2001 Tropicana 400

2001 Tropicana 400
Race details
Race 18 of 36 in the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 2001 Tropicana 400 program cover.
The 2001 Tropicana 400 program cover.
Date July 15, 2001
Official name Inaugural Tropicana 400
Location Joliet, Illinois, Chicagoland Speedway
Course Permanent racing facility
1.5 mi (2.41 km)
Distance 267 laps, 400.5 mi (644.542 km)
Scheduled Distance 267 laps, 400.5 mi (644.542 km)
Average speed 121.200 miles per hour (195.052 km/h)
Pole position
Driver
Haas-Carter Motorsports
Time 29.393
Most laps led
Driver Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing
Laps 113
Winner
No. 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress 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 Tropicana 400 was the 18th stock car race of the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the inaugural running of the event. The race was held on July 15, 2001, in Joliet, Illinois at Chicagoland Speedway, a 1.5 mile (2.41 km) tri-oval speedway. The race took the scheduled 267 laps to complete. Kevin Harvick, driving for Richard Childress Racing, would dominate the late stages of the race to win his second career NASCAR Winston Cup Series win and his second and final win of the season.[1][2] To fill out the podium, Robert Pressley of Jasper Motorsports and Ricky Rudd of Robert Yates Racing would finish second and third, respectively.

Background

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

Chicagoland Speedway is a 1.5 miles (2.41 km) tri-oval speedway in Joliet, Illinois, southwest of Chicago. The speedway opened in 2001 and currently hosts NASCAR racing. Until 2011, the speedway also hosted the IndyCar Series, recording numerous close finishes including the closest finish in IndyCar history. The speedway is owned and operated by International Speedway Corporation and located adjacent to Route 66 Raceway.

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 Dodge Cingular Wireless, Special Olympics
2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing Ford Miller Lite
4 Kevin Lepage Morgan-McClure Motorsports Chevrolet Kodak
5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Viagra
6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford NationsRent
7 Robby Gordon Ultra Motorsports Ford Budweiser
8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet Budweiser
9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge Dodge
10 Johnny Benson MBV Motorsports Pontiac Valvoline
11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford RedCell, Ralphs
12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske Racing Ford Mobil 1, WEGA
14 Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) A. J. Foyt Racing Pontiac Conseco
15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet NAPA Auto Parts
17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford AT&T Broadband
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 Mike Bliss Eel River Racing Pontiac Sauer's, Duke's Mayonnaise
28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford Texaco, Havoline
29 Kevin Harvick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet GM Goodwrench
30 Jeff Green Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet America Online
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 MB2 Motorsports Pontiac M&M's
40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge Coors Light
43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge Cheerios
44 Buckshot Jones Petty Enterprises Dodge Georgia-Pacific
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
71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet Team Realtree
77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford Jasper Engines & Transmissions
84 Shawna Robinson Michael Kranefuss Racing Ford Tropicana
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 Sharpie
99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford Citgo Supergard
Official entry list

Practice

First practice

The first practice session was held on Thursday, July 12, at 2:00 PM CST, and would last for an hour and 25 minutes.[3] Bill Elliott of Evernham Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 31.477 and an average speed of 171.554 miles per hour (276.089 km/h).[4]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 29.574 182.593
2 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing Ford 29.588 182.506
3 26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 29.633 182.402
Full first practice results

Second practice

The second practice session was held on Thursday, July 12, at 5:05 PM CST, and would last for an hour and 25 minutes.[3] Mark Martin of Roush Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 31.477 and an average speed of 171.554 miles per hour (276.089 km/h).[5]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 29.369 183.867
2 25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 29.444 183.399
3 26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 29.471 183.231
Full second practice results

Third practice

The third practice session was held on Friday, July 13, at 11:00 AM CST, and would last for an hour and 55 minutes.[3] Todd Bodine of Haas-Carter Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.347 and an average speed of 183.443 miles per hour (295.223 km/h).[6]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 66 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 29.347 183.443
2 25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 29.475 183.206
3 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 29.504 183.026
Full third practice results

