The 1998 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 50th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 27th modern-era cup series. The season included 33 races and three exhibition races, beginning with the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway and ending with the NAPA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Jeff Gordon won the Driver's Championship, the third of his career, and his third in the last four seasons.
Teams and drivers
Complete schedule ManufacturerTeamRace DriverCrew Chief ChevroletAmerican Equipment Racing96 David Green Sammy Johns Kevin Lepage (R) Hut Stricklin Robby Gordon Ron Fellows Ted Musgrave Morgan Shepherd Mike Bliss Steve Grissom Andy Petree Racing33 Ken Schrader Andy PetreeDale Earnhardt, Inc.1 Steve Park (R) Phillipe Lopez Phil Parsons Ron Hornaday Jr. Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports5 Terry Labonte Andy Graves24 Jeff Gordon Ray Evernham50 Ricky Craven Tony Furr Randy LaJoie Wally Dallenbach Jr. Larry Hedrick Motorsports41 Steve Grissom Tim Brewer David Green Rick Wilson LJ Racing91 Kevin Lepage (R) Doug Richert Tommy Kendall Andy Hillenburg Morgan Shepherd Todd Bodine Marcis Auto Racing71 Dave Marcis Bob MarcisMorgan-McClure Motorsports4 Bobby Hamilton Charley PressleyRichard Childress Racing3 Dale Earnhardt Larry McReynolds Kevin Hamlin 31 Mike Skinner Kevin Hamlin Morgan Shepherd Mike Dillon Team SABCO40 Sterling Marlin Corrie Stott42 Joe Nemechek Scott Eggleston46 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Gary Grossenbacher Morgan Shepherd Jeff Green Tommy Kendall FordButch Mock Motorsports75 Rick Mast Dave CharpentierCale Yarborough Motorsports98 Greg Sacks Michael McSwain Rich Bickle Donlavey Racing90 Dick Trickle Junie DonlaveyElliott-Marino Racing13 Jerry Nadeau (R) Jerry Pitts Dennis Setzer Wally Dallenbach Jr. Tom Hubert Ted Musgrave 94 Bill Elliott Joe Garone Matt Kenseth FILMAR Racing81 Kenny Wallace David IfftJasper Motorsports77 Robert Pressley Newt Moore Hut Stricklin Ted Musgrave Mattei Motorsports7 Geoff Bodine Pete PetersonMelling Racing9 Lake Speed Jeff Buice Butch Gilliland Jerry Nadeau (R) Penske Racing SouthPenske-Kranefuss Racing2 Rusty Wallace Robin Pemberton12 Jeremy Mayfield Paul AndrewsRobert Yates Racing28 Kenny Irwin Jr. (R) Marc Reno88 Dale Jarrett Todd ParrottRoush Racing6 Mark Martin Jimmy Fennig16 Ted Musgrave James Ince Kevin Lepage (R) 26 Johnny Benson Ben Leslie97 Chad Little Jeff Hammond99 Jeff Burton Frank StoddardRudd Performance Motorsports10 Ricky Rudd Bill IngleTeam ScandiaBrett Bodine Racing11 Brett Bodine Gere KennonTravis Carter Enterprises23 Jimmy Spencer Donnie Wingo Frank Kimmel Ted Musgrave Wood Brothers Racing21 Michael Waltrip Glen Wood PontiacBahari Racing30 Derrike Cope Doug Hewitt Jeff Green Bill Davis Racing22 Ward Burton Tommy Baldwin Jr.ISM Racing35 Todd Bodine Pat Tryson Phil Hammer Wally Dallenbach Jr. Gary Bradberry Jimmy Horton Tyler Jet Motorsports Darrell Waltrip Joe Gibbs Racing18 Bobby Labonte Jimmy MakarMB2 Motorsports36 Ernie Irvan Ryan Pemberton Ricky Craven Petty Enterprises43 John Andretti Robbie LoomisPE244 Kyle Petty Bobby Kennedy
Limited schedule ManufacturerTeamRace DriverCrew ChiefRound(s) ChevroletAndy Petree Racing 55 Hut Stricklin Jimmy Elledge Barkdoll Racing 73 Mike Wallace BMR Motorsports 45 Jeff Ward Buckshot Racing 00 Buckshot Jones Ricky Pearson Chris Raudman Racing 58 Chris Raudman Darrell Waltrip Motorsports 17 Darrell Waltrip Dave McCarty Tyler Jet Motorsports Ron Hornaday Jr. Phil Hammer Diamond Ridge Motorsports 29 Jeff Green 92 Elliott Sadler Butch Hylton Sandy Jones Gerhart Racing 54 Bobby Gerhart Highland Timber Racing 08 Harris DeVane Mansion Motorsports 85 Randy Renfrow Bob Strait Midwest Transit Racing 07 Dan Pardus Chet Shirah Jr. John McQueen Sadler Brothers Racing 95 Andy Hillenburg Randy MacDonald Stavola Brothers Racing 8 Hut Stricklin Ross Freisinger Jim Long Buckshot Jones Morgan