1998 Exide NASCAR Select Batteries 400

The 1998 Exide NASCAR Select Batteries 400 was the 25th stock car race of the 1998 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 41st iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, September 12, 1998, in Richmond, Virginia, at Richmond International Raceway, a 0.75 miles (1.21 km) D-shaped oval. The race took the scheduled 400 laps to complete. In a close finish, Roush Racing driver Jeff Burton was able to fend off Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon at the line by 0.051 seconds to win his fifth career NASCAR Winston Cup Series and his second and final victory of the season.[1][2] To fill out the podium, Roush Racing driver Mark Martin would finish third.

1998 Exide NASCAR Select Batteries 400
Race details
Race 25 of 33 in the 1998 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1998 Exide NASCAR Select Batteries 400 program cover, featuring Jeff Burton.
The 1998 Exide NASCAR Select Batteries 400 program cover, featuring Jeff Burton.
Date September 12, 1998
Official name 41st Annual Exide NASCAR Select Batteries 400
Location Richmond, Virginia, Richmond International Raceway
Course Permanent racing facility
0.75 mi (1.21 km)
Distance 400 laps, 300 mi (482.803 km)
Scheduled Distance 400 laps, 300 mi (482.803 km)
Average speed 91.985 miles per hour (148.036 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Penske-Kranefuss Racing
Time 21.535
Most laps led
Driver Jeff Burton Jeff Burton
Laps 203
Winner
No. 99 Jeff Burton Roush 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

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The layout of Richmond International Raceway, the venue where the race was at.

Richmond International Raceway (RIR) is a 3/4-mile (1.2 km), D-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in Henrico County. It hosts the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series. Known as "America's premier short track", it formerly hosted a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, an IndyCar Series race, and two USAC sprint car races.

Entry list

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  • (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 Dennis Setzer 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 Platinum
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 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford Jasper Engines & Transmissions
78 Gary Bradberry Triad Motorsports Ford Pilot Travel Centers
79 Ken Bouchard T.R.I.X. Racing Chevrolet T.R.I.X. Racing
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 LJ Racing
94 Bill Elliott Elliott-Marino Racing Ford Get Back with Big Mac
96 Ted Musgrave 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 NASCAR Select

Practice

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First practice

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The first practice session was held on Friday, September 11, at 11:00 AM EST. The session would last for one hour and 15 minutes.[3] Rusty Wallace, driving for Penske-Kranefuss Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 21.864 and an average speed of 123.491 mph (198.739 km/h).[4]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 2 Rusty Wallace Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford 21.864 123.491
2 4 Bobby Hamilton Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 21.986 122.805
3 42 Joe Nemechek Team SABCO Chevrolet 22.034 122.538
Full first practice results

Second practice

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The second practice session was held on Friday, September 11, at 2:30 PM EST. The session would last for two hours and 10 minutes.[3] Ken Schrader, driving for Andy Petree Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 21.793 and an average speed of 123.893 mph (199.386 km/h).[5]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 33 Ken Schrader Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 21.793 123.893
2 23 Jimmy Spencer Travis Carter Enterprises Ford 21.881 123.395
3 4 Bobby Hamilton Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 21.883 123.383
Full second practice results

Final practice

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The final practice session, sometimes known as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, September 12, at 12:00 PM EST. The session would last for one hour.[3] Dick Trickle, driving for Donlavey Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 22.281 and an average speed of 121.179 mph (195.019 km/h).[6]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 90 Dick Trickle Donlavey Racing Ford 22.281 121.179
2 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 22.339 120.865
3 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 22.361 120.746
Full Happy Hour practice results

Qualifying

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Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, September 11, at 5:30 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 12, at 2:00 PM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time.[3] 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]

Rusty Wallace, driving for Penske-Kranefuss Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 21.535 and an average speed of 125.377 miles per hour (201.775 km/h).[8]

Four drivers would fail to qualify: Buckshot Jones, Gary Bradberry, Ken Bouchard, and Rich Bickle.

