The 1998 Pepsi 400 presented by DeVilbiss was the 21st stock car race of the 1998 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 29th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, August 16, 1998, in Brooklyn, Michigan, at Michigan International Speedway, a two-mile (3.2 km) moderate-banked D-shaped speedway. The race took the scheduled 200 laps to complete. Within the closing laps of the race, Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon was able to take the lead with ten to go to take his 37th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory, his eighth of the season, and his fourth consecutive victory up to that point.[1][2] To fill out the podium, Joe Gibbs Racing driver Bobby Labonte and Robert Yates Racing driver Dale Jarrett would finish second and third, respectively.
| Race details | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 21 of 33 in the 1998 NASCAR Winston Cup Series | |||
 The 1998 Pepsi 400 presented by DeVilbiss program cover, featuring Mark Martin. | |||
| Date | August 16, 1998 | ||
| Official name | 29th Annual Pepsi 400 presented by DeVilbiss | ||
| Location | Brooklyn, Michigan, Michigan International Speedway | ||
| Course |
Permanent racing facility 2 mi (3.2 km) | ||
| Distance | 200 laps, 400 mi (643.737 km) | ||
| Scheduled Distance | 200 laps, 400 mi (643.737 km) | ||
| Average speed | 151.995 miles per hour (244.612 km/h) | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | MB2 Motorsports | ||
| Time | 39.255 | ||
| Most laps led | |||
| Driver | Ernie Irvan | MB2 Motorsports | |
| Laps | 115 | ||
| Winner | |||
| No. 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | |
| Television in the United States | |||
| Network | NASCAR on ESPN | ||
| Announcers | Bob Jenkins, Ned Jarrett, Benny Parsons | ||
| Radio in the United States | |||
| Radio | Motor Racing Network | ||
Background
edit
The race was held at Michigan International Speedway, a two-mile (3.2 km) moderate-banked D-shaped speedway located in Brooklyn, Michigan. The track is used primarily for NASCAR events. It is known as a "sister track" to Texas World Speedway as MIS's oval design was a direct basis of TWS, with moderate modifications to the banking in the corners, and was used as the basis of Auto Club Speedway. The track is owned by International Speedway Corporation. Michigan International Speedway is recognized as one of motorsports' premier facilities because of its wide racing surface and high banking (by open-wheel standards; the 18-degree banking is modest by stock car standards).
Entry list
edit- (R) denotes rookie driver.
*Driver changed to Frank Kimmel after suffering a concussion at the 1998 Brickyard 400.[3]
Practice
editFirst practice
editThe first practice session was held on Friday, August 14. Ernie Irvan, driving for MB2 Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 39.132 and an average speed of 183.993 mph (296.108 km/h).[4]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 36 | Ernie Irvan | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 39.132 | 183.993 |
| 2 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 39.190 | 183.720 |
| 3 | 33 | Ken Schrader | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 39.223 | 183.566 |
| Full first practice results | ||||||
Final practice
editThe final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, August 15. Mark Martin, driving for Roush Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 40.159 and an average speed of 179.287 mph (288.534 km/h).[5]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 40.159 | 179.287 |
| 2 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 40.472 | 177.901 |
| 3 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 40.507 | 177.747 |
| Full Happy Hour practice results | ||||||
Qualifying
editQualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, August 14, at 3:00 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, August 15, at 10:45 AM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time.[6] 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.[7]
Ernie Irvan, driving for MB2 Motorsports, would win the pole, setting a time of 39.255 and an average speed of 183.416 miles per hour (295.179 km/h).[8]
Four drivers would fail to qualify: Dave Marcis, Kenny Wallace, Gary Bradberry, and Hut Stricklin.
Full qualifying results
editRace results
editReferences
edit- ^ Poole, David (August 16, 1998). "Gordon wins stunning 4th race in row". That's Racin'. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
- ^ Atkins, Harry (August 17, 1998). "Gordon wins fourth straight". Citizens' Voice. p. 55. Retrieved September 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Poole, David (August 14, 1998). "Spencer to sit out 2 more races". That's Racin'. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
- ^ "Winston Cup practice speeds". That's Racin'. August 14, 1998. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
- ^ "Happy Hour practice speeds". That's Racin'. August 15, 1998. Archived from the original on November 24, 2001. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
- ^ "Your Guide to the Pepsi 400". That's Racin'. Archived from the original on August 15, 2000. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
- ^ "Additional Provisionals announced". Motorsport.com. January 24, 1998. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
- ^ Poole, David (August 14, 1998). "Irvan adds positive Michigan memory". That's Racin'. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
- ^ "1998 Pepsi 400 Presented by DeVilbiss - The Third Turn". The Third Turn. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
