1998 Food City 500

The 1998 Food City 500 was the sixth stock car race of the 1998 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 38th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, March 29, 1998, in Bristol, Tennessee at Bristol Motor Speedway, a 0.533 miles (0.858 km) permanent oval-shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 500 laps to complete. With the help of a fast pit crew, Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon would manage to dominate the last 63 laps of the race to take his 31st career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his second victory of the season.[1][2] To fill out the podium, Hendrick Motorsports driver Terry Labonte and Robert Yates Racing driver Dale Jarrett would finish second and third, respectively.

1998 Food City 500
Race details
Race 6 of 33 in the 1998 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1998 Food City 500 program cover, with artwork by Sam Bass.
The 1998 Food City 500 program cover, with artwork by Sam Bass.
Date March 29, 1998
Official name 38th Annual Food City 500
Location Bristol, Tennessee, Bristol Motor Speedway
Course Permanent racing facility
0.533 mi (0.858 km)
Distance 500 laps, 266.5 mi (428.89 km)
Scheduled Distance 500 laps, 266.5 mi (428.89 km)
Average speed 82.85 miles per hour (133.33 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Penske-Kranefuss Racing
Time 15.440
Most laps led
Driver Rusty Wallace Penske-Kranefuss Racing
Laps 220
Winner
No. 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports
Television in the United States
Network ESPN
Announcers Bob Jenkins, Ned Jarrett, Benny Parsons
Radio in the United States
Radio Performance Racing Network

Background

The layout of Bristol Motor Speedway, the venue where the race was held.

The Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway, is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961. Despite its short length, Bristol is among the most popular tracks on the NASCAR schedule because of its distinct features, which include extraordinarily steep banking, an all concrete surface, two pit roads, and stadium-like seating. It has also been named one of the loudest NASCAR tracks.

Entry list

  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
1 Darrell Waltrip 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 Frosted Flakes
6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford Valvoline
7 Geoff Bodine Mattei Motorsports Ford Philips
8 Hut Stricklin Stavola Brothers Racing Chevrolet Circuit City
9 Lake Speed Melling Racing Ford Cartoon Network, The Huckleberry Hound Show
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 Jerry Nadeau (R) Elliott-Marino Racing Ford FirstPlus Financial Group
16 Ted Musgrave Roush Racing Ford PrimeStar
18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac Interstate Batteries
21 Michael Waltrip Wood Brothers Racing Ford Citgo
22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Pontiac MBNA
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
29 Jeff Green Diamond Ridge Motorsports Chevrolet Team Monte Carlo, Tasmanian Devil
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 Todd Bodine ISM Racing 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 Morgan Shepherd Team SABCO Chevrolet First Union
50 Randy LaJoie 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 Kevin Lepage (R) LJ Racing Chevrolet LJ Racing
94 Bill Elliott Elliott-Marino Racing Ford McDonald's
96 David Green American Equipment Racing Chevrolet Caterpillar
97 Chad Little Roush Racing Ford John Deere
98 Greg Sacks Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford Thorn Apple Valley
99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford Exide Batteries

Practice

The only practice session was held on Friday, March 27. Rick Mast, driving for Butch Mock Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 15.564 and an average speed of 123.285 mph (198.408 km/h).[3]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 75 Rick Mast Butch Mock Motorsports Ford 15.564 123.285
2 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 15.567 123.261
3 36 Ernie Irvan MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 15.588 123.095
Full practice results

Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, March 27, at 2:00 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, March 28. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time.[4] 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.[5]

Rusty Wallace, driving for Penske-Kranefuss Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 15.440 and an average speed of 124.275 miles per hour (200.001 km/h).[6]

Four drivers would fail to qualify: Jeff Green, Joe Nemechek, Gary Bradberry, and Dave Marcis.

Full qualifying results

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 2 Rusty Wallace Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford 15.440 124.275
2 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 15.504 123.762
3 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 15.532 123.539
4 31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 15.535 123.515
5 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 15.537 123.499
6 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 15.550 123.395
7 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 15.559 123.324
8 26 Johnny Benson Jr. Roush Racing Ford 15.569 123.245
9 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 15.572 123.221
10 12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford 15.577 123.182
11 98 Greg Sacks Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford 15.580 123.158
12 46 Morgan Shepherd Team SABCO Chevrolet 15.586 123.110
13 81 Kenny Wallace FILMAR Racing Ford 15.593 123.055
14 33 Ken Schrader Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 15.599 123.008
15 30 Derrike Cope Bahari Racing Pontiac 15.599 123.008
16 35 Todd Bodine ISM Racing Pontiac 15.600 123.000
17 50 Randy LaJoie Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 15.603 122.976
18 7 Geoff Bodine Mattei Motorsports Ford 15.632 122.748
19 75 Rick Mast Butch Mock Motorsports Ford 15.635 122.725
20 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 15.642 122.670
21 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Pontiac 15.644 122.654
22 13 Jerry Nadeau (R) Elliott-Marino Racing Ford 15.653 122.584
23 91 Kevin Lepage (R) LJ Racing Chevrolet 15.653 122.584
24 40 Sterling Marlin Team SABCO Chevrolet 15.655 122.568
25 8 Hut Stricklin Stavola Brothers Racing Chevrolet 15.657 122.552
26 23 Jimmy Spencer Travis Carter Enterprises Ford 15.661 122.521
27 28 Kenny Irwin Jr. (R) Robert Yates Racing Ford 15.671 122.443
28 36 Ernie Irvan MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 15.672 122.435
29 16 Ted Musgrave Roush Racing Ford 15.675 122.411
30 96 David Green American Equipment Racing Chevrolet 15.675 122.411
31 77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford 15.678 122.388
32 21 Michael Waltrip Wood Brothers Racing Ford 15.694 122.263
33 44 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 15.700 122.217
34 97 Chad Little Roush Racing Ford 15.703 122.193
35 10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford 15.706 122.170
36 9 Lake Speed Melling Racing Ford 15.711 122.131
Provisionals
37 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet -* -*
38 94 Bill Elliott Elliott-Marino Racing Ford -* -*
39 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Pontiac -* -*
40 4 Bobby Hamilton Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet -* -*
41 90 Dick Trickle Donlavey Racing Ford -* -*
42 41 Steve Grissom Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet -* -*
Champion's Provisional
43 1 Darrell Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet -* -*
Failed to qualify
44 29 Jeff Green Diamond Ridge Motorsports Chevrolet 15.730 121.983
45 42 Joe Nemechek Team SABCO Chevrolet 15.857 121.006
46 78 Gary Bradberry Triad Motorsports Ford 15.940 120.376
47 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 16.018 119.790
Official qualifying results

