1998 NAPA Autocare 500

27th race of the 1998 NASCAR Winston Cup Series February 2025 NASWINSTON Ridgeway, Virginia, Martinsville Speedway 263 20.229 0.526 10 423.257 500 73.35 mph km/h September 27 27 33 1998 NAPA Autocare 500 231 Sterling Marlin Team SABCO Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ernie Irvan MB2 Motorsports ESPN Motor Racing Network Bob Jenkins, Ned Jarrett, Benny Parsons 0.847 The 1998 NAPA Autocare 500 program cover. 1998 NAPA Autocare 500.jpg The 1998 NAPA Autocare 500 was the 27th stock car race of the 1998 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 50th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, September 27, 1998, in Martinsville, Virginia at Martinsville Speedway, a 0.526 mi km permanent oval-shaped short track. The race took the scheduled 500 laps to complete. Battling immense heat, Rudd Performance Motorsports driver Ricky Rudd would manage to dominate the late stages of the race to take his 20th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his only victory of the season.Poole David September 27, 1998 Rudd refuses to lose despite feeling the heat http://www.thatsracin.com/98/0927/0928500lede.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20000817232127/http://www.thatsracin.com/98/0927/0928500lede.htm August 17, 2000 September 18, 2022 That's Racin' The Charlotte ObserverMacur Juliet September 28, 1998 Rudd overcomes heat to extend win streak 31 The Orlando Sentinel https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109746342/rudd-overcomes-heat-to-extend-win-streak/ September 18, 2022 Newspapers.com To fill out the podium, Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon and Roush Racing driver Mark Martin would finish second and third, respectively. Background thumb|The layout of Martinsville Speedway, the venue where the race was held. Martinsville Speedway is a NASCAR-owned stock car racing track located in Henry County, in Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At 0.526 miles (0.847 km) in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved oval tracks in NASCAR, being built in 1947 by H. Clay Earles. It is also the only remaining race track that has been on the NASCAR circuit from its beginning in 1948. Entry list (R) denotes rookie driver. #DriverTeamMake1Steve Park (R)Dale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet2Rusty WallacePenske-Kranefuss RacingFord3Dale EarnhardtRichard Childress RacingChevrolet4Bobby HamiltonMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevrolet5Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet6Mark MartinRoush RacingFord7Geoff BodineMattei MotorsportsFord9Jerry Nadeau (R)Melling RacingFord10Ricky RuddRudd Performance MotorsportsFord11Brett BodineBrett Bodine RacingFord12Jeremy MayfieldPenske-Kranefuss RacingFord13Dennis SetzerElliott-Marino RacingFord16Kevin Lepage (R)Roush RacingFord18Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac21Michael WaltripWood Brothers RacingFord22Ward BurtonBill Davis RacingPontiac23Jimmy SpencerTravis Carter EnterprisesFord24Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet26Johnny Benson Jr.Roush RacingFord28Kenny Irwin Jr. (R)Robert Yates RacingFord30Derrike CopeBahari RacingPontiac31Mike SkinnerRichard Childress RacingChevrolet33Ken SchraderAndy Petree RacingChevrolet35Darrell WaltripTyler Jet MotorsportsPontiac36Ernie IrvanMB2 MotorsportsPontiac40Sterling MarlinTeam SABCOChevrolet41David GreenLarry Hedrick MotorsportsChevrolet42Joe NemechekTeam SABCOChevrolet43John AndrettiPetty EnterprisesPontiac44Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesPontiac46Jeff GreenTeam SABCOChevrolet50Wally Dallenbach Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet71Dave MarcisMarcis Auto RacingChevrolet75Rick MastButch Mock MotorsportsFord77Ted MusgraveJasper MotorsportsFord78Gary BradberryTriad MotorsportsFord79Ken BouchardT.R.I.X. RacingChevrolet81Kenny WallaceFILMAR RacingFord85Randy MacDonaldMansion MotorsportsFord88Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord90Dick TrickleDonlavey RacingFord91Todd BodineLJ RacingChevrolet94Bill ElliottElliott-Marino RacingFord96Mike BlissAmerican Equipment RacingChevrolet97Chad LittleRoush RacingFord98Rich BickleCale Yarborough MotorsportsFord99Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFord Practice First practice The first practice session was held on Friday, September 25, at 11:00a.m. EST. Schedule for events at Martinsville http://www.thatsracin.com/98/0927/sked.