Skinner and Martin Winners in Qualifier and Shootout
7 February 1999
Daytona Beach, FL-February 7, 1999
Under absolutely perfect race conditions for the Bud Shoot-Out Qualifier 25 lap race, Mike Skinner made all the right moves to take the victory. Assuming the lead on lap 12, Skinner in the Lowe's #31 Chevrolet, had the power to drive just about any racing line that he wanted. Robert Pressley, who finished second in the #77 Jasper Engines Ford ran a very strong race but could not find a drafting partner. The main reason Pressley could not find a drafting partner was the fact that following in third was Steve Park in the #1 Pennzoil Chevrolet that is owned by Teresa Earnhardt. For Pressley it was like being the main course in a Childress/Earnhardt sandwich.
The field of 15 cars led by pole-sitter Geoffrey Bodine thundered into Turn 1 and began sorting the running order. Bodine was quickly passed by Robert Pressley leading into Turn 3 on the first lap. Pressley, making a strong move in the Jasper Engines Ford displayed some horsepower and driving finesse that Pressley is hoping to show during the Daytona 500. Pressley held the lead for 9 laps until the mandatory pit stops. All of the competitors except Morgan Shepard and Dan Pardus pitted on lap 10.
The format in each of the 25-lap races is that somewhere around lap 10-15 the teams have to pit and change at least two tires. The #31 Lowe's Chevrolet team was able to get Skinner in and out of the pits under 11 seconds. Remarkable. On lap 12 Skinner made a run for the lead. The running order became a breakaway group of Skinner, Pressley and Park with Elliott and Nemechek slugging it out for fourth place honors. Also making a great showing in the Square D Chevrolet was Kenny Wallace.
For Skinner the race was a victory that removed a huge boulder off of Skinner's shoulders.. In yesterday's qualifying Skinner was asked the question about his chances to win the Daytona 500. Skinner replied "that we might not win the Daytona 500, but it will not be for a lack of preparation." Working for a Richard Childress team is like working for the Dallas Cowboys-Excellence is Expected! Skinner has been methodically working his way up the Winston Cup ladder and learning all the while. Maybe the victory is a good omen for next Sunday's Daytona 500.
The Bud Shoot-Out did not start out very good for Rusty Wallace, became even worse for Jeff Gordon but was terrific for Mark Martin. Wallace, the pole sitter in the #2 Miller Lite Taurus missed the driver's introduction which meant that he would be moved to the back of the pack for the start. Wallace tried to make up for lost ground but could never close the gap on the lead-pack of cars. For Gordon, the missing of a pit box cost him about $100,000. For race winner Mark Martin, the victory could very well be a sign that better times are waiting for this patient man.
The race started out with Kenny Irwin in the #28 Texaco-Havoline Ford leading the 15 car field to the starting line. Irwin's good fortune of leading the race was lost on the next lap to a very determined Rick Mast, that while sponsorless is having a great week at Daytona. Mast and Schrader exchanged the lead over the next three laps. Then Gordon made a move just before the teams were going to come in for their mandatory pitstops. The pitstop for Gordon was routine except for one thing. Gordon had overheated his brakes and missed the pitbox. The infraction cost him a full lap and removed Gordon from any consideration for contesting for the win.
Mark Martin in the #6 Valvoline sponsored Ford inherited the lead during the pitstops. Martin was absolutely dominant during the next 15 laps defeating Schrader by .215seconds. Bobby Labonte came in third with Mike Skinner finishing in fourth.
The Bud Shoot-Out is really nothing more than a test session for these drivers. Yes the money and prestige of winning are important. But it is the first real taste of racing combat that the drivers get during the week. After the teeth smashing, rib kicking time called qualifying the driver's look forward to going back and testing race set-ups for the big prize called the Daytona 500.
David Treffer -- The Auto Channel
BUD SHOOTOUT
DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 7, 1999
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS
FIN STR CAR
POS POS NO. DRIVER TEAM/CAR LAPS *Winnings Status
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 13 6 Mark Martin Valvoline Ford 25 $108,000 Running
2 4 33 Ken Schrader Skoal Racing Chevrolet 25 $54,000 Running
3 9 18 Bobby Labonte Interstate Pontiac 25 $42,500 Running
4 15 31 Mike Skinner Lowe's Chevrolet 25 $61,600 Running
5 7 12 Jeremy Mayfield Mobil 1 Ford 25 $30,000 Running
6 11 22 Ward Burton Caterpillar Pontiac 25 $27,000 Running
7 1 2 Rusty Wallace Miller Lite Ford 25 $26,000 Running
8 14 88 Dale Jarrett Quality Care Ford 25 $25,500 Running
9 3 98 Rick Mast Budweiser Ford 25 $25,000 Running
10 2 28 Kenny Irwin Texaco Havoline Ford 25 $24,500 Running
11 10 4 Bobby Hamilton Kodak Film Chevrolet 25 $24,000 Running
12 6 58 Rick Craven Hollywood Video Ford 25 $23,500 Running
13 5 30 Derrike Cope Jimmy Dean Pontiac 25 $23,000 Running
14 12 36 Ernie Irvan M & M's Pontiac 25 $22,500 Running
15 8 24 Jeff Gordon DuPont Chevrolet 10 $22,000 Not running
TIME OF RACE: 20 min. 38 sec.
AVERAGE SPEED: 181.745 mph
MARGIN OF VICTORY: 0.215 sec
LEAD CHANGES: 6 LEAD CHANGES AMONG 5 DRIVERS
RECAP OF LEAD CHANGES:
Car Laps
28 1
98 2-6
33 7
98 8
24 9
6 10-25
* Includes $26,600 won in Qualifying race
