1998 Pepsi 400 presented by DeVilbiss

1998 Pepsi 400 presented by DeVilbiss
Race details
Race 21 of 33 in the 1998 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1998 Pepsi 400 presented by DeVilbiss program cover, featuring Mark Martin.
The 1998 Pepsi 400 presented by DeVilbiss program cover, featuring Mark Martin.
Date August 16, 1998
Official name 29th Annual Pepsi 400 presented by DeVilbiss
Location Brooklyn, Michigan, Michigan International Speedway
Course Permanent racing facility
2 mi (3.2 km)
Distance 200 laps, 400 mi (643.737 km)
Scheduled Distance 200 laps, 400 mi (643.737 km)
Average speed 151.995 miles per hour (244.612 km/h)
Pole position
Driver
MB2 Motorsports
Time 39.255
Most laps led
Driver Ernie Irvan MB2 Motorsports
Laps 115
Winner
No. 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports
Television in the United States
Network NASCAR on ESPN
Announcers Bob Jenkins, Ned Jarrett, Benny Parsons
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

The 1998 Pepsi 400 presented by DeVilbiss was the 21st stock car race of the 1998 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 29th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, August 16, 1998, in Brooklyn, Michigan, at Michigan International Speedway, a two-mile (3.2 km) moderate-banked D-shaped speedway. The race took the scheduled 200 laps to complete. Within the closing laps of the race, Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon was able to take the lead with ten to go to take his 37th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory, his eighth of the season, and his fourth consecutive victory up to that point.[1][2] To fill out the podium, Joe Gibbs Racing driver Bobby Labonte and Robert Yates Racing driver Dale Jarrett would finish second and third, respectively.

Background

The layout of Michigan International Speedway, the venue where the race was held.

The race was held at Michigan International Speedway, a two-mile (3.2 km) moderate-banked D-shaped speedway located in Brooklyn, Michigan. The track is used primarily for NASCAR events. It is known as a "sister track" to Texas World Speedway as MIS's oval design was a direct basis of TWS, with moderate modifications to the banking in the corners, and was used as the basis of Auto Club Speedway. The track is owned by International Speedway Corporation. Michigan International Speedway is recognized as one of motorsports' premier facilities because of its wide racing surface and high banking (by open-wheel standards; the 18-degree banking is modest by stock car standards).

Entry list

  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
00 Buckshot Jones Stavola Brothers Racing Chevrolet Team Realtree Camouflage
1 Steve Park (R) Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet Pennzoil
2 Rusty Wallace Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford Miller Lite
3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet GM Goodwrench Service Plus
4 Bobby Hamilton Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet Kodak
5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Kellogg's Blasted Froot Loops
6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford Valvoline
7 Geoff Bodine Mattei Motorsports Ford Philips
9 Jerry Nadeau (R) Melling Racing Ford Cartoon Network "Happy Birthday NASCAR!"
10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford Tide
11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford Paychex
12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford Mobil 1
13 Dennis Setzer Elliott-Marino Racing Ford FirstPlus Financial Group
15 Ted Musgrave Moore-Robinson Motorsports Ford Rescue Engine Formula
16 Kevin Lepage (R) Roush Racing Ford PrimeStar
18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac Interstate Batteries
21 Michael Waltrip Wood Brothers Racing Ford Citgo, Woody Woodpecker
22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Pontiac MBNA, Detroit Red Wings
23 Jimmy Spencer* Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford Winston No Bull
24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet DuPont
26 Johnny Benson Jr. Roush Racing Ford Cheerios, Pop Secret
28 Kenny Irwin Jr. (R) Robert Yates Racing Ford Texaco, Havoline
30 Derrike Cope Bahari Racing Pontiac Gumout
31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Lowe's
33 Ken Schrader Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet Skoal
35 Darrell Waltrip Tyler Jet Motorsports Pontiac Tabasco
36 Ernie Irvan MB2 Motorsports Pontiac Skittles
40 Sterling Marlin Team SABCO Chevrolet Coors Light
41 Steve Grissom Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet Kodiak
42 Joe Nemechek Team SABCO Chevrolet BellSouth
43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Pontiac STP
44 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac Hot Wheels
46 Jeff Green Team SABCO Chevrolet The Money Store
50 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Budweiser
71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet Team Realtree Camouflage
75 Rick Mast Butch Mock Motorsports Ford Remington Arms
77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford Jasper Engines & Transmissions
78 Gary Bradberry Triad Motorsports Ford Pilot Travel Centers
81 Kenny Wallace FILMAR Racing Ford Square D
88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford Quality Care Service, Ford Credit
90 Dick Trickle Donlavey Racing Ford Heilig-Meyers
91 Morgan Shepherd LJ Racing Chevrolet LJ Racing
94 Bill Elliott Elliott-Marino Racing Ford McDonald's Happy Meal
96 Hut Stricklin American Equipment Racing Chevrolet Caterpillar
97 Chad Little Roush Racing Ford John Deere
98 Rich Bickle Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford Thorn Apple Valley "Go Grill Crazy!"
99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford Exide Batteries

