2001 Carolina Dodge Dealers 400

The 2001 Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 was the fifth stock car race of the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 45th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, March 18, 2001, in Darlington, South Carolina, at Darlington Raceway, a 1.366 miles (2.198 km) permanent egg-shaped oval racetrack. The race took the scheduled 293 laps to complete. In the final laps of the race, Robert Yates Racing driver Dale Jarrett would manage to hold off the field on the final restart with seven to go to take his 25th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his first victory of the season.[1][2][3] To fill out the top three, Dale Earnhardt, Inc. driver Steve Park and Penske Racing South driver Jeremy Mayfield would finish second and third, respectively.

2001 Carolina Dodge Dealers 400
Race details
Race 5 of 36 in the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 2001 Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 program cover, featuring Bill Elliott and Ward Burton.
The 2001 Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 program cover, featuring Bill Elliott and Ward Burton.
Date March 18, 2001
Official name 45th Annual Carolina Dodge Dealers 400
Location Darlington, South Carolina, Darlington Raceway
Course Permanent racing facility
1.366 mi (2.198 km)
Distance 293 laps, 400.238 mi (644.12 km)
Scheduled Distance 293 laps, 400.238 mi (644.12 km)
Average speed 126.557 miles per hour (203.674 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Hendrick Motorsports
Time Set by 2001 owner's points
Most laps led
Driver Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc.
Laps 164
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

Background

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The layout of Darlington Raceway, the venue where the race was held.

Darlington Raceway is a race track built for NASCAR racing located near Darlington, South Carolina. It is nicknamed "The Lady in Black" and "The Track Too Tough to Tame" by many NASCAR fans and drivers and advertised as "A NASCAR Tradition." It is of a unique, somewhat egg-shaped design, an oval with the ends of very different configurations, a condition which supposedly arose from the proximity of one end of the track to a minnow pond the owner refused to relocate. This situation makes it very challenging for the crews to set up their cars' handling in a way that is effective at both ends.

Entry list

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  • (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 Robby Gordon 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
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
71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet Realtree
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 Roush Racing
99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford Citgo Supergard
Official entry list

Practice

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First practice

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The first practice session was held on Saturday, March 17, at 7:45 AM EST. The session would last for one hour and 45 minutes.[4] Mark Martin, driving for Roush Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.787 and an average speed of 165.203 miles per hour (265.868 km/h).[5]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 29.787 165.203
2 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 29.802 165.009
3 29 Kevin Harvick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 29.843 164.782
Full first practice results

Final practice

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The final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, March 17, after the preliminary 2001 SunCom 200 NASCAR Busch Series race. The session would last for one hour.[4] Jeff Gordon, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.899 and an average speed of 164.474 miles per hour (264.695 km/h).[6]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 29.899 164.474
2 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 30.021 163.805
3 92 Stacy Compton Melling Racing Dodge 30.033 163.740
Full Happy Hour practice results

Qualifying

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Qualifying was originally scheduled to be held on Saturday, March 17, at 10:40 AM EST.[4] However, due to intense fog, qualifying was cancelled and the lineup was set by the current 2001 owner's points. Per the NASCAR rules at the time, the first 35 spots were determined by the owner's points standings. Then, the next few positions were given to cars who had won the year before, but had not qualified in the top 35. The rest of the starting lineup was then determined by who had attempted to qualify for the previous four races by order of owner's points. As a result, Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon would earn the pole.[7]

Three drivers would fail to qualify: Dave Marcis, Andy Houston, and Rick Mast.

Full starting lineup

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Pos. # Driver Team Make
1 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
2 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford
3 29 Kevin Harvick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
4 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac
5 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge
6 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet
7 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge
8 25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
9 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford
10 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford
11 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac
12 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet
13 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet
14 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac
15 31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
16 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet
17 77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford
18 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
19 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford
20 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford
21 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge
22 33 Joe Nemechek Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet
23 26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford
24 14 Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac
25 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford
26 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac
27 97 Kurt Busch (R) Roush Racing Ford
28 66 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford
29 92 Stacy Compton Melling Racing Dodge
30 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford
31 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford
32 19 Casey Atwood (R) Evernham Motorsports Dodge
33 93 Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing Dodge
34 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge
35 7 Mike Wallace Ultra Motorsports Ford
Winners in 2000 who had not otherwise qualified
36 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford
37 12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske Racing South Ford
Cars that attempted all previous races by owner's points
38 4 Robby Gordon Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet
39 44 Buckshot Jones Petty Enterprises Dodge
40 01 Jason Leffler (R) Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge
41 27 Kenny Wallace Eel River Racing Pontiac
42 90 Hut Stricklin Donlavey Racing Ford
43 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge
Failed to qualify
44 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet
45 96 Andy Houston (R) PPI Motorsports Ford
46 50 Rick Mast Midwest Transit Racing Chevrolet
Official starting lineup

