1998 NASCAR Winston Cup Series

Teams and drivers

Complete schedule

Limited schedule

Schedule

Races

Bud Shootout Qualifier">Budweiser Shootout">Bud Shootout Qualifier

1. 23- Jimmy Spencer
2. 9- Lake Speed
3. 3- Dale Earnhardt
4. 40- Sterling Marlin
5. 11- Brett Bodine
6. 97- Chad Little
7. 75- Rick Mast
8. 29- Jeff Green
9. 98- Greg Sacks
10. 17- Darrell Waltrip

    [Bud Shootout]

1. 2- Rusty Wallace
2. 81- Kenny Wallace
3. 94- Bill Elliott
4. 23- Jimmy Spencer
5. 33- Ken Schrader
6. 7- Geoffrey Bodine
7. 36- Ernie Irvan
8. 6- Mark Martin
9. 43- John Andretti
10. 35- Todd Bodine

    Gatorade 125s">Gatorade Duel">Gatorade 125s

1. 40-Sterling Marlin
2. 88-Dale Jarrett
3. 18-Bobby Labonte
4. 23-Jimmy Spencer
5. 22-Ward Burton
6. 30-Derrike Cope
7. 12-Jeremy Mayfield
8. 6-Mark Martin
9. 43-John Andretti
10. 94-Bill Elliott

• Ken Schrader was injured in a crash on the last lap of Race 1. The No. 96 Chevrolet of David Green got into the rear of Schrader's No. 33 Chevrolet in Turn 1. It put Schrader head on into the wall. Schrader's car also caught Johnny Benson in the No. 26 Ford and put Benson in the wall, eliminating his chance to make the Daytona 500. In the crash, Schrader suffered a broken sternum. He raced in the 500 using his car from the Bud Shootout while wearing a bull rider's vest.

1. 3-Dale Earnhardt
2. 21-Michael Waltrip
3. 31-Mike Skinner
4. 36-Ernie Irvan
5. 2-Rusty Wallace
6. 99-Jeff Burton
7. 9-Lake Speed
8. 95-Andy Hillenburg
9. 91-Kevin Lepage
10. 4-Bobby Hamilton

    40th Daytona 500

1. 3-Dale Earnhardt
2. 18-Bobby Labonte
3. 12-Jeremy Mayfield
4. 33-Ken Schrader
5. 2-Rusty Wallace
6. 36-Ernie Irvan
7. 97-Chad Little
8. 31-Mike Skinner
9. 21-Michael Waltrip
10. 94-Bill Elliott

• "20 years of trying, 20 years of frustration; Dale Earnhardt will come to the caution flag to win the Daytona 500! Finally!"-Mike Joy talking as Earnhardt came to the white flag and the caution flag, giving him his first Daytona 500 victory.

  [GM Goodwrench Service Plus 400]

1. 24-Jeff Gordon
2. 2-Rusty Wallace
3. 6-Mark Martin
4. 23-Jimmy Spencer
5. 7-Geoffrey Bodine
6. 94-Bill Elliott
7. 88-Dale Jarrett
8. 5-Terry Labonte
9. 4-Bobby Hamilton
10. 50-Ricky Craven

[Las Vegas 400]

1. 6-Mark Martin
2. 99-Jeff Burton
3. 2-Rusty Wallace
4. 26-Johnny Benson
5. 12-Jeremy Mayfield
6. 16-Ted Musgrave
7. 23-Jimmy Spencer
8. 3-Dale Earnhardt
9. 94-Bill Elliott
10. 97-Chad Little

• Mark Martin's win in this inaugural Las Vegas 400 was the first for the Ford Taurus.
• Dale Earnhardt, finishing 8th, would be the only driver to finish in the Top 10 that was not driving a Ford Taurus.

  Primestar 500">Golden Corral 500">Primestar 500

1. 18-Bobby Labonte
2. 88-Dale Jarrett
3. 12-Jeremy Mayfield
4. 2-Rusty Wallace
5. 28-Kenny Irwin Jr.
6. 90-Dick Trickle
7. 81-Kenny Wallace
8. 99-Jeff Burton
9. 26-Johnny Benson
10. 35-Todd Bodine

• After Sterling Marlin unexpectedly failed to qualify, Coors Light decals were placed on the No. 91 of Kevin Lepage for the race.

  [TranSouth Financial 400]

1. 88-Dale Jarrett
2. 24-Jeff Gordon
3. 2-Rusty Wallace
4. 12-Jeremy Mayfield
5. 99-Jeff Burton
6. 5-Terry Labonte
7. 6-Mark Martin
8. 26-Johnny Benson
9. 81-Kenny Wallace
10. 16-Ted Musgrave

• Darrell Waltrip showed up to the track with a special No. 300 car as a tribute to Tim Flock, who was dying from cancer. The car was named "Tim Flock Special" and was based on Flock's car from 1955. Due to the NASCAR prohibiting three digit numbers from competing, Waltrip used his familiar No. 17. Not only was this the final race Waltrip would be in the No.17, but this would also be his final race as an Winston Cup owner/driver.

