2001 NAPA 500

2001 NAPA 500
Race details
Race 35 of 36 in the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 2001 NAPA 500 program cover, with artwork by Sam Bass.
The 2001 NAPA 500 program cover, with artwork by Sam Bass.
Date November 18, 2001
Official name 42nd Annual NAPA 500
Location Hampton, Georgia, Atlanta Motor Speedway
Course Permanent racing facility
1.54 mi (2.48 km)
Distance 325 laps, 500.5 mi (805.476 km)
Scheduled Distance 325 laps, 500.5 mi (805.476 km)
Average speed 151.756 miles per hour (244.228 km/h)
Pole position
Driver
Dale Earnhardt, Inc.
Time 28.868
Most laps led
Driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc.
Laps 171
Winner
No. 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing
Television in the United States
Network NBC
Announcers Allen Bestwick, Benny Parsons, Wally Dallenbach Jr.
Radio in the United States
Radio Performance Racing Network

The 2001 NAPA 500 was the 35th stock car race of the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 42nd iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, November 18, 2001, in Hampton, Georgia at Atlanta Motor Speedway, a 1.54 miles (2.48 km) permanent asphalt quad-oval intermediate speedway. The race took the scheduled 325 laps to complete. On the final lap of the race, Jerry Nadeau, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would run out of fuel heading into turn 3, leading to Joe Gibbs Racing driver Bobby Labonte stealing the victory away from Nadeau.[1][2][3] The win was Labonte's 18th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his second and final victory of the season. To fill out the podium, Sterling Marlin, driving for Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, and Kevin Harvick, driving for Richard Childress Racing, would finish second and third, respectively.

Meanwhile, sixth-place finisher, Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon, would clinch the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship after a dominant 2001 season, earning his fourth and final NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship.[4]

Background

Atlanta Motor Speedway (formerly Atlanta International Raceway) is a track in Hampton, Georgia, 20 miles (32 km) south of Atlanta. It is a 1.54-mile (2.48 km) quad-oval track with a seating capacity of 111,000. It opened in 1960 as a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) standard oval. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track. In 1997, to standardize the track with Speedway Motorsports' other two 1.5-mile (2.4 km) ovals, the entire track was almost completely rebuilt. The frontstretch and backstretch were swapped, and the configuration of the track was changed from oval to quad-oval. The project made the track one of the fastest on the NASCAR circuit.

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
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
13 Hermie Sadler SCORE Motorsports Chevrolet Lotto South, Scientific Games
14 Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac Conseco
15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet NAPA AutoCare
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
23 Hut Stricklin Bill Davis Racing Dodge Hills Bros. Coffee
24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet DuPont
25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet UAW, Delphi
26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford Kmart, How the Grinch Stole Christmas
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 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Lowe's
32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford Tide
33 Joe Nemechek Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet Oakwood Homes, Charlie Daniels Band
36 Ken Schrader MBV Motorsports Pontiac M&M's
40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge Coors Light
41 Mark Green A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac Conseco
43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge Chex Party Mix
44 Buckshot Jones Petty Enterprises Dodge Georgia-Pacific Sparkle
45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge Sprint PCS
46 Frank Kimmel Larry Clement Racing Ford Advance Auto Parts
47 Lance Hooper Dark Horse Motorsports Chevrolet Dark Horse Motorsports
48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Lowe's Power of Pride
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
85 Carl Long Mansion Motorsports Ford Bill Boruff Chrysler
88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford UPS
90 Rick Mast Donlavey Racing Ford Donlavey Racing
92 Stacy Compton Melling Racing Dodge Levi Garrett
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, November 16, at 11:20 AM EST. The session would last for two hours.[5] Dale Earnhardt Jr., driving for Dale Earnhardt, Inc., would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.275 and an average speed of 189.377 miles per hour (304.773 km/h).[6]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 29.275 189.377
2 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 29.276 189.370
3 23 Hut Stricklin Bill Davis Racing Dodge 29.332 189.009
Full first practice results

