The 1994 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 46th season of NASCAR professional stock car racing in the United States and the 23rd modern-era Cup series. The season began on Sunday, February 20, and ended on Sunday, November 13. Dale Earnhardt of Richard Childress Racing was crowned champion at season's end, winning consecutive Winston Cups for the third time in his career and tying Richard Petty for the record of most top-level NASCAR championships with seven. It was also the 7th and final NASCAR Winston Cup Series Championship for Dale Earnhardt before his death 7 years later in 2001, this was also the final season for 18-time Winston Cup winner Harry Gant. One of the highlights of the season occurred on August 6, when the NASCAR Winston Cup Series made a highly publicized first visit to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the inaugural Brickyard 400. This season also marked the end of the second of two tire wars, as Hoosier left NASCAR after the season-ending Atlanta race, leaving Goodyear as the series' exclusive tire distributor. The season was marred with tragedy, as Neil Bonnett and Rodney Orr were killed in separate practice crashes prior to the Daytona 500 and in August at Michigan International Speedway when Ernie Irvan suffered near fatal injuries due to a practice crash.

Teams and drivers

Complete schedule

Limited schedule

Schedule

Races

Busch Clash

The Busch Clash was held February 13 at Daytona International Speedway. Ken Schrader drew for the pole.

Gatorade 125s

The Gatorade 125s, the qualifying races for the Daytona 500, were held February 17 at Daytona International Speedway. Race one: top ten results Race two: top ten results

Daytona 500

The Daytona 500 was held in Daytona International Speedway. Loy Allen Jr. won the pole. Top ten results

Goodwrench 500

The Goodwrench 500 was held February 27 at North Carolina Speedway. The No. 7 of Geoff Bodine was on the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 31-Ward Burton, 48-James Hylton, 99-Danny Sullivan, 61-Rick Carelli, 95-Jeremy Mayfield, 48-Jerry Hill, 02-T. W. Taylor

Pontiac Excitement 400

The Pontiac Excitement 400 was held March 6 at Richmond International Raceway. The No. 16 of Ted Musgrave won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 19-Loy Allen Jr., 45-Rich Bickle, 71-Dave Marcis, 43-Wally Dallenbach Jr., 23-Hut Stricklin, 47-Billy Standridge, 61-Rick Carelli, 02-T. W. Taylor, ??-Mike Wallace

Purolator 500

The Purolator 500 was held March 13 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The No. 19 of Loy Allen Jr. won the pole after failing to qualify at the previous race. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 43-Wally Dallenbach Jr., 20-Buddy Baker, 61-Rick Carelli, 47-Billy Standridge, 89-Jim Sauter, 80-Jimmy Horton, 99-Danny Sullivan, 95-Jeremy Mayfield

TranSouth Financial 400

The TranSouth Financial 400 was held March 27 at Darlington Raceway. Bill Elliott won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 19-Loy Allen Jr., 61-Rick Carelli, 47-Billy Standridge, 02-Curtis Markham, 57-Bob Schacht, 84-Norm Benning, 36-H. B. Bailey, 59-Andy Belmont

Food City 500

The Food City 500 was held April 10 at Bristol International Raceway. The No. 12 of Chuck Bown won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify (or "Watching on TV" as said on ESPN): 14-John Andretti, 55-Jimmy Hensley, 19-Loy Allen Jr., 95-Jeremy Mayfield, 52-Brad Teague

First Union 400

The First Union 400 was held April 17 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Ernie Irvan won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify (or "Seeing Granny" as said on ESPN): 29-Steve Grissom, 31-Ward Burton, 9-Rich Bickle, 41-Joe Nemechek, 19-Loy Allen Jr., 55-Jimmy Hensley, 90-Mike Wallace, 02-Curtis Markham, 52-Mike Skinner, 62-Freddie Query

Hanes 500

The Hanes 500 was held April 24 at Martinsville Speedway. Rusty Wallace won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify (or "Gone hunting" on ESPN): 43-Wally Dallenbach Jr., 90-Mike Wallace, 71-Dave Marcis, 19-Loy Allen Jr., 02-Curtis Markham, 89-Jim Bown, 52-Mike Skinner, 33-Harry Gant

Winston Select 500

The Winston Select 500 was held May 1 at Talladega Superspeedway. Ernie Irvan won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify (or "Flipping burgers" on ESPN): 31-Ward Burton, 9-Rich Bickle, 80-Jimmy Horton, 89-Jim Sauter, 0-Delma Cowart, 53-Ritchie Petty, 02-Ronnie Sanders

Save Mart Supermarkets 300

The Save Mart Supermarkets 300 was held May 15 at Sears Point Raceway. Ernie Irvan won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify (or "Crushin' grapes", as referred to on ESPN): 52-Scott Gaylord, 55-Jimmy Hensley, 32-Dick Trickle, 48w-Jack Sellers, 19-Loy Allen Jr., 86w-Rich Woodland Jr.

