The 2001 Sam's Town 300 was the third stock car race of the 2001 NASCAR Busch Series and the fifth iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, March 3, 2001, in North Las Vegas, Nevada at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) permanent D-shaped oval racetrack. The race took the scheduled 200 laps to complete. At race's end, Buckshot Racing driver Todd Bodine came back after a bad pit stop to pull away on the final restart with four to go to win his 13th career NASCAR Busch Series win and his second and final win of the season.[1] To fill out the podium, Greg Biffle of Roush Racing and Jason Keller of ppc Racing would finish second and third, respectively.

2001 Sam's Town 300
Race details
Race 3 of 33 of the 2001 NASCAR Busch Series
Date March 3, 2001
Official name 5th Annual Sam's Town 300
Location North Las Vegas, Nevada, Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Course Permanent racing facility
1.5 mi (2.41 km)
Distance 200 laps, 300 mi (482.803 km)
Scheduled Distance 200 laps, 300 mi (482.803 km)
Average speed 125.625 miles per hour (202.174 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Reiser Enterprises
Time 31.880
Most laps led
Driver Todd Bodine Buckshot Racing
Laps 104
Winner
No. 00 Todd Bodine Buckshot Racing
Television in the United States
Network FX
Announcers Mike Joy, Larry McReynolds, Darrell Waltrip
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

Background

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

Las Vegas Motor Speedway, located in Clark County, Nevada outside the Las Vegas city limits and about 15 miles northeast of the Las Vegas Strip, is a 1,200-acre (490 ha) complex of multiple tracks for motorsports racing. The complex is owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., which is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Entry list

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# Driver Team Make Sponsor
00 Todd Bodine Buckshot Racing Chevrolet Shasta
1 P. J. Jones Phoenix Racing Chevrolet Yellow Transportation
2 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet ACDelco
7 Randy LaJoie Evans Motorsports Chevrolet Cottonelle, Kleenex
8 Blaise Alexander HighLine Performance Group Chevrolet Channellock
9 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford Gain
10 Jeff Green ppc Racing Ford Nesquik
11 Marty Houston HighLine Performance Group Chevrolet Channellock
14 Larry Foyt A. J. Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet Harrah's
16 Sammy Sanders Day Enterprise Racing Pontiac 31-W Insulation
17 Matt Kenseth Reiser Enterprises Chevrolet Visine
18 Jeff Purvis Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac MBNA
20 Mike McLaughlin Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac Joe Gibbs Racing
21 Mike Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Rockwell Automation
23 Scott Wimmer Bill Davis Racing Pontiac Jani-King
25 Chad Chaffin Team Rensi Motorsports Chevrolet U.S. Marines
26 Bobby Hamilton Jr. Carroll Racing Chevrolet Dr Pepper
27 Jamie McMurray Brewco Motorsports Chevrolet Williams Travel Centers
28 Brad Baker Brewco Motorsports Chevrolet Brewco Motorsports
33 Tony Raines BACE Motorsports Chevrolet Alka-Seltzer
34 David Green Cicci-Welliver Racing Chevrolet AFG Glass
36 Hank Parker Jr. Cicci-Welliver Racing Chevrolet GNC
37 Kevin Grubb Brewco Motorsports Chevrolet Timber Wolf
38 Christian Elder Akins Motorsports Ford Great Clips
43 Jay Sauter Curb Agajanian Motorsports Chevrolet Quality Farm Stores
46 Ashton Lewis Jr. Lewis Motorsports Chevrolet Lewis Motorsports
48 Kenny Wallace Innovative Motorsports Chevrolet Goulds Pumps
49 Brian Tyler Jay Robinson Racing Chevrolet Jay Robinson Racing
52 Scott Gaylord Means Racing Ford Means Racing
55 Mark Green ST Motorsports Ford ST Motorsports
57 Jason Keller ppc Racing Ford Albertsons
59 Rich Bickle ST Motorsports Chevrolet Kingsford
60 Greg Biffle Roush Racing Ford Grainger
61 Tim Sauter Xpress Motorsports Chevrolet Stoops Freightliner
63 Shane Hall Hensley Motorsports Ford Lance Snacks
66 Tim Fedewa Cicci-Welliver Racing Chevrolet Phillips 66
71 Kevin Lepage Matrix Motorsports Ford State Fair Corn Dogs
74 Chad Little BACE Motorsports Chevrolet Staff America
77 Kelly Denton PRW Racing Ford Merck-Medco
87 Joe Nemechek NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet Cellular One
92 Jimmie Johnson Herzog Motorsports Chevrolet Excedrin
98 Elton Sawyer Akins Motorsports Ford Hot Tamales
99 Michael Waltrip Michael Waltrip Racing Chevrolet Aaron's
Official entry list

Practice

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Originally, there were two planned practice sessions to occur, with both being held on Friday, March 2, with the first being an hour-long session held at 11:15 AM PST, and the second being held after qualifying. However, both sessions were cancelled due to rain.

