1998 UAW-GM Quality 500
# 1998 UAW-GM Quality 500

The 1998 UAW-GM Quality 500 was the 28th stock car race of the 1998 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 39th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, October 4, 1998, in Concord, North Carolina, at Charlotte Motor Speedway, a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) permanent quad-oval. The race took the scheduled 334 laps to complete. At race's end, Roush Racing driver Mark Martin would manage to dominate most of the race to take his 29th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his seventh and final victory of the season. To fill out the podium, Bill Davis Racing driver Ward Burton and Roush Racing driver Jeff Burton would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

Lowe's Motor Speedway is a motorsports complex located in Concord, North Carolina, United States 13 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. The complex features a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and the NEXTEL All-Star Challenge, as well as the UAW-GM Quality 500. The speedway was built in 1959 by Bruton Smith and is considered the home track for NASCAR with many race teams located in the Charlotte area. The track is owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports Inc. (SMI) with Marcus G. Smith (son of Bruton Smith) as track president.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.

| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 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 | Ted Musgrave | Elliott-Marino Racing | Ford | FirstPlus Financial Group |
| 16 | Kevin Lepage (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | PrimeStar |
| 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | Interstate Batteries |
| 19 | Tony Raines | Roehrig Motorsports | Ford | Yellow Transportation |
| 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Citgo |
| 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | MBNA |
| 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | Winston No Bull |
| 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | DuPont |
| 26 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Roush Racing | Ford | Cheerios, Pop Secret |
| 28 | Kenny Irwin Jr. (R) | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Texaco, Havoline, Joker |
| 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 Light |
| 41 | David Green | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kodiak |
| 42 | Joe Nemechek | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | BellSouth Pager |
| 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 |
| 80 | Andy Hillenburg | Hover Motorsports | Ford | Hover Motorsports |
| 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | Square D |
| 85 | Randy MacDonald | Mansion Motorsports | Ford | Mansion Motorsports |
| 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Quality Care Service, Ford Credit, Batman |
| 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 | Steve Grissom | American Equipment Racing | Chevrolet | Caterpillar |
| 97 | Chad Little | Roush Racing | Ford | John Deere |
| 98 | Rich Bickle | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | Thorn Apple Valley "Go Grill Crazy!" |
| 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | Exide Batteries |

## Practice

### First practice

The first practice session was held on Wednesday, September 30, at 1:30 PM EST. The session would last for three hours and 30 minutes. Ernie Irvan, driving for MB2 Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.897 and an average speed of 180.620 miles per hour (290.680 km/h).

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 36 | Ernie Irvan | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 29.897 | 180.620 |
| 2 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 29.903 | 180.584 |
| 3 | 42 | Joe Nemechek | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 29.904 | 180.578 |
| Full first practice results |||||||

### Second practice

The second practice session was held on Thursday, October 1. Jeff Burton, driving for Roush Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 30.517 and an average speed of 176.951 miles per hour (284.775 km/h).

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 30.517 | 176.951 |
| 2 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 30.584 | 176.563 |
| 3 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 30.607 | 176.430 |
| Full second practice results |||||||

### Third practice

The third practice session was held on Saturday, October 3, at 9:00 AM EST. The session would last for one hour. Bobby Hamilton, driving for Morgan–McClure Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 30.234 and an average speed of 178.607 miles per hour (287.440 km/h).

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 4 | Bobby Hamilton | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.234 | 178.607 |
| 2 | 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 30.291 | 178.271 |
| 3 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 30.356 | 177.889 |
| Full third practice results |||||||

### Final practice

The final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held Saturday, October 3, after the preliminary 1998 All Pro Bumper to Bumper 300. The session would last for one hour. Jeremy Mayfield, driving for Penske-Kranefuss Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 30.543 and an average speed of 176.800 miles per hour (284.532 km/h).

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 30.543 | 176.800 |
| 2 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 30.574 | 176.621 |
| 3 | 36 | Ernie Irvan | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 30.673 | 176.051 |
| Full Happy Hour practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Wednesday, September 30, at 7:00 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 Thursday, October 1, at 1:30 PM 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.

