Jarrett clinches Winston Cup title

However, Stewart's Joe Gibbs Racing team-mate Bobby Labonte was not at all happy
as an incident eliminated any and all chance he had of getting the win.

'We just both raced in there hard (after the last pit stop),' said a jubilant Stewart.

'More of a rookie mistake than his. I went in there too hard and slid up and it was my fault.

'We made minor adjustments all day. Nothing major. Just tried to stay with the race track all day.'

Labonte said, 'We were just trying to go for the same piece of real estate at the same time.'

Dale Jarrett, of Robert Yates Racing, clinched the NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship title and need only start the NAPA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway
next weekend keeping the family tradition started by father Ned.

Yates was positively ecstatic and was nearly speechless from emotion.

The two pitted under the green flag with just 20 to go, exited pit road side-by-side and onto the race surface when they touched slightly sending Labonte's #18 Interstate Batteries Pontiac high to the marbles.

Labonte slowed and got the handle back quickly without tagging the outside wall, while Stewart continued on his quest for his win virtually leaving Labonte the bridesmaid on
this Sunday afternoon.

As races go, the inaugural Pennzoil 400 presented by Kmart was a typical follow the leader, gas mileage/tyre strategy race.

Joe Gibbs Racing team-mates Labonte and Stewart provided much of the excitement, and controversy, in the closing laps.With just four laps remaining, Stewart's advantage over Labonte was nearly 4.5 seconds, and no one was going to be able to reel him in.

There was just one caution during the 400 miles.

Ricky Rudd's #10 Tide Ford lost the powerplant before 200 laps had clicked off.

The one caution allowed the 267 laps to be run in approximately 2 hours and 50 minutes.

Following Stewart and Labonte across the stripe were Jeff Burton, Mark Martin, Jarrett, Mike Skinner, Kyle Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Wally Dallenbach and Jeff Gordon.

The NASCAR Winston Cup Series now travels to Hampton, GA, for the season finale
next Sunday.