Out o
Winston Cup season features
persistence, courage and change
In NASCAR’s 50th anniversary son is any indication, the sport can only was pulling away in the point stand
year, the 1998 Winston Cup Se- be going up. This season continued the *ngs
ries provided to tans around the great history of competition, sportsman- Following the Bud at the Glen in
nation the true meaning of com- ship, courage, and determination that has Watkins Glen, N.Y., Marlin suffered
petition. The continued drive to given NASCAR such a respected name, an emotional setback. His father and
be the best, the courage to fight By just reading the headlines during twoother family members were killed
through all adversity, and the abil- this past season, you would know that ' n a plune crash. He then dedicated
ity to withstand the ongoing the season was dominated by Jeff Gor- the next race at Michigan to his fa
changes that surround you. If this don and his "Rainbow Warriors" (pit thur. He appeared to have the race
is the true meaning of competi- crew). You’d see his convincing points won as he was pulling away from
tion, then there should be noques- lead over Mark Martin and his record Gordon and the rest ol the pack. But
tioning the heart and desire
of the country’s fastest
growing sport.
Winston Cup racing holds
one of the proudest histories
that sports have to offer.
NASCAR started out racing
sedans on dirt tracks in 1948
and has progressed to
today's 35-race schedule
featuring aerodynamieully
made cars driving on short
tracks, superspeedways and
road courses. But there is
more to the history of rac-
ing than the advancement of
the cars and tracks. The drivers
have given racing a proud past and
a solid foundation for the future.
Who would have thought that a
man named Bill France Sr. with a
vision of stock car racing would
have evolved to be where it is to-
day? He said, "I believe stock car
racing can become a nationally
recognized sport...” But that vi-
sion of the founder’s hopes is es-
calating far and beyond what he
could have expected. Stock car
racing is not only nationally rec-
ognized, but it is now growing
from just recognition to the devo
tion and spirit of some of sport’s
most enthusiastic fans
Red Byron could be considered
the first big name driver to take
the track back in NASCAR’s in-
augural season in 1948. "Fire
ball" Roberts, Junior Johnson, Lee
Petty and Ned Jarrell all carried
Winston Cup through the 1950’s
and into the 6()'s when "The
King" Richard Petty dominated.
Petty had a career like no other.
He won 2(X) races and seven sea-
son titles which has given him the
most recognized name in all of
motorsports. Benny Parsons,
Buddy Baker, Calc Yarborough.
A.J. Foyl and Bobby Allison
owned ihe early 7()‘s. The late
1970 s and throughout the I9Bo's,
Winston Cup brought to the traeks
today's legends that are slowly
being replaeed by the sport’s fu
ture stars. Seven time ehampion
Dale Earnhardt, Darrell Waltrip,
Harry Gant, the late Neil Bonneit,
Rusty Wallaee and "Awesome”
Bill Elliot marked greatness in
their day. And before I enter
today’s era, it would be an injus
tice to not mention the late Alan
Kulw ieki and Davey Allison who
died at the peak of their eareers.
It ean’t be denied that raeing fans
know who brought this sport to
where it is today. But where the
sport is going will always have
fans wondering. If this 1998 sea
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BoUndS JASON SNYDER
tying 13 wins for the year. But you
wouldn’t see the importance that crew
chief Ray Evernham and the "Rainbow
Warriors” played in the overall success
of Gordon. It must have been nice to
drive a perfect car to Victory Lane so
often avoiding all wrecks and problems
with the car during the race. Not to wish
any harm to this controversial and
mostly disliked racer, but let’s just say
without those Rainbow Warriors guid
ing Gordon, there would have been no
pot of gold sitting at the end of the rain
bow.
The 1998 season featured much more
than just the domination of Gordon.
Many other incredible moments marked
the season and kept the respectability of
Winston Cup racing growing. The first
moment came in the season's first race,
The Daytona S(M).
Just as it would seem unfair to have
neglected John Elway of a Super Bowl
ring, so would it seem to have neglected
Dale Earnhardt of a win at the Daytona
500. For years Earnhardt fell short in
his attempts to win the most coveted race
in motorsports. But just as lans began
to say he was washed up and couldn’t
win anymore, Earnhardt went on to
prove those critics wrong. "The Intimi
dator" once again looked intimidating
and the race world witnessed a great
moment in racing. The Winston Cup
teams lined up on pit road to congratu
late the victor as the '9B season was off
and running in memorable fashion.
The beginning of the season belonged
to the team of Rusty Wallace and Jer
emy Mayfield. Wallace and Mayfield
teamed together to capture first and sec
ond in the points as it look a few races
for Gordon, Mark Martin and Dale
Jarrelt to gel going. But as the season
moved on, Gordon and Marlin turned the
Winston Cup Series into a two-man
show.
Gordon and Martin combined for 20
wins in the 33 race schedule. Martin,
however, continuously found himself
chasing Gordon and realized that sec
ond place finishes weren’t helping.
