2001 Checker Auto Parts 500

2001 Checker Auto Parts 500 presented by Pennzoil
Race details
Race 32 of 36 in the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 2001 Checker Auto Parts 500 program cover.
The 2001 Checker Auto Parts 500 program cover.
Date October 28, 2001
Official name 14th Annual Checker Auto Parts 500 presented by Pennzoil
Location Avondale, Arizona, Phoenix International Raceway
Course Permanent racing facility
1 mi (1.6 km)
Distance 312 laps, 312 mi (502.115 km)
Scheduled Distance 312 laps, 312 mi (502.115 km)
Average speed 102.613 miles per hour (165.140 km/h)
Pole position
Driver
Evernham Motorsports
Time 27.419
Most laps led
Driver Jeff Burton Roush Racing
Laps 102
Winner
No. 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing
Television in the United States
Network NBC
Announcers Allen Bestwick, Benny Parsons, Wally Dallenbach Jr.
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

The 2001 Checker Auto Parts 500 presented by Pennzoil was the 32nd stock car race of the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 14th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, October 28, 2001, in Avondale, Arizona at Phoenix International Raceway, a 1-mile (1.6 km) permanent low-banked tri-oval race track. The race took the scheduled 312 laps to complete. At race's end, Jeff Burton, driving for Roush Racing, would prevail in a battle against reliever for Jeremy Mayfield, Penske Racing South driver Mike Wallace, to win his 17th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his second and final victory of the season.[1][2][3] To fill out the podium, Wallace and Robert Yates Racing driver Ricky Rudd would finish second and third, respectively.

Background

The layout of Phoenix International Raceway, the venue where the race was held.

Phoenix International Raceway – also known as PIR – is a one-mile, low-banked tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona. It is named after the nearby metropolitan area of Phoenix. The motorsport track opened in 1964 and currently hosts two NASCAR race weekends annually. PIR has also hosted the IndyCar Series, CART, USAC and the Rolex Sports Car Series. The raceway is currently owned and operated by International Speedway Corporation.

The raceway was originally constructed with a 2.5 mi (4.0 km) road course that ran both inside and outside of the main tri-oval. In 1991 the track was reconfigured with the current 1.51 mi (2.43 km) interior layout. PIR has an estimated grandstand seating capacity of around 67,000. Lights were installed around the track in 2004 following the addition of a second annual NASCAR race weekend.

Entry list

  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
1 Kenny Wallace Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet Pennzoil
01 Jason Leffler (R) Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge Cingular Wireless
2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford Miller Lite
02 Ryan Newman Penske Racing South Ford Alltel
4 Bobby Hamilton Jr. Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet Kodak
5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Kellogg's
6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford Viagra
7 Kevin Lepage Ultra Motorsports Ford NationsRent
8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet Budweiser
9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge Dodge
10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac Valvoline
11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford Ralphs
12 Mike Wallace Penske Racing South Ford Mobil 1
14 Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac Conseco
15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet NAPA Auto Parts Patriotic
17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford DeWalt
18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac Interstate Batteries
19 Casey Atwood (R) Evernham Motorsports Dodge Dodge
20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac The Home Depot
21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford Motorcraft
22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge Caterpillar
24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet DuPont
25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet UAW, Delphi
26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford Kmart, Shrek
28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford Texaco, Havoline
29 Kevin Harvick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet GM Goodwrench
31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Lowe's
32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford Tide
33 Joe Nemechek Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet Oakwood Homes
36 Ken Schrader MBV Motorsports Pontiac Pedigree
40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge Coors Light
43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge Cheerios
44 Buckshot Jones Petty Enterprises Dodge Georgia-Pacific Sparkle
45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge Sprint PCS
55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet Square D
66 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford Kmart Blue Light Special
70 Rick Bogart Bogart Racing Dodge Purex
77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford Jasper Engines & Transmissions
88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford UPS
90 Hut Stricklin Donlavey Racing Ford Donlavey Racing
92 Stacy Compton Melling Racing Dodge Kodiak
93 Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing Dodge Amoco Ultimate
97 Kurt Busch (R) Roush Racing Ford Rubbermaid, Sharpie
99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford Citgo Supergard
Official entry list

