1998 Pennsylvania 500
# 1998 Pennsylvania 500

The 1998 Pennsylvania 500 was the 18th stock car race of the 1998 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 26th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, July 26, 1998, in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, at Pocono Raceway, a 2.5 miles (4.0 km) triangular permanent course. The race took the scheduled 200 laps to complete. At race's end, Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon would dominate the majority of the race to take his 34th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his fifth victory of the season. To fill out the podium, Mark Martin and Jeff Burton, both drivers for Roush Racing, would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

The race was held at Pocono Raceway, which is a three-turn superspeedway located in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. The track hosts two annual NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, as well as one Xfinity Series and Camping World Truck Series event. Until 2019, the track also hosted an IndyCar Series race.

Pocono Raceway is one of a very few NASCAR tracks not owned by either Speedway Motorsports, Inc. or International Speedway Corporation. It is operated by the Igdalsky siblings Brandon, Nicholas, and sister Ashley, and cousins Joseph IV and Chase Mattioli, all of whom are third-generation members of the family-owned Mattco Inc, started by Joseph II and Rose Mattioli.

Outside of the NASCAR races, the track is used throughout the year by Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and motorcycle clubs as well as racing schools and an IndyCar race. The triangular oval also has three separate infield sections of racetrack – North Course, East Course and South Course. Each of these infield sections use a separate portion of the tri-oval to complete the track. During regular non-race weekends, multiple clubs can use the track by running on different infield sections. Also some of the infield sections can be run in either direction, or multiple infield sections can be put together – such as running the North Course and the South Course and using the tri-oval to connect the two.

### 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 |
| 9 | Jerry Nadeau (R) | 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 | Jerry Nadeau (R) | 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 |
| 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 | Jimmy Horton | ISM Racing | Pontiac | Tabasco |
| 36 | Ernie Irvan | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | Skittles |
| 40 | Sterling Marlin | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | Coors Non-Alcoholic |
| 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 | Jeff Green | 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 |
| 79 | Randy MacDonald | T.R.I.X. Racing | Chevrolet | Big Daddy's BBQ Sauce |
| 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 | Morgan Shepherd | LJ Racing | Chevrolet | LJ Racing |
| 94 | Bill Elliott | Elliott-Marino Racing | Ford | McDonald's |
| 96 | Hut Stricklin | 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 Friday, July 24, at 10:35 AM EST. The session would last for one hour and 25 minutes. Ward Burton, driving for Bill Davis Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 53.956 and an average speed of 166.809 mph (268.453 km/h).

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 53.956 | 166.809 |
| 2 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 54.049 | 166.516 |
| 3 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 54.172 | 166.137 |
| Full first practice results |||||||

### Second practice

The second practice session was held on Saturday, July 25, at 9:30 AM EST. The session would last for one hour and 30 minutes. Mark Martin, driving for Roush Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 53.637 and an average speed of 167.795 mph (270.040 km/h).

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 53.637 | 167.795 |
| 2 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 53.699 | 167.601 |
| 3 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 53.704 | 167.585 |
| Full second practice results |||||||

### Final practice

The final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, July 25, after the preliminary 1998 ARCA Pepsi 400k. The session would last for one hour. Jeff Gordon, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 54.285 and an average speed of 165.792 mph (266.816 km/h).

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 54.285 | 165.792 |
| 2 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 54.288 | 165.782 |
| 3 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 54.316 | 165.697 |
| Full Happy Hour practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, July 24, at 3:00 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 Saturday, July 25, 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.

Ward Burton, driving for Bill Davis Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 53.316 and an average speed of 168.805 miles per hour (271.665 km/h).

Three drivers would fail to qualify: Randy MacDonald, Gary Bradberry, and Jimmy Horton.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 53.316 | 168.805 |
| 2 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 53.492 | 168.249 |
| 3 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 53.592 | 167.936 |
| 4 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 53.623 | 167.838 |
| 5 | 42 | Joe Nemechek | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 53.640 | 167.785 |
| 6 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 53.668 | 167.698 |
| 7 | 91 | Morgan Shepherd | LJ Racing | Chevrolet | 53.706 | 167.579 |
| 8 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | 53.763 | 167.401 |
| 9 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 53.790 | 167.317 |
| 10 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 53.814 | 167.243 |
| 11 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 53.816 | 167.237 |
| 12 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 53.861 | 167.097 |
| 13 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 53.867 | 167.078 |
| 14 | 28 | Kenny Irwin Jr. (R) | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 53.930 | 166.883 |
| 15 | 46 | Jeff Green | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 53.932 | 166.877 |
| 16 | 36 | Ernie Irvan | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 53.942 | 166.846 |
| 17 | 33 | Ken Schrader | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 53.986 | 166.710 |
| 18 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 53.990 | 166.698 |
| 19 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 54.010 | 166.636 |
| 20 | 41 | Steve Grissom | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 54.038 | 166.549 |
| 21 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 54.047 | 166.522 |
| 22 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 54.053 | 166.503 |
| 23 | 97 | Chad Little | Roush Racing | Ford | 54.080 | 166.420 |
| 24 | 50 | Ricky Craven | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 54.084 | 166.408 |
| 25 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 54.111 | 166.325 |
| 26 | 90 | Dick Trickle | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 54.039 | 166.546 |
| 27 | 1 | Darrell Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 54.112 | 166.322 |
| 28 | 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 54.129 | 166.269 |
| 29 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 54.143 | 166.226 |
| 30 | 75 | Rick Mast | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 54.152 | 166.199 |
| 31 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 54.162 | 166.168 |
| 32 | 96 | Hut Stricklin | American Equipment Racing | Chevrolet | 54.173 | 166.134 |
| 33 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Elliott-Marino Racing | Ford | 54.208 | 166.027 |
| 34 | 9 | Jerry Nadeau (R) | Melling Racing | Ford | 54.229 | 165.963 |
| 35 | 44 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 54.286 | 165.789 |
| 36 | 26 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Roush Racing | Ford | 54.311 | 165.712 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 37 | 4 | Bobby Hamilton | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 38 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 39 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| 40 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Mattei Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| 41 | 30 | Derrike Cope | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| 42 | 13 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Elliott-Marino Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 43 | 98 | Rich Bickle | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 44 | 79 | Randy MacDonald | T.R.I.X. Racing | Chevrolet | 55.252 | 162.890 |
| 45 | 78 | Gary Bradberry | Triad Motorsports | Ford | 54.913 | 163.896 |
| 46 | 35 | Jimmy Horton | ISM Racing | Pontiac | 55.708 | 161.557 |
| Official qualifying results |||||||