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20000817232503/http://www.thatsracin.com/98/0927/sked.htm August 17, 2000 September 18, 2022 That's Racin' Jeff Burton, driving for Roush Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 20.239 and an average speed of 93.562 mph km/h.September 25, 1998 Burton fastest in early practice http://www.thatsracin.com/98/0927/0926practice.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20000817232313/http://www.thatsracin.com/98/0927/0926practice.htm August 17, 2000 September 18, 2022 That's Racin' Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed199Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFord20.23993.562236Ernie IrvanMB2 MotorsportsPontiac20.26493.447344Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesPontiac20.29093.327Full first practice results Final practice The final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, September 26. Mark Martin, driving for Roush Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 20.561 and an average speed of 92.097 mph km/h.September 26, 1998 Martin fastest at Happy Hour http://www.thatsracin.com/98/0927/0927happy.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20000817232229/http://www.thatsracin.com/98/0927/0927happy.htm August 17, 2000 September 18, 2022 That's Racin' Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed16Mark MartinRoush RacingFord20.56192.097243John AndrettiPetty EnterprisesPontiac20.57892.021399Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFord20.58192.007Full Happy Hour practice results Qualifying Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, September 25, at 3:00p.m. 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 26, at 11:45a.m. EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time. 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.January 24, 1998 Additional Provisionals announced https://us.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/additional-provisionals-announced/1697038/ August 31, 2022 Motorsport.com en Ernie Irvan, driving for MB2 Motorsports, would win the pole, setting a time of 20.229 and an average speed of 93.608 mph km/h.Poole David September 25, 1998 Ernie Irvan on Martinsville pole http://www.thatsracin.com/98/0927/0926quallede.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20000817232303/http://www.thatsracin.com/98/0927/0926quallede.htm August 17, 2000 September 18, 2022 That's Racin' The Charlotte Observer Four drivers would fail to qualify: David Green, Gary Bradberry, Ken Bouchard, and Randy MacDonald. Full qualifying results Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed136Ernie IrvanMB2 MotorsportsPontiac20.22993.608210Ricky RuddRudd Performance MotorsportsFord20.23693.576324Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet20.25093.511498Rich BickleCale Yarborough MotorsportsFord20.26093.465550Wally Dallenbach Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet20.28893.336646Jeff GreenTeam SABCOChevrolet20.28993.331740Sterling MarlinTeam SABCOChevrolet20.29993.285843John AndrettiPetty EnterprisesPontiac20.31293.226977Ted MusgraveJasper MotorsportsFord20.34493.0791088Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord20.36093.0061111Brett BodineBrett Bodine RacingFord20.36292.9971291Todd BodineLJ RacingChevrolet20.37092.960136Mark MartinRoush RacingFord20.37792.9281413Dennis SetzerElliott-Marino RacingFord20.38392.9011522Ward BurtonBill Davis RacingPontiac20.38492.8961699Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFord20.40792.792172Rusty WallacePenske-Kranefuss RacingFord20.41792.7461833Ken SchraderAndy Petree RacingChevrolet20.42692.705194Bobby HamiltonMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevrolet20.42892.6962094Bill ElliottElliott-Marino RacingFord20.43192.6832118Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac20.43392.6742242Joe NemechekTeam SABCOChevrolet20.43392.6742331Mike SkinnerRichard Childress RacingChevrolet20.43992.6462426Johnny Benson Jr.Roush RacingFord20.44692.6152596Mike BlissAmerican Equipment RacingChevrolet20.45292.5882681Kenny WallaceFILMAR RacingFord20.43792.6552721Michael WaltripWood Brothers RacingFord20.46692.524287Geoff BodineMattei MotorsportsFord20.46992.511295Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet20.47292.4973035Darrell WaltripTyler Jet