1999 Primestar 500 Explained

Type:NASWINSTON
Location:Fort Worth, Texas, Texas Motor Speedway
Distance Mi:501
Pole Time:28.398
Year:1999
Course Mi:1.5
Scheduled Km:806.281
Course Km:2.41
Distance Laps:334
Scheduled Laps:334
Distance Km:806.281
Scheduled Mi:501
Race Name:Primestar 500
Official Name:Third Annual Primestar 500
Race No:6
Season No:34
Date:March 28
Radio:Performance Racing Network
Car:5
Most Laps:124
Most Team:Hendrick Motorsports
Most Driver:Terry Labonte
First Driver:Terry Labonte
First Team:Hendrick Motorsports
Pole Team:Robert Yates Racing
Pole Driver:Kenny Irwin Jr.
Avg:144.276mph
Caption:The 1999 Primestar 500 program cover, with artwork by NASCAR artist Sam Bass.
Network:CBS
Announcers:Mike Joy, Ned Jarrett, Buddy Baker

The 1999 Primestar 500 was the sixth stock car race of the 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the third iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, March 28, 1999, in Fort Worth, Texas at Texas Motor Speedway, a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) permanent tri-oval shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 334 laps to complete. Nearing the end of the race, Hendrick Motorsports driver Terry Labonte would make a late-race move to pass Robert Yates Racing driver Dale Jarrett for the lead. With three to go, the caution came out for Jimmy Spencer, handing the win to Labonte.[1] [2] The win was Labonte's 21st career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his only victory of the season. To fill out the podium, Jarrett and Joe Gibbs Racing driver Bobby Labonte would finish second and third, respectively.

Background

Texas Motor Speedway is a speedway located in the northernmost portion of the U.S. city of Fort Worth, Texas – the portion located in Denton County, Texas. The track measures 1.5 miles (2.4 km) around and is banked 24 degrees in the turns. It is of the oval design, where the front straightaway juts outward slightly. The track layout is similar to Atlanta Motor Speedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway (formerly Lowe's Motor Speedway). The track is owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., the same company that owns Atlanta and Charlotte Motor Speedway, as well as the short-track Bristol Motor Speedway.

Entry list

DriverTeamMakeSponsor
00Buckshot Jones (R)Buckshot RacingPontiacCrown Fiber
1Steve ParkDale Earnhardt, Inc.ChevroletPennzoil
2Rusty WallacePenske-Kranefuss RacingFordMiller Lite
3Dale EarnhardtRichard Childress RacingChevroletGM Goodwrench Service Plus
4Bobby HamiltonMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevroletKodak
5Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevroletKellogg's Frosted Flakes
6Mark MartinRoush RacingFordValvoline
7Michael WaltripMattei MotorsportsChevroletPhilips, Klaussner Furniture
9Jerry NadeauMelling RacingFordCartoon Network, Dexter's Laboratory
10Ricky RuddRudd Performance MotorsportsFordTide
11Brett BodineBrett Bodine RacingFordPaychex
12Jeremy MayfieldPenske-Kranefuss RacingFordMobil 1
14Randy LaJoieNo Fear RacingFordFederated Auto Parts
16Kevin LepageRoush RacingFordPrimeStar
18Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingPontiacInterstate Batteries
20Tony Stewart (R)Joe Gibbs RacingPontiacThe Home Depot
21Elliott Sadler (R)Wood Brothers RacingFordCitgo
22Ward BurtonBill Davis RacingPontiacCaterpillar
23Jimmy SpencerHaas-Carter MotorsportsFordWinston No Bull
24Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevroletDuPont
25Wally Dallenbach Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevroletBudweiser
26Johnny Benson Jr.Roush RacingFordCheerios, Betty Crocker
28Kenny Irwin Jr.Robert Yates RacingFordTexaco, Havoline
30Derrike CopeBahari RacingPontiacJimmy Dean, Bryan Foods
31Mike SkinnerRichard Childress RacingChevroletLowe's
33Ken SchraderAndy Petree RacingChevroletSkoal
36Ernie IrvanMB2 MotorsportsPontiacM&M's
40Sterling MarlinTeam SABCOChevroletCoors Light, John Wayne Cancer Institute
41David GreenLarry Hedrick MotorsportsChevroletKodiak
42Joe NemechekTeam SABCOChevroletBellSouth
43John AndrettiPetty EnterprisesPontiacSTP
44Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesPontiacHot Wheels
45Rich BickleTyler Jet MotorsportsPontiac10-10-345
55Kenny WallaceAndy Petree RacingChevroletSquare D
58Ricky CravenSBIII MotorsportsFordHollywood Video
60Geoff BodineJoe Bessey RacingChevroletPower Team
66Darrell WaltripHaas-Carter MotorsportsFordBig Kmart
71Dave MarcisMarcis Auto RacingChevroletTeam Realtree
75Ted MusgraveButch Mock MotorsportsFordRemington Arms
77Robert PressleyJasper MotorsportsFordJasper Engines & Transmissions
88Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFordQuality Care Service, Ford Credit
90Stanton BarrettDonlavey RacingFordSuburban Lodge
91Dick TrickleLJ RacingChevroletTextilease
94Bill ElliottBill Elliott RacingFordMcDonald's
97Chad LittleRoush RacingFordJohn Deere
98Rick MastBurdette MotorsportsFordBurdette Motorsports
99Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFordExide Batteries
Official entry list

