1998 Texas 500

American stock car race February 2025 NASWINSTON Fort Worth, Texas, Texas Motor Speedway 501 29.047 1998 1.5 2.41 334 806.281 Texas 500 Second Annual Texas 500 7 33 April 5 Performance Racing Network 6 105 Penske-Kranefuss Racing Jeremy Mayfield Mark Martin Roush Racing Penske-Kranefuss Racing Jeremy Mayfield 136.771 mph km/h The 1998 Texas 500 program cover, with artwork by NASCAR artist Sam Bass. CBS 1998 Texas 500.jpg Mike Joy, Ned Jarrett, Buddy Baker The 1998 Texas 500 was the seventh stock car race of the 1998 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the second iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, April 5, 1998, in Fort Worth, Texas at Texas Motor Speedway, a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) permanent tri-oval shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 334 laps to complete. In the closing laps of the race, Roush Racing driver Mark Martin would manage to fend off teammate Chad Little to take his 24th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his second victory of the season.Poole David April 5, 1998 Texas Motor Speedway A-OK with Martin http://www.thatsracin.com/98/0405/0406500lede.htm live https://web.archive.org/web/20010503153845/http://www.thatsracin.com/98/0405/0406500lede.htm May 3, 2001 September 3, 2022 That's Racin' The Charlotte ObserverApril 6, 1998 Martin gets second win of season 9 The Daily News Leader https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108857758/martin-gets-second-win-of-season/ September 3, 2022 Newspapers.com To fill out the podium, Little and Jasper Motorsports driver Robert Pressley would finish second and third, respectively. Background thumb|The layout of Texas Motor Speedway, the venue where the race was held. Texas Motor Speedway is a speedway located in the northernmost portion of Fort Worth, Texas. The track measures 1.5 miles (2.4 km) around and is banked 24 degrees in the turns, and is of the oval design, where the front straightaway juts outward slightly. The track is owned by Speedway Motorsports. Entry list (R) denotes rookie driver. #DriverTeamMake1Darrell WaltripDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet2Rusty WallacePenske-Kranefuss RacingFord3Dale EarnhardtRichard Childress RacingChevrolet4Bobby HamiltonMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevrolet5Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet6Mark MartinRoush RacingFord7Geoff BodineMattei MotorsportsFord8Hut StricklinStavola Brothers RacingChevrolet9Lake SpeedMelling RacingFord10Ricky RuddRudd Performance MotorsportsFord11Brett BodineBrett Bodine RacingFord12Jeremy MayfieldPenske-Kranefuss RacingFord13Jerry Nadeau (R)Elliott-Marino RacingFord16Ted MusgraveRoush RacingFord18Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac21Michael WaltripWood Brothers RacingFord22Ward BurtonBill Davis RacingPontiac23Jimmy SpencerHaas-Carter MotorsportsFord24Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet26Johnny Benson Jr.Roush RacingFord28Kenny Irwin Jr. (R)Robert Yates RacingFord30Derrike CopeBahari RacingPontiac31Mike SkinnerRichard Childress RacingChevrolet33Ken SchraderAndy Petree RacingChevrolet35Todd BodineISM RacingPontiac36Ernie IrvanMB2 MotorsportsPontiac40Sterling MarlinTeam SABCOChevrolet41Steve GrissomLarry Hedrick MotorsportsChevrolet42Joe NemechekTeam SABCOChevrolet43John AndrettiPetty EnterprisesPontiac44Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesPontiac46Wally Dallenbach Jr.Team SABCOChevrolet47Billy StandridgeStandridge MotorsportsChevrolet50Randy LaJoieHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet71Dave MarcisMarcis Auto RacingChevrolet75Rick MastButch Mock MotorsportsFord77Robert PressleyJasper MotorsportsFord78Gary BradberryTriad MotorsportsFord81Kenny WallaceFILMAR RacingFord88Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord90Dick TrickleDonlavey RacingFord91Kevin Lepage (R)LJ RacingChevrolet94Bill ElliottElliott-Marino RacingFord95Andy HillenburgSadler Brothers RacingChevrolet96David GreenAmerican Equipment RacingChevrolet97Chad LittleRoush RacingFord98Greg SacksCale Yarborough MotorsportsFord99Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFord Practice Originally, four practice sessions were scheduled to be held, with two on Thursday, April 2, one on Friday, April 3, and one on Saturday, April 4. However, due to complaints about poor track conditions on Saturday that had occurred throughout pre-race, the final practice session was cancelled. Drivers had reported major bumps in the exit of turn 4, along with major seepage throughout the racetrack since the opening of the track in 1997.Poole David April 4, 1998 Without question, Texas' problems need fixing now http://www.thatsracin.com/98/0405/0405poole.