Shepherd T.R.I.X. Racing 79 Norm Benning Ted Walters Randy MacDonald Ken Bouchard FordCSG Racing 59 Mark Gibson Tony Gibson Brian Cunningham Elliott-Marino Racing 89 Dennis Setzer Mike Brandt Gunselman Racing 37 Larry Gunselman Hilton Racing 38 Butch Gilliland Hover Motorsports 80 Mike Ciochetti Andy Hillenburg Mansion Motorsports 85 Randy MacDonald Ken Bouchard Moore-Robinson Motorsports 15 Loy Allen Jr. Joey Knuckles Ted Musgrave Roehrig Motorsports 19 Tony Raines Mike Bodick Tom Hubert Robby Gordon Roush Racing 60 Matt Kenseth Robbie Reiser SBIII Motorsports 58 Rick Wilson Standridge Motorsports 47 Billy Standridge Dave Smith Triad Motorsports 78 Gary Bradberry Dennis Adcock Ware Racing Enterprises 70 Rick Ware PontiacPrecision Products Racing 14 Loy Allen Jr. Lance Hooper Shepherd Racing 05 Morgan Shepherd J. T. Townsend
Schedule No. Race title Track DateBud Shootout QualifierDaytona International Speedway, Daytona BeachFebruary 8Bud ShootoutGatorade 125sFebruary 121Daytona 500February 152GM Goodwrench Service Plus 400North Carolina Speedway, RockinghamFebruary 223Las Vegas 400Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las VegasMarch 14Primestar 500Atlanta Motor Speedway, HamptonMarch 95TranSouth Financial 400Darlington Raceway, DarlingtonMarch 226Food City 500Bristol Motor Speedway, BristolMarch 297Texas 500Texas Motor Speedway, Fort WorthApril 58Goody's Headache Powder 500Martinsville Speedway, RidgewayApril 209DieHard 500Talladega Superspeedway, TalladegaApril 2610California 500 presented by NAPACalifornia Speedway, FontanaMay 3No Bull 25 ShootoutCharlotte Motor Speedway, ConcordMay 16Winston OpenThe Winston11Coca-Cola 600May 2412MBNA Platinum 400Dover Downs International Speedway, DoverMay 3113Pontiac Excitement 400Richmond International Raceway, RichmondJune 614Miller Lite 400Michigan Speedway, BrooklynJune 1415Pocono 500Pocono Raceway, Long PondJune 2116Save Mart/Kragen 350Sears Point Raceway, SonomaJune 2817Jiffy Lube 300New Hampshire International Speedway, LoudonJuly 1218Pennsylvania 500Pocono Raceway, Long PondJuly 2619Brickyard 400Indianapolis Motor Speedway, SpeedwayAugust 120The Bud at The GlenWatkins Glen International, Watkins GlenAugust 921Pepsi 400 presented by MeijerMichigan Speedway, BrooklynAugust 1622Goody's Headache Powder 500Bristol Motor Speedway, BristolAugust 2223Farm Aid on CMT 300New Hampshire International Speedway, LoudonAugust 3024Pepsi Southern 500Darlington Raceway, DarlingtonSeptember 625Exide NASCAR Select Batteries 400Richmond International Raceway, RichmondSeptember 1226MBNA Gold 400Dover Downs International Speedway, DoverSeptember 2027NAPA Autocare 500Martinsville Speedway, RidgewaySeptember 2728UAW-GM Quality 500Charlotte Motor Speedway, ConcordOctober 429Winston 500Talladega Superspeedway, TalladegaOctober 1130Pepsi 400Daytona International Speedway, Daytona BeachOctober 1731Dura Lube/Kmart 500Phoenix International Raceway, PhoenixOctober 2532AC Delco 400North Carolina Speedway, RockinghamNovember 133NAPA 500Atlanta Motor Speedway, HamptonNovember 8 Coca-Cola 500Twin Ring Motegi, MotegiNovember 22
Races No.RacePole positionMost laps ledWinning driverBud Shootout QualifierSterling MarlinJimmy SpencerJimmy SpencerFordBud ShootoutMark MartinJeff GordonRusty WallaceFordGatorade 125 #1Bobby LabonteBobby Labonte Sterling MarlinSterling MarlinChevroletGatorade 125 #2Terry LabonteDale EarnhardtDale EarnhardtChevrolet1Daytona 500Bobby LabonteDale EarnhardtDale EarnhardtChevrolet2GM Goodwrench Service Plus 400Rick MastMark MartinJeff GordonChevrolet3Las Vegas 400Dale JarrettMark MartinMark MartinFord4Primestar 500John AndrettiKenny Irwin Jr.Bobby LabontePontiac5TranSouth Financial 400Mark MartinJeff BurtonDale JarrettFord6Food City 500Rusty WallaceRusty WallaceJeff GordonChevrolet7Texas 500Jeremy MayfieldJeremy MayfieldMark MartinFord8Goody's Headache Powder 500Bobby HamiltonBobby HamiltonBobby HamiltonChevrolet9DieHard 500Bobby LabonteTerry LabonteBobby