2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400

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.

2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400 with the Looney Tunes
Race details
Race 26 of 36 in the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400 program cover, featuring several Looney Tunes sponsored cars.
The 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400 program cover, featuring several Looney Tunes sponsored cars.
Date September 8, 2001
Official name 44th Annual Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400 with The Looney Tunes
Location Richmond, Virginia, Richmond International Raceway
Course Permanent racing facility
0.75 mi (1.21 km)
Distance 400 laps, 300 mi (482.803 km)
Scheduled Distance 400 laps, 300 mi (482.803 km)
Average speed 95.146 miles per hour (153.123 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Hendrick Motorsports
Time 21.617
Most laps led
Driver Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South
Laps 276
Winner
No. 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing
Television in the United States
Network TNT
Announcers Allen Bestwick, Benny Parsons, Wally Dallenbach Jr.
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

Background

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The layout of Richmond International Raceway, the venue where the race was at.

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

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
1 Kenny Wallace Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet Pennzoil, Sylvester the Cat and Tweety
01 Jason Leffler (R) Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge Cingular Wireless
2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford Miller Lite
4 Kevin Lepage Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet Kodak
5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Kellogg's, The Road-Runner
6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford Viagra
7 Mike Wallace Ultra Motorsports Ford NationsRent
8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet Budweiser
9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge Dodge
10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac Valvoline
11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford Kroger
12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske Racing South Ford Mobil 1
13 Hermie Sadler SCORE Motorsports Chevrolet Virginia Lottery
14 Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac Conseco
15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet NAPA Auto Parts
17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford DeWalt New Products
18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac Interstate Batteries, Circuit City
19 Casey Atwood (R) Evernham Motorsports Dodge Dodge
20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac The Home Depot
21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford Motorcraft
22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge Caterpillar
24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet DuPont, Bugs Bunny
25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet UAW, Delphi
26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford Kmart School Spirit
27 Rick Mast Eel River Racing Pontiac Duke's Mayonnaise, Sauer's
28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford Texaco, Havoline
29 Kevin Harvick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet GM Goodwrench, Tasmanian Devil
30 Jeff Green Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet America Online, Daffy Duck
31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Lowe's, Yosemite Sam
32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford Tide
33 Joe Nemechek Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet Schult Homes, Oakwood Homes
36 Ken Schrader MBV Motorsports Pontiac M&M's
40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge Coors Light
43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge Cheerios
44 Buckshot Jones Petty Enterprises Dodge Georgia-Pacific Sparkle
45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge Sprint PCS
55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet Square D, Marvin the Martian
66 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford Kmart Blue Light Special
77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford Jasper Engines & Transmissions
85 Carl Long Mansion Motorsports Ford Mansion Motorsports
88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford UPS
90 Hut Stricklin Donlavey Racing Ford Hills Bros. Coffee
92 Stacy Compton Melling Racing Dodge Kodiak
93 Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing Dodge Mac Tools, Amoco Ultimate
96 Andy Houston (R) PPI Motorsports Ford McDonald's
97 Kurt Busch (R) Roush Racing Ford Rubbermaid, Sharpie
99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford Citgo Supergard
Official entry list

Practice

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First practice

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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 124.447 miles per hour (200.278 km/h).[5]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 21.696 124.447
2 30 Jeff Green Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 21.700 124.424
3 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 21.712 124.355
Full first practice results

Second and final practice

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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.[4] 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 122.699 miles per hour (197.465 km/h).[6]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 30 Jeff Green Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 22.005 122.699
2 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 22.104 122.150
3 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 22.115 122.089
Full Happy Hour practice results

Qualifying

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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.[4] 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 124.902 miles per hour (201.010 km/h).[8]

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

Full qualifying results

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 21.617 124.902
2 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 21.685 124.510
3 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 21.689 124.487
4 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 21.770 124.024
5 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 21.795 123.882
6 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 21.797 123.870
7 19 Casey Atwood (R) Evernham Motorsports Dodge 21.806 123.819
8 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 21.810 123.796
9 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 21.831 123.677
10 14 Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac 21.861 123.508
11 33 Joe Nemechek Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 21.881 123.395
12 66 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 21.890 123.344
13 92 Stacy Compton Melling Racing Dodge 21.895 123.316
14 93 Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing Dodge 21.899 123.293
15 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 21.902 123.276
16 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 21.905 123.260
17 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 21.908 123.243
18 30 Jeff Green Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 21.915 123.203
19 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 21.916 123.198
20 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 21.919 123.181
21 31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 21.924 123.153
22 29 Kevin Harvick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 21.948 123.018
23 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 21.963 122.934
24 77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford 21.971 122.889
25 26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 21.987 122.800
26 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 21.992 122.772
27 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac 21.993 122.766
28 1 Kenny Wallace Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 22.000 122.727
29 7 Mike Wallace Ultra Motorsports Ford 22.005 122.699
30 12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske Racing South Ford 22.009 122.677
31 44 Buckshot Jones Petty Enterprises Dodge 22.010 122.672
32 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 22.036 122.527
33 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 22.044 122.482
34 27 Rick Mast Eel River Racing Pontiac 22.048 122.460
35 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 22.067 122.355
36 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 22.070 122.338
Provisionals
37 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge -* -*
38 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford -* -*
39 25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet -* -*
40 97 Kurt Busch (R) Roush Racing Ford -* -*
41 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet -* -*
42 01 Jason Leffler (R) Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge -* -*
43 4 Kevin Lepage Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet -* -*
Failed to qualify
44 96 Andy Houston (R) PPI Motorsports Ford 22.116 122.084
45 90 Hut Stricklin Donlavey Racing Ford 22.277 121.201
46 13 Hermie Sadler SCORE Motorsports Chevrolet 22.153 121.880
47 85 Carl Long Mansion Motorsports Ford 22.482 120.096
Official qualifying results

