1998 Pepsi 400 presented by DeVilbiss
# 1998 Pepsi 400 presented by DeVilbiss

The 1998 Pepsi 400 presented by DeVilbiss was the 21st stock car race of the 1998 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 29th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, August 16, 1998, in Brooklyn, Michigan, at Michigan International Speedway, a two-mile (3.2 km) moderate-banked D-shaped speedway. The race took the scheduled 200 laps to complete. Within the closing laps of the race, Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon was able to take the lead with ten to go to take his 37th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory, his eighth of the season, and his fourth consecutive victory up to that point. To fill out the podium, Joe Gibbs Racing driver Bobby Labonte and Robert Yates Racing driver Dale Jarrett would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

The race was held at Michigan International Speedway, a two-mile (3.2 km) moderate-banked D-shaped speedway located in Brooklyn, Michigan. The track is used primarily for NASCAR events. It is known as a "sister track" to Texas World Speedway as MIS's oval design was a direct basis of TWS, with moderate modifications to the banking in the corners, and was used as the basis of Auto Club Speedway. The track is owned by International Speedway Corporation. Michigan International Speedway is recognized as one of motorsports' premier facilities because of its wide racing surface and high banking (by open-wheel standards; the 18-degree banking is modest by stock car standards).

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.

| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 00 | Buckshot Jones | Stavola Brothers Racing | Chevrolet | Team Realtree Camouflage |
| 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 Blasted Froot Loops |
| 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 | Dennis Setzer | Elliott-Marino Racing | Ford | FirstPlus Financial Group |
| 15 | Ted Musgrave | Moore-Robinson Motorsports | Ford | Rescue Engine Formula |
| 16 | Kevin Lepage (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | PrimeStar |
| 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | Interstate Batteries |
| 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Citgo, Woody Woodpecker |
| 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | MBNA, Detroit Red Wings |
| 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 | Darrell Waltrip | Tyler Jet Motorsports | 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 | 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 |
| 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 Happy Meal |
| 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 "Go Grill Crazy!" |
| 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | Exide Batteries |

*Driver changed to Frank Kimmel after suffering a concussion at the 1998 Brickyard 400.

## Practice

### First practice

The first practice session was held on Friday, August 14. Ernie Irvan, driving for MB2 Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 39.132 and an average speed of 183.993 mph (296.108 km/h).

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 36 | Ernie Irvan | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 39.132 | 183.993 |
| 2 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 39.190 | 183.720 |
| 3 | 33 | Ken Schrader | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 39.223 | 183.566 |
| Full first practice results |||||||

### Final practice

The final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, August 15. Mark Martin, driving for Roush Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 40.159 and an average speed of 179.287 mph (288.534 km/h).

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 40.159 | 179.287 |
| 2 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 40.472 | 177.901 |
| 3 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 40.507 | 177.747 |
| Full Happy Hour practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, August 14, 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, August 15, at 10:45 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.

Ernie Irvan, driving for MB2 Motorsports, would win the pole, setting a time of 39.255 and an average speed of 183.416 miles per hour (295.179 km/h).