[Food City 500]

1. 24-Jeff Gordon
2. 5-Terry Labonte
3. 88-Dale Jarrett
4. 99-Jeff Burton
5. 26-Johnny Benson
6. 33-Ken Schrader
7. 6-Mark Martin
8. 16-Ted Musgrave
9. 21-Michael Waltrip
10. 50-Randy LaJoie

[Texas 500]

1. 6-Mark Martin
2. 97-Chad Little
3. 77-Robert Pressley
4. 42-Joe Nemechek
5. 26-Johnny Benson
6. 5-Terry Labonte
7. 23-Jimmy Spencer
8. 18-Bobby Labonte
9. 21-Michael Waltrip
10. 41-Steve Grissom

• The green flag was waved by Jim Roper, who won the very first NASCAR Strictly Stock race in 1949.
• On lap 2, there was a multi-car pileup in turn 1 that involved at least 9 cars, including Dale Earnhardt, Ted Musgrave, Darrell Waltrip, John Andretti, Rick Mast, Kenny Wallace, Kevin Lepage, Hut Stricklin and Jeff Gordon. Andretti's car caught fire when his fuel pump broke. This was very similar to the start of the previous year's race.
• Mike Skinner was injured in a hard crash into the wall on lap 252 in the quad-oval. He had actually already been injured at Atlanta earlier in the season in another hard crash, but was hurt enough here that he had to sit out 3 races. Morgan Shepherd, who had relief driven for Skinner at Darlington a couple weeks earlier, drove the car the next 2 races. Mike Dillon, car owner Richard Childress' son-in-law, drove the car at California to a 35th-place finish.

  Goody's Headache Powder 500 (Martinsville)">Goody's Cool Orange 500">Goody's Headache Powder 500 (Martinsville)

1. 4-Bobby Hamilton
2. 16-Ted Musgrave
3. 88-Dale Jarrett
4. 3-Dale Earnhardt
5. 50-Randy LaJoie
6. 2-Rusty Wallace
7. 12-Jeremy Mayfield
8. 24-Jeff Gordon
9. 36-Ernie Irvan
10. 33-Ken Schrader

• Bobby Hamilton led 378 of the race's 500 laps on his way to a dominant victory.
• Rich Bickle was tapped to drive the No. 98 Ford in place of the injured Greg Sacks for the rest of the season. Here, Bickle qualified 11th, but ran into problems and finished 41st.
• Last win for Morgan McClure Motorsports.
• Randy LaJoie’s fifth place finish stands as his lone top five in the Cup Series.

  DieHard 500">Aaron's 499">DieHard 500

1. 18-Bobby Labonte
2. 23-Jimmy Spencer
3. 88-Dale Jarrett
4. 5-Terry Labonte
5. 24-Jeff Gordon
6. 36-Ernie Irvan
7. 81-Kenny Wallace
8. 22-Ward Burton
9. 40-Sterling Marlin
10. 50-Randy LaJoie

• The No. 60 Ford was a 6th Roush Racing Ford that was entered for Matt Kenseth.
• This was the only DNQ of Matt Kenseth’s Cup Series career.
• After Geoffrey Bodine failed to qualify, Billy Standridge received sponsorship from Philips.

  California 500">Auto Club 500">California 500 Presented by NAPA

1. 6-Mark Martin
2. 12-Jeremy Mayfield
3. 5-Terry Labonte
4. 24-Jeff Gordon
5. 1-Darrell Waltrip
6. 97-Chad Little
7. 7-Geoffrey Bodine
8. 26-Johnny Benson
9. 3-Dale Earnhardt
10. 99-Jeff Burton

• Final career top 5 finish for Darrell Waltrip.

  [The Winston]

1. 6-Mark Martin
2. 18-Bobby Labonte
3. 88-Dale Jarrett
4. 99-Jeff Burton
5. 2-Rusty Wallace
6. 40-Sterling Marlin
7. 94-Bill Elliott
8. 7-Geoffrey Bodine
9. 4-Bobby Hamilton
10. 98-Rich Bickle

    [Coca-Cola 600]

1. 24-Jeff Gordon
2. 2-Rusty Wallace
3. 18-Bobby Labonte
4. 6-Mark Martin
5. 88-Dale Jarrett
6. 42-Joe Nemechek
7. 43-John Andretti
8. 99-Jeff Burton
9. 26-Johnny Benson
10. 33-Ken Schrader

• Bill Elliott had Jeff Green relieve him midway through the race after his hard accidents at Talladega and California.
• After Morgan Shepherd failed to qualify for the race, First Union put their colors on the No. 91 LJ Racing Chevrolet driven by Kevin Lepage, who had qualified 15th. Lepage ran into problems early and finished 36th.
• This was the 1st career Winston Cup start for Elliott Sadler, who drove the No. 92 Chevrolet for Diamond Ridge Motorsports. Sadler blew an engine and finished 42nd after starting 31st.

