1998 MBNA Platinum 400
# 1998 MBNA Platinum 400

The 1998 MBNA Platinum 400 was the 12th stock car race of the 1998 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 30th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, May 31, 1998, in Dover, Delaware at Dover International Speedway, a 1-mile (1.6 km) permanent oval-shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 400 laps to complete. Within the final laps of the race, Robert Yates Racing driver Dale Jarrett would manage to save enough fuel and overtake the dominant driver of the race, Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon to take his 17th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his second victory of the season. To fill out the podium, Roush Racing driver Jeff Burton and Jeff Gordon would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

Dover International Speedway is an oval race track in Dover, Delaware, United States that has held at least two NASCAR races since it opened in 1969. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosted USAC and the NTT IndyCar Series. The track features one layout, a 1-mile (1.6 km) concrete oval, with 24° banking in the turns and 9° banking on the straights. The speedway is owned and operated by Dover Motorsports.

The track, nicknamed "The Monster Mile", was built in 1969 by Melvin Joseph of Melvin L. Joseph Construction Company, Inc., with an asphalt surface, but was replaced with concrete in 1995. Six years later in 2001, the track's capacity moved to 135,000 seats, making the track have the largest capacity of sports venue in the mid-Atlantic. In 2002, the name changed to Dover International Speedway from Dover Downs International Speedway after Dover Downs Gaming and Entertainment split, making Dover Motorsports. From 2007 to 2009, the speedway worked on an improvement project called "The Monster Makeover", which expanded facilities at the track and beautified the track. After the 2014 season, the track's capacity was reduced to 95,500 seats.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.

| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Darrell Waltrip | 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 |
| 8 | Buckshot Jones | Stavola Brothers Racing | Chevrolet | Circuit City |
| 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | Cartoon Network "Happy Birthday NASCAR!" |
| 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 | Dennis Setzer | Elliott-Marino Racing | Ford | FirstPlus Financial Group |
| 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | PrimeStar |
| 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 Platinum |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 | Randy LaJoie | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Budweiser, Louie the Lizard |
| 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 | LJ Racing |
| 94 | Bill Elliott | Elliott-Marino Racing | Ford | McDonald's |
| 96 | David Green | American Equipment Racing | Chevrolet | Caterpillar |
| 97 | Chad Little | Roush Racing | Ford | John Deere |
| 98 | Rich Bickle | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | Thorn Apple Valley |
| 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | Exide Batteries |

## Practice

### First practice

The first practice session was held on the early afternoon of Friday, May 29. Rick Mast, driving for Butch Mock Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 23.281 and an average speed of 154.633 miles per hour (248.858 km/h).

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 75 | Rick Mast | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 23.281 | 154.633 |
| 2 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 23.291 | 154.566 |
| 3 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 23.421 | 153.708 |
| Full first practice results |||||||

### Second practice

The second practice session was held on the late afternoon of Friday, May 29. Mark Martin, driving for Roush Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 23.168 and an average speed of 155.387 miles per hour (250.071 km/h).

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 23.168 | 155.387 |
| 2 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 23.229 | 154.979 |
| 3 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.250 | 154.839 |
| Full second practice results |||||||

### Final practice

The final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on the afternoon of Saturday, May 30. Mark Martin, driving for Roush Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 23.919 and an average speed of 150.508 miles per hour (242.219 km/h).

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 23.919 | 150.508 |
| 2 | 90 | Dick Trickle | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 23.998 | 150.013 |
| 3 | 42 | Joe Nemechek | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 24.000 | 150.000 |
| Full Happy Hour practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, May 29, at 3:30 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 Saturday, May 30, at 11:30 AM 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.

Rusty Wallace, driving for Penske-Kranefuss Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 23.092 and an average speed of 155.898 miles per hour (250.894 km/h).

Three drivers would fail to qualify: Dennis Setzer, Morgan Shepherd, and Todd Bodine.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 23.092 | 155.898 |
| 2 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.220 | 155.039 |
| 3 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 23.224 | 155.012 |
| 4 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 23.270 | 154.706 |
| 5 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 23.281 | 154.633 |
| 6 | 42 | Joe Nemechek | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 23.301 | 154.500 |
| 7 | 75 | Rick Mast | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 23.304 | 154.480 |
| 8 | 36 | Ernie Irvan | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 23.405 | 153.813 |
| 9 | 28 | Kenny Irwin Jr. (R) | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 23.423 | 153.695 |
| 10 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 23.493 | 153.237 |
| 11 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | 23.508 | 153.139 |
| 12 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 23.512 | 153.113 |
| 13 | 90 | Dick Trickle | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 23.517 | 153.081 |
| 14 | 26 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Roush Racing | Ford | 23.526 | 153.022 |
| 15 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 23.545 | 152.899 |
| 16 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 23.550 | 152.866 |
| 17 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.556 | 152.827 |
| 18 | 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 23.564 | 152.775 |
| 19 | 8 | Buckshot Jones | Stavola Brothers Racing | Chevrolet | 23.578 | 152.685 |
| 20 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 23.581 | 152.665 |
| 21 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 23.599 | 152.549 |
| 22 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 23.599 | 152.549 |
| 23 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 23.599 | 152.549 |
| 24 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Elliott-Marino Racing | Ford | 23.603 | 152.523 |
| 25 | 33 | Ken Schrader | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 23.613 | 152.458 |
| 26 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Mattei Motorsports | Ford | 23.406 | 153.807 |
| 27 | 98 | Rich Bickle | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 23.567 | 152.756 |
| 28 | 44 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 23.614 | 152.452 |
| 29 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 23.624 | 152.387 |
| 30 | 96 | David Green | American Equipment Racing | Chevrolet | 23.629 | 152.355 |
| 31 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | 23.635 | 152.316 |
| 32 | 30 | Derrike Cope | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 23.642 | 152.271 |
| 33 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 23.651 | 152.213 |
| 34 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 23.670 | 152.091 |
| 35 | 78 | Gary Bradberry | Triad Motorsports | Ford | 23.670 | 152.091 |
| 36 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 23.676 | 152.053 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 37 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 38 | 4 | Bobby Hamilton | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 39 | 97 | Chad Little | Roush Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 40 | 50 | Randy LaJoie | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 41 | 41 | Steve Grissom | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 42 | 91 | Kevin Lepage (R) | LJ Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| Champion's Provisional |||||||
| 43 | 1 | Darrell Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 44 | 13 | Dennis Setzer | Elliott-Marino Racing | Ford | 23.740 | 151.643 |
| 45 | 46 | Morgan Shepherd | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 23.826 | 151.095 |
| 46 | 35 | Todd Bodine | ISM Racing | Pontiac | 23.936 | 150.401 |
| Official qualifying results |||||||

