2001 Checker Auto Parts 500 Explained

Type:NASWINSTON
Date:October 28
Caption:The 2001 Checker Auto Parts 500 program cover.
Pole Team:Evernham Motorsports
First Team:Roush Racing
First Driver:Jeff Burton
Most Team:Roush Racing
Most Driver:Jeff Burton
Most Laps:102
Pole Driver:Casey Atwood
Network:NBC
Announcers:Allen Bestwick, Benny Parsons, Wally Dallenbach Jr.
Car:99
Radio:Motor Racing Network
Avg:102.613mph
Season No:36
Location:Avondale, Arizona, Phoenix International Raceway
Race No:32
Scheduled Km:502.115
Distance Km:502.115
Scheduled Laps:312
Distance Laps:312
Course Km:1.6
Scheduled Mi:312
Course Mi:1
Official Name:14th Annual Checker Auto Parts 500 presented by Pennzoil
Race Name:Checker Auto Parts 500 presented by Pennzoil
Year:2001
Pole Time:27.419
Distance Mi:312

The 2001 Checker Auto Parts 500 presented by Pennzoil was the 32nd stock car race of the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 14th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, October 28, 2001, in Avondale, Arizona at Phoenix International Raceway, a 1-mile (1.6 km) permanent low-banked tri-oval race track. The race took the scheduled 312 laps to complete. At race's end, Jeff Burton, driving for Roush Racing, would prevail in a battle against reliever for Jeremy Mayfield, Penske Racing South driver Mike Wallace, to win his 17th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his second and final victory of the season.[1] [2] [3] To fill out the podium, Wallace and Robert Yates Racing driver Ricky Rudd would finish second and third, respectively.

Background

Phoenix International Raceway – also known as PIR – is a one-mile, low-banked tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona. It is named after the nearby metropolitan area of Phoenix. The motorsport track opened in 1964 and currently hosts two NASCAR race weekends annually. PIR has also hosted the IndyCar Series, CART, USAC and the Rolex Sports Car Series. The raceway is currently owned and operated by International Speedway Corporation.

The raceway was originally constructed with a 2.5 mi (4.0 km) road course that ran both inside and outside of the main tri-oval. In 1991 the track was reconfigured with the current 1.51 mi (2.43 km) interior layout. PIR has an estimated grandstand seating capacity of around 67,000. Lights were installed around the track in 2004 following the addition of a second annual NASCAR race weekend.

Entry list

DriverTeamMakeSponsor
1Kenny WallaceDale Earnhardt, Inc.ChevroletPennzoil
01Jason Leffler (R)Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix SabatesDodgeCingular Wireless
2Rusty WallacePenske Racing SouthFordMiller Lite
02Ryan NewmanPenske Racing SouthFordAlltel
4Bobby Hamilton Jr.Morgan–McClure MotorsportsChevroletKodak
5Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevroletKellogg's
6Mark MartinRoush RacingFordViagra
7Kevin LepageUltra MotorsportsFordNationsRent
8Dale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt, Inc.ChevroletBudweiser
9Bill ElliottEvernham MotorsportsDodgeDodge
10Johnny Benson Jr.MBV MotorsportsPontiacValvoline
11Brett BodineBrett Bodine RacingFordRalphs
12Mike WallacePenske Racing SouthFordMobil 1
14Ron Hornaday Jr. (R)A. J. Foyt EnterprisesPontiacConseco
15Michael WaltripDale Earnhardt, Inc.ChevroletNAPA Auto Parts Patriotic
17Matt KensethRoush RacingFordDeWalt
18Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingPontiacInterstate Batteries
19Casey Atwood (R)Evernham MotorsportsDodgeDodge
20Tony StewartJoe Gibbs RacingPontiacThe Home Depot
21Elliott SadlerWood Brothers RacingFordMotorcraft
22Ward BurtonBill Davis RacingDodgeCaterpillar
24Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevroletDuPont
25Jerry NadeauHendrick MotorsportsChevroletUAW, Delphi
26Jimmy SpencerHaas-Carter MotorsportsFordKmart, Shrek
28Ricky RuddRobert Yates RacingFordTexaco, Havoline
29Kevin Harvick (R)Richard Childress RacingChevroletGM Goodwrench
31Robby GordonRichard Childress RacingChevroletLowe's
32Ricky CravenPPI MotorsportsFordTide
33Joe NemechekAndy Petree RacingChevroletOakwood Homes
36Ken SchraderMBV MotorsportsPontiacPedigree
40Sterling MarlinChip Ganassi Racing with Felix SabatesDodgeCoors Light
43John AndrettiPetty EnterprisesDodgeCheerios
44Buckshot JonesPetty EnterprisesDodgeGeorgia-Pacific Sparkle
45Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesDodgeSprint PCS
55Bobby HamiltonAndy Petree RacingChevroletSquare D
66Todd BodineHaas-Carter MotorsportsFordKmart Blue Light Special
70Rick BogartBogart RacingDodgePurex
77Robert PressleyJasper MotorsportsFordJasper Engines & Transmissions
88Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFordUPS
90Hut StricklinDonlavey RacingFordDonlavey Racing
92Stacy ComptonMelling RacingDodgeKodiak
93Dave BlaneyBill Davis RacingDodgeAmoco Ultimate
97Kurt Busch (R)Roush RacingFordRubbermaid, Sharpie
99Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFordCitgo Supergard
Official entry list

