1998 Food City 500
# 1998 Food City 500

The 1998 Food City 500 was the sixth stock car race of the 1998 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 38th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, March 29, 1998, in Bristol, Tennessee at Bristol Motor Speedway, a 0.533 miles (0.858 km) permanent oval-shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 500 laps to complete. With the help of a fast pit crew, Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon would manage to dominate the last 63 laps of the race to take his 31st career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his second victory of the season. To fill out the podium, Hendrick Motorsports driver Terry Labonte and Robert Yates Racing driver Dale Jarrett would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

The Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway, is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961. Despite its short length, Bristol is among the most popular tracks on the NASCAR schedule because of its distinct features, which include extraordinarily steep banking, an all concrete surface, two pit roads, and stadium-like seating. It has also been named one of the loudest NASCAR tracks.

### 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 | 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 | Morgan Shepherd | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | First Union |
| 50 | Randy LaJoie | 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 | 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 | Greg Sacks | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | Thorn Apple Valley |
| 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | Exide Batteries |

## Practice

The only practice session was held on Friday, March 27. Rick Mast, driving for Butch Mock Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 15.564 and an average speed of 123.285 mph (198.408 km/h).

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 75 | Rick Mast | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 15.564 | 123.285 |
| 2 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.567 | 123.261 |
| 3 | 36 | Ernie Irvan | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 15.588 | 123.095 |
| Full practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, March 27, at 2:00 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, March 28. 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 15.440 and an average speed of 124.275 miles per hour (200.001 km/h).

