WCUP: Ernie Irvan Notes and Quotes from Talladega
22 April 1999
"M&M’s"® Racing/Ernie Irvan Talladega Superspeedway Notes And Quotes "M&M’s" Chocolate Candies Fascinating Fact… "M&M’s" Chocolate Candies were originally somewhat larger and sold in a paper tube for five cents. Ernie Irvan’s Talladega Superspeedway Highlights… Talladega Superspeedway has been a friend to Ernie Irvan, driver of the "M&M’s" Pontiac. Irvan has been the fastest qualifier on five occasions at the 2.66-mile track, which places him third on the Talladega Superspeedway all-time list of fastest qualifiers. If he wins the pole this weekend in the "M&M’s" Pontiac, he will tie Cale Yarborough for second place on the list. Irvan’s most successful outings at Talladega Superspeedway have come in the spring event. In 10 springtime starts at the track, Irvan has captured the pole position four times, has one win, four top-five and six top-10 finishes. Irvan is looking to take the “M&M’s”® Pontiac to victory lane at Talladega for win number three. His first Talladega victory came in the fall of 1992 followed by a second win in the spring of 1993. The "M&M’s" Racing Team experienced their best qualifying effort of the 1999 season last weekend at Martinsville Speedway. The No. 36 Pontiac qualified seventh for the event, breaking the previous qualifying record. Ernie Irvan’s thoughts on racing at Talladega Superspeedway… "Once the race goes green it is important to be familiar with the characteristics of the track, especially on the big tracks. At Talladega there is so much that goes into not only being fast, but also having control. I’ve got to really have a lot of finesse with the gas pedal. Another really critical part of restrictor plate racing at the superspeedways is fuel mileage. Since the tires don’t back off very much at Talladega and Daytona, we usually need fuel before we need tires. Those are just a few things that make Talladega and Daytona unique. Restrictor plate races are always tough and the best cars are always going to win. That is pretty much true at all races, but especially at superspeedways. A slow car is not going to win at Talladega." Ernie Irvan at Talladega Superspeedway Year Event St Fin Earnings Event St Fin Earnings 1988 Winston 500 41 32 4,350 Diehard 500 31 32 3,235 1989 Winston 500 34 25 5,275 DieHard 500 33 20 7,125 1990 Winston 500 4 4 30,150 DieHard 500 16 6 16,325 1991 Winston 500 1 32 15,740 DieHard 500 3 33 13,645 1992 Winston 500 1 5 35,840 DieHard 500 7 1 81,815 1993 Winston 500 16 1 85,875 DieHard 500 2 2 53,210 1994 Winston 500 1 2 67,990 DieHard 500 5 3 47,130 1996 Winston 500 1 31 32,155 DieHard 500 6 4 44,455 1997 Winston 500 7 10 40,800 DieHard 500 1 5 57,275 1998 DieHard 500 19 6 52,080 Winston 500 20 37 35,206 Starts Wins Top Five Top 10 Poles Earnings Spring 10 1 4 6 4 370,255 Fall 10 1 5 6 1 359,421 Total 20 2 9 12 5 729,676 Ernie Irvan’s 1999 Winston Cup Cumulative Results Date Race St Fin. Earnings Status 2/14 Daytona International Speedway 31 14 $123,584 Running 2/21 North Carolina Speedway 34 29 32,675 Running 3/7 Las Vegas Motor Speedway 40 6 95,075 Running 3/14 Atlanta Motor Speedway 21 7 40,220 Running 3/21 Darlington Raceway 37 24 32,235 Running 3/28 Texas Motor Speedway 22 37 45,950 Engine 4/11 Bristol Motor Speedway 41 43 32,161 Handling 4/18 Martinsville Speedway 7 22 34,150 Running 4/25 Talladega Superspeedway 5/2 California Speedway 5/15 Richmond International Raceway 5/30 Charlotte Motor Speedway 6/ 6 Dover Downs 6/13 Michigan Speedway 6/20 Pocono Raceway 6/27 Sears Point Raceway 7/3 Daytona International Speedway 7/11 New Hampshire Intl. Speedway 7/25 Pocono Raceway 8/7 Indianapolis Motor Speedway 8/15 Watkins Glen International 8/22 Michigan Speedway 8/28 Bristol Motor Speedway 9/5 Darlington Raceway 9/11 Richmond International Raceway 9/19 New Hampshire Intl. Speedway 9/26 Dover Downs 10/ 3 Martinsville Speedway 10/10 Charlotte Motor Speedway 10/17 Talladega Superspeedway 10/24 North Carolina Motor Speedway 11/7 Phoenix International Raceway 11/14 Homestead Motorsports Complex 11/ 21 Atlanta Motor Speedway Totals: Starts Top 5 Top 10 Poles Outside Poles Money Won* 8 0 2 0 0 $458,550 *Includes non-points money
