1998 Primestar 500
# 1998 Primestar 500

The 1998 Primestar 500 was the fourth stock car race of the 1998 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 39th iteration of the event. The race was originally scheduled to be held on Sunday, March 8, 1998, but was postponed to Monday, March 9 due to rain. The race was held in Hampton, Georgia at Atlanta Motor Speedway, a 1.54 miles (2.48 km) permanent asphalt quad-oval intermediate speedway. The race took the scheduled 325 laps to complete. In the late stages of the race, Joe Gibbs Racing driver Bobby Labonte would manage to pass for the lead with 47 to go and take his sixth career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his first victory of the season. To fill out the podium, Robert Yates Racing driver Dale Jarrett and Penske-Kranefuss Racing driver Jeremy Mayfield would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

Atlanta Motor Speedway (formerly Atlanta International Raceway) is a 1.54-mile race track in Hampton, Georgia, United States, 20 miles (32 km) south of Atlanta. It has annually hosted NASCAR Winston Cup Series stock car races since its inauguration in 1960.

The venue was bought by Speedway Motorsports in 1990. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track. In 1997, to standardize the track with Speedway Motorsports' other two intermediate ovals, the entire track was almost completely rebuilt. The frontstretch and backstretch were swapped, and the configuration of the track was changed from oval to quad-oval, with a new official length of 1.54-mile (2.48 km) where before it was 1.522-mile (2.449 km). The project made the track one of the fastest on the NASCAR circuit.

### 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 |
| 05 | Morgan Shepherd | Shepherd Racing Ventures | Pontiac | Good Stuff America |
| 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | Valvoline |
| 7 | Geoff Bodine | Mattei Motorsports | Ford | Philips |
| 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Chevrolet | Circuit City |
| 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | Cartoon Network, The Huckleberry Hound Show |
| 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 | Jerry Nadeau (R) | Elliott-Marino Racing | Ford | FirstPlus Financial Group |
| 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | PrimeStar |
| 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | Speedblock |
| 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 |
| 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | 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 |
| 29 | Jeff Green | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | Team Monte Carlo, Tasmanian Devil |
| 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 | Todd Bodine | ISM Racing | Pontiac | Tabasco Green Sauce |
| 36 | Ernie Irvan | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | Skittles |
| 40 | Sterling Marlin | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | Coors Light |
| 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 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | First Union |
| 50 | Ricky Craven | 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 |
| 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 | Kevin Lepage (R) | LJ Racing | Chevrolet | First Union |
| 94 | Bill Elliott | Elliott-Marino Racing | Ford | McDonald's |
| 95 | Andy Hillenburg | Sadler Brothers Racing | Chevrolet | Sadler Brothers Racing |
| 96 | David Green | American Equipment Racing | Chevrolet | Caterpillar |
| 97 | Chad Little | Roush Racing | Ford | John Deere |
| 98 | Greg Sacks | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | Thorn Apple Valley |
| 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | Exide Batteries |

*Was replaced by Phil Parsons after injuring himself in first practice.

## Practice

Originally, two practice sessions were scheduled to be held, with one on Friday, March 6, and one on Saturday, March 7, However, due to rain on Saturday, the Saturday practice session was cancelled.

The only practice practice session was held on Friday, March 6. Robert Pressley, driving for Jasper Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.359 and an average speed of 188.834 mph (303.899 km/h).

During the session, Dale Earnhardt, Inc. rookie driver Steve Park would blow a tire heading into turn 4, causing him to slam the outside wall. The car, which had lost brakes by this point, would then proceed to ricochet again into front stretch outside wall two times. After proceeding the second front stretch hit, the car would proceed to head onto pit road, where Park slammed the pit road wall, with the car eventually stopping. Park would suffer fractures of the right thighbone, the left shoulder blade and collarbone and two broken front teeth. In replacement, Phil Parsons would attempt to qualify the car. Park was out for five months before eventually returning in the 1998 Brickyard 400.

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 28.882 | 191.953 |
| 2 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 28.913 | 191.748 |
| 3 | 42 | Joe Nemechek | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 28.914 | 191.741 |
| Full practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Qualifying was originally meant to be split into two rounds, with the first round ran on Friday, March 6, and the second round on Saturday, March 7. However, due to rain, second-round qualifying was instead condensed into one round ran on Friday.

