1998 TranSouth Financial 400

The 1998 TranSouth Financial 400 was the fifth stock car race of the 1998 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 42nd iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, March 22, 1998, in Darlington, South Carolina, at Darlington Raceway, a 1.366 miles (2.198 km) permanent egg-shaped oval racetrack. The race took the scheduled 293 laps to complete. In the late stages of the race, Robert Yates Racing driver Dale Jarrett would manage to defend Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon to take his 16th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his first victory of the season.[1][2] To fill out the top 3, Gordon and Penske-Kranefuss Racing driver Rusty Wallace would finish second and third, respectively.

1998 TranSouth Financial 400
Race details
Race 5 of 33 in the 1998 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1998 TranSouth Financial 400 program cover, featuring Dale Earnhardt.
The 1998 TranSouth Financial 400 program cover, featuring Dale Earnhardt.
Date March 22, 1998
Official name 42nd Annual TranSouth Financial 400
Location Darlington, South Carolina, Darlington Raceway
Course Permanent racing facility
1.366 mi (2.198 km)
Distance 293 laps, 400.238 mi (644.12 km)
Scheduled Distance 293 laps, 400.238 mi (644.12 km)
Average speed 127.962 miles per hour (205.935 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Roush Racing
Time 29.156
Most laps led
Driver Jeff Burton Roush Racing
Laps 195
Winner
No. 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing
Television in the United States
Network ESPN
Announcers Bob Jenkins, Ned Jarrett, Benny Parsons
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

Background

The layout of Darlington Raceway, the venue where the race was held.

Darlington Raceway is a race track built for NASCAR racing located near Darlington, South Carolina. It is nicknamed "The Lady in Black" and "The Track Too Tough to Tame" by many NASCAR fans and drivers and advertised as "A NASCAR Tradition." It is of a unique, somewhat egg-shaped design, an oval with the ends of very different configurations, a condition which supposedly arose from the proximity of one end of the track to a minnow pond the owner refused to relocate. This situation makes it very challenging for the crews to set up their cars' handling in a way that is effective at both ends.

Entry list

  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
1 Ron Hornaday Jr. 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
05 Morgan Shepherd Shepherd Racing Ventures Pontiac Good Stuff America
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 Wally Dallenbach Jr. 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
300* Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet Tim Flock Special

*Changed to 17 after NASCAR did not allow car digits to exceed two digits.[3]

Practice

First practice

The first practice session was held on the morning of Friday, March 20. Kenny Irwin Jr., driving for Robert Yates Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.286 and an average speed of 167.919 mph (270.239 km/h).[4]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 28 Kenny Irwin Jr. (R) Robert Yates Racing Ford 29.286 167.919
2 42 Joe Nemechek Team SABCO Chevrolet 29.436 167.061
3 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Pontiac 29.539 166.478
Full first practice results

Second practice

The second practice session was held on the afternoon of Friday, March 20. Bobby Labonte, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.336 and an average speed of 167.630 mph (269.774 km/h).[5]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 29.336 167.630
2 12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford 29.374 167.413
3 96 David Green American Equipment Racing Chevrolet 29.417 167.169
Full second practice results

Final practice

The final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, March 21. Ted Musgrave, driving for Roush Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.758 and an average speed of 165.253 mph (265.949 km/h).[6]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 16 Ted Musgrave Roush Racing Ford 29.758 165.253
2 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 29.947 164.210
3 96 David Green American Equipment Racing Chevrolet 29.948 164.205
Full Happy Hour practice results

Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, March 20, 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, March 21, at 11:30 AM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time.[7] 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 29.156 and an average speed of 168.665 miles per hour (271.440 km/h).[9]

Six drivers would fail to qualify: Wally Dallenbach Jr., Dave Marcis, Hut Stricklin, Gary Bradberry, Morgan Shepherd, and Ron Hornaday Jr.