  [MBNA Platinum 400]

1. 88-Dale Jarrett
2. 99-Jeff Burton
3. 24-Jeff Gordon
4. 18-Bobby Labonte
5. 12-Jeremy Mayfield
6. 10-Ricky Rudd
7. 6-Mark Martin
8. 8-Buckshot Jones*
9. 36-Ernie Irvan
10. 5-Terry Labonte

• This was Buckshot Jones' only career Top 10 finish in the Winston Cup Series, in only his 2nd career start.

  [Pontiac Excitement 400]

1. 5-Terry Labonte
2. 88-Dale Jarrett
3. 2-Rusty Wallace
4. 33-Ken Schrader
5. 6-Mark Martin
6. 12-Jeremy Mayfield
7. 99-Jeff Burton
8. 18-Bobby Labonte
9. 28-Kenny Irwin Jr.
10. 40-Sterling Marlin

• On lap 370, Jeff Gordon was battling for the lead with Rusty Wallace. Gordon passed Wallace off turn 4 to take the lead, but was tapped by Wallace and spun into the outside wall in turn 2, suffering major damage on the front. Many fans cheered as Gordon's car was pushed toward the garage area. Gordon finished 37th.
• This race was notable as it was the first time that NASCAR decided to red flag a race with under 10 laps to go in order to ensure a green flag finish. This did allow for a final restart, but the race still ended under caution when the No. 26 of Johnny Benson smacked the wall in Turn 1 with 2 laps to go. Benson scraped along the wall for the rest of the race to finish 18th.
• This was the first time that the first race of the season at Richmond was held at night during the spring. In previous years, it was an afternoon race in February or March.

  [Miller Lite 400]

1. 6-Mark Martin
2. 88-Dale Jarrett
3. 24-Jeff Gordon
4. 99-Jeff Burton
5. 12-Jeremy Mayfield
6. 94-Bill Elliott
7. 18-Bobby Labonte
8. 22-Ward Burton
9. 42-Joe Nemechek
10. 50-Wally Dallenbach Jr.*

• This race would begin Jeff Gordon's stretch of 17 consecutive top 5 finishes.
• Wally Dallenbach Jr. drove the No. 50 Chevrolet in place of Randy LaJoie, who had Busch Grand National obligations at Pikes Peak International Raceway in his No. 74 Chevrolet.

  [Pocono 500]

1. 12-Jeremy Mayfield*
2. 24-Jeff Gordon
3. 88-Dale Jarrett
4. 99-Jeff Burton
5. 6-Mark Martin
6. 1-Darrell Waltrip
7. 50-Wally Dallenbach Jr.
8. 3-Dale Earnhardt
9. 40-Sterling Marlin
10. 23-Jimmy Spencer

• This was Jeremy Mayfield's 1st career Winston Cup victory. In order to procure the victory, Mayfield had to overtake the No. 1 Chevrolet of Darrell Waltrip, Mayfield's idol.
• Final career top 10 finish for Darrell Waltrip.
• The race was interrupted by a 71-minute red flag for rain.

  [Save Mart/Kragen 350]

1. 24-Jeff Gordon
2. 4-Bobby Hamilton
3. 43-John Andretti
4. 18-Bobby Labonte
5. 2-Rusty Wallace
6. 6-Mark Martin
7. 40-Sterling Marlin
8. 75-Rick Mast*
9. 28-Kenny Irwin Jr.
10. 41-Steve Grissom