Practice

First practice

The first practice session was held on Friday, October 26, at 10:25 AM MST. The session would last for one hour and 55 minutes.[4] Kyle Petty, driving for Petty Enterprises, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 27.467 and an average speed of 131.066mph.[5]

Pos.DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed
145Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesDodge27.467131.066
210Johnny Benson Jr.MBV MotorsportsPontiac27.476131.023
319Casey Atwood (R)Evernham MotorsportsDodge27.490130.957
Full first practice results

Second practice

The second session was held on Saturday, October 27, at 10:30 AM MST. The session would last for 45 minutes. Jeff Burton, driving for Roush Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 28.195 and an average speed of 127.682mph.[6]

Pos.DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed
199Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFord28.195127.682
245Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesDodge28.255127.411
355Bobby HamiltonAndy Petree RacingChevrolet28.262127.380
Full second practice results

Third and final practice

The final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, October 27, at 3:30 PM EST. The session would last for one hour. Jeff Gordon, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 28.325 and an average speed of 127.096mph.[7]

Pos.DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed
124Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet28.325127.096
229Kevin Harvick (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet28.447126.551
320Tony StewartJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac28.457126.507
Full Happy Hour practice results

Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Friday, October 26, at 2:40 PM MST. Each driver would have two laps to set a fastest time; the fastest of the two would count as their official qualifying lap. 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.[8]

Casey Atwood, driving for Evernham Motorsports, would win the pole, setting a time of 27.419 and an average speed of 131.296mph.[9]

Rick Bogart was the only driver to fail to qualify.

Full qualifying results

Pos.DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed
119Casey Atwood (R)Evernham MotorsportsDodge27.419131.296
243John AndrettiPetty EnterprisesDodge27.466131.071
399Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFord27.486130.976
42Rusty WallacePenske Racing SouthFord27.495130.933
577Robert PressleyJasper MotorsportsFord27.522130.804
69Bill ElliottEvernham MotorsportsDodge27.566130.596
71Kenny WallaceDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet27.590130.482
814Ron Hornaday Jr. (R)A. J. Foyt EnterprisesPontiac27.604130.416
932Ricky CravenPPI MotorsportsFord27.607130.402
1036Ken SchraderMB2 MotorsportsPontiac27.622130.331
1166Todd BodineHaas-Carter MotorsportsFord27.623130.326
1211Brett BodineBrett Bodine RacingFord27.629130.298
1310Johnny Benson Jr.MBV MotorsportsPontiac27.636130.265
1424Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet27.662130.142
1592Stacy ComptonMelling RacingDodge27.662130.142
1688Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord27.692130.001
1755Bobby HamiltonAndy Petree RacingChevrolet27.693129.997
1818Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac27.700129.964
1944Buckshot JonesPetty EnterprisesDodge27.719129.875
2093Dave BlaneyBill Davis RacingDodge27.729129.828
2128Ricky RuddRobert Yates RacingFord27.738129.786
2220Tony StewartJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac27.741129.772
235Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet27.757129.697
2412Mike WallacePenske Racing SouthFord27.768129.646
2502Ryan NewmanPenske Racing SouthFord27.774129.618
2615Michael WaltripDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet27.779129.594
2790Rick MastDonlavey RacingFord27.790129.543
2845Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesDodge27.790129.543
296Mark MartinRoush RacingFord27.810129.450
308Dale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet27.833129.343
3140Sterling MarlinChip Ganassi Racing with Felix SabatesDodge27.858129.227
3226Jimmy SpencerHaas-Carter MotorsportsFord27.875129.148
3322Ward BurtonBill Davis RacingDodge27.893129.065
3433Joe NemechekAndy Petree RacingChevrolet27.915128.963
357Kevin LepageUltra MotorsportsFord27.956128.774
3601Jason Leffler (R)Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix SabatesDodge27.969128.714
Provisionals
3729Kevin Harvick (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet-*-*
3817Matt KensethRoush RacingFord-*-*
3921Elliott SadlerWood Brothers RacingFord-*-*
4025Jerry NadeauHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet-*-*
4197Kurt Busch (R)Roush RacingFord-*-*
4231Robby GordonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet-*-*
434Bobby Hamilton Jr.Morgan–McClure MotorsportsChevrolet-*-*
Failed to qualify
4470Rick BogartBogart RacingDodge28.420126.671
Official qualifying results
*Time not available.

