NASCAR season
The 1990 NASCAR Busch Series began February 17, 1990 and ended October 28, 1990. Chuck Bown of Hensley Motorsports won the championship.
Teams and drivers
Complete schedule
Limited schedule
Races
Goody's 300
The Goody's 300 was held February 17 at Daytona International Speedway. Darrell Waltrip won the pole.
Top ten results
- 3-Dale Earnhardt
- 7-Harry Gant
- 46-Greg Sacks*
- 25-Jimmy Hensley
- 41-Elton Sawyer
- 44-Bobby Labonte
- 58-Ernie Irvan
- 87-Joe Nemechek
- 32-Dale Jarrett
- 2-L. D. Ottinger
Did not qualify: Randy MacDonald (#16), Rick Ware (#62), Billy Standridge (#47), Bobby Dotter (#08), Mike Porter (#35), Ben Hess (#9), Joe Thurman (#24), Rich Bickle (#00), Patty Moise (#45), Geoff Bodine (#01), Randy LaJoie (#71), Steve Park (#84).
- The No. 46 car of Sacks was entered for in-race footage for the 1990 film Days of Thunder.
Pontiac 200
The Pontiac 200 was held February 24 at Richmond International Raceway. Michael Waltrip won the pole.
Top ten results
- 30-Michael Waltrip
- 3-Dale Earnhardt
- 44-Bobby Labonte
- 32-Dale Jarrett
- 36-Kenny Wallace
- 63-Chuck Bown
- 96-Tom Peck
- 4-Elton Sawyer
- 8-Bobby Hamilton
- 99-Tommy Ellis
Did not qualify: Steve Grissom (#31), Frank Fleming (#33), Clifford Allison (#34).
Goodwrench 200
The Goodwrench 200 was held March 3 at North Carolina Speedway. Harry Gant won the pole.
Top ten results
- 3-Dale Earnhardt
- 42-Kyle Petty
- 36-Kenny Wallace
- 7-Harry Gant
- 58-Ernie Irvan
- 99-Tommy Ellis
- 32-Dale Jarrett
- 1-Mark Martin 1 lap down
- 44-Bobby Labonte 1 lap down
- 25-Jimmy Hensley 1 lap down
Miller Classic
The Miller Classic was a 200 lap race held March 11 at Martinsville Speedway. Tommy Ellis won the pole.
Top ten results
- 6-Tommy Houston
- 27-Elton Sawyer
- 32-Dale Jarrett
- 25-Jimmy Hensley
- 8-Bobby Hamilton
- 08-Bobby Dotter
- 96-Tom Peck
- 42-Todd Bodine
- 99-Tommy Ellis
- 63-Chuck Bown
Did not qualify: Jack Ingram (#11).
Mountain Dew 400
The Mountain Dew 400 was held March 25 at Hickory Motor Speedway. Chuck Bown won the pole.
Top ten results
- 6-Tommy Houston
- 99-Tommy Ellis
- 63-Chuck Bown
- 59-Robert Pressley
- 44-Bobby Labonte
- 36-Kenny Wallace 1 lap down
- 11-Jack Ingram 1 lap down
- 31-Steve Grissom 1 lap down
- 7-Harry Gant 1 lap down
- 27-Elton Sawyer 2 laps down
Did not qualify: Clifford Allison (#34).
Pontiac 200
The Pontiac 200 was held March 31 at Darlington Raceway. Kenny Wallace won the pole.
Top ten results
- 7-Harry Gant
- 44-Bobby Labonte
- 52-Ken Schrader
- 2-L. D. Ottinger
- 25-Jimmy Hensley
- 17-Darrell Waltrip
- 6-Tommy Houston
- 36-Kenny Wallace 1 lap down
- 12-Jeff Burton 1 lap down
- 4-Ed Berrier 1 lap down
Budweiser 250
The Budweiser 250 was held April 7 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Bobby Labonte won the pole.