Gordon was consistently holding off
Martin in the late stages of the races and
a late caution brought the field to
gether for the final few
laps as Gordon took the
£ ~~lead and held on for the
\ win. An emotional Mar
\ tin apologized alter the
a _ * race, which turned the
A t heads of many race fans.
He then went on to win
the following race at
r Bristol in memory of his
lg^^ f father.
The 1998 season
also saw Ricky Rudd
consecutive seasons
with a win. Despite a sub-par season
for Rudd that saw him finish 22nd in
points, he was able to pull into vic-
tory lane at the NAPA Auto Care 500
in Martinsville. Rudd overcame ex-
haustion due to overheating in the car
and rode his #lO Tide Ford to victory
for the 16th consecutive year, break
ing the record previously held by Dale
Earnhardt and Darrell Waltrip.
Jeff Burton laid claim that he will
be a force in the future with a dra-
matic win over Jeff Gordon at the
Exide NASCAR Select Batteries 400
in Richmond. Burton finished sth in
points. Jeremy Mayfield also showed
his ability throughout the season as
he also beat Gordon to the line in the
Pocono 500 at Ponono Speedway.
Because of his early season success,
Mayfield finished 7th in points, only
23 points behind another young racer
in Bobby Lahonte.
. As the season wound down and
Gordon had all hut clinched the Win
ston Cup Championship, Dale Jarrell
gave the spoil another gutsy perfor
mance. Battling sharp pains in his
stomach, Jarrell wasn't expected to
complete any of the final races of the
season. Jarrell went on to not only
complete the races, but he finished in
2nd at Atlanta in the final race of the
season to finish 3rd in points.
This ’9B season pul an exclamation
point to the end of NASCAR’s first
50 years of existence and propelled
the sport into a promising future.
There is no doubt that motorsporls
will continue to grow in popularity,
but the credit has to go to the founders
and legends that brought this sport to
where it is today. From 1948 to 1998,
NASCAR and Winston Cup have
shown the sports’ world (that at times
lacks the competitive spirit sports are
known for), what competition is all
about. And it was this 1998 season
that continued that high standard of
pride, courage, determination and the
ongoing pursuit to be the best.
Snyder is spoi ls editor for The Bea
con. Out of Bounds appears weekly
on this page.
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AMCC Athlete of the Week
Michelle Malatesta’s 15 saves earns her AMCC recognition
Freshman Michelle Malatesta was named the AMCC Athlete of the Week for
women’s soccer in the week of November 2 - November 9. Despite a 3-0 loss in the ECAC
Playoffs, Malatesta recorded 15 saves for Behrend to keep the Lions within striking distance.
Malatesta comes to Behrend from Bethel Park High School in Bethel Park, PA. This
AMCC honor was her second of the season and of her collegiate career.
Frostburg tops Lions in
conference semifinals
Jamie Salapek
staff writer
The Behrend volleyball Millet also contributed with six kills, year. We will be loosing Angela
team ended their 1998 season last Frostburg swept the Lions 3-0 with Traister, yet we have high expeeta
weekend at the Allegheny Mountain scores of 5-15, 3-15 and 15-17. tions and great potential for the lu-
Collegiate Conference champion- Tanya Deals, Tiffany Beers ture.”
ships. The tournament was held at and Mary Good were recognized for The Lions kept the fans on
Frostburg State. their leadership and ability as they the edge of their seats during many
The Lions went up against were selected All Conference players intense matches throughout the sea-
Frostburg in the semifinal round yet for the tournament. son. Much fan support was appreci
reluctantly bowed out after three Behrend ended the season ated and is encouraged as the Lions
matches. Behrend played well but with a respectable 12-23 record hope to improve in the years to come,
their game wasn’t at its best. Tiffany against tough competition. Head
Nittany Lion’s soccer falls
short at ECAC playoffs
Jason Snyder
sports editor
For the second straight sea- in goal against the overpowering season added to head coach Dan
son, the Behrend women's soccer Franklin and Marshall team. How- Pcrritano s career mark since taking
team advanced to the ECAC playoffs, ever, Behrend fell short, 3-0 ending (,vor socccr piogram at Bchicnd.
Due to the win at the Allegheny their season. Under the direction ol Pemtano, the
Mountain Collegiate Conference Despite the hard fought loss Lady Lions have gone 50-16-h in the
Championships, the Lions were in the ECAC semifinals, the Behrend past lour seasons.
seeded third in the playoffs. women still proved to be a strong
In a must win game against force in the AMCC and the region.
Franklin and Marshall on Saturday, The 1998 team posted a Penn State
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November 12, 1998 - The Belueiul College Beacon - page 9
Beers put down nine kills and hustled coach Cindy Jacobelli commented,
for sixteen digs. Mary Good had eight "we have a young learn who are look
kills and added thirteen digs as Allison ing forward to playing together next
November 7, the Lions were able to Behrend women s soccer recoid lot
keep the game close. Freshman wins in a season with 15.
MichelleMalatestarecorded 15saves The '5-3-3 record tor the
writers