2001 Sharpie 500 Explained
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.
Background
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
- (R) denotes rookie driver.
- (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
Practice
First practice
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 125.609mph.[5]
Second and final practice
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. 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 120.46mph.[6]
Qualifying
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. 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 123.674mph.[8]
Full qualifying results
Race results
| 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 | |
|---|
Notes and References
- Web site: Poole . David . August 25, 2001 . Stewart holds on for Bristol win . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20011215142708/http://www.thatsracin.com/01/0825/0826racelede.htm . December 15, 2001 . July 22, 2022 . ThatsRacin . The Charlotte Observer.
- News: Fryer . Jenna . August 26, 2001 . Stewart finally wins at Bristol . 40 . The Bismarck Tribune . July 22, 2022 . Newspapers.com.
- Web site: Smith . Marty . August 27, 2001 . Stewart wins Sharpie 500 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20011206145230/http://www.nascar.com/2001/NEWS/08/25/sharpie500_lead/index.html . December 6, 2001 . July 22, 2022 . NASCAR . Turner Sports Interactive.
- Web site: Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2001 Bristol 2 Race Info Page . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20020213114059/http://jayski.thatsracin.com/next/2001/2001bms2.htm . February 13, 2002 . July 22, 2022 . Jayski's Silly Season Site.
- Web site: August 24, 2001 . Winston Cup practice speeds . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20010828180838/http://www.thatsracin.com/01/0825/0825speeds.htm . August 28, 2001 . July 22, 2022 . ThatsRacin.
- Web site: August 24, 2001 . Speeds from Friday's final practice . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20011215144345/http://www.thatsracin.com/01/0825/0825speeds2.htm . December 15, 2001 . July 22, 2022 . ThatsRacin.
- 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.
- Web site: Poole . David . August 24, 2001 . Childress puts pair out front at Bristol . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20020111013345/http://www.thatsracin.com/01/0825/0825raceadv.htm . January 11, 2002 . July 22, 2022 . ThatsRacin . The Charlotte Observer.
- Web site: 2001 Sharpie 500 - The Third Turn . July 21, 2022 . The Third Turn . en.