Qualifying

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Qualifying was held on Friday, March 2, at 12:15 PM PST. Each driver would have two laps to set a fastest time; the fastest of the two would count as their official qualifying lap.[2] 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.[3]

Matt Kenseth of Reiser Enterprises would win the pole, setting a time of 31.880 and an average speed of 169.385 miles per hour (272.599 km/h).[4]

No drivers would fail to qualify.

Full qualifying results

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 17 Matt Kenseth Reiser Enterprises Chevrolet 31.880 169.385
2 00 Todd Bodine Buckshot Racing Chevrolet 32.050 168.487
3 60 Greg Biffle Roush Racing Ford 32.058 168.445
4 26 Bobby Hamilton Jr. Carroll Racing Chevrolet 32.117 168.135
5 46 Ashton Lewis Jr. Lewis Motorsports Chevrolet 32.155 167.937
6 27 Jamie McMurray Brewco Motorsports Chevrolet 32.183 167.790
7 92 Jimmie Johnson Herzog Motorsports Chevrolet 32.226 167.567
8 20 Mike McLaughlin Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 32.228 167.556
9 87 Joe Nemechek NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet 32.245 167.468
10 48 Kenny Wallace Innovative Motorsports Chevrolet 32.295 167.209
11 71 Kevin Lepage Matrix Motorsports Ford 32.321 167.074
12 74 Chad Little BACE Motorsports Chevrolet 32.359 166.878
13 10 Jeff Green ppc Racing Ford 32.392 166.708
14 98 Elton Sawyer Akins Motorsports Ford 32.400 166.667
15 37 Kevin Grubb Brewco Motorsports Chevrolet 32.421 166.559
16 2 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 32.424 166.543
17 55 Mark Green ST Motorsports Ford 32.428 166.523
18 11 Marty Houston HighLine Performance Group Chevrolet 32.432 166.502
19 14 Larry Foyt A. J. Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet 32.449 166.415
20 57 Jason Keller ppc Racing Ford 32.495 166.179
21 61 Tim Sauter Xpress Motorsports Chevrolet 32.500 166.154
22 36 Hank Parker Jr. Cicci-Welliver Racing Chevrolet 32.529 166.006
23 1 P. J. Jones Phoenix Racing Chevrolet 32.532 165.990
24 7 Randy LaJoie Evans Motorsports Chevrolet 32.535 165.975
25 25 Chad Chaffin Team Rensi Motorsports Chevrolet 32.553 165.883
26 9 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 32.599 165.649
27 34 David Green Cicci-Welliver Racing Chevrolet 32.615 165.568
28 77 Kelly Denton PRW Racing Ford 32.616 165.563
29 43 Jay Sauter Curb Agajanian Motorsports Chevrolet 32.620 165.543
30 66 Tim Fedewa Cicci-Welliver Racing Chevrolet 32.625 165.517
31 33 Tony Raines BACE Motorsports Chevrolet 32.798 164.644
32 38 Christian Elder Akins Motorsports Ford 32.832 164.474
33 99 Michael Waltrip Michael Waltrip Racing Chevrolet 32.866 164.304
34 18 Jeff Purvis Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 32.882 164.224
35 23 Scott Wimmer Bill Davis Racing Pontiac 32.913 164.069
36 8 Blaise Alexander HighLine Performance Group Chevrolet 32.969 163.790
Provisionals
37 59 Rich Bickle ST Motorsports Chevrolet 33.002 163.626
38 21 Mike Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 33.171 162.793
39 63 Shane Hall Hensley Motorsports Ford 33.028 163.498
40 28 Brad Baker Brewco Motorsports Chevrolet 33.512 161.136
41 16 Sammy Sanders Day Enterprise Racing Pontiac 33.841 159.570
42 49 Brian Tyler Jay Robinson Racing Chevrolet 35.379 152.633
43 52 Scott Gaylord Means Racing Ford 34.780 155.262
Official qualifying results

