28th Annual MBNA GOLD 400
Dover Downs International Speedway, Dover, Delaware
Sunday, September 20th 1998
Laps: 400
Miles: 400
Track length: one mile banked concrete
Banking: 24 degrees
Purse: $1,664,783
TV:
3:00PM   WINSTON CUP QUALIFYING, DOVER      [1h30m]   Live   SV
12:00PM  NASCAR Winston Cup Dover, Del.               Live  TNN
Announcers: Eli Gold, Buddy Baker and Dick Berggren
Radio: MRN Start 12 p.m. (edt)
Announcers: Allen Bestwick and Barney Hall
Defending Winner: Mark Martin
1997 Pole Sitter: Mark Martin
Race Record: 132.719 m.p.h. (Mark Martin, 1997)
Qualifying Record: 155.086 m.p.h. (Bobby Labonte, 1996)
1997 Finish Top 5 Finishers
 1. Mark Martin (6), Ford, 400 laps, 132.719 mph, $195,305 Started 1
 2. Dale Earnhardt (3), Chevrolet, 400, $63,105  Started 33
 3. Kyle Petty (44), Pontiac, 400, $40,205  Started 23
 4. Bobby Labonte (18), Pontiac, 400, $41,485  Started 5
 5. Dale Jarrett (88), Ford, 399, $39,845  Started 3
1997 MBNA Gold 400 Misc Stats
Time of Race: 3 hours, 00 minutes, 50 seconds
Margin of Victory: 10.334 seconds
Cautions: 1 for 11 laps
Lead Changes: 10 among 4 drivers
 
 
>>George Elliott, (74) died of complications from a cancerous brain
tumor removed in May.

Bill Elliott, George Elliott's son, the NASCAR Winston Cup driving
champion in 1988, said he will not drive in this weekend's race in
Dover, Del. The funeral is Sunday in Dawsonville.

George Elliott is survived by his wife, Joyce, and sons 2 other sons
besides Bill, are Ernie and Dan.

--Steve Park is not feeling well due to wreck at Homestead Monday and
possible stomach flu.
Cloudy, mid 80s.
Qualifying Record: Mark Martin 155.966 1998
-----
LINE UP 1998
_____
 1  6 Mark Martin     F 23.082 155.966
 2  2 Rusty Wallace   F 23.118 155.723
 3 30 Derrike Cope    P 23.154 155.481
 4 16 Kevin Lepage    F 23.163 155.420
 5 18 Bobby Labonte   P 23.169 155.380
 6 24 Jeff Gordon     C 23.171 155.367
 7 43 John Andretti   P 23.190 155.239
 8  9 Jerry Nadeau    F 23.212 155.092
 9 90 Dick Trickle    F 23.227 154.992
10 88 Dale Jarrett    F 23.244 154.879
11 10 Ricky Rudd      F 23.247 154.859
12 28 Kenny Irwin     F 23.251 154.832
13  1 Steve Park      C 23.258 154.785
14 00 Buckshot Jones  C 23.271 154.699
15  7 Geoff Bodine    F 23.285 154.606
16 94 Matt Kenseth    F 23.303 154.487
17 22 Ward Burton     P 23.310 154.440
18 46 Jeff Green      C 23.334 154.281
19 42 Joe Nemechek    C 23.356 154.136
20 31 Mike Skinner    C 23.361 154.103
21 13 Ted Musgrave    F 23.371 154.037
22 44 Kyle Petty      P 23.373 154.024
23 36 Ernie Irvan     P 23.395 153.879
24  5 Terry Labonte   C 23.400 153.846
25 26 Johnny Benson   F 23.400 153.846
26 91 Todd Bodine     C 23.345 154.209 Fastest Second Round
27 99 Jeff Burton     F 23.409 153.787
28 12 Jeremy Mayfield F 23.412 153.767
29 33 Ken Schrader    C 23.421 153.708
30 23 Jimmy Spencer   F 23.432 153.636
31 11 Brett Bodine    F 23.439 153.590
32 21 Michael Waltrip F 23.455 153.485
33 35 Darrell Waltrip P 23.473 153.368
34 81 Kenny Wallace   F 23.481 153.315
35 40 Sterling Marlin C 23.487 153.276
36 78 Gary Bradberry  F 23.497 153.211
37  4 Bobby Hamilton  C 23.546 152.892
38 97 Chad Little     F 23.525 153.029
39 50 W. Dallenbach   C 23.903 150.609 PROV
40 77 Hut Stricklin   F 24.110 149.316 PROV
41 75 Rick Mast       F 23.777 151.407 PROV
42 98 Rich Bickle     F 24.082 149.489 PROV
43  3 Dale Earnhardt  C 23.626 152.375 PAST CHAMP'S PROV

