1998 Pontiac Excitement 400
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| Race details | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 13 of 33 in the 1998 NASCAR Winston Cup Series | |||
 The 1998 Pontiac Excitement 400 program cover, with artwork by Sam Bass. | |||
| Date | June 6, 1998 | ||
| Official name | 44th Annual Pontiac Excitement 400 | ||
| Location | Richmond, Virginia, Richmond International Raceway | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||
| Course length | 1.21 km (0.75 miles) | ||
| Distance | 400 laps, 300 mi (482.803 km) | ||
| Scheduled distance | 400 laps, 300 mi (482.803 km) | ||
| Average speed | 97.044 miles per hour (156.177 km/h) | ||
| Attendance | 103,000 | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Hendrick Motorsports | ||
| Time | 21.504 | ||
| Most laps led | |||
| Driver | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | |
| Laps | 108 | ||
| Winner | |||
| No. 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | |
| Television in the United States | |||
| Network | ESPN | ||
| Announcers | Bob Jenkins, Benny Parsons, Ned Jarrett | ||
| Radio in the United States | |||
| Radio | Motor Racing Network | ||
The 1998 Pontiac Excitement 400 was the 13th stock car race of the 1998 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 44th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, June 6, 1998, in Richmond, Virginia, at Richmond International Raceway, a 0.75 miles (1.21 km) D-shaped oval. The race took the scheduled 400 laps to complete. With two laps to go, Hendrick Motorsports driver Terry Labonte would make a final pass in a battle with Robert Yates Racing driver Dale Jarrett. On the fourth turn of the penultimate lap, the caution would come out for Johnny Benson Jr. Labonte was able to defend Jarrett and complete the penultimate lap to take his 20th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his only victory of the season.[1][2] To fill out the podium, Jarrett and Penske-Kranefuss Racing driver Rusty Wallace would finish second and third, respectively. The event was overshadowed when Rusty Wallace completely took out Jeff Gordon in turn 2 with 29 laps to go. Gordon in his interview when asked what happened, he replied "well, that's pretty obvious you tell me you know. You got on video. I think it's pretty simple you know I uh- I had the position on him. He just drove into the left rear. I don't know what happened."[3]
Entry list
Richmond International Raceway (RIR) is a 3/4-mile (1.2 km), D-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in Henrico County. It hosts the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series. Known as "America's premier short track", it formerly hosted a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, an IndyCar Series race, and two USAC sprint car races.
- (R) denotes rookie driver.
*Replaced by Kevin Lepage for Green to recover from a bruised shoulder.[4]
Practice
First practice
The first practice session was held on the early afternoon of Friday, June 5. Ken Schrader, driving for Andy Petree Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 21.630 and an average speed of 124.827 mph (200.890 km/h).[5]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 33 | Ken Schrader | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 21.630 | 124.827 |
| 2 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 21.658 | 124.665 |
| 3 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 21.670 | 124.596 |
| Full first practice results | ||||||
Second practice
The second practice session was held on late afternoon of Friday, June 5. Kenny Irwin Jr., driving for Robert Yates Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 21.651 and an average speed of 124.706 mph (200.695 km/h).[6]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28 | Kenny Irwin Jr. (R) | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 21.651 | 124.706 |
| 2 | 46 | Jeff Green | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 21.672 | 124.585 |
| 3 | 42 | Joe Nemechek | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 21.676 | 124.562 |
| Full second practice results | ||||||
Final practice
The final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on the evening of Friday, June 5. Ricky Rudd, driving for Rudd Performance Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 22.080 and an average speed of 122.283 mph (196.795 km/h).[7]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 22.080 | 122.283 |
| 2 | 42 | Joe Nemechek | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 22.130 | 122.006 |
| 3 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.200 | 121.622 |
| Full Happy Hour practice results | ||||||
