1996 NASCAR Busch Series

The 1996 NASCAR Busch Series began February 17 and ended November 3. Randy LaJoie of BACE Motorsports was crowned the series champion.

Teams and drivers

List of full-time teams at the start of 1996.

Races

Goody's Headache Powder 300

The Goody's Headache Powder 300 was held February 17 at Daytona International Speedway. Jeff Purvis won the pole.

Top ten results

#29–Steve Grissom
#32–Dale Jarrett
#60–Mark Martin
#92– Larry Pearson
#63– Curtis Markham
#43–Rodney Combs
#74– Randy LaJoie
#26–Derrike Cope
#44–Bobby Labonte
#20–Jimmy Spencer
*This was the first NASCAR start for Tony Stewart.

Goodwrench Service 200

The Goodwrench Service 200 was held February 24 at North Carolina Speedway. Mark Martin won the pole.

Top ten results

#60–Mark Martin
#34– Mike McLaughlin
#4–Jeff Purvis
#2–Ricky Craven
#44–Bobby Labonte
#95– David Green
#74– Randy LaJoie
#57– Jason Keller
#5–Terry Labonte
#81–Todd Bodine

Hardee's Fried Chicken Challenge 250

The Hardee's Fried Chicken Challenge 250 was Held March 2 at Richmond International Raceway. Jeff Purvis won the pole.

Top ten results

#4–Jeff Purvis
#87–Joe Nemechek
#95– David Green
#90–Mike Wallace
#63– Curtis Markham
#74– Randy LaJoie
#57– Jason Keller
#81–Todd Bodine
#32–Dale Jarrett
#5–Terry Labonte

Busch Light 300

The Busch Light 300 was held March 9 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Dick Trickle won the pole.

Top ten results

#5–Terry Labonte
#95– David Green
#10–Phil Parsons
#29–Steve Grissom
#49– Stanton Barrett
#43–Rodney Combs
#60–Mark Martin
#22–Ward Burton
#44–Bobby Labonte
#87–Joe Nemechek

BellSouth/Opryland USA 320

The BellSouth/Opryland USA 320 was held March 17 at Nashville Speedway USA. Sterling Marlin won the pole.

Top ten results

#44–Bobby Labonte
#95– David Green
#10–Phil Parsons
#5–Terry Labonte
#63– Curtis Markham
#87–Joe Nemechek
#99–Glenn Allen Jr.
#64– Dick Trickle
#98–Jeremy Mayfield
#55–Bobby Dotter

Dura Lube 200 (March 23)

The Dura Lube 200 was held March 23 at Darlington Raceway. Jeff Green won the pole.

Top ten results

#60–Mark Martin
#12–Michael Waltrip
#5–Terry Labonte
#2–Ricky Craven
#44–Bobby Labonte
#32–Dale Jarrett
#29–Steve Grissom
#81–Todd Bodine
#64– Dick Trickle
#22–Ward Burton

Goody's Headache Powder 250

The Goody's Headache Powder 250 was held March 30 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Chad Little won the pole.

Top ten results

#60–Mark Martin
#3– Jeff Green
#8–Kenny Wallace
#10–Phil Parsons
#29–Steve Grissom
#74– Randy LaJoie
#95– David Green
#64– Dick Trickle
#90–Mike Wallace
#47– Jeff Fuller

Sundrop 300

The Sundrop 300 was held April 6 at Hickory Motor Speedway. David Green won the pole.

Top ten results

#95– David Green
#1– Hermie Sadler
#74– Randy LaJoie
#57– Jason Keller
#81–Todd Bodine
#51–Jimmy Spencer
#3– Jeff Green
#88–Kevin Lepage
#63– Curtis Markham
#92– Larry Pearson

CoreStates/Meridian Advantage 200

The CoreStates/Meridian Advantage 200 was held May 19 at Nazareth Speedway. David Green won the pole.

Top ten results

#74– Randy LaJoie*
#95– David Green
#3– Jeff Green
#64– Dick Trickle
#57– Jason Keller
#6–Tommy Houston
#88–Kevin Lepage
#40– Tim Fedewa
#81–Todd Bodine
#99–Glenn Allen Jr.

Shane Hall flipped in this race.

*This was the first win for Randy LaJoie.
* Toshio Suzuki became the first Japanese driver to qualify for a NASCAR race.