Coca-Cola 600

The Coca-Cola 600 was held May 29 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Jeff Gordon won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 55-Jimmy Hensley, 71-Dave Marcis, 44-Bobby Hillin Jr., 89-Jim Sauter

Budweiser 500

The Budweiser 500 was held June 5 at Dover Downs International Speedway. Ernie Irvan won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 84-Norm Benning, 59-Andy Belmont

UAW-GM Teamwork 500

The UAW-GM Teamwork 500 was held June 12 at Pocono Raceway. Rusty Wallace won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 47-Billy Standridge, 59-Andy Belmont

Miller Genuine Draft 400

The Miller Genuine Draft 400 was held June 19 at Michigan International Speedway. The No. 19 of Loy Allen Jr. was on the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 71-Dave Marcis, 90-Mike Wallace, 80-Jimmy Horton, 52-Brad Teague, 34-Bob Brevak, 47-Billy Standridge, 32-Dick Trickle, 36-H. B. Bailey, 61-Rick Carelli, 43-Wally Dallenbach Jr.

Pepsi 400

The Pepsi 400 was held July 2 at Daytona International Speedway. Dale Earnhardt won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify ("Flippin' burgers" as on ESPN): 52-Brad Teague, 20-Bobby Hillin Jr., 80-Joe Ruttman, 43-Wally Dallenbach Jr., 47-Billy Standridge, 0-Delma Cowart

Slick 50 300

The Slick 50 300 was held July 10 at New Hampshire International Speedway. The No. 28 of Ernie Irvan was on the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 19-Loy Allen Jr., 43-Wally Dallenbach Jr., 54-Robert Pressley, 62-Joe Bessey, 38-Jamie Aube

Miller Genuine Draft 500

The Miller Genuine Draft 500 was held July 17 at Pocono Raceway. Geoff Bodine won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 55-Jimmy Hensley, 32-Dick Trickle, 99-Phil Parsons, 65-Jerry O'Neil

DieHard 500

The DieHard 500 was held July 24 at Talladega Superspeedway. The No. 3 of Dale Earnhardt won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 45-Rich Bickle, 32-Dick Trickle, 53-Ritchie Petty, 02-Derrike Cope, 31-Ward Burton, 95-Ben Hess, 47-Billy Standridge, 80-Joe Ruttman, 0-Delma Cowart, 89-Ronnie Sanders

Brickyard 400

The Inaugural Brickyard 400 was held August 6 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Rick Mast won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify (in order of speed): 39-Joe Ruttman, 32-Dick Trickle, 20-Randy LaJoie, 59-Jim Sauter, 29-Steve Grissom, 88-Davy Jones, 61w-Rick Carelli, 92w-John Krebs, 34-Bob Brevak, 60-Gary Bettenhausen, 52-Brad Teague, 90-Mike Wallace, 54-Robert Pressley, 81w-Jeff Davis, 57-Bob Schacht, 76w-Ron Hornaday Jr., 65-Jerry O'Neil, 00w-Scott Gaylord, 67-Ken Bouchard, 47-Billy Standridge, 12-Tim Steele, 36w-Rich Woodland Jr., 04w-Hershel McGriff, 56-Jerry Hill, 59-Andy Belmont, 36-H. B. Bailey, 84-Norm Benning, 58w-Wayne Jacks, 79-Doug French, 41w-Steve Sellers, 48 -James Hylton, 91w-Robert Sprague (crash), 95w-Lance Wade (spin), 09-Stan Fox (crash), 19-Loy Allen Jr. (crash), 48w-Jack Sellers (no speed) Did not attempt: 0-Delma Cowart, 13-Kerry Teague, 38-P. J. Jones, 82-Charlie Glotzbach, 86w-Butch Gilliland, 95-Ben Hess, 90w-Joe Heath

The Bud at The Glen

The Bud at The Glen was held August 14 at Watkins Glen International. Mark Martin won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 00-Scott Gaylord, 19-Loy Allen Jr., 98-Jeremy Mayfield, 90-Mike Wallace, 50-Brian Bonner

GM Goodwrench Dealer 400

The GM Goodwrench Dealer 400 was held August 21 at Michigan International Speedway. Geoff Bodine won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 40-Bobby Hamilton, 23-Hut Stricklin, 55-Jimmy Hensley, 54-Robert Pressley, 59-Andy Belmont, 82-Laura Lane, 52-Brad Teague, 34-Bob Brevak

