1986 The Winston

1986 The Winston

Race details[1]
Race 2 of 2 exhibition races in the 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
Date	May 11, 1986 (1986-05-11)
Location	Hampton, Georgia
Course	Atlanta International Raceway 1.522 mi (2.45 km)
Distance	83 laps, 126.3 mi (203.26 km)
Weather	Temperatures around 67.2 °F (19.6 °C), with winds gusting to 8.52 miles per hour (13.71 km/h)[2]
Average speed	159.123 mph (256.084 km/h)
Attendance	18,500
Pole position
Driver	Darrell Waltrip	Junior Johnson & Associates
Most laps led
Driver	Bill Elliott	Melling Racing
Laps	82
Winner
No. 9	Bill Elliott	Melling Racing
Television in the United States
Network	ESPN
Announcers	Bob Jenkins, Larry Nuber, and Benny Parsons

The 1986 The Winston, the second running of the NASCAR All-Star Race, was a stock car racing competition that took place on May 11, 1986. The only time The Winston was held at Atlanta International Raceway in Hampton, Georgia, the 83-lap race was the second exhibition race in the 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series.^[3] Bill Elliott of Melling Racing led the most laps (82) and won the caution-free race and US$200,000, along with US$40,000 for leading laps 20, 30, 50, and 60.

The event featured the Atlanta Invitational, a 100-lap race for drivers who did not meet the eligibility of The Winston. Benny Parsons of Jackson Brothers Motorsports won the race and US$75,000 and became eligible to run the 1987 The Winston. The Atlanta Invitational was held before The Winston, but due to a tape delay, ESPN aired the race after The Winston.

NASCAR's original plan for The Winston was to hold the race at a different track every year, but due to the dismal attendance of this race, The Winston was moved back to Charlotte Motor Speedway for the next 32 years before Bristol Motor Speedway hosted the 2020 NASCAR All-Star Race.