QUALIFYING: Mark Martin took the Bud Pole Award at Darlington with a speed of 168.665mph and a time of 00:29.156sec. Points leader Rusty Wallace started in 14th position with a speed of 167.362mph and a time of 00:29.383sec. Top Ten Qualifiers: 1st-Mark Martin, 2nd-Jeff Burton, 3rd-Dale Jarrett, 4th-Dick Trickle, 5th-Kenny Irwin, 6th-Bobby Labonte, 7th-Michael Waltrip, 8th-Sterling Marlin, 9th-Ward Burton, 10th-Kevin Lepage. Notables in field: 14th-Rusty Wallace, 24th-Jeff Gordon, 27th-Dale Earnhardt, 32nd-Ken Schrader, 37th-Jeremy Mayfield, 39th-Ernie Irvan. Starting Grid
RACE: The race consisted of 5 cautions, but there was a record low of only 4 cars out of the event. On the long green flag periods, the leaders would spread out to several seconds making it more difficult for numerous drivers to try for the lead. Fords led all of the 293 laps, Jeff Gordon got as high as second, and that's where he finished. Rusty Wallace
reached the front at about Lap 40 and stayed mostly in the Top 5 for the remainder of the day leading 1 lap, and he finished 3rd. He is the only driver with a top-5 finish in every race. Late in the race, Jeremy Mayfield was able to contend for the lead, leading 25 laps and finishing in 4th. Ernie Irvan was making a great charge to the front until he spun at Lap 164 causing the 4th caution. He eventually finished the race in 36th position. Mark Martin never got his car dialed in just right to fight for the win, and Dale Earnhardt was never a major factor either. Jeff Burton
led the most laps with 195 and was the most dominate driver. However, in the last 20 laps of the race, Dale Jarrett and Gordon passed him when his car became loose. Burton went on to finish in the 5th position. Jarrett was left to hold off Gordon for the last 19 laps which he did with a 0.228sec margin of victory. Top Ten Finishers: 1st-Dale Jarrett, 2nd-Jeff Gordon, 3rd-Rusty Wallace, 4th-Jeremy Mayfield, 5th-Jeff Burton, 6th-Terry Labonte, 7th-Mark Martin, 8th-Johnny Benson, 9th-Kenny Wallace, 10th-Ted Musgrave. Notables in the field: 12th-Dale Earnhardt, 16th-Michael Waltrip, 18th-Ken Schrader, 31st-Jerry Nadeau, 36th-Ernie Irvan. Race Results
99 - Jeff Burton
Started: 2nd
Highest: 1st Laps Led: 195
Finished: 5th Lowest: 5th
Contigency Awards
76 Challenge ($83,600) - None, $91,200 at Bristol NASCAR Winston Cup Leader Bonus ($50,000) - None, $60,000 at Bristol Gatorade Front Runner Award ($10,000) -- Dale Jarrett MCI Fast Pace Award ($5,000) -- Dale Jarrett Plasti-Kote Winning Finish ($3,000) -- Todd Parrott True Value Man of the Race ($2,000) -- -Dale Jarrett Exide All Charged Up Award ($2,000) -- Jeremy Mayfield Raybestos Top-Stopper Award ($2,000) -- Dale Jarrett Goody's Headache Award ($2,500) -- Randy LaJoie Bud Pole Award ($5,000) -- Mark Martin Fastest Second-Round qualifier ($500) -- Kenny Wallace NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie of the Race ($1,000) -- Jerry Nadeau
Rookie of the Year point standings
1. Kenny Irwin - 58
2. Jerry Nadeau - 40
3. Kevin Lepage - 39
4. Steve Park - 18
RACE RECAP:
After 293 Laps
Leaders: 6
Lead Changes: 18
5 Cautions for 31 Laps
Cars Out of Race: 4 (Record)
Average Speed: 127.962mph
Winner: Dale Jarrett
Margin of Victory: 0.228sec
Time of Race: 3:07:56
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