1999 NAPA 500

1999 NAPA 500
Race details[1]
Race 34 of 34 in the 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season
The 1999 NAPA 500 program cover, featuring past champions. The program cover includes Darrell Waltrip, Bill Elliott, Richard Petty, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt, and Dale Jarrett. "The Last Race of the Century!"
Date November 21, 1999 (1999-11-21)
Official name NAPA 500
Location Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton, Georgia
Course Permanent racing facility
Course length 1.540 miles (2.478 km)
Distance 325 laps, 500.500 mi (805.477 km)
Weather Temperatures reaching up to 64 °F (18 °C); wind speeds reaching up to 8.9 miles per hour (14.3 km/h)
Average speed 137.932 miles per hour (221.980 km/h)
Attendance 165,000[2]
Pole position
Driver Jack Roush
Time 28.617
Most laps led
Driver Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing
Laps 147
Winner
No. 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing
Television in the United States
Network ESPN
Announcers Bob Jenkins
Benny Parsons
Ned Jarrett

The 1999 NAPA 500 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series racing event held on November 21, 1999, at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia. It was the 34th and final race of the 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season.

Background

Atlanta Motor Speedway is one of ten intermediate to hold NASCAR races.[3] The standard track at Atlanta Motor Speedway is a four-turn quad-oval track that is 1.54 miles (2.48 km) long.[4] The track's turns are banked at twenty-four degrees, while the front stretch, the location of the finish line, and the back stretch are banked at five.[4]

Entry list

#[5] Driver Team Make
00 Buckshot Jones Buckshot Racing Pontiac
1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet
2 Rusty Wallace Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford
3 Dale Earnhardt Sr. Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
4 Bobby Hamilton Morgan-McClure Motorsports Chevrolet
5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
05 Morgan Shepherd Shepherd Racing Pontiac
6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford
7 Michael Waltrip Mattei Motorsports Chevrolet
8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet
9 Stacy Compton Melling Racing Ford
10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford
11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford
12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford
15 Derrike Cope Fenley-Moore Motorsports Ford
16 Kevin Lepage Roush Racing Ford
18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac
20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac
21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford
22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Pontiac
23 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford
24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
25 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
26 Johnny Benson Jr. Roush Racing Ford
28 Kenny Irwin Jr. Robert Yates Racing Ford
30 Todd Bodine Eel River Racing Pontiac
31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
33 Ken Schrader Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet
36 Jerry Nadeau MB2 Motorsports Pontiac
40 Sterling Marlin SABCO Racing Chevrolet
41 Gary Bradberry Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet
42 Joe Nemechek SABCO Racing Chevrolet
43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Pontiac
44 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac
45 David Green Tyler Jet Motorsports Pontiac
50 Ricky Craven Midwest Transit Racing Chevrolet
55 Kenny Wallace Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet
60 Geoff Bodine Joe Bessey Motorsports Chevrolet
66 Darrell Waltrip Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford
71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet
75 Hut Stricklin Galaxy Motorsports Ford
77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford
88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford
90 Ed Berrier Donlavey Racing Ford
93 Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing Pontiac
94 Bill Elliott Bill Elliott Racing Ford
97 Chad Little Roush Racing Ford
98 Rick Mast Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford
99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford

