Watkins Glen M&M's Racing Team Preview

"M&M's" Racing/Ernie Irvan Watkins Glen International Notes And Quotes

"M&M's" Chocolate Candies Fascinating Fact... In 1954 the universally loved "M&M's" Brand Characters and famous slogan "The milk chocolate melts in your mouth, not in hour hand" first appeared in the brand's initial TV advertising.

Ernie Irvan's Watkins Glen Highlights... * Ernie Irvan, driver of the "M&M's" Pontiac, has one win at Watkins Glen International. In 1991 Irvan started from the third position to take the checkered flag. In 10 starts at the track, Irvan has collected a total of three top fives, including his 1991 victory. Irvan's other top finishes include a second in 1994 and third in 1992. * Racing at both Watkins Glen and Sears Point Raceway in the past, the "M&M's" driver has positioned himself as one of the top drivers to beat on Winston Cup road courses. In addition to a win at Watkins Glen, he also has two wins, six top-10 and four top-five finishes at Sears Point Raceway. * A $98,510 payday last weekend at the Brickyard 400 put "M&M's" Racing Team driver Ernie Irvan over the $1 million dollar mark for the year. 1999 marks the fourth consecutive year that Irvan has topped $1 million or more in earnings.

Ernie Irvan's thoughts on racing at Watkins Glen... "It will be interesting to see how the cars react to the changes at Watkins Glen. Having concrete in the corners and asphalt everywhere else will play a big part in the handling of the "M&M's" Pontiac as well as tire wear. A handful of cars tested there recently, but the majority of us will have a little adjusting to do when we go through the concrete corners for the first time. The "M&M's" Racing Team didn't have a great experience at our first road course race of the year, so we are looking to redeem ourselves this weekend at Watkins Glen."

Ernie Irvan at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Year Event St Fin Earnings 1988 Bud at the Glen 32 29 2,020 1989 Bud at the Glen 22 24 3,370 1990 Bud at the Glen 22 28 5,705 1991 Bud at the Glen 3 1 64,850 1992 Bud at the Glen 10 3 35,060 1993 Bud at the Glen 12 15 17,420 1994 Bud at the Glen 4 2 42,015 1996 Bud at the Glen 7 35 24,310 1997 Bud at the Glen 22 21 24,455 1998 Bud at the Glen 9 33 24,875

        Starts  Wins    Top Five        Top 10  Poles   Earnings
Total   10      1       3       3       0       244,080

Ernie Irvan's 1999 Winston Cup Cumulative Results Date Race St. Fin. Earnings Status 2/14 Daytona International 31 14 $123,584 Running Speedway 2/21 North Carolina Speedway 34 29 32,675 Running 3/7 Las Vegas Motor Speedway 40 6 95,075 Running 3/14 Atlanta Motor Speedway 21 7 40,220 Running 3/21 Darlington Raceway 37 24 32,235 Running 3/28 Texas Motor Speedway 22 37 45,950 Engine 4/11 Bristol Motor Speedway 41 43 32,161 Handling 4/18 Martinsville Speedway 7 22 34,150 Running 4/25 Talladega Superspeedway 19 40 36,050 Accident 5/2 California Speedway 26 35 43,650 Running 5/15 Richmond International 25 33 31,475 Running Raceway 5/30 Charlotte Motor 20 36 37,500 Engine Speedway 6/ 6 Dover Downs 29 35 37,150 Running 6/13 Michigan Speedway 2 7 47,725 Running 6/20 Pocono Raceway 34 8 54,415 Running 6/27 Sears Point Raceway 40 30 35,070 Running 7/3 Daytona International 30 9 52,175 Running Speedway 7/11 New Hampshire Intl. 20 21 49,425 Running Speedway 7/25 Pocono Raceway 24 11 47,215 Running 8/7 Indianapolis Motor 40 24 98,510 Running Speedway 8/15 Watkins Glen International 8/22 Michigan Speedway 8/28 Bristol Motor Speedway 9/5 Darlington Raceway 9/11 Richmond International Raceway 9/19 New Hampshire Intl. Speedway 9/26 Dover Downs 10/ 3 Martinsville Speedway 10/10 Charlotte Motor Speedway 10/17 Talladega Superspeedway 10/24 North Carolina Motor Speedway 11/7 Phoenix International Raceway 11/14 Homestead Motorsports Complex 11/ 21 Atlanta Motor Speedway

Totals: Starts  Top 5   Top 10  Poles   Outside Poles   Money Won*
        20      0       5       0       1       $1,044,880

*Includes non-points money