Red Dog 300

The Red Dog 300 was held May 25 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Dale Jarrett won the pole. Future Cup Series champion Matt Kenseth made his debut.

Top ten results

#60–Mark Martin
#64– Dick Trickle
#44–Bobby Labonte
#5–Terry Labonte
#74– Randy LaJoie
#32–Dale Jarrett
#26–Derrike Cope
#87–Joe Nemechek
#90–Mike Wallace
#22–Ward Burton

GM Goodwrench/Delco 200

The GM Goodwrench/Delco 200 was held June 1 at Dover International Speedway. Bobby Labonte won the pole.

Top ten results

#74– Randy LaJoie
#2–Ricky Craven
#5–Terry Labonte
#95– David Green
#90–Mike Wallace
#32–Dale Jarrett
#3– Jeff Green
#10–Phil Parsons
#92– Larry Pearson
#1– Hermie Sadler

Winston Motorsports 300

The Winston Motorsports 300 was held June 8 at South Boston Speedway. Randy LaJoie won the pole. Mike Harmon would make his NASCAR debut in this race

Top ten results

#81–Todd Bodine
#34– Mike McLaughlin
#3– Jeff Green
#92– Larry Pearson
#74– Randy LaJoie
#63– Curtis Markham
#1– Hermie Sadler
#23–Chad Little
#88–Kevin Lepage
#72– Mike Dillon

Carolina Pride / Advance Auto Parts 250

The Carolina Pride / Advance Auto Parts 250 was held June 22 at Myrtle Beach Speedway. David Green won the pole. This race marked the NASCAR debut of Dale Earnhardt Jr., driving the #31 Chevrolet. Earnhardt started 7th and finished 14th.

Top ten results

#95– David Green
#4–Jeff Purvis
#57– Jason Keller
#88–Kevin Lepage
#3– Jeff Green
#34– Mike McLaughlin
#64– Dick Trickle
#43–Dennis Setzer
#63– Curtis Markham
#37– Mark Green

Lysol 200

The Lysol 200 was held June 30 at Watkins Glen International. David Green won the pole.

Top ten results

#5–Terry Labonte
#81–Todd Bodine
#34– Mike McLaughlin
#44–Bobby Labonte
#95– David Green
#3– Jeff Green
#20–Jimmy Spencer
#23–Chad Little
#8–Kenny Wallace
#57– Jason Keller

Sears Auto Center 250

The Sears Auto Center 250 was held July 7 at The Milwaukee Mile. Hermie Sadler won the pole.

Top ten results

#00– Buckshot Jones
#34– Mike McLaughlin
#74– Randy LaJoie
#8–Kenny Wallace
#44–Bobby Labonte
#75– Doug Heveron
#3– Jeff Green
#6–Tommy Houston
#47– Jeff Fuller
#57– Jason Keller

*This was Buckshot Jones's first Busch Series win.

Stanley 200

The Stanley 200 was held July 12 at New Hampshire International Speedway. The race was originally scheduled to run on May 12, but was rescheduled for July 12 (Friday morning) because of rain. The field was set according to where they qualified on May 11. David Green won the pole.

Top ten results

#74– Randy LaJoie
#5–Terry Labonte
#95– David Green
#3– Jeff Green
#44–Bobby Labonte
#1– Hermie Sadler
#81–Todd Bodine
#57– Jason Keller
#34– Mike McLaughlin
#90–Mike Wallace

Humminbird Fishfinder 500K

The Humminbird Fishfinder 500K was held July 27 at Talladega Superspeedway. Joe Nemechek won the pole.

Top ten results

#29–Greg Sacks
#87–Joe Nemechek
#74– Randy LaJoie
#5–Terry Labonte
#12–Michael Waltrip
#4–Jeff Purvis
#64– Dick Trickle
#47– Jeff Fuller
#88–Kevin Lepage
#95– David Green

Kroger 200

The Kroger 200 was held August 2 at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Randy LaJoie won the pole.

Top ten results

#74– Randy LaJoie
#34– Mike McLaughlin
#95– David Green
#40– Tim Fedewa
#32–Dale Jarrett
#43–Dennis Setzer
#4–Jeff Purvis
#64– Dick Trickle
#00– Buckshot Jones
#11– Tracy Leslie

Detroit Gasket 200

The Detroit Gasket 200 was held August 16 at Michigan International Speedway. Ricky Craven won the pole.