Qualifying

Pos.[6] # Driver Make Team Time Speed
1 16 Kevin Lepage Ford Roush Racing 28.617 193.731
2 1 Steve Park Chevrolet Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 28.641 193.569
3 6 Mark Martin (W) Ford Roush Racing 28.697 193.191
4 60 Geoffrey Bodine Chevrolet Joe Bessey Motorsports 28.702 193.157
5 30 Todd Bodine Pontiac Eel River Racing 28.736 192.929
6 22 Ward Burton Pontiac Bill Davis Racing 28.781 192.627
7 93 Dave Blaney (R) Pontiac Bill Davis Racing 28.831 192.293
8 7 Michael Waltrip Chevrolet Mattei Motorsports 28.842 192.220
9 41 Gary Bradberry Chevrolet Larry Hedrick Motorsports 28.887 191.920
10 88 Dale Jarrett Ford Robert Yates Racing 28.892 191.887
11 00 Buckshot Jones (R) Pontiac Buckshot Racing 28.909 191.774
12 97 Chad Little Ford Roush Racing 28.918 191.715
13 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. (R) Chevrolet Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 28.927 191.655
14 99 Jeff Burton Ford Roush Racing 28.942 191.556
15 10 Ricky Rudd Ford Rudd Performance Motorsports 28.948 191.516
16 24 Jeff Gordon (W) Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports 28.955 191.470
17 26 Johnny Benson Jr. Ford Roush Racing 28.956 191.463
18 40 Sterling Marlin Chevrolet SABCO Racing 28.967 191.390
19 2 Rusty Wallace (W) Ford Penske-Kranefuss Racing 28.977 191.324
20 33 Ken Schrader Chevrolet Andy Petree Racing 29.016 191.067
21 36 Jerry Nadeau Pontiac MB2 Motorsports 29.023 191.021
22 90 Ed Berrier (R) Ford Donlavey Racing 29.031 190.968
23 12 Jeremy Mayfield Ford Penske-Kranefuss Racing 29.034 190.949
24 23 Jimmy Spencer Ford Haas-Carter Motorsports 29.034 190.949
25 28 Kenny Irwin Jr. Ford Robert Yates Racing 29.034 190.949
26 98 Rick Mast Ford Cale Yarborough Motorsports 28.996 191.199
27 94 Bill Elliott (W) Ford Bill Elliott Racing 29.034 190.949
28 42 Joe Nemechek Chevrolet SABCO Racing 29.075 190.679
29 25 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports 29.080 190.646
30 20 Tony Stewart (R) Pontiac Joe Gibbs Racing 29.092 190.568
31 77 Robert Pressley Ford Jasper Motorsports 29.118 190.398
32 55 Kenny Wallace Chevrolet Andy Petree Racing 29.130 190.319
33 43 John Andretti Pontiac Petty Enterprises 29.141 190.247
34 21 Elliott Sadler (R) Ford Wood Brothers Racing 29.189 189.935
35 4 Bobby Hamilton Chevrolet Morgan-McClure Motorsports 29.203 189.844
36 3 Dale Earnhardt (W) Chevrolet Richard Childress Racing 29.207 189.818
Provisionals
37 18 Bobby Labonte (W) Pontiac Joe Gibbs Racing
38 31 Mike Skinner Chevrolet Richard Childress Racing
39 5 Terry Labonte Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports
40 44 Kyle Petty Pontiac Petty Enterprises
41 45 David Green Pontiac Tyler Jet Motorsports
42 11 Brett Bodine Ford Brett Bodine Racing
43 71 Dave Marcis (W) Chevrolet Marcis Auto Racing
Failed to qualify
44 66 Darrell Waltrip (W) Ford Haas-Carter Motorsports 29.414 188.482
45 15 Derrike Cope Ford Fenley-Moore Motorsports 29.459 188.194
46 75 Hut Stricklin Ford Galaxy Motorsports 29.501 187.926
47 50 Ricky Craven Chevrolet Midwest Transit Racing 29.542 187.665
48 9 Stacy Compton (R) Ford Melling Racing 29.668 186.868
49 05 Morgan Shepherd (W) Pontiac Shepherd Racing 29.935 185.201

Summary

Out of the 49 drivers who were on the entry list, only 43 drivers managed to make the race. Two of the more notable drivers who did not qualify were Darrell Waltrip and Morgan Shepherd. There were numerous accidents causing a series of yellow flags. Each green flag run was 30 laps while more than 16% of the race was run under a caution flag.[2]

Todd Bodine was the last-place finisher of this 325-lap event that lasted for a duration of three and a half hours. Kevin Lepage was the lucky pole position winner with his solo qualifying speed of 193.731 mph (311.780 km/h). A live audience of 165,000 NASCAR enthusiasts came to see 38 different lead changes along with eight cautions lasting 53 laps. The average speed of the race was clocked at 137.932 mph (221.980 km/h); with Bobby Labonte having a 2.5 second edge over Dale Jarrett.[2] In addition, the pole position was Kevin Lepage's for the only time in his NASCAR career.[7]

Chevrolet and Ford vehicles were the dominant vehicles in the lineup.[2] Ten drivers failed to finish the race, including Joe Nemechek.[2] This was the final race for Rudd Performance Motorsports and the #10 Tide ride.[2] It was also the final race for Ken Schrader in the #33 car before moving to MB2 Motorsports in 2000.[2] This was also the final race for Jerry Nadeau competing in the #36 car before making the move to Hendrick Motorsports in 2000. This was the last race without Matt Kenseth until the 2015 AAA Texas 500.[2]

Notable crew chiefs who actively participated in the race included Robin Pemberton, Larry McReynolds, Travis Carter, Todd Parrott, and Junie Donlavey.[8]

The total prize amount offered to the drivers was $2,232,402 ($4,314,520 when adjusted for inflation); the winner received $174,300 ($336,866 when adjusted for inflation) while the last-place finisher received a meager $33,507 ($64,758 when adjusted for inflation).[9]

