The champion and all the other drivers in the top 25 of the final standings will receive bonuses for ranking among the best drivers of the world. In addition to the Daytona 500, the program includes the Las Vegas 400, the Coca-Cola 600, the Pepsi Southern 500 and the Winston 500. Jeff Gordon was the 1998 Bud Pole Award champion with seven poles. Each Bud Pole Award winner also automatically receives an invitation to compete in the Bud Shootout at Daytona, a rich, 25-lap race held exclusively for the previous year s Bud Pole Award winners and one other selected driver. The driver who wins the preliminary event is awarded a starting position in that year s Bud Shootout.
Points are cumulative for all scheduled races.
Now in its fourth year. Award winners are determined by the NWCS points accumulated by each driver. The DuPont point fund shall be paid to the top 10 drivers in the final NWCS point standings who meet the criteria of the program. Sponsored by AR Clevite Engine Parts, the AE Clevite Engine Builder of the Year Award once again will reward the top engine builders on the NWCS tour. A special points system determines the AE Clevite Engine Builder of the Year.