Top ten results
- 2-L. D. Ottinger
- 32-Dale Jarrett
- 42-Kyle Petty
- 1-Mark Martin
- 3-Dale Earnhardt
- 25-Jimmy Hensley 1 lap down
- 96-Tom Peck 2 laps down
- 44-Bobby Labonte 2 laps down
- 87-Joe Nemechek 2 laps down
- 63-Chuck Bown 2 laps down
- This race is best remembered for an infamous wreck involving Michael Waltrip. Waltrip's #30 Pontiac Grand Prix hit the wall at the crossover gate in turn 2. The gate was not locked properly, so it opened, sending the #30 into the blunt end of the wall. The car was literally ripped apart. Miraculously, Waltrip emerged unscathed and competed in the Winston Cup Series' Valleydale Meats 500 the next day.
U-Can-Rent 200
The U-Can-Rent 200 was held April 28 at Lanier National Speedway. Chuck Bown won the pole.
Top ten results
- 63-Chuck Bown*
- 36-Kenny Wallace
- 99-Tommy Ellis
- 8-Bobby Hamilton 1 lap down
- 31-Steve Grissom 1 lap down
- 79-Dave Rezendes 1 lap down
- 44-Bobby Labonte 1 lap down
- 08-Bobby Dotter 1 lap down
- 25-Jimmy Hensley 1 lap down
- 59-Robert Pressley 2 laps down
Roses Stores 200
The Roses Stores 200 was held May 5 at South Boston Speedway. Jimmy Hensley won the pole.
Top ten results
- 63-Chuck Bown
- 12-Jeff Burton
- 31-Steve Grissom
- 25-Jimmy Hensley
- 22-Rick Mast
- 6-Tommy Houston
- 8-Bobby Hamilton
- 11-Jack Ingram
- 59-Robert Pressley
- 27-Elton Sawyer
Pontiac 300
The Pontiac 300 was held May 12 at Nazareth Speedway. Davey Allison won the pole.
Top ten results
- 25-Jimmy Hensley
- 79-Dave Rezendes
- 63-Chuck Bown
- 9-Morgan Shepherd
- 31-Steve Grissom
- 26-Davey Johnson
- 36-Kenny Wallace
- 8-Bobby Hamilton
- 6-Tommy Houston
- 28-Davey Allison
Granger Select 200
The Granger Select 200 was held May 19 at Hickory Motor Speedway. Chuck Bown won the pole.
Top ten results
- 63-Chuck Bown
- 6-Tommy Houston
- 77-Jimmy Spencer
- 59-Robert Pressley
- 44-Bobby Labonte
- 8-Bobby Hamilton
- 31-Steve Grissom
- 22-Rick Mast
- 7-Harry Gant 1 lap down
- 36-Kenny Wallace 1 lap down
Champion 300
The Champion 300 was held May 26 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Dick Trickle won the pole.
Top ten results
- 32-Dale Jarrett
- 92-Dick Trickle
- 7-Harry Gant
- 48-Sterling Marlin
- 99-Tommy Ellis
- 28-Davey Allison
- 25-Jimmy Hensley
- 3-Dale Earnhardt
- 36-Kenny Wallace
- 44-Bobby Labonte
Did not qualify: Jack Ingram (#11), Bobby Dotter (#08), Ward Burton (#9), Jeff McClure (#83), Ken Bouchard (#72), Jeff Berry (#61), Todd Taylor (#29), Ed Berrier (#4).
Budweiser 200
The Budweiser 200 was held June 2 at Dover International Speedway. Bobby Labonte won the pole.
Top ten results
- 30-Michael Waltrip
- 7-Harry Gant
- 44-Bobby Labonte
- 96-Tom Peck
- 56-Ronald Cooper
- 6-Tommy Houston
- 33-Dick Trickle
- 63-Chuck Bown
- 27-Elton Sawyer
- 11-Jack Ingram
Did not qualify: Ed Berrier (#4), Dave Lind (#10), Dale Jarrett (#32), Kyle Petty (#42), Rick Carelli (#46), Mike McLaughlin (#51), Jimmy Spencer (#58), Randy LaJoie (#71), Dennis Curtis (#81), Stanley Smith (#94).