Second practice

The second practice session was held on Saturday, November 17, at 10:00 AM EST. The session would last for 45 minutes.[5] Tony Stewart, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 30.125 and an average speed of 184.033 miles per hour (296.172 km/h).[7]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 30.125 184.033
2 26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 30.180 183.698
3 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 30.196 183.600
Full second practice results

Third and final practice

The final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, November 17, at 11:15 AM EST. The session would last for 45 minutes.[5] Tony Stewart, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 30.373 and an average speed of 182.531 miles per hour (293.755 km/h).[8]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 30.373 182.531
2 93 Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing Dodge 30.468 181.961
3 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 30.472 181.938
Full Happy Hour practice results

Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Friday, November 16, 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.[5] 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]

Dale Earnhardt Jr., driving for Dale Earnhardt, Inc., would win the pole, setting a time of 28.868 and an average speed of 192.047 miles per hour (309.070 km/h).[10]

Eight drivers would fail to qualify: Mark Green, Robby Gordon, Jason Leffler, Kurt Busch, Rick Mast, Ron Hornaday Jr., Dave Marcis, and Frank Kimmel.

Full qualifying results

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 28.868 192.047
2 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 29.108 190.463
3 93 Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing Dodge 29.195 189.896
4 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 29.211 189.792
5 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 29.222 189.720
6 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 29.231 189.662
7 7 Kevin Lepage Ultra Motorsports Ford 29.282 189.331
8 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac 29.298 189.228
9 92 Stacy Compton Melling Racing Dodge 29.298 189.228
10 33 Joe Nemechek Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 29.300 189.215
11 23 Hut Stricklin Bill Davis Racing Dodge 29.301 189.209
12 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 29.305 189.183
13 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 29.368 188.777
14 66 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 29.382 188.687
15 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 29.416 188.469
16 1 Kenny Wallace Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 29.425 188.411
17 30 Jeff Green Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 29.477 188.079
18 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 29.487 188.015
19 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 29.496 187.958
20 44 Buckshot Jones Petty Enterprises Dodge 29.501 187.926
21 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 29.502 187.919
22 19 Casey Atwood (R) Evernham Motorsports Dodge 29.514 187.843
23 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 29.521 187.799
24 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 29.538 187.690
25 13 Hermie Sadler SCORE Motorsports Chevrolet 29.538 187.690
26 85 Carl Long Mansion Motorsports Dodge 29.542 187.665
27 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 29.551 187.608
28 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 29.556 187.576
29 4 Bobby Hamilton Jr. Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 29.558 187.563
30 26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 29.590 187.361
31 12 Mike Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 29.601 187.291
32 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 29.602 187.285
33 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 29.608 187.247
34 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 29.609 187.240
35 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 29.620 187.171
36 47 Lance Hooper Dark Horse Motorsports Chevrolet 29.620 187.171
Provisionals
37 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 29.964 185.022
38 29 Kevin Harvick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 29.628 187.120
39 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 29.628 187.120
40 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 29.702 186.654
41 25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 29.634 187.082
42 77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford 29.648 186.994
43 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 30.093 184.229
Failed to qualify
44 41 Mark Green A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac 29.630 187.108
45 31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 29.642 187.032
46 01 Jason Leffler (R) Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 29.722 186.528
47 97 Kurt Busch (R) Roush Racing Ford 29.734 186.453
48 90 Rick Mast Donlavey Racing Ford 29.766 186.253
49 14 Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac 29.870 185.604
50 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 30.015 184.708
51 46 Frank Kimmel Larry Clement Racing Ford 30.015 184.708
Official qualifying results

