1998 MBNA Gold 400

The 1998 MBNA Gold 400 was the 26th stock car race of the 1998 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 30th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, September 20, 1998, in Dover, Delaware at Dover International Speedway, a 1-mile (1.6 km) permanent oval-shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 400 laps to complete. At race's end, Roush Racing driver Mark Martin would dominate the race weekend to take his 28th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his sixth victory of the season.[1][2] To fill out the podium, Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon and Penske-Kranefuss Racing driver Jeremy Mayfield would finish second and third, respectively.

1998 MBNA Gold 400
Race details
Race 26 of 33 in the 1998 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1998 MBNA Gold 400 program cover.
The 1998 MBNA Gold 400 program cover.
Date September 20, 1998
Official name 30th Annual MBNA Gold 400
Location Dover, Delaware, Dover International Speedway
Course Permanent racing facility
1 mi (1.6 km)
Distance 400 laps, 400 mi (643.737 km)
Scheduled Distance 400 laps, 400 mi (643.737 km)
Average speed 113.834 miles per hour (183.198 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Roush Racing
Time 23.082
Most laps led
Driver Mark Martin Roush Racing
Laps 379
Winner
No. 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing
Television in the United States
Network TNN
Announcers Ken Squier, Dick Berggren, Buddy Baker
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

The race would mark the first career NASCAR Winston Cup Series start for Matt Kenseth, who was substituting for Bill Elliott as Elliott had gone to his father's funeral.[3]

Background

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

Dover International Speedway is an oval race track in Dover, Delaware, United States that has held at least two NASCAR races since it opened in 1969. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosted USAC and the NTT IndyCar Series. The track features one layout, a 1-mile (1.6 km) concrete oval, with 24° banking in the turns and 9° banking on the straights. The speedway is owned and operated by Dover Motorsports.

The track, nicknamed "The Monster Mile", was built in 1969 by Melvin Joseph of Melvin L. Joseph Construction Company, Inc., with an asphalt surface, but was replaced with concrete in 1995. Six years later in 2001, the track's capacity moved to 135,000 seats, making the track have the largest capacity of sports venue in the mid-Atlantic. In 2002, the name changed to Dover International Speedway from Dover Downs International Speedway after Dover Downs Gaming and Entertainment split, making Dover Motorsports. From 2007 to 2009, the speedway worked on an improvement project called "The Monster Makeover", which expanded facilities at the track and beautified the track. After the 2014 season, the track's capacity was reduced to 95,500 seats.

Entry list

  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
00 Buckshot Jones Stavola Brothers Racing Chevrolet Realtree Extra
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 Frosted Flakes
6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford Valvoline
7 Geoff Bodine Mattei Motorsports Ford Philips
9 Jerry Nadeau (R) Melling Racing Ford Cartoon Network, Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island
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 Ted Musgrave Elliott-Marino Racing Ford FirstPlus Financial Group
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
22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Pontiac MBNA Gold
23 Jimmy Spencer Travis Carter Enterprises Ford Winston No Bull
24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet DuPont
26 Johnny Benson Jr. Roush Racing Ford Betty Crocker
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 Non-Alcoholic
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 Hut Stricklin 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 Todd Bodine LJ Racing Chevrolet Larry's Homes
94 Matt Kenseth Elliott-Marino Racing Ford Get Back with Big Mac
96 Morgan Shepherd American Equipment Racing Chevrolet Caterpillar
97 Chad Little Roush Racing Ford John Deere
98 Rich Bickle Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford Thorn Apple Valley
99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford Exide Batteries

Practice

First practice

The first practice session was held on Friday, September 19, at 10:15 AM EST. The session would last for one hour and 15 minutes.[4] Ricky Rudd, driving for Rudd Performance Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 23.056 and an average speed of 156.142 miles per hour (251.286 km/h).[5]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford 23.056 156.142
2 90 Dick Trickle Donlavey Racing Ford 23.136 155.602
3 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 23.138 155.588
Full first practice results

Second practice

The second practice session was held on Friday, September 19, at 12:45 PM EST. The session would last for one hour and 15 minutes.[4] Mark Martin, driving for Roush Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 23.008 and an average speed of 156.467 miles per hour (251.809 km/h).[6]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 23.008 156.467
2 90 Dick Trickle Donlavey Racing Ford 23.140 155.575
3 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 23.143 155.555
Full second practice results