Practice

Originally, four practice sessions were scheduled to be held, with two on Friday and two on Saturday. However, due to rain, the second practice session on Saturday was cancelled.[3]

First practice

The first practice session was held on Friday, March 26, at 11:00 AM CST. The session would last for one hour and 15 minutes. Mark Martin, driving for Roush Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 28.402 and an average speed of 190.127mph.[4]

Pos.DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed
16Mark MartinRoush RacingFord28.402190.127
260Geoff BodineJoe Bessey RacingChevrolet28.418190.020
321Elliott SadlerWood Brothers RacingFord28.637188.567
Full first practice results

Second practice

The second practice session was held on Friday, March 26, at 1:05 PM CST. The session would last for one hour and 20 minutes. Geoff Bodine, driving for Joe Bessey Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 28.402 and an average speed of 190.127mph.[5]

Pos.DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed
160Geoff BodineJoe Bessey RacingChevrolet28.406190.101
21Steve ParkDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet28.486189.567
394Bill ElliottBill Elliott RacingFord28.523189.321
Full second practice results

Final practice

The final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, March 27, at 9:00 AM CST. The session would last for one hour. Geoff Bodine, driving for Joe Bessey Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 28.347 and an average speed of 190.496mph.

Pos.DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed
160Geoff BodineJoe Bessey RacingChevrolet28.347190.496
242Joe NemechekTeam SABCOChevrolet28.686188.245
391Dick TrickleLJ RacingChevrolet28.805187.467
Full final practice results

Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, March 26, at 3:30 PM CST. 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 Saturday, March 27, at 10:45 AM CST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time. 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.[6]

Kenny Irwin Jr., driving for Robert Yates Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 28.398 and an average speed of 190.154mph.[7]

Four drivers would fail to qualify: Dick Trickle, Kyle Petty, Dave Marcis, and Stanton Barrett.