Practice

First practice

The first practice session was held on Friday, October 26, at 10:25 AM MST. The session would last for one hour and 55 minutes.[4] Kyle Petty, driving for Petty Enterprises, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 27.467 and an average speed of 131.066 miles per hour (210.930 km/h).[5]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 27.467 131.066
2 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac 27.476 131.023
3 19 Casey Atwood (R) Evernham Motorsports Dodge 27.490 130.957
Full first practice results

Second practice

The second session was held on Saturday, October 27, at 10:30 AM MST. The session would last for 45 minutes.[4] Jeff Burton, driving for Roush Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 28.195 and an average speed of 127.682 miles per hour (205.484 km/h).[6]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 28.195 127.682
2 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 28.255 127.411
3 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 28.262 127.380
Full second practice results

Third and final practice

The final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, October 27, at 3:30 PM EST. The session would last for one hour.[4] Jeff Gordon, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 28.325 and an average speed of 127.096 miles per hour (204.541 km/h).[7]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 28.325 127.096
2 29 Kevin Harvick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 28.447 126.551
3 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 28.457 126.507
Full Happy Hour practice results

Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Friday, October 26, at 2:40 PM MST. Each driver would have two laps to set a fastest time; the fastest of the two would count as their official qualifying lap.[4] Positions 1-36 would be decided on time, while positions 37-43 would be based on provisionals. Six spots are awarded by the use of provisionals based on owner's points. The seventh is awarded to a past champion who has not otherwise qualified for the race. If no past champ needs the provisional, the next team in the owner points will be awarded a provisional.[8]

Casey Atwood, driving for Evernham Motorsports, would win the pole, setting a time of 27.419 and an average speed of 131.296 miles per hour (211.300 km/h).[9]

Rick Bogart was the only driver to fail to qualify.

Full qualifying results

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 19 Casey Atwood (R) Evernham Motorsports Dodge 27.419 131.296
2 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 27.466 131.071
3 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 27.486 130.976
4 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 27.495 130.933
5 77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford 27.522 130.804
6 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 27.566 130.596
7 1 Kenny Wallace Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 27.590 130.482
8 14 Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac 27.604 130.416
9 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 27.607 130.402
10 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 27.622 130.331
11 66 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 27.623 130.326
12 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 27.629 130.298
13 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac 27.636 130.265
14 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 27.662 130.142
15 92 Stacy Compton Melling Racing Dodge 27.662 130.142
16 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 27.692 130.001
17 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 27.693 129.997
18 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 27.700 129.964
19 44 Buckshot Jones Petty Enterprises Dodge 27.719 129.875
20 93 Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing Dodge 27.729 129.828
21 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 27.738 129.786
22 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 27.741 129.772
23 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 27.757 129.697
24 12 Mike Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 27.768 129.646
25 02 Ryan Newman Penske Racing South Ford 27.774 129.618
26 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 27.779 129.594
27 90 Rick Mast Donlavey Racing Ford 27.790 129.543
28 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 27.790 129.543
29 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 27.810 129.450
30 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 27.833 129.343
31 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 27.858 129.227
32 26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 27.875 129.148
33 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 27.893 129.065
34 33 Joe Nemechek Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 27.915 128.963
35 7 Kevin Lepage Ultra Motorsports Ford 27.956 128.774
36 01 Jason Leffler (R) Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 27.969 128.714
Provisionals
37 29 Kevin Harvick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet -* -*
38 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford -* -*
39 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford -* -*
40 25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet -* -*
41 97 Kurt Busch (R) Roush Racing Ford -* -*
42 31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet -* -*
43 4 Bobby Hamilton Jr. Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet -* -*
Failed to qualify
44 70 Rick Bogart Bogart Racing Dodge 28.420 126.671
Official qualifying results

*Time not available.

