1988 Open: Wilson fumes; Marlin wins first of three

When Richard Petty crashed coming out of Turn 4 on Lap 96, it appeared that Rick Wilson's fuel strategy would win him the 1988 Winston Open.

Wilson, who started 16th in the 30-car field, had taken the lead from Brett Bodine on Lap 63 and seemed to have the race victory sewn up when Petty crashed. However, with the field coming down to take the green and white flags, Wilson's car suddenly ran out of gas and he coasted into the pits.

Marlin

That handed the lead to Sterling Marlin, who was able to hold off Alan Kulwicki by a car-length to earn $30,000 and a berth in The Winston.

Ken Schrader and Bodine brought the field to the green -- and it was Bodine who took the point for the first 13 laps. Mark Martin worked his way up from his sixth-place starting position to take the led on Lap 14. But the engine in Martin's Ford let go 12 laps later, handing the lead back to Bodine.

Marlin went in front for the first time on Lap 27 and led the next 11 circuits before pitting. That handed the lead to Petty. Then when Petty stopped for service, Bodine passed Marlin and proceded to lead until Wilson took over the top spot on Lap 63.

The victory was somewhat overshadowed when Brad Noffsinger crashed into the outside wall as he took the checkered flag, slid out of control through the infield grass, went through an opening in the guard rail and crashed into a pace car, injuring a security guard standing nearby. The security guard was taken to an area hospital with a broken ankle, while Noffsinger was checked at the infield medical center.

Marlin would win the Winston Open three times, repeating his 1988 victory the following season, and then again in 1993.

Wilson would come close to another victory later that season, losing the 1988 Pepsi Firecracker 400 to Bill Elliott by three feet. Wilson scored three more top-five finishes in the No. 4 Morgan-McClure Oldsmobile during the next two seasons, but lost the ride to Ernie Irvan following the 1989 season.

Ironically, Marlin would take over that ride in 1994 -- and score his first Winston Cup victory in the season-opening Daytona 500. With that win, Marlin guaranteed that he would not have to race his way into The Winston from that point on.

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