Full qualifying results

Pos.DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed
128Kenny Irwin Jr.Robert Yates RacingFord28.398190.154
218Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac28.443189.853
31Steve ParkDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet28.520189.341
45Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet28.553189.122
522Ward BurtonBill Davis RacingPontiac28.573188.990
66Mark MartinRoush RacingFord28.578188.957
733Ken SchraderAndy Petree RacingChevrolet28.605188.778
824Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet28.617188.699
994Bill ElliottBill Elliott RacingFord28.634188.587
1025Wally Dallenbach Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet28.649188.488
112Rusty WallacePenske-Kranefuss RacingFord28.654188.455
1288Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord28.663188.396
1321Elliott Sadler (R)Wood Brothers RacingFord28.686188.245
1414Randy LaJoieNo Fear RacingFord28.697188.173
1543John AndrettiPetty EnterprisesPontiac28.731187.950
1677Robert PressleyJasper MotorsportsFord28.778187.643
1711Brett BodineBrett Bodine RacingFord28.784187.604
1898Rick MastBurdette MotorsportsFord28.797187.520
1920Tony Stewart (R)Joe Gibbs RacingPontiac28.802187.487
2099Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFord28.829187.311
219Jerry NadeauMelling RacingFord28.855187.143
2236Ernie IrvanMB2 MotorsportsPontiac28.857187.130
2331Mike SkinnerRichard Childress RacingChevrolet28.886186.942
2426Johnny Benson Jr.Roush RacingFord28.904186.825
2575Ted MusgraveButch Mock MotorsportsFord28.908186.800
2660Geoff BodineJoe Bessey RacingChevrolet28.504189.447
2712Jeremy MayfieldPenske-Kranefuss RacingFord28.741187.885
2842Joe NemechekTeam SABCOChevrolet28.741187.885
297Michael WaltripMattei MotorsportsChevrolet28.831187.298
3045Rich BickleTyler Jet MotorsportsPontiac28.922186.709
3100Buckshot Jones (R)Buckshot RacingPontiac28.923186.703
3266Darrell WaltripHaas-Carter MotorsportsFord28.946186.554
334Bobby HamiltonMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevrolet28.957186.483
3410Ricky RuddRudd Performance MotorsportsFord28.963186.445
3558Ricky CravenSBIII MotorsportsFord29.000186.207
3630Derrike CopeBahari RacingPontiac29.033185.995
Provisionals
3797Chad LittleRoush RacingFord-*-*
383Dale EarnhardtRichard Childress RacingChevrolet-*-*
3940Sterling MarlinTeam SABCOChevrolet-*-*
4016Kevin LepageRoush RacingFord-*-*
4123Jimmy SpencerHaas-Carter MotorsportsFord-*-*
4255Kenny WallaceAndy Petree RacingChevrolet-*-*
4341David GreenLarry Hedrick MotorsportsChevrolet-*-*
Failed to qualify
4491Dick TrickleLJ RacingChevrolet29.065185.790
4544Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesPontiac29.180185.058
4671Dave MarcisMarcis Auto RacingChevrolet29.331184.106
4790Stanton BarrettDonlavey RacingFord29.099185.573
Official qualifying results
*Time not available.

