The 1996 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 48th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 25th modern-era NASCAR Cup series. The season had been started on February 18 at Daytona International Speedway, and ended on November 10 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The season would be remembered for Terry Labonte pulling off a massive upset and winning his second Winston Cup Championship over teammate Jeff Gordon. Pontiac’s struggles in 1995 carried over to 1996, scoring just one win in the Dura Lube 500 with Bobby Hamilton. Hamilton was also the only Pontiac driver to finish in the top ten in points standings, placing ninth. Teams and drivers Complete schedule Limited schedule Schedule Races Busch Clash The Busch Clash is the exhibition race that honors the drivers who won a pole in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series the previous year. Dale Jarrett won his first Busch Clash. Rick Mast won the random draw for the pole. Top ten results 88-Dale Jarrett 4-Sterling Marlin 3-Dale Earnhardt 5-Terry Labonte 25-Ken Schrader 10-Ricky Rudd 6-Mark Martin 94-Bill Elliott 24-Jeff Gordon 16-Ted Musgrave Gatorade Twin 125s The Gatorade Twin 125s, qualifying races for the Daytona 500, were held on February 15. Race one top ten results 3-Dale Earnhardt 4-Sterling Marlin 5-Terry Labonte 88-Dale Jarrett 15-Wally Dallenbach Jr. 21-Michael Waltrip 22-Ward Burton 6-Mark Martin 90-Mike Wallace 23-Jimmy Spencer Marlin passed Earnhardt on the opening lap but Earnhardt repassed and led the last 22 laps. Bobby Labonte flipped over on the backstretch after being tagged by Brett Bodine. Race two top ten results 28-Ernie Irvan 25-Ken Schrader 37-John Andretti 24-Jeff Gordon 10-Ricky Rudd 75-Morgan Shepherd 98-Jeremy Mayfield 99-Jeff Burton 27-Elton Sawyer 16-Ted Musgrave Irvan led wire-to-wire with Schrader alongside in the final lap. Daytona 500 Top ten results: 88-Dale Jarrett 3-Dale Earnhardt 25-Ken Schrader 6-Mark Martin 99-Jeff Burton 15-Wally Dallenbach Jr. 16-Ted Musgrave 94-Bill Elliott 10-Ricky Rudd 21-Michael Waltrip This was Dale Jarrett's second career Daytona 500 victory. He also won the 1996 Busch Clash. Both of those victories saw Dale Earnhardt finish second to Jarrett. When the white flag was displayed, play-by-play analyst Ken Squier gave the privileges to color analyst Ned Jarrett so he can call the final lap solo and lead his son on to the victory, as he did in 1993. Goodwrench Service 400 The Goodwrench Service 400 was held on February 25 at North Carolina Speedway. The