2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400 Explained

Type:NASWINSTON
Date:September 8
Avg:95.146mph
Pole Driver:Jeff Gordon
Announcers:Allen Bestwick, Benny Parsons, Wally Dallenbach Jr.
Radio:Motor Racing Network
Network:TNT
First Driver:Ricky Rudd
First Team:Robert Yates Racing
Pole Team:Hendrick Motorsports
Most Team:Penske Racing South
Most Driver:Rusty Wallace
Most Laps:276
Car:28
Season No:36
Location:Richmond, Virginia, Richmond International Raceway
Race No:26
Scheduled Laps:400
Distance Laps:400
Course Mi:0.75
Course Km:1.21
Scheduled Mi:300
Distance Km:482.803
Scheduled Km:482.803
Official Name:44th Annual Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400 with The Looney Tunes
Race Name:Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400 with the Looney Tunes
Pole Time:21.617
Year:2001
Distance Mi:300
Caption:The 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400 program cover, featuring several Looney Tunes sponsored cars.

The 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400 with the Looney Tunes was the 28th stock car race of the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 44th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, September 8, 2001, in Richmond, Virginia, at Richmond International Raceway, a 0.75 miles (1.21 km) D-shaped oval. The race took the scheduled 400 laps to complete. In a wild finish, Ricky Rudd, driving for Robert Yates Racing, would battle with Richard Childress Racing driver Kevin Harvick in the final laps of the race. Harvick would send Rudd up on the track with 17 to go, but Rudd was eventually able to save the car. Rudd would then later payback Harvick with 7 to go, moving Harvick to win his 22nd career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his second and final victory of the season.[1] [2] The win was also Robert Yates Racing's 50th victory as an organization.[3] To fill out the podium, Harvick would finish second, and Dale Earnhardt, Inc. driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. would finish third.

Background

Richmond International Raceway (RIR) is a 3/4-mile (1.2 km), D-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in Henrico County. It hosts the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series. Known as "America's premier short track", it formerly hosted a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, an IndyCar Series race, and two USAC sprint car races.

Entry list

DriverTeamMakeSponsor
1Kenny WallaceDale Earnhardt, Inc.ChevroletPennzoil, Sylvester the Cat and Tweety
01Jason Leffler (R)Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix SabatesDodgeCingular Wireless
2Rusty WallacePenske Racing SouthFordMiller Lite
4Kevin LepageMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevroletKodak
5Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevroletKellogg's, The Road-Runner
6Mark MartinRoush RacingFordViagra
7Mike WallaceUltra MotorsportsFordNationsRent
8Dale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt, Inc.ChevroletBudweiser
9Bill ElliottEvernham MotorsportsDodgeDodge
10Johnny Benson Jr.MBV MotorsportsPontiacValvoline
11Brett BodineBrett Bodine RacingFordKroger
12Jeremy MayfieldPenske Racing SouthFordMobil 1
13Hermie SadlerSCORE MotorsportsChevroletVirginia Lottery
14Ron Hornaday Jr. (R)A. J. Foyt EnterprisesPontiacConseco
15Michael WaltripDale Earnhardt, Inc.ChevroletNAPA Auto Parts
17Matt KensethRoush RacingFordDeWalt New Products
18Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingPontiacInterstate Batteries, Circuit City
19Casey Atwood (R)Evernham MotorsportsDodgeDodge
20Tony StewartJoe Gibbs RacingPontiacThe Home Depot
21Elliott SadlerWood Brothers RacingFordMotorcraft
22Ward BurtonBill Davis RacingDodgeCaterpillar
24Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevroletDuPont, Bugs Bunny
25Jerry NadeauHendrick MotorsportsChevroletUAW, Delphi
26Jimmy SpencerHaas-Carter MotorsportsFordKmart School Spirit
27Rick MastEel River RacingPontiacDuke's Mayonnaise, Sauer's
28Ricky RuddRobert Yates RacingFordTexaco, Havoline
29Kevin Harvick (R)Richard Childress RacingChevroletGM Goodwrench, Tasmanian Devil
30Jeff GreenRichard Childress RacingChevroletAmerica Online, Daffy Duck
31Mike SkinnerRichard Childress RacingChevroletLowe's, Yosemite Sam
32Ricky CravenPPI MotorsportsFordTide
33Joe NemechekAndy Petree RacingChevroletSchult Homes, Oakwood Homes
36Ken SchraderMBV MotorsportsPontiacM&M's
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, Marvin the Martian
66Todd BodineHaas-Carter MotorsportsFordKmart Blue Light Special
77Robert PressleyJasper MotorsportsFordJasper Engines & Transmissions
85Carl LongMansion MotorsportsFordMansion Motorsports
88Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFordUPS
90Hut StricklinDonlavey RacingFordHills Bros. Coffee
92Stacy ComptonMelling RacingDodgeKodiak
93Dave BlaneyBill Davis RacingDodgeMac Tools, Amoco Ultimate
96Andy Houston (R)PPI MotorsportsFordMcDonald's
97Kurt Busch (R)Roush RacingFordRubbermaid, Sharpie
99Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFordCitgo Supergard
Official entry list

