1987 NASCAR Cup Series Season Recap

Originally published on Apr. 3, 2020

By Zane Miller

On Sunday, November 22nd, 1987, the 1987 NASCAR Cup Series season concluded with Dale Earnhardt defeating Bill Elliott by 489 points to win the 39th championship in Cup Series history. It was the third Cup Series championship for Earnhardt. These are the top five points finishers for the season.

The 1987 Daytona 500 was won by Bill Elliott, who also led the most laps with 104. This was also the final Daytona 500 that was run without the use of restrictor plates or tapered spacers.

5. #27 Rusty Wallace (-878 points)

Wallace claimed fifth in points with two wins, nine top-fives and 16 top-10s, getting an average finish of 12.8, leading the most laps in one race.

4. #17 Darrell Waltrip (-785)

Waltrip earned the fourth spot as he took one victory, six top-fives and 16 top-10s to score an average finish of 11.2.

3. #11 Terry Labonte (-689)

Labonte scored third in points with one win, 13 top-fives and 22 top-10s, getting an average finish of 11.1, while leading the most laps in one start.

2. #9 Bill Elliott (-489)

Elliott got the runner-up spot as he claimed six victories, 16 top-fives and 20 top-10s to get an average finish of 9.9. Elliott led the most laps in five races.

1. #3 Dale Earnhardt

Earnhardt earned his first back-to-back championship with 11 victories, 21 top-fives and 24 top-10s, taking an average finish of 5.9 while leading the most laps in 13 races.

Race Winners (left) & Lap Leaders (right)

 

*Denotes driver led every lap

Link to stats database: https://www.racing-reference.info/yeardet/1987/W