Qualifying was held on Friday, March 6, at 12:00 PM EST. Each driver would have one lap to set at time. On January 24, 1998, NASCAR would announce that the amount of provisionals given would be increased from last season. 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.

John Andretti, driving for Petty Enterprises, would win the pole, setting a time of 28.732 and an average speed of 192.956 miles per hour (310.533 km/h).

Seven drivers would fail to qualify: Chad Little, Sterling Marlin, Morgan Shepherd, Andy Hillenburg, Dave Marcis, Phil Parsons, and Jeff Green.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 28.732 | 192.956 |
| 2 | 35 | Todd Bodine | ISM Racing | Pontiac | 28.749 | 192.841 |
| 3 | 90 | Dick Trickle | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 28.766 | 192.728 |
| 4 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 28.835 | 192.266 |
| 5 | 28 | Kenny Irwin Jr. (R) | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 28.842 | 192.220 |
| 6 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 28.844 | 192.206 |
| 7 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 28.874 | 192.007 |
| 8 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 28.890 | 191.900 |
| 9 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 28.903 | 191.814 |
| 10 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 28.912 | 191.754 |
| 11 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 28.918 | 191.715 |
| 12 | 46 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 28.929 | 191.642 |
| 13 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | 28.949 | 191.509 |
| 14 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 28.954 | 191.476 |
| 15 | 26 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Roush Racing | Ford | 28.980 | 191.304 |
| 16 | 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 28.987 | 191.258 |
| 17 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 28.990 | 191.238 |
| 18 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Mattei Motorsports | Ford | 29.011 | 191.100 |
| 19 | 30 | Derrike Cope | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 29.067 | 190.732 |
| 20 | 78 | Gary Bradberry | Triad Motorsports | Ford | 29.079 | 190.653 |
| 21 | 42 | Joe Nemechek | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 29.080 | 190.646 |
| 22 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 29.083 | 190.627 |
| 23 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 29.090 | 190.581 |
| 24 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | 29.121 | 190.378 |
| 25 | 75 | Rick Mast | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 29.132 | 190.306 |
| 26 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 29.146 | 190.215 |
| 27 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 29.203 | 189.844 |
| 28 | 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Chevrolet | 29.226 | 189.694 |
| 29 | 98 | Greg Sacks | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 29.227 | 189.688 |
| 30 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 29.243 | 189.584 |
| 31 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Elliott-Marino Racing | Ford | 29.252 | 189.526 |
| 32 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 29.254 | 189.513 |
| 33 | 96 | David Green | American Equipment Racing | Chevrolet | 29.258 | 189.487 |
| 34 | 91 | Kevin Lepage (R) | LJ Racing | Chevrolet | 29.272 | 189.396 |
| 35 | 13 | Jerry Nadeau (R) | Elliott-Marino Racing | Ford | 29.273 | 189.390 |
| 36 | 50 | Ricky Craven | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.327 | 189.041 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 37 | 33 | Ken Schrader | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 29.344 | 188.931 |
| 38 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 29.571 | 187.481 |
| 39 | 44 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 29.576 | 187.449 |
| 40 | 41 | Steve Grissom | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.470 | 188.124 |
| 41 | 4 | Bobby Hamilton | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.155 | 183.850 |
| 42 | 36 | Ernie Irvan | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 29.367 | 188.783 |
| Champion's Provisional |||||||
| 43 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.690 | 186.727 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 44 | 97 | Chad Little | Roush Racing | Ford | 29.347 | 188.912 |
| 45 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 29.371 | 188.758 |
| 46 | 05 | Morgan Shepherd | Shepherd Racing Ventures | Pontiac | 29.403 | 188.552 |
| 47 | 95 | Andy Hillenburg | Sadler Brothers Racing | Chevrolet | 29.593 | 187.342 |
| 48 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 29.812 | 185.965 |
| 49 | 1 | Phil Parsons | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 30.080 | 184.309 |
| 50 | 29 | Jeff Green | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | 33.990 | 163.107 |
| Official qualifying results |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 14 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 325 | 47 | running | 180 | $106,800 |