Results

Pos[10][11] Grid Car Driver Make Team Laps Led Status Winnings
1 37 18 Bobby Labonte (W) Pontiac Joe Gibbs Racing 325 147 Running $174,300
2 10 88 Dale Jarrett Ford Robert Yates Racing 325 17 Running $94,400
3 23 12 Jeremy Mayfield Ford Penske-Kranefuss Racing 325 27 Running $75,875
4 3 6 Mark Martin (W) Ford Roush Racing 325 17 Running $75,750
5 14 99 Jeff Burton Ford Roush Racing 325 3 Running $70,000
6 12 97 Chad Little Ford Roush Racing 325 0 Running $58,800
7 15 10 Ricky Rudd Ford Rudd Performance Motorsports 325 0 Running $61,955
8 38 31 Mike Skinner Chevrolet Richard Childress Racing 325 0 Running $57,125
9 36 3 Dale Earnhardt (W) Chevrolet Richard Childress Racing 325 0 Running $54,550
10 35 4 Bobby Hamilton Chevrolet Morgan-McClure Motorsports 325 0 Running $66,265
11 6 22 Ward Burton Pontiac Bill Davis Racing 325 0 Running $55,550
12 2 1 Steve Park Chevrolet Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 325 72 Running $56,775
13 19 2 Rusty Wallace (W) Ford Penske-Kranefuss Racing 324 0 -1 Laps $53,950
14 13 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. (R) Chevrolet Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 324 1 -1 Laps $37,700
15 30 20 Tony Stewart (R) Pontiac Joe Gibbs Racing 324 1 -1 Laps $55,815
16 34 21 Elliott Sadler (R) Ford Wood Brothers Racing 324 2 -1 Laps $49,400
17 1 16 Kevin Lepage Ford Roush Racing 323 17 -2 Laps $59,980
18 4 60 Geoffrey Bodine Chevrolet Joe Bessey Motorsports 323 0 -2 Laps $40,565
19 20 33 Ken Schrader Chevrolet Andy Petree Racing 323 0 -2 Laps $40,565
20 21 36 Jerry Nadeau Pontiac MB2 Motorsports 323 0 -2 Laps $48,025
21 41 45 David Green Pontiac Tyler Jet Motorsports 323 0 -2 Laps $48,950
22 27 94 Bill Elliott (W) Ford Bill Elliott Racing 323 0 -2 Laps $39,720
23 29 25 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports 322 0 -3 Laps $45,365
24 40 44 Kyle Petty Pontiac Petty Enterprises 321 1 -4 Laps $38,150
25 22 90 Ed Berrier (R) Ford Donlavey Racing 321 0 -4 Laps $34,535
26 11 00 Buckshot Jones (R) Pontiac Buckshot Racing 321 0 -4 Laps $34,720
27 31 77 Robert Pressley Ford Jasper Motorsports 319 0 -6 Laps $37,505
28 43 71 Dave Marcis (W) Chevrolet Marcis Auto Racing 319 3 -6 Laps $34,490
29 25 28 Kenny Irwin Jr. Ford Robert Yates Racing 319 0 -6 Laps $44,530
30 42 11 Brett Bodine Ford Brett Bodine Racing 317 0 -8 Laps $44,280
31 18 40 Sterling Marlin Chevrolet SABCO Racing 314 0 -11 Laps $43,990
32 28 42 Joe Nemechek Chevrolet SABCO Racing 303 0 Engine $43,400
33 33 43 John Andretti Pontiac Petty Enterprises 242 0 Contact $48,835
34 32 55 Kenny Wallace Chevrolet Andy Petree Racing 235 0 -90 Laps $34,270
35 9 41 Gary Bradberry Chevrolet Larry Hedrick Motorsports 233 0 Engine $33,705
36 8 7 Michael Waltrip Chevrolet Mattei Motorsports 196 12 Contact T4 $41,870
37 7 93 Dave Blaney (R) Pontiac Bill Davis Racing 182 0 Contact T4 $33,600
38 16 24 Jeff Gordon (W) Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports 181 0 Engine $59,350
39 17 26 Johnny Benson Jr. Ford Roush Racing 172 4 Contact BS $40,900
40 39 5 Terry Labonte Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports 148 0 Contact T4 $48,450
41 26 98 Rick Mast Ford Cale Yarborough Motorsports 131 0 -194 Laps $35,400
42 24 23 Jimmy Spencer Ford Haas-Carter Motorsports 80 0 Contact T2 $40,350
43 5 30 Todd Bodine Pontiac Eel River Racing 42 0 Contact T2 $33,507
Failed to Qualify
66 Darrell Waltrip (W) Ford Haas-Carter Motorsports
15 Derrike Cope Ford Fenley-Moore Motorsports
75 Hut Stricklin Ford Galaxy Motorsports
50 Ricky Craven Chevrolet Midwest Transit Racing
9 Stacy Compton (R) Ford Melling Racing
05 Morgan Shepherd (W) Pontiac Shepherd Racing

References

  1. ^ Weather information for the 1999 NAPA 500 at The Old Farmers' Almanac
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Results for the 1999 NAPA 500 at Racing Reference
  3. ^ "NASCAR Race Tracks". NASCAR. Archived from the original on June 28, 2011. Retrieved September 2, 2011.
  4. ^ a b "NASCAR Tracks—The Atlanta Motor Speedway". Atlanta Motor Speedway. Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved September 2, 2011.
  5. ^ "1999 Nascar Cup Series NAPA 500 | Motorsport Stats". results.motorsportstats.com. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  6. ^ "1999 NAPA 500 qualifying results". Racing-Reference. Archived from the original on April 29, 2021.
  7. ^ Results for the 1999 NAPA 500 at Race Database
  8. ^ 1999 NAPA 500 crew chiefs information at Racing Reference
  9. ^ Prize purse information for the 1999 NAPA 500 at Fantasy Racing Cheat Sheet
  10. ^ "1999 NAPA 500 - The Third Turn". www.thethirdturn.com. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  11. ^ "1999 NAPA 500 race results". Racing-Reference. Archived from the original on April 28, 2021.