Fourth practice

The fourth practice session was held on Saturday, July 14, at 11:30 AM CST, and would last for 45 minutes.[3] Dale Jarrett of Robert Yates Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 30.158 and an average speed of 179.057 miles per hour (288.164 km/h).[7]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 30.158 179.057
2 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 30.181 178.921
3 29 Kevin Harvick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 30.195 178.838
Full fourth practice results

Fifth and final practice

The fifth and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, July 14, at 1:00 PM CST, and would last for 45 minutes.[3] Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 30.142 and an average speed of 179.152 miles per hour (288.317 km/h).[8]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 30.142 179.152
2 26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 30.154 179.081
3 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 30.195 178.838
Full Happy Hour practice results

Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Friday, July 13, at 3:05 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.[9]

Todd Bodine of Haas-Carter Motorsports would win the pole, setting a time of 29.393 and an average speed of 183.7172 miles per hour (295.6642 km/h).[10]

Four drivers would fail to qualify: Kyle Petty, Dave Marcis, Mike Bliss, and Shawna Robinson.

Full qualifying results

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 66 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 29.393 183.7172
2 26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 29.442 183.4115
3 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 29.483 183.1564
4 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 29.545 182.7720
5 33 Joe Nemechek Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 29.615 182.3400
6 29 Kevin Harvick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 29.644 182.1617
7 31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 29.661 182.0572
8 25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 29.669 182.0082
9 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 29.701 181.8121
10 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 29.722 181.6836
11 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 29.733 181.6164
12 36 Ken Schrader MBV Motorsports Pontiac 29.808 181.1594
13 77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford 29.830 181.0260
14 96 Andy Houston (R) PPI Motorsports Ford 29.842 180.9530
15 01 Jason Leffler (R) Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 29.846 180.9290
16 14 Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) A. J. Foyt Racing Pontiac 29.847 180.9227
17 19 Casey Atwood Evernham Motorsports Dodge 29.869 180.7894
18 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 29.887 180.6806
19 4 Kevin Lepage Morgan-McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 29.898 180.6141
20 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 29.899 180.6080
21 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing Ford 29.903 180.5840
22 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 29.912 180.5296
23 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 29.926 180.4450
24 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 29.942 180.3487
25 92 Stacy Compton Melling Racing Dodge 29.969 180.1860
26 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 29.987 180.0780
27 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 29.990 180.0600
28 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 29.994 180.0360
29 30 Jeff Green Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 29.999 180.0060
30 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 30.027 179.8380
31 97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford 30.030 179.8202
32 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 30.044 179.7364
33 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 30.045 179.7304
34 10 Johnny Benson MBV Motorsports Pontiac 30.046 179.7244
35 93 Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing Dodge 30.059 179.6467
36 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 30.085 179.4914
Provisionals
37 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford - -
38 12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske Racing Ford - -
39 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet - -
40 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet - -
41 7 Robby Gordon Ultra Motorsports Ford - -
42 90 Hut Stricklin Donlavey Racing Ford - -
43 44 Buckshot Jones Petty Enterprises Dodge - -
Failed to Qualify
44 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 30.102 179.4560
45 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 30.300 178.2180
46 27 Mike Bliss Eel River Racing Pontiac 30.495 177.0780
47 84 Shawna Robinson Michael Kranefuss Racing Ford 30.807 175.2850
Official qualifying results