Full qualifying results

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 2 Rusty Wallace Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford 21.535 125.377
2 33 Ken Schrader Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 21.678 124.550
3 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 21.715 124.338
4 40 Sterling Marlin Team SABCO Chevrolet 21.735 124.224
5 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 21.766 124.047
6 4 Bobby Hamilton Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 21.804 123.830
7 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 21.807 123.813
8 30 Derrike Cope Bahari Racing Pontiac 21.824 123.717
9 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Pontiac 21.835 123.655
10 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 21.843 123.609
11 44 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 21.867 123.474
12 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 21.875 123.429
13 81 Kenny Wallace FILMAR Racing Ford 21.885 123.372
14 50 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 21.889 123.350
15 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Pontiac 21.893 123.327
16 23 Jimmy Spencer Travis Carter Enterprises Ford 21.901 123.282
17 96 Ted Musgrave American Equipment Racing Chevrolet 21.912 123.220
18 91 Todd Bodine LJ Racing Chevrolet 21.952 122.996
19 9 Jerry Nadeau (R) Melling Racing Ford 21.956 122.973
20 77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford 21.969 122.900
21 94 Bill Elliott Elliott-Marino Racing Ford 21.972 122.884
22 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 21.976 122.861
23 97 Chad Little Roush Racing Ford 21.985 122.811
24 41 Steve Grissom Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet 21.986 122.805
25 10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford 21.989 122.789
26 31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 21.967 122.912
27 75 Rick Mast Butch Mock Motorsports Ford 21.991 122.777
28 46 Jeff Green Team SABCO Chevrolet 21.996 122.750
29 13 Dennis Setzer Elliott-Marino Racing Ford 21.996 122.750
30 36 Ernie Irvan MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 22.009 122.677
31 21 Michael Waltrip Wood Brothers Racing Ford 22.014 122.649
32 26 Johnny Benson Jr. Roush Racing Ford 22.015 122.644
33 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 22.016 122.638
34 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 22.020 122.616
35 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 22.028 122.571
36 28 Kenny Irwin Jr. (R) Robert Yates Racing Ford 22.031 122.555
Provisionals
37 12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford -* -*
38 16 Kevin Lepage (R) Roush Racing Ford -* -*
39 42 Joe Nemechek Team SABCO Chevrolet -* -*
40 1 Steve Park (R) Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet -* -*
41 90 Dick Trickle Donlavey Racing Ford -* -*
42 7 Geoff Bodine Mattei Motorsports Ford -* -*
Champion's Provisional
43 35 Darrell Waltrip Tyler Jet Motorsports Pontiac -* -*
Failed to qualify
44 00 Buckshot Jones Stavola Brothers Racing Chevrolet 22.097 122.189
45 78 Gary Bradberry Triad Motorsports Ford 22.116 122.084
46 79 Ken Bouchard T.R.I.X. Racing Chevrolet 22.277 121.201
47 98 Rich Bickle Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford 22.293 121.114
Official qualifying results

*Time not available.