MotorsportsPontiac20.49192.4113197Chad LittleRoush RacingFord20.49592.3933212Jeremy MayfieldPenske-Kranefuss RacingFord20.51692.299333Dale EarnhardtRichard Childress RacingChevrolet20.52592.2583490Dick TrickleDonlavey RacingFord20.53892.2003516Kevin Lepage (R)Roush RacingFord20.54192.1863644Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesPontiac20.55492.128Provisionals3723Jimmy SpencerTravis Carter EnterprisesFord -* -*381Steve Park (R)Dale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet -* -*3928Kenny Irwin Jr. (R)Robert Yates RacingFord -* -*409Jerry Nadeau (R)Melling RacingFord -* -*4175Rick MastButch Mock MotorsportsFord -* -*4230Derrike CopeBahari RacingPontiac -* -*4371Dave MarcisMarcis Auto RacingChevrolet -* -*Failed to qualify4441David GreenLarry Hedrick MotorsportsChevrolet20.57292.0474578Gary BradberryTriad MotorsportsFord20.67891.5764679Ken BouchardT.R.I.X. RacingChevrolet20.74691.2754785Randy MacDonaldMansion MotorsportsFord20.81090.995Official qualifying results Race results Fin1998 NAPA Autocare 500 - The Third Turn https://www.thethirdturn.com/wiki/1998_NAPA_Autocare_500 September 17, 2022 The Third Turn enSt#DriverTeamMakeLapsLedStatusPtsWinnings1210Ricky RuddRudd Performance MotorsportsFord500198running180$102,5752324Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet5000running170$73,5253136Mark MartinRoush RacingFord5000running165$56,8754498Rich BickleCale Yarborough MotorsportsFord5000running160$54,52551699Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFord50016running160$46,9256295Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet5000running150$45,52572094Bill ElliottElliott-Marino RacingFord5000running146$37,6758136Ernie IrvanMB2 MotorsportsPontiac49914running147$46,10092426Johnny Benson Jr.Roush RacingFord4990running138$35,400102118Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac4990running134$44,000111522Ward BurtonBill Davis RacingPontiac4990running130$32,435121291Todd BodineLJ RacingChevrolet4990running127$28,000131833Ken SchraderAndy Petree RacingChevrolet4990running124$32,65014194Bobby HamiltonMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevrolet4980running121$35,25015977Ted MusgraveJasper MotorsportsFord4980running118$27,000162331Mike SkinnerRichard Childress RacingChevrolet4980running115$23,950173516Kevin Lepage (R)Roush RacingFord4980running112$33,55018740Sterling MarlinTeam SABCOChevrolet496231running119$32,755193723Jimmy SpencerTravis Carter EnterprisesFord4960running106$29,500202721Michael WaltripWood Brothers RacingFord4950running103$30,850213035Darrell WaltripTyler Jet MotorsportsPontiac4950running100$18,10022333Dale EarnhardtRichard Childress RacingChevrolet4950running97$32,950233212Jeremy MayfieldPenske-Kranefuss RacingFord4950running94$28,10024381Steve Park (R)Dale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet4910running91$20,850252596Mike BlissAmerican Equipment RacingChevrolet4910running88$17,500264371Dave MarcisMarcis Auto RacingChevrolet4890running85$17,350273928Kenny Irwin Jr. (R)Robert Yates RacingFord4870running82$32,20028172Rusty WallacePenske-Kranefuss RacingFord4860running79$32,050293644Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesPontiac4860running76$27,000304230Derrike CopeBahari RacingPontiac4830running73$26,75031646Jeff GreenTeam SABCOChevrolet4790running70$19,60032550Wally Dallenbach Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet4740running67$26,275333490Dick TrickleDonlavey RacingFord4620running64$23,350341111Brett BodineBrett Bodine RacingFord4530running61$23,22535409Jerry Nadeau (R)Melling RacingFord4510running58$16,100363197Chad LittleRoush RacingFord4490running55$16,02537843John AndrettiPetty EnterprisesPontiac41941running57$33,400381413Dennis SetzerElliott-Marino RacingFord4170running49$15,75039287Geoff BodineMattei MotorsportsFord3870engine46$22,650402242Joe NemechekTeam SABCOChevrolet3600engine43$22,550414175Rick MastButch Mock MotorsportsFord3410engine40$15,450421088Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord2990camshaft37$32,350432681Kenny WallaceFILMAR RacingFord1500overheating34$15,750Official race results References 1998 MBNA Gold 400 1998 UAW-GM Quality 500 1998 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Category:1998 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Category:NASCAR races at Martinsville Speedway Category:September 1998 sports events in the United States Category:1998 in sports in Virginia