1999 Pontiac Excitement 400

The 1999 Pontiac Excitement 400 was the 11th stock car race of the 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 45th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, May 15, 1999, 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. At race's end, Robert Yates Racing driver Dale Jarrett would manage to make a pass for the lead with 32 to go and hold onto the lead to win his 19th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his first victory of the season.[1][2] To fill out the podium, Roush Racing driver Mark Martin and Joe Gibbs Racing driver Bobby Labonte would finish second and third, respectively.

1999 Pontiac Excitement 400
Race details
Race 11 of 34 in the 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1999 Pontiac Excitement 400 program cover.
The 1999 Pontiac Excitement 400 program cover.
Date May 15, 1999
Official name 45th Annual Pontiac Excitement 400
Location Richmond, Virginia, Richmond International Raceway
Course Permanent racing facility
0.75 mi (1.21 km)
Distance 400 laps, 300 mi (482.803 km)
Scheduled Distance 400 laps, 300 mi (482.803 km)
Average speed 100.102 miles per hour (161.099 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Hendrick Motorsports
Time 21.344
Most laps led
Driver Jeff Burton Roush Racing
Laps 104
Winner
No. 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing
Television in the United States
Network ESPN
Announcers Bob Jenkins, Benny Parsons, Ned Jarrett
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

Background

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The layout of Richmond International Raceway, the venue where the race was at.

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.

Entry list

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
00 Buckshot Jones (R) Buckshot Racing Pontiac Crown Fiber
1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet Pennzoil
2 Rusty Wallace Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford Miller Lite
3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet GM Goodwrench Service Plus
4 Bobby Hamilton Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet Kodak
5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Kellogg's Frosted Flakes
6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford Valvoline
7 Michael Waltrip Mattei Motorsports Chevrolet Philips, Klaussner Furniture
9 Jerry Nadeau Melling Racing Ford Cartoon Network, Dexter's Laboratory
10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford Tide
11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford Paychex
12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford Mobil 1
16 Kevin Lepage Roush Racing Ford TV Guide
18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac Interstate Batteries
20 Tony Stewart (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac The Home Depot
21 Elliott Sadler (R) Wood Brothers Racing Ford Citgo
22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Pontiac Caterpillar
23 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford Winston No Bull
24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet DuPont
25 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Budweiser
26 Johnny Benson Jr. Roush Racing Ford Cheerios, Betty Crocker
28 Kenny Irwin Jr. Robert Yates Racing Ford Texaco, Havoline
30 Derrike Cope Bahari Racing Pontiac Jimmy Dean
31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Lowe's
33 Ken Schrader Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet Skoal
36 Ernie Irvan MB2 Motorsports Pontiac M&M's
40 Sterling Marlin Team SABCO Chevrolet Coors Light
41 David Green Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet Kodiak
42 Joe Nemechek Team SABCO Chevrolet BellSouth
43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Pontiac STP
44 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac Hot Wheels
45 Rich Bickle Tyler Jet Motorsports Pontiac 10-10-345
55 Kenny Wallace Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet Square D
58 Ricky Craven SBIII Motorsports Ford Hollywood Video
60 Geoff Bodine Joe Bessey Racing Chevrolet Power Team
66 Darrell Waltrip Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford Big Kmart
71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet Team Realtree
75 Ted Musgrave Butch Mock Motorsports Ford Remington Arms
77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford Jasper Engines & Transmissions
88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford Quality Care Service, Ford Credit
90 Hut Stricklin Donlavey Racing Ford Hills Bros. Coffee
91 Dick Trickle LJ Racing Chevrolet LJ Racing
94 Bill Elliott Bill Elliott Racing Ford McDonald's
97 Chad Little Roush Racing Ford John Deere
98 Rick Mast Burdette Motorsports Ford Hobas Pipe
99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford Exide Batteries
Official entry list

