No. 4: The 1998 Daytona 500
 ©2007 Wieck Media Emotion overtook the pits and the grandstands when Dale Earnhardt won the 1998 Daytona 500. |
Margin of victory: under caution
Why it's No. 4: Earnhardt, the baddest dude in racing, was nicknamed "The Intimidator." Daytona International Speedway, however, wasn't scared -- Earnhardt had been unable to intimidate the fearsome track when things mattered most.
Heading into 1998, Earnhardt was 0-for-19 in the Daytona 500. He had been robbed of victories at the last second by blown tires, wrecks, dry gas tanks -- you name it.
As Earnhardt prepared for the 1998 Daytona 500, he said, "I don't know if I'm crazy or determined, but I'm more eager than ever."
It showed. With one lap to go in the race, Earnhardt was leading when a John Andretti crash brought out a caution flag. The field was frozen -- the race was over. Earnhardt, who had led the previous 61 laps, was about to win the Daytona 500.
As Earnhardt cruised down pit road on his way to Victory Circle, members of rival pit crews rushed out to slap his hand and offer him congratulations. Fans in the grandstands went wild. "Finally," Earnhardt said after climbing out of his car.
That said it all. At long last, the toughest driver of them all had overcome his tough luck in the Daytona 500.
Here are the top-10 finishers in the 1998 Daytona 500:
| Finish | Driver | Car | Money Won |
| 1 | Dale Earnhardt | Chevrolet | $1,059,805 |
| 2 | Bobby Labonte | Pontiac | $549,255 |
| 3 | Jeremy Mayfield | Ford | $375,705 |
| 4 | Ken Schrader | Chevrolet | $313,480 |
| 5 | Rusty Wallace | Ford | $232,705 |
| 6 | Ernie Irvan | Pontiac | $205,200 |
| 7 | Chad Little | Ford | $127,680 |
| 8 | Mike Skinner | Chevrolet | $135,705 |
| 9 | Michael Waltrip | Ford | $142,705 |
| 10 | Bill Elliott | Ford | $129,155 |
For more information on NASCAR and high-performance cars, check out:
- To learn everything you need to know about "The Great American Race" -- from its history to the technical aspects of driving at Daytona International Speedway -- read How the Daytona 500 Works.
- Ever wonder what makes a stock car go? Read How NASCAR Race Cars Work to find out.
- Driver safety is a huge concern in NASCAR. Learn what measures the series takes in this area by reading How NASCAR Safety Works.
- Muscle cars embody the NASCAR philosophy of speed and power. Here are features on more than 100 classic muscle cars, including photos and specifications for each model.