Final practice

The final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held Saturday, September 19 after the preliminary 1998 MBNA Gold 200. The session would last for one hour.[4] Rusty Wallace, driving for Penske-Kranefuss Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 23.781 and an average speed of 151.381 miles per hour (243.624 km/h).[7]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 2 Rusty Wallace Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford 23.781 151.381
2 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 23.791 151.318
3 44 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 23.851 150.937
Full Happy Hour practice results

Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, September 18, at 3:30 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, September 19, at 11:30 AM EST. 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.[8]

Mark Martin, driving for Roush Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 23.082 and an average speed of 155.966 miles per hour (251.003 km/h).[9]

Three drivers would fail to qualify: Morgan Shepherd, Steve Grissom, and Dave Marcis.

Full qualifying results

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 23.082 155.966
2 2 Rusty Wallace Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford 23.118 155.723
3 30 Derrike Cope Bahari Racing Pontiac 23.154 155.481
4 16 Kevin Lepage (R) Roush Racing Ford 23.163 155.420
5 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 23.169 155.380
6 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 23.171 155.367
7 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Pontiac 23.190 155.239
8 9 Jerry Nadeau (R) Melling Racing Ford 23.212 155.092
9 90 Dick Trickle Donlavey Racing Ford 23.227 154.992
10 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 23.244 154.879
11 10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford 23.247 154.859
12 28 Kenny Irwin Jr. (R) Robert Yates Racing Ford 23.251 154.832
13 1 Steve Park (R) Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 23.258 154.785
14 00 Buckshot Jones Stavola Brothers Racing Chevrolet 23.271 154.699
15 7 Geoff Bodine Mattei Motorsports Ford 23.285 154.606
16 94 Matt Kenseth Elliott-Marino Racing Ford 23.303 154.487
17 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Pontiac 23.310 154.440
18 46 Jeff Green Team SABCO Chevrolet 23.334 154.281
19 42 Joe Nemechek Team SABCO Chevrolet 23.356 154.136
20 31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 23.361 154.103
21 13 Ted Musgrave Elliott-Marino Racing Ford 23.371 154.037
22 44 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 23.373 154.024
23 36 Ernie Irvan MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 23.395 153.879
24 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 23.400 153.846
25 26 Johnny Benson Jr. Roush Racing Ford 23.400 153.846
26 91 Todd Bodine LJ Racing Chevrolet 23.345 154.209
27 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 23.409 153.787
28 12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford 23.412 153.767
29 33 Ken Schrader Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 23.421 153.708
30 23 Jimmy Spencer Travis Carter Enterprises Ford 23.432 153.636
31 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 23.439 153.590
32 21 Michael Waltrip Wood Brothers Racing Ford 23.455 153.485
33 35 Darrell Waltrip Tyler Jet Motorsports Pontiac 23.473 153.368
34 81 Kenny Wallace FILMAR Racing Ford 23.481 153.315
35 40 Sterling Marlin Team SABCO Chevrolet 23.487 153.276
36 78 Gary Bradberry Triad Motorsports Ford 23.497 153.211
Provisionals
37 4 Bobby Hamilton Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet -* -*
38 97 Chad Little Roush Racing Ford -* -*
39 50 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet -* -*
40 77 Hut Stricklin Jasper Motorsports Ford -* -*
41 75 Rick Mast Butch Mock Motorsports Ford -* -*
42 98 Rich Bickle Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford -* -*
Champion's Provisional
43 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet -* -*
Failed to qualify
44 96 Morgan Shepherd American Equipment Racing Chevrolet 23.575 152.704
45 41 Steve Grissom Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet 23.600 152.542
46 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 23.726 151.732
Official qualifying results

