The 1996 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 48th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 25th modern-era NASCAR Cup series. The season had been started on February 18 at Daytona International Speedway, and ended on November 10 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The season would be remembered for Terry Labonte pulling off a massive upset and winning his second Winston Cup Championship over teammate Jeff Gordon. Pontiac’s struggles in 1995 carried over to 1996, scoring just one win in the Dura Lube 500 with Bobby Hamilton. Hamilton was also the only Pontiac driver to finish in the top ten in points standings, placing ninth.

Teams and drivers

Complete schedule

Limited schedule

Schedule

Races

Busch Clash

The Busch Clash is the exhibition race that honors the drivers who won a pole in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series the previous year. Dale Jarrett won his first Busch Clash. Rick Mast won the random draw for the pole. Top ten results

Gatorade Twin 125s

The Gatorade Twin 125s, qualifying races for the Daytona 500, were held on February 15. **Race one top ten results ** Race two top ten results

Daytona 500

Top ten results:

Goodwrench Service 400

The Goodwrench Service 400 was held on February 25 at North Carolina Speedway. The #5 of Terry Labonte won the pole. Top ten results

Pontiac Excitement 400

The Pontiac Excitement 400 was run on March 3 at Richmond International Raceway. Terry Labonte won the pole. Top ten results

Purolator 500

The Purolator 500 was run on March 10 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The No. 30 of Johnny Benson won the pole, but crashed in Happy Hour, forcing him to a backup car (and to the back of the field for the start). Top ten results

TranSouth Financial 400

The TranSouth Financial 400 was run on March 24 at Darlington Raceway. Ward Burton won the pole. Top ten results

Food City 500

The Food City 500 was run on March 31 at Bristol International Raceway. Mark Martin won the pole. The race was shortened to 342 laps due to rain. Top ten results

First Union 400

The First Union 400 was run on April 14 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Terry Labonte won the pole. Top ten results

Goody's Headache Powder 500

The Goody's Headache Powder 500 was run on April 21 at Martinsville Speedway. The #41 of Ricky Craven won the pole. Top ten results

Winston Select 500

The Winston Select 500 was run on April 28 at Talladega Superspeedway. Ernie Irvan won the pole. Top 10 results

Save Mart Supermarkets 300

The Save Mart Supermarkets 300 was run on May 5 at Sears Point Raceway. Terry Labonte won the pole. Top ten results

The Winston Select

The Winston is the 2nd exhibition race run each year at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Jimmy Spencer won the Winston Select Open, while Lake Speed, Hut Stricklin, Jeff Burton and Michael Waltrip transferred into the race by finishing in the top 5. Jeff Gordon won the pole. Top ten results

Coca-Cola 600

The Coca-Cola 600 was run on May 26 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Jeff Gordon won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 78-Randy MacDonald, 63-Ed Berrier, 26-Hermie Sadler, 49-Mark Gibson, 02-Robbie Faggart, 0-Delma Cowart, 57-Steve Seligman

Miller 500 (Dover)

The Miller 500 was run on June 2 at Dover Downs International Speedway. Jeff Gordon won the pole. Top ten results

UAW-GM Teamwork 500

The UAW-GM Teamwork 500 was run on June 16 at Pocono Raceway. Jeff Gordon won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 71-Dave Marcis

Miller 400 (Michigan)

The Miller 400 was run on June 23 at Michigan Speedway. The #43 of Bobby Hamilton won the pole. Top ten results

Pepsi 400

The Pepsi 400 was run on July 6 at Daytona International Speedway. Jeff Gordon started on the pole. The race was shortened to 117 laps due to rain. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 57-Steve Seligman

Jiffy Lube 300

The Jiffy Lube 300 was run on July 14 at New Hampshire International Speedway. The #41 of Ricky Craven won the pole. Top ten results

Miller 500 (Pocono)

The Miller 500 was run on July 21 at Pocono Raceway. Mark Martin won the pole. Top ten results

DieHard 500

The DieHard 500 was run on July 28 at Talladega Superspeedway. The #98 of Jeremy Mayfield won the pole. The race was shortened to 129 laps due to darkness. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 97-Chad Little