• During the weekend, Kevin Lepage signed a contract with Roush Racing to replace Ted Musgrave in the No. 16 Ford after the Bud at the Glen. After learning of the deal, Lepage was dropped by LJ Racing after 2nd round qualifying. The car still made the field in 42nd starting spot through a provisional. Tommy Kendall was tapped to drive the car in the race and drove up from the back of the field to finish 16th.
• To try to get Rick Mast some confidence coming into Sears Point, the Butch Mock Racing team gave Rick the nickname "Nigel Mast," after the former Formula One World Champion Nigel Mansell. It was designed to convince Rick that he could run well at road courses, typically the scenes of mediocre finishes, DNF's, and most notably, a spectacular wreck at Watkins Glen in 1993. Previously, his best road course finish was 11th at Sears Point in 1992.
• Jerry Nadeau got anxious on the start, having never been so close to the front previously in his Winston Cup career. Starting on the outside pole, Nadeau tried to beat polesitter Jeff Gordon to Turn 2. Unfortunately, he went into Turn 1a too fast and drove off course. By the time he had fully recovered the car, he had dropped to 5th. The off course excursion caused problems with Nadeau's brakes and tires to develop, which resulted in Nadeau crashing in the esses on lap 15, which put him out of the race with a 43rd place finish.
• Jeff Burton became the first Winston Cup driver ever to crash on the long start-finish straight after contact with Dale Jarrett on lap 64. This resulted in a 10 lap full course caution because the impact of Burton's car causing damage to the wall.
• Lake Speed suffered rib and sternum injuries in a practice crash in Turn 10. The injuries were serious enough for Speed to have to sit out the race. Winston West regular Butch Gilliland drove the No. 9 Ford to a 24th-place finish from 40th on the grid in place of Speed.
• Jeff Gordon would take over the Winston Cup point lead after Jeremy Mayfield had troubles in this race. Gordon held on to the lead for the rest of the year.
• This was the first race with the configuration erasing turns 4–6. A short chute was in place where the old hills were, making speeds much faster on the speed charts.
• At the time this race was held no driver who had won at Sears Point went on to win the championship. Race winner Jeff Gordon was the first to win both Sears Point and the championship later that year, earning his 3rd championship in 4 years.

  [Jiffy Lube 300]

1. 99-Jeff Burton
2. 6-Mark Martin
3. 24-Jeff Gordon
4. 2-Rusty Wallace
5. 31-Mike Skinner
6. 43-John Andretti
7. 88-Dale Jarrett
8. 44-Kyle Petty
9. 33-Ken Schrader
10. 81-Kenny Wallace

[Pennsylvania 500]

1. 24-Jeff Gordon
2. 6-Mark Martin
3. 99-Jeff Burton
4. 18-Bobby Labonte
5. 88-Dale Jarrett
6. 2-Rusty Wallace
7. 3-Dale Earnhardt
8. 33-Ken Schrader
9. 36-Ernie Irvan
10. 21-Michael Waltrip

• After the previous Sunday's race at Loudon, Jerry Nadeau was fired out of the No. 13 Ford. He immediately signed with Melling Racing to race their No. 9 Ford after Lake Speed was forced to retire because of his injuries. Nadeau finished 26th, 2 laps down in his first race at Melling after starting 34th.
• Elliott-Marino Racing tapped Wally Dallenbach Jr. to drive the No. 13 Ford on an interim basis starting at Pocono. Dallenbach finished 25th, 2 laps down. after starting 42nd
• Morgan Shepherd was tapped to drive the No. 91 LJ Racing Chevrolet starting at Pocono. Shepherd qualified a strong 7th, but collided with the turn 1 wall on lap 71 and finished 40th.

  [Brickyard 400]

1. 24-Jeff Gordon
2. 6-Mark Martin
3. 18-Bobby Labonte
4. 31-Mike Skinner
5. 3-Dale Earnhardt
6. 36-Ernie Irvan
7. 43-John Andretti
8. 2-Rusty Wallace
9. 5-Terry Labonte
10. 33-Ken Schrader

• Jimmy Spencer suffered a concussion in a crash late in the race in Turn 2. This forced Spencer to seek relief from Boris Said the next weekend at Watkins Glen, and to sit out Bristol completely and have Ted Musgrave drive in his place.
• Jeremy Mayfield crashed early in the race coming out of Turn 1. He seemed fine after the wreck, but at Watkins Glen the next weekend, he suffered fainting spells and had Larry Gunselman on standby, but did not take relief during the race.
• On lap 77, Ward Burton cut a tire and hit the wall in turn 2, but the race stayed green for the next several laps. As Burton’s car came to a stop on the warmup lane inside turn 3, drivers proceeded to make pit stops under green. With the caution still not yet out, leader Dale Jarrett began running out of gas exiting turn 1. After limping slowly around into the pits, Jarrett came to a stop just past the pit lane entrance. Jarrett's crew ran quickly toward the entrance of pit road to retrieve the car. After pushing the car about 1000 feet to the pit box, the team managed to refuel it and change four tires. The misadventure cost Jarrett 4 laps, but he would eventually finish in 16th place, last car on the lead lap.
• This was the last race attempted by Precision Products Racing.
• The race also marked the return of Steve Park to Winston Cup action for the first time since suffering injuries in a practice crash in March at Atlanta.
• Jeff Gordon had become the first driver to win the Brickyard 400 twice, and he won the No Bull 5 Million Dollar Bonus. Mark Martin and Bobby Labonte, finishing 2nd and 3rd respectively, were also No Bull 5 contenders. Dale Jarrett and Rusty Wallace were the other two contenders for the bonus.
• This race ended under the caution flag, as due to a multi car accident with a couple laps to go, there were not enough laps to clean up the track and restart the race.

