The 1999 edition of The Winston was the second exhibition stock car race of the 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 15th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, May 22, 1999, before an audience of 120,000 in Concord, North Carolina at Lowe's Motor Speedway, a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) permanent quad-oval. The race took the scheduled 90 laps to complete. At race's end, Hendrick Motorsports driver Terry Labonte would make a late-race gamble on a pitstop, taking four tires. With five laps to go, he would charge to the front and defend the field, securing his second All-Star Race victory. To fill out the top three, Joe Gibbs Racing driver Tony Stewart and Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon would finish second and third, respectively.
In the preliminary Winston Open race, Tony Stewart was able to dominate the majority of the race to earn a spot in The Winston.
Background
Lowe's Motor Speedway is a motorsports complex located in Concord, North Carolina, United States 13 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. The complex features a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and The Winston, as well as the UAW-GM Quality 500. The speedway was built in 1959 by Bruton Smith and is considered the home track for NASCAR with many race teams located in the Charlotte area. The track is owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports Inc. (SMI) with Marcus G. Smith (son of Bruton Smith) as track president.
Format and eligibility Any driver who had won from the last season or the current season up to the race was eligible to race in The Winston. In addition, one additional driver, the winner of the Winston Open, would be added to the field.
The race remained at its 70 lap format, but for 1998, only green flag laps would count in any segment, not just the third segment.
The second ten-minute break was eliminated and replaced with caution laps, and cars would have the option of pitting for tires and fuel, at the expense of losing track position.
The inversion is changed to a random draw between 3 and 12 cars for the inversion after the first segment.
In 1998, qualifying for The Winston Open was changed. Previously it was accomplished with one-lap qualifying runs. From 1998 to 2000, the No Bull 25 Shootout twin races determined the lineups. Practice speeds (odd/even) from earlier in the day set the field for two 25-lap sprint races. The finish order for the first 25 set the odd positions for the Winston Open, and the finish order for the second 25 set the even positions for the Winston Open.
At the end of 30 laps, with only green-flag laps counting, a giant pegboard will help determine what happens next. A marker will be dropped onto the board and will settle into one of 10 slots numbered from three through 12. That will be the number of positions inverted for the start of the second segment.
Segment 1: 30 Green Flag laps (no caution laps count) Segment 2: 30 Green Flag laps (no caution laps count) / Pit stops optional (cars lose track position if they pit) Segment 3: 10 Green Flag laps (no caution laps count)
Entry list
(R) denotes rookie driver.
Winston Open #DriverTeamMake00Buckshot Jones (R)Buckshot RacingPontiac1Steve Park (R)Dale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet05Morgan ShepherdShepherd Racing VenturesPontiac9Jerry Nadeau (R)Melling RacingFord11Brett BodineBrett Bodine RacingFord14Boris SaidIrvan-Simo RacingFord16Kevin LepageRoush RacingFord20Tony Stewart (R)Joe Gibbs RacingPontiac21Elliott Sadler (R)Wood Brothers RacingFord23Jimmy SpencerHaas-Carter MotorsportsFord25Wally Dallenbach Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet26Johnny Benson Jr.Roush RacingFord28Kenny Irwin Jr.Robert Yates RacingFord30Todd BodineBahari RacingPontiac31Mike SkinnerRichard Childress RacingChevrolet33Ken SchraderAndy Petree RacingChevrolet41David GreenLarry Hedrick MotorsportsChevrolet42Joe NemechekTeam SABCOChevrolet45Rich BickleTyler Jet MotorsportsPontiac46Frank KimmelLarry Clement RacingChevrolet50Dan PardusMidwest Transit RacingChevrolet55Kenny WallaceAndy Petree RacingChevrolet58Ricky CravenSBIII MotorsportsFord71Dave MarcisMarcis Auto RacingChevrolet75Ted MusgraveButch Mock MotorsportsFord77Robert PressleyJasper MotorsportsFord80Andy HillenburgHover MotorsportsFord90Hut StricklinDonlavey RacingFord97Chad LittleRoush RacingFord98Rick MastCale Yarborough MotorsportsFord
The Winston #DriverTeamMakeQualification2Rusty WallacePenske-Kranefuss RacingFordTwo race wins in 1998 and 19993Dale EarnhardtRichard Childress RacingChevroletTwo race wins in 1998 and 19994Bobby HamiltonMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevroletOne race win in 19985Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevroletTwo race wins in 1998 and 19996Mark MartinRoush RacingFordEight race wins in 1998 and 19997Michael WaltripMattei MotorsportsChevroletPrevious All-Star Race winner (1996 NASCAR All-Star Race winner)10Ricky RuddRudd Performance MotorsportsFordOne race win in 199812Jeremy MayfieldPenske-Kranefuss RacingFordOne race win in 199818Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingPontiacTwo race wins in 199822Ward BurtonBill Davis RacingPontiacRace winner from a previous year (1995 AC Delco 400)24Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevroletSixteen race wins in 1998 and 199936Ernie IrvanMB2 MotorsportsPontiacRace winner from a previous year (1997 Miller 400)40Sterling MarlinTeam SABCOChevroletRace winner from a previous year (1996 Winston Select 500 & 1996 Pepsi 400)43John AndrettiPetty EnterprisesPontiacOne race win in 199944Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesPontiacRace winner from a previous year (1995 Miller Genuine Draft 500)60Geoff BodineJoe Bessey RacingChevroletPrevious All-Star Race winner (1994 NASCAR All-Star Race winner)66Darrell WaltripHaas-Carter MotorsportsFordPast Champion (1981, 1982, and 1985 Cup Series Champion)88Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFordFour wins in 1998 and 199994Bill ElliottBill Elliott RacingFordPast Champion (1988 Cup Series Champion)99Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFordFour wins in 1998 and 1999Official The Winston entry list
Winston Open practice
First Winston Open practice and No Bull 25s lineup The first Winston Open was held on Friday, May 21, at 1:00 PM EST. The session would last for 50 minutes. The speeds from the practice session would determine the lineups for the No Bull 25 races, the qualifying races for the Winston Open. Odd position drivers in the session would be placed in Race #1, and even position drivers would be placed in Race #2. Steve Park, driving for Dale Earnhardt, Inc., would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.621 and an average speed of , thus earning the pole for Race #1. Meanwhile, Joe Gibbs Racing driver Tony Stewart would earn the pole in Race #2, earning the second fastest time in the session.