Race results

Fin[10] St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 1 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 400 379 running 185 $126,130
2 6 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 400 6 running 175 $77,005
3 28 12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford 400 0 running 165 $49,305
4 5 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 400 0 running 160 $57,410
5 2 2 Rusty Wallace Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford 400 13 running 160 $40,370
6 16 94 Matt Kenseth Elliott-Marino Racing Ford 400 0 running 150 $42,340
7 10 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 400 0 running 146 $43,590
8 23 36 Ernie Irvan MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 400 0 running 142 $34,440
9 7 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Pontiac 400 1 running 143 $37,640
10 37 4 Bobby Hamilton Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 399 1 running 139 $43,540
11 13 1 Steve Park (R) Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 399 0 running 130 $24,640
12 4 16 Kevin Lepage (R) Roush Racing Ford 399 0 running 127 $31,040
13 11 10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford 399 0 running 124 $35,140
14 15 7 Geoff Bodine Mattei Motorsports Ford 398 0 running 121 $30,240
15 25 26 Johnny Benson Jr. Roush Racing Ford 398 0 running 118 $31,290
16 35 40 Sterling Marlin Team SABCO Chevrolet 398 0 running 115 $21,640
17 38 97 Chad Little Roush Racing Ford 397 0 running 112 $21,540
18 24 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 397 0 running 109 $33,425
19 42 98 Rich Bickle Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford 397 0 running 106 $28,040
20 32 21 Michael Waltrip Wood Brothers Racing Ford 396 0 running 103 $30,640
21 33 35 Darrell Waltrip Tyler Jet Motorsports Pontiac 396 0 running 100 $17,240
22 31 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 396 0 running 97 $27,690
23 43 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 396 0 running 94 $32,140
24 41 75 Rick Mast Butch Mock Motorsports Ford 396 0 running 91 $22,490
25 39 50 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 396 0 running 88 $27,315
26 21 13 Ted Musgrave Elliott-Marino Racing Ford 396 0 running 85 $16,965
27 30 23 Jimmy Spencer Travis Carter Enterprises Ford 394 0 running 82 $28,115
28 36 78 Gary Bradberry Triad Motorsports Ford 394 0 running 79 $16,865
29 19 42 Joe Nemechek Team SABCO Chevrolet 392 0 running 76 $26,915
30 40 77 Hut Stricklin Jasper Motorsports Ford 391 0 running 73 $20,265
31 9 90 Dick Trickle Donlavey Racing Ford 370 0 engine 70 $26,715
32 20 31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 367 0 running 67 $19,155
33 17 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Pontiac 347 0 running 64 $23,605
34 18 46 Jeff Green Team SABCO Chevrolet 319 0 oil leak 61 $16,555
35 3 30 Derrike Cope Bahari Racing Pontiac 314 0 engine 58 $23,480
36 8 9 Jerry Nadeau (R) Melling Racing Ford 313 0 crash 55 $18,855
37 26 91 Todd Bodine LJ Racing Chevrolet 310 0 crash 52 $16,855
38 27 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 262 0 crash 49 $32,955
39 29 33 Ken Schrader Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 237 0 engine 46 $23,355
40 12 28 Kenny Irwin Jr. (R) Robert Yates Racing Ford 168 0 crash 43 $31,355
41 22 44 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 142 0 engine 40 $23,355
42 14 00 Buckshot Jones Stavola Brothers Racing Chevrolet 84 0 engine 37 $16,355
43 34 81 Kenny Wallace FILMAR Racing Ford 2 0 engine 34 $16,355
Failed to qualify
44 96 Morgan Shepherd American Equipment Racing Chevrolet
45 41 Steve Grissom Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet
46 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet
Official race results

References

  1. Utter, Jim (September 20, 1998). "Martin overpowering in victory Sunday". That's Racin'. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  2. McCollister, Tom (September 21, 1998). "Martin takes Dover flag". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 28. Retrieved September 16, 2022 via Newspapers.com. open access
  3. Utter, Jim (September 20, 1998). "Kenseth sparkles in Cup debut". That's Racin'. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  4. "Schedule for the MBNA Gold 400". That's Racin'. September 15, 1998. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  5. "Rudd fastest in early practice". That's Racin'. September 18, 1998. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  6. "Martin fastest in 2nd practice". That's Racin'. September 18, 1998. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  7. "Wallace fastest at Happy Hour". That's Racin'. September 19, 1998. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  8. "Additional Provisionals announced". Motorsport.com. January 24, 1998. Retrieved August 31, 2022. open access
  9. Utter, Jim (September 18, 1998). "Martin battles on, wins Dover pole". That's Racin'. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  10. "1998 MBNA Gold 400 - The Third Turn". The Third Turn. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
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