Nascar History, 1992 Winston Cup

From NASCAR.COM

As many talented drivers had the NASCAR Winston Cup in their reach, the chase for the championship would not be decided in the final race, but in the final lap.


FIVE RACES TO GO:
North Wilkesboro, NC - With five races remaining in the 1992 season, 1988 champion Bill Elliott led budding star Davey Allison by 112 points and underdog Alan Kulwicki by 191. Things would tighten up after a trip to North Wilkesboro Speedway as the caution-free event was won by Geoffrey Bodine. Bodine lapped points leader Elliott eight times under green. Davey Allison finished in 11th while Kulwicki came in 12th. Elliott's points lead was sliced to 67 over Allison and 144 over Kulwicki.

FOUR RACES TO GO:
Charlotte, NC - Mark Martin charged past race dominator Kyle Petty then held off a charging Alan Kulwicki for the race win. Martin's dominating performance vaulted him back into title contention. Points leader Bill Elliott struggled again, this time to a 30th-place finish because of a broken sway bar, allowing several drivers within striking distance of the championship. Elliott now led Davey Allison by only 39 points, Kulwicki by 47, Martin by 91, Harry Gant by 94, and Kyle Petty by 106 points.

THREE RACES TO GO:
Rockingham, NC - In the most dominating performance of the season, Kyle Petty continued his sensational second half of 1992 with a convincing win, leading all but eight of the 492 laps. Bill Elliott fought back to finish fourth, ahead of all other title contenders. Elliott found himself 70 points in front of Davey Allison, 85 ahead of Alan Kulwicki, 94 in front of race winner Petty, and 113 points ahead of Harry Gant. Mark Martin struggled throughout the race and dropped from title contention.

TWO RACES TO GO:
Phoenix, AZ - Smoke billowed from Bill Elliott's Budweiser Ford, signaling an opportunity for the other NASCAR Winston Cup title contenders. Davey Allison and Alan Kulwicki took full advantage. While Elliott finished 31st with a cracked cylinder head and overheating problems, Allison patiently made his way to the front and won his second consecutive Phoenix race. The emotional victory vaulted him back into the points lead for the first time since August. Kulwicki rac a strong fourth and moved past Elliott in the standings, as well. Heading into the season's final event at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Allison led Kulwicki by 30 points, Elliott by 40, Harry Gant by 97, Kyle Petty by 98, and Mark Martin by 113.Six drivers were still alive for the title.

FINAL RACE:
Hampton, GA - A Hollywood scriptwriter could not have penned a more exciting season finale. The Richard Petty Fan Appreciation Tour made its final stop while the battle for the 1992 NASCAR Winston Cup title raged on. Davey Allison needed to finish sixth or better to clinch the title, while Bill Elliott and Alan Kulwicki could only run their cars to the limit, hoping it would be enough. On lap 253, Allison's fate would be sealed. Allison was running sixth - good enough to clinch the title - and moving back to the front when disaster struck. Ernie Irvan's Kodak Chevrolet had a tire go down and he lost control directly in front of Rusty Wallace and Allison. Wallace miraculously avoided the spnning Irvan, but Allison was not so lucky. Allison T-boned Irvan, ending his day, leaving Elliott and Kulwicki to battle for the title. Elliott and Kulwicki ran 1-2 the entire second half of the race, swapping the lead on several occasions. It became evident that the driver who led the most laps and received the five extra bonus points would win the championship and $1 million bonus from Winston. It would come down to one lap. On lap 310, Kulwicki pitted while leading, knowing he had clinched the bonus by leading 103 of the event's 328 laps. After the fuel-only pit stops, Elliott gained the lead and drove to his fifth victory of the season. Elliott had led 102 laps. If Elliott had led one lap that Kulwicki did not, then Elliott would have received the five bonus points instead of Kulwicki, which would have left the two in a tie in season's points. In that instance, Elliott would have won the title by virtue of more wins. As it was, Elliott won the Hooters 500, but Kulwicki finished second to win the 1992 NASCAR Winston Cup championship by a scant 10 points, the narrowest margin in the sport's history.