mello Yello 500 was held October 6 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The #6 of Mark Martin won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 0–Delma Cowart, 41–Larry Pearson, 76–Robbie Faggart, 20–Buddy Baker, 51–Jeff Purvis, 74–Mike Potter, 89–Jim Sauter, 87–Randy Baker, 72–Tracy Leslie

AC Delco 500

The AC Delco 500 was held October 20 at North Carolina Speedway. Kyle Petty won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 53–Bobby Hillin Jr., 05–Bill Meacham

Pyroil 500K

The Pyroil 500K was held November 3 at Phoenix International Raceway. Geoff Bodine won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 93–Troy Beebe, 44–Jack Sellers, 89–Jim Sauter, 00–Scott Gaylord

Hardee's 500

The Hardee's 500 was held November 17 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Bill Elliott won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 0–Delma Cowart, 13–Kerry Teague, 35–Bill Venturini, 36–H. B. Bailey, 59–Mark Gibson, 65–Dave Mader III, 65–Keith van Houten

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

Bobby Hamilton, driving for Tri-Star Motorsports, narrowly defeated Ted Musgrave for Rookie of the Year honors in 1991. Stanley Smith, Wally Dallenbach Jr., and Sammy Swindell also declared for the award, but did not complete enough races to challenge Hamilton or Musgrave.