NAPA Auto Care 500 Live Report by Kathy Burkhart

It is very difficult to sit directly across from the Jimmy Dean Pit, and not see Mr. Cope, but all in all it was a beautiful day for a race with the temperature around 80 degrees.After tailgating for four hours, the race started at 1:07 p.m. after three "hot laps".

#75, Ted Musgrave took the lead for the first couple of laps when Joe Nemechek #42 charged ahead. First caution flag flew when a bump and an apology came from #20 Tony Stewart to #28 Kenny Irwin.

When the race resumed on lap #82, #55 Kenny Wallace took the lead, but the crowd's attention was totally on #3 Dale Earnhardt who was quickly working his way through the traffic. He was battling a case of the stomach flu. Can you imagine if he was 100%.

At Lap #132 Kenny Irwin spins out again, and again he's claiming it to be a tap from Tony Stewart for the second yellow flag. The third caution came at Lap #146, when Stewart, Irwin, and #11 Brett Bodine collided. Tempers are really flared with Stewart waiting for Irwin to circle the track. He flung his heat guards from his shoes at #28's windshield. He then reached into the open right side window, and tried to take a swipe at 
Irwin, which only made Irwin speed up, momentarily dragging Stewart with him. Stewart said, "It's the same thing when we ran sprints. He didn't like to be behind me then either". Irwin says, "I just treated him like he treated me". It was expected the NASCAR would reprimand both drivers after viewing the videotapes on Monday.

Lap #155 a new face in #40 Sterling Marlin was leading. He was passed on Lap #157 by #31 Mike Skinner who went on to lead a the halfway at Lap #250. The race went to a slower pace on Lap #288 when #4 Bobby Hamilton, #9 Rich Bickle, and #43 John Andretti tangled on Turn Four. Lap #312 racing resumes with #18 Bobby Labonte leads after the pit stops. Caution #5 came for allowance of an ambulance to enter. There are no tunnels at the Martinsville Track. The speedway was opened in 1947 with 750 seats overlooking a dirt oval.

Lap #383 still had B. Labonte in the lead after yellow flag pits. Caution #6 at Lap #403 occurred to let the Emergency Vehicle leave the property for the medical helicopter. It was for a safety worker, Randy Hall 
of Spencer, Va., who fell out of the clean up truck. Hall sustained a 4-6" laceration to the back of his head and abrasions to his left shoulder and arm when he fell. He vitals signs were good, and the trip to the hospital was 
call precautionary by the track officials.

At Lap #416, #24 Jeff Gordon takes the leadership plus caution #7 happens with four cars, #50 Ricky Craven, #36 Jeremy Nadeau, Bickle, and Nemechek colliding. At Lap #425, K. Wallace because he doesn't pit and uses strategy take the lead. But Lap #431 puts the well watched Earnhardt leading and it appeared he had it won, but caution #8 on Lap #475 with spinning by #97 Chad Little, may have threaten that possibly.

On Lap #481, Gordon led as he didn't pit for track position. This was a good call by new crew chief Brian Whitesell, as it won him the race. The race lasted 3 hours and 37 minutes.