  [The Bud at the Glen]

1. 24-Jeff Gordon
2. 6-Mark Martin*
3. 31-Mike Skinner*
4. 2-Rusty Wallace
5. 88-Dale Jarrett
6. 44-Kyle Petty
7. 40-Sterling Marlin
8. 43-John Andretti
9. 26-Johnny Benson
10. 18-Bobby Labonte

• Jeff Gordon did not actually know during the chase down of Mike Skinner that he was not actually leading the race until there were about 9 or 10 laps to go, when Crew Chief Ray Evernham radioed to him, pointed out Skinner in front of him, told him he was the leader and to go get him.
• On the ESPN telecast, it was stated that Rick Wilson attempted the race in the No. 58 instead of Larry Gunselman.
• Gunselman was also tapped to stand by to potentially drive in relief of Jeremy Mayfield, but did not get in the No. 12 during the race.
• Jimmy Spencer was forced to give way to Boris Said at the first full course caution because of the concussion that he had suffered the previous Saturday during the Brickyard 400. Spencer only briefly practiced the car before the race. Said had practiced and qualified the car in the 5th position. After Said got in the car at lap 10, he began a drive up through the field. A couple of spins within 10 laps of each other slowed Said's charge on his way to a 20th-place finish.
• Dick Trickle was relieved during the race by Busch North and Featherlite Modified driver Ted Christopher. According to the ESPN telecast, this was because of Trickle's apparent lack of skill and confidence in his road racing abilities. Christopher ran very well in the race before the engine blew late in the race, leaving Trickle with a 41st-place finish.
• Tom Hubert was hired by Elliott-Marino Racing to drive the No. 13 Ford. Hubert qualified 20th and drove up to 11th before having a slight off-course excursion. The big hit came on the restart after the 2nd caution when the No. 33 of Ken Schrader ran up on the left rear of Hubert. This peeled a good chunk of the left side sheetmetal off the car and spun it out. The No. 23 and the No. 12 of Jeremy Mayfield also spun in this incident. Mayfield got stuck in the gravel, prompting the third full course caution of the race.
• Mike Skinner had his best career finish for the second consecutive week. This finish was achieved through a pit strategy that resulted in him attempting to go all the way on fuel from the last full course caution, a distance of 39 laps. After all the leaders had pitted, Skinner had a 25-second lead over Jeff Gordon. Skinner had to conserve fuel in order to make the finish, so he drove much slower than he would have. Gordon, along with Mark Martin and Rusty Wallace ran Skinner down with 3 laps to go. Gordon and Martin were able to pass Skinner, but Wallace was not able to.
• This race was the 4th consecutive race that Mark Martin finished 2nd, and 3rd straight 2nd place finish to winner Jeff Gordon, losing 30 points to him in the standings over the 3 races.
• This was the last Cup race sponsored by a beer company.
• Ron Fellows was the first road ringer to qualify on the front row since Dan Gurney in 1970 at Riverside Raceway. In honor of his achievement, as well as the Canadian fans who watched the race, NASCAR, during pre-race ceremonies, had a singer recite the Canadian National Anthem along with the Star-Spangled Banner.
• This race was held the day after Mark Martin's father, stepmother and half-sister were killed in a plane crash in Nevada.

  [Pepsi 400 Presented by DeVilbiss]

1. 24-Jeff Gordon*
2. 18-Bobby Labonte
3. 88-Dale Jarrett
4. 6-Mark Martin
5. 99-Jeff Burton
6. 36-Ernie Irvan
7. 12-Jeremy Mayfield
8. 50-Wally Dallenbach Jr.*
9. 43-John Andretti
10. 97-Chad Little

• Wally Dallenbach Jr. was hired to drive the No. 50 Chevrolet for the rest of the season, and all of 1999 at this point.
• This was Jeff Gordon's 4th consecutive victory, tying the Modern-era record for most consecutive victories. He would become the 7th driver to do so.

  Goody's Headache Powder 500 (Bristol)">Sharpie 500">Goody's Headache Powder 500 (Bristol)

1. 6-Mark Martin
2. 99-Jeff Burton
3. 2-Rusty Wallace
4. 88-Dale Jarrett
5. 24-Jeff Gordon
6. 3-Dale Earnhardt
7. 31-Mike Skinner
8. 12-Jeremy Mayfield
9. 10-Ricky Rudd
10. 16-Kevin Lepage

• Mark Martin prevented Jeff Gordon from scoring the elusive 5th straight win, a feat that has never been done in NASCAR's modern era.
• Ted Musgrave subbed for Jimmy Spencer in the No. 23 Ford for Travis Carter Enterprises. Spencer was still recovering from the concussion that he suffered at the Brickyard 400.

