| 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season | |
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The 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup season began on February 11 at the Daytona International Speedway and ended on November 23 at the New Hampshire International Speedway. Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports was crowned series champion for the fourth time in seven years. The season was marked by tragedy, and by safety upgrades as well. It also was the first year of a television contract that had FOX and NBC/TNT broadcasting all the races during the season. The Dodge manufacturer returned to the sport for the first time since 1985. Chevrolet captured the NASCAR Manufacturers' Championship with 16 wins and 248 points over Ford who had 11 wins. Pontiac ended the season with 5 wins and 169 points, and Dodge trailed with 4 wins and 158 points.[1]
List of full-time teams at the start of 2001.
The Budweiser Shootout, an invitational event for all recent Bud Pole winners, was held February 11 at Daytona International Speedway. Ken Schrader drew the pole. This was the first race broadcast on FOX.
Top Ten Results
The Gatorade 125s, qualifying races for the Daytona 500, were held February 15 at Daytona International Speedway. Bill Elliott and Stacy Compton won the poles for both races, respectively. The qualifying races marked the first time that it was broadcast live, prior to 2001, CBS only shown the race on tape delay.
Race One Top Ten Results
Race Two Top Ten Results
The 2001 Daytona 500 was held February 18, 2001, at Daytona International Speedway. Bill Elliott won the pole. This was the first race that featured Dodge cars since 1985, and marked the death of Dale Earnhardt.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Dave Marcis (#71), Todd Bodine (#66), Hut Stricklin (#90), Rick Mast (#50), Derrike Cope (#37), Norm Benning (#84), Carl Long (#85), Morgan Shepherd (#80), Dwayne Leik (#72)
The Dura Lube 400 started on February 25 but finished on February 26 due to a rain delay, making it a two-day race at the North Carolina Speedway. Jeff Gordon won the pole. This race was won by DEI driver Steve Park, in an emotional victory for Park. As this was the first race since Earnhardt's death. Richard Childress put Busch Series driver Kevin Harvick, as he took over for this race and the car number was changed from #3 to #29. Also the paint scheme was changed from black to white.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Andy Houston (#96), Kyle Petty (#45)
The UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 was held March 4 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Dale Jarrett won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Kyle Petty (#45), Brendan Gaughan (#62), Andy Houston (#96), Rick Mast (#50)
The Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 500 was held March 11 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Dale Jarrett won the pole. This race is remembered for the exciting finish between Busch Series driver Kevin Harvick, who replaced the late Dale Earnhardt, and 3-time champion Jeff Gordon. Harvick would outduel the champion in a spectacular finish, by winning by a mere .006 of a second, being the then-second closest finish in NASCAR history. Harvick performed a burnout on the frontstretch with three fingers aloft on fittingly, his third start.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Rick Mast (#50), Carl Long (#85), Casey Atwood (#19)
The Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 was held March 18 at Darlington Raceway. Jeff Gordon won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Andy Houston (#96), Rick Mast (#50), Dave Marcis (#71)
The Food City 500 was held March 25 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Mark Martin won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Hut Stricklin (#90), Jason Leffler (#01), Carl Long (#85)
The Harrah's 500 was held April 1 at Texas Motor Speedway. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Kyle Petty (#45), Rick Mast (#50)
The Virginia 500 was held April 8 at Martinsville Speedway. Jeff Gordon won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: none
The Talladega 500 was held April 22 at Talladega Superspeedway. Stacy Compton won the pole. The race was caution-free.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Kenny Wallace (#27), Kyle Petty (#45), Rick Mast (#50), Hut Stricklin (#90), Andy Hillenburg (#49)
The NAPA Auto Parts 500 was held April 29 at California Speedway. Bobby Labonte won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Kevin Lepage (#4), Buckshot Jones (#44), Shawna Robinson (#84)
The Pontiac Excitement 400 was held May 5 at Richmond International Raceway. Mark Martin won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Buckshot Jones (#44), Hermie Sadler (#13), Hut Stricklin (#90)
The Coca-Cola 600 was held May 27 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Ryan Newman won the pole. This was the first career pole on his second start at Lowes on a limited schedule.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: John Andretti (#43), Kyle Petty (#45), Derrike Cope (#37), Mike Wallace (#7), Jeff Fultz (#54), Carl Long (#85)
The MBNA Platinum 400 was held June 3 at Dover International Speedway. Dale Jarrett won the pole due to a rainout.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Rick Mast (#50), Jeff Green (#30), Kyle Petty (#45), Lance Hooper (#47), Dave Marcis (#71)
The Kmart 400 was held June 10 at Michigan International Speedway. Jeff Gordon won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Mike Wallace (#7), Rick Mast (#50), Andy Houston (#96), Stacy Compton (#92), Kenny Wallace (#27)
This race was the Winston Cup Series debut of Shawna Robinson, the first woman to successfully attempt a Cup Series race since Patty Moise in 1989.