Race results

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Fin[5] St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 2 00 Todd Bodine Buckshot Racing Chevrolet 200 104 running 185 $94,450
2 3 60 Greg Biffle Roush Racing Ford 200 39 running 175 $59,925
3 20 57 Jason Keller ppc Racing Ford 200 0 running 165 $53,100
4 31 33 Tony Raines BACE Motorsports Chevrolet 200 8 running 165 $35,500
5 13 10 Jeff Green ppc Racing Ford 200 0 running 155 $39,000
6 26 9 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 200 0 running 150 $23,350
7 9 87 Joe Nemechek NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet 200 0 running 146 $22,300
8 14 98 Elton Sawyer Akins Motorsports Ford 200 1 running 147 $25,350
9 8 20 Mike McLaughlin Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 200 0 running 138 $20,300
10 29 43 Jay Sauter Curb Agajanian Motorsports Chevrolet 200 0 running 134 $25,550
11 35 23 Scott Wimmer Bill Davis Racing Pontiac 200 0 running 130 $19,100
12 16 2 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 200 0 running 127 $28,150
13 21 61 Tim Sauter Xpress Motorsports Chevrolet 200 0 running 124 $18,000
14 7 92 Jimmie Johnson Herzog Motorsports Chevrolet 199 12 running 126 $21,490
15 37 59 Rich Bickle ST Motorsports Chevrolet 199 0 running 118 $21,880
16 12 74 Chad Little BACE Motorsports Chevrolet 199 0 running 115 $17,070
17 34 18 Jeff Purvis Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 199 0 running 112 $20,960
18 38 21 Mike Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 199 0 running 109 $19,850
19 15 37 Kevin Grubb Brewco Motorsports Chevrolet 199 4 running 111 $19,740
20 6 27 Jamie McMurray Brewco Motorsports Chevrolet 199 0 running 103 $20,430
21 11 71 Kevin Lepage Matrix Motorsports Ford 199 0 running 100 $16,520
22 22 36 Hank Parker Jr. Cicci-Welliver Racing Chevrolet 199 0 running 97 $24,190
23 32 38 Christian Elder Akins Motorsports Ford 199 0 running 94 $16,275
24 10 48 Kenny Wallace Innovative Motorsports Chevrolet 198 0 running 91 $19,165
25 25 25 Chad Chaffin Team Rensi Motorsports Chevrolet 198 0 running 88 $18,130
26 28 77 Kelly Denton PRW Racing Ford 198 0 running 85 $15,920
27 23 1 P. J. Jones Phoenix Racing Chevrolet 197 0 running 82 $23,310
28 30 66 Tim Fedewa Cicci-Welliver Racing Chevrolet 196 0 running 79 $24,200
29 39 63 Shane Hall Hensley Motorsports Ford 194 0 running 76 $18,590
30 5 46 Ashton Lewis Jr. Lewis Motorsports Chevrolet 191 0 crash 73 $15,580
31 19 14 Larry Foyt A. J. Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet 190 0 crash 70 $15,370
32 17 55 Mark Green ST Motorsports Ford 187 0 vibration 67 $16,260
33 42 49 Brian Tyler Jay Robinson Racing Chevrolet 185 0 running 64 $15,150
34 1 17 Matt Kenseth Reiser Enterprises Chevrolet 182 32 running 66 $21,740
35 40 28 Brad Baker Brewco Motorsports Chevrolet 181 0 running 58 $14,930
36 18 11 Marty Houston HighLine Performance Group Chevrolet 152 0 crash 55 $14,895
37 4 26 Bobby Hamilton Jr. Carroll Racing Chevrolet 122 0 overheating 52 $17,860
38 24 7 Randy LaJoie Evans Motorsports Chevrolet 103 0 engine 49 $20,325
39 33 99 Michael Waltrip Michael Waltrip Racing Chevrolet 97 0 crash 46 $14,790
40 27 34 David Green Cicci-Welliver Racing Chevrolet 59 0 engine 43 $17,755
41 41 16 Sammy Sanders Day Enterprise Racing Pontiac 22 0 ignition 40 $14,720
42 43 52 Scott Gaylord Means Racing Ford 15 0 engine 37 $14,685
43 36 8 Blaise Alexander HighLine Performance Group Chevrolet 5 0 crash 34 $14,650
Official race results

References

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  1. ^ "Todd Bodine wins Sam's Town 300". Las Vegas Sun. 2001-03-03. Archived from the original on 2022-02-10. Retrieved 2022-02-10.
  2. ^ "NASCAR - 2001 Rockingham Las Vegas Race Info / Rundown Page". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on 2001-04-13. Retrieved 2022-02-10.
  3. ^ "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2001 Provisional Start Status". ThatsRacin. Archived from the original on 2002-02-01. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  4. ^ "Kenseth wins Busch pole". UPI. Retrieved 2022-02-10.
  5. ^ "2001 Sam's Town 300 - The Third Turn". www.thethirdturn.com. Retrieved 2022-02-09.
Previous race:
2001 Alltel 200
NASCAR Busch Series
2001 season
Next race:
2001 Aaron's 312