NASCAR: MBNA Platinum 400 Race Wrap Up
6 June 1999
Todays Winner: Bobby LabonteTeam: Interstate Batteries Pontiac
Bobby Labonte won the MBNA Platinum 400 at Dover Downs International Speedway, his first victory in 1999. It is his eighth career victory in 203 NASCAR Winston Cup races. His most recent victory came in the 1998 DieHard 500 at Talladega, 37 races ago. It is his 10th top-10 finish, including nine top-fives, in 13 races this season.
Labonte became the ninth different race winner in 13 races in 1999.
This is Labontes first victory in 13 races at Dover. Labonte has finished ninth or better in eight of the last nine races at Dover.
Labonte became the 10th different winner in the 10 NASCAR Winston Cup spring races at Dover since 1990.
Labonte led 44 of the 400 laps today. He did not lead the most laps.
This is the fourth straight race at Dover that the winner has started from a top-five starting position. Three of the last four races at Dover have been won from the Bud Pole.
Labonte is the only driver to lead at least one lap in 12 of the 13 races this season.
This is the second victory for Pontiac this season. Ford has six victories and Chevrolet has five.
NOTEBOOK ITEMS...
The NASCAR Winston Cup Leader bonus will be worth $30,000 for the K-Mart 400 at Michigan.
Dale Jarrett leads the NASCAR Winston Cup point standings by 51 points over second-place Jeff Burton. The top five in the point standings are separated by 284 points.
Jeff Gordon (second) has scored three finishes of 31st or worse, a victory at California and a second-place finish in his last five races. Gordon has finished seventh or better in eight of his last nine races Dover.
Mark Martin (third) posted his ninth top-five finish in 1999. Martin has finished seventh or better, including two victories, in the last six races at Dover, extending a streak that began here in September 1996.
Tony Stewart (fourth) scored his sixth top-10 finish this season and for the third time in the last four races equaled his career best finish. Stewart has been the highest finishing rookie in 12 of the 13 races this season. He remained fifth in the NASCAR Winston Cup point standings, his career-high points position.
Dale Jarrett (fifth) scored his 10th straight top-10 finish this season, extending a streak that began Atlanta.
Tony Stewart led 127 of the 400 laps raced, the first time in his career that he has led the most laps in a race. He became the sixth different driver to lead the most laps in a race this season.
Johnny Benson (seventh) scored his first top-10 finish this season. It was his first top-10 finish since he finished ninth at Phoenix last fall.
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