Race results

Fin[11] St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 39 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 325 13 running 180 $233,227
2 28 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 325 2 running 175 $142,460
3 38 29 Kevin Harvick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 325 0 running 165 $135,477
4 41 25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 325 41 running 165 $110,100
5 4 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 325 0 running 155 $113,435
6 24 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 325 31 running 155 $113,352
7 1 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 325 171 running 156 $122,123
8 33 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 325 0 running 142 $103,702
9 12 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 325 33 running 143 $78,650
10 34 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 325 3 running 139 $105,821
11 11 23 Hut Stricklin Bill Davis Racing Dodge 325 0 running 130 $54,950
12 27 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 325 0 running 127 $98,390
13 31 12 Mike Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 325 1 running 129 $86,634
14 6 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 325 0 running 121 $81,448
15 29 4 Bobby Hamilton Jr. Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 325 0 running 118 $66,945
16 14 66 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 325 2 running 120 $62,736
17 23 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 325 0 running 112 $63,275
18 9 92 Stacy Compton Melling Racing Dodge 325 0 running 109 $59,265
19 7 7 Kevin Lepage Ultra Motorsports Ford 325 3 running 111 $65,675
20 22 19 Casey Atwood (R) Evernham Motorsports Dodge 324 0 running 103 $57,775
21 42 77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford 324 0 running 100 $61,550
22 2 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 324 0 running 97 $69,225
23 8 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac 324 0 running 94 $60,900
24 15 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 323 0 running 91 $70,575
25 35 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 323 0 running 88 $88,177
26 5 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 323 0 running 85 $58,925
27 19 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 323 0 running 82 $59,900
28 16 1 Kenny Wallace Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 323 0 running 79 $77,918
29 21 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 322 0 running 76 $48,600
30 32 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 322 1 running 78 $49,125
31 40 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 322 0 running 70 $59,450
32 43 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 321 0 running 67 $83,575
33 20 44 Buckshot Jones Petty Enterprises Dodge 319 0 running 64 $56,250
34 17 30 Jeff Green Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 319 0 running 61 $48,175
35 37 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 319 0 running 58 $78,397
36 18 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 316 0 running 55 $48,025
37 25 13 Hermie Sadler SCORE Motorsports Chevrolet 316 0 running 52 $47,975
38 13 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 268 8 transmission 54 $48,725
39 10 33 Joe Nemechek Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 266 0 vibration 46 $76,145
40 30 26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 260 0 vibration 43 $55,800
41 3 93 Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing Dodge 181 16 handling 45 $49,850
42 36 47 Lance Hooper Dark Horse Motorsports Chevrolet 104 0 engine 37 $47,700
43 26 85 Carl Long Mansion Motorsports Dodge 15 0 crash 34 $47,904
Failed to qualify
44 41 Mark Green A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac
45 31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
46 01 Jason Leffler (R) Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge
47 97 Kurt Busch (R) Roush Racing Ford
48 90 Rick Mast Donlavey Racing Ford
49 14 Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac
50 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet
51 46 Frank Kimmel Larry Clement Racing Ford
Official race results

References

  1. ^ Poole, David (November 18, 2001). "Nadeau runs dry and Labonte takes it". ThatsRacin. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on December 4, 2001. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  2. ^ Harris, Mike (November 19, 2001). "Gordon gets fourth title: Labonte gets victory Sunday". The Daily Advocate. p. 7. Retrieved August 4, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Smith, Marty (November 19, 2001). "Labonte hands Nadeau bitter defeat at Atlanta". NASCAR. Turner Sports Interactive. Archived from the original on December 13, 2001. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  4. ^ Poole, David (November 18, 2001). "Gordon locks up title No. 4". ThatsRacin. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on December 5, 2001. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2001 Atlanta 2 Race Info Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on February 13, 2002. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  6. ^ "Friday's practice speeds". ThatsRacin. November 16, 2001. Archived from the original on December 5, 2001. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  7. ^ "Saturday's early practice speeds". ThatsRacin. November 17, 2001. Archived from the original on December 5, 2001. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  8. ^ "Speeds from Saturday's final practice". ThatsRacin. November 17, 2001. Archived from the original on December 4, 2001. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  9. ^ "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.
  10. ^ Harris, Mike. "Earnhardt Jr. wins Atlanta pole". ThatsRacin. Associated Press. Archived from the original on November 25, 2001. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  11. ^ "2001 NAPA 500 - The Third Turn". The Third Turn. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
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