Race results

Fin[10] StDriverTeamMakeLapsLedStatusPtsWinnings
1399Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFord312102running185$213,491
22412Mike WallacePenske Racing SouthFord31245running175$156,459
32128Ricky RuddRobert Yates RacingFord3120running165$139,797
43817Matt KensethRoush RacingFord3120running160$97,960
52220Tony StewartJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac3120running155$96,675
61424Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet3120running150$109,052
74231Robby GordonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet3120running146$94,399
8932Ricky CravenPPI MotorsportsFord3120running142$56,875
91688Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord3120running138$96,452
101310Johnny Benson Jr.MBV MotorsportsPontiac3120running134$67,675
1171Kenny WallaceDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet3120running130$78,118
121818Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac3120running127$97,802
133322Ward BurtonBill Davis RacingDodge3120running124$81,610
14119Casey Atwood (R)Evernham MotorsportsDodge31271running126$53,075
39243John AndrettiPetty EnterprisesDodge2702crash51$97,590
1542Rusty WallacePenske Racing SouthFord31291running123$63,610
161944Buckshot JonesPetty EnterprisesDodge3120running115$88,277
173729Kevin Harvick (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet3120running112$60,645
181036Ken SchraderMB2 MotorsportsPontiac3120running109$85,176
19296Mark MartinRoush RacingFord3120running106$80,330
20235Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet3120running103$50,936
211592Stacy ComptonMelling RacingDodge3120running100$52,850
224197Kurt Busch (R)Roush RacingFord3120running97$50,325
232615Michael WaltripDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet3120running94$51,375
244025Jerry NadeauHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet3120running91$40,950
252790Rick MastDonlavey RacingFord3120running88$47,615
261211Brett BodineBrett Bodine RacingFord3120running85$67,523
2769Bill ElliottEvernham MotorsportsDodge3120running82$42,675
282093Dave BlaneyBill Davis RacingDodge3120running79$42,050
291166Todd BodineHaas-Carter MotorsportsFord3110running76$39,925
30814Ron Hornaday Jr. (R)A. J. Foyt EnterprisesPontiac3110running73$50,375
313226Jimmy SpencerHaas-Carter MotorsportsFord3111running75$47,150
32357Kevin LepageUltra MotorsportsFord3100running67$57,025
333921Elliott SadlerWood Brothers RacingFord3100running64$46,900
343140Sterling MarlinChip Ganassi Racing with Felix SabatesDodge3090running61$67,045
353433Joe NemechekAndy Petree RacingChevrolet3010running58$46,650
361755Bobby HamiltonAndy Petree RacingChevrolet3000running55$73,248
37308Dale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet2870engine52$38,400
38434Bobby Hamilton Jr.Morgan–McClure MotorsportsChevrolet2860overheating49$73,802
402502Ryan NewmanPenske Racing SouthFord2530crash43$38,125
413601Jason Leffler (R)Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix SabatesDodge2520overheating40$45,975
42577Robert PressleyJasper MotorsportsFord2390crash37$45,850
432845Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesDodge650engine34$37,978
Failed to qualify
4470Rick BogartBogart RacingDodge
Official race results

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Poole . David . October 28, 2001 . Burton passes Mike Wallace, wins . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20011119053930/http://www.thatsracin.com/01/1028/1029racelede.htm . November 19, 2001 . July 30, 2022 . ThatsRacin . The Charlotte Observer.
  2. News: Harris . Mike . October 29, 2001 . Burton wins Checker Auto Parts 500 for second year in a row . 11 . Arizona Daily Sun . . July 30, 2022 . Newspapers.com.
  3. Web site: Smith . Marty . October 29, 2001 . Burton repeats the feat at Phoenix . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20020203210729/http://www.nascar.com/2001/NEWS/10/28/cup_lead/index.html . February 3, 2002 . July 30, 2022 . NASCAR . Turner Sports Interactive.
  4. Web site: Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2001 Phoenix Race Info Page . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20020213130636/http://jayski.thatsracin.com/next/2001/2001phoenix.htm . February 13, 2002 . July 30, 2022 . Jayski's Silly Season Site.
  5. Web site: NASCAR - 2001 Phoenix Practice 1 Results . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20020203081433/http://www.nascar.com/DATA/2001/race/winston/32/practice_results1.html . February 3, 2002 . July 30, 2022 . NASCAR.
  6. Web site: October 27, 2001 . Speeds from Saturday's first practice . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20011119055507/http://www.thatsracin.com:80/01/1028/1028speeds1.htm . November 19, 2001 . July 30, 2022 . ThatsRacin.
  7. Web site: October 27, 2001 . Saturday's final practice speeds . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20011214092128/http://www.thatsracin.com:80/01/1028/1028speeds2.htm . December 14, 2001 . July 30, 2022 . ThatsRacin.
  8. Web site: Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2002 Provisional/Owners Points Page . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20050205192304/http://www.jayski.com/stats/2002/2002prov.htm . February 5, 2005 . March 3, 2022 . Jayski's Silly Season Site.
  9. Web site: Poole . David . October 26, 2001 . Phoenix pole a bonus for Atwood, team . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20011215134113/http://www.thatsracin.com/01/1028/1027polelede.htm . December 15, 2001 . July 30, 2022 . ThatsRacin . The Charlotte Observer.
  10. Web site: 2001 Checker Auto Parts 500 presented by Pennzoil - The Third Turn . July 28, 2022 . The Third Turn . en.