  [Farm Aid on CMT 300]

1. 24-Jeff Gordon*
2. 6-Mark Martin
3. 43-John Andretti
4. 88-Dale Jarrett
5. 99-Jeff Burton
6. 81-Kenny Wallace
7. 18-Bobby Labonte
8. 2-Rusty Wallace
9. 3-Dale Earnhardt
10. 10-Ricky Rudd

• This race marked the beginning of "Tiregate." Jeff Gordon won both Michigan on August 16 and New Hampshire on August 30 after making a two-tire final pit stop and pulling away from the pack. Jack Roush, owner of the 6, 16, 26, 97, and 99 cars driven by Mark Martin, Ted Musgrave/Kevin Lepage, Johnny Benson, Chad Little, and Jeff Burton, respectively, accused Gordon and his team of cheating by applying chemical solvents to their tires. NASCAR officials began an investigation by sealing off Gordon's pit stall and confiscating several sets of tires for testing. Gordon and his team were later acquitted of any wrongdoing prior to the start of the Exide NASCAR Select Batteries 400 at Richmond.
• American Equipment Racing owned by Buz McCall, surprised the racing world by bringing road racer Ron Fellows to drive the #96 CAT car at an oval track rather than a road course. It was Ron Fellows' only Winston Cup start on an oval track. Ron Fellows would qualify 42nd in the #96 CAT car, and finish a heartbreaking 36th-place finish.

  [Pepsi Southern 500]

1. 24-Jeff Gordon
2. 99-Jeff Burton
3. 88-Dale Jarrett
4. 3-Dale Earnhardt
5. 12-Jeremy Mayfield 1 lap down
6. 36-Ernie Irvan 2 laps down
7. 2-Rusty Wallace 2 laps down
8. 40-Sterling Marlin 2 laps down
9. 7-Geoffrey Bodine 3 laps down
10. 81-Kenny Wallace 3 laps down

• This Race was part of the Winston No Bull 5 program. Jeff Gordon won the last such race, making him eligible to win a million dollars in this race if he pulled off a win.
• This was Jeff Gordon's 7th win in the last 9 races. This would be also Gordon's last win until late October.
• This was the fourth straight year in which Jeff Gordon would win the Southern 500. Not only is Jeff Gordon the only driver in NASCAR history to win 4 straight Southern 500 races, but he also the only driver in NASCAR history to win 4 straight races in one NASCAR Crown Jewel event. The 5 crown jewel events are Daytona 500, World 600, Brickyard 400, Southern 500, and Winston 500. His future teammate Jimmie Johnson however, would almost accomplish that feat in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte. He would win 3 straight in 2003, 2004, and 2005. He would come so close on winning 4 straight Coca-Cola 600 races in 2006, but he would finish 2nd to another future teammate, Kasey Kahne.
• This was the 3rd consecutive year that Jeff Gordon won 10+ races in a season, a NASCAR modern era record. Gordon passed Darrell Waltrip for this feat after Darrell won 12 races each in back to back seasons of 1981 and 1982. Richard Petty holds the record for scoring 10 or more wins in 5 consecutive seasons. He scored 27 wins in 1967, 16 wins in 1968, 10 wins in 1969, 18 wins in 1970, & 21 wins in 1971, scoring a combined total of 92 wins.
• This would be the last time until Gordon's future teammate Jimmie Johnson in 2007 that a driver would win 10 races in a season. After Johnson in 2007, it has not been done since.

  [Exide NASCAR Select Batteries 400]

1. 99-Jeff Burton
2. 24-Jeff Gordon
3. 6-Mark Martin
4. 33-Ken Schrader
5. 43-John Andretti
6. 4-Bobby Hamilton
7. 2-Rusty Wallace
8. 31-Mike Skinner
9. 23-Jimmy Spencer
10. 28-Kenny Irwin Jr.

[MBNA Gold 400]

1. 6-Mark Martin
2. 24-Jeff Gordon
3. 12-Jeremy Mayfield
4. 18-Bobby Labonte
5. 2-Rusty Wallace
6. 94-Matt Kenseth*
7. 88-Dale Jarrett
8. 28-Ernie Irvan
9. 43-John Andretti
10. 4-Bobby Hamilton 1 lap down

• Matt Kenseth made his Winston Cup debut in relief of Bill Elliott. Elliott decided to skip the race to mourn the death of his father, George.
• Matt Kenseth became the 3rd highest finisher in his Winston Cup debut, finishing 6th. Only 2 drivers have finished in the top 5 in their Cup Series debuts, and that was Terry Labonte, who finished 4th in the 1978 Southern 500 at Darlington, and Rusty Wallace, who finished 2nd in the fall Atlanta race in 1980.
• Dale Earnhardt and Terry Labonte both made their 600th career Winston Cup starts in this race.

