The 1998 Winston Cup Season - PAGE TWO
UPstate's version of things going on......from a Jeff Gordon Fan's Perspective!! Page TWO!!!
This page represents my opinions of some of the races that went on this year.
Congratulations to NASCAR for it's 50th great year!!!.
Jeff took the pole for the race on Sunday. This is him showing off his starting spot.
Jerry Nadeau, a rookie, had his best start as of yet for the race coming second in qualifying. Gordon using an obscure rule allowing the pole winner to decide if he wants inside or outside pole took the outside pole due to the hard right turn noted here. Nadeau had them all beat but missed the corner and ended up going through the grass. Gordon led the first 30 or so laps until pit strategy took over.
After all the pit stops took place and the race was drawing to a close it looked like Bobby Hamilton might pull it off as Gordon was in 4th behind Ricky Rudd and Geoff Bodine. In turn 9 Bodine and Rudd wrecked giving Gordon a shot at Hamilton. The race between the two was awesome with Gordon finally taking over the lead after 4 or 5 tough laps of racing with Bobby.....probably best racing of the year so far
The race Upstate is supposed to be at!!! Postponed!!! I was in Melbourne with my parents and my 5 year old. We fully understood why the race was cancelled. The smoke was very thick and we were 30 miles from the larger fires. It was a relief to me they did postpone. On Wed. afternoon NO traffic was allowed north due to fires South of Daytona. That evening all hell broke loose in Volusia and Flagler County's (Daytona is in Volusia and Flagler is north). My hat's off to the firemen!!!!! I WILL BE THERE IN OCTOBER!!
In New Hampshire, the 99 Exide Ford Tauras finally made it to victory lane with Mark Martin coming in second, Jeff Gordon in third. This was a dominating race for Burton. On Friday, Ricky Craven (who missed SEVERAL consecutive races due to injuries) took the pole from teammate Jeff Gordon.
Next up Pocono, this was where Jeremy Mayfield dominated the #24 team only a few weeks back. Gordon started on the outside pole and on the left crosses the finish line first, with MArk Martin again coming in second.
NEXT WAS THE BRICKYARD 400 ( A NO BULL 5 RACE- Gordon, Martin, B. Labonte, Wallace and Jarrett can win $1 million if they win) About midway through the race Buckshot Jones (A BGN regular), gets into Brett Bodine (anyone remember Atlanta last November??). That's Dave Marcis in the 71 car.
This is earlier in the race with Gordon in the lead, followed by Earnie Irvin, Dale Jarett, Jeremy MAyfield, Kenny Irwin, Mark Martin, and Rusty Wallace. Within a few laps of this photo Dale Jarrett took over the lead and dominated teh next 30 or so laps leading by almost 4 seconds when he ran out of gas in turn 1 sending him as much as 4 laps back. Jeremy Mayfield and Rusty Wallace both cut right front tires sending Jeremy to the garage and Rusty to the pits. Dale Earnhardt got Kenny Irwin loose late in the race (NO CONTACT) sending him to the wall.
After leading most of the laps (after Jarrett ran out of fuel), it came down to Gordon and Martin. With ten laps left there was a caution giving Martin a chance to close up the gap of over 2 seconds. Gordon took the green flag with a huge pile up behind the leader it meant he had to hold off Martin all the way back to the yellow flag. The top photo shows him pushing the pace car on the last lap. The bottom two are of him in victory circle with the trophy and on his victory lap.
There is not a man who wins at Indy that doesn't kiss the bricks!!!!
Here is Jeff coming through the "S" out of turn 2 at the Glenn. He led the first 30 laps or so until he pitted. After the cycle of first stops he regained the lead. Then pit "calls" almost decided the race. The Rainbow warriors had some problems on the last stop putting Jeff out in the 14th spot (the first 4 at the time, had pitted during an earlier caution and were going to make Gordon, Wallace and Martin work hard. 
While Mike Skinner was leading the pack for quite a few laps Gordon and Martin were closing in (Skinner had tire and fuel issues due to not stopping later when the leaders did). After going three wide (TWICE!!) through the inner loop to pass Martin and Wallace Gordon knocked off Skinners 15 second lead in less than 10 laps. Here he is leading Martin (for the 3rd week in a row) to the finish line.
For the third week in a row Jeff Gordon and the crew celebrate in victory lane. 
Jeff Gordon's Rainbow Warriors work their magic on th elast pit stop of the day at a speedway Jeff has never won before.
That last pit stop was the "cure" for the car. After being over 15 seconds behind leader Mark Martin Gordon's crew got him out in third place (a costly mistake by Jeff Burton , he ran over his air hose, helped too!!). With 9 laps left he passed Mark Martin and led to the checkerd flag for his 4th straight victory. On a much sadder note was the fact that Mark Martin lost his father, step-mom and half sister in a plane crash. He dedicated the race to them and their memory. My heart goes out to Mark. He is a class act and stopped by the #24 pits after the race to congratulate them.
All media attention appeared focused on Jeff gordon as he entered the race at Bristol. He was attempting to win 5 races in a row, a modern era record.
It was not to be!!! Mark Martin won the race easily by dominating the last 200 laps or so. Gordon finished 5th so Matin gained 30 points on him in the Winston Cup Championship race. After the last few weeks it was only a matter of time before Mark won one!! Congratualtions!! I ust comment on the condition of teh drivers after 500 laps there!!! They were exhausted!!! Martin was dripping with sweat. Anyone who says this is not a sport....has never watched what these guys do week in and week out!!! 
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