NASCAR WCUP: Pepsi 400 Race Wrap Up Notes and Tidbits
24 August 1999
Winner: Bobby LabonteTeam: Interstate Batteries Pontiac
* Bobby Labonte won the Pepsi 400 presented by Meijer at Michigan Speedway, his fourth victory in 1999. It is his 11th career victory in 212 NASCAR Winston Cup races. His most recent victory came at Pocono, three races earlier. It was his 16th top-10 finish, including 15 top-fives, in 22 races this season. He moved into sole possession of 42nd place on the all-time winners list.
* This was Labontes third victory in 15 races at Michigan and his seventh consecutive finish of ninth or better here.
* Labonte led four times for 46 laps. He has led in 19 of the 22 races and is the only driver to lead a lap in every superspeedway race this season.
* Jeff Gordon led 73 of the 200 laps raced, the most of all drivers. It was the fifth time that he has led the most laps in a race this season.
* This was the first victory at Michigan for Pontiac since Rusty Wallace won in August 1989.
* Ford continues to lead the manufacturers points race with 10 victories and 154 points. Chevrolet has seven victories and 137 points while Pontiac has five victories and 127 points.
NOTEBOOK ITEMS...
* The NASCAR Winston Cup Leader bonus is worth $30,000 for next weeks at Bristol.
* Dale Jarrett holds a 314-point lead over second-place Mark Martin, again expanding his lead to the biggest point margin of the 1999 season. This is the 10th straight race that Jarrett has added to his point lead.
* Of the top-five drivers in the NASCAR Winston Cup point standings, points leader Dale Jarrett has earned the least number of lap/leader bonus points.
* Jarretts lead is not insurmountable. Alan Kulwicki overcame a 278-point deficit with six races remaining in 1992 and won the NASCAR Winston Cup championship by a mere 10 points over Bill Elliott.
* Jeff Gordon (second) scored his 15th top-10 finish this season. He has finished sixth or better in 12 of his 14 races at Michigan. Tony Stewart (third) scored his career-best finish and his 14th top-10 finish in 1999. He was the highest finishing rookie for the 21st time this season.
* Dale Jarrett (fourth) scored his 18th top-five finish in 1999 and his fifth consecutive top-five finish at Michigan.
* Jimmy Spencer (eighth) scored his second top-10 finish in 1999. It was his third top-10 finish in 19 races at Michigan.
* Hut Stricklin (ninth) posted his first top-10 finish since he finished 10th at New Hampshire in September 1997.
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