*Time not available.

Race results

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Fin[9] St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 9 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 400 88 running 180 $171,992
2 22 29 Kevin Harvick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 400 12 running 175 $126,417
3 8 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 400 0 running 165 $106,053
4 16 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 400 0 running 160 $107,107
5 2 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 400 276 running 165 $100,895
6 6 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 400 0 running 150 $99,732
7 33 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 400 0 running 146 $62,205
8 25 26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 400 0 running 142 $65,415
9 4 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 400 0 running 138 $87,501
10 27 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac 400 0 running 134 $58,305
11 15 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 400 0 running 130 $43,155
12 5 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 400 0 running 127 $75,365
13 23 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 400 0 running 124 $49,980
14 39 25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 400 0 running 121 $49,680
15 24 77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford 400 0 running 118 $59,975
16 11 33 Joe Nemechek Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 400 0 running 115 $69,125
17 37 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 400 0 running 112 $65,278
18 12 66 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 399 0 running 109 $40,905
19 19 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 399 0 running 106 $80,931
20 41 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 399 0 running 103 $49,730
21 28 1 Kenny Wallace Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 399 0 running 100 $66,348
22 13 92 Stacy Compton Melling Racing Dodge 399 0 running 97 $45,191
23 17 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 399 0 running 94 $51,395
24 40 97 Kurt Busch (R) Roush Racing Ford 399 0 running 91 $46,580
25 36 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 398 0 running 88 $36,130
26 14 93 Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing Dodge 397 0 running 85 $38,205
27 7 19 Casey Atwood (R) Evernham Motorsports Dodge 397 0 running 82 $37,980
28 42 01 Jason Leffler (R) Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 396 0 running 79 $48,930
29 30 12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske Racing South Ford 394 0 running 76 $76,519
30 20 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 389 0 running 73 $70,152
31 32 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 364 0 running 70 $52,590
32 3 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 351 5 running 72 $42,555
33 21 31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 342 0 crash 64 $66,844
34 34 27 Rick Mast Eel River Racing Pontiac 338 0 running 61 $34,460
35 38 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 301 0 running 58 $42,425
36 1 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 283 18 running 60 $85,817
37 31 44 Buckshot Jones Petty Enterprises Dodge 259 0 running 52 $42,355
38 26 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 255 0 crash 49 $67,050
39 43 4 Kevin Lepage Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 237 0 running 46 $34,260
40 18 30 Jeff Green Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 235 0 crash 43 $34,200
41 10 14 Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac 164 0 crash 40 $34,165
42 29 7 Mike Wallace Ultra Motorsports Ford 115 0 crash 37 $42,130
43 35 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 99 1 overheating 39 $34,349
Failed to qualify
44 96 Andy Houston (R) PPI Motorsports Ford
45 90 Hut Stricklin Donlavey Racing Ford
46 13 Hermie Sadler SCORE Motorsports Chevrolet
47 85 Carl Long Mansion Motorsports Ford
Official race results

References

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  1. ^ Utter, Jim (September 8, 2001). "Cheap shots vs. love taps". ThatsRacin. Archived from the original on December 19, 2001. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  2. ^ "Red-hot Rudd teaches rookie a lesson". The Daily News Leader. September 10, 2001. p. 11. Retrieved July 24, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Smith, Marty (September 10, 2001). "Rudd beats Harvick, claims Yates' 50th win". NASCAR. Turner Sports Interactive. Archived from the original on December 13, 2001. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2001 Richmond 2 Race Info Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on February 13, 2002. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  5. ^ "Friday's early Cup practice speeds". ThatsRacin. September 7, 2001. Archived from the original on December 19, 2001. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  6. ^ "Friday's final practice speeds". ThatsRacin. September 7, 2001. Archived from the original on October 8, 2001. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  7. ^ "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2002 Provisional/Owners Points Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on February 5, 2005. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  8. ^ Utter, Jim (September 7, 2001). "Gordon starts out front, Wallace 2nd". ThatsRacin. Archived from the original on January 11, 2002. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  9. ^ "2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400 - The Third Turn". The Third Turn. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
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NASCAR Winston Cup Series
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2001 MBNA Cal Ripken Jr. 400