Full qualifying results

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 29.156 168.665
2 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 29.222 168.284
3 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 29.239 168.186
4 90 Dick Trickle Donlavey Racing Ford 29.243 168.163
5 28 Kenny Irwin Jr. (R) Robert Yates Racing Ford 29.247 168.140
6 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 29.249 168.129
7 21 Michael Waltrip Wood Brothers Racing Ford 29.249 168.129
8 40 Sterling Marlin Team SABCO Chevrolet 29.259 168.071
9 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Pontiac 29.297 167.853
10 91 Kevin Lepage (R) LJ Racing Chevrolet 29.322 167.710
11 7 Geoff Bodine Mattei Motorsports Ford 29.329 167.670
12 98 Greg Sacks Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford 29.360 167.493
13 96 David Green American Equipment Racing Chevrolet 29.380 167.379
14 2 Rusty Wallace Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford 29.383 167.362
15 75 Rick Mast Butch Mock Motorsports Ford 29.394 167.299
16 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Pontiac 29.396 167.288
17 77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford 29.409 167.214
18 10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford 29.410 167.208
19 31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 29.423 167.135
20 16 Ted Musgrave Roush Racing Ford 29.426 167.118
21 26 Johnny Benson Jr. Roush Racing Ford 29.450 166.981
22 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 29.456 166.947
23 50 Randy LaJoie Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 29.480 166.811
24 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 29.493 166.738
25 13 Jerry Nadeau (R) Elliott-Marino Racing Ford 29.502 166.687
26 81 Kenny Wallace FILMAR Racing Ford 29.219 168.301
27 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 29.406 167.231
28 42 Joe Nemechek Team SABCO Chevrolet 29.424 167.129
29 97 Chad Little Roush Racing Ford 29.459 166.930
30 94 Bill Elliott Elliott-Marino Racing Ford 29.502 166.687
31 30 Derrike Cope Bahari Racing Pontiac 29.504 166.676
32 33 Ken Schrader Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 29.505 166.670
33 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 29.508 166.653
34 9 Lake Speed Melling Racing Ford 29.509 166.647
35 23 Jimmy Spencer Travis Carter Enterprises Ford 29.514 166.619
36 41 Steve Grissom Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet 29.577 166.264
Provisionals
37 12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford -* -*
38 4 Bobby Hamilton Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet -* -*
39 36 Ernie Irvan MB2 Motorsports Pontiac -* -*
40 44 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac -* -*
41 35 Todd Bodine ISM Racing Pontiac -* -*
42 29 Jeff Green Diamond Ridge Motorsports Chevrolet -* -*
Champion's Provisional
43 17 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet -* -*
Failed to qualify
44 46 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Team SABCO Chevrolet -* -*
45 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet -* -*
46 8 Hut Stricklin Stavola Brothers Racing Chevrolet -* -*
47 78 Gary Bradberry Triad Motorsports Ford -* -*
48 05 Morgan Shepherd Shepherd Racing Ventures Pontiac -* -*
49 1 Ron Hornaday Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet -* -*
Official qualifying results