Race results

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Fin St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 2 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 293 16 running 180 $214,612
2 13 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 293 164 running 180 $105,173
3 37 12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske Racing South Ford 293 0 running 165 $98,049
4 23 26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 293 2 running 165 $83,640
5 5 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 293 13 running 160 $68,998
6 34 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 293 0 running 150 $86,402
7 4 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac 293 25 running 151 $50,670
8 10 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 293 0 running 142 $71,187
9 12 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 293 0 running 138 $47,460
10 9 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 293 0 running 134 $82,170
11 26 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 293 0 running 130 $90,927
12 21 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 293 0 running 127 $70,930
13 11 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 293 0 running 124 $51,751
14 3 29 Kevin Harvick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 293 0 running 121 $81,487
15 17 77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford 293 0 running 118 $51,870
16 14 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 293 0 running 115 $53,735
17 19 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 293 0 running 112 $47,265
18 36 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 292 0 running 109 $78,216
19 30 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 292 0 running 106 $43,640
20 8 25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 292 0 running 103 $47,170
21 25 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 292 1 running 105 $76,606
22 33 93 Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing Dodge 292 0 running 97 $34,740
23 7 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 292 0 running 94 $59,148
24 22 33 Joe Nemechek Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 291 0 running 91 $62,380
25 6 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 291 0 running 88 $41,795
26 32 19 Casey Atwood (R) Evernham Motorsports Dodge 291 0 running 85 $30,685
27 20 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 290 0 running 82 $30,500
28 42 90 Hut Stricklin Donlavey Racing Ford 290 0 running 79 $30,345
29 38 4 Robby Gordon Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 288 0 running 76 $33,140
30 27 97 Kurt Busch (R) Roush Racing Ford 288 0 running 73 $41,010
31 41 27 Kenny Wallace Eel River Racing Pontiac 287 0 running 70 $29,855
32 35 7 Mike Wallace Ultra Motorsports Ford 287 0 running 67 $37,725
33 28 66 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 285 0 running 64 $29,545
34 16 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 285 0 running 61 $64,138
35 43 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 285 0 running 58 $29,285
36 31 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 284 0 running 55 $29,155
37 15 31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 281 0 crash 52 $61,374
38 18 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 280 0 crash 49 $61,655
39 40 01 Jason Leffler (R) Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 263 0 handling 46 $36,800
40 1 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 228 72 engine 48 $85,052
41 39 44 Buckshot Jones Petty Enterprises Dodge 214 0 engine 40 $36,500
42 24 14 Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac 149 0 crash 37 $28,375
43 29 92 Stacy Compton Melling Racing Dodge 113 0 crash 34 $28,267
Failed to qualify
44 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet
45 96 Andy Houston (R) PPI Motorsports Ford
46 50 Rick Mast Midwest Transit Racing Chevrolet
Official race results

Standings after the race

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Pos Driver Points
  1 1 Dale Jarrett 756
  2 2 Sterling Marlin 691 (–65)
  3 Johnny Benson Jr. 691 (–65)
  3 4 Jeff Gordon 661 (–95)
  8 5 Steve Park 615 (–141)
  3 6 Ricky Rudd 609 (–147)
  1 7 Rusty Wallace 606 (–150)
  3 8 Michael Waltrip 597 (–159)
  3 9 Bill Elliott 589 (–167)
  10 Ken Schrader 585 (–171)

References

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  1. ^ Poole, David (March 18, 2001). "Jarrett's Ford first at Darlington". That's Racin'. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on March 31, 2001. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  2. ^ Thomas, Stephen (March 19, 2001). "Jarrett conquers Darlington, takes points lead". NASCAR. CNN. Archived from the original on March 31, 2001. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  3. ^ Iacobelli, Pete (March 19, 2001). "Jarrett rallies down stretch to win Dodge Dealers 400". The Tampa Tribune. p. 20. Retrieved October 4, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  4. ^ a b c "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2001 Darlington 1 Race Info Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on April 14, 2001. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  5. ^ "Saturday morning practice speeds". That's Racin'. March 16, 2001. Archived from the original on April 17, 2001. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  6. ^ "Saturday's `Happy Hour' practice speeds". That's Racin'. March 16, 2001. Archived from the original on April 17, 2001. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  7. ^ Poole, David (March 17, 2001). "Fog scuttles Winston Cup qualifying". That's Racin'. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on April 17, 2001. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
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2001 Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 500
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
2001 season
Next race:
2001 Food City 500