The 2001 Food City 500 was the sixth stock car race of the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season. It was held on March 25, 2001 at the Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. The 500-lap race was won by Elliott Sadler for the Wood Brothers Racing team; it was Sadler's first win in the Winston Cup Series and Wood Brothers Racing first since 1993, and the last until the 2011 Daytona 500 10 years later. John Andretti finished second and Jeremy Mayfield came in third.

2001 Food City 500
Race details[1][2]
Race 6 of 36 in the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
Map of the Bristol Motor Speedway
Map of the Bristol Motor Speedway
Date March 25, 2001 (2001-03-25)
Location Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, Tennessee
Course Permanent racing facility
0.533 mi (0.858 km)
Distance 500 laps, 266.5 mi (428.8 km)
Weather Temperatures up to 48.2 °F (9.0 °C); wind speeds up to 23.02 miles per hour (37.05 km/h)[3]
Average speed 86.949 mph (139.931 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Roush Racing
Time 15.192
Most laps led
Driver Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing
Laps 137
Winner
No. 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing
Television in the United States
Network Fox
Announcers Mike Joy, Darrell Waltrip, Larry McReynolds
Nielsen Ratings
  • 6.1 (Final)
  • 5.3/12 (Overnight)[4]

Report

edit

Background

edit
 
Bristol Motor Speedway, where the race was held.

The track, Bristol Motor Speedway, is one of five short tracks to hold NASCAR races; the others are Richmond International Raceway, Dover International Speedway, Martinsville Speedway, and Phoenix International Raceway.[5] Its standard track at Bristol Motor Speedway is a four-turn short track oval that is 0.533 miles (0.858 km) long.[6] The track's turns are banked from twenty-four to thirty degrees, while both the front stretch (the location of the finish line) and the back stretch are banked from six to ten degrees.[6]

Before the race Dale Jarrett led the Drivers' Championship with 756 points, with Sterling Marlin and Johnny Benson Jr. tied for second place with 691 points each. Jeff Gordon and Steve Park rounded out the top five, and Ricky Rudd, Rusty Wallace, Michael Waltrip, Bill Elliott and Ken Schrader rounded out the top ten.[7] In the Manufacturers' Championship, Chevrolet led with 42 points; Ford was second with 31 points. Pontiac was third with 19 points, with Dodge a close fourth with 17 points.[8] Wallace was the race's defending champion.[9]

Entry list

edit
  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
No. Driver Team Manufacturer
01 Jason Leffler (R) Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge
1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet
2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford
4 Kevin Lepage Morgan-McClure Motorsports Chevrolet
5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford
7 Mike Wallace Ultra Motorsports Ford
8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet
9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge
10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac
11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford
12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske Racing South Ford
14 Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) A.