Dale vs Rusty (vs Mark): The 1989 Championship Chase

In 1989, the NASCAR Winston Cup Series witnessed one of the most volatile and dramatic championship battles in history. While Rusty Wallace was looking to prove his breakout success was no fluke, "The Intimidator" Dale Earnhardt was hungry for his fourth title. Meanwhile, a young Mark Martin was quietly becoming the ultimate underdog story of the season.

In this first part of a two-part series, we break down the momentum swings, the heartbreaking mechanical failures, and the high-stakes controversies that defined the '89 season. From the debut of the Chevy Lumina and the introduction of radial tires to the controversial finishes and the tight points battle at Atlanta, we’re looking at why this season is an underrated classic.

In this video, we cover:
*The early season dominance of Darrell Waltrip and Rusty Wallace
*Dale Earnhardt’s summer surge and his "Bad Luck" streaks
*Mark Martin’s incredible rise from 25th in points to a title contender
*The controversial Rockingham wreck that almost changed everything
*The dramatic finale at Atlanta

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0:00 Introduction
1:42 Background
3:10 Early Season
9:49 Summer Stretch
16:38 Championship Positioning
21:12 Controversy & Major Swings
26:31 The Finale
29:38 Aftermath
31:08 Conclusion

#NASCAR #RustyWallace #DaleEarnhardt #MarkMartin #WinstonCup #NASCARHistory #1989NASCAR #RacingHistory #StockCarRacing #Voti

Many archival clips provided by ‪@NASCARClassics‬