Four drivers would fail to qualify: Jeff Green, Joe Nemechek, Gary Bradberry, and Dave Marcis.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 15.440 | 124.275 |
| 2 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.504 | 123.762 |
| 3 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.532 | 123.539 |
| 4 | 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 15.535 | 123.515 |
| 5 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 15.537 | 123.499 |
| 6 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 15.550 | 123.395 |
| 7 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 15.559 | 123.324 |
| 8 | 26 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Roush Racing | Ford | 15.569 | 123.245 |
| 9 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 15.572 | 123.221 |
| 10 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 15.577 | 123.182 |
| 11 | 98 | Greg Sacks | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 15.580 | 123.158 |
| 12 | 46 | Morgan Shepherd | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 15.586 | 123.110 |
| 13 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | 15.593 | 123.055 |
| 14 | 33 | Ken Schrader | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 15.599 | 123.008 |
| 15 | 30 | Derrike Cope | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 15.599 | 123.008 |
| 16 | 35 | Todd Bodine | ISM Racing | Pontiac | 15.600 | 123.000 |
| 17 | 50 | Randy LaJoie | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.603 | 122.976 |
| 18 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Mattei Motorsports | Ford | 15.632 | 122.748 |
| 19 | 75 | Rick Mast | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 15.635 | 122.725 |
| 20 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 15.642 | 122.670 |
| 21 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 15.644 | 122.654 |
| 22 | 13 | Jerry Nadeau (R) | Elliott-Marino Racing | Ford | 15.653 | 122.584 |
| 23 | 91 | Kevin Lepage (R) | LJ Racing | Chevrolet | 15.653 | 122.584 |
| 24 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 15.655 | 122.568 |
| 25 | 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Chevrolet | 15.657 | 122.552 |
| 26 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 15.661 | 122.521 |
| 27 | 28 | Kenny Irwin Jr. (R) | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 15.671 | 122.443 |
| 28 | 36 | Ernie Irvan | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 15.672 | 122.435 |
| 29 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 15.675 | 122.411 |
| 30 | 96 | David Green | American Equipment Racing | Chevrolet | 15.675 | 122.411 |
| 31 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 15.678 | 122.388 |
| 32 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 15.694 | 122.263 |
| 33 | 44 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 15.700 | 122.217 |
| 34 | 97 | Chad Little | Roush Racing | Ford | 15.703 | 122.193 |
| 35 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 15.706 | 122.170 |
| 36 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | 15.711 | 122.131 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 37 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 38 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Elliott-Marino Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 39 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| 40 | 4 | Bobby Hamilton | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 41 | 90 | Dick Trickle | Donlavey Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 42 | 41 | Steve Grissom | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| Champion's Provisional |||||||
| 43 | 1 | Darrell Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 44 | 29 | Jeff Green | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.730 | 121.983 |
| 45 | 42 | Joe Nemechek | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 15.857 | 121.006 |
| 46 | 78 | Gary Bradberry | Triad Motorsports | Ford | 15.940 | 120.376 |
| 47 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 16.018 | 119.790 |
| 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 | 500 | 63 | running | 180 | $90,860 |
| 2 | 3 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 115 | running | 175 | $57,960 |
| 3 | 6 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 500 | 18 | running | 170 | $57,660 |
| 4 | 5 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 500 | 0 | running | 160 | $47,670 |
| 5 | 8 | 26 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Roush Racing | Ford | 500 | 0 | running | 155 | $38,770 |
| 6 | 14 | 33 | Ken Schrader | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 500 | 5 | running | 155 | $43,270 |
| 7 | 9 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 500 | 0 | running | 146 | $39,070 |
| 8 | 29 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 500 | 0 | running | 142 | $33,470 |
| 9 | 32 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 500 | 1 | running | 143 | $35,320 |
| 10 | 17 | 50 | Randy LaJoie | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 499 | 0 | running | 134 | $38,165 |
| 11 | 20 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 499 | 0 | running | 130 | $32,295 |
| 12 | 10 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 499 | 0 | running | 127 | $30,940 |
| 13 | 41 | 90 | Dick Trickle | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 498 | 0 | running | 124 | $31,715 |
| 14 | 26 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 498 | 0 | running | 121 | $37,915 |
| 15 | 38 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Elliott-Marino Racing | Ford | 498 | 17 | running | 123 | $31,515 |
| 16 | 42 | 41 | Steve Grissom | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 498 | 0 | running | 115 | $30,590 |
| 17 | 39 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 498 | 0 | running | 112 | $29,740 |
| 18 | 40 | 4 | Bobby Hamilton | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 498 | 35 | running | 114 | $29,540 |
| 19 | 21 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 497 | 0 | running | 106 | $34,030 |
| 20 | 28 | 36 | Ernie Irvan | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 497 | 16 | running | 108 | $31,175 |
| 21 | 30 | 96 | David Green | American Equipment Racing | Chevrolet | 497 | 0 | running | 100 | $23,415 |
| 22 | 37 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 496 | 0 | running | 97 | $33,715 |
| 23 | 43 | 1 | Darrell Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 496 | 0 | running | 94 | $18,665 |
| 24 | 12 | 46 | Morgan Shepherd | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 496 | 0 | running | 91 | $18,590 |
| 25 | 19 | 75 | Rick Mast | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 496 | 0 | running | 88 | $22,245 |
| 26 | 15 | 30 | Derrike Cope | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 495 | 0 | running | 85 | $28,615 |
| 27 | 23 | 91 | Kevin Lepage (R) | LJ Racing | Chevrolet | 491 | 0 | running | 82 | $19,495 |
| 28 | 31 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 489 | 0 | crash | 79 | $18,440 |
| 29 | 16 | 35 | Todd Bodine | ISM Racing | Pontiac | 486 | 0 | running | 76 | $18,410 |
| 30 | 35 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 482 | 0 | running | 73 | $34,485 |
| 31 | 36 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | 480 | 0 | transmission | 70 | $20,315 |
| 32 | 4 | 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 460 | 0 | running | 67 | $17,395 |
| 33 | 1 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 446 | 220 | running | 74 | $37,275 |
| 34 | 7 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 442 | 0 | crash | 61 | $32,235 |
| 35 | 34 | 97 | Chad Little | Roush Racing | Ford | 442 | 10 | crash | 63 | $20,215 |
| 36 | 11 | 98 | Greg Sacks | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 425 | 0 | running | 55 | $26,695 |
| 37 | 22 | 13 | Jerry Nadeau (R) | Elliott-Marino Racing | Ford | 399 | 0 | running | 52 | $17,185 |
| 38 | 33 | 44 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 394 | 0 | running | 49 | $24,175 |
| 39 | 18 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Mattei Motorsports | Ford | 385 | 0 | overheating | 46 | $24,165 |
| 40 | 24 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 324 | 0 | running | 43 | $17,150 |
| 41 | 25 | 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Chevrolet | 204 | 0 | handling | 40 | $17,125 |
| 42 | 13 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | 155 | 0 | crash | 37 | $17,100 |
| 43 | 27 | 28 | Kenny Irwin Jr. (R) | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 88 | 0 | crash | 34 | $32,077 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 44 | | 29 | Jeff Green | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 45 | | 42 | Joe Nemechek | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 46 | | 78 | Gary Bradberry | Triad Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| 47 | | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||
