1989 Winston 500

The 1989 Winston 500 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series (now the NASCAR Cup Series) event held at Talladega Superspeedway on May 7, 1989. Davey Allison dominated the race, leading 94 of the 188 laps and holding off Terry Labonte by two carlengths for victory. Points leader Dale Earnhardt finished 8th to protect a 77-point championship lead on Darrell Waltrip (5th).

Background
Talladega Superspeedway, originally known as Alabama International Motor Superspeedway (AIMS), is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama. It is located on the former in the small city of Lincoln. The track is a Tri-oval and was constructed by International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France Family, in the 1960s. Talladega is most known for its steep banking and the unique location of the start/finish line - located just past the exit to pit road. The track currently hosts the NASCAR series such as the Sprint Cup Series, Xfinity Series, and the Camping World Truck Series. Talladega Superspeedway is the longest NASCAR oval with a length of 2.66 mi, and the track at its peak had a of 175,000 spectators.

Summary

 * This was the first race for the new Chevrolet Lumina race car.
 * This race marked the end of the first tire war, as Hoosier Racing Tire left NASCAR when they could not sell enough tires to be economically viable. Hoosier returned to the Winston Cup Series in 1994, but left for good after that season.
 * This was Robert Yates Racing's first race victory.
 * Derrike Cope brings his Purolator sponsorship to the Bob Whitcomb team as their new driver. Sadly he was involved in the race's final caution in the big one crashing out of the race, finishing 30th.