*Time not available.

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 2 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 164 | running | 185 | $162,770 |
| 2 | 6 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 200 | 2 | running | 175 | $89,220 |
| 3 | 19 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 200 | 1 | running | 170 | $73,170 |
| 4 | 4 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 200 | 0 | running | 160 | $75,545 |
| 5 | 11 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 155 | $63,815 |
| 6 | 3 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 200 | 3 | running | 155 | $49,990 |
| 7 | 9 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 200 | 14 | running | 151 | $49,890 |
| 8 | 17 | 33 | Ken Schrader | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 142 | $52,290 |
| 9 | 16 | 36 | Ernie Irvan | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 200 | 0 | running | 138 | $42,390 |
| 10 | 10 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 200 | 1 | running | 139 | $47,440 |
| 11 | 31 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 130 | $33,890 |
| 12 | 18 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 200 | 0 | running | 127 | $44,740 |
| 13 | 27 | 1 | Darrell Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 124 | $30,890 |
| 14 | 40 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Mattei Motorsports | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 121 | $39,090 |
| 15 | 12 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 118 | $39,015 |
| 16 | 23 | 97 | Chad Little | Roush Racing | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 115 | $29,665 |
| 17 | 5 | 42 | Joe Nemechek | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 112 | $36,065 |
| 18 | 29 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 109 | $35,765 |
| 19 | 21 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 199 | 0 | running | 106 | $37,715 |
| 20 | 37 | 4 | Bobby Hamilton | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | running | 103 | $41,740 |
| 21 | 35 | 44 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 199 | 0 | running | 100 | $34,865 |
| 22 | 14 | 28 | Kenny Irwin Jr. (R) | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 199 | 0 | running | 97 | $41,165 |
| 23 | 41 | 30 | Derrike Cope | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 199 | 0 | running | 94 | $34,340 |
| 24 | 15 | 46 | Jeff Green | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 198 | 0 | running | 91 | $23,715 |
| 25 | 42 | 13 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Elliott-Marino Racing | Ford | 198 | 0 | running | 88 | $26,890 |
| 26 | 34 | 9 | Jerry Nadeau (R) | Melling Racing | Ford | 198 | 0 | running | 85 | $26,640 |
| 27 | 32 | 96 | Hut Stricklin | American Equipment Racing | Chevrolet | 198 | 0 | running | 82 | $26,890 |
| 28 | 43 | 98 | Rich Bickle | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 197 | 0 | running | 79 | $30,140 |
| 29 | 26 | 90 | Dick Trickle | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 196 | 0 | running | 76 | $33,465 |
| 30 | 28 | 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 195 | 0 | running | 73 | $25,815 |
| 31 | 22 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 192 | 0 | running | 70 | $38,685 |
| 32 | 39 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 180 | 0 | running | 67 | $25,015 |
| 33 | 36 | 26 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Roush Racing | Ford | 175 | 0 | running | 64 | $29,315 |
| 34 | 1 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 171 | 15 | crash | 66 | $36,815 |
| 35 | 8 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | 168 | 0 | valve | 58 | $21,490 |
| 36 | 33 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Elliott-Marino Racing | Ford | 166 | 0 | crash | 55 | $28,390 |
| 37 | 30 | 75 | Rick Mast | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 165 | 0 | running | 52 | $21,300 |
| 38 | 38 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 153 | 0 | running | 49 | $28,150 |
| 39 | 20 | 41 | Steve Grissom | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 151 | 0 | engine | 46 | $28,125 |
| 40 | 7 | 91 | Morgan Shepherd | LJ Racing | Chevrolet | 143 | 0 | rear end | 43 | $21,100 |
| 41 | 24 | 50 | Ricky Craven | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 142 | 0 | running | 40 | $28,075 |
| 42 | 13 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 136 | 0 | radiator | 37 | $37,450 |
| 43 | 25 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 110 | 0 | crash | 34 | $21,025 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 44 | | 79 | Randy MacDonald | T.R.I.X. Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 45 | | 78 | Gary Bradberry | Triad Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| 46 | | 35 | Jimmy Horton | ISM Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||
