1994 NASCAR Cup Series Season Recap

Originally published on Apr. 13, 2020

By Zane Miller

On Sunday, November 13th, 1994, the 1994 NASCAR Cup Series season concluded with Dale Earnhardt defeating Mark Martin by 80 points to win the 45th championship in Cup Series history. It was the seventh (and final) Cup Series championship for Earnhardt, tying the record set by Richard Petty in 1979. These are the top five points finishers for the season.

The 1994 Daytona 500 was won by Sterling Marlin, while Ernie Irvan led the most laps with 84. It was Marlin’s first career win to snap a 278-race winless streak, at the time the most starts before getting a first career victory.

5. #10 Ricky Rudd (-644 points)

Rudd earned fifth in points as he had one victory, six top-fives and 15 top-10s, getting an average finish of 12.3.

4. #25 Ken Schrader (-634)

Schrader took the fourth spot with nine top-fives and 18 top-10s for an average finish of 12.4 as he led the most laps in one race.

3. #2 Rusty Wallace (-487)

Wallace claimed third as he took eight wins, 17 top-fives and 20 top-10s to claim an average finish of 12.8, while leading the most laps in six races.

2. #6 Mark Martin (-444)

Martin grabbed the runner-up spot with a pair of wins, 15 top-fives and 20 top-10s for an average finish of 11.7. Martin also led the most laps in two races.

1. #3 Dale Earnhardt

Earnhardt won back-to-back championships for the third time with four victories, 20 top-fives and 25 top-10s to get an average finish of 8.0 while leading the most laps in three starts.

Race Winners (left) & Lap Leaders (right)

 

*Denotes driver led every lap

Link to stats database: https://www.racing-reference.info/yeardet/1994/W