1985 Daytona 500

1985 Daytona 500
Race details[1]
Race 1 of 28 in the 1985 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season
1985 Daytona 500 program cover
1985 Daytona 500 program cover
Date February 17, 1985 (1985-02-17)
Location Daytona International Speedway
Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S.
Course Permanent racing facility
2.5 mi (4.023 km)
Distance 200 laps, 500 mi (804.672 km)
Weather Temperatures of 73 °F (23 °C);
wind speeds of 14 mph (23 km/h)[2]
Average speed 172.265 mph (277.234 km/h)
Pole position
Driver
Melling Racing
Qualifying race winners
Duel 1 Winner Bill Elliott Melling Racing
Duel 2 Winner Cale Yarborough Ranier-Lundy
Most laps led
Driver Bill Elliott Melling Racing
Laps 136
Winner
No. 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing
Television in the United States
Network CBS
Announcers Host: Chris Economaki
Lap-by-lap: Ken Squier
Driver analyst: David Hobbs
Driver analyst: Ned Jarrett
Pit reporter: Chris Economaki
Pit reporter: Mike Joy
Nielsen Ratings 8.3/23
(9.8 million viewers)

The 1985 Daytona 500, the 27th running of the event, was held on February 17, 1985, at Daytona International Speedway, in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Race report

Bill Elliott won the pole at a then-record speed of 205.114 mph. After a mediocre run in the Busch Clash, Elliott nearly lapped the field in his 125-mile qualifying race, then thoroughly dominated the Daytona 500, leading 136 of the 200 laps in his #9 Coors/Melling Ford Thunderbird. The race restarted on the last lap after a Neil Bonnett spin out with less than four laps to go; Bonnett got out of his car and was credited for a 10th-place finish. The race saw a number of engine problems, which knocked many of the contenders, including former Daytona 500 winners David Pearson, A. J. Foyt, Benny Parsons, Bobby Allison, and two-time defending race winner Cale Yarborough, who was trying to win his third straight Daytona 500 victory.[3]

The only car that could consistently run with Elliott was Cale Yarborough, and when his engine went up in smoke on lap 62 the race was for all intents and purposes over.[1] Hendrick Motorsports landed its first big-time full-season sponsorship for 1985 with Levi Garrett chewing tobacco coming aboard to sponsor the #5 Chevrolet of Geoff Bodine. The car's first points race in its new yellow-and-white paint scheme saw Bodine post a solid top-10 run, kicking off a several-year partnership.[1]

There were 12 cars that were knocked out just from engine problems; with a lot of big names affected (Neil Bonnett, who somehow finished 10th even with a blown engine; defending champion Terry Labonte; both Parsons brothers; Kyle Petty; Harry Gant; David Pearson; Bobby Allison and 2-time defending Daytona 500 champion Cale Yarborough among them).[1]

Qualifying

Qualifying results

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Speed
1 9 Bill Elliott Harry Melling Ford Thunderbird 205.114
2 28 Cale Yarborough Harry Ranier Ford Thunderbird 203.814
3 11 Darrell Waltrip Junior Johnson Chevrolet Monte Carlo
4 21 David Pearson Hoss Ellington Chevrolet Monte Carlo
5 55 Benny Parsons Leo/Richard Jackson Chevrolet Monte Carlo
6 7 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Ford Thunderbird
7 88 Buddy Baker Buddy Baker/Danny Schiff Oldsmobile Cutlass
8 43 Richard Petty Mike Curb Pontiac Grand Prix
9 15 Ricky Rudd Bud Moore Ford Thunderbird
10 33 Harry Gant Hal Needham Chevrolet Monte Carlo
11 1 Dick Brooks Petty Enterprises Ford Thunderbird
12 66 Phil Parsons Leo/Richard Jackson Chevrolet Monte Carlo
13 51 Greg Sacks Arnie Sacks Chevrolet Monte Carlo
14 75 Lake Speed RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac Grand Prix
15 47 Ron Bouchard Jack Beebe Buick Regal
16 14 A. J. Foyt A. J. Foyt Oldsmobile Cutlass
17 5 Geoff Bodine Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Monte Carlo
18 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Chevrolet Monte Carlo
19 12 Neil Bonnett Junior Johnson Chevrolet Monte Carlo
20 95 Sterling Marlin Sadler Brothers Chevrolet Monte Carlo
21 71 Dave Marcis Dave Marcis Chevrolet Monte Carlo
22 2 Rusty Wallace Cliff Stewart Pontiac Grand Prix
23 10 Doug Heveron Tom Heveron Chevrolet Monte Carlo
24 90 Ken Schrader Junie Donlavey Ford Thunderbird
25 52 Jimmy Means Jimmy Means Chevrolet Monte Carlo
26 74 Bobby Wawak Bobby Wawak Chevrolet Monte Carlo
27 48 Lennie Pond James Hylton Chevrolet Monte Carlo
28 89 Jim Sauter Mueller Brothers Pontiac Grand Prix
29 84 Mike Alexander Sims Brothers Chevrolet Monte Carlo
30 0 Delma Cowart H.L. Waters Chevrolet Monte Carlo
31 44 Terry Labonte Billy Hagan Chevrolet Monte Carlo
32 4 Joe Ruttman Larry McClure Chevrolet Monte Carlo
33 27 Tim Richmond Raymond Beadle Pontiac Grand Prix
34 22 Bobby Allison DiGard Buick Regal
35 98 Trevor Boys Ron Benfield Chevrolet Monte Carlo
36 67 Morgan Shepherd Buddy Arrington Chrysler Imperial
36 17 Ken Ragan Roger Hamby Chevrolet Monte Carlo
37 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Chevrolet Monte Carlo
38 64 Clark Dwyer Elmo Langley Ford Thunderbird
39 31 Slick Johnson Henley Gray Chevrolet Monte Carlo
Source[4]

