1986: Tanks for nothing

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- With three laps to go in the 28th annual Daytona 500, Dale Earnhardt was poised to frustrate Geoff Bodine for the third time in a week.

They finished 1-2 in Thursday's qualifying race and 1-2 in Saturday's Sportsman event, with Earnhardt coming home in front of Bodine on both occasions.

	Geoff Bodine's No. 5 Chevy Credit: Daytona Racing Archives

But the third time was not the charm for Earnhardt. Stuck to Bodine's bumper for 31 straight laps, playing the waiting game, patiently poised to make a slingshot pass for the lead, Earnhardt's Chevrolet ran out of fuel less than eight miles from the finish.

His crew frantically refueled the car, but after priming the carburetor, the engine in the No. 3 detonated as Earnhardt stepped on the throttle leaving pit row.

"They shot ether to it and I think that made it detonate," Earnhardt said. "The engine blew on the pit road."

While Bodine sailed to an 11-second victory over Terry Labonte, Earnhardt's broken car limped slowly around the apron of the track.

1986 Daytona 500 Top 10  1. Geoff Bodine  2. Terry Labonte  3. Darrell Waltrip  4. Bobby Hillin  5. Benny Parsons  6. Ron Bouchard  7. Rick Wilson  8. Rusty Wallace  9. Sterling Marlin  10. Lake Speed    KNOW YOUR NASCAR  1986 Season Recap  NASCAR Families: The Bodines  More NASCAR History

"When you're running so close and getting beat at every turn, you wonder if your time is coming," an elated Bodine said. "Our car has been strong all week, but not good enough. Over those final 34 laps, I wondered if it was going to finally be my day."

Earnhardt was certain it would be his day instead of Bodine's.

"We had them today until we ran out of gas," Earnhardt said. "But that's the way it goes.

"I could have gone by him, but I was trying to conserve fuel, hoping we could stretch it. There ain't nothing else to say about it. It was his day, and mine's coming."

Bodine knew what to expect from Earnhardt -- and felt his car had enough to thwart the No. 3 at the end. His biggest concern was also fuel, as he finished the race with less than a gallon to spare.

"I knew it was going to be close," Bodine said. "I slowed down a lot to save wear on the tires, and he wouldn't pass. He wanted to be there for that last-lap pass.

"I had my strategy and he had his, and if it had come down to that last lap, it would have been very interesting."

	Geoff Bodine Credit: Daytona Racing Archives

While an emotional Bodine laughed and cried and hugged his wife in Victory Lane, a disgusted Earnhardt sat inside his machine, wondering what might have been.

"If we'd even had a gallon or two left, we'd have made it," Earnhardt said. "We should have pitted on that last caution (on lap 130). It was a gamble. But what can you say? Bodine did the same thing and he won the race."

Darrell Waltrip lost a lap when his window safety net blew out, but rallied to finish third. Bobby Hillin was the only other car on the lead lap at the finish.

There were eight cautions, including one for Richard Petty's hard hit on lap 66. Petty suffered a dislocated shoulder when his car blew a tire and slammed hard into the second turn wall.

"It's OK but it sure hurt there for awhile," Petty said. "I guess these old bones ain't as young as they used to be."

A nine-car accident on lap 117 damaged several top cars, including defending winner Bill Elliott, Neil Bonnett, Cale Yarborough and Harry Gant.

This is one in a series of articles counting down to the 2003 Daytona 500.