Race #1 Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed11Steve ParkDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet29.621182.303231Mike SkinnerRichard Childress RacingChevrolet29.728181.647341David GreenLarry Hedrick MotorsportsChevrolet29.871180.777423Jimmy SpencerHaas-Carter MotorsportsFord29.948180.313533Ken SchraderAndy Petree RacingChevrolet30.018179.892611Brett BodineBrett Bodine RacingFord30.077179.539721Elliott Sadler (R)Wood Brothers RacingFord30.114179.319800Buckshot Jones (R)Buckshot RacingPontiac30.127179.241975Ted MusgraveButch Mock MotorsportsFord30.192178.8551045Rich BickleTyler Jet MotorsportsPontiac30.208178.7611126Johnny Benson Jr.Roush RacingFord30.305178.1881290Hut StricklinDonlavey RacingFord30.419177.5211314Boris SaidIrvan-Simo RacingFord30.495177.0781471Dave MarcisMarcis Auto RacingChevrolet30.815175.2391580Andy HillenburgHover MotorsportsFord30.850175.041Official No Bull 25 Race #1 lineup
Race #2 Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed120Tony Stewart (R)Joe Gibbs RacingPontiac29.693181.86129Jerry NadeauMelling RacingFord29.798181.220325Wally Dallenbach Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet29.900180.602428Kenny Irwin Jr.Robert Yates RacingFord29.953180.282598Rick MastCale Yarborough MotorsportsFord30.045179.730697Chad LittleRoush RacingFord30.087179.480742Joe NemechekTeam SABCOChevrolet30.116179.307855Kenny WallaceAndy Petree RacingChevrolet30.179178.932977Robert PressleyJasper MotorsportsFord30.198178.8201058Ricky CravenSBIII MotorsportsFord30.292178.2651116Kevin LepageRoush RacingFord30.306178.1831230Derrike CopeBahari RacingPontiac30.428177.4681346Frank KimmelLarry Clement RacingChevrolet30.632176.2861405Morgan ShepherdShepherd Racing VenturesPontiac30.846175.0631550Dan PardusMidwest Transit RacingChevrolet30.870174.927Official No Bull 25 Race #2 lineup
Second Winston Open practice The second practice for the Winston Open was held on Saturday, May 22, at 1:00 PM EST. The session would last for 40 minutes. Jimmy Spencer, driving for Haas-Carter Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 30.524 and an average speed of . Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed123Jimmy SpencerHaas-Carter MotorsportsFord30.524176.910271Dave MarcisMarcis Auto RacingChevrolet30.595176.499328Kenny Irwin Jr.Robert Yates RacingFord30.644176.217Full second Winston Open practice results
Final Winston Open practice The final practice for the Winston Open was held on Saturday, May 22, at 2:30 PM EST. The session would last for 40 minutes. Robert Pressley, driving for Jasper Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 30.523 and an average speed of . Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed177Robert PressleyJasper MotorsportsFord30.523176.91621Steve Park (R)Dale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet30.548176.771371Dave MarcisMarcis Auto RacingChevrolet30.580176.586Full Happy Hour Winston Open practice results
The Winston practice
First practice The first practice for The Winston was held on Friday, May 21, at 10:30 AM EST. The session would last for 55 minutes. Mark Martin, driving for Roush Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.613 and an average speed of . Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed16Mark MartinRoush RacingFord29.613182.352212Jeremy MayfieldPenske-Kranefuss RacingFord29.674181.977324Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet29.720181.696Full first The Winston practice results
Second practice The second practice for The Winston was held on Friday, May 21, at 2:10 PM EST. The session would last for one hour and 45 minutes. Jeff Gordon, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.643 and an average speed of . Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed124Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet29.643182.168212Jeremy MayfieldPenske-Kranefuss RacingFord29.665182.03332Rusty WallacePenske-Kranefuss RacingFord29.731181.629Full second The Winston practice results
Third practice The third practice for The Winston was held on Friday, May 21, after the preliminary No Bull 25 races. The session would last for 30 minutes. Bobby Labonte, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 30.165 and an average speed of . Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed118Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac30.165179.015294Bill ElliottBill Elliott RacingFord30.327178.05936Mark MartinRoush RacingFord30.354177.901Full third The Winston practice results
Fourth practice The fourth practice for The Winston was held on Saturday, May 22, at 1:45 PM EST. The session would last for 55 minutes. Ward Burton, driving for Bill Davis Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 30.387 and an average speed of . Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed122Ward BurtonBill Davis RacingPontiac30.387177.70826Mark MartinRoush RacingFord30.429177.46232Rusty WallacePenske-Kranefuss RacingFord30.471177.218Full fourth The Winston practice results
Final practice The final practice for The Winston was held on Saturday, May 22, at 3:15 PM EST. The session would last for 45 minutes. Jeff Gordon, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 30.377 and an average speed of .