GOING HOME :(

41 Steve Grissom   C 23.600 152.542
71 Dave Marcis     C 23.726 151.732
96 Morgan Shepherd C 23.575 152.704
 -----------

Tid Bits
- Ted Mustgrave is in back up car due to a wreck in Happy Hour when a tire went down.
- TNN Take home a piece of the action lap leader at lap 50 was Mark Martin
- ALL Tires were impounded until this am
- Terry labonte and Dale Earnhardt both making their 600th carrer start
RACE RESULTS BELOW of The The Southern 500
1 6 Mark Martin Valvoline F
2 24 Jeff Gordon DuPont C
3 12 Jeremy Mayfield Mobil 1 F
4 18 Bobby Labonte Interstate P
5 2 Rusty Wallace Miller Lite F
6 94 Matt Kenseth McDonald's F
7 88 Dale Jarrett Quality Care F
8 36 Ernie Irvan Skittles P
9 43 John Andretti STP P
10 4 Bobby Hamilton Kodak Maxx C
11 1 Steve Park Pennzoil C
12 16 Kevin Lepage PRIMESTAR F
13 10 Ricky Rudd Tide F
14 7 Geoff Bodine Philips F
15 26 Johnny Benson Cheerios F
16 40 Sterling Marlin Coors Light C
17 97 Chad Little John Deere F
18 5 Terry Labonte Kellogg's C
19 98 Rich Bickle Thorn Apple F
20 21 Michael Waltrip Citgo Fr
21 35 Darrell Waltrip Tabasco P
22 11 Brett Bodine Paychex F
23 3 Dale Earnhardt GM Goodwrench C
24 75 Rick Mast Remington Arms F
25 50 Wally Dallenbach Budweiser C
26 13 Ted Musgrave First Plus F
27 23 Jimmy Spencer Winston/No Bull F
28 78 Gary Bradberry Pilot F
29 42 Joe Nemechek BellSouth C
30 77 Hut Stricklin Jasper F
31 90 Dick Trickle Heilig/Meyers F
32 31 Mike Skinner Lowe's C
33 22 Ward Burton MBNA P
34 46 Jeff Green The Money Store C
35 30 Derrike Cope Gumout P
36 9 Jerry Nadeau Cartoon Network F
37 91 Todd Bodine Larry's Homes C
38 99 Jeff Burton Exide Batteries F
39 33 Ken Schrader Skoal Bandit C
40 28 Kenny Irwin Texaco/Havoline F
41 44 Kyle Petty Hot Wheels P
42 00 Buckshot Jones Real Tree C
43 81 Kenny Wallace Square D F
LAP LEADERS  (Unofficial) Missed one?/
Mark Martin (POLE) +10 Points Lead most laps-Gatorade Front Winner Award $10,000 Leading at 1/2 way
Rusty Wallace  + 5 Points
Jeff Gordion  + 5 Points

RECAP (As best as I could)
***** GREEN, GREEN, GREEN, GO, GO, GO...
***** Kenny Wallace's car went out before a mile was run.
***** Buckshot Jone hit the wall no caution
***** CAUTION Lap 13 --  DEBRIS
***** CAUTION Lap 85 --  Buckshot Jones smokin'.
During the caution Jeff and Ward Burton got together then Ted Mustgrave had to check up and spun.  Jeff Burtons rear end housing was bent and trailing arm had to be replaced, Ward Burton had to have his radiator replaced. Spend some time in the garage/pits.
***** GREEN, Restart Lap 89
***** Lap 141 Kyle Petty went behind the wall, lost the motor. Just quit running.
Aw Ryan your in my thoughts :(
-Only 11 teams on the lead lap now, Kyle was in the lead lap until this DNF :(
***** GREEN, Flag pits begin.
***** CAUTION Lap 170 --  Kenny Irwin broke lose and hit the wall.
Only 10 cars on the led lap on this restart
 1 24 Jeff Gordon
 2  7 Geoff Bodine
 3  6 Mark Martin
 4  2 Rusty Wallace
 5 88 Dale Jarrett
 6 18 Bobby Labonte
 7 94 Matt Kenseth
 8  9 Jerry Nadeau :))))))
 9 43 John Andretti
10  4 Bobby Hamilton
***** GREEN, Restart Lap 180
***** Clouds movin in.
***** Geoff Bodine (lap 221) lost his power steering pump.
***** Kenny Scharder lost a cylinder  (sworry Rob :( )
***** CAUTION Lap 244 --  Kenny Irwin is going to the hospital ,,, They had to stop race for ambulance.  Kenny is complaining of shoulder pain
***** Jeff Gordon was Blagged flaged for a pulled out fender??
***** GREEN, Restart Lap 253
***** GO #9 Go Jerry!  Go #94 Go Kenseth!
***** CAUTION Lap 244 --  5th caution due to Jeff Burton spinning, Mustgrave might have nudged him.
***** GREEN, Restart Lap 299
***** CAUTION Lap 244 --  Todd Bodine spun,  Jerry Nadeau, (UGH, Insert all sortsa words here<-  Still love those Melling guys!) and Mike Skinner had no where to go. All wrecked but all okay, Thank God.
***** GREEN, Restart Lap 322
***** CAUTION Lap 333 --  Jeff Green was puttin down fluid (oil) to bring out Cautin #7.
***** GREEN, Restart Lap 341
-- Jimmy Makar was explaining he felt Mark Martin was slamming on the brakes to let a team mate go,  One of the problems with muti cars teams Makar (18) said.
*****
*****

