2001 Virginia 500

2001 Virginia 500
Race details
Race 8 of 36 in the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 2001 Virginia 500 program cover.
The 2001 Virginia 500 program cover.
Date April 8, 2001
Official name 52nd Annual Virginia 500
Location Martinsville, Virginia, Martinsville Speedway
Course Permanent racing facility
0.526 mi (0.847 km)
Distance 500 laps, 263 mi (423.257 km)
Scheduled Distance 500 laps, 263 mi (423.257 km)
Average speed 70.799 miles per hour (113.940 km/h)
Pole position
Driver
Hendrick Motorsports
Time 20.126
Most laps led
Driver Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing
Laps 130
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 Motor Racing Network

The 2001 Virginia 500 was the eighth stock car race of the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 52nd iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, April 8, 2001, Martinsville, Virginia at Martinsville Speedway, a 0.526 miles (0.847 km) permanent oval-shaped short track. The race took the scheduled 500 laps to complete. Within the final laps of the race, Robert Yates Racing driver Dale Jarrett would manage to pass teammate Ricky Rudd to earn his 27th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his third victory of the season.[1][2][3] To fill out the top three, Rudd and Roush Racing driver Jeff Burton would finish second and third, respectively.

Background

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

Martinsville Speedway is an NASCAR-owned stock car racing track located in Henry County, in Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At 0.526 miles (0.847 km) in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved oval tracks in NASCAR, being built in 1947 by H. Clay Earles. It is also the only remaining race track that has been on the NASCAR circuit from its beginning in 1948.

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, OmniGrip
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
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 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, Route 66
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 Rubbermaid, Sharpie
99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford Citgo Supergard

Practice

First practice

The first practice session was held on Friday, April 6, at 11:15 AM EST. The session would last for one hour and 10 minutes.[4] Robert Pressley, driving for Jasper Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 20.055 and an average speed of 94.420 miles per hour (151.954 km/h).[5]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford 20.055 94.420
2 25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 20.108 94.171
3 33 Joe Nemechek Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 20.119 94.120
Full first practice results

Final practice

he final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, April 7, at 11:30 EST. The session would last for one hour and 30 minutes.[4] Jerry Nadeau, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 20.440 and an average speed of 92.642 miles per hour (149.093 km/h).[6]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 20.440 92.642
2 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 20.468 92.515
3 26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 20.469 92.511
Full Happy Hour practice results

Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Friday, April 6, at 3:00 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.[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.[7]

Jeff Gordon, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would win the pole, setting a time of 20.126 and an average speed of 94.087 miles per hour (151.418 km/h).[8]

Three drivers would fail to qualify: Jason Leffler, Hermie Sadler, and Hut Stricklin.

Full qualifying results

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 20.126 94.087
2 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 20.146 93.994
3 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 20.149 93.980
4 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 20.166 93.901
5 77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford 20.167 93.896
6 12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske Racing South Ford 20.187 93.803
7 25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 20.190 93.789
8 33 Joe Nemechek Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 20.195 93.766
9 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 20.197 93.756
10 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 20.206 93.715
11 50 Rick Mast Midwest Transit Racing Chevrolet 20.209 93.701
12 66 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 20.236 93.576
13 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 20.238 93.567
14 19 Casey Atwood (R) Evernham Motorsports Dodge 20.239 93.562
15 29 Kevin Harvick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 20.249 93.516
16 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 20.253 93.497
17 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 20.261 93.460
18 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 20.270 93.419
19 31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 20.275 93.396
20 7 Mike Wallace Ultra Motorsports Ford 20.275 93.396
21 26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 20.288 93.336
22 92 Stacy Compton Melling Racing Dodge 20.288 93.336
23 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 20.293 93.313
24 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 20.296 93.299
25 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 20.300 93.281
26 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac 20.326 93.161
27 44 Buckshot Jones Petty Enterprises Dodge 20.329 93.148
28 27 Kenny Wallace Eel River Racing Pontiac 20.334 93.125
29 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 20.357 93.020
30 96 Andy Houston (R) PPI Motorsports Ford 20.363 92.992
31 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 20.370 92.960
32 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 20.370 92.960
33 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 20.371 92.956
34 93 Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing Dodge 20.399 92.828
35 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 20.407 92.792
36 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 20.440 92.642
Provisionals
37 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 20.504 92.353
38 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 20.449 92.601
39 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 20.503 92.357
40 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 20.461 92.547
41 97 Kurt Busch (R) Roush Racing Ford 20.522 92.272
42 4 Kevin Lepage Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 20.546 92.164
43 14 Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac 20.477 92.474
Failed to qualify
44 01 Jason Leffler (R) Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 20.497 92.384
45 13 Hermie Sadler SCORE Motorsports Chevrolet 20.511 92.321
46 90 Hut Stricklin Donlavey Racing Ford 20.525 92.258
Official qualifying results