*Driver changed to Frank Kimmel after suffering a concussion at the 1998 Brickyard 400.[3]

Practice

First practice

The first practice session was held on Friday, August 14. Ernie Irvan, driving for MB2 Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 39.132 and an average speed of 183.993 mph (296.108 km/h).[4]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 36 Ernie Irvan MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 39.132 183.993
2 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 39.190 183.720
3 33 Ken Schrader Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 39.223 183.566
Full first practice results

Final practice

The final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, August 15. Mark Martin, driving for Roush Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 40.159 and an average speed of 179.287 mph (288.534 km/h).[5]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 40.159 179.287
2 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 40.472 177.901
3 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 40.507 177.747
Full Happy Hour practice results

Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, August 14, at 3:00 PM EST. Each driver would have one lap to set a time. During the first round, the top 25 drivers in the round would be guaranteed a starting spot in the race. If a driver was not able to guarantee a spot in the first round, they had the option to scrub their time from the first round and try and run a faster lap time in a second round qualifying run, held on Saturday, August 15, at 10:45 AM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time.[6] On January 24, 1998, NASCAR would announce that the amount of provisionals given would be increased from last season. Positions 26-36 would be decided on time, while positions 37-43 would be based on provisionals. Six spots are awarded by the use of provisionals based on owner's points. The seventh is awarded to a past champion who has not otherwise qualified for the race. If no past champion needs the provisional, the next team in the owner points will be awarded a provisional.[7]

Ernie Irvan, driving for MB2 Motorsports, would win the pole, setting a time of 39.255 and an average speed of 183.416 miles per hour (295.179 km/h).[8]

Four drivers would fail to qualify: Dave Marcis, Kenny Wallace, Gary Bradberry, and Hut Stricklin.

Full qualifying results

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 36 Ernie Irvan MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 39.255 183.416
2 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 39.264 183.374
3 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 39.271 183.341
4 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 39.316 183.132
5 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 39.389 182.792
6 42 Joe Nemechek Team SABCO Chevrolet 39.408 182.704
7 50 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 39.433 182.588
8 12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford 39.440 182.556
9 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Pontiac 39.469 182.422
10 33 Ken Schrader Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 39.478 182.380
11 2 Rusty Wallace Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford 39.499 182.283
12 98 Rich Bickle Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford 39.606 181.791
13 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 39.631 181.676
14 30 Derrike Cope Bahari Racing Pontiac 39.632 181.671
15 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Pontiac 39.650 181.589
16 91 Morgan Shepherd LJ Racing Chevrolet 39.652 181.580
17 94 Bill Elliott Elliott-Marino Racing Ford 39.682 181.442
18 28 Kenny Irwin Jr. (R) Robert Yates Racing Ford 39.686 181.424
19 10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford 39.699 181.365
20 40 Sterling Marlin Team SABCO Chevrolet 39.705 181.337
21 1 Steve Park (R) Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 39.735 181.200
22 9 Jerry Nadeau (R) Melling Racing Ford 39.750 181.132
23 7 Geoff Bodine Mattei Motorsports Ford 39.780 180.995
24 4 Bobby Hamilton Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 39.791 180.945
25 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 39.796 180.923
26 31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 39.797 180.918
27 44 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 39.820 180.814
28 13 Dennis Setzer Elliott-Marino Racing Ford 39.887 180.510
29 90 Dick Trickle Donlavey Racing Ford 39.892 180.487
30 21 Michael Waltrip Wood Brothers Racing Ford 39.904 180.433
31 75 Rick Mast Butch Mock Motorsports Ford 39.907 180.419
32 15 Ted Musgrave Moore-Robinson Motorsports Ford 39.951 180.221
33 77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford 39.960 180.180
34 00 Buckshot Jones Stavola Brothers Racing Chevrolet 40.001 179.996
35 46 Jeff Green Team SABCO Chevrolet 40.026 179.883
36 23 Frank Kimmel Travis Carter Enterprises Ford 40.058 179.739
Provisionals
37 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet -* -*
38 26 Johnny Benson Jr. Roush Racing Ford -* -*
39 16 Kevin Lepage (R) Roush Racing Ford -* -*
40 97 Chad Little Roush Racing Ford -* -*
41 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford -* -*
42 41 Steve Grissom Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet -* -*
Champion's Provisional
43 35 Darrell Waltrip Tyler Jet Motorsports Pontiac -* -*
Failed to qualify
44 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 40.067 179.699
45 81 Kenny Wallace FILMAR Racing Ford 40.138 179.381
46 78 Gary Bradberry Triad Motorsports Ford 40.257 178.851
47 96 Hut Stricklin American Equipment Racing Chevrolet 40.421 178.125
Official qualifying results