Race results

Fin.[11] # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 29 Kevin Harvick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 267 113 running 185 $162,500
2 77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford 267 0 running 170 $126,600
3 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 267 25 running 170 $112,600
4 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 267 0 running 160 $101,300
5 26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 267 50 running 160 $94,200
6 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 267 20 running 155 $77,100
7 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 267 0 running 146 $70,650
8 97 Kurt Busch (R) Roush Racing Ford 267 0 running 142 $68,100
9 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 267 0 running 138 $65,900
10 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 267 0 running 134 $71,080
11 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevrolet 267 0 running 130 $70,800
12 93 Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing Dodge 267 0 running 127 $54,800
13 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing Ford 267 0 running 124 $69,300
14 66 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 267 6 running 126 $58,300
15 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 267 2 running 123 $71,600
16 33 Joe Nemechek Andy Petree Racing Ford 267 17 running 120 $62,600
17 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 267 0 running 112 $68,300
18 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 266 0 running 109 $69,100
19 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 266 0 running 106 $52,000
20 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Raving Dodge 266 0 running 103 $62,600
21 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 266 0 running 100 $52,900
22 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevrolet 266 0 running 97 $57,900
23 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 266 0 running 94 $58,900
24 01 Jason Leffler (R) Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 266 0 running 91 $58,600
25 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 266 0 running 88 $58,300
26 92 Stacy Compton Melling Racing Dodge 266 0 running 85 $50,500
27 10 Johnny Benson MBV Motorsports Pontiac 266 3 running 87 $57,900
28 19 Casey Atwood (R) Evernham Motorsports Dodge 265 0 running 79 $46,700
29 36 Ken Schrader MBV Motorsports Pontiac 265 0 running 76 $54,500
30 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 264 0 running 73 $54,800
31 90 Hut Stricklin Donlavey Racing Ford 262 0 running 70 $46,100
32 12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske Racing Ford 259 0 running 67 $63,900
33 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 257 0 crash 64 $65,900
34 4 Kevin Lepage Morgan-McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 255 0 crash 61 $45,500
35 7 Robby Gordon Ultra Motorsports Ford 252 0 crash 58 $53,300
36 30 Jeff Green Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 243 0 engine 55 $45,100
37 25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 239 25 engine 57 $52,900
38 44 Buckshot Jones Petty Enterprises Dodge 184 0 crash 49 $52,700
39 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 168 2 engine 51 $69,500
40 14 Ron Hornady Jr. (R) A. J. Foyt Racing Pontiac 150 0 engine 43 $44,300
41 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevrolet 134 0 flywheel 40 $52,100
42 31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 22 0 crash 37 $51,900
43 96 Andy Houston (R) PPI Motorsports Ford 3 0 engine 34 $43,950
Official race results

References

  1. ^ Smith, Marty (July 16, 2001). "Harvick wins inaugural Tropicana 400". NASCAR.com. Turner Sports Interactive. Archived from the original on December 21, 2001. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  2. ^ "Rookie Harvick leaves Chicagoland with win". The Cincinnati Post. 2001-07-16. p. 19. Retrieved 2022-04-28. Open access icon
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2001 Chicagoland Race Info Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on August 6, 2001. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  4. ^ "Winston Cup practice speeds". ThatsRacin. July 12, 2001. Archived from the original on August 4, 2001. Retrieved April 28, 2002.
  5. ^ "Thursday's late practice speeds". ThatsRacin. July 12, 2001. Archived from the original on August 4, 2001. Retrieved April 28, 2002.
  6. ^ "Friday's Winston Cup practice speeds". ThatsRacin. July 13, 2001. Archived from the original on October 8, 2001. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  7. ^ "Saturday's early practice speeds". ThatsRacin. July 14, 2002. Archived from the original on October 8, 2001. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  8. ^ "Saturday's final Winston Cup practice speeds". ThatsRacin. July 14, 2001. Archived from the original on August 7, 2001. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  9. ^ "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2001 Provisional Start Status". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on 2001-08-01. Retrieved 2022-02-22.
  10. ^ "BODINE SURPRISINGLY GRABS POLE AT CHICAGOLAND". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
  11. ^ "2001 Tropicana 400 - The Third Turn". www.thethirdturn.com. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
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