Age: 27
Home town: Pittsboro, Ind.
Team: Hendrick Motorsports
Crew chief: Ray Evernham
Career Cup wins/starts: 42/189
1998 earnings: $9,306,584
1998 wins: (13; GM Goodwrench Service Plus 400, Food City 500, Coca-Cola 600, Save Mart/Kragen 350, Pennsylvania 500, Brickyard 400, The Bud at the Glen, Pepsi 400 (Mich.), New Hampshire 300, Mountain Dew Southern 500, Pepsi 400 (Fla.), ACDelco 400, NAPA 500)
Career earnings: $26,009,046
Comment: Third Winston Cup title in four years. Won 13 races, tying Richard Petty's modern era record. Began racing midgets at age 5. Guided by crew chief Ray Evernham, the 27-year-old set an international motorsports record by winning $9 million, including a Winston Cup record $2,992,272 in postseason awards. His career money totals are close to $26 million. Is one of the most popular racers on the circuit.