Failed to qualify: 19-Tony Raines, 30-Derrike Cope, 35-Todd Bodine, 71-Dave Marcis This race would begin Jeff Gordon's stretch of 17 consecutive top 5 finishes, and 20 consecutive top 10 finishes, which both stand as All-Time NASCAR records as of 2021. Wally Dallenbach Jr. drove the No. 50 Chevrolet in place of Randy LaJoie, who had Busch Grand National obligations at Pikes Peak International Raceway in his No. 74 Chevrolet. Pocono 500 The Pocono 500 was run on June 21 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. Jeff Gordon won the pole. The race was broadcast on TNN. Top Ten Results 12-Jeremy Mayfield* 24-Jeff Gordon 88-Dale Jarrett 99-Jeff Burton 6-Mark Martin 1-Darrell Waltrip 50-Wally Dallenbach Jr. 3-Dale Earnhardt 40-Sterling Marlin 23-Jimmy Spencer Failed to qualify: 00-Buckshot Jones, 71-Dave Marcis This was Jeremy Mayfield's 1st career Winston Cup victory. In order to procure the victory, Mayfield had to overtake the No. 1 Chevrolet of Darrell Waltrip, Mayfield's idol. Final career top 10 finish for Darrell Waltrip. The race was interrupted by a 71-minute red flag for rain. Final race for Todd Bodine as ISM Racing's driver; as following his failure to qualify for the 1998 Save Mart/Kragen 350 - the 8th race that ISM Racing failed to qualify for - and with only one Top 10 finish at the Primestar 500 in Atlanta; Bodine was released by the team. Save Mart/Kragen 350 The Save Mart/Kragen 350 was run on June 28 in Sonoma, California. Jeff Gordon won the pole. The race was broadcast on ESPN. Top Ten Results 24-Jeff Gordon 4-Bobby Hamilton 43-John Andretti 18-Bobby Labonte 2-Rusty Wallace 6-Mark Martin 40-Sterling Marlin 75-Rick Mast* 28-Kenny Irwin Jr. 41-Steve Grissom Failed to qualify: 35-Todd Bodine, 46-Tommy Kendall*, 58-Chris Raudman, 70-Rick Ware, 71-Dave Marcis During the weekend, Kevin Lepage signed a contract with Roush Racing to replace Ted Musgrave in the No. 16 Ford after The Bud at The Glen. After learning of the deal, Lepage was dropped by LJ Racing after 2nd round qualifying. The car still made the field in 42nd starting spot through a provisional. Tommy Kendall was tapped to drive the car in the race and drove up from the back of the field to finish 16th. To try to get Rick Mast some confidence coming into Sears Point, the Butch Mock Racing team gave Rick the nickname "Nigel Mast," after the former Formula One World Champion Nigel Mansell. It was designed to