*Time not available.

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 4 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 400 | 8 | running | 180 | $89,950 |
| 2 | 37 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 400 | 9 | running | 175 | $62,250 |
| 3 | 2 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 400 | 375 | running | 175 | $79,350 |
| 4 | 36 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 400 | 0 | running | 160 | $55,500 |
| 5 | 12 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 399 | 0 | running | 155 | $42,325 |
| 6 | 5 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 399 | 1 | running | 155 | $49,275 |
| 7 | 3 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 399 | 3 | running | 151 | $40,780 |
| 8 | 19 | 8 | Buckshot Jones | Stavola Brothers Racing | Chevrolet | 399 | 0 | running | 142 | $26,580 |
| 9 | 8 | 36 | Ernie Irvan | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 398 | 0 | running | 138 | $35,130 |
| 10 | 17 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 398 | 0 | running | 134 | $43,430 |
| 11 | 7 | 75 | Rick Mast | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 398 | 0 | running | 130 | $28,455 |
| 12 | 16 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 398 | 0 | running | 127 | $36,255 |
| 13 | 24 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Elliott-Marino Racing | Ford | 398 | 0 | running | 124 | $31,165 |
| 14 | 21 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 397 | 0 | running | 121 | $31,655 |
| 15 | 25 | 33 | Ken Schrader | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 397 | 0 | running | 118 | $32,905 |
| 16 | 29 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 397 | 0 | running | 115 | $30,780 |
| 17 | 38 | 4 | Bobby Hamilton | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 397 | 0 | running | 112 | $33,795 |
| 18 | 1 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 397 | 3 | running | 114 | $39,680 |
| 19 | 20 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 396 | 0 | running | 106 | $22,655 |
| 20 | 43 | 1 | Darrell Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 396 | 0 | running | 103 | $23,955 |
| 21 | 13 | 90 | Dick Trickle | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 396 | 0 | running | 100 | $29,955 |
| 22 | 22 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 396 | 0 | running | 97 | $29,305 |
| 23 | 26 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Mattei Motorsports | Ford | 396 | 0 | running | 94 | $29,455 |
| 24 | 15 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 395 | 1 | running | 96 | $29,305 |
| 25 | 34 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 395 | 0 | running | 88 | $33,205 |
| 26 | 6 | 42 | Joe Nemechek | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 394 | 0 | running | 85 | $28,555 |
| 27 | 18 | 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 394 | 0 | running | 82 | $21,405 |
| 28 | 42 | 91 | Kevin Lepage (R) | LJ Racing | Chevrolet | 394 | 0 | running | 79 | $22,255 |
| 29 | 10 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 393 | 0 | running | 76 | $28,105 |
| 30 | 33 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 393 | 0 | running | 73 | $17,955 |
| 31 | 27 | 98 | Rich Bickle | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 392 | 0 | running | 70 | $24,905 |
| 32 | 41 | 41 | Steve Grissom | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 392 | 0 | running | 67 | $27,845 |
| 33 | 9 | 28 | Kenny Irwin Jr. (R) | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 391 | 0 | running | 64 | $32,795 |
| 34 | 35 | 78 | Gary Bradberry | Triad Motorsports | Ford | 391 | 0 | running | 61 | $17,745 |
| 35 | 32 | 30 | Derrike Cope | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 390 | 0 | running | 58 | $27,545 |
| 36 | 11 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | 390 | 0 | running | 55 | $20,030 |
| 37 | 39 | 97 | Chad Little | Roush Racing | Ford | 229 | 0 | handling | 52 | $17,520 |
| 38 | 30 | 96 | David Green | American Equipment Racing | Chevrolet | 187 | 0 | crash | 49 | $20,000 |
| 39 | 23 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 120 | 0 | handling | 46 | $17,500 |
| 40 | 31 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | 32 | 0 | crash | 43 | $17,500 |
| 41 | 14 | 26 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Roush Racing | Ford | 9 | 0 | crash | 40 | $24,500 |
| 42 | 28 | 44 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 9 | 0 | crash | 37 | $24,500 |
| 43 | 40 | 50 | Randy LaJoie | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 9 | 0 | crash | 34 | $24,500 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 44 | | 13 | Dennis Setzer | Elliott-Marino Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 45 | | 46 | Morgan Shepherd | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 46 | | 35 | Todd Bodine | ISM Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||