  [NAPA Autocare 500]

1. 10-Ricky Rudd*
2. 24-Jeff Gordon
3. 6-Mark Martin
4. 98-Rich Bickle*
5. 99-Jeff Burton
6. 5-Terry Labonte
7. 94-Bill Elliott
8. 36-Ernie Irvan 1 lap down
9. 26-Johnny Benson 1 lap down
10. 18-Bobby Labonte 1 lap down

• This race was run in oppressive heat and humidity. Multiple drivers required relief during the event. Jerry Nadeau was actually forced to pull off the track at one point because he needed relief, and there was no one available that could relieve him.
• Ricky Rudd's cool box broke literally on lap one of the race. This resulted in Rudd being broiled inside of the car. Hut Stricklin was on standby to relieve Rudd, but Rudd never got out of the car. In Victory Lane, Rudd had to be pulled out of the car and given first aid by paramedics. Dr. Jerry Punch, who conducted the Victory Lane interview, helped out the paramedics.
• 20th career win for Ricky Rudd. With this win, Ricky Rudd's winning streak would stay alive, making this the 16th straight season that he has won at least one race, 3rd all-time. Richard Petty leads the category by winning at least one race in 18 straight seasons, the most in NASCAR history. This would be Rudd's last win until Pocono in June 2001, 2 and a half years, and 89 races later.
• This was Rich Bickle's best career finish. Bickle broke down in tears during a post-race interview on ESPN.
• Final career-pole for Ernie Irvan.

  [UAW-GM Quality 500]

1. 6-Mark Martin
2. 22-Ward Burton
3. 99-Jeff Burton
4. 4-Bobby Hamilton
5. 24-Jeff Gordon
6. 16-Kevin Lepage
7. 42-Joe Nemechek
8. 97-Chad Little
9. 7-Geoffrey Bodine
10. 23-Jimmy Spencer

• This race was red flagged for nearly 2 hours due to a sewer main behind the backstretch breaking. As a result, raw sewage streamed across the backstretch from underneath the outside wall.

  Winston 500">AMP Energy 500">Winston 500

1. 88-Dale Jarrett
2. 24-Jeff Gordon
3. 5-Terry Labonte
4. 23-Jimmy Spencer
5. 12-Jeremy Mayfield
6. 18-Bobby Labonte
7. 31-Mike Skinner
8. 97-Chad Little
9. 21-Michael Waltrip
10. 99-Jeff Burton

• Winston No Bull 5 race: Dale Jarrett won an extra million dollars because he won this race and finished in the top 5 in the Southern 500
• Ernie Irvan was injured in a crash on lap 135 when he spun and hit the wall. The No. 90 of Dick Trickle hit Irvan's No. 36 when it came back across the track. Irvan started the race at Daytona for points, but then sat out the remaining 3 races.

  Pepsi 400">1998 Pepsi 400">Pepsi 400

1. 24-Jeff Gordon
2. 18-Bobby Labonte
3. 31-Mike Skinner
4. 12-Jeremy Mayfield
5. 2-Rusty Wallace
6. 5-Terry Labonte
7. 22-Ward Burton
8. 36-Ernie Irvan / Ricky Craven*
9. 33-Ken Schrader
10. 3-Dale Earnhardt

• This was the first NASCAR race at Daytona to be run under the lights.
• 1998 was the first, and to date, only NASCAR Season to have back to back points paying restrictor plate races, with the Pepsi 400 being run after the Winston 500.
• This race was originally scheduled to be broadcast by CBS, but TNN broadcast the race, due to prior commitments by CBS.
• Ernie Irvan started the race in the No. 36, but was replaced at the first caution by Ricky Craven.
• This was Jeff Gordon's 40th Winston Cup Career win.
• The 11th win of 1998 for Jeff Gordon. This was the first time since Dale Earnhardt in 1987 that a driver won 11 races in a season.
• As of 2017, this is the last time that a driver won 11 races in a season.
• This race was Dan Pardus' only career Cup Series start.

  [Dura Lube/Kmart 500]

1. 2-Rusty Wallace
2. 6-Mark Martin
3. 3-Dale Earnhardt
4. 99-Jeff Burton
5. 13-Ted Musgrave
6. 43-John Andretti
7. 24-Jeff Gordon
8. 81-Kenny Wallace
9. 26-Johnny Benson
10. 5-Terry Labonte

• This race was shortened to 257 laps due to rain.
• This race ended a string of 17 straight top 5 finishes for Jeff Gordon, which is a NASCAR record.

  [AC Delco 400]

1. 24-Jeff Gordon
2. 88-Dale Jarrett
3. 2-Rusty Wallace
4. 6-Mark Martin
5. 99-Jeff Burton
6. 4-Bobby Hamilton
7. 22-Ward Burton
8. 5-Terry Labonte
9. 3-Dale Earnhardt
10. 10-Ricky Rudd

• Jeff Gordon clinched the 1998 Winston Cup Series championship by finishing 40th or better
• The 12th win of 1998 for Jeff Gordon. This was the first time since Darrell Waltrip in 1982 that a driver won 12 races in a season.

