1998 UAW-GM Quality 500
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| 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 | ||
| Course length | 1.5 miles (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 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.
Entry list
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.
- (R) denotes rookie driver.
Practice
First practice
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
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
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
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 | ||||||
