Photo – Something About Everything Racin’
The 1996 NASCAR Winston Cup Season was Ernie Irvan’s return to full-time racing.
The Robert Yates Racing driver nearly lost his life in a practice crash at Michigan in August 1994. At one point doctors only gave him a ten percent chance to live, but Irvan kept fighting, all the way to accept the True Value Hard Charger Award at the Awards banquet in New York City that December. He made his Cup return at North Wilkesboro in October 1995, finishing a respectable sixth.
1996 Speedweeks saw Irvan back in his familiar #28 Texaco/Havoline Ford, with Dale Jarrett going to a second car for the team. Irvan made some noise, by qualifying second for the Daytona 500 on pole day. His Yates engine was strong.
Irvan started on the pole in his Gatorade Twin 125 race on Thursday and put on an impressive performance. He led flag-to-flag and held off a challenge from Ken Schrader to put himself back in victory lane for the first time since Sonoma in 1994.
Alongside the Twin 125 victory, he also won his first points-paying race at New Hampshire International Speedway in July 1996.
Irvan’s teammate, Dale Jarrett, held off Dale Earnhardt to win the 1996 Daytona 500 for his second victory in the Great American Race.
1996 Gatorade Twin 125 Race #2 Top Ten