Race results

Fin[10] St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 3 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 312 102 running 185 $213,491
2 24 12 Mike Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 312 45 running 175 $156,459
3 21 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 312 0 running 165 $139,797
4 38 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 312 0 running 160 $97,960
5 22 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 312 0 running 155 $96,675
6 14 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 312 0 running 150 $109,052
7 42 31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 312 0 running 146 $94,399
8 9 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 312 0 running 142 $56,875
9 16 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 312 0 running 138 $96,452
10 13 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac 312 0 running 134 $67,675
11 7 1 Kenny Wallace Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 312 0 running 130 $78,118
12 18 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 312 0 running 127 $97,802
13 33 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 312 0 running 124 $81,610
14 1 19 Casey Atwood (R) Evernham Motorsports Dodge 312 71 running 126 $53,075
39 2 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 270 2 crash 51 $97,590
15 4 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 312 91 running 123 $63,610
16 19 44 Buckshot Jones Petty Enterprises Dodge 312 0 running 115 $88,277
17 37 29 Kevin Harvick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 312 0 running 112 $60,645
18 10 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 312 0 running 109 $85,176
19 29 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 312 0 running 106 $80,330
20 23 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 312 0 running 103 $50,936
21 15 92 Stacy Compton Melling Racing Dodge 312 0 running 100 $52,850
22 41 97 Kurt Busch (R) Roush Racing Ford 312 0 running 97 $50,325
23 26 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 312 0 running 94 $51,375
24 40 25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 312 0 running 91 $40,950
25 27 90 Rick Mast Donlavey Racing Ford 312 0 running 88 $47,615
26 12 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 312 0 running 85 $67,523
27 6 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 312 0 running 82 $42,675
28 20 93 Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing Dodge 312 0 running 79 $42,050
29 11 66 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 311 0 running 76 $39,925
30 8 14 Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac 311 0 running 73 $50,375
31 32 26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 311 1 running 75 $47,150
32 35 7 Kevin Lepage Ultra Motorsports Ford 310 0 running 67 $57,025
33 39 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 310 0 running 64 $46,900
34 31 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 309 0 running 61 $67,045
35 34 33 Joe Nemechek Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 301 0 running 58 $46,650
36 17 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 300 0 running 55 $73,248
37 30 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 287 0 engine 52 $38,400
38 43 4 Bobby Hamilton Jr. Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 286 0 overheating 49 $73,802
40 25 02 Ryan Newman Penske Racing South Ford 253 0 crash 43 $38,125
41 36 01 Jason Leffler (R) Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 252 0 overheating 40 $45,975
42 5 77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford 239 0 crash 37 $45,850
43 28 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 65 0 engine 34 $37,978
Failed to qualify
44 70 Rick Bogart Bogart Racing Dodge
Official race results

References

  1. ^ Poole, David (October 28, 2001). "Burton passes Mike Wallace, wins". ThatsRacin. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on November 19, 2001. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  2. ^ Harris, Mike (October 29, 2001). "Burton wins Checker Auto Parts 500 for second year in a row". Arizona Daily Sun. Associated Press. p. 11. Retrieved July 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Smith, Marty (October 29, 2001). "Burton repeats the feat at Phoenix". NASCAR. Turner Sports Interactive. Archived from the original on February 3, 2002. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2001 Phoenix Race Info Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on February 13, 2002. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  5. ^ "NASCAR - 2001 Phoenix Practice 1 Results". NASCAR. Archived from the original on February 3, 2002. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  6. ^ "Speeds from Saturday's first practice". ThatsRacin. October 27, 2001. Archived from the original on November 19, 2001. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  7. ^ "Saturday's final practice speeds". ThatsRacin. October 27, 2001. Archived from the original on December 14, 2001. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  8. ^ "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2002 Provisional/Owners Points Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on February 5, 2005. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  9. ^ Poole, David (October 26, 2001). "Phoenix pole a bonus for Atwood, team". ThatsRacin. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on December 15, 2001. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  10. ^ "2001 Checker Auto Parts 500 presented by Pennzoil - The Third Turn". The Third Turn. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
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