Race results

Fin[9] St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 3 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 200 9 running 180 $120,302
2 2 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 200 5 running 175 $73,555
3 4 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 200 6 running 170 $61,805
4 5 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 200 57 running 165 $53,525
5 25 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 200 0 running 155 $48,390
6 1 36 Ernie Irvan MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 200 115 running 160 $64,840
7 8 12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford 200 0 running 146 $37,515
8 7 50 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 200 0 running 142 $39,065
9 15 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Pontiac 200 0 running 138 $42,815
10 40 97 Chad Little Roush Racing Ford 199 2 running 139 $38,565
11 21 1 Steve Park (R) Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 199 0 running 130 $28,090
12 6 42 Joe Nemechek Team SABCO Chevrolet 199 0 running 127 $33,140
13 19 10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford 199 0 running 124 $39,490
14 10 33 Ken Schrader Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 199 0 running 121 $33,690
15 20 40 Sterling Marlin Team SABCO Chevrolet 199 0 running 118 $25,740
16 18 28 Kenny Irwin Jr. (R) Robert Yates Racing Ford 198 0 running 115 $38,190
17 39 16 Kevin Lepage (R) Roush Racing Ford 198 0 running 112 $31,140
18 37 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 198 3 running 114 $34,840
19 26 31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 198 0 running 106 $23,340
20 24 4 Bobby Hamilton Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 198 0 running 103 $36,590
21 23 7 Geoff Bodine Mattei Motorsports Ford 198 0 running 100 $30,390
22 30 21 Michael Waltrip Wood Brothers Racing Ford 198 0 running 97 $29,590
23 11 2 Rusty Wallace Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford 198 0 running 94 $33,965
24 33 77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford 198 0 running 91 $23,265
25 43 35 Darrell Waltrip Tyler Jet Motorsports Pontiac 198 2 running 93 $18,715
26 31 75 Rick Mast Butch Mock Motorsports Ford 198 0 running 85 $22,315
27 34 00 Buckshot Jones Stavola Brothers Racing Chevrolet 197 0 running 82 $18,440
28 12 98 Rich Bickle Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford 197 0 running 79 $25,390
29 27 44 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 197 0 running 76 $28,490
30 22 9 Jerry Nadeau (R) Melling Racing Ford 197 0 running 73 $21,340
31 36 23 Frank Kimmel Travis Carter Enterprises Ford 197 0 running 70 $28,065
32 41 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 197 0 running 67 $28,015
33 42 41 Steve Grissom Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet 197 0 running 64 $27,465
34 38 26 Johnny Benson Jr. Roush Racing Ford 194 0 running 61 $24,915
35 28 13 Dennis Setzer Elliott-Marino Racing Ford 194 0 running 58 $18,365
36 13 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 187 1 engine 60 $33,840
37 9 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Pontiac 177 0 engine 52 $24,815
38 29 90 Dick Trickle Donlavey Racing Ford 160 0 engine 49 $24,740
39 32 15 Ted Musgrave Moore-Robinson Motorsports Ford 136 0 engine 46 $17,740
40 17 94 Bill Elliott Elliott-Marino Racing Ford 132 0 engine 43 $24,740
41 35 46 Jeff Green Team SABCO Chevrolet 17 0 accident 40 $17,740
42 16 91 Morgan Shepherd LJ Racing Chevrolet 15 0 accident 37 $20,240
43 14 30 Derrike Cope Bahari Racing Pontiac 7 0 accident 34 $24,740
Failed to qualify
44 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet
45 81 Kenny Wallace FILMAR Racing Ford
46 78 Gary Bradberry Triad Motorsports Ford
47 96 Hut Stricklin American Equipment Racing Chevrolet
Official race results

References

  1. ^ Poole, David (August 16, 1998). "Gordon wins stunning 4th race in row". That's Racin'. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  2. ^ Atkins, Harry (August 17, 1998). "Gordon wins fourth straight". Citizens' Voice. p. 55. Retrieved September 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ Poole, David (August 14, 1998). "Spencer to sit out 2 more races". That's Racin'. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  4. ^ "Winston Cup practice speeds". That's Racin'. August 14, 1998. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  5. ^ "Happy Hour practice speeds". That's Racin'. August 15, 1998. Archived from the original on November 24, 2001. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  6. ^ "Your Guide to the Pepsi 400". That's Racin'. Archived from the original on August 15, 2000. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  7. ^ "Additional Provisionals announced". Motorsport.com. January 24, 1998. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  8. ^ Poole, David (August 14, 1998). "Irvan adds positive Michigan memory". That's Racin'. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  9. ^ "1998 Pepsi 400 Presented by DeVilbiss - The Third Turn". The Third Turn. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
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