Four drivers would fail to qualify: Dave Marcis, Kenny Wallace, Gary Bradberry, and Hut Stricklin.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 36 | Ernie Irvan | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 39.255 | 183.416 |
| 2 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 39.264 | 183.374 |
| 3 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 39.271 | 183.341 |
| 4 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 39.316 | 183.132 |
| 5 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 39.389 | 182.792 |
| 6 | 42 | Joe Nemechek | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 39.408 | 182.704 |
| 7 | 50 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 39.433 | 182.588 |
| 8 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 39.440 | 182.556 |
| 9 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 39.469 | 182.422 |
| 10 | 33 | Ken Schrader | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 39.478 | 182.380 |
| 11 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 39.499 | 182.283 |
| 12 | 98 | Rich Bickle | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 39.606 | 181.791 |
| 13 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 39.631 | 181.676 |
| 14 | 30 | Derrike Cope | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 39.632 | 181.671 |
| 15 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 39.650 | 181.589 |
| 16 | 91 | Morgan Shepherd | LJ Racing | Chevrolet | 39.652 | 181.580 |
| 17 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Elliott-Marino Racing | Ford | 39.682 | 181.442 |
| 18 | 28 | Kenny Irwin Jr. (R) | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 39.686 | 181.424 |
| 19 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 39.699 | 181.365 |
| 20 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 39.705 | 181.337 |
| 21 | 1 | Steve Park (R) | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 39.735 | 181.200 |
| 22 | 9 | Jerry Nadeau (R) | Melling Racing | Ford | 39.750 | 181.132 |
| 23 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Mattei Motorsports | Ford | 39.780 | 180.995 |
| 24 | 4 | Bobby Hamilton | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 39.791 | 180.945 |
| 25 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 39.796 | 180.923 |
| 26 | 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 39.797 | 180.918 |
| 27 | 44 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 39.820 | 180.814 |
| 28 | 13 | Dennis Setzer | Elliott-Marino Racing | Ford | 39.887 | 180.510 |
| 29 | 90 | Dick Trickle | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 39.892 | 180.487 |
| 30 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 39.904 | 180.433 |
| 31 | 75 | Rick Mast | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 39.907 | 180.419 |
| 32 | 15 | Ted Musgrave | Moore-Robinson Motorsports | Ford | 39.951 | 180.221 |
| 33 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 39.960 | 180.180 |
| 34 | 00 | Buckshot Jones | Stavola Brothers Racing | Chevrolet | 40.001 | 179.996 |
| 35 | 46 | Jeff Green | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 40.026 | 179.883 |
| 36 | 23 | Frank Kimmel | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 40.058 | 179.739 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 37 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 38 | 26 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Roush Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 39 | 16 | Kevin Lepage (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 40 | 97 | Chad Little | Roush Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 41 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 42 | 41 | Steve Grissom | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| Champion's Provisional |||||||
| 43 | 35 | Darrell Waltrip | Tyler Jet Motorsports | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 44 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 40.067 | 179.699 |
| 45 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | 40.138 | 179.381 |
| 46 | 78 | Gary Bradberry | Triad Motorsports | Ford | 40.257 | 178.851 |
| 47 | 96 | Hut Stricklin | American Equipment Racing | Chevrolet | 40.421 | 178.125 |
| Official qualifying results |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 3 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 9 | running | 180 | $120,302 |
| 2 | 2 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 200 | 5 | running | 175 | $73,555 |
| 3 | 4 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 200 | 6 | running | 170 | $61,805 |
| 4 | 5 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 200 | 57 | running | 165 | $53,525 |
| 5 | 25 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 155 | $48,390 |
| 6 | 1 | 36 | Ernie Irvan | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 200 | 115 | running | 160 | $64,840 |
| 7 | 8 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 146 | $37,515 |
| 8 | 7 | 50 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 142 | $39,065 |
| 9 | 15 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 200 | 0 | running | 138 | $42,815 |
| 10 | 40 | 97 | Chad Little | Roush Racing | Ford | 199 | 2 | running | 139 | $38,565 |
| 11 | 21 | 1 | Steve Park (R) | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | running | 130 | $28,090 |
| 12 | 6 | 42 | Joe Nemechek | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | running | 127 | $33,140 |
| 13 | 19 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 199 | 0 | running | 124 | $39,490 |
| 14 | 10 | 33 | Ken Schrader | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | running | 121 | $33,690 |
| 15 | 20 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | running | 118 | $25,740 |
| 16 | 18 | 28 | Kenny Irwin Jr. (R) | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 198 | 0 | running | 115 | $38,190 |
| 17 | 39 | 16 | Kevin Lepage (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | 198 | 0 | running | 112 | $31,140 |
| 18 | 37 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 198 | 3 | running | 114 | $34,840 |
| 19 | 26 | 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 198 | 0 | running | 106 | $23,340 |
| 20 | 24 | 4 | Bobby Hamilton | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 198 | 0 | running | 103 | $36,590 |
| 21 | 23 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Mattei Motorsports | Ford | 198 | 0 | running | 100 | $30,390 |
| 22 | 30 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 198 | 0 | running | 97 | $29,590 |
| 23 | 11 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 198 | 0 | running | 94 | $33,965 |
| 24 | 33 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 198 | 0 | running | 91 | $23,265 |
| 25 | 43 | 35 | Darrell Waltrip | Tyler Jet Motorsports | Pontiac | 198 | 2 | running | 93 | $18,715 |
| 26 | 31 | 75 | Rick Mast | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 198 | 0 | running | 85 | $22,315 |
| 27 | 34 | 00 | Buckshot Jones | Stavola Brothers Racing | Chevrolet | 197 | 0 | running | 82 | $18,440 |
| 28 | 12 | 98 | Rich Bickle | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 197 | 0 | running | 79 | $25,390 |
| 29 | 27 | 44 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 197 | 0 | running | 76 | $28,490 |
| 30 | 22 | 9 | Jerry Nadeau (R) | Melling Racing | Ford | 197 | 0 | running | 73 | $21,340 |
| 31 | 36 | 23 | Frank Kimmel | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 197 | 0 | running | 70 | $28,065 |
| 32 | 41 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 197 | 0 | running | 67 | $28,015 |
| 33 | 42 | 41 | Steve Grissom | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 197 | 0 | running | 64 | $27,465 |
| 34 | 38 | 26 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Roush Racing | Ford | 194 | 0 | running | 61 | $24,915 |
| 35 | 28 | 13 | Dennis Setzer | Elliott-Marino Racing | Ford | 194 | 0 | running | 58 | $18,365 |
| 36 | 13 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 187 | 1 | engine | 60 | $33,840 |
| 37 | 9 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 177 | 0 | engine | 52 | $24,815 |
| 38 | 29 | 90 | Dick Trickle | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 160 | 0 | engine | 49 | $24,740 |
| 39 | 32 | 15 | Ted Musgrave | Moore-Robinson Motorsports | Ford | 136 | 0 | engine | 46 | $17,740 |
| 40 | 17 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Elliott-Marino Racing | Ford | 132 | 0 | engine | 43 | $24,740 |
| 41 | 35 | 46 | Jeff Green | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 17 | 0 | accident | 40 | $17,740 |
| 42 | 16 | 91 | Morgan Shepherd | LJ Racing | Chevrolet | 15 | 0 | accident | 37 | $20,240 |
| 43 | 14 | 30 | Derrike Cope | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 7 | 0 | accident | 34 | $24,740 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 44 | | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 45 | | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 46 | | 78 | Gary Bradberry | Triad Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| 47 | | 96 | Hut Stricklin | American Equipment Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||
