Tag: richmond

1998 Pontiac Excitement 400 – Souvenir Program

Posted on by Pontiac Racing

01/16/2023

A moment in time that we’ll never see again (for several reasons) – a fleet of factory-supported Pontiacs, blue-chip sponsors on board for an entire season (one whose experience left them so embittered, never to return), and classic artwork by a legend.

The race itself held on June 6, 1998, at Richmond International Raceway was – despite the sponsor’s name – was not a real showcase for much Pontiac excitement. Jeff Gordon won the pole in the Hendrick DuPont Chevrolet Monte Carlo (and was memorably wrecked by Rusty Wallace in the Penske Miller Lite Ford Taurus) and Terry Labonte took the win in the Hendrick Kellogg’s Corn Flakes Chevrolet Monte Carlo; the highest finishing Pontiac on the day (no laps were led by any Pontiacs) was Terry’s brother Bobby Labonte who finished on the lead lap in 8th driving Joe Gibbs’ Interstate Batteries Pontiac Grand Prix.

Pontiac’s final glory years of 1999-2002 were just around the corner.

1956-1996 – Pontiac at North Wilkesboro

Posted on by Pontiac Racing

09/10/2022 – With the unexpected news that NASCAR Cup will hold its 2023 All-Star Race at this historical and beloved racetrack, here’s a brief overview of Pontiac history at North Wilkesboro when the track hosted Cup races from 1949-1996 –

Classic Era

First Pontiac appearance – Junior Johnson and Tiny Lund, April 8, 1956, Wilkes County 160.

No wins (even during the Pontiac dominance of 1960, 1961, 1962).

Poles –

Junior Johnson – April 8, 1956, Wilkes County 160.

Junior Johnson – April 16, 1961, Gwyn Staley 400.

Junior Johnson – October 1, 1961, Wilkes 200.

Junior Johnson – April 15, 1962, Gwyn Staley 400.

First laps led – Junior Johnson, April 8, 1956, Wilkes County 160.

First lead lap finish – Cotton Owens, October 27, 1957, Wilkes 160; started 6th, finished 5th.

First Top-5/Top-10 – Cotton Owens, October 27, 1957, Wilkes 160; started 6th, finished 5th.

Last Pontiac to race in the classic era – Roy Tyner, October 2, 1969, Wilkes 400.

Modern Era

First Pontiac appearance – Richard D. Brown, September 21, 1975, Wilkes 400

Wins –

Tim Richmond – April 8, 1984, Northwestern Bank 400.

Rusty Wallace – October 16, 1988, Holley Farms 400.

Rusty Wallace – April 18, 1993, First Union 400.

Rusty Wallace – October 3, 1993, Tyson / Holly Farms 400.

Poles modern era –

Rusty Wallace – April 16, 1989, First Union 400.

Kyle Petty – September 30, 1990, Tyson Holly Farms 400.

First laps lead – Bobby Allison, April 15, 1981, 1981 Northwestern Bank 400.

First lead lap finish – Bobby Allison, April 15, 1981, 1981 Northwestern Bank 400; started 3rd, finished 2nd.

First Top-5/Top-10 – Bobby Allison, April 15, 1981, 1981 Northwestern Bank 400; finished 2nd.

Last Pontiacs at the final North Wilkesboro race –

Rick Mast – Hooters Pontiac – started 28th, finished 6th (lead lap).

Bobby Hamilton – STP Pontiac – started 3rd, finished 8th (lead lap; Hamilton led laps 4-51, the last laps led by Pontiac at North Wilkesboro).

Johnny Benson, Jr – Pennzoil Pontiac – started 6th, finished 17th.

Kyle Petty – Coors Light Pontiac – started 25th, finished 31st.

Ward Burton – MBNA America Bank – DNQ.

Most Pontiacs in the top-10 – April 15, 1962, Gwynn Staley 400 – Five Pontiacs finished in the top-10: Junior Johnson 3rd (also pole sitter), Fireball Roberts 4th, Joe Weatherly 8th, Jack Smith 9th, Billy Wade 10th.

Rusty Wallace – Pontiac win leader at North Wilkesboro, including a season sweep in 1993.