Roses Stores 200
The Roses Stores 200 was held June 9 at Orange County Speedway. Jeff Burton won the pole. The race was televised by SportsChannel.
Top ten results
- 63-Chuck Bown
- 79-Dave Rezendes
- 11-Jack Ingram
- 8-Bobby Hamilton
- 12-Jeff Burton
- 34-Jack Sprague
- 42-Todd Bodine
- 86-Dana Patten
- 96-Tom Peck
- 44-Bobby Labonte 1 lap down
- This race featured a thrilling race for the lead late in the event. Bown, Rezendes and Ingram were 3 wide for the lead with about 20 laps to go.
Firecracker 200
The Firecracker 200 was held June 23 at Volusia County Speedway. Chuck Bown won the pole.
Top ten results
- 6-Tommy Houston
- 27-Elton Sawyer
- 8-Bobby Hamilton
- 31-Steve Grissom
- 63-Chuck Bown
- 87-Joe Nemechek
- 11-Jack Ingram
- 25-Jimmy Hensley
- 08-Bobby Dotter
- 79-Dave Rezendes
Carolina Pride/Budweiser 200
The Carolina Pride/Budweiser 200 was held June 30 at Myrtle Beach Speedway. Tommy Ellis won the pole.
Top ten results
- 1-Mark Martin
- 2-L. D. Ottinger
- 36-Kenny Wallace
- 08-Bobby Dotter
- 87-Joe Nemechek
- 56-Dave Mader III
- 99-Tommy Ellis
- 96-Tom Peck -1 lap
- 63-Chuck Bown -1 lap
- 44-Bobby Labonte -1 lap
True Value Oxford 250
The True Value Oxford 250 was a 250 green flag lap race held July 8 at Oxford Plains Speedway in Oxford, Maine. Joey Kourafas won the pole.
Top ten results
- 63-Chuck Bown
- 6-Tommy Houston
- 01-Joey Kourafas
- 22-Rick Mast
- 79-Dave Rezendes 1 lap down
- 41-Jamie Aube 1 lap down
- 44-Bobby Labonte 1 lap down
- 31-Steve Grissom 2 laps down
- 7-Billy Clark 2 laps down
- 15-Mike Rowe 3 laps down
Did not qualify: Wes Rosner (#4), Barney McRae (#5), Bob Brunell (#17), Davey Johnson (#26), Ed St. Angelo (#33), Patty Moise (#45), Mike McLaughlin (#51), Bruce Haley (#52), Mike Olsen (#61), Dean Chrystal (#65), Dave Smith (#84), Joe Nemechek (#87), Larry Caron (#88)
NOTE: This is a joint Busch/Busch North series race. Under the rules of Oxford Plains Speedway for the Oxford 250, only green flag laps count towards the 250-lap distance.
Budweiser 300
The inaugural Budweiser 300 was held July 15 at New Hampshire International Speedway. The #25 of Jimmy Hensley won the pole.
Top ten results
- 99-Tommy Ellis
- 7-Harry Gant
- 63-Chuck Bown
- 9-Morgan Shepherd
- 22-Rick Mast
- 51-Mike McLaughlin
- 3-Dale Earnhardt
- 32-Dale Jarrett
- 08-Bobby Dotter
- 96-Tom Peck
Did not qualify: Joey Kourafas (#01), Joe Bessey (#09), Steve Park (#84), Mike Rowe (#15), Herb Simpson (#03), Jeff Barry (#23), Larry Brolsma (#18), Dave Davis (#21), Barney McRae (#5), Dale Shaw (#60), Ricky Miller (#06), Stub Fadden (#16), Gary Schwab (#89), Dave Lind (#0), Alan Strobridge (#6), Mike Weeden (#35), Bobby Gada (#36), Patty Moise (#45), Donny Ling Jr. (#66).