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20000818010735/http://www.thatsracin.com/98/0405/0405poole.htm August 18, 2000 September 2, 2022 That's Racin' The Charlotte Observer First practice The first practice session was held on the afternoon of Thursday, April 2. Jeremy Mayfield, driving for Penske-Kranefuss Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.652 and an average speed of 182.113 mph km/h on.April 2, 1998 First session practice speeds http://www.thatsracin.com/98/0405/0403practice1.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20000818011031/http://www.thatsracin.com/98/0405/0403practice1.htm August 18, 2000 September 3, 2022 That's Racin' Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed112Jeremy MayfieldPenske-Kranefuss RacingFord29.652182.113223Jimmy SpencerHaas-Carter MotorsportsFord29.708181.76936Mark MartinRoush RacingFord29.732181.622Full first practice results Second practice The third practice session was held on the evening of Thursday, April 2. Jeremy Mayfield, driving for Penske-Kranefuss Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.298 and an average speed of 184.313 mph km/h on.April 2, 1998 Second practice session speeds http://www.thatsracin.com/98/0405/0403practice2.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20000818011037/http://www.thatsracin.com/98/0405/0403practice2.htm August 18, 2000 September 3, 2022 That's Racin' Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed112Jeremy MayfieldPenske-Kranefuss RacingFord29.298184.313243John AndrettiPetty EnterprisesPontiac29.439183.43036Mark MartinRoush RacingFord29.468183.250Full second practice results Final practice The planned third, but eventual final practice session was held on the morning of Friday, April 3. Joe Nemechek, driving for Team SABCO, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.298 and an average speed of 184.313 mph km/h on.April 3, 1998 Friday first practice session speeds from Texas http://www.thatsracin.com/98/0405/0404practice1.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20010503152845/http://www.thatsracin.com/98/0405/0404practice1.htm May 3, 2001 September 3, 2022 That's Racin' Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed142Joe NemechekTeam SABCOChevrolet29.183185.039288Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord29.282184.41436Mark MartinRoush RacingFord29.310184.237Full Happy Hour practice results Cancelled Happy Hour practice and complaints While a practice session was scheduled to be run on Saturday, April 4, numerous factors throughout the race weekend would eventually lead to the cancellation of the Happy Hour practice. Two major issues would plague the weekend; first, in response to the track surfacing issues in the 1997 race, turn four was repaved. However, the repavement would lead to a major bump on the exit of turn 4. Many drivers would complain to then-Texas Motor Speedway president Eddie Gossage about the bump, saying that the transition on the exit of turn 4 should be less severe. However, in response, Gossage would say that the turn was a unique corner of the speedway, comparing the turn to turn 4 at Darlington Raceway, saying "I understand where the Winston Cup drivers are coming from, but this is what we've got. A couple of drivers have said we need to move the wall in Turn 4. They've been saying that for 48 years at Darlington. Darlington should not move the wall back because that's what makes it quaint. Turn 4 is tricky. That's just the way it is.''Strubin John Gonzalez Simon April 3, 1998 Eddie Gossage gives `simple' advice for TMS racing http://www.thatsracin.com/98/0405/0403gossage.