The 2001 Sharpie 500 was the 24th stock car race of the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 41st iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, August 25, 2001, in Bristol, Tennessee at Bristol Motor Speedway, a 0.533 miles (0.858 km) permanent oval-shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 500 laps to complete. At race's end, Tony Stewart, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would control the late stages of the race to win his 12th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his third and final victory of the season.[1][2][3] To fill out the podium, Kevin Harvick, driving for Richard Childress Racing, and Jeff Gordon, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would finish second and third, respectively.

2001 Sharpie 500
Race details
Race 24 of 36 in the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 2001 Sharpie 500 program cover.
The 2001 Sharpie 500 program cover.
Date August 25, 2001
Official name 41st Annual Sharpie 500
Location Bristol, Tennessee, Bristol Motor Speedway
Course Permanent racing facility
0.533 mi (0.858 km)
Distance 500 laps, 266.5 mi (428.89 km)
Scheduled Distance 500 laps, 266.5 mi (428.89 km)
Average speed 85.106 miles per hour (136.965 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Richard Childress Racing
Time 15.515
Most laps led
Driver Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports
Laps 199
Winner
No. 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing
Television in the United States
Network TNT
Announcers Allen Bestwick, Benny Parsons, Wally Dallenbach Jr.
Radio in the United States
Radio Performance Racing Network
Booth Announcers Doug Rice, Mark Garrow
Turn Announcers Chuck Carland

Background

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

The Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway, is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961. Despite its short length, Bristol is among the most popular tracks on the NASCAR schedule because of its distinct features, which include extraordinarily steep banking, an all concrete surface, two pit roads, and stadium-like seating. It has also been named one of the loudest NASCAR tracks.

Entry list

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
  • (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
# 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
09 Geoff Bodine (i) Phoenix Racing Ford Smirnoff Ice
10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac Valvoline
11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 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 New Products
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 Trucks
24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet DuPont
25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet UAW, Delphi
26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford Kmart School Spirit
27 Rick Mast Eel River Racing Pontiac Duke's Mayonnaise, Ingles
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 Schult Homes, Oakwood Homes
36 Ken Schrader MBV Motorsports Pontiac M&M's
40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge Target, 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
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 Realtree
77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford Jasper Engines & Transmissions
85 Carl Long Mansion Motorsports Ford Mansion Motorsports
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
Official entry list

Practice

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First practice

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The first practice session was held on Friday, August 24, at 11:30 AM EST. The session would last for two hours.[4] Jeff Green, driving for Richard Childress Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 15.276 and an average speed of 125.609 miles per hour (202.148 km/h).[5]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 30 Jeff Green Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 15.276 125.609
2 29 Kevin Harvick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 15.336 125.117
3 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 15.406 124.549
Full first practice results

Second and final practice

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The second and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Friday, August 24, at 5:45 PM EST. The session would last for one hour and 30 minutes.[4] Elliott Sadler, driving for Wood Brothers Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 15.929 and an average speed of 120.460 miles per hour (193.862 km/h).[6]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 15.929 120.460
2 30 Jeff Green Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 15.961 120.218
3 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 15.981 120.068
Full Happy Hour practice results

Qualifying

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Qualifying was held on Friday, August 24, 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 Green, driving for Richard Childress Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 15.515 and an average speed of 123.674 miles per hour (199.034 km/h).[8]

Full qualifying results

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 30 Jeff Green Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 15.515 123.674
2 31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 15.539 123.483
3 14 Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac 15.543 123.451
4 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 15.549 123.403
5 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 15.550 123.395
6 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 15.557 123.340
7 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 15.571 123.229
8 29 Kevin Harvick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 15.592 123.063
9 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 15.621 122.835
10 66 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 15.637 122.709
11 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 15.638 122.701
12 25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 15.643 122.662
13 09 Geoff Bodine (i) Phoenix Racing Ford 15.646 122.638
14 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 15.661 122.521
15 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 15.662 122.513
16 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 15.669 122.458
17 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 15.684 122.341
18 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 15.684 122.341
19 77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford 15.686 122.326
20 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 15.687 122.318
21 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 15.697 122.240
22 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 15.705 122.178
23 26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 15.714 122.108
24 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 15.715 122.100
25 4 Kevin Lepage Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 15.716 122.092
26 97 Kurt Busch (R) Roush Racing Ford 15.719 122.069
27 7 Mike Wallace Ultra Motorsports Ford 15.737 121.929
28 93 Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing Dodge 15.740 121.906
29 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac 15.754 121.798
30 12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske Racing South Ford 15.756 121.782
31 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 15.764 121.720
32 27 Rick Mast Eel River Racing Pontiac 15.767 121.697
33 96 Andy Houston (R) PPI Motorsports Ford 15.778 121.612
34 19 Casey Atwood (R) Evernham Motorsports Dodge 15.783 121.574
35 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 15.784 121.566
36 44 Buckshot Jones Petty Enterprises Dodge 15.787 121.543
Provisionals
37 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 15.801 121.435
38 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 15.806 121.397
39 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 15.839 121.144
40 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 16.002 119.910
41 33 Joe Nemechek Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 15.804 121.412
42 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 15.883 120.809
43 01 Jason Leffler (R) Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 15.819 121.297
Failed to qualify
44 92 Stacy Compton Melling Racing Dodge 15.836 121.167
45 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 15.861 120.976
46 13 Hermie Sadler SCORE Motorsports Chevrolet 15.887 120.778
47 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 15.900 120.679
48 90 Hut Stricklin Donlavey Racing Ford 16.017 119.798
49 85 Carl Long Mansion Motorsports Ford 16.165 118.701
Official qualifying results