Derrike Cope, driving for Bahari Racing. would win the pole, setting a time of 29.721 and an average speed of 181.690 miles per hour (292.402 km/h).

Five drivers would fail to qualify: Jeff Green, Tony Raines, Andy Hillenburg, Dave Marcis, and Randy MacDonald.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 30 | Derrike Cope | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 29.721 | 181.690 |
| 2 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 29.798 | 181.220 |
| 3 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 29.807 | 181.165 |
| 4 | 36 | Ernie Irvan | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 29.812 | 181.135 |
| 5 | 4 | Bobby Hamilton | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.858 | 180.856 |
| 6 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 29.872 | 180.771 |
| 7 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 29.914 | 180.517 |
| 8 | 91 | Todd Bodine | LJ Racing | Chevrolet | 29.914 | 180.517 |
| 9 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 29.915 | 180.511 |
| 10 | 28 | Kenny Irwin Jr. (R) | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 29.916 | 180.505 |
| 11 | 42 | Joe Nemechek | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 29.920 | 180.481 |
| 12 | 9 | Jerry Nadeau (R) | Melling Racing | Ford | 29.938 | 180.373 |
| 13 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 29.961 | 180.234 |
| 14 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 29.966 | 180.204 |
| 15 | 33 | Ken Schrader | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 29.980 | 180.120 |
| 16 | 78 | Gary Bradberry | Triad Motorsports | Ford | 29.990 | 180.060 |
| 17 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 29.995 | 180.030 |
| 18 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 30.021 | 179.874 |
| 19 | 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 30.039 | 179.766 |
| 20 | 97 | Chad Little | Roush Racing | Ford | 30.053 | 179.683 |
| 21 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 30.055 | 179.671 |
| 22 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.094 | 179.438 |
| 23 | 41 | David Green | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.134 | 179.200 |
| 24 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 30.135 | 179.194 |
| 25 | 50 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.146 | 179.128 |
| 26 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.172 | 178.974 |
| 27 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 30.185 | 178.897 |
| 28 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 30.190 | 178.867 |
| 29 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Elliott-Marino Racing | Ford | 30.232 | 178.619 |
| 30 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | 30.248 | 178.524 |
| 31 | 96 | Steve Grissom | American Equipment Racing | Chevrolet | 30.249 | 178.518 |
| 32 | 16 | Kevin Lepage (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | 30.251 | 178.506 |
| 33 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 30.314 | 178.136 |
| 34 | 44 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 30.316 | 178.124 |
| 35 | 90 | Dick Trickle | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 30.372 | 177.795 |
| 36 | 13 | Ted Musgrave | Elliott-Marino Racing | Ford | 30.392 | 177.678 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 37 | 26 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Roush Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 38 | 1 | Steve Park (R) | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 39 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Mattei Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| 40 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| 41 | 75 | Rick Mast | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| 42 | 98 | Rich Bickle | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| Champion's Provisional |||||||
| 43 | 35 | Darrell Waltrip | Tyler Jet Motorsports | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 44 | 46 | Jeff Green | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 30.585 | 176.557 |
| 45 | 19 | Tony Raines | Roehrig Motorsports | Ford | 30.609 | 176.419 |
| 46 | 80 | Andy Hillenburg | Hover Motorsports | Ford | 30.627 | 176.315 |
| 47 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 30.672 | 176.056 |
| 48 | 85 | Randy MacDonald | Mansion Motorsports | Ford | 31.778 | 169.929 |
| Official qualifying results |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 2 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 334 | 215 | running | 185 | $151,950 |
| 2 | 13 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 334 | 35 | running | 175 | $96,700 |
| 3 | 28 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 334 | 0 | running | 165 | $76,250 |
