pole. Top ten results 4-Sterling Marlin 28-Ernie Irvan 5-Terry Labonte 24-Jeff Gordon 21-Morgan Shepherd 77-Greg Sacks 3-Dale Earnhardt 10-Ricky Rudd 11-Bill Elliott 25-Ken Schrader Sterling Marlin becomes the 5th driver to score his first career win in the Daytona 500. First career win in 279 starts for Sterling Marlin after finishing 2nd 8 times, tying Bill Elliott for most 2nd-place finishes before 1st career win. This was the first points Cup race when cars were mandated to have roof flaps after Rusty Wallace had violently flipped at both Daytona & Talladega in 1993. Goodwrench 500 The Goodwrench 500 was held February 27 at North Carolina Speedway. The No. 7 of Geoff Bodine was on the pole. Top ten results 2-Rusty Wallace 4-Sterling Marlin 1-Rick Mast 6-Mark Martin, 1 lap down 28-Ernie Irvan, 1 lap down 26-Brett Bodine, 1 lap down 3-Dale Earnhardt, 1 lap down 42-Kyle Petty, 2 laps down 25-Ken Schrader, 3 laps down 30-Michael Waltrip, 3 laps down Failed to qualify: 31-Ward Burton, 48-James Hylton, 99-Danny Sullivan, 61-Rick Carelli, 95-Jeremy Mayfield, 48-Jerry Hill, 02-T. W. Taylor Jerry Hill may have made a second attempt for James Hylton's entry. Pontiac Excitement 400 The Pontiac Excitement 400 was held March 6 at Richmond International Raceway. The No. 16 of Ted Musgrave won the pole. Top ten results 28-Ernie Irvan 2-Rusty Wallace 24-Jeff Gordon 3-Dale Earnhardt 42-Kyle Petty 6-Mark Martin 1-Rick Mast 26-Brett Bodine 5-Terry Labonte* 18-Dale Jarrett, 1 lap down Failed to qualify: 19-Loy Allen Jr., 45-Rich Bickle, 71-Dave Marcis, 43-Wally Dallenbach Jr., 23-Hut Stricklin, 47-Billy Standridge, 61-Rick Carelli, 02-T. W. Taylor, ??-Mike Wallace Dave Marcis served as a broadcaster for TBS Sports after failing to qualify. Terry Labonte started 37th (last) as he withdrew his time & took a champions provisional to allow Ricky Rudd to qualify on his time as Rudd's time would not have been fast enough and his new team had no owners points from the previous season and he would not have been eligible for a provisional. Rudd would finish 2 laps down in 18th. Purolator 500 The Purolator 500 was held March 13 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The No. 19 of Loy Allen Jr. won the pole after failing to qualify at the previous race. Top ten results 28-Ernie Irvan 21-Morgan Shepherd 17-Darrell Waltrip 8-Jeff Burton 6-Mark Martin, 1 lap down 15-Lake Speed, 1 lap down 77-Greg Sacks, 1 lap down 24-Jeff Gordon, 2