Brickyard 400

The Brickyard 400 was run on August 3 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The #24 of Jeff Gordon won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 91-Ron Barfield Jr., 27-Jason Keller, 78-Randy MacDonald, 46-Stacy Compton, 02-Robbie Faggart, 50-A. J. Foyt, 57-Steve Seligman, 44-Jeff Purvis, 19-Loy Allen Jr., 49-Erik Smith, 63-Mike Wallace

The Bud at The Glen

The Bud at The Glen was run on August 11 at Watkins Glen International. Dale Earnhardt won the pole with a new track record of 120.733 mph while driving with the injuries suffered 2 weeks earlier. When asked what he thought of the lap, he was quoted as saying "It hurt so good." 1994 NASCAR Busch Series Champion David Green was standing by to relieve Earnhardt during the race, but Earnhardt decided to drive the full race eventually finishing 6th. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 34-Mike McLaughlin

GM Goodwrench Dealer 400

The GM Goodwrench Dealer 400 was run on August 18 at Michigan Speedway. Jeff Burton won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 14-Ron Hornaday Jr., 27-Elton Sawyer

Goody's Headache Powder 500 (Bristol)

The Goody's Headache Powder 500 was run on August 24 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Mark Martin won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 77-Bobby Hillin Jr.

Mountain Dew Southern 500

The Mountain Dew Southern 500 was run on September 1 at Darlington Raceway. Dale Jarrett won the pole and had the chance to win the Winston Million if he won the race. Jarrett lost his chance at the bonus after hitting oil early in the race. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 78-Randy MacDonald, 87-Joe Nemechek, 40-Jay Sauter, 02-Robbie Faggart

Miller 400 (Richmond)

The Miller 400 was run on September 7 at Richmond International Raceway. Mark Martin won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 46-Stacy Compton, 40-Jay Sauter, 95-Gary Bradberry

MBNA 500

The MBNA 500 was run on September 15 at Dover Downs International Speedway. Bobby Labonte won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 49-Eric Smith

Hanes 500

The Hanes 500 was run on September 22 at Martinsville Speedway. Bobby Hamilton won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 12-Derrike Cope, 11-Brett Bodine, 29-Chad Little, 22-Ward Burton, 78-Billy Standridge, 95-Gary Bradberry

Tyson Holly Farms 400

The Tyson Holly Farms 400 was run on September 29 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Ted Musgrave won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 22-Ward Burton, 90-Dick Trickle, 95-Gary Bradberry

UAW-GM Quality 500

The UAW-GM Quality 500 was run on October 6 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The #18 of Bobby Labonte won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 87-Joe Nemechek, 95-Gary Bradberry, 71-Dave Marcis, 02-Robbie Faggart, 0-Delma Cowart

AC Delco 400

The AC Delco 400 was run on October 20 at North Carolina Motor Speedway. Dale Jarrett won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 60-Ed Berrier, 79-Norm Benning, 82-Terry Byers

Dura Lube 500

The Dura Lube 500 was run on October 27 at Phoenix International Raceway. Bobby Labonte won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 20-Mark Krogh, 00-Scott Gaylord, 35-Larry Gunselman, 38-Rich Woodland, 03-Joe Bean, 02-Bill McAnally

NAPA 500

The NAPA 500 was run on November 10 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Bobby Labonte won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: 12-Derrike Cope, 37-Jeremy Mayfield, 90-Dick Trickle, 81-Kenny Wallace, 27-Ron Barfield Jr., 42-Kyle Petty

NASCAR Suzuka Thunder Special

The NASCAR Suzuka Thunder Special was a non-points exhibition race ran on November 23 at Suzuka Circuit - East Circuit. Rusty Wallace won the pole. This was the first ever NASCAR race in Japan. Top ten results

Results and standings

Drivers' championship

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

• – Most laps led.

Owners' championship

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

• – Most laps led.

Rookie of the Year

Johnny Benson was the only rookie to make a full-time run in the 1996 season, making him the 1996 Rookie of the Year. Benson ended the year with one top 5, six top 10s, and one pole. Randy MacDonald and Stacy Compton made attempts at the award as well, but did not run enough times to catch Benson.