Practice

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First practice

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The first practice session was held on Friday, May 14, at 11:00 AM EST. The session would last for one hour and 15 minutes.[3] Rusty Wallace, driving for Penske-Kranefuss Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 21.379 and an average speed of 126.292 mph (203.247 km/h).[4]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 2 Rusty Wallace Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford 21.379 126.292
2 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Pontiac 21.431 125.985
3 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 21.486 125.663
Full first practice results

Second practice

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The second practice session was held on Friday, May 14, at 2:30 PM EST. The session would last for two hours.[3] Bobby Labonte, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 21.305 and an average speed of 126.731 mph (203.954 km/h).[5]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 21.305 126.731
2 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 21.329 126.588
3 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Pontiac 21.402 126.156
Full second practice results

Qualifying

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Qualifying was held on Saturday, May 15, at 1:00 PM EST. Each driver would have two laps to set a fastest time; the fastest of the two would count as their official qualifying lap.[3] Positions 1-36 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]

Jeff Gordon, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would win the pole, setting a time of 21.344 and an average speed of 126.499 miles per hour (203.580 km/h).[7]

Three drivers would fail to qualify: Dave Marcis, Buckshot Jones, and Hut Stricklin.

Full qualifying results

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 21.344 126.499
2 55 Kenny Wallace Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 21.348 126.476
3 28 Kenny Irwin Jr. Robert Yates Racing Ford 21.404 126.145
4 44 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 21.428 126.003
5 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Pontiac 21.434 125.968
6 2 Rusty Wallace Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford 21.455 125.845
7 31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 21.458 125.827
8 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 21.474 125.733
9 10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford 21.498 124.593
10 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 21.511 125.517
11 98 Rick Mast Burdette Motorsports Ford 21.540 125.348
12 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 21.562 125.220
13 33 Ken Schrader Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 21.570 125.174
14 97 Chad Little Roush Racing Ford 21.582 125.104
15 4 Bobby Hamilton Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 21.594 125.035
16 40 Sterling Marlin Team SABCO Chevrolet 21.595 125.029
17 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 21.604 124.977
18 21 Elliott Sadler (R) Wood Brothers Racing Ford 21.623 124.867
19 94 Bill Elliott Bill Elliott Racing Ford 21.626 124.850
20 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Pontiac 21.634 124.804
21 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 21.643 124.752
22 58 Ricky Craven SBIII Motorsports Ford 21.643 124.752
23 42 Joe Nemechek Team SABCO Chevrolet 21.644 124.746
24 66 Darrell Waltrip Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 21.647 124.729
25 36 Ernie Irvan MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 21.648 124.723
26 26 Johnny Benson Jr. Roush Racing Ford 21.649 124.717
27 77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford 21.678 124.550
28 12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford 21.685 124.510
29 60 Geoff Bodine Joe Bessey Racing Chevrolet 21.685 124.510
30 20 Tony Stewart (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 21.686 124.504
31 91 Dick Trickle LJ Racing Chevrolet 21.687 124.499
32 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 21.701 124.418
33 23 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 21.706 124.390
34 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 21.706 124.390
35 9 Jerry Nadeau Melling Racing Ford 21.727 124.269
36 30 Derrike Cope Bahari Racing Pontiac 21.727 124.269
Provisionals
37 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet -* -*
38 7 Michael Waltrip Mattei Motorsports Chevrolet -* -*
39 25 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet -* -*
40 16 Kevin Lepage Roush Racing Ford -* -*
41 75 Ted Musgrave Butch Mock Motorsports Ford -* -*
42 45 Rich Bickle Tyler Jet Motorsports Pontiac -* -*
43 41 David Green Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet -* -*
Failed to qualify
44 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 21.808 123.808
45 00 Buckshot Jones (R) Buckshot Racing Pontiac 21.921 123.170
46 90 Hut Stricklin Donlavey Racing Ford 22.038 122.516
Official qualifying results

*Time not available.