Race results

Fin St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 13 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 500 6 running 180 $170,027
2 4 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 500 50 running 175 $106,047
3 3 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 500 128 running 170 $108,596
4 9 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 500 130 running 170 $77,675
5 31 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 500 20 running 160 $67,110
6 25 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 500 11 running 155 $57,750
7 16 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 500 0 running 146 $59,200
8 24 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 500 0 running 142 $90,402
9 21 26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 500 0 running 138 $57,695
10 7 25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 500 0 running 134 $55,625
11 10 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 500 0 running 130 $71,233
12 1 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 500 6 running 132 $87,427
13 2 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 500 58 running 129 $82,415
14 17 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 500 0 running 121 $63,898
15 22 92 Stacy Compton Melling Racing Dodge 500 0 running 118 $47,586
16 8 33 Joe Nemechek Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 500 0 running 115 $67,245
17 30 96 Andy Houston (R) PPI Motorsports Ford 500 0 running 112 $35,475
18 42 4 Kevin Lepage Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 499 0 running 109 $42,140
19 29 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 499 0 running 106 $63,493
20 26 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac 499 0 running 103 $49,350
21 37 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 499 0 running 100 $57,725
22 38 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 499 0 running 97 $69,485
23 39 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 499 0 running 94 $68,780
24 35 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 497 0 running 91 $42,650
25 32 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 497 0 running 88 $44,450
26 14 19 Casey Atwood (R) Evernham Motorsports Dodge 496 0 running 85 $32,200
27 43 14 Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac 495 24 running 87 $35,000
28 18 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 494 25 running 84 $31,800
29 34 93 Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing Dodge 494 0 running 76 $34,600
30 6 12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske Racing South Ford 490 0 running 73 $73,184
31 20 7 Mike Wallace Ultra Motorsports Ford 489 0 running 70 $39,200
32 19 31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 488 0 running 67 $63,824
33 41 97 Kurt Busch (R) Roush Racing Ford 466 0 running 64 $38,800
34 15 29 Kevin Harvick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 454 0 running 61 $76,627
35 40 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 451 0 running 58 $65,502
36 23 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 432 0 running 55 $30,400
37 28 27 Kenny Wallace Eel River Racing Pontiac 370 0 running 52 $30,275
38 27 44 Buckshot Jones Petty Enterprises Dodge 350 0 running 49 $38,150
39 36 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 268 42 accident 51 $74,376
40 5 77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford 250 0 overheating 43 $38,175
41 11 50 Rick Mast Midwest Transit Racing Chevrolet 232 0 rear end 40 $29,850
42 33 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 155 0 overheating 37 $29,625
43 12 66 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 12 0 engine 34 $29,756
Failed to qualify
44 01 Jason Leffler (R) Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates 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 1,236
2 Jeff Gordon 1,113 (–123)
3 Johnny Benson Jr. 1,049 (–187)
1 4 Sterling Marlin 1,049 (–187)
1 5 Steve Park 1,039 (–197)
6 Rusty Wallace 1,008 (–228)
7 Bobby Hamilton 995 (–241)
3 8 Ricky Rudd 970 (–266)
9 Bill Elliott 943 (–293)
2 10 Elliott Sadler 924 (–312)

References

  1. ^ Poole, David (April 8, 2001). "Jarrett wins again with fresh tires". That's Racin'. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on October 6, 2001. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  2. ^ Smith, Marty (April 9, 2001). "Rudd loses heartbreaker to Jarrett at Martinsville". NASCAR. Turner Sports Interactive. Archived from the original on October 8, 2001. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  3. ^ Kurz Jr., Hank (April 9, 2001). "Jarrett uses late move to capture Virginia 500". The Tampa Tribune. p. 21. Retrieved October 4, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  4. ^ a b c "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2001 Martinsville 1 Race Info Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on December 15, 2003. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  5. ^ "Friday's Winston Cup practice speeds". That's Racin'. April 6, 2001. Archived from the original on August 8, 2001. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  6. ^ "Saturday's `Happy Hour' speeds". That's Racin'. April 7, 2001. Archived from the original on December 24, 2001. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ Kurz Jr., Hank (April 6, 2001). "Gordon wins pole for Virginia 500". That's Racin'. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on December 24, 2001. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
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2001 Harrah's 500 (NASCAR) 		NASCAR Winston Cup Series
2001 season 		Next race:
2001 Talladega 500