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By John Lewis Pitts
Times Newspapers Special Writer
NASCAR racing celebrated its 50th anniversary last season, with fans reveling in its status as the nation’s fastest-growing major sport. And as the second half-century of stock car racing action begins in 1999, all eyes are on the No. 24 car of defending Winston Cup champion Jeff Gordon.
Gordon claimed a staggering $9,306,584 in prize money last season, winning 13 races and grabbing his third Winston Cup overall championship. He opened this season with a stirring victory at the Daytona 500 on Feb. 14.
“We’ve got something really special,” Gordon says of his car and his Hendrick Motorsports racing crew.
“He’s the top dog,” says Winston Cup rookie Tbny Stewart, who started on the Daytona 500 front row beside Gordon. “He’s the guy everybody has to beat.”
The next race of the season is the Las Vegas 400 on March 7. The season ends with the Nov. 21 NAPA 500 at the Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Martinsville Speedway, the oldest sanctioned NASCAR track, hosts two Winston Cup races this season: the April 18 Goody’s 500 and the Oct. 3 NAPA Autocare 500.
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