LabontePontiac10California 500 pres. by NAPAJeff GordonMark MartinMark MartinFordNo Bull 25 Race 1Jeremy MayfieldJeremy MayfieldJeremy MayfieldFordNo Bull 25 Race 2Joe NemechekJimmy SpencerJimmy SpencerFordWinston OpenJeremy MayfieldJeremy MayfieldJeremy MayfieldFordThe WinstonBill ElliottJeff GordonMark MartinFord11Coca-Cola 600Jeff GordonMark MartinJeff GordonChevrolet12MBNA Platinum 400Rusty WallaceJeff GordonDale JarrettFord13Pontiac Excitement 400Jeff GordonDale JarrettTerry LabonteChevrolet14Miller Lite 400Ward BurtonJeff GordonMark MartinFord15Pocono 500Jeff GordonJeremy MayfieldJeremy MayfieldFord16Save Mart/Kragen 350Jeff GordonJeff GordonJeff GordonChevrolet17Jiffy Lube 300Ricky CravenJeff BurtonJeff BurtonFord18Pennsylvania 500Ward BurtonJeff GordonJeff GordonChevrolet19Brickyard 400Ernie IrvanJeff GordonJeff GordonChevrolet20The Bud at The GlenJeff GordonJeff GordonJeff GordonChevrolet21Pepsi 400 pres. by DeVilbissErnie IrvanErnie IrvanJeff GordonChevrolet22Goody's Headache Powder 500Rusty WallaceMark MartinMark MartinFord23Farm Aid on CMT 300Jeff GordonMark MartinJeff GordonChevrolet24Pepsi Southern 500Dale JarrettJeff BurtonJeff GordonChevrolet25Exide NASCAR Select Batteries 400Rusty WallaceJeff BurtonJeff BurtonFord26MBNA Gold 400Mark MartinMark MartinMark MartinFord27NAPA Autocare 500Ernie IrvanSterling MarlinRicky RuddFord28UAW-GM Quality 500Derrike CopeMark MartinMark MartinFord29Winston 500Ken SchraderMike SkinnerDale JarrettFord30Pepsi 400Bobby LabonteJeff GordonJeff GordonChevrolet31Dura Lube/Kmart 500Ken SchraderRusty WallaceRusty WallaceFord32AC Delco 400Mark MartinDale JarrettJeff GordonChevrolet33NAPA 500Kenny Irwin Jr.Jeff GordonJeff GordonChevrolet
Bud Shootout Qualifier
The Bud Shootout Qualifier, a race for the fastest second round qualifier, from each race from the previous season, was run on February 8 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Sterling Marlin drew the pole. The race was broadcast on ESPN.
Top Ten Results
#23 - Jimmy Spencer #9 - Lake Speed #3 - Dale Earnhardt #40 - Sterling Marlin #11 - Brett Bodine #97 - Chad Little #75 - Rick Mast #29 - Jeff Green #98 - Greg Sacks #17 - Darrell Waltrip
Bud Shootout
The Bud Shootout, a race for pole winners from the previous season, was run on February 8 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Mark Martin drew the pole. The race was broadcast on CBS.
Top Ten Results
#2 - Rusty Wallace #81 - Kenny Wallace #94 - Bill Elliott #23 - Jimmy Spencer #33 - Ken Schrader #7 - Geoff Bodine #36 - Ernie Irvan #6 - Mark Martin #43 - John Andretti #35 - Todd Bodine
Gatorade 125s
Race One: Top Ten Results
The Gatorade Twin 125s were run on February 12 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Bobby and Terry Labonte were the pole-sitters, for both races, respectively. The races were broadcast tape delayed on CBS prior to the Daytona 500.
#40 - Sterling Marlin #88 - Dale Jarrett #18 - Bobby Labonte #23 - Jimmy Spencer #22 - Ward Burton #30 - Derrike Cope #12 - Jeremy Mayfield #6 - Mark Martin #43 - John Andretti #94 - Bill Elliott
Ken Schrader suffered a broken sternum in a hard crash with Johnny Benson on the last lap of Duel 1. He raced in the 500 using his car from the Bud Shootout while wearing a bull rider's vest.
Race Two: Top Ten Results
#3 - Dale Earnhardt #21 - Michael Waltrip #31 - Mike Skinner #36 - Ernie Irvan #2 - Rusty Wallace #99 - Jeff Burton #9 - Lake Speed #95 - Andy Hillenburg #91 - Kevin Lepage #4 - Bobby Hamilton
40th Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 was run on February 15 in Daytona Beach, Florida. The Labonte brothers shared the front row with Bobby Labonte on the pole, and brother Terry Labonte starting second. The race was broadcast on CBS.
Top Ten Results #3 - Dale Earnhardt #18 - Bobby Labonte #12 - Jeremy Mayfield #33 - Ken Schrader #2 - Rusty Wallace #36 - Ernie Irvan #97 - Chad Little #31 - Mike Skinner #21 - Michael Waltrip #94 - Bill Elliott