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20010503153622/http://www.thatsracin.com/98/0405/0403gossage.htm May 3, 2001 September 3, 2022 That's Racin' Fort Worth Star-Telegram The second problem was water seepage problems in every turn but turn 2 due to heavy winter rains within the local area of the speedway, which would eventually lead to postponements of qualifying and practice sessions.Poole David April 5, 1998 France warns TMS to get the leaks plugged http://www.thatsracin.com/98/0405/0406france.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20010503154126/http://www.thatsracin.com/98/0405/0406france.htm May 3, 2001 September 3, 2022 That's Racin' The Charlotte ObserverHerrin Rick April 3, 1998 Drivers steaming over water-logged corner in Turn 1 http://www.thatsracin.com/98/0405/0404reax.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20010503152803/http://www.thatsracin.com/98/0405/0404reax.htm May 3, 2001 September 3, 2022 That's Racin' Fort Worth Star-Telegram Driver reactions throughout the weekend were mostly negative of the track. Robert Yates Racing driver Dale Jarrett would call for multiple-groove racing, saying that "The biggest thing here is that we need more than the one groove we have, and it would make for better racing. Right now it's just going to be a follow-the-leader type deal. If a guy gets out on the outside, he's going to get passed by a lot of cars. Long-time driver Darrell Waltrip would report that while every racetrack had "something wrong with them", that Texas Motor Speedway was new and that "when you build a racetrack new, you're supposed to eliminate all that. There's no reason here not to do what needs to be done."Lebreton Gil April 4, 1998 Win by Jarrett on TMS stage would dry track's tears http://www.thatsracin.com/98/0405/0405lebreton.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20000818010746/http://www.thatsracin.com/98/0405/0405lebreton.htm August 18, 2000 September 3, 2022 That's Racin' Fort Worth Star-Telegram Most drivers would report that they had felt that their cars had been too loose throughout the weekend, leading to a surplus of wrecks during practice and qualifying.Markiewicz David April 3, 1998 Drivers at TMS work out the kinks http://www.thatsracin.com/98/0405/0403scanners.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20000818011042/http://www.thatsracin.com/98/0405/0403scanners.htm August 18, 2000 September 3, 2022 That's Racin' Fort Worth Star-TelegramBlount Terry April 4, 1998 Texas 500 track test drivers http://www.thatsracin.com/98/0405/0405hclede.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20000818010813/http://www.thatsracin.com/98/0405/0405hclede.htm August 18, 2000 September 3, 2022 That's Racin' Houston Chronicle Some drivers felt that the problems had been blown out of proportion, with Jeff Burton saying "It definitely has been blown out of proportion. There's too much fuss about it. What we need more than anything else is to work a second groove up higher. Once we do that, I think you will hear a lot fewer complaints."Blount Terry April 3, 1998 Drivers resume issuing TMS complaints http://www.thatsracin.com/98/0405/0404hcnotes.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20000818010924/http://www.thatsracin.com/98/0405/0404hcnotes.htm August 18, 2000 September 3, 2022 That's Racin' Houston Chronicle Then-Texas Motor Speedway president Eddie Gossage would face harsh criticism for a lack of safety improvements since the inaugural race, the 1997 Interstate Batteries 500 and for trying to turn the complaints into a marketing scheme, with Gossage and Speedway Motorsports CEO Bruton Smith selling "Shut Up and Race" t-shirts at track souvenir stands for US$18 (adjusted for inflation$, US 18 1998).Gonzalez Simon April 2, 1998 Bruton Smith's message: Shut Up And Race http://www.thatsracin.com/98/0405/0402tms.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20010503155313/http://www.thatsracin.com/98/0405/0402tms.htm May 3, 2001 September 3, 2022 That's Racin' Fort Worth Star-TelegramReeves Jim April 3, 1998 Joke turns all wet as TMS springs its latest leak http://www.thatsracin.com/98/0405/0404reeves.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20010503153748/http://www.thatsracin.com/98/0405/0404reeves.htm May 3, 2001 September 3, 2022 That's Racin' Fort Worth Star-Telegram In response, Gossage said that the new slogan for shirts would be to "Shut Up and Fix It" and that the track would look into fixing the bump in turn 4 along with fixing the turn 1 seepage issues.Strubin John April 3, 1998 Bump on track tests drivers' dip-lomacy http://www.thatsracin.com/98/0405/0403bumps.