Failed to qualify

Car # Driver Car Make
00 Jody Ridley Chevrolet Monte Carlo
05 Dean Roper Ford Thunderbird
6 Eddie Bierschwale Chevrolet Monte Carlo
06 Joe Thurman Chevrolet Monte Carlo
07 Randy LaJoie Chevrolet Monte Carlo
08 Craig Spetman Chevrolet Monte Carlo
19 Bob Park Pontiac Grand Prix
20 Rick Newsom Chevrolet Monte Carlo
37 Satch Worley Chevrolet Monte Carlo
41 Glenn Jarrett Chevrolet Monte Carlo
42 Tom Sneva Pontiac Grand Prix
53 Donny Paul Chevrolet Monte Carlo
65 Joey Sonntag Chevrolet Monte Carlo
70 J.D. McDuffie Chevrolet Monte Carlo
77 Davey Allison (R) Chevrolet Monte Carlo
79 Dick Skillen Chevrolet Monte Carlo
82 Mark Stahl Ford Thunderbird
99 Connie Saylor Chevrolet Monte Carlo
Source[4]

Finishing Order

Pos Grid No. Driver Car Make Laps Status Laps
led 		Points
1 1 9 Bill Elliott Ford Thunderbird 200 2:54:09 136 185 (10)
2 14 75 Lake Speed Pontiac Grand Prix 200 +0.94 seconds 2 175 (5)
3 3 11 Darrell Waltrip Chevrolet Monte Carlo 199 Flagged 165
4 7 88 Buddy Baker Oldsmobile Cutlass 199 Flagged 160
5 9 15 Ricky Rudd Ford Thunderbird 199 Flagged 155
6 13 51 Greg Sacks Chevrolet Monte Carlo 199 Flagged 2 155 (5)
7 17 5 Geoffrey Bodine Chevrolet Monte Carlo 198 Flagged 146
8 22 2 Rusty Wallace Pontiac Grand Prix 197 Flagged 142
9 38 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Chevrolet Monte Carlo 197 Flagged 138
10 19 12 Neil Bonnett Chevrolet Monte Carlo 195 Engine 22 139 (5)
11 24 90 Ken Schrader Ford Thunderbird 195 Flagged 130
12 29 84 Mike Alexander Chevrolet Monte Carlo 194 Flagged 127
13 26 74 Bobby Wawak Chevrolet Monte Carlo 192 Flagged 124
14 25 52 Jimmy Means Chevrolet Monte Carlo 192 Flagged 121
15 36 67 Morgan Shepherd Chrysler Imperial 190 Flagged 118
16 20 95 Sterling Marlin Chevrolet Monte Carlo 188 Oil pump 115
17 32 4 Joe Ruttman Chevrolet Monte Carlo 185 Transmission 112
18 39 64 Clark Dwyer Ford Thunderbird 182 Flagged 109
19 27 48 Lennie Pond Chevrolet Monte Carlo 178 Crash 106
20 40 31 Slick Johnson Chevrolet Monte Carlo 175 Flagged 103
21 37 17 Ken Ragan Chevrolet Monte Carlo 172 Flagged 100
22 11 1 Dick Brooks Ford Thunderbird 171 Wheel 97
23 28 89 Jim Sauter Pontiac Grand Prix 161 Flagged 94
24 21 71 Dave Marcis Chevrolet Monte Carlo 156 Clutch 91
25 31 44 Terry Labonte Chevrolet Monte Carlo 154 Engine 2 93 (5)
26 10 33 Harry Gant Chevrolet Monte Carlo 124 Engine 1 90 (5)
27 35 98 Trevor Boys Chevrolet Monte Carlo 103 Rear end 82
28 4 21 David Pearson Chevrolet Monte Carlo 98 Engine 79
29 12 66 Phil Parsons Chevrolet Monte Carlo 91 Engine 76
30 16 14 A. J. Foyt Oldsmobile Cutlass 90 Engine 73
31 5 55 Benny Parsons Chevrolet Monte Carlo 84 Engine 70
32 18 3 Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet Monte Carlo 84 Engine 67
33 34 22 Bobby Allison Buick Regal 82 Engine 1 69 (5)
34 8 43 Richard Petty (W) Pontiac Grand Prix 80 Clutch 2 66 (5)
35 33 27 Tim Richmond Pontiac Grand Prix 66 Crash 58
36 2 28 Cale Yarborough Ford Thunderbird 62 Engine 32 60 (5)
37 6 7 Kyle Petty Ford Thunderbird 58 Engine 52
38 15 47 Ron Bouchard Buick Regal 45 Camshaft 49
39 23 10 Doug Heveron Chevrolet Monte Carlo 44 Engine 46
40 30 0 Delma Cowart Chevrolet Monte Carlo 38 Oil leak 43
Source[1]