- Bobby Labonte had flipped in this race when he was clipped hard, got it upside down, hit the wall and tumbled 2 times.
Coors 200
The Coors 200 was held July 21 at South Boston Speedway. The #25 of Jimmy Hensley won the pole.
Top ten results
- 6-Tommy Houston
- 63-Chuck Bown
- 8-Bobby Hamilton
- 22-Rick Mast
- 31-Steve Grissom
- 9-Ward Burton 1 lap down
- 99-Tommy Ellis 1 lap down
- 44-Bobby Labonte 2 laps down
- 21-Tommy Sigmon 2 laps down
- 33-Ed Berrier 2 laps down
Granger Select 200
The Granger Select 200 was held July 28 at New River Valley Speedway in Dublin, Virginia. Steve Grissom won the pole.
Top ten results
- 31-Steve Grissom*
- 63-Chuck Bown
- 25-Jimmy Hensley
- 6-Tommy Houston
- 87-Joe Nemechek
- 79-Dave Rezendes
- 9-Ward Burton
- 59-Robert Pressley
- 36-Kenny Wallace
- 35-Mike Porter
Kroger 200
The Kroger 200 was held August 4 at Indianapolis Raceway Park. The #25 of Jimmy Hensley won the pole.
Top ten results
- 31-Steve Grissom
- 75-Ernie Irvan
- 3-Dale Earnhardt
- 63-Chuck Bown
- 59-Robert Pressley
- 27-Elton Sawyer
- 96-Tom Peck
- 33-Ed Berrier
- 79-Dave Rezendes
- 56-Dave Mader III
Texas Pete 200
The Texas Pete 200 was held August 11 at Orange County Speedway. The #33 of Ed Berrier won the pole.
Top ten results
- 63-Chuck Bown
- 2-L. D. Ottinger
- 59-Robert Pressley
- 25-Jimmy Hensley
- 27-Elton Sawyer
- 8-Bobby Hamilton 1 lap down
- 08-Bobby Dotter 1 lap down
- 85-Bobby Moon 1 lap down
- 99-Tommy Ellis 1 lap down
- 22-Rick Mast 2 laps down
Jay Johnson 250
The Jay Johnson 250 was held August 24 at Bristol Motor Speedway. The #44 of Bobby Labonte won the pole.
Top ten results
- 22-Rick Mast
- 32-Dale Jarrett
- 31-Steve Grissom
- 79-Dave Rezendes
- 6-Tommy Houston
- 1-Mark Martin
- 8-Bobby Hamilton
- 28-Davey Allison 1 lap down
- 99-Tommy Ellis 1 lap down
- 25-Jimmy Hensley 1 lap down
Did not qualify: Harry Gant (#7), Morgan Shepherd (#9), Jack Ingram (#11).
Gatorade 200
The Gatorade 200 was held September 1 at Darlington Raceway. The #17 of Greg Sacks won the pole.
Top ten results
- 32-Dale Jarrett
- 7-Harry Gant
- 30-Michael Waltrip
- 42-Bobby Hillin Jr.
- 25-Jimmy Hensley
- 9-Morgan Shepherd
- 28-Davey Allison
- 56-Dave Mader III 1 lap down
- 36-Kenny Wallace 1 lap down
- 44-Bobby Labonte 1 lap down
Autolite 200
The Autolite 200 was held September 8 at Richmond International Raceway. Michael Waltrip won the pole.
Top ten results
- 22-Rick Mast
- 31-Steve Grissom
- 30-Michael Waltrip
- 3-Dale Earnhardt
- 25-Jimmy Hensley
- 36-Kenny Wallace
- 59-Robert Pressley
- 32-Dale Jarrett
- 96-Tom Peck
- 7-Harry Gant
Ames/Splitfire 200
The Ames/Splitfire 200 was held September 15 at Dover International Speedway. The #99 of Tommy Ellis won the pole.
