1999 Pontiac Excitement 400
# 1999 Pontiac Excitement 400

The 1999 Pontiac Excitement 400 was the 11th stock car race of the 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 45th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, May 15, 1999, 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. At race's end, Robert Yates Racing driver Dale Jarrett would manage to make a pass for the lead with 32 to go and hold onto the lead to win his 19th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his first victory of the season. To fill out the podium, Roush Racing driver Mark Martin and Joe Gibbs Racing driver Bobby Labonte would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

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

* (R) denotes rookie driver.

| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 00 | Buckshot Jones (R) | Buckshot Racing | Pontiac | Crown Fiber |
| 1 | Steve Park | 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 | Michael Waltrip | Mattei Motorsports | Chevrolet | Philips, Klaussner Furniture |
| 9 | Jerry Nadeau | Melling Racing | Ford | Cartoon Network, Dexter's Laboratory |
| 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 |
| 16 | Kevin Lepage | Roush Racing | Ford | TV Guide |
| 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | Interstate Batteries |
| 20 | Tony Stewart (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | The Home Depot |
| 21 | Elliott Sadler (R) | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Citgo |
| 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | Caterpillar |
| 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | Winston No Bull |
| 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | DuPont |
| 25 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Budweiser |
| 26 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Roush Racing | Ford | Cheerios, Betty Crocker |
| 28 | Kenny Irwin Jr. | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Texaco, Havoline |
| 30 | Derrike Cope | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | Jimmy Dean |
| 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Lowe's |
| 33 | Ken Schrader | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | Skoal |
| 36 | Ernie Irvan | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | M&M's |
| 40 | Sterling Marlin | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | Coors Light |
| 41 | David Green | 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 |
| 45 | Rich Bickle | Tyler Jet Motorsports | Pontiac | 10-10-345 |
| 55 | Kenny Wallace | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | Square D |
| 58 | Ricky Craven | SBIII Motorsports | Ford | Hollywood Video |
| 60 | Geoff Bodine | Joe Bessey Racing | Chevrolet | Power Team |
| 66 | Darrell Waltrip | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | Big Kmart |
| 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Team Realtree |
| 75 | Ted Musgrave | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | Remington Arms |
| 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | Jasper Engines & Transmissions |
| 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Quality Care Service, Ford Credit |
| 90 | Hut Stricklin | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Hills Bros. Coffee |
| 91 | Dick Trickle | LJ Racing | Chevrolet | LJ Racing |
| 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | McDonald's |
| 97 | Chad Little | Roush Racing | Ford | John Deere |
| 98 | Rick Mast | Burdette Motorsports | Ford | Hobas Pipe |
| 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | Exide Batteries |
| Official entry list |||||

## Practice

### First practice

The first practice session was held on Friday, May 14, at 11:00 AM EST. The session would last for one hour and 15 minutes. Rusty Wallace, driving for Penske-Kranefuss Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 21.379 and an average speed of 126.292 mph (203.247 km/h).

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 21.379 | 126.292 |
| 2 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 21.431 | 125.985 |
| 3 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 21.486 | 125.663 |
| Full first practice results |||||||

### Second practice

The second practice session was held on Friday, May 14, at 2:30 PM EST. The session would last for two hours. Bobby Labonte, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 21.305 and an average speed of 126.731 mph (203.954 km/h).

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 21.305 | 126.731 |
| 2 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 21.329 | 126.588 |
| 3 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 21.402 | 126.156 |
| Full second practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Saturday, May 15, at 1:00 PM EST. Each driver would have two laps to set a fastest time; the fastest of the two would count as their official qualifying lap. Positions 1-36 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.

Jeff Gordon, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would win the pole, setting a time of 21.344 and an average speed of 126.499 miles per hour (203.580 km/h).

Three drivers would fail to qualify: Dave Marcis, Buckshot Jones, and Hut Stricklin.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 21.344 | 126.499 |
| 2 | 55 | Kenny Wallace | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 21.348 | 126.476 |
| 3 | 28 | Kenny Irwin Jr. | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 21.404 | 126.145 |
| 4 | 44 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 21.428 | 126.003 |
| 5 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 21.434 | 125.968 |
| 6 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 21.455 | 125.845 |
| 7 | 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 21.458 | 125.827 |
| 8 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 21.474 | 125.733 |
| 9 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 21.498 | 124.593 |
| 10 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 21.511 | 125.517 |
| 11 | 98 | Rick Mast | Burdette Motorsports | Ford | 21.540 | 125.348 |
| 12 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 21.562 | 125.220 |
| 13 | 33 | Ken Schrader | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 21.570 | 125.174 |
| 14 | 97 | Chad Little | Roush Racing | Ford | 21.582 | 125.104 |
| 15 | 4 | Bobby Hamilton | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 21.594 | 125.035 |
| 16 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 21.595 | 125.029 |
| 17 | 1 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 21.604 | 124.977 |
| 18 | 21 | Elliott Sadler (R) | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 21.623 | 124.867 |
| 19 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 21.626 | 124.850 |
| 20 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 21.634 | 124.804 |
| 21 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 21.643 | 124.752 |
| 22 | 58 | Ricky Craven | SBIII Motorsports | Ford | 21.643 | 124.752 |
| 23 | 42 | Joe Nemechek | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 21.644 | 124.746 |
| 24 | 66 | Darrell Waltrip | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 21.647 | 124.729 |
| 25 | 36 | Ernie Irvan | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 21.648 | 124.723 |
| 26 | 26 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Roush Racing | Ford | 21.649 | 124.717 |
| 27 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 21.678 | 124.550 |
| 28 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 21.685 | 124.510 |
| 29 | 60 | Geoff Bodine | Joe Bessey Racing | Chevrolet | 21.685 | 124.510 |
| 30 | 20 | Tony Stewart (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 21.686 | 124.504 |
| 31 | 91 | Dick Trickle | LJ Racing | Chevrolet | 21.687 | 124.499 |
| 32 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 21.701 | 124.418 |
| 33 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 21.706 | 124.390 |
| 34 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 21.706 | 124.390 |
| 35 | 9 | Jerry Nadeau | Melling Racing | Ford | 21.727 | 124.269 |
| 36 | 30 | Derrike Cope | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 21.727 | 124.269 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 37 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 38 | 7 | Michael Waltrip | Mattei Motorsports | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 39 | 25 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 40 | 16 | Kevin Lepage | Roush Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 41 | 75 | Ted Musgrave | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| 42 | 45 | Rich Bickle | Tyler Jet Motorsports | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| 43 | 41 | David Green | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 44 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 21.808 | 123.808 |
| 45 | 00 | Buckshot Jones (R) | Buckshot Racing | Pontiac | 21.921 | 123.170 |
| 46 | 90 | Hut Stricklin | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 22.038 | 122.516 |
| Official qualifying results |||||||

