| Type: | NASWINSTON |
| Announcers: | Mike Joy, Larry McReynolds, Darrell Waltrip |
| Avg: | 134.517mph |
| Scheduled Laps: | 334 |
| Distance Laps: | 334 |
| Scheduled Mi: | 501 |
| Attendance: | 215,000 |
| Pole Driver: | Bobby Labonte |
| Pole Team: | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| Most Driver: | Elliott Sadler |
| Most Team: | Robert Yates Racing |
| First Team: | Penske Racing |
| First Driver: | Ryan Newman |
| Most Laps: | 91 |
| Car: | 12 |
| Network: | FOX |
| Location: | Fort Worth, Texas, Texas Motor Speedway |
| Radio: | Performance Racing Network |
| Date: | March 30 |
| Season No: | 36 |
| Race No: | 7 |
| Course Km: | 2.41 |
| Course Mi: | 1.5 |
| Scheduled Km: | 806.281 |
| Distance Km: | 806.281 |
| Official Name: | 7th Annual Samsung/RadioShack 500 |
| Race Name: | Samsung/RadioShack 500 |
| Pole Time: | 27.905 |
| Year: | 2003 |
| Distance Mi: | 501 |
| Caption: | The 2003 Samsung/RadioShack 500 program cover, with artwork by NASCAR artist Sam Bass. The painting is called "Most Wanted!" |
The 2003 Samsung/RadioShack 500 was the seventh stock car race of the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the seventh iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, March 30, 2003, before a crowd of 215,000 in Fort Worth, Texas at Texas Motor Speedway, a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) permanent tri-oval shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 334 laps to complete. Penske Racing driver Ryan Newman would make a gamble near the end of the race, pitting for only two tires on the final round of pit stops. He would be able to pass and defend Dale Earnhardt, Inc. driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. to win his second career NASCAR Winston Cup Series win and his first win of the season.[1] To fill out the podium, Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports would finish third.
Texas Motor Speedway is a speedway located in the northernmost portion of the U.S. city of Fort Worth, Texas – the portion located in Denton County, Texas. The track measures 1.5 miles (2.4 km) around and is banked 24 degrees in the turns, and is of the oval design, where the front straightaway juts outward slightly. The track layout is similar to Atlanta Motor Speedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway (formerly Lowe's Motor Speedway). The track is owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., the same company that owns Atlanta and Charlotte Motor Speedway, as well as the short-track Bristol Motor Speedway.
The first practice session was held on Friday, March 28, at 12:20 PM CST, and would last for 2 hours.[2] Jerry Nadeau of MB2 Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 27.870 and an average speed of 193.757mph.[3]
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 01 | Jerry Nadeau | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 27.870 | 193.757 | |
| 2 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing | Dodge | 27.925 | 193.375 | |
| 3 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 28.015 | 192.754 | |
| Full first practice results | |||||||
The second practice session was held on Saturday, March 29, at 10:30 AM CST, and would last for 45 minutes.[4] Bobby Labonte of Joe Gibbs Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 28.620 and an average speed of 188.679mph.[5]
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 28.620 | 188.679 | |
| 2 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 28.661 | 188.409 | |
| 3 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 28.668 | 188.363 | |
| Full second practice results | |||||||
The third and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, March 29, at 12:10 PM CST, and would last for 45 minutes.[6] Jimmie Johnson of Hendrick Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 28.574 and an average speed of 188.983mph.[7]
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 28.574 | 188.983 | |
| 2 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing | Dodge | 28.612 | 188.732 | |
| 3 | 01 | Jerry Nadeau | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 28.776 | 187.656 | |
| Full Happy Hour practice results | |||||||
Qualifying was held on Friday, March 28, at 4:05 PM CST. Each driver would have two laps to set a fastest time; the fastest of the two would count as their official qualifying lap.[8] 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.[9]
Bobby Labonte of Joe Gibbs Racing would win the pole, setting a time of 27.905 and an average speed of 193.514mph.[10]
Two drivers would fail to qualify: Kerry Earnhardt and David Starr.