*Time not available.

Race results

Fin[7] St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 2 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 500 63 running 180 $90,860
2 3 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 500 115 running 175 $57,960
3 6 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 500 18 running 170 $57,660
4 5 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 500 0 running 160 $47,670
5 8 26 Johnny Benson Jr. Roush Racing Ford 500 0 running 155 $38,770
6 14 33 Ken Schrader Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 500 5 running 155 $43,270
7 9 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 500 0 running 146 $39,070
8 29 16 Ted Musgrave Roush Racing Ford 500 0 running 142 $33,470
9 32 21 Michael Waltrip Wood Brothers Racing Ford 500 1 running 143 $35,320
10 17 50 Randy LaJoie Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 499 0 running 134 $38,165
11 20 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 499 0 running 130 $32,295
12 10 12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford 499 0 running 127 $30,940
13 41 90 Dick Trickle Donlavey Racing Ford 498 0 running 124 $31,715
14 26 23 Jimmy Spencer Travis Carter Enterprises Ford 498 0 running 121 $37,915
15 38 94 Bill Elliott Elliott-Marino Racing Ford 498 17 running 123 $31,515
16 42 41 Steve Grissom Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet 498 0 running 115 $30,590
17 39 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Pontiac 498 0 running 112 $29,740
18 40 4 Bobby Hamilton Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 498 35 running 114 $29,540
19 21 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Pontiac 497 0 running 106 $34,030
20 28 36 Ernie Irvan MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 497 16 running 108 $31,175
21 30 96 David Green American Equipment Racing Chevrolet 497 0 running 100 $23,415
22 37 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 496 0 running 97 $33,715
23 43 1 Darrell Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 496 0 running 94 $18,665
24 12 46 Morgan Shepherd Team SABCO Chevrolet 496 0 running 91 $18,590
25 19 75 Rick Mast Butch Mock Motorsports Ford 496 0 running 88 $22,245
26 15 30 Derrike Cope Bahari Racing Pontiac 495 0 running 85 $28,615
27 23 91 Kevin Lepage (R) LJ Racing Chevrolet 491 0 running 82 $19,495
28 31 77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford 489 0 crash 79 $18,440
29 16 35 Todd Bodine ISM Racing Pontiac 486 0 running 76 $18,410
30 35 10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford 482 0 running 73 $34,485
31 36 9 Lake Speed Melling Racing Ford 480 0 transmission 70 $20,315
32 4 31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 460 0 running 67 $17,395
33 1 2 Rusty Wallace Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford 446 220 running 74 $37,275
34 7 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 442 0 crash 61 $32,235
35 34 97 Chad Little Roush Racing Ford 442 10 crash 63 $20,215
36 11 98 Greg Sacks Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford 425 0 running 55 $26,695
37 22 13 Jerry Nadeau (R) Elliott-Marino Racing Ford 399 0 running 52 $17,185
38 33 44 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 394 0 running 49 $24,175
39 18 7 Geoff Bodine Mattei Motorsports Ford 385 0 overheating 46 $24,165
40 24 40 Sterling Marlin Team SABCO Chevrolet 324 0 running 43 $17,150
41 25 8 Hut Stricklin Stavola Brothers Racing Chevrolet 204 0 handling 40 $17,125
42 13 81 Kenny Wallace FILMAR Racing Ford 155 0 crash 37 $17,100
43 27 28 Kenny Irwin Jr. (R) Robert Yates Racing Ford 88 0 crash 34 $32,077
Failed to qualify
44 29 Jeff Green Diamond Ridge Motorsports Chevrolet
45 42 Joe Nemechek Team SABCO Chevrolet
46 78 Gary Bradberry Triad Motorsports Ford
47 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet
Official race results

References

  1. Poole, David (March 29, 1998). "Pit power gives Gordon edge in victory". That's Racin'. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on July 12, 2001. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  2. Macenka, Joe (March 30, 1998). "Crew pushes Gordon to victory in Bristol race". Morning Sentinel. p. 20. Retrieved September 2, 2022 via Newspapers.com. open access
  3. "Bristol practice speeds". That's Racin'. March 27, 1998. Archived from the original on May 1, 2001. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  4. "NASCAR Winston Cup". The Daily Oklahoman. March 26, 1998. p. 68. Retrieved September 2, 2022 via Newspapers.com. open access
  5. "Additional Provisionals announced". Motorsport.com. January 24, 1998. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  6. Poole, David (March 27, 1998). "Rusty Wallace on the pole at Bristol". That's Racin'. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on May 1, 2001. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  7. "1998 Food City 500 - The Third Turn". The Third Turn. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
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