*Time not available.

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 21 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 400 | 32 | running | 180 | $169,715 |
| 2 | 12 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 400 | 74 | running | 175 | $89,700 |
| 3 | 8 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 400 | 71 | running | 170 | $69,775 |
| 4 | 15 | 4 | Bobby Hamilton | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 400 | 0 | running | 160 | $64,875 |
| 5 | 6 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 400 | 0 | running | 155 | $49,450 |
| 6 | 23 | 42 | Joe Nemechek | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 400 | 0 | running | 150 | $49,250 |
| 7 | 4 | 44 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 400 | 0 | running | 146 | $39,625 |
| 8 | 37 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 400 | 0 | running | 142 | $48,540 |
| 9 | 20 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 400 | 9 | running | 143 | $41,175 |
| 10 | 42 | 45 | Rich Bickle | Tyler Jet Motorsports | Pontiac | 400 | 0 | running | 134 | $35,965 |
| 11 | 41 | 75 | Ted Musgrave | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 400 | 0 | running | 130 | $34,475 |
| 12 | 19 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 400 | 0 | running | 127 | $36,750 |
| 13 | 40 | 16 | Kevin Lepage | Roush Racing | Ford | 399 | 0 | running | 124 | $36,975 |
| 14 | 13 | 33 | Ken Schrader | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 399 | 0 | running | 121 | $36,175 |
| 15 | 30 | 20 | Tony Stewart (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 399 | 0 | running | 118 | $27,225 |
| 16 | 11 | 98 | Rick Mast | Burdette Motorsports | Ford | 399 | 0 | running | 115 | $28,800 |
| 17 | 29 | 60 | Geoff Bodine | Joe Bessey Racing | Chevrolet | 399 | 0 | running | 112 | $23,900 |
| 18 | 16 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 399 | 0 | running | 109 | $34,550 |
| 19 | 22 | 58 | Ricky Craven | SBIII Motorsports | Ford | 399 | 0 | running | 106 | $23,625 |
| 20 | 39 | 25 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 399 | 0 | running | 103 | $36,740 |
| 21 | 35 | 9 | Jerry Nadeau | Melling Racing | Ford | 399 | 0 | running | 100 | $28,250 |
| 22 | 38 | 7 | Michael Waltrip | Mattei Motorsports | Chevrolet | 398 | 0 | running | 97 | $33,725 |
| 23 | 18 | 21 | Elliott Sadler (R) | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 398 | 0 | running | 94 | $34,250 |
| 24 | 28 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 397 | 0 | running | 91 | $37,900 |
| 25 | 24 | 66 | Darrell Waltrip | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 395 | 1 | running | 93 | $22,750 |
| 26 | 32 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 395 | 0 | running | 85 | $37,625 |
| 27 | 27 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 392 | 0 | running | 82 | $26,100 |
| 28 | 26 | 26 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Roush Racing | Ford | 390 | 0 | running | 79 | $32,975 |
| 29 | 33 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 390 | 0 | running | 76 | 32,350 |
| 30 | 7 | 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 388 | 67 | running | 78 | $35,950 |
| 31 | 1 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 388 | 18 | running | 75 | $54,275 |
| 32 | 31 | 91 | Dick Trickle | LJ Racing | Chevrolet | 387 | 0 | running | 67 | $25,025 |
| 33 | 25 | 36 | Ernie Irvan | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 363 | 0 | running | 64 | $31,475 |
| 34 | 17 | 1 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 359 | 0 | running | 61 | $28,925 |
| 35 | 14 | 97 | Chad Little | Roush Racing | Ford | 352 | 0 | running | 58 | $28,875 |
| 36 | 9 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 345 | 0 | running | 55 | $28,825 |
| 37 | 10 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 324 | 104 | running | 62 | $40,175 |
| 38 | 34 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 322 | 0 | running | 49 | $28,825 |
| 39 | 5 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 242 | 24 | handling | 51 | $36,675 |
| 40 | 3 | 28 | Kenny Irwin Jr. | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 197 | 0 | engine | 43 | $28,625 |
| 41 | 2 | 55 | Kenny Wallace | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 182 | 0 | engine | 40 | $22,075 |
| 42 | 36 | 30 | Derrike Cope | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 115 | 0 | crash | 37 | $21,530 |
| 43 | 43 | 41 | David Green | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 105 | 0 | engine | 34 | $21,700 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 44 | | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 45 | | 00 | Buckshot Jones (R) | Buckshot Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 46 | | 90 | Hut Stricklin | Donlavey Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||