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20001009202453/http://www.thatsracin.com/98/0405/0403bumps.htm October 9, 2000 September 3, 2022 That's Racin' Fort Worth Star-Telegram Qualifying Qualifying was scheduled to be split into two rounds. Qualifying had run on Friday, April 3; however, after seven drivers made qualifying runs, due to complaints from drivers throughout race weekend, qualifying was eventually postponed to Saturday, April 4 with only one round. The seven drivers were forced to stand on their times on Friday. The continuation of qualifying was held on Saturday, April 4, at 9:15 AM CST. Each driver would have one lap to set a time. Jeremy Mayfield, driving for Penske-Kranefuss Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 29.047 and an average speed of 185.906 mph km/h.Poole David April 4, 1998 It was just a matter of time for Mayfield http://www.thatsracin.com/98/0405/0405500adv.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20000818010655/http://www.thatsracin.com/98/0405/0405500adv.htm August 18, 2000 September 3, 2022 That's Racin' The Charlotte Observer During qualifying, numerous drivers would crash. Derrike Cope would suffer a crash in turn 4, causing him to miss a race and several broken ribs. Then, Lake Speed would crash also, but would make the race on a provisional. Five drivers would fail to qualify: Todd Bodine, Jerry Nadeau, Andy Hillenburg, Billy Standridge, and Derrike Cope. Full qualifying results Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed112Jeremy MayfieldPenske-Kranefuss RacingFord29.047185.906242Joe NemechekTeam SABCOChevrolet29.209184.875322Ward BurtonBill Davis RacingPontiac29.211184.862428Kenny Irwin Jr. (R)Robert Yates RacingFord29.249184.622597Chad LittleRoush RacingFord29.272184.47762Rusty WallacePenske-Kranefuss RacingFord29.296184.32676Mark MartinRoush RacingFord29.317184.193877Robert PressleyJasper MotorsportsFord29.318184.187996David GreenAmerican Equipment RacingChevrolet29.323184.1561078Gary BradberryTriad MotorsportsFord29.325184.1431118Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac29.350183.9861231Mike SkinnerRichard Childress RacingChevrolet29.378183.8111388Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord29.384183.7731475Rick MastButch Mock MotorsportsFord29.395183.7051543John AndrettiPetty EnterprisesPontiac29.399183.6801691Kevin Lepage (R)LJ RacingChevrolet29.423183.5301724Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet29.450183.3621811Brett BodineBrett Bodine RacingFord29.456183.3241936Ernie IrvanMB2 MotorsportsPontiac29.478183.1872010Ricky RuddRudd Performance MotorsportsFord29.493183.0942140Sterling MarlinTeam SABCOChevrolet29.500183.0512246Wally Dallenbach Jr.Team SABCOChevrolet29.513182.9702399Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFord29.534182.8402450Randy LaJoieHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet29.534182.840254Bobby HamiltonMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevrolet29.558182.6922644Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesPontiac29.560182.6792726Johnny Benson Jr.Roush RacingFord29.571182.6112898Greg SacksCale Yarborough MotorsportsFord29.591182.488297Geoff BodineMattei MotorsportsFord29.602182.4203016Ted MusgraveRoush RacingFord29.616182.3343181Kenny WallaceFILMAR RacingFord29.684181.9163233Ken SchraderAndy Petree RacingChevrolet29.688181.892338Hut StricklinStavola Brothers RacingChevrolet29.700181.818343Dale EarnhardtRichard Childress RacingChevrolet29.718181.708351Darrell WaltripDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet29.776181.3543671Dave MarcisMarcis Auto RacingChevrolet29.830181.026Provisionals375Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet -* -*3894Bill ElliottElliott-Marino RacingFord -* -*3923Jimmy SpencerTravis Carter EnterprisesFord -* -*4021Michael WaltripWood Brothers RacingFord -* -*4190Dick TrickleDonlavey RacingFord -* -*4241Steve GrissomLarry Hedrick MotorsportsChevrolet -* -*439Lake SpeedMelling RacingFord -* -*Failed to qualify4435Todd BodineISM RacingPontiac29.962180.2284513Jerry Nadeau (R)Elliott-Marino RacingFord30.072179.5694695Andy HillenburgSadler