Practice

First practice

The first practice session was held on Friday, September 7, at 11:30 AM EST. The session would last for two hours.[4] Dale Earnhardt Jr., driving for Dale Earnhardt, Inc., would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 21.696 and an average speed of 124.447mph.[5]

Pos.DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed
18Dale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet21.696124.447
230Jeff GreenRichard Childress RacingChevrolet21.700124.424
32Rusty WallacePenske Racing SouthFord21.712124.355
Full first practice results

Second and final practice

The final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Friday, September 7, at 5:45 PM EST. The session would last for one hour and 30 minutes. Jeff Green, driving for Richard Childress Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 22.005 and an average speed of 122.699mph.[6]

Pos.DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed
130Jeff GreenRichard Childress RacingChevrolet22.005122.699
22Rusty WallacePenske Racing SouthFord22.104122.150
320Tony StewartJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac22.115122.089
Full Happy Hour practice results

Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Friday, September 7, 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. 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 Gordon, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would win the pole, setting a time of 21.617 and an average speed of 124.902mph.[8]

Four drivers would fail to qualify: Andy Houston, Hut Stricklin, Hermie Sadler, and Carl Long.

Full qualifying results

Pos.DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed
124Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet21.617124.902
22Rusty WallacePenske Racing SouthFord21.685124.510
340Sterling MarlinChip Ganassi Racing with Felix SabatesDodge21.689124.487
499Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFord21.770124.024
522Ward BurtonBill Davis RacingDodge21.795123.882
618Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac21.797123.870
719Casey Atwood (R)Evernham MotorsportsDodge21.806123.819
88Dale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet21.810123.796
928Ricky RuddRobert Yates RacingFord21.831123.677
1014Ron Hornaday Jr. (R)A. J. Foyt EnterprisesPontiac21.861123.508
1133Joe NemechekAndy Petree RacingChevrolet21.881123.395
1266Todd BodineHaas-Carter MotorsportsFord21.890123.344
1392Stacy ComptonMelling RacingDodge21.895123.316
1493Dave BlaneyBill Davis RacingDodge21.899123.293
1532Ricky CravenPPI MotorsportsFord21.902123.276
1688Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord21.905123.260
1736Ken SchraderMB2 MotorsportsPontiac21.908123.243
1830Jeff GreenRichard Childress RacingChevrolet21.915123.203
196Mark MartinRoush RacingFord21.916123.198
2043John AndrettiPetty EnterprisesDodge21.919123.181
2131Mike SkinnerRichard Childress RacingChevrolet21.924123.153
2229Kevin Harvick (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet21.948123.018
2355Bobby HamiltonAndy Petree RacingChevrolet21.963122.934
2477Robert PressleyJasper MotorsportsFord21.971122.889
2526Jimmy SpencerHaas-Carter MotorsportsFord21.987122.800
265Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet21.992122.772
2710Johnny Benson Jr.MBV MotorsportsPontiac21.993122.766
281Kenny WallaceDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet22.000122.727
297Mike WallaceUltra MotorsportsFord22.005122.699
3012Jeremy MayfieldPenske Racing SouthFord22.009122.677
3144Buckshot JonesPetty EnterprisesDodge22.010122.672
3221Elliott SadlerWood Brothers RacingFord22.036122.527
3320Tony StewartJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac22.044122.482
3427Rick MastEel River RacingPontiac22.048122.460
3511Brett BodineBrett Bodine RacingFord22.067122.355
3645Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesDodge22.070122.338
Provisionals
379Bill ElliottEvernham MotorsportsDodge-*-*
3817Matt KensethRoush RacingFord-*-*
3925Jerry NadeauHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet-*-*
4097Kurt Busch (R)Roush RacingFord-*-*
4115Michael WaltripDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet-*-*
4201Jason Leffler (R)Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix SabatesDodge-*-*
434Kevin LepageMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevrolet-*-*
Failed to qualify
4496Andy Houston (R)PPI MotorsportsFord22.116122.084
4590Hut StricklinDonlavey RacingFord22.277121.201
4613Hermie SadlerSCORE MotorsportsChevrolet22.153121.880
4785Carl LongMansion MotorsportsFord22.482120.096
Official qualifying results
*Time not available.

