MARTINSVILLE, Va. - Seven-time NASCAR Cup champion Dale Earnhardt always enjoyed racing at Martinsville Speedway and his record at the tough short track proved it.
In 44 races, Earnhardt led 1,947 laps, scored six victories, 18 top-fives and 24 top-10s. His half dozen victories tied him for fourth on the track's all-time victory list. Earnhardt also often gained a psychological advantage over his competitors, driving with one hand during the race while resting his right arm on the roll cage. It gave the impression the second-generation driver was simply out for a Sunday afternoon drive.
Yet, it was probably the April 1987 Sovran Bank 500 that provided a glimpse into Earnhardt's affinity for and understanding of Martinsville. Earnhardt already had two Martinsville wins. His inaugural victory lane visit occurred in the 1980 Old Dominion 500, while his second came in the 1985 Goody's 500.
Earnhardt entered the 1987 Sovran Bank 500 riding a three-race winning streak. The victories came at Darlington, S.C., North Wilkesboro, N.C., and Bristol, Tenn. The Martinsville race wrapped up the spring short-track run before the circuit headed to Talladega, Ala., the following week.
Heading into the race's final 20 laps, Earnhardt had led four times for 139 laps, but Geoff Bodine was now in command, possessing a five-second lead over the Richard Childress Racing driver. Then, with 17 laps remaining, the race took a twist in Earnhardt's favor. Bodine, who had taken the lead on lap 368 of the 500-lap race, was pulling away from the field when he attempted to pass Kyle Petty's lapped Ford.
The two collided and the contact sent Bodine's Chevrolet spinning. Earnhardt sped past the spinning Bodine and a yellow flag never waved.
Earnhardt wasn't challenged the rest of the way, as he took a 2.73-second victory over Rusty Wallace, and increased his advantage in the standings to 157 points over Bill Elliott, who finished sixth. Bodine had to settle for third.
Earnhardt now had three Martinsville victories and four straight wins. More importantly, the Martinsville victory meant Earnhardt had won six of the season's first eight races. The Kannapolis, N.C., native went on to win 11 races that year and his second straight, third overall, Cup championship.