| 2 | 4 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 325 | 29 | running | 175 | $72,600 |
| 3 | 26 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 325 | 11 | running | 170 | $54,400 |
| 4 | 22 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 325 | 0 | running | 160 | $50,250 |
| 5 | 5 | 28 | Kenny Irwin Jr. (R) | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 325 | 113 | running | 165 | $58,150 |
| 6 | 3 | 90 | Dick Trickle | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 325 | 2 | running | 155 | $45,750 |
| 7 | 24 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | 325 | 17 | running | 151 | $34,100 |
| 8 | 10 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 325 | 0 | running | 142 | $44,025 |
| 9 | 15 | 26 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Roush Racing | Ford | 324 | 1 | running | 143 | $26,475 |
| 10 | 2 | 35 | Todd Bodine | ISM Racing | Pontiac | 324 | 46 | running | 139 | $33,575 |
| 11 | 31 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Elliott-Marino Racing | Ford | 324 | 0 | running | 130 | $40,545 |
| 12 | 8 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 324 | 16 | running | 132 | $46,925 |
| 13 | 30 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 324 | 2 | running | 129 | $39,055 |
| 14 | 34 | 91 | Kevin Lepage (R) | LJ Racing | Chevrolet | 323 | 0 | running | 121 | $24,685 |
| 15 | 42 | 36 | Ernie Irvan | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 323 | 0 | running | 118 | $37,655 |
| 16 | 40 | 41 | Steve Grissom | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 323 | 0 | running | 115 | $35,495 |
| 17 | 37 | 33 | Ken Schrader | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 323 | 0 | running | 112 | $35,135 |
| 18 | 32 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 323 | 0 | running | 109 | $33,665 |
| 19 | 9 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 323 | 0 | running | 106 | $44,865 |
| 20 | 1 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 323 | 33 | running | 108 | $42,835 |
| 21 | 41 | 4 | Bobby Hamilton | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 323 | 0 | running | 100 | $34,325 |
| 22 | 18 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Mattei Motorsports | Ford | 323 | 2 | running | 102 | $29,465 |
| 23 | 23 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 322 | 0 | running | 94 | $38,555 |
| 24 | 17 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 322 | 0 | running | 91 | $32,720 |
| 25 | 6 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 321 | 2 | running | 93 | $39,115 |
| 26 | 27 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 321 | 0 | running | 85 | $32,760 |
| 27 | 7 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 321 | 0 | running | 82 | $21,750 |
| 28 | 13 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | 321 | 0 | running | 79 | $25,675 |
| 29 | 38 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 320 | 0 | running | 76 | $32,135 |
| 30 | 33 | 96 | David Green | American Equipment Racing | Chevrolet | 319 | 0 | running | 73 | $24,675 |
| 31 | 29 | 98 | Greg Sacks | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 319 | 0 | running | 70 | $31,515 |
| 32 | 35 | 13 | Jerry Nadeau (R) | Elliott-Marino Racing | Ford | 318 | 0 | running | 67 | $21,255 |
| 33 | 25 | 75 | Rick Mast | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 314 | 0 | running | 64 | $24,260 |
| 34 | 36 | 50 | Ricky Craven | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 308 | 0 | running | 61 | $31,125 |
| 35 | 21 | 42 | Joe Nemechek | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 305 | 0 | running | 58 | $31,090 |
| 36 | 39 | 44 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 267 | 0 | engine | 55 | $30,565 |
| 37 | 28 | 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Chevrolet | 255 | 0 | running | 52 | $21,050 |
| 38 | 19 | 30 | Derrike Cope | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 203 | 4 | crash | 54 | $28,400 |
| 39 | 12 | 46 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 177 | 0 | engine | 46 | $20,995 |
| 40 | 43 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 136 | 0 | handling | 43 | $27,985 |
| 41 | 11 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 83 | 0 | engine | 40 | $27,975 |
| 42 | 16 | 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 17 | 0 | crash | 37 | $20,965 |
| 43 | 20 | 78 | Gary Bradberry | Triad Motorsports | Ford | 12 | 0 | ignition | 34 | $20,955 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 44 | | 97 | Chad Little | Roush Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 45 | | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 46 | | 05 | Morgan Shepherd | Shepherd Racing Ventures | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 47 | | 95 | Andy Hillenburg | Sadler Brothers Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 48 | | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 49 | | 1 | Phil Parsons | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 50 | | 29 | Jeff Green | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||
