Rockingham, NC

OCTOBER 24, 1999

POP SECRET MICROWAVE POPCORN 400

Mark Martin leads the field to the green flag.

Jeff Gordon holds on to the lead going into turn 1.  I think Martin must have let him by to check out Gordon's line around the sandpaper-like oval.  Ricky Craven is having a pretty good run early on for his under-funded team.  He is in 6th!  Unfortunately he has motor problems before the crossed flags are waved ending his day prematurely.

At mid-pack, Mike Skinner puts some room between he and his teammate, Dale Earnhardt.  Both of them will struggle with ill-handling cars throughout the day.  Dale will end up in the backstretch wall about 300 laps into the race.  That encounter left his Goodwrench Chevy with a bad toe-in problem and a broken rear end housing that put him out for the rest of the day.

Martin follows Gordon into turn 3.  It doesn't look like he can keep his car right on that white line like Gordon.

Tony Stewart comes to the aid of his pit crew early in the contest.  It looks like the gas man is adding some wedge to the 20 car.

Jeff Burton waits for his crew to put on a new set of "snuggies."

Jeff Burton leads Jeff Gordon on a restart.

John Andretti flashes by at 120mph.  Look at how rough that track is.  It really is like sandpaper!

Matt Kenseth gets a chassis adjustment in the pit.

Dale Earnhardt pushes through turn 1.

The 36 car gets some attention after getting into the fence.

Tony leads the group on another restart.  Look at all the marbles against the wall.  Now that will get a car loose!

Dale Jarrett in the pits getting service.

Bobby Labonte does the same.