  [NAPA 500]

1. 24-Jeff Gordon
2. 88-Dale Jarrett
3. 6-Mark Martin
4. 99-Jeff Burton
5. 91-Todd Bodine*
6. 4-Bobby Hamilton
7. 33-Ken Schrader
8. 5-Terry Labonte
9. 31-Mike Skinner
10. 7-Geoffrey Bodine

• Todd Bodine's fifth-place finish was the best ever finish for LJ Racing in the Cup Series.
• Jeff Gordon's win made him the second driver after Bobby Labonte to win on both of the configurations at Atlanta, after winning only one race on the 1.522 miles when he won in the spring of 1995.
• Jeff Gordon's win ensured Chevrolet the 1998 Manufacturers' Championship.
• The 13th win of 1998 for Jeff Gordon. With this win, Jeff Gordon ties a NASCAR modern-era record with Richard Petty for the most wins in a single season. This feat was accomplished first by Petty in 1975. As of 2018, this is the second and last time that a driver won 13 races in a season.
• With 13 wins, 26 top 5s, and 28 top 10s, including the 17 straight top 5 finishes and 20 straight top 10 finishes, Jeff Gordon scored a total of 5,328 points in 33 races of 1998. This would be the most points scored in Bob Latford's Winston Cup points system history.
• Mark Martin finishes second in points for the third time in his career, and with that, he would tie James Hylton for the most runner-up finishes for a driver to never win a championship.
• This was the 20th consecutive race that Jeff Gordon would finish in the top 10, a NASCAR record.
• Last career top 5 points finish for Rusty Wallace.
• Last points race without Tony Stewart on the grid until 2013 Cheez-It 355 at The Glen.

  [NASCAR Thunder Special Motegi - Coca-Cola 500]

1. 31-Mike Skinner
2. 24-Jeff Gordon
3. 12-Jeremy Mayfield
4. 99-Jeff Burton
5. 2-Rusty Wallace
6. 1-Dale Earnhardt Jr.
7. 94-Bill Elliott
8. 3-Dale Earnhardt
9. 40-Sterling Marlin
10. 21-Michael Waltrip 2 laps down

• Dale Jarrett was forced to skip the event due to gall bladder surgery that needed to be performed immediately after the NAPA 500 so that he would be ready for Daytona in February. Darrell Waltrip drove the No. 88 in Jarrett's place.

  Final points standings

Full Top 50

1. 24-Jeff Gordon 5328
2. 6-Mark Martin 4964
3. 88-Dale Jarrett 4619
4. 2-Rusty Wallace 4501
5. 99-Jeff Burton 4415
6. 18-Bobby Labonte 4180
7. 12-Jeremy Mayfield 4157
8. 3-Dale Earnhardt 3928
9. 5-Terry Labonte 3901
10. 4-Bobby Hamilton 3786
11. 43-John Andretti 3682
12. 33-Ken Schrader 3675
13. 40-Sterling Marlin 3530
14. 23-Jimmy Spencer 3464
15. 97-Chad Little 3423
16. 22-Ward Burton 3352
17. 21-Michael Waltrip 3340
18. 94-Bill Elliott 3305
19. 36-Ernie Irvan 3262
20. 26-Johnny Benson 3160
21. 31-Mike Skinner 3153
22. 10-Ricky Rudd 3131
23. 16-Ted Musgrave 3124
24. 17/1-Darrell Waltrip 2957
25. 11-Brett Bodine 2907
26. 42-Joe Nemechek 2897
27. 7-Geoffrey Bodine 2864
28. 28-Kenny Irwin Jr. ' 2760
29. 90-Dick Trickle 2678
30. 44-Kyle Petty 2675
31. 81-Kenny Wallace 2615
32. 77-Robert Pressley 2388
33. 75-Rick Mast 2296
34. 41-Steve Grissom 2215
35. 91/16-Kevin Lepage ' 2196
36. 13/9-Jerry Nadeau ' 2121
37. 30-Derrike Cope 2065
38. 46-Wally Dallenbach Jr. 1832
39. 98-Rich Bickle 1773
40. 29/46-Jeff Green 1687
41. 1-Steve Park ' 1322
42. 35/91-Todd Bodine 1322
43. 9-Lake Speed 1297
44. 96/41-David Green 1014
45. 71-Dave Marcis 949
46. 50/36-Ricky Craven 907
47. Morgan Shepherd 843
48. 78-Gary Bradberry 787
49. 50-Randy LaJoie 768
50. 8/96-Hut Stricklin 700

    Rookie of the Year">NASCAR Rookie of the Year">Rookie of the Year