2001 Pontiac Excitement 400

2001 Pontiac Excitement 400
Race details
Race 11 of 36 in the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 2001 Pontiac Excitement 400 program cover, with artwork by Garry Hill.
The 2001 Pontiac Excitement 400 program cover, with artwork by Garry Hill.
Date May 5, 2001
Official name 47th Annual Pontiac Excitement 400
Location Richmond, Virginia, Richmond International Raceway
Course Permanent racing facility
0.75 mi (1.21 km)
Distance 400 laps, 300 mi (482.803 km)
Scheduled Distance 400 laps, 300 mi (482.803 km)
Average speed 95.872 miles per hour (154.291 km/h)
Pole position
Driver
Roush Racing
Time 21.667
Most laps led
Driver Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South
Laps 276
Winner
No. 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing
Television in the United States
Network FOX
Announcers Mike Joy, Larry McReynolds, Darrell Waltrip
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

The 2001 Pontiac Excitement 400 was the 11th stock car race of the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 47th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, May 5, 2001, in Richmond, Virginia, at Richmond International Raceway, a 0.75 miles (1.21 km) D-shaped oval. The race took the scheduled 400 laps to complete. At race's end, Tony Stewart, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would hold off the field on the final restart with two to go to win his 10th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series win and his first of the season.[1][2] To fill out the podium, Jeff Gordon, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, and Rusty Wallace, driving for Penske Racing South, would finish second and third, respectively.

Background

The layout of Richmond International Raceway, the venue where the race was at.

Richmond International Raceway (RIR) is a 3/4-mile (1.2 km), D-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in Henrico County. It hosts the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series. Known as "America's premier short track", it formerly hosted a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, an IndyCar Series race, and two USAC sprint car races.

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 Valvoline
11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford RedCell / Ralphs
12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske Racing South Ford Mobil 1
13 Hermie Sadler SCORE Motorsports Chevrolet Virginia Lottery
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 GEICO Direct
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 Georgia-Pacific Sparkle
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 Brothers 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 Rubbermaid / Sharpie
99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford Citgo Supergard
Official entry list

Practice

First practice

The first practice session was held on Friday, May 4, at 12:00 PM EST. 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 21.580 and an average speed of 125.116 miles per hour (201.355 km/h).[4]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 21.580 125.116
2 33 Joe Nemechek Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 21.593 125.041
3 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing Ford 21.638 124.780
Full first practice results

Second and final practice

The final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Friday, May 4, at 5:50 PM EST. The session would last for one hour and 30 minutes.[3] Jeff Gordon, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 22.114 and an average speed of 122.095 miles per hour (196.493 km/h).[5]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 22.114 122.095
2 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 22.145 121.924
3 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 22.169 121.792
Full Happy Hour practice results

Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Friday, May 4, at 3:30 PM EST. 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]

Mark Martin, driving for Roush Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 21.667 and an average speed of 124.613 miles per hour (200.545 km/h).[7]

Three drivers would fail to qualify: Buckshot Jones, Hermie Sadler, and Hut Stricklin.

Full qualifying results

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 21.667 124.613
2 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 21.670 124.596
3 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 21.688 124.493
4 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 21.763 124.064
5 26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 21.764 124.058
6 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 21.781 123.961
7 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 21.799 123.859
8 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 21.815 123.768
9 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 21.825 123.711
10 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 21.828 123.694
11 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac 21.831 123.677
12 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 21.862 123.502
13 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 21.874 123.434
14 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 21.878 123.412
15 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 21.907 123.248
16 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 21.920 123.175
17 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 21.921 123.170
18 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 21.931 123.113
19 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 21.949 123.012
20 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 21.957 122.968
21 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 21.961 122.945
22 50 Rick Mast Midwest Transit Racing Chevrolet 21.976 122.861
23 77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford 21.979 122.845
24 31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 21.985 122.811
25 27 Kenny Wallace Eel River Racing Pontiac 21.988 122.794
26 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 21.992 122.772
27 4 Kevin Lepage Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 22.006 122.694
28 01 Jason Leffler (R) Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 22.029 122.566
29 25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 22.030 122.560
30 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 22.040 122.505
31 97 Kurt Busch (R) Roush Racing Ford 22.044 122.482
32 29 Kevin Harvick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 22.059 122.399
33 7 Mike Wallace Ultra Motorsports Ford 22.080 122.283
34 96 Andy Houston (R) PPI Motorsports Ford 22.081 122.277
35 12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske Racing South Ford 22.093 122.211
36 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 22.096 122.194
Provisionals
37 33 Joe Nemechek Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 22.100 122.172
38 93 Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing Dodge 22.134 121.984
39 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 22.170 121.786
40 92 Stacy Compton Melling Racing Dodge 22.159 121.847
41 14 Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac 22.120 122.061
42 19 Casey Atwood (R) Evernham Motorsports Dodge 22.139 121.957
43 66 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 22.217 121.529
Failed to qualify
44 44 Buckshot Jones Petty Enterprises Dodge 22.228 121.468
45 13 Hermie Sadler SCORE Motorsports Chevrolet 22.327 120.930
46 90 Hut Stricklin Donlavey Racing Ford 22.357 120.768
Official qualifying results

