The 1993 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 45th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 22nd modern-era Cup season. The season began on February 7 and ended on November 14. Dale Earnhardt of Richard Childress Racing won the title, the sixth of his career. 1993 was marked by the deaths of two Winston Cup drivers, though neither were on-track in any form. 1992 Champion Alan Kulwicki was killed on April 1 in a plane crash near Blountville, Tennessee. He was travelling to Bristol International Raceway in a corporate jet belonging to his sponsor, Hooters. Davey Allison died on July 13, a day after a helicopter crash at Talladega Superspeedway left him with a severe head trauma. The accidents robbed the sport of two of its brightest young stars and denied Kulwicki the chance to defend his 1992 title. The season also saw the introduction of electronic scoring, giving instantaneous interval numbers. This was the first season without NASCAR legend Richard Petty since 1957.

Teams and drivers

Complete schedule

Limited schedule

Schedule

Races

Busch Clash

The Busch Clash, an invitational event for all pole winners of the previous season, was held February 7 at Daytona International Speedway. Ernie Irvan drew the pole. Top ten results

Gatorade 125s

The Gatorade 125s, qualifying races for the Daytona 500, were held February 11 at Daytona International Speedway. Kyle Petty and Dale Jarrett won the poles for both races, respectively. Race one: top ten results Race two: top ten results

Daytona 500 by STP

The 1993 Daytona 500 by STP was held February 14 at Daytona International Speedway. Kyle Petty's #42 car won the pole, putting a Petty on the Daytona 500 pole for the first time since 1966, and only the second time ever. Kyle was also the first North Carolina driver to win the 500 pole since Benny Parsons in 1982. His father Richard waved the green flag in the first Winston Cup race held since his retirement. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 85-Dorsey Schroeder, 48-James Hylton, 45-Rich Bickle, 29-Kerry Teague, 0-Delma Cowart, 77-Mike Potter, 73-Stanley Smith, 99-Brad Teague, 31-Steve Kinser, 51-Jeff Purvis, 50-A. J. Foyt, 23-Eddie Bierschwale, and 95-Ken Ragan

GM Goodwrench 500

The GM Goodwrench 500 was held on February 28 at North Carolina Speedway. Mark Martin won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 49-Stanley Smith

Pontiac Excitement 400

The Pontiac Excitement 400 was held March 7 at Richmond International Raceway. Ken Schrader won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 45-Rich Bickle

Motorcraft Quality Parts 500

The Motorcraft Quality Parts 500 was scheduled for March 14 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. However, it was postponed and moved to March 20 in the aftermath of the 1993 Storm of the Century. Rusty Wallace won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 45-Rich Bickle, 84-Rick Crawford, 48-James Hylton, 61-Rick Carelli

TranSouth 500

The TranSouth 500 was held March 28 at Darlington Raceway. Qualifying was rained out and the starting grid was lined up based on points. Dale Earnhardt started from the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 62-John McFadden

Food City 500

The Food City 500 was held April 4 at Bristol International Raceway. Rusty Wallace won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 48-James Hylton Withdrawn: 7-Alan Kulwicki

First Union 400

The First Union 400 was held April 18 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Brett Bodine won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 49-Stanley Smith

Hanes 500

The Hanes 500 was held April 25 at Martinsville Speedway. Geoff Bodine won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 52-Jimmy Means, 9-P. J. Jones

Winston 500

The Winston 500 was held May 2 at Talladega Superspeedway. Dale Earnhardt won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 9-P. J. Jones, 48-James Hylton, 0-Delma Cowart, 31-Steve Kinser, 62-Ben Hess, 71-Dave Marcis, 73-Phil Barkdoll, 65-Jerry O'Neil, 49-Stanley Smith

Save Mart Supermarkets 300K

The Save Mart Supermarkets 300K was held May 16 at Sears Point Raceway. Dale Earnhardt won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 51-Rick Scribner, 09-R. K. Smith, 48-Jack Sellers

The Winston Open

The Winston Open, a 50 lap last chance race to qualify for The Winston, was held on May 22, 1993, at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Jeff Gordon won the pole. The top four finishers would qualify for The Winston later that night. Top five results

The Winston

The 1993 edition of The Winston, took place on May 22, 1993. Ernie Irvan won the pole.

Criteria to qualify

Top ten results

Coca-Cola 600

The Coca-Cola 600 was held May 30 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Ken Schrader won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 85-Ken Bouchard, 48-James Hylton, 84-Rick Crawford, 38-Bobby Hamilton, 65-Jerry O'Neil, 49-Stanley Smith, 64-Johnny Chapman

Budweiser 500

The Budweiser 500 was held June 6 at Dover Downs International Speedway. Ernie Irvan won the pole, but totaled his car in final practice, being forced to go to a back-up car and having to start last. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 80-Jimmy Horton, 56-Jerry Hill, 85-Ken Bouchard

Champion Spark Plug 500

The Champion Spark Plug 500 was held June 13 at Pocono Raceway. Ken Schrader won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 80-Jimmy Horton

Miller Genuine Draft 400

The Miller Genuine Draft 400 was held June 20 at Michigan International Speedway. Brett Bodine won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 48-Trevor Boys, 81-Jeff Davis