Top ten results

#4–Jeff Purvis
#88–Kevin Lepage
#5–Terry Labonte
#60–Mark Martin
#2–Ricky Craven
#44–Bobby Labonte
#95– David Green
#28–Hut Stricklin
#29–Elliott Sadler
#74– Randy LaJoie

Food City 250

The Food City 250 was held August 23 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Jeff Fuller won the pole.

Top ten results

#47– Jeff Fuller
#32–Dale Jarrett
#10–Phil Parsons
#20–Jimmy Spencer
#12–Michael Waltrip
#26–Derrike Cope
#63– Curtis Markham
#3– Jeff Green
#57– Jason Keller
#5–Terry Labonte

*This was Jeff Fuller's first (and only) Busch Series win.

Dura Lube 200 (August 31)

The Dura Lube 200 was held August 31 at Darlington Raceway. Mark Martin won the pole.

Top ten results

#5–Terry Labonte
#60–Mark Martin
#64– Dick Trickle
#95– David Green
#74– Randy LaJoie
#2–Ricky Craven
#3– Jeff Green
#32–Dale Jarrett
#88–Kevin Lepage
#6–Tommy Houston

Autolite Platinum 250

The Autolite Platinum 250 was held September 8 at Richmond International Raceway. Michael Waltrip won the pole.

Top ten results

#8–Kenny Wallace
#95– David Green
#23–Chad Little
#60–Mark Martin
#64– Dick Trickle
#4–Jeff Purvis
#98–Jeremy Mayfield
#74– Randy LaJoie
#44–Bobby Labonte
#5–Terry Labonte

MBNA 200

The MBNA 200 was held September 14 at Dover International Speedway. Ricky Craven won the pole.

Top ten results

#74– Randy LaJoie
#32–Dale Jarrett
#10–Phil Parsons
#5–Terry Labonte
#2–Ricky Craven
#34– Mike McLaughlin
#29–Elliott Sadler
#38–Elton Sawyer
#23–Chad Little
#1– Hermie Sadler

All Pro Bumper to Bumper 300

The All Pro Bumper to Bumper 300 was held October 5 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Bobby Labonte won the pole.

Top ten results

#60–Mark Martin
#44–Bobby Labonte
#92–Sterling Marlin
#23–Chad Little
#34– Mike McLaughlin
#74– Randy LaJoie
#88–Kevin Lepage
#3– Jeff Green
#20–Jimmy Spencer
#57– Jason Keller

* Steve Park made his series debut in his race, driving the No. 31 Chevrolet for Dale Earnhardt Inc. Park qualified 13th, but crashed out of the race on lap 117 and posted a 29th place finish.

AC-Delco 200

The AC-Delco 200 was held October 19 at North Carolina Speedway. Buckshot Jones won the pole.

Top ten results

#60–Mark Martin
#32–Dale Jarrett
#2–Ricky Craven
#34– Mike McLaughlin
#95– David Green
#5–Terry Labonte
#88–Kevin Lepage
#3– Jeff Green
#74– Randy LaJoie
#23–Chad Little

Jiffy Lube Miami 300

The Jiffy Lube Miami 300 was held November 3 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Bobby Labonte won the pole.

Top ten results

#88–Kevin Lepage
#44–Bobby Labonte
#60–Mark Martin
#87–Joe Nemechek
#29–Elliott Sadler
#20–Jimmy Spencer
#23–Chad Little
#81–Todd Bodine
#95– David Green
#74– Randy LaJoie
*This was Kevin Lepage's first career victory.

Full Drivers' Championship

( key) Bold – Pole position awarded by time. ''Italics'' – Pole position set by owner's points. * – Most laps led.

Rookie of the Year

Former short track racer Glenn Allen Jr. was named Rookie of the Year in 1996, posting two top-ten finishes early in the season, as well as being of only two full-time contenders for the award. Mike Dillon was the other, finishing 23rd in points. Shane Hall, Mark Green and Tony Stewart were the other contenders, all running part-time schedules.

See also

* 1996 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
* 1996 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
* 1996 NASCAR Winston West Series

External links

Busch Series standings and statistics for 1996

{{NASCAR Nationwide Series Championship

*
NASCAR Xfinity Series seasons