The 1998 NAPA Autocare 500 was a Winston Cup (now Nextel Cup) event held at Martinsville Speedway on September 27, 1998. Ricky Rudd won a race in his 17th straight season, leading 198 laps and holding off Jeff Gordon by half a second. The race saw unusual heat, and most drivers, including Rudd, were given oxygen in victory lane. Gordon withstood the heat and held a 199-point championship edge on Mark Martin (3rd). Stats