1998 Pepsi 400 presented by DeVilbiss

{{Short description|21st race of the 1998 NASCAR Winston Cup Series}}

{{Infobox NASCAR race report|Type=NASWINSTON|Location=Brooklyn, Michigan, Michigan International Speedway|Distance_mi=400|Pole_Time=39.255|Scheduled_km=643.737|Distance_km=643.737|Scheduled_laps=200|Distance_laps=200|Course_km=3.2|Scheduled_mi=400|Course_mi=2|Avg={{convert|151.995|mph|km/h}}|Year=1998|Date=August 16|Race_Name=Pepsi 400 presented by DeVilbiss|Official_name=29th Annual Pepsi 400 presented by DeVilbiss|Caption=The 1998 Pepsi 400 presented by DeVilbiss program cover, featuring Mark Martin.|Radio=Motor Racing Network|Race_No=21|Season_No=33|Car=24|Most_laps=115|Pole_Team=MB2 Motorsports|Pole_Driver=Ernie Irvan|First_Driver=Jeff Gordon|Most_Driver=Ernie Irvan|Most_Team=MB2 Motorsports|First_Team=Hendrick Motorsports|Network=NASCAR on ESPN|Announcers=Bob Jenkins, Ned Jarrett, Benny Parsons|Image=1998_Pepsi_400_presented_by_DeVilbiss.jpg}}

The 1998 Pepsi 400 presented by DeVilbiss was the 21st stock car race of the 1998 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 29th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, August 16, 1998, in Brooklyn, Michigan, at Michigan International Speedway, a two-mile (3.2 km) moderate-banked D-shaped speedway. The race took the scheduled 200 laps to complete. Within the closing laps of the race, Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon was able to take the lead with ten to go to take his 37th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory, his eighth of the season, and his fourth consecutive victory up to that point.{{Cite web |last=Poole |first=David |date=August 16, 1998 |title=Gordon wins stunning 4th race in row |url=http://www.thatsracin.com/98/0816/0817lede.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000817234840/http://www.thatsracin.com/98/0816/0817lede.htm |archive-date=August 17, 2000 |access-date=September 12, 2022 |website=That's Racin' |publisher=The Charlotte Observer}}{{Cite news |last=Atkins |first=Harry |date=August 17, 1998 |title=Gordon wins fourth straight |pages=55 |work=Citizens' Voice |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109423938/gordon-wins-fourth-straight/ |access-date=September 12, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}} To fill out the podium, Joe Gibbs Racing driver Bobby Labonte and Robert Yates Racing driver Dale Jarrett would finish second and third, respectively.

Background

File:Michigan_International_Speedway_track_map.png, the venue where the race was held.]]

The race was held at Michigan International Speedway, a two-mile (3.2 km) moderate-banked D-shaped speedway located in Brooklyn, Michigan. The track is used primarily for NASCAR events. It is known as a "sister track" to Texas World Speedway as MIS's oval design was a direct basis of TWS, with moderate modifications to the banking in the corners, and was used as the basis of Auto Club Speedway. The track is owned by International Speedway Corporation. Michigan International Speedway is recognized as one of motorsports' premier facilities because of its wide racing surface and high banking (by open-wheel standards; the 18-degree banking is modest by stock car standards).