Race results

Fin[8] StDriverTeamMakeLapsLedStatusPtsWinnings
145Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet334124running185$376,840
21288Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord33439running175$250,100
3218Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac33410running170$181,650
4112Rusty WallacePenske-Kranefuss RacingFord3340running160$151,675
52712Jeremy MayfieldPenske-Kranefuss RacingFord3342running160$119,925
61920Tony Stewart (R)Joe Gibbs RacingPontiac3340running150$107,315
72099Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFord3340running146$107,675
8383Dale EarnhardtRichard Childress RacingChevrolet3340running142$97,775
93940Sterling MarlinTeam SABCOChevrolet3340running138$95,150
101321Elliott Sadler (R)Wood Brothers RacingFord3342running139$96,490
112426Johnny Benson Jr.Roush RacingFord3340running130$91,150
123045Rich BickleTyler Jet MotorsportsPontiac3330running127$76,300
133797Chad LittleRoush RacingFord3330running124$85,100
14297Michael WaltripMattei MotorsportsChevrolet3330running121$83,400
15128Kenny Irwin Jr.Robert Yates RacingFord33332running123$94,640
16522Ward BurtonBill Davis RacingPontiac33356running120$90,800
17733Ken SchraderAndy Petree RacingChevrolet3334running117$75,900
181711Brett BodineBrett Bodine RacingFord3331running114$74,900
193410Ricky RuddRudd Performance MotorsportsFord3330running106$73,400
201677Robert PressleyJasper MotorsportsFord3330running103$68,065
21994Bill ElliottBill Elliott RacingFord3330running100$66,575
223630Derrike CopeBahari RacingPontiac3310running97$58,075
231025Wally Dallenbach Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet3310running94$63,975
24219Jerry NadeauMelling RacingFord3310running91$56,475
253266Darrell WaltripHaas-Carter MotorsportsFord3300running88$51,775
264341David GreenLarry Hedrick MotorsportsChevrolet3300running85$54,075
273558Ricky CravenSBIII MotorsportsFord3301running87$49,775
284123Jimmy SpencerHaas-Carter MotorsportsFord3290crash79$58,775
29334Bobby HamiltonMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevrolet3240running76$62,775
301898Rick MastBurdette MotorsportsFord3070running73$49,500
312575Ted MusgraveButch Mock MotorsportsFord3060running70$45,275
3231Steve ParkDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet2890running67$50,975
332842Joe NemechekTeam SABCOChevrolet2720running64$49,975
3466Mark MartinRoush RacingFord25363running66$58,975
353100Buckshot Jones (R)Buckshot RacingPontiac2520vibration58$40,975
362660Geoff BodineJoe Bessey RacingChevrolet2440running55$41,450
372236Ernie IrvanMB2 MotorsportsPontiac2410engine52$45,950
381543John AndrettiPetty EnterprisesPontiac2020handling49$44,950
394255Kenny WallaceAndy Petree RacingChevrolet1740overheating46$38,450
401414Randy LaJoieNo Fear RacingFord1520engine43$37,950
414016Kevin LepageRoush RacingFord1320crash40$44,850
422331Mike SkinnerRichard Childress RacingChevrolet1230crash37$45,000
43824Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet680crash34$60,000
Failed to qualify
4491Dick TrickleLJ RacingChevrolet
4544Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesPontiac
4671Dave MarcisMarcis Auto RacingChevrolet
4790Stanton BarrettDonlavey RacingFord
Official race results

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Poole . David . March 28, 1999 . T. Labonte earns Texas-sized victory . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20000817110641/http://www.thatsracin.com/99/0328/0329500lede.htm . August 17, 2000 . August 13, 2022 . That's Racin' . The Charlotte Observer.
  2. News: Strubin . John . March 29, 1999 . Terry Labonte returns to Texas for victory . 19 . The Leaf-Chronicle . . August 13, 2022 . Newspapers.com.
  3. Web site: Jayski's Silly Season Site - 1999 Texas Race Info Page . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20001030063319/http://www.jayski.com/next/nr-texas.htm . October 30, 2000 . August 13, 2022 . Jayski's Silly Season Site.
  4. Web site: March 26, 1999 . Friday's first Winston Cup practice speeds . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20000817214557/http://www.thatsracin.com/99/0328/0327practice.htm . August 17, 2000 . August 13, 2022 . That's Racin'.
  5. Web site: March 26, 1999 . Friday's second-session practice speeds . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20000817214603/http://www.thatsracin.com/99/0328/0327practice2.htm . August 17, 2000 . August 13, 2022 . That's Racin'.
  6. Web site: Jayski's Silly Season Site - 1999 Provisional Start Status . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/19990418054033/http://jayski.com/prov.htm . April 18, 1999 . August 9, 2022 . Jayski's Silly Season Site.
  7. Web site: Strubin . John . March 27, 1999 . Kenny Irwin tops 190 mph for Texas pole position . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20000817214703/http://www.thatsracin.com/99/0328/0328fwqual.htm . August 17, 2000 . August 13, 2022 . That's Racin' . Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
  8. Web site: 1999 Primestar 500 - The Third Turn . August 12, 2022 . The Third Turn . en.