| 4 | 5 | 4 | Bobby Hamilton | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 334 | 0 | running | 160 | $83,300 |
| 5 | 26 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 334 | 47 | running | 160 | $79,450 |
| 6 | 32 | 16 | Kevin Lepage (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | 334 | 0 | running | 150 | $54,700 |
| 7 | 11 | 42 | Joe Nemechek | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 334 | 0 | running | 146 | $46,400 |
| 8 | 20 | 97 | Chad Little | Roush Racing | Ford | 334 | 0 | running | 142 | $36,500 |
| 9 | 39 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Mattei Motorsports | Ford | 334 | 0 | running | 138 | $45,000 |
| 10 | 18 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 334 | 0 | running | 134 | $50,600 |
| 11 | 29 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Elliott-Marino Racing | Ford | 334 | 0 | running | 130 | $37,900 |
| 12 | 7 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 334 | 0 | running | 127 | $41,100 |
| 13 | 27 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 334 | 1 | running | 129 | $35,850 |
| 14 | 1 | 30 | Derrike Cope | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 334 | 6 | running | 126 | $68,289 |
| 15 | 8 | 91 | Todd Bodine | LJ Racing | Chevrolet | 333 | 0 | running | 118 | $28,300 |
| 16 | 30 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | 333 | 0 | running | 115 | $25,400 |
| 17 | 42 | 98 | Rich Bickle | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 333 | 0 | running | 112 | $30,000 |
| 18 | 34 | 44 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 332 | 0 | running | 109 | $28,800 |
| 19 | 21 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 332 | 1 | running | 111 | $28,400 |
| 20 | 10 | 28 | Kenny Irwin Jr. (R) | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 326 | 0 | running | 103 | $35,050 |
| 21 | 19 | 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 321 | 0 | running | 100 | $20,600 |
| 22 | 43 | 35 | Darrell Waltrip | Tyler Jet Motorsports | Pontiac | 319 | 0 | running | 97 | $17,200 |
| 23 | 25 | 50 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 307 | 0 | handling | 94 | $27,100 |
| 24 | 17 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 301 | 0 | running | 91 | $33,850 |
| 25 | 9 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 290 | 0 | running | 88 | $27,100 |
| 26 | 6 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 282 | 0 | running | 85 | $32,300 |
| 27 | 36 | 13 | Ted Musgrave | Elliott-Marino Racing | Ford | 279 | 0 | engine | 82 | $16,500 |
| 28 | 37 | 26 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Roush Racing | Ford | 278 | 0 | running | 79 | $26,400 |
| 29 | 33 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 278 | 0 | running | 76 | $31,300 |
| 30 | 24 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 275 | 0 | running | 73 | $18,700 |
| 31 | 4 | 36 | Ernie Irvan | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 271 | 26 | crash | 75 | $28,100 |
| 32 | 31 | 96 | Steve Grissom | American Equipment Racing | Chevrolet | 270 | 0 | running | 67 | $16,000 |
| 33 | 35 | 90 | Dick Trickle | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 267 | 0 | crash | 64 | $23,450 |
| 34 | 41 | 75 | Rick Mast | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 258 | 0 | running | 61 | $15,900 |
| 35 | 12 | 9 | Jerry Nadeau (R) | Melling Racing | Ford | 242 | 0 | handling | 58 | $15,870 |
| 36 | 38 | 1 | Steve Park (R) | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 237 | 0 | running | 55 | $15,850 |
| 37 | 14 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 231 | 0 | crash | 52 | $32,235 |
| 38 | 22 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 215 | 0 | handling | 49 | $31,820 |
| 39 | 3 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 202 | 3 | crash | 51 | $39,915 |
| 40 | 15 | 33 | Ken Schrader | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 185 | 0 | engine | 43 | $22,810 |
| 41 | 40 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 155 | 0 | engine | 40 | $15,805 |
| 42 | 16 | 78 | Gary Bradberry | Triad Motorsports | Ford | 133 | 0 | crash | 37 | $15,800 |
| 43 | 23 | 41 | David Green | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 68 | 0 | crash | 34 | $22,795 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 44 | | 46 | Jeff Green | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 45 | | 19 | Tony Raines | Roehrig Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| 46 | | 80 | Andy Hillenburg | Hover Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| 47 | | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 48 | | 85 | Randy MacDonald | Mansion Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||