Top ten results
- 7-Harry Gant
- 22-Rick Mast
- 81-Todd Bodine
- 32-Dale Jarrett
- 8-Bobby Hamilton
- 96-Tom Peck 1 lap down
- 31-Steve Grissom 2 laps down
- 36-Kenny Wallace 2 laps down
- 56-Dave Mader III 2 laps down
- 25-Jimmy Hensley 2 laps down
Zerex 150
The Zerex 150 was held September 22 at Martinsville Speedway. The #22 of Rick Mast won the pole.
Top ten results
- 12-Jeff Burton*
- 59-Robert Pressley
- 32-Dale Jarrett
- 85-Bobby Moon
- 2-L. D. Ottinger
- 75-Jimmy Spencer
- 25-Jimmy Hensley
- 36-Kenny Wallace
- 08-Bobby Dotter
- 56-Dave Mader III
All Pro 300
The All Pro 300 was held October 6 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The #63 of Chuck Bown won the pole.
Top ten results
- 48-Sterling Marlin*
- 15-Greg Sacks
- 32-Dale Jarrett
- 3-Dale Earnhardt
- 8-Bobby Hamilton
- 6-Tommy Houston
- 9-Ward Burton
- 56-Dave Mader III
- 96-Tom Peck
- 52-Ken Schrader
NE Chevy 250
The inaugural NE Chevy 250 was held October 14 at New Hampshire International Speedway. Ricky Craven won the pole.
Top ten results
- 22-Rick Mast
- 44-Bobby Labonte
- 51-Mike McLaughlin
- 25-Ricky Craven
- 99-Tommy Ellis 1 lap down
- 27-Elton Sawyer 1 lap down
- 08-Bobby Dotter 1 lap down
- 85-Bobby Moon 1 lap down
- 12-Jeff Burton 1 lap down
- 33-Ed Berrier 1 lap down
AC-Delco 200
The AC-Delco 200 was held October 20 at North Carolina Speedway. Dave Mader III won the pole.
Top ten results
- 31-Steve Grissom
- 3-Dale Earnhardt
- 97-Morgan Shepherd
- 1-Mark Martin
- 56-Dave Mader III
- 28-Davey Allison
- 7-Harry Gant 1 lap down
- 99-Tommy Ellis 1 lap down
- 32-Dale Jarrett 1 lap down
- 42-Bobby Hillin Jr. 1 lap down
Did not qualify: Richard Lasater (#05), Rich Burgess (#37), Barry Bostick (#39), Jimmy Spencer (#75), Joe Nemechek (#87), Randy Baker (#88).
Winston Classic
The Winston Classic was a 200 lap race held October 28 at Martinsville Speedway. The #63 of Chuck Bown won the pole.
Top ten results
- 31-Steve Grissom
- 6-Tommy Houston
- 96-Tom Peck
- 51-Mike McLaughlin
- 11-Jack Ingram
- 40-Mike Wallace
- 44-Bobby Labonte
- 8-Bobby Hamilton
- 2-L. D. Ottinger
- 62-John Linville
Did not qualify: Mark Prestwood (#77), Jeff Gordon (#67), Doug Didero (#70).
Full Drivers' Championship
(key) Bold – Pole position awarded by time. Italics – Pole position set by owner's points. * – Most laps led. ** - All laps led.
Rookie of the Year
Joe Nemechek was named the 1990 NASCAR Busch Series Rookie of the Year, posting two top-five finishes and garnering a seventeenth-place points finish despite missing three races. The top runner-up was Bobby Moon, followed closely Ward Burton and Dana Patten, the only other candidates to try a full schedule. Among the other rookies in 1990 were Jack Sprague, Dave Mader III, and Clifford Allison.
See also