Goody's 500

The Goody's 500 was held August 27 at Bristol International Raceway. Harry Gant won the final pole of his career. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 95-Jeff Green, 27-Jimmy Spencer, 71-Dave Marcis, 19-Loy Allen Jr., 55-Jimmy Hensley, 14-Phil Parsons

Mountain Dew Southern 500

The Mountain Dew Southern 500 was held on September 4 at Darlington Raceway. The No. 7 of Geoff Bodine won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 61-Rick Carelli, 57-Bob Schacht

Miller Genuine Draft 400

The Miller Genuine Draft 400 was held September 10 at Richmond International Raceway. The No. 16 of Ted Musgrave won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 47-Billy Standridge, 51-Dirk Stephens, 80-Joe Ruttman, 9-Phil Parsons, 52-Brad Teague, 01-Billy Ogle, Jr., 8-Jeff Burton

SplitFire Spark Plug 500

The SplitFire Spark Plug 500 was held September 18 at Dover Downs International Speedway. Geoff Bodine won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 84-Norm Benning, 79-Doug French, 47-Billy Standridge

Goody's 500

The Goody's 500 was held September 25 at Martinsville Speedway. Ted Musgrave won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 71-Dave Marcis, 20-Bobby Hillin Jr., 19-Loy Allen Jr., 55-Tim Fedewa, 98-Jeremy Mayfield

Tyson Holly Farms 400

The Tyson Holly Farms 400 was held October 2 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. The No. 27 of Jimmy Spencer won his first career Winston Cup pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 90-Mike Wallace, 19-Loy Allen Jr., 55-Tim Fedewa, 52-Brad Teague, 18-Dale Jarrett, 75-Todd Bodine

Mello Yello 500

The Mello Yello 500 was held October 9 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The No. 31 of Ward Burton won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 71-Dave Marcis, 9-Phil Parsons, 67-Ken Bouchard, 55-Butch Miller, 02-Brad Noffsinger, 52-Brad Teague, 78-Pancho Carter, 53-Kirk Shelmerdine, 84-Norm Benning, 95-Ben Hess, 45-Rich Bickle, 0-Delma Cowart

AC Delco 500

The AC Delco 500 was held October 23 at North Carolina Speedway. Ricky Rudd won his first ever pole driving for his own team but 21st overall pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 02-Brad Noffsinger, 52-Brad Teague, 84-Norm Benning

Slick 50 500

The Slick 50 500 was held October 30 at Phoenix International Raceway. Sterling Marlin won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 51-Jeff Purvis, 02-Brad Noffsinger, 00-Scott Gaylord, 07-Doug George, 81-Jeff Davis, 90-Joe Heath, 86-Rich Woodland Jr., 92-John Krebs, 22-St. James Davis, 95-Lance Wade, 58-Wayne Jacks

Hooters 500

The Hooters 500 was held November 13 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The No. 77 of Greg Sacks won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 55-Tim Fedewa, 98-Jeremy Mayfield, 64-Gary Wright, 47-Billy Standridge, 32-Dick Trickle, 45-Rich Bickle, 71-Dave Marcis, 80-Joe Ruttman, 35-Bill Venturini, 53-Brad Teague, 61-Rick Carelli, 34-Bob Brevak, 50-Brian Bonner

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

A record eight drivers declared intentions to run for Maxx Racing Card Rookie of the Year before the 1994 season: brothers, Ward and Jeff Burton, John Andretti, T. W. Taylor, Joe Nemechek, Steve Grissom, Rick Carelli, and Loy Allen Jr. Taylor and Carelli dropped out early after a series of DNQs, while Billy Standridge joined the rookie of the year race with Johnson-Standridge Racing in March. Mike Wallace and Jeremy Mayfield took part once they secured full-time rides in March as well. Jeff Burton, driving the No. 8 Ford for Stavola Brothers Racing, was named Rookie of the Year for 1994, posting two top-five finishes. He was followed by fellow Busch Series graduates Grissom and Nemechek, each of whom had three top-ten finishes. Allen, despite three poles, struggled to find consistency and finished far back in the standings, while Mayfield and Andretti showed promise with different rides throughout the season. Mike Wallace (who started the year at Atlanta in March) and Ward Burton were plagued by qualifying troubles all season long. Standridge ran a partial schedule and was not a factor. Rich Bickle declared to run for the award in 1993, but failed to make enough races so he was technically still eligible for the award in 1994. Although, he did not officially declare to run as a rookie for the 1994 season and was deemed ineligible for the award despite making the required number of races.