1998 UAW-GM Quality 500
| Race details | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 28 of 33 in the 1998 NASCAR Winston Cup Series | |||
 The 1998 UAW-GM Quality 500 program cover, featuring Batman and the Joker as a promotional stunt with Robert Yates Racing. Artwork by NASCAR artist Sam Bass. | |||
| Date | October 4, 1998 | ||
| Official name | 39th Annual UAW-GM Quality 500 | ||
| Location | Concord, North Carolina, Charlotte Motor Speedway | ||
| Course |
Permanent racing facility 1.5 mi (2.41 km) | ||
| Distance | 334 laps, 501 mi (806.281 km) | ||
| Scheduled Distance | 334 laps, 501 mi (806.281 km) | ||
| Average speed | 123.188 miles per hour (198.252 km/h) | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Bahari Racing | ||
| Time | 29.721 | ||
| Most laps led | |||
| Driver | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | |
| Laps | 215 | ||
| Winner | |||
| No. 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | |
| Television in the United States | |||
| Network | TBS | ||
| Announcers | Ken Squier, Buddy Baker, Dick Berggren | ||
| Radio in the United States | |||
| Radio | Performance Racing Network | ||
The 1998 UAW-GM Quality 500 was the 28th stock car race of the 1998 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 39th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, October 4, 1998, in Concord, North Carolina, at Charlotte Motor Speedway, a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) permanent quad-oval. The race took the scheduled 334 laps to complete. At race's end, Roush Racing driver Mark Martin would manage to dominate most of the race to take his 29th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his seventh and final victory of the season.[1][2] To fill out the podium, Bill Davis Racing driver Ward Burton and Roush Racing driver Jeff Burton would finish second and third, respectively.
Background[edit]
Lowe's Motor Speedway is a motorsports complex located in Concord, North Carolina, United States 13 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. The complex features a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and the NEXTEL All-Star Challenge, as well as the UAW-GM Quality 500. The speedway was built in 1959 by Bruton Smith and is considered the home track for NASCAR with many race teams located in the Charlotte area. The track is owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports Inc. (SMI) with Marcus G. Smith (son of Bruton Smith) as track president.
Entry list[edit]
- (R) denotes rookie driver.
Practice[edit]
First practice[edit]
The first practice session was held on Wednesday, September 30, at 1:30 PM EST. The session would last for three hours and 30 minutes. [3] Ernie Irvan, driving for MB2 Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.897 and an average speed of 180.620 miles per hour (290.680 km/h).[4]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 36 | Ernie Irvan | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 29.897 | 180.620 |
| 2 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 29.903 | 180.584 |
| 3 | 42 | Joe Nemechek | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 29.904 | 180.578 |
| Full first practice results | ||||||
Second practice[edit]
The second practice session was held on Thursday, October 1.[3] Jeff Burton, driving for Roush Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 30.517 and an average speed of 176.951 miles per hour (284.775 km/h).[5]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 30.517 | 176.951 |
| 2 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 30.584 | 176.563 |
| 3 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 30.607 | 176.430 |
| Full second practice results | ||||||
Third practice[edit]
The third practice session was held on Saturday, October 3, at 9:00 AM EST. The session would last for one hour.[3] Bobby Hamilton, driving for Morgan–McClure Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 30.234 and an average speed of 178.607 miles per hour (287.440 km/h).[6]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | Bobby Hamilton | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.234 | 178.607 |
| 2 | 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 30.291 | 178.271 |
| 3 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 30.356 | 177.889 |
| Full third practice results | ||||||
Final practice[edit]
The final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held Saturday, October 3, after the preliminary 1998 All Pro Bumper to Bumper 300. The session would last for one hour.[3] Jeremy Mayfield, driving for Penske-Kranefuss Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 30.543 and an average speed of 176.800 miles per hour (284.532 km/h).[7]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 30.543 | 176.800 |
| 2 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 30.574 | 176.621 |
| 3 | 36 | Ernie Irvan | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 30.673 | 176.051 |
| Full Happy Hour practice results | ||||||
Qualifying[edit]
Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Wednesday, September 30, at 7:00 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 Thursday, October 1, at 1:30 PM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time.[3] 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.[8]
Derrike Cope, driving for Bahari Racing. would win the pole, setting a time of 29.721 and an average speed of 181.690 miles per hour (292.402 km/h).[9]
Five drivers would fail to qualify: Jeff Green, Tony Raines, Andy Hillenburg, Dave Marcis, and Randy MacDonald.
Full qualifying results[edit]
Race results[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Poole, David (October 4, 1998). "Martin by a mile". That's Racin'. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
- ^ Macenka, Joe (October 5, 1998). "Martin wins to trim Gordon's lead". Citizens' Voice. p. 61. Retrieved September 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e "Schedule for CMS". That's Racin'. September 29, 1998. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
- ^ "Irvan fastest in late practice". That's Racin'. September 30, 1998. Archived from the original on May 1, 2001. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
- ^ "Winston Cup practice speeds". That's Racin'. October 1, 1998. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
- ^ "Winston Cup practice speeds from Saturday morning". That's Racin'. October 3, 1998. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
- ^ "Mayfield fastest at Happy Hour". That's Racin'. October 3, 1998. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
- ^ "Additional Provisionals announced". Motorsport.com. January 24, 1998. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
- ^ Poole, David (September 30, 1998). "Fans get a double dose of CMS surprises". That's Racin'. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on May 1, 2001. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
- ^ "1998 UAW-GM Quality 500 - The Third Turn". The Third Turn. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