Race results

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Fin[9] St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 18 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 500 71 running 180 $189,415
2 8 29 Kevin Harvick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 500 0 running 170 $167,267
3 6 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 500 199 running 175 $155,692
4 5 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 500 3 running 165 $124,527
5 9 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 500 123 running 160 $107,640
6 7 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 500 0 running 150 $115,482
7 37 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 500 9 running 151 $90,533
8 16 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 500 0 running 142 $110,817
9 17 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 500 0 running 138 $81,500
10 21 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 500 0 running 134 $97,720
11 4 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 500 0 running 130 $83,860
12 14 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 500 0 running 127 $90,775
13 25 4 Kevin Lepage Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 500 10 running 129 $63,801
14 24 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 500 0 running 121 $85,063
15 22 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 500 0 running 118 $99,506
16 30 12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske Racing South Ford 499 0 running 115 $93,144
17 34 19 Casey Atwood (R) Evernham Motorsports Dodge 499 0 running 112 $53,510
18 28 93 Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing Dodge 498 0 running 109 $53,250
19 35 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 496 0 running 106 $77,748
20 12 25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 496 0 running 103 $64,185
21 42 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 496 0 running 100 $88,487
22 11 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 495 0 running 97 $64,800
23 15 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 495 0 running 94 $59,560
24 41 33 Joe Nemechek Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 493 0 running 91 $79,155
25 26 97 Kurt Busch (R) Roush Racing Ford 490 0 running 88 $58,980
26 20 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 488 0 running 85 $52,390
27 13 09 Geoff Bodine (i) Phoenix Racing Ford 486 0 running 0 $45,305
28 19 77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford 442 0 running 79 $54,795
29 3 14 Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac 441 0 running 76 $44,085
30 43 01 Jason Leffler (R) Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 436 0 running 73 $52,025
31 27 7 Mike Wallace Ultra Motorsports Ford 421 0 running 70 $51,415
32 10 66 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 396 0 crash 67 $43,330
33 38 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 394 0 crash 64 $51,295
34 2 31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 383 0 running 61 $76,084
35 23 26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 374 0 engine 58 $51,230
36 29 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac 343 0 crash 55 $51,185
37 31 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 336 0 running 52 $87,470
38 39 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 239 14 crash 54 $43,050
39 40 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 233 0 crash 46 $53,000
40 33 96 Andy Houston (R) PPI Motorsports Ford 127 0 crash 43 $42,925
41 32 27 Rick Mast Eel River Racing Pontiac 113 0 crash 40 $42,875
42 1 30 Jeff Green Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 85 71 crash 42 $47,825
43 36 44 Buckshot Jones Petty Enterprises Dodge 67 0 crash 34 $51,022
Failed to qualify
44 92 Stacy Compton Melling Racing Dodge
45 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge
46 13 Hermie Sadler SCORE Motorsports Chevrolet
47 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet
48 90 Hut Stricklin Donlavey Racing Ford
49 85 Carl Long Mansion Motorsports Ford
Official race results

References

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  1. ^ Poole, David (August 25, 2001). "Stewart holds on for Bristol win". ThatsRacin. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on December 15, 2001. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  2. ^ Fryer, Jenna (August 26, 2001). "Stewart finally wins at Bristol". The Bismarck Tribune. p. 40. Retrieved July 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Smith, Marty (August 27, 2001). "Stewart wins Sharpie 500". NASCAR. Turner Sports Interactive. Archived from the original on December 6, 2001. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2001 Bristol 2 Race Info Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on February 13, 2002. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  5. ^ "Winston Cup practice speeds". ThatsRacin. August 24, 2001. Archived from the original on August 28, 2001. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  6. ^ "Speeds from Friday's final practice". ThatsRacin. August 24, 2001. Archived from the original on December 15, 2001. Retrieved July 22, 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. ^ Poole, David (August 24, 2001). "Childress puts pair out front at Bristol". ThatsRacin. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on January 11, 2002. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  9. ^ "2001 Sharpie 500 - The Third Turn". The Third Turn. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
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2001 Mountain Dew Southern 500