Race results

Fin[9] StDriverTeamMakeLapsLedStatusPtsWinnings
1928Ricky RuddRobert Yates RacingFord40088running180$171,992
22229Kevin Harvick (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet40012running175$126,417
388Dale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet4000running165$106,053
41688Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord4000running160$107,107
522Rusty WallacePenske Racing SouthFord400276running165$100,895
6618Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac4000running150$99,732
73320Tony StewartJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac4000running146$62,205
82526Jimmy SpencerHaas-Carter MotorsportsFord4000running142$65,415
9499Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFord4000running138$87,501
102710Johnny Benson Jr.MBV MotorsportsPontiac4000running134$58,305
111532Ricky CravenPPI MotorsportsFord4000running130$43,155
12522Ward BurtonBill Davis RacingDodge4000running127$75,365
132355Bobby HamiltonAndy Petree RacingChevrolet4000running124$49,980
143925Jerry NadeauHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet4000running121$49,680
152477Robert PressleyJasper MotorsportsFord4000running118$59,975
161133Joe NemechekAndy Petree RacingChevrolet4000running115$69,125
17379Bill ElliottEvernham MotorsportsDodge4000running112$65,278
181266Todd BodineHaas-Carter MotorsportsFord3990running109$40,905
19196Mark MartinRoush RacingFord3990running106$80,931
204115Michael WaltripDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet3990running103$49,730
21281Kenny WallaceDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet3990running100$66,348
221392Stacy ComptonMelling RacingDodge3990running97$45,191
231736Ken SchraderMB2 MotorsportsPontiac3990running94$51,395
244097Kurt Busch (R)Roush RacingFord3990running91$46,580
253645Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesDodge3980running88$36,130
261493Dave BlaneyBill Davis RacingDodge3970running85$38,205
27719Casey Atwood (R)Evernham MotorsportsDodge3970running82$37,980
284201Jason Leffler (R)Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix SabatesDodge3960running79$48,930
293012Jeremy MayfieldPenske Racing SouthFord3940running76$76,519
302043John AndrettiPetty EnterprisesDodge3890running73$70,152
313221Elliott SadlerWood Brothers RacingFord3640running70$52,590
32340Sterling MarlinChip Ganassi Racing with Felix SabatesDodge3515running72$42,555
332131Mike SkinnerRichard Childress RacingChevrolet3420crash64$66,844
343427Rick MastEel River RacingPontiac3380running61$34,460
353817Matt KensethRoush RacingFord3010running58$42,425
36124Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet28318running60$85,817
373144Buckshot JonesPetty EnterprisesDodge2590running52$42,355
38265Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet2550crash49$67,050
39434Kevin LepageMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevrolet2370running46$34,260
401830Jeff GreenRichard Childress RacingChevrolet2350crash43$34,200
411014Ron Hornaday Jr. (R)A. J. Foyt EnterprisesPontiac1640crash40$34,165
42297Mike WallaceUltra MotorsportsFord1150crash37$42,130
433511Brett BodineBrett Bodine RacingFord991overheating39$34,349
Failed to qualify
4496Andy Houston (R)PPI MotorsportsFord
4590Hut StricklinDonlavey RacingFord
4613Hermie SadlerSCORE MotorsportsChevrolet
4785Carl LongMansion MotorsportsFord
Official race results

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Utter . Jim . September 8, 2001 . Cheap shots vs. love taps . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20011219223306/http://www.thatsracin.com/01/0908/0910racefolo.htm . December 19, 2001 . July 24, 2022 . ThatsRacin.
  2. News: September 10, 2001 . Red-hot Rudd teaches rookie a lesson . 11 . The Daily News Leader . July 24, 2022 . Newspapers.com.
  3. Web site: Smith . Marty . September 10, 2001 . Rudd beats Harvick, claims Yates' 50th win . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20011213062105/http://www.nascar.com/2001/NEWS/09/08/monte_lead/index.html . December 13, 2001 . July 24, 2022 . NASCAR . Turner Sports Interactive.
  4. Web site: Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2001 Richmond 2 Race Info Page . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20020213133322/http://jayski.thatsracin.com/next/2001/2001rir2.htm . February 13, 2002 . July 24, 2022 . Jayski's Silly Season Site.
  5. Web site: September 7, 2001 . Friday's early Cup practice speeds . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20011219234345/http://www.thatsracin.com/01/0908/0908speeds1.htm . December 19, 2001 . July 24, 2022 . ThatsRacin.
  6. Web site: September 7, 2001 . Friday's final practice speeds . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20011008051946/http://www.thatsracin.com/01/0908/0908speeds2.htm . October 8, 2001 . July 24, 2022 . ThatsRacin.
  7. 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.
  8. Web site: Utter . Jim . September 7, 2001 . Gordon starts out front, Wallace 2nd . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20020111013824/http://www.thatsracin.com/01/0908/0908polelede.htm . January 11, 2002 . July 24, 2022 . ThatsRacin.
  9. Web site: 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400 - The Third Turn . July 22, 2022 . The Third Turn . en.

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