Race results

Fin[10] St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 3 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 293 68 running 180 $110,035
2 24 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 293 0 running 170 $75,075
3 14 2 Rusty Wallace Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford 293 1 running 170 $52,240
4 37 12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford 293 25 running 165 $45,930
5 2 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 293 195 running 165 $49,075
6 33 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 293 0 running 150 $48,600
7 1 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 293 3 running 151 $47,995
8 21 26 Johnny Benson Jr. Roush Racing Ford 293 0 running 142 $26,340
9 26 81 Kenny Wallace FILMAR Racing Ford 293 0 running 138 $33,285
10 20 16 Ted Musgrave Roush Racing Ford 292 0 running 134 $39,930
11 9 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Pontiac 292 0 running 130 $33,500
12 27 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 292 0 running 127 $37,595
13 16 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Pontiac 292 0 running 124 $37,990
14 8 40 Sterling Marlin Team SABCO Chevrolet 291 0 running 121 $24,560
15 30 94 Bill Elliott Elliott-Marino Racing Ford 291 1 running 123 $32,430
16 7 21 Michael Waltrip Wood Brothers Racing Ford 291 0 running 115 $32,435
17 29 97 Chad Little Roush Racing Ford 291 0 running 112 $23,690
18 32 33 Ken Schrader Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 291 0 running 109 $32,820
19 36 41 Steve Grissom Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet 291 0 running 106 $29,740
20 17 77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford 291 0 running 103 $20,970
21 35 23 Jimmy Spencer Travis Carter Enterprises Ford 290 0 running 100 $31,405
22 22 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 290 0 running 97 $28,840
23 6 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 290 0 running 94 $33,425
24 4 90 Dick Trickle Donlavey Racing Ford 290 0 running 91 $28,310
25 34 9 Lake Speed Melling Racing Ford 290 0 running 88 $20,995
26 13 96 David Green American Equipment Racing Chevrolet 290 0 running 85 $20,685
27 41 35 Todd Bodine ISM Racing Pontiac 290 0 running 82 $17,300
28 19 31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 289 0 running 79 $20,245
29 40 44 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 288 0 running 76 $26,940
30 43 17 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet 288 0 running 73 $26,810
31 25 13 Jerry Nadeau (R) Elliott-Marino Racing Ford 288 0 running 70 $17,655
32 42 29 Jeff Green Diamond Ridge Motorsports Chevrolet 288 0 running 67 $20,025
33 18 10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford 288 0 running 64 $32,745
34 10 91 Kevin Lepage (R) LJ Racing Chevrolet 287 0 running 61 $16,215
35 38 4 Bobby Hamilton Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 286 0 running 58 $23,085
36 39 36 Ernie Irvan MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 285 0 running 55 $22,955
37 28 42 Joe Nemechek Team SABCO Chevrolet 285 0 running 52 $22,875
38 23 50 Randy LaJoie Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 284 0 running 49 $25,225
39 5 28 Kenny Irwin Jr. (R) Robert Yates Racing Ford 270 0 running 46 $30,600
40 31 30 Derrike Cope Bahari Racing Pontiac 231 0 engine 43 $22,475
41 11 7 Geoff Bodine Mattei Motorsports Ford 144 0 crash 40 $22,350
42 12 98 Greg Sacks Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford 142 0 crash 37 $22,225
43 15 75 Rick Mast Butch Mock Motorsports Ford 26 0 engine 34 $15,116
Failed to qualify
44 46 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Team SABCO Chevrolet
45 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet
46 8 Hut Stricklin Stavola Brothers Racing Chevrolet
47 78 Gary Bradberry Triad Motorsports Ford
48 05 Morgan Shepherd Shepherd Racing Ventures Pontiac
49 1 Ron Hornaday Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet
Failed to qualify

References

  1. Poole, David (March 22, 1998). "Jarrett holds off Gordon for victory at Darlington". That's Racin'. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on February 16, 2001. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  2. "Jarrett edges Gordon for win". The Brattleboro Reformer. March 23, 1998. p. 9. Retrieved September 20, 2022 via Newspapers.com. open access
  3. McLaurin, Jim (March 21, 1998). "Waltrip revs up plan to help former driver". That's Racin'. Archived from the original on August 18, 2000. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  4. "Darlington practice speeds from Friday morning session". That's Racin'. March 20, 1998. Archived from the original on August 18, 2000. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  5. "Winston Cup afternoon Practice". That's Racin'. March 20, 1998. Archived from the original on May 3, 2001. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  6. "Happy Hour practice speeds". That's Racin'. March 21, 1998. Archived from the original on August 18, 2000. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  7. "This Week's Races". Asbury Park Press. March 19, 1998. p. 36. Retrieved September 20, 2022 via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Additional Provisionals announced". Motorsport.com. January 24, 1998. Retrieved August 31, 2022. open access
  9. McLaurin, Jim (March 20, 1998). "Martin didn't need smarts to win Darlington pole". That's Racin'. Archived from the original on August 18, 2000. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  10. "1998 TranSouth Financial 400 - The Third Turn". The Third Turn. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
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