Race results

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Fin[8] St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 21 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 400 32 running 180 $169,715
2 12 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 400 74 running 175 $89,700
3 8 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 400 71 running 170 $69,775
4 15 4 Bobby Hamilton Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 400 0 running 160 $64,875
5 6 2 Rusty Wallace Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford 400 0 running 155 $49,450
6 23 42 Joe Nemechek Team SABCO Chevrolet 400 0 running 150 $49,250
7 4 44 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 400 0 running 146 $39,625
8 37 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 400 0 running 142 $48,540
9 20 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Pontiac 400 9 running 143 $41,175
10 42 45 Rich Bickle Tyler Jet Motorsports Pontiac 400 0 running 134 $35,965
11 41 75 Ted Musgrave Butch Mock Motorsports Ford 400 0 running 130 $34,475
12 19 94 Bill Elliott Bill Elliott Racing Ford 400 0 running 127 $36,750
13 40 16 Kevin Lepage Roush Racing Ford 399 0 running 124 $36,975
14 13 33 Ken Schrader Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 399 0 running 121 $36,175
15 30 20 Tony Stewart (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 399 0 running 118 $27,225
16 11 98 Rick Mast Burdette Motorsports Ford 399 0 running 115 $28,800
17 29 60 Geoff Bodine Joe Bessey Racing Chevrolet 399 0 running 112 $23,900
18 16 40 Sterling Marlin Team SABCO Chevrolet 399 0 running 109 $34,550
19 22 58 Ricky Craven SBIII Motorsports Ford 399 0 running 106 $23,625
20 39 25 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 399 0 running 103 $36,740
21 35 9 Jerry Nadeau Melling Racing Ford 399 0 running 100 $28,250
22 38 7 Michael Waltrip Mattei Motorsports Chevrolet 398 0 running 97 $33,725
23 18 21 Elliott Sadler (R) Wood Brothers Racing Ford 398 0 running 94 $34,250
24 28 12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford 397 0 running 91 $37,900
25 24 66 Darrell Waltrip Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 395 1 running 93 $22,750
26 32 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 395 0 running 85 $37,625
27 27 77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford 392 0 running 82 $26,100
28 26 26 Johnny Benson Jr. Roush Racing Ford 390 0 running 79 $32,975
29 33 23 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 390 0 running 76 32,350
30 7 31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 388 67 running 78 $35,950
31 1 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 388 18 running 75 $54,275
32 31 91 Dick Trickle LJ Racing Chevrolet 387 0 running 67 $25,025
33 25 36 Ernie Irvan MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 363 0 running 64 $31,475
34 17 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 359 0 running 61 $28,925
35 14 97 Chad Little Roush Racing Ford 352 0 running 58 $28,875
36 9 10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford 345 0 running 55 $28,825
37 10 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 324 104 running 62 $40,175
38 34 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 322 0 running 49 $28,825
39 5 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Pontiac 242 24 handling 51 $36,675
40 3 28 Kenny Irwin Jr. Robert Yates Racing Ford 197 0 engine 43 $28,625
41 2 55 Kenny Wallace Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 182 0 engine 40 $22,075
42 36 30 Derrike Cope Bahari Racing Pontiac 115 0 crash 37 $21,530
43 43 41 David Green Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet 105 0 engine 34 $21,700
Failed to qualify
44 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet
45 00 Buckshot Jones (R) Buckshot Racing Pontiac
46 90 Hut Stricklin Donlavey Racing Ford
Official race results

References

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  1. ^ Poole, David (May 16, 1999). "Jarrett revels in Richmond win". That's Racin'. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
  2. ^ "Jarrett's victory drought ends in Pontiac 400". The Gazette. May 17, 1999. p. 23. Retrieved August 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b c "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 1999 Richmond 1 Race Info Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on August 23, 2000. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
  4. ^ "Winston Cup practice speeds from Richmond". That's Racin'. May 14, 1999. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
  5. ^ "Saturday morning Winston Cup practice speeds". That's Racin'. May 15, 1999. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
  6. ^ "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 1999 Provisional Start Status". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on April 18, 1999. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  7. ^ Poole, David (May 15, 1999). "Gordon on pole for Pontiac 400". That's Racin'. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
  8. ^ "1999 Pontiac Excitement 400 (WCS) - The Third Turn". The Third Turn. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
Previous race:
1999 California 500
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1999 season
Next race:
1999 Coca-Cola 600