The Pocono 500 was held June 17 at Pocono Raceway. Ricky Rudd won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Andy Houston (#96), Kenny Wallace (#27)
The Dodge/Save Mart 350 was held June 24 at Sears Point Raceway. Jeff Gordon won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Andy Houston (#96), Kenny Wallace (#27), Anthony Lazzaro (#68), Jason Leffler (#04)
The Pepsi 400 was held July 7 at Daytona International Speedway. Sterling Marlin won the pole. This was the first Cup race at Daytona since the death of Dale Earnhardt.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Buckshot Jones (#44), Ron Hornaday (#14), Hut Stricklin (#90), Mike Bliss (#27), Andy Hillenburg (#49)
The inaugural Tropicana 400 was held July 15 at Chicagoland Speedway. Todd Bodine won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Kyle Petty (#45), Dave Marcis (#71), Mike Bliss (#27), Shawna Robinson (#84)
The New England 300 was held July 22 at New Hampshire International Speedway. Jeff Gordon won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: none
The Pennsylvania 500 was held July 29 at Pocono Raceway. Todd Bodine won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Andy Hillenburg (#49), Carl Long (#85)
The Brickyard 400 was held August 5 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Jimmy Spencer won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Kevin Lepage (#4), Derrike Cope (#37), Mike Wallace (#7), Hermie Sadler (#13), Ed Berrier (#95), David Keith (#57), Rick Mast (#27), Dave Marcis (#71), Kyle Petty (#45), Shawna Robinson (#84), Andy Hillenburg (#49)
The Global Crossing at the Glen was held August 12 at Watkins Glen International Raceway. Dale Jarrett won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Mike Wallace (#7), Wally Dallenbach, Jr. (#44)
The Pepsi 400 Presented by Meijer was held August 19 at Michigan International Speedway. Ricky Craven won the pole. The race was shortened to 162 laps due to rain, and the race also marked Dodge's first trip to victory lane since its return to NASCAR.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: David Keith (#57), Buckshot Jones (#44)
The Sharpie 500 was held August 25 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Jeff Green won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Stacy Compton (#92), Kyle Petty (#45), Hermie Sadler (#13), Dave Marcis (#71), Hut Stricklin (#90), Carl Long (#85)
The Mountain Dew Southern 500 was held September 2 at Darlington Raceway. Kurt Busch won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Andy Houston (#96), Dave Marcis (#71)
The Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400 was held September 8 at Richmond International Raceway. Jeff Gordon won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Andy Houston (#96), Hermie Sadler (#13), Hut Stricklin (#90), Carl Long (#85)
The MBNA Cal Ripken, Jr. 400 was held September 23 at Dover International Speedway. Dale Jarrett won the pole. This was the first race to be held after the September 11th attacks. Most cars sported patriotic decals and tributes.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Rick Mast (#27), Jason Leffler (#01), Lance Hooper (#47), Dave Marcis (#71)
The inaugural Protection One 400 was held September 30 at Kansas Speedway. Jason Leffler won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Rick Mast (#27), Kyle Petty (#45), Ron Hornaday (#14)
The UAW-GM Quality 500 was held October 7 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Jimmy Spencer won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Kyle Petty (#45), Derrike Cope (#57), Jeff Green (#30), Robby Gordon (#31), Buckshot Jones (#44), Frank Kimmel (#46)
The Old Dominion 500 was scheduled for October 14 at Martinsville Speedway, but was held October 15 due to rain. Todd Bodine won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Carl Long (#85), Kyle Petty (#45), Frank Kimmel (#46)
The EA Sports 500 was held October 21 at Talladega Superspeedway. Stacy Compton won the pole. This race had a wild finish. Bobby Labonte tried to block Bobby Hamilton, going up high. Labonte got loose, making contact with Johnny Benson, flipping Labonte over and collecting 14 other cars. Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Burton, and Tony Stewart were the only three in the front, having to race to the line, followed by another group with Jeff Gordon, Matt Kenseth, Kenny Wallace, and Bobby Hamilton. Burton and Stewart battled for second while Earnhardt drove away to pick up a victory that would begin a streak of wins at Talladega. Dale Earnhardt, Jr was later penalized after his car failed post race inspection, due to a shortened rear spoiler.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Rick Mast (#91), Dave Marcis (#71)
The Checker Auto Parts 500 Presented by Pennzoil was held October 28 at Phoenix International Raceway. Casey Atwood won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Rick Bogart (#70)
The Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 was held November 4 at North Carolina Speedway. Kenny Wallace won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Rick Mast (#90)
The Pennzoil Freedom 400 was held November 11 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Bill Elliott won the pole. Casey Atwood nearly won the race, until a late race pass by Bill Elliott.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Rich Bickle (#49), Derrike Cope (#57), Ron Hornaday (#14), Hermie Sadler (#13), Carl Long (#85)
The NAPA 500 was held November 18 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. won the pole. Jeff Gordon clinched the 2001 Winston Cup with his 6th place finish. Jerry Nadeau nearly won this race, but ran out of gas with half a lap to go, giving way to Bobby Labonte
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Mark Green (#41), Robby Gordon (#31), Jason Leffler (#01), Kurt Busch (#97), Rick Mast (#90), Ron Hornaday (#14), Dave Marcis (#71), Frank Kimmel (#46)
The New Hampshire 300 was scheduled for September 16 but was moved to November 23 (the Friday after Thanksgiving) due to the September 11 terrorist attacks. The starting order was set according to owner's points as of September 10. The win was Robby Gordon's first career victory. This race was also notable for the battle between Robby Gordon and Jeff Gordon that led to much controversy and retaliation due to the bumping between the two.
Top Ten Results
Kevin Harvick emerged as the victor of the Rookie of the Year battle despite not declaring for the award until the second race of the season, as he took over for Dale Earnhardt following his fatal crash. Harvick won two races and finished ninth in season points. Kurt Busch finished second, despite only having one year of experience in a major NASCAR series. Third-place finisher Casey Atwood was pre-season favorite, but was held back due to a rough start and only finished 26th in points. Jason Leffler had a sub-par season that cost him his job with Chip Ganassi Racing, and Ron Hornaday was a disappointment after years of success in the Busch and Truck series. The last-place driver was Andy Houston, another pre-season favorite, had a tough season that resulted in his schedule being reduced.
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