Race results

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Fin[9] St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 3 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 400 203 running 185 $108,495
2 5 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 400 30 running 175 $85,190
3 12 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 400 1 running 170 $60,580
4 2 33 Ken Schrader Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 400 1 running 165 $65,230
5 9 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Pontiac 400 0 running 155 $52,280
6 6 4 Bobby Hamilton Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 400 10 running 155 $47,930
7 1 2 Rusty Wallace Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford 400 103 running 151 $45,630
8 26 31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 400 0 running 142 $31,780
9 16 23 Jimmy Spencer Travis Carter Enterprises Ford 400 32 running 143 $38,280
10 36 28 Kenny Irwin Jr. (R) Robert Yates Racing Ford 400 1 running 139 $47,880
11 13 81 Kenny Wallace FILMAR Racing Ford 399 0 running 130 $28,180
12 23 97 Chad Little Roush Racing Ford 399 0 running 127 $27,180
13 42 7 Geoff Bodine Mattei Motorsports Ford 399 6 running 129 $36,230
14 30 36 Ernie Irvan MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 399 0 running 121 $33,330
15 4 40 Sterling Marlin Team SABCO Chevrolet 399 0 running 118 $26,855
16 7 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 398 0 running 115 $39,630
17 24 41 Steve Grissom Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet 398 0 running 112 $32,630
18 43 35 Darrell Waltrip Tyler Jet Motorsports Pontiac 398 0 running 109 $21,380
19 33 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 398 0 running 106 $31,955
20 28 46 Jeff Green Team SABCO Chevrolet 398 0 running 103 $26,880
21 35 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 398 0 running 100 $36,980
22 37 12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford 398 0 running 97 $31,355
23 19 9 Jerry Nadeau (R) Melling Racing Ford 398 0 running 94 $24,080
24 8 30 Derrike Cope Bahari Racing Pontiac 398 0 running 91 $30,855
25 17 96 Ted Musgrave American Equipment Racing Chevrolet 397 0 running 88 $20,405
26 31 21 Michael Waltrip Wood Brothers Racing Ford 397 0 running 85 $30,480
27 40 1 Steve Park (R) Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 397 0 running 82 $23,255
28 15 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Pontiac 397 0 running 79 $30,030
29 29 13 Dennis Setzer Elliott-Marino Racing Ford 397 0 running 76 $19,910
30 14 50 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 397 0 running 73 $29,800
31 27 75 Rick Mast Butch Mock Motorsports Ford 394 0 running 70 $22,265
32 18 91 Todd Bodine LJ Racing Chevrolet 392 2 running 72 $19,730
33 22 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 392 0 running 64 $19,695
34 25 10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford 383 0 running 61 $36,035
35 10 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 363 0 crash 58 $37,100
36 38 16 Kevin Lepage (R) Roush Racing Ford 333 0 transmission 55 $26,565
37 39 42 Joe Nemechek Team SABCO Chevrolet 293 0 running 52 $26,530
38 34 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 260 0 running 49 $34,495
39 11 44 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 213 0 crash 46 $26,460
40 21 94 Bill Elliott Elliott-Marino Racing Ford 194 0 engine 43 $26,425
41 32 26 Johnny Benson Jr. Roush Racing Ford 190 11 engine 45 $26,390
42 41 90 Dick Trickle Donlavey Racing Ford 141 0 crash 37 $26,355
43 20 77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford 33 0 crash 34 $19,345
Failed to qualify
44 00 Buckshot Jones Stavola Brothers Racing Chevrolet
45 78 Gary Bradberry Triad Motorsports Ford
46 79 Ken Bouchard T.R.I.X. Racing Chevrolet
47 98 Rich Bickle Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford
Official race results

References

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  1. ^ Poole, David (September 12, 1998). "Burton bests Gordon in wheel-to-wheel finish". That's Racin'. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
  2. ^ Kurz Jr., Hank (September 13, 1998). "Jeff Burton holds off Gordon by fender". The Courier-Journal. p. 49. Retrieved September 15, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ a b c d "Race weekend schedule". That's Racin'. September 10, 1998. Archived from the original on May 1, 2001. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
  4. ^ "First session practice speeds". That's Racin'. September 11, 1998. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
  5. ^ "Second session practice speeds". That's Racin'. September 11, 1998. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
  6. ^ "Happy Hour practice speeds". That's Racin'. September 12, 1998. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
  7. ^ "Additional Provisionals announced". Motorsport.com. January 24, 1998. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  8. ^ Poole, David (September 11, 1998). "Wallace a landslide winner at the pole". That's Racin'. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
  9. ^ "1998 Exide NASCAR Select Batteries 400 - The Third Turn". The Third Turn. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
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NASCAR Winston Cup Series
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