Revisionist NASCAR: 1995 Winston Cup Season

Today we take a look at what the 1995 Winston Cup Season would have looked like using today’s points format. In the actual 1995 season, young phenom Jeff Gordon won his first championship, winning seven races and edged Dale Earnhardt by 34 points! Let’s bring the 1995 crew to the present and see how this shakes out.

After the Regular Season finale at Michigan, nine drivers have clinched the playoffs with a win. They are:

Seven drivers used points to claim their spot in the post-season:

Round of 16

Once again, the Round of 16 was made up of races at Bristol, Darlington and Richmond. Jeff Gordon accumulated a series-leading 25 playoff points with five wins in the regular season.

Bristol- Terry Labonte and Dale Earnhardt tangle on the last lap in the first of their two memorable Bristol finishes. Labonte spins across the line to advance to the Round of 12.

Darlington- Jeff Gordon led the final 35 laps of the Southern 500 to move on to the Round of 12. Bill Elliott crashed on lap 253 to finish 41st in a race that would seriously harm his chances of advancing.

Richmond- Short track king, Rusty Wallace dominates Richmond to take the checkers and advance. Petty, Elliott, Shephard, and Rudd can’t put together three good races, and are eliminated.

Here’s how the bracket looks moving forward:

Round of 12

The Round of 12 is unchanged from ’94 and includes Dover, Martinsville, and North Wilkesboro.

Dover- Jeff Gordon wins again, his seventh of the season, this time at the Monster Mile. It is a good day for playoff drivers, as seven of the 12 finish in the top 10.

Martinsville- Dale Earnhardt and Terry Labonte have another good old fashioned short track battle. This time Earnhardt comes out on top and takes the checkers at Martinsville to advance.

North Wilkesboro- Mark Martin takes the final guaranteed spot in the Round of 8, besting Rusty Wallace by .86 seconds. Bobby Hamilton narrowly beats Dale Jarrett for the final spot in the next round.

Bobby Hamilton is the only non-race winner to advance to the Round of 8. He’ll duke it out with these drivers at Charlotte:

Round of 8

Atlanta is fast approaching, as drivers only have three more chances to race for a title in the Finale. Bring on the Round of 8!

Charlotte- Mark Martin goes back-to-back to punch his ticket to the finale! Playoff drivers once again dominate the top 10 with only Jeff Gordon finishing outside.

Rockingham- Ward Burton spoils the playoff party by winning at Rockingham. A blown engine and 40th place finish puts Bobby Labonte in a hole that is likely too deep to dig out of.

Phoenix- The spoiling party continues as previously-eliminated Ricky Rudd captures the checkered flag at Phoenix in a close finish with Derrike Cope. Jeff Gordon can’t rely on his playoff points after a bad round and is eliminated.

Martin, Earnhardt, Terry Labonte, and Rusty Wallace will go to Atlanta to race for the title.

Championship 4

The 1995 Winston Cup Season concludes at Atlanta in the Napa 500. The highest finishing driver will win the Championship.

Dale Earnhardt dominates the race to claim his record-breaking eighth Winston Cup championship! Rusty Wallace comes home 3rd, Terry Labonte 13th, and Mark Martin 17th to finish 2nd, 3rd, and 4th respectively in the standings.

1995 revisited gave us a new championship leader in the Winston Cup division. Dale Earnhardt would have become the first man to win eight titles. If only…