Points After  DOVER
 1 Jeff Gordon      4127
 2 Mark Martin      3933 - 194
 3 Dale Jarrett     3790 - 331
 4 Rusty Wallace    3637 - 490
 5 Bobby Labonte    3419 - 708
 5 Jeremy Mayfield  3419 - 708
 7 Jeff Burton      3347 - 780
 8 Dale Earnhardt   3112 -1015
 9 John Andretti    2989 -1135
10 Terry Labonte    2954 -1173
11  Ken Schrader    2910
12  Bobby Hamilton  2852
13  Ernie Irvan     2846
14  Sterling Marlin 2815
15  Michael Waltrip 2706
16  Chad Little     2700
17  Jimmy Spencer   2659
18  Bill Elliott    2539
19  Johnny Benson   2511
20  Ward Burton     2430
21  Darrell Waltrip 2401
21  Ricky Rudd      2401
23  Ted Musgrave    2384
24  Brett Bodine    2339
25  Mike Skinner    2259
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Raybestos Rookie of the Year Championship After DOVER
Kenny Irwin             202
Jerry Nadeau            177
Kevin Lepage            176
Steve Park              110
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Manufacturers' Championship After DOVER
Chevrolet (191)          12
Ford      (179)          11
Pontiac   (120)           2
_+_+_+_+_+_+
Poles Won (for Bud Shootout)
 Bobby Labonte   Daytona 500
 Rick Mast       GM 400 Rock
 Dale Jarrett    Las Vegas
 Todd Bodine     Atlanta (Andretti Not eligible)
 Mark Martin     Darlington
 Rusty Wallace   Bristol
 Jeremy Mayfield Texas
 Bobby Hamilton  Martinsville
 Bobby Labonte   Talladega
 Jeff Gordon     California
 Jeff Gordon     Charlotte
 Rusty Wallace   Dover
 Jeff Gordon     Richmond
 Ward Burton     Michigan
 Jeff Gordon     Pocono
 Jeff Gordon     Sears Point
 Ricky Craven    Loudon
 Ward Burton     Pennsylvania
 Ernie Irvan     Indy
 Jeff Gordon     Watkins Glen
 Ernie Irvan     Michigan
 Rusty Wallace   Bristol
 Jeff Gordon     Loudon, NH
 Dale Jarrett    Darlington
 Rusty Wallace   Richmond
 Mark Martin     Dover
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Second Fastest Qual. ((for The Bud Shootout Qualifier))
Steve Park      Daytona
Dale Jarrett    Rock
Jimmy Spencer   Las Vegas
None-Rained Out Atlanta
Kenny Wallace   Darlington
Jimmy Spencer   Bristol
No Second Round Texas
Rain            Martinsville
Dennis Setzer   Talladega
Geoff Bodine    California
Robert Pressley Charlotte
Geoff Bodine    Dover
Mike Skinner    Richmond
Morgan Shepard  Michigan
Jeff Green      Pocono
Mark Martin     Sears Point
Kenny Schrader  Loudon
Dick Trickle    Pennsylvania
Derrike Cope    Indy
Joe Nemechek    Watkins Glen
Dennis Setzer   Michigan
Dick Trickle    Bristol
Jerry Nadeau    Loudon, NH!!!
Dennis Setzer   Darlington
Mike Skinner    Richmond
Todd Bodine     Dover

The MBNA 400
Sue's NASCAR * CUP AT A GLANCE * LIGHTER SIDE * LINK'S * 1998 *
GORDON * MELLING! * DAVEY TRIBUTE * LIL' MEGAN *
1(800)MARROW2