The 1992 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Season began on February 9, 1992 and ended on November 15, 1992. Independent owner/driver Alan Kulwicki of AK Racing won the Winston Cup championship in the second-closest championship battle in NASCAR history to-date (after 2011).
The 1992 season was considered one of the most dramatic and emotional years in NASCAR. Seven-time champion, and "King of stock car racing," Richard Petty retired from the sport at season's end, concluding a year-long "Fan Appreciation Tour.". Petty appeared across the country for autographs and diecast were made of his #43 car for all 29 of the races he appeared in. The season also saw the quiet debut of future champion Jeff Gordon, who was planning to move up after two seasons in the Busch Series. Gordon debuted the rainbow #24 DuPont Chevrolet at the final race of the year.
The season-long championship battle narrowed down to six drivers, the most ever going into the final race of the season. Davey Allison won the season-opening Daytona 500, and despite a roller-coaster season, remained first, or near the top of the standings all season. Bill Elliott and Alan Kulwicki experienced more consistent results, placing them comfortably near the top. Harry Gant, Mark Martin, and Kyle Petty were also factors during the season. Two-time defending champion Dale Earnhardt, however, suffered a dismal season, winning only one race, dropping out several times, and finished outside the top ten at season's end, for just the second time in his Cup career.
The season's climax occurred at the final race of the season, the Hooters 500 at Atlanta. Six drivers entered the race with a mathematical chance at winning the Winston Cup championship. Davey Allison led the charge, but ultimately fell short when he was involved in an accident. The race, and the championship came down to a two-man battle between Bill Elliott and Alan Kulwicki. Elliott won the race, while Kulwicki finished second. Kulwicki led 103 laps during the race (compared to 102 by Elliott), clinched the 5 bonus points for leading the most laps, and won the Winston Cup title.
Tragically, only months later, both Alan Kulwicki and Davey Allison would be killed in separate aviation crashes. Taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1992_NASCAR_Winston_Cup_Series

Race Results:

Date	Site	Cars	Winner(s)	St	Make / Model	Miles	Pole	Cau	Laps	Speed	LC	Time of Race
2/16/1992	Daytona	42	Davey Allison	6	Ford	500	192.213	4	22	160.256	15	3:07
3/1/1992	Rockingham	40	Bill Elliott	2	Ford	500	149.926	7	28	126.125	11	3:58
3/8/1992	Richmond	35	Bill Elliott	1	Ford	300	121.337	4	23	104.378	5	2:52
3/15/1992	Atlanta	42	Bill Elliott	4	Ford	499	179.923	7	29	147.746	10	3:22
3/29/1992	Darlington	39	Bill Elliott	2	Ford	501	163.067	4	21	139.364	21	3:35
4/5/1992	Bristol	32	Alan Kulwicki	1	Ford	267	122.474	10	75	86.316	11	3:05
4/12/1992	North Wilkesboro	32	Davey Allison	7	Ford	250	117.242	9	55	90.653	8	2:45
4/26/1992	Martinsville	32	Mark Martin	14	Ford	263	92.956	11	59	78.086	11	3:22
5/3/1992	Talladega	40	Davey Allison	2	Ford	500	192.831	5	21	167.609	16	2:59
5/24/1992	Charlotte	42	Dale Earnhardt	13	Chevrolet	600	175.479	12	62	132.98	28	4:30
5/31/1992	Dover	40	Harry Gant	15	Oldsmobile	500	147.408	7	98	109.456	20	4:34
6/7/1992	Sonoma	43	Ernie Irvan	2	Chevrolet	186	90.985	3	7	81.413	7	2:17
6/14/1992	Pocono	40	Alan Kulwicki	6	Ford	500	162.499	3	13	144.023	26	3:28
6/21/1992	Michigan	41	Davey Allison	1	Ford	400	176.258	4	13	152.672	14	2:37
7/4/1992	Daytona	40	Ernie Irvan	6	Chevrolet	400	189.366	2	8	170.457	17	2:20
7/19/1992	Pocono	40	Darrell Waltrip	8	Chevrolet	500	162.022	3	23	134.058	13	3:43
7/26/1992	Talladega	40	Ernie Irvan	7	Chevrolet	500	190.586	2	11	176.309	17	3:05
8/9/1992	Watkins Glen	39	Kyle Petty	2	Pontiac	125	116.882	3	13	88.98	6	1:27
8/16/1992	Michigan	41	Harry Gant	24	Oldsmobile	400	178.196	5	25	146.056	16	2:47
8/29/1992	Bristol	32	Darrell Waltrip	9	Chevrolet	267	120.535	10	55	91.198	14	2:55
9/6/1992	Darlington	38	Darrell Waltrip	5	Chevrolet	407	162.249	5	28	129.114	23	3:09
9/12/1992	Richmond	35	Rusty Wallace	3	Pontiac	300	120.784	3	20	104.661	12	2:51
9/20/1992	Dover	36	Ricky Rudd	6	Chevrolet	500	145.267	9	48	115.289	13	4:20
9/28/1992	Martinsville	31	Geoffrey Bodine	7	Ford	263	92.497	12	67	75.424	16	3:29
10/5/1992	North Wilkesboro	32	Geoffrey Bodine	3	Ford	250	117.133	0	0	107.36	12	2:19
10/11/1992	Charlotte	40	Mark Martin	4	Ford	501	179.027	3	12	153.537	20	3:15
10/25/1992	Rockingham	40	Kyle Petty	1	Pontiac	500	149.675	2	12	130.748	9	3:49
11/1/1992	Phoenix	42	Davey Allison	12	Ford	312	128.141	7	34	103.885	8	3:00
11/15/1992	Atlanta	41	Bill Elliott	11	Ford	499	180.183	7	45	133.322	20	3:44