Pepsi 400

The Pepsi 400 was held July 3 at Daytona International Speedway. Ernie Irvan won the pole after Ken Schrader who had originally set the fastest time failed post-qualifying inspection due to an illegal carburetor designed to bypass the restrictor plate. Schrader was forced to start in last place. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 45-Rich Bickle, 62-Clay Young, 29-Kerry Teague, 0-Delma Cowart, 31-Stan Fox, 49-Stanley Smith, 35-Bill Venturini, 65-Jerry O'Neil, 48-James Hylton, 73-Phil Barkdoll, 79-Andy Belmont, 77-Mike Potter, 86-Mark Thompson, 82-Mark Stahl, 83-Lake Speed, 85-Ken Bouchard, 89-Jim Sauter, 95-Jeremy Mayfield, 23-Eddie Bierschwale, 99-Brad Teague

Slick 50 300

The inaugural Slick 50 300 was held on July 11 at New Hampshire International Speedway. Mark Martin won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 62-Clay Young

Miller Genuine Draft 500

The Miller Genuine Draft 500 was held July 18 at Pocono Raceway. Ken Schrader won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 52-Jimmy Means, 78-Jay Hedgecock, 56-Jerry Hill, 57-Bob Schacht

DieHard 500

The DieHard 500 was held July 25 at Talladega Superspeedway. Bill Elliott won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 45-Rich Bickle, 38-Bobby Hamilton, 46-Buddy Baker, 62-Clay Young, 29-Kerry Teague

Budweiser at The Glen

The Budweiser at The Glen was held August 8 at Watkins Glen International. Mark Martin won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 77-Davy Jones, 71-Dave Marcis, 81-Jeff Davis, 29-Kerry Teague, 65-Jerry O'Neil

Champion Spark Plug 400

The Champion Spark Plug 400 was held August 15 at Michigan International Speedway. Ken Schrader won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 37-Loy Allen Jr., 48-James Hylton, 95-Jeremy Mayfield, 53-Richie Petty, 85-Ken Bouchard, 76-Ron Hornaday Jr., 62-Clay Young, 29-John Krebs, 81-Jeff Davis, 02-T. W. Taylor, 48-Andy Genzman

Brickyard 400 test session

A day after the Champion Spark Plug 400, the top 35 teams in the standings were invited to participate in an open test session for the 1994 Brickyard 400. On the way home from Michigan, the teams stopped at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for two days of practice. Retired driver Richard Petty took a few fast laps on the second day, then donated the car to the Speedway museum.

Bud 500

The Bud 500 was held August 28 at Bristol International Raceway. Mark Martin won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 55-Ted Musgrave, 75-Todd Bodine, 9-P. J. Jones, 45-Rich Bickle

Mountain Dew Southern 500

The Mountain Dew Southern 500 was held September 5 at Darlington Raceway. Ken Schrader won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 48-Trevor Boys, 56-Jerry Hill, 29-Jeff McClure

Miller Genuine Draft 400

The Miller Genuine Draft 400 was held September 11 at Richmond International Raceway. Bobby Labonte won his first career pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 80-Jimmy Horton, 45-Rich Bickle, 53-Richie Petty, 02-T. W. Taylor

SplitFire Spark Plug 500

The SplitFire Spark Plug 500 was held September 19 at Dover Downs International Speedway. Rusty Wallace won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 48-Trevor Boys, 84-Norm Benning, 66-Mike Wallace, 02-T. W. Taylor, 9-P. J. Jones, 77-Mike Potter

Goody's 500

The Goody's 500 was held September 26 at Martinsville Speedway. Ernie Irvan won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 52-Jimmy Means

Tyson/Holly Farms 400

The Tyson/Holly Farms 400 was held October 3 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Ernie Irvan won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 52-Jimmy Means, 48-James Hylton, 68-Greg Sacks, 71-Dave Marcis, 45-Rich Bickle, 37-Loy Allen Jr.

Mello Yello 500

The Mello Yello 500 was held October 10 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Jeff Gordon won his first career pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 71-Dave Marcis, 47-Billy Standridge, 37-Loy Allen Jr., 35-Bill Venturini, 63-Norm Benning, 99-Brad Teague, 83-Jeff McClure, 02-T. W. Taylor

AC Delco 500

The AC Delco 500 was held October 24 at North Carolina Speedway. Mark Martin won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 47-Billy Standridge, 63-Norm Benning, 65-Jerry O'Neil, 05-Ed Ferree

Slick 50 500

The Slick 50 500 was held October 31 at Phoenix International Raceway. Bill Elliott won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 52-Scott Gaylord, 36-Butch Gilliland, 13-Stan Fox, 48-Jack Sellers, 81-Jeff Davis, 51-Rick Scribner

Hooters 500

The Hooters 500 was held November 14 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Harry Gant won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 47-Billy Standridge, 95-Jeremy Mayfield, 52-Jimmy Means, 62-Clay Young, 57-Bob Schacht, 72-John Andretti, 63-Norm Benning, 9-P. J. Jones, 84-Rick Crawford, 48-Andy Genzman

Final points standings

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

Rookie of the Year

After his contract was bought from Bill Davis Racing, Jeff Gordon drove the #24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy in 1993. He won one pole, had eleven top-tens and finished 14th in points. His next closest competitor was Bobby Labonte who had replaced Gordon at BDR. He had six top-tens and one pole, while third-place finisher Kenny Wallace had only three top-tens. The last place runner was P. J. Jones, who declared late in the season and only ran six races for Melling Racing.