(5) Indicates 5 bonus points added to normal race points scored for leading 1 lap
(10) Indicates 10 bonus points added to normal race points scored for leading 1 lap & leading the most laps[4]

Cautions

5 for 18 laps[1]

From
Lap 		To
Lap 		Number
of laps 		Reason
72 77 6 Car #27 accident, backstretch
162 164 3 Car #71 stalled, turn 4
174 176 3 Car #1 accident, turn 2
192 194 3 Car #48 spin, frontstretch
197 199 3 Car #12 engine

Lap Leader Breakdown

Lead changes: 22[1]

Driver From
Lap 		To
Lap 		Number
of Laps
Bill Elliott 1 2 2
Cale Yarborough 3 4 2
Bill Elliott 5 14 10
Cale Yarborough 15 24 10
Bill Elliott 25 35 11
Richard Petty 36 37 2
Greg Sacks 38 38 1
Terry Labonte 39 40 1
Cale Yarborough 41 60 20
Bill Elliott 61 72 12
Bobby Allison 73 73 1
Bill Elliott 74 107 34
Neil Bonnett 108 110 3
Harry Gant 111 111 1
Greg Sacks 112 112 1
Bill Elliott 113 144 32
Lake Speed 145 146 2
Neil Bonnett 147 154 8
Bill Elliott 155 165 11
Neil Bonnett 166 173 8
Bill Elliott 174 191 18
Neil Bonnett 192 194 3
Bill Elliott 195 200 6

Notes

  • This was Chrysler's last entry in the Daytona 500 as Mopar disappeared from the sport (Cup racing) completely until 2001. Morgan Shepherd drove Buddy Arrington's Chrysler's Imperial to a solid 15th place finish.[1] Until 2016, this was the last Daytona 500 with a field of 40 cars.[1]

Standings after the race

Pos Driver Points[4] Difference
1 Bill Elliott 185 0
2 Lake Speed 175 -10
3 Darrell Waltrip 165 -20
4 Buddy Baker 160 -25
5 Ricky Rudd 155 -30
5 Greg Sacks 155 -30
7 Geoffrey Bodine 146 -39
8 Rusty Wallace 142 -43
9 Neil Bonnett 139 -46
10 Bobby Hillin Jr. 138 -47

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "1985 Daytona 500". Racing-Reference. 17 February 1985. Retrieved 25 February 2011.
  2. ^ "Weather of the 1985 Daytona 500". The Old Farmers' Almanac. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  3. ^ Mark Aumann, Turner Sports Interactive (29 January 2003). "1985: Absolutely awesome – January 29, 2003". NASCAR.com. Retrieved 25 February 2011.
  4. ^ a b c d "1985 Daytona 500". Racing-Reference. Retrieved 3 July 2017.