at Pocono since the track was repaved; the lead changed two to three times a lap on some ten separate laps during the race's first half, primarily between Gordon, Hut Stricklin, and Derrike Cope. Miller 400 (Michigan) The Miller 400 was run on June 23 at Michigan Speedway. The #43 of Bobby Hamilton won the pole. Top ten results 2-Rusty Wallace 5-Terry Labonte 4-Sterling Marlin 23-Jimmy Spencer 28-Ernie Irvan 24-Jeff Gordon 6-Mark Martin 16-Ted Musgrave 3-Dale Earnhardt 88-Dale Jarrett No DNQ Pepsi 400 The Pepsi 400 was run on July 6 at Daytona International Speedway. Jeff Gordon started on the pole. The race was shortened to 117 laps due to rain. Top ten results 4-Sterling Marlin 5-Terry Labonte 24-Jeff Gordon 3-Dale Earnhardt 28-Ernie Irvan 88-Dale Jarrett 21-Michael Waltrip 25-Ken Schrader 11-Brett Bodine 23-Jimmy Spencer Failed to qualify: 57-Steve Seligman Bill Elliott returned in this race from his broken femur suffered back at Talladega. Morning rain delayed the start for 3 hours. After only 117 of 160 laps, the race was red-flagged and ended for rain once again. Jiffy Lube 300 The Jiffy Lube 300 was run on July 14 at New Hampshire International Speedway. The #41 of Ricky Craven won the pole. Top ten results 28-Ernie Irvan 88-Dale Jarrett 10-Ricky Rudd 99-Jeff Burton 33-Robert Pressley 5-Terry Labonte 2-Rusty Wallace 25-Ken Schrader 30-Johnny Benson 21-Michael Waltrip Failed to qualify: 19-Loy Allen Jr. This was Ernie Irvan's 1st victory since his comeback from his near-fatal injuries at Michigan in 1994. Miller 500 (Pocono) The Miller 500 was run on July 21 at Pocono Raceway. Mark Martin won the pole. Top ten results 2-Rusty Wallace 10-Ricky Rudd 88-Dale Jarrett 28-Ernie Irvan 30-Johnny Benson 4-Sterling Marlin 24-Jeff Gordon 9-Lake Speed 6-Mark Martin 12-Derrike Cope No DNQ DieHard 500 The DieHard 500 was run on July 28 at Talladega Superspeedway. The #98 of Jeremy Mayfield won the pole. The race was shortened to 129 laps due to darkness. Top ten results 24-Jeff Gordon 88-Dale Jarrett 6-Mark Martin 28-Ernie Irvan 23-Jimmy Spencer 7-Geoff Bodine 99-Jeff Burton 18-Bobby Labonte 17-Darrell Waltrip 2-Rusty Wallace Failed to qualify: 97-Chad Little The race started late due to rain delays, and was marred by "The Big One" on lap 117 that injured Dale Earnhardt after he, Ernie Irvan and Sterling Marlin got together, sending Earnhardt and Marlin head-on into the tri-oval wall at approximately 200 miles per hour. Earnhardt flipped onto