Race results

Fin[8] St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 7 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 400 93 running 180 $150,175
2 6 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 400 0 running 170 $133,827
3 2 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 400 276 running 175 $117,740
4 4 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 400 0 running 160 $95,493
5 3 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 400 27 running 160 $93,297
6 11 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac 400 0 running 150 $57,350
7 14 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 400 1 running 151 $75,348
8 19 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 400 0 running 142 $52,475
9 21 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 400 0 running 138 $61,235
10 9 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 400 0 running 134 $98,152
11 15 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 400 0 running 130 $62,995
12 42 19 Casey Atwood (R) Evernham Motorsports Dodge 400 0 running 127 $38,950
13 1 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 400 3 running 129 $87,126
14 17 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 400 0 running 121 $84,521
15 20 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 400 0 running 118 $85,712
16 5 26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 399 0 running 115 $55,911
17 32 29 Kevin Harvick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 399 0 running 112 $82,427
18 31 97 Kurt Busch (R) Roush Racing Ford 399 0 running 109 $48,650
19 37 33 Joe Nemechek Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 399 0 running 106 $68,195
20 22 50 Rick Mast Midwest Transit Racing Chevrolet 398 0 running 103 $39,575
21 10 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 398 0 running 100 $72,185
22 16 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 398 0 running 97 $35,725
23 36 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 398 0 running 94 $61,215
24 24 31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 398 0 running 91 $70,699
25 33 7 Mike Wallace Ultra Motorsports Ford 397 0 running 88 $49,600
26 28 01 Jason Leffler (R) Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 397 0 running 85 $46,400
27 27 4 Kevin Lepage Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 397 0 running 82 $37,675
28 26 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 396 0 running 79 $45,450
29 40 92 Stacy Compton Melling Racing Dodge 396 0 running 76 $37,225
30 43 66 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 396 0 running 73 $37,600
31 41 14 Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac 394 0 running 70 $36,550
32 23 77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford 393 0 running 67 $42,000
33 38 93 Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing Dodge 388 0 crash 64 $33,950
34 39 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 387 0 running 61 $68,927
35 12 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 364 0 running 58 $43,850
36 35 12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske Racing South Ford 359 0 running 55 $73,084
37 8 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 342 0 running 52 $58,473
38 30 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 329 0 rear end 49 $66,430
39 18 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 327 0 running 46 $33,625
40 25 27 Kenny Wallace Eel River Racing Pontiac 322 0 engine 43 $33,550
41 29 25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 257 0 crash 40 $41,500
42 34 96 Andy Houston (R) PPI Motorsports Ford 206 0 engine 37 $33,455
43 13 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 165 0 crash 34 $33,654
Failed to qualify
44 44 Buckshot Jones Petty Enterprises Dodge
45 13 Hermie Sadler SCORE Motorsports Chevrolet
46 90 Hut Stricklin Donlavey Racing Ford
Official race results

Standings after the race

Pos Driver Points
1 Dale Jarrett 1,559
2 Jeff Gordon 1,545 (–14)
1 3 Rusty Wallace 1,497 (–62)
1 4 Johnny Benson Jr. 1,480 (–79)
5 Sterling Marlin 1,421 (–138)
6 Ricky Rudd 1,411 (–148)
2 7 Tony Stewart 1,392 (–167)
8 Steve Park 1,387 (–172)
2 9 Bobby Hamilton 1,309 (–250)
10 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 1,302 (–257)

References

  1. ^ Pearce, Al (May 6, 2001). "Stewart stands tall". Daily Press. p. 4. Retrieved June 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Clarke, Liz (May 6, 2001). "Stewart Takes Richmond". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2001 Richmond 1 Race Info Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on February 13, 2002. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  4. ^ "Winston Cup practice speeds". ThatsRacin. May 4, 2001. Archived from the original on October 8, 2001. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  5. ^ "Happy Hour practice speeds". ThatsRacin. May 4, 2001. Archived from the original on December 15, 2001. Retrieved June 13, 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. ^ Poole, David (May 4, 2001). "Pole run like old times for Martin". ThatsRacin. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on January 11, 2002. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  8. ^ "2001 Pontiac Excitement 400 - The Third Turn". www.thethirdturn.com. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
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