1987 – Trickle First at Bristol in NASCAR/ARTGO 200

 

Dick Trickle (99) and Rich Bickle Jr. (45) battle it out during the Rainbo Bread 200 at Bristol International Raceway. Trickle would win the contest and Bickle would take runner-up honors. – Keith Vercauteren Collection

Bristol, Tenn. (June 27, 1987) – Dick Trickle became the first winner in the Winston NASCAR/ARTGO Challenge Cup Series Saturday night, by capturing the Rainbo Bread 200 at Bristol International Raceway.

For his efforts, Trickle took home $4,800 from the $38,500 purse which was posted for the inaugural event in the new series for competition in the ARTGO Challenge Series and the NASCAR All-American Challenge Series.

Trickle, representing ARTGO, was followed to the finish line by Rich Bickle Jr., Bobby Allison, Bobby Dotter, and David Green.

Ronnie Sanders toured the half-mile oval in 15.627 seconds during time trials to nail down the pole position in the event’s 19-car field, but it was fellow front row starter Dave Mader III pacing the first 13 laps.

When a broken axle slowed Mader on the 14th circuit, Sanders took the lead followed by Mitch Fowler, Don Jenkins, Green, and Bruce Battle. Mader’s problem forced him into a lengthy pit stop but he eventually returned and finished tenth, completing 136 circuits.

Allison, who earlier in the day was qualifying for the NASCAR Winston Cup race at Michigan, arrived at Bristol after time trials and was forced to start at the rear of the field. However, that didn’t hinder the Hueytown, Ala., pilot as he battled his way into the top-five by lap 28 and then quickly closed in on Sanders.

On lap 44, Allison made a bid for the lead, ducking to the inside of Sanders in turn two. The pair exchanged paint and Allison lost several positions while battling to keep his car from spinning as a result of the incident.

Trickle posed the next serious threat to Sanders and moved into the top spot on lap 63. Allison, who recovered quickly from his near spin, took second from Sanders a short time later and then wrested first place from Trickle on the 72nd revolution.

The frontrunners pitted en masse during a yellow flag period on lap 87 with Allison returning to the track in time to retain first place.

The event’s final caution proved to be Allison’s downfall, as the pacesetter cut a tire from debris on the track. When Allison pitted for fresh rubber, Trickle took over the top spot on lap 131.

After action resumed, Bickle pressured Trickle but could not muster enough power to take the lead.

Trickle averaged 82.921 miles per hour in winning the event, which was slowed by seven caution flags for 40 laps.


Results –

1. Dick Trickle
2. Rich Bickle Jr.
3. Bobby Allison
4. Bobby Dotter
5. David Green
6. A. Arnold
7. Tim Nooner
8. Bruce Battle
9. Keith Waid
10.Dave Mader III
11.Clay Brown
12.Stanley Smith
13.Ronnie Sanders
14.Tiger Parsley
15.Mitch Fowler