Brothers RacingChevrolet30.416177.5384747Billy StandridgeStandridge MotorsportsChevrolet30.445177.3694830Derrike CopeBahari RacingPontiac - -Official qualifying results *Time not available. Race results Fin1998 Texas 500 - The Third Turn https://www.thethirdturn.com/wiki/1998_Texas_500 September 2, 2022 The Third Turn enSt#DriverTeamMakeLapsLedStatusPtsWinnings176Mark MartinRoush RacingFord33437running180$356,8502597Chad LittleRoush RacingFord33449running175$238,5503877Robert PressleyJasper MotorsportsFord3340running165$161,7504242Joe NemechekTeam SABCOChevrolet3343running165$162,10052726Johnny Benson Jr.Roush RacingFord3349running160$113,6506375Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet3340running150$113,10073923Jimmy SpencerTravis Carter EnterprisesFord3340running146$106,35081118Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac3340running142$97,30094021Michael WaltripWood Brothers RacingFord3345running143$91,350104241Steve GrissomLarry Hedrick MotorsportsChevrolet3340running134$94,250111388Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord33451running135$93,5001262Rusty WallacePenske-Kranefuss RacingFord3340running127$87,500133894Bill ElliottElliott-Marino RacingFord3330running124$81,700142140Sterling MarlinTeam SABCOChevrolet3330running121$72,60015322Ward BurtonBill Davis RacingPontiac33227running123$78,900161811Brett BodineBrett Bodine RacingFord3320running115$76,550172644Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesPontiac3320running112$75,75018996David GreenAmerican Equipment RacingChevrolet3320running109$67,600192246Wally Dallenbach Jr.Team SABCOChevrolet3320running106$62,50020439Lake SpeedMelling RacingFord3320running103$66,650213233Ken SchraderAndy Petree RacingChevrolet3320running100$67,300224190Dick TrickleDonlavey RacingFord3310running97$64,80023112Jeremy MayfieldPenske-Kranefuss RacingFord331105running104$87,700241078Gary BradberryTriad MotorsportsFord3310running91$52,500252450Randy LaJoieHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet3280running88$61,60026254Bobby HamiltonMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevrolet3280running85$60,500272010Ricky RuddRudd Performance MotorsportsFord3150overheating82$65,900283671Dave MarcisMarcis Auto RacingChevrolet2950oil leak79$48,500292399Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFord27648running81$64,100303016Ted MusgraveRoush RacingFord2620handling73$56,500311724Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet2520handling70$66,90032297Geoff BodineMattei MotorsportsFord2480ignition67$53,200331231Mike SkinnerRichard Childress RacingChevrolet2470crash64$42,700343181Kenny WallaceFILMAR RacingFord2140handling61$41,70035343Dale EarnhardtRichard Childress RacingChevrolet2050running58$58,20036351Darrell WaltripDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet1850transmission55$39,675371691Kevin Lepage (R)LJ RacingChevrolet1480running52$39,675382898Greg SacksCale Yarborough MotorsportsFord1350crash49$44,67539428Kenny Irwin Jr. (R)Robert Yates RacingFord800crash46$52,67540338Hut StricklinStavola Brothers RacingChevrolet110crash43$37,675411475Rick MastButch Mock MotorsportsFord10crash40$37,575421543John AndrettiPetty EnterprisesPontiac10crash37$52,525431936Ernie IrvanMB2 MotorsportsPontiac10crash34$44,525Official race results Media Television The DirecTV 500 was covered by CBS in the United States for the fourth straight year and it was their final DirecTV 500 race as coverage would switch to Fox in 2001. Mike Joy, two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Ned Jarrett and nineteen time NASCAR Cup Series race winner Buddy Baker called the race from the broadcast booth. Dick Berggren, Ralph Sheheen and Bill Stephens handled pit road for the television side. Ken Squier would serve as host. CBS Host Booth announcers Pit reporters Lap-by-lap Color-commentators Ken Squier Mike Joy Ned Jarrett Buddy Baker Dick Berggren Ralph Sheheen Bill Stephens References 1998 Food City 500 1998 Goody's Headache Powder 500 (Martinsville) 1998 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Category:NASCAR races at Texas Motor Speedway Category:April 1998 sports events in the United States Category:1998 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Category:1998 in sports in Texas Category:NASCAR controversies