| Race details | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 14 of 33 in the1998 NASCAR Winston Cup Series | |||
 The 1998 Miller Lite 400 program cover, featuringRusty Wallace. | |||
| Date | June 14, 1998 | ||
| Official name | 30th Annual Miller Lite 400 | ||
| Location | Brooklyn, Michigan,Michigan International Speedway | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||
| Course length | 2 miles (3.2 km) | ||
| Distance | 200 laps, 400 mi (643.737 km) | ||
| Scheduled distance | 200 laps, 400 mi (643.737 km) | ||
| Average speed | 158.695 miles per hour (255.395 km/h) | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Bill Davis Racing | ||
| Time | 39.656 | ||
| Most laps led | |||
| Driver | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | |
| Laps | 132 | ||
| Winner | |||
| No. 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | |
| Television in the United States | |||
| Network | CBS | ||
| Announcers | Ken Squier,Dick Berggren,Buddy Baker | ||
| Radio in the United States | |||
| Radio | Motor Racing Network | ||
The1998 Miller Lite 400 was the 14thstock car race of the1998 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 30th iteration of theevent. The race was held on Sunday, June 14, 1998, inBrooklyn, Michigan, atMichigan International Speedway, a two-mile (3.2 km) moderate-banked D-shapedspeedway. The race took the scheduled 200 laps to complete. In the late stages of the race,Roush Racing driverMark Martin was able to dominate to take his 26th careerNASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his fourth of the season.[1][2] To fill out the podium,Robert Yates Racing driverDale Jarrett andHendrick Motorsports driverJeff Gordon would finish second and third, respectively.
The race was held at Michigan International Speedway, a two-mile (3.2 km) moderate-banked D-shapedspeedway located inBrooklyn, Michigan. The track is used primarily forNASCAR events. It is known as a "sister track" toTexas World Speedway as MIS's oval design was a direct basis of TWS, with moderate modifications to the banking in the corners, and was used as the basis ofAuto Club Speedway. The track is owned byInternational Speedway Corporation. Michigan International Speedway is recognized as one of motorsports' premier facilities because of its wide racing surface and high banking (by open-wheel standards; the 18-degree banking is modest by stock car standards).
The first practice session was held on the afternoon of Friday, June 12.Ward Burton, driving forBill Davis Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 39.678 and an average speed of 181.461 mph (292.033 km/h).[3]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 39.678 | 181.461 |
| 2 | 98 | Rich Bickle | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 39.736 | 181.196 |
| 3 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 39.741 | 181.173 |
| Full first practice results | ||||||
The final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on the afternoon of Friday, June 13.Jeff Burton, driving forRoush Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 39.985 and an average speed of 180.068 mph (289.791 km/h).[4]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 39.985 | 180.068 |
| 2 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 40.089 | 179.600 |
| 3 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 40.133 | 179.403 |
| Full Happy Hour practice results | ||||||
Ward Burton, driving forBill Davis Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 39.656 and an average speed of 181.561 miles per hour (292.194 km/h).[5]
Four drivers would fail to qualify:Derrike Cope,Tony Raines,Dave Marcis, andTodd Bodine.
The Miller Lite 400 was covered byCBS in the United States for the sixteenth straight year.Mike Joy, two-timeNASCAR Cup Series championNed Jarrett and1979 race winnerBuddy Baker called the race from the broadcast booth.Dick Berggren,Ralph Sheheen andBill Stephens handled pit road for the television side.Ken Squier would serve as host.
| CBS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Host | Booth announcers | Pit reporters | |
| Lap-by-lap | Color-commentators | ||
| Ken Squier | Mike Joy | Ned Jarrett Buddy Baker | Dick Berggren Ralph Sheheen Bill Stephens |
| Previous race: 1998 Pontiac Excitement 400 | NASCAR Winston Cup Series 1998 season | Next race: 1998 Pocono 500 |