2001 Harrah's 500 (NASCAR)

2001 Harrah's 500
Race details
Race 7 of 36 in the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 2001 Harrah's 500 program cover, with artwork from Sam Bass. The cover celebrates Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s first ever win at the 2000 DirecTV 500. The painting is called "A Texas Sized Win!"
The 2001 Harrah's 500 program cover, with artwork from Sam Bass. The cover celebrates Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s first ever win at the 2000 DirecTV 500. The painting is called "A Texas Sized Win!"
Date April 1, 2001
Official name 5th Annual Harrah's 500
Location Fort Worth, Texas, Texas Motor Speedway
Course Permanent racing facility
1.5 mi (2.41 km)
Distance 334 laps, 501 mi (806.281 km)
Scheduled Distance 334 laps, 501 mi (806.281 km)
Average speed 141.804 miles per hour (228.211 km/h)
Attendance 211,000
Pole position
Driver
Dale Earnhardt, Inc.
Time 28.320
Most laps led
Driver Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing
Laps 122
Winner
No. 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing
Television in the United States
Network FOX
Announcers Mike Joy, Larry McReynolds, Darrell Waltrip
Radio in the United States
Radio Performance Racing Network
Booth Announcers Doug Rice, Mark Garrow
Turn Announcers Chuck Carland, Rob Albright

The 2001 Harrah's 500 was the seventh stock car race of the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the fifth iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, April 1, 2001, in Fort Worth, Texas at Texas Motor Speedway, a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) permanent tri-oval shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 334 laps to complete. A call for four tires for Robert Yates Racing driver Dale Jarrett would prove to be instrumental as he would slice his way through the field on the final restart with 18 to go to win the race.[1][2] The win was Jarrett's 27th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his second of the season. To fill out the podium, Steve Park, driving for Dale Earnhardt, Inc., and Johnny Benson Jr., driving for MBV Motorsports, would finish second and third, respectively.

Background

The layout of Texas Motor Speedway, the venue where the race was held.

Texas Motor Speedway is a speedway located in the northernmost portion of the U.S. city of Fort Worth, Texas – the portion located in Denton County, Texas. The track measures 1.5 miles (2.4 km) around and is banked 24 degrees in the turns, and is of the oval design, where the front straightaway juts outward slightly. The track layout is similar to Atlanta Motor Speedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway (formerly Lowe's Motor Speedway). The track is owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., the same company that owns Atlanta and Charlotte Motor Speedway, as well as the short-track Bristol Motor Speedway.

Entry list

  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
1 Steve Park 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
4 Kevin Lepage Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet Kodak
5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Kellogg's
6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford Viagra
7 Mike Wallace 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 Eagle One
11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford RedCell, Ralphs
12 Jeremy Mayfield 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
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
27 Kenny Wallace Eel River Racing Pontiac Eel River Racing
28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford Texaco, Havoline
29 Kevin Harvick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet GM Goodwrench
31 Mike Skinner 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 M&M's
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 Hot Wheels
45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge Sprint PCS
50 Rick Mast Midwest Transit Racing Chevrolet Midwest Transit
55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet Square D
66 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford Kmart Blue Light Special
77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford Jasper Engines & Transmissions
88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford UPS
90 Hut Stricklin Donlavey Racing Ford Hills Bros. Coffee
92 Stacy Compton Melling Racing Dodge Kodiak
93 Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing Dodge Amoco Ultimate
96 Andy Houston (R) PPI Motorsports Ford McDonald's
97 Kurt Busch (R) Roush Racing Ford Roush Racing
99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford Citgo Supergard
Official entry list

Practice

First practice

The first practice session was held on Friday, March 30, at 11:45 AM CST. The session would last for two hours.[3] Steve Park, driving for Dale Earnhardt, Inc., would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 28.266 and an average speed of 191.042 miles per hour (307.452 km/h).[4]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 28.266 191.042
2 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 28.302 190.799
3 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 28.334 190.584
Full first practice results

Second and final practice

The final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, March 31, at 10:00 AM CST. The session would last for one hour and 30 minutes.[3] Johnny Benson Jr., driving for MBV Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 28.927 and an average speed of 186.677 miles per hour (300.428 km/h).[5]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac 28.927 186.677
2 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 29.014 186.117
3 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 29.020 186.079
Full Happy Hour practice results

Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Friday, March 30, at 3:00 PM CST. Each driver would have two laps to set a fastest time; the fastest of the two would count as their official qualifying lap.[3] 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.[6]

Dale Earnhardt Jr., driving for Dale Earnhardt, Inc., would win the pole, setting a time of 28.320 and an average speed of 190.678 miles per hour (306.866 km/h).[7]

Two drivers would fail to qualify: Kyle Petty and Rick Mast.

