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Diehard 500 Preview
Posted: Saturday April 24, 1999 03:24 PM
Date: April 25, 1999 Site: Talladega Superspeedway, Talladega, Alabama Race: No. 9 of 34 on Winston Cup circuit TV: ABC, 1 p.m. EDT Laps: 188 Track length: 2.66 miles Race length: 500 miles Banking: 33 degrees Qualifying record: Bill Elliott, 212.809 mph, 1987 Race record: Mark Martin, 188.354 mph, 1997
DRIVERS TO WATCHJohn Andretti -- Overcame a spin on lap 48 that dropped him off the lead lap. Powered his way to victory at Martinsville last Sunday. Led just the final four of the 500 laps. Became the sixth different winner this season and gave Pontiac its first victory in 1999. Improved from 20th to 14th in the standings. After finishes of third and fourth at Talladega two years ago, he performed poorly last season -- finishing 33rd in this race and 21st in the Winston 500. Jeff Burton -- Model of consistency after eight races. Since finishing 35th at Daytona 500, has placed in the top seven in all races, including two wins. Looked to be on his way to a third win at Martinsville, but was passed by John Andretti with four laps to go and settled for second. Leads the Winston Cup standings by 85 points over Dale Jarrett. Engine failure cut short his day after 51 laps at this race last spring, but he improved to a 10th in the fall. Dale Earnhardt -- Has posted just one victory in the last 100 races, the 1998 Daytona 500. Leads all drivers with seven wins at Talladega, five of those in the DieHard 500. The last time he led a race was at Rockingham last November. Has just one top five -- a second at Daytona -- and three other top 10s this year. Has 19 top-fives among 23 top-10s at this track. Bill Elliott -- Will be looking for his first victory in this race since 1987, when he set the qualifying record that still stands -- 212.809 mph. The race was then known as the Winston 500. Leads all drivers with four poles for the DieHard 500. Also won the Winston race in 1985. Was involved in a nasty crash on lap 142 last spring, when his car temporarily flipped over as flames shot from the hood. Appeared woozy, but refused a stretcher and walked away. Jeff Gordon -- His lone victory at Talladega came in the 1996 DieHard 500. Was fifth and second, respectively, in last season's two races at Talladega. Coming off a third-place finish at Martinsville, his third of the season. Has two wins. Currently is fourth with 1,110 points. Dale Jarrett -- Consistent season with five top-five finishes, but no victories. Is second in the standings with 1,154 points. Was third here and won the Winston 500 in October for first win at Talladega in 24 starts. Has three restrictor-plate wins. Bobby Labonte -- Drove to his first-ever win at Talladega from the pole in last spring's DieHard 500. Was second to his brother, Terry, the year before, but this time passed him with two laps to go and held off Jimmy Spencer to the finish. Slipped to fifth in the standings after lower finishes in the last two races. Has top-10 finishes in five races. Terry Labonte -- Finished fourth and third in the two races at Talladega last year. Won this race in 1989 and 1997. Has 20 top-10s and 12 top-fives here. The 1996 champion is sixth in the standings. Won at the Primestar 500 in Texas. Sterling Marlin -- Won second straight race at Talladega in spring of 1996. Had respectable finishes of ninth and 14th in 1998. Always a threat on superspeedways. Thirteen top 10s and nine top fives in 32 career starts at Talladega. Mark Martin -- Struggled in both races at Talladega last season with finishes of 23rd and 34th. Won races at this track in 1995 and 1997. Set the track record at 188.354 mph in 1997. Five top fives, including a win, put him third in points with 1,115. Darrell Waltrip -- Owns four career victories at Talladega, second only to Earnhardt's seven. Pulled off a sweep of the 1982 races, which marked his last wins here. Has 14 top fives and 18 top 10s here in his illustrious career. 1998 Top 10 Finishers
1. Bobby Labonte (18), Pontiac Past Champions (Note: Race held in the fall between 1969-97)
1998 Bobby Labonte, Pontiac 163.439 mph
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