Full qualifying results

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 28.320 190.678
2 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 28.352 190.463
3 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 28.356 190.436
4 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 28.390 190.208
5 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 28.449 189.813
6 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 28.476 189.633
7 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 28.536 189.235
8 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 28.552 189.129
9 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 28.564 189.049
10 19 Casey Atwood (R) Evernham Motorsports Dodge 28.572 188.996
11 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 28.574 188.983
12 96 Andy Houston (R) PPI Motorsports Ford 28.590 188.877
13 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 28.613 188.725
14 12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske Racing South Ford 28.623 188.659
15 66 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 28.626 188.640
16 97 Kurt Busch (R) Roush Racing Ford 28.664 188.390
17 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac 28.700 188.153
18 77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford 28.786 187.591
19 31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 28.786 187.591
20 14 Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac 28.787 187.585
21 90 Hut Stricklin Donlavey Racing Ford 28.796 187.526
22 7 Mike Wallace Ultra Motorsports Ford 28.797 187.520
23 26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 28.799 187.507
24 44 Buckshot Jones Petty Enterprises Dodge 28.805 187.467
25 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 28.813 187.415
26 92 Stacy Compton Melling Racing Dodge 28.815 187.402
27 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 28.845 187.207
28 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 28.856 187.136
29 01 Jason Leffler (R) Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 28.860 187.110
30 33 Joe Nemechek Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 28.875 187.013
31 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 28.884 186.955
32 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 28.885 186.948
33 29 Kevin Harvick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 28.908 186.800
34 4 Kevin Lepage Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 28.923 186.703
35 27 Kenny Wallace Eel River Racing Pontiac 28.923 186.703
36 25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 28.943 186.574
Provisionals
37 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 28.959 186.471
38 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 29.096 185.593
39 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 29.079 185.701
40 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 28.943 186.574
41 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 29.029 186.021
42 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 29.141 185.306
43 93 Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing Dodge 29.020 186.079
Failed to qualify
44 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 28.998 186.220
45 50 Rick Mast Midwest Transit Racing Chevrolet 29.201 184.925
Official qualifying results

Race results

Fin[8] St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 3 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 334 122 running 185 $444,527
2 5 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 334 79 running 175 $270,443
3 17 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac 334 18 running 170 $193,050
4 16 97 Kurt Busch (R) Roush Racing Ford 334 0 running 160 $162,150
5 9 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 334 0 running 155 $165,502
6 43 93 Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing Dodge 334 0 running 150 $102,050
7 33 29 Kevin Harvick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 334 0 running 146 $137,777
8 1 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 334 107 running 147 $135,573
9 8 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 334 1 running 143 $127,176
10 13 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 334 0 running 134 $108,685
11 34 4 Kevin Lepage Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 334 0 running 130 $92,645
12 38 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 334 0 running 127 $121,665
13 42 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 334 0 running 124 $111,355
14 39 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 333 0 running 121 $101,248
15 26 92 Stacy Compton Melling Racing Dodge 333 0 running 118 $84,611
16 11 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 333 0 running 115 $96,590
17 29 01 Jason Leffler (R) Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 332 0 running 112 $84,375
18 4 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 332 0 running 109 $79,600
19 31 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 332 0 running 106 $112,746
20 27 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 332 0 running 103 $80,700
21 28 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 331 0 running 100 $102,235
22 14 12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske Racing South Ford 331 0 running 97 $106,184
23 41 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 331 0 running 94 $82,400
24 22 7 Mike Wallace Ultra Motorsports Ford 330 0 running 91 $71,800
25 35 27 Kenny Wallace Eel River Racing Pontiac 330 0 running 88 $62,350
26 21 90 Hut Stricklin Donlavey Racing Ford 330 0 running 85 $58,200
27 32 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 330 0 running 82 $55,700
28 25 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 329 0 running 79 $56,700
29 36 25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 327 0 running 76 $62,700
30 19 31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 326 0 running 73 $83,774
31 40 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 322 0 running 70 $84,077
32 12 96 Andy Houston (R) PPI Motorsports Ford 317 0 running 67 $47,975
33 24 44 Buckshot Jones Petty Enterprises Dodge 316 0 running 64 $54,950
34 37 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 298 5 crash 66 $53,925
35 15 66 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 297 0 engine 58 $44,900
36 10 19 Casey Atwood (R) Evernham Motorsports Dodge 269 0 running 55 $43,850
37 6 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 264 0 engine 52 $73,097
38 23 26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 257 0 crash 49 $49,725
39 7 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 227 0 running 46 $51,675
40 20 14 Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac 226 0 running 43 $41,625
41 30 33 Joe Nemechek Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 204 0 crash 40 $69,845
42 2 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 149 2 engine 42 $94,552
43 18 77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford 33 0 crash 34 $49,722
Failed to qualify
44 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge
45 50 Rick Mast Midwest Transit Racing Chevrolet
Official race results

Standings after the race

Pos Driver Points
1 Dale Jarrett 1,056
2 Jeff Gordon 981 (–75)
1 3 Johnny Benson Jr. 946 (–110)
1 4 Steve Park 933 (–123)
2 5 Sterling Marlin 889 (–167)
6 Rusty Wallace 879 (–177)
1 7 Bobby Hamilton 825 (–231)
1 8 Elliott Sadler 824 (–232)
1 9 Bill Elliott 822 (–234)
3 10 Kevin Harvick 811 (–245)

References

  1. ^ David, Poole (April 1, 2001). "4 tires the right choice for Jarrett". ThatsRacin. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on October 6, 2001. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  2. ^ "Advice from crew chief leads Jarrett to victory". The Daily Journal. April 2, 2001. p. 10. Retrieved July 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b c "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2001 Texas Race Info Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on February 13, 2002. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  4. ^ "Friday's Winston Cup practice speeds". ThatsRacin. March 30, 2001. Archived from the original on October 8, 2001. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  5. ^ "Friday's Winston Cup practice speeds". ThatsRacin. March 31, 2001. Archived from the original on October 8, 2001. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  6. ^ "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.
  7. ^ Harris, Mike (March 30, 2001). "Earnhardt Jr. wins Texas pole". ThatsRacin. Associated Press. Archived from the original on December 15, 2001. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  8. ^ "2001 Harrah's 500 - The Third Turn". The Third Turn. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
Previous race:
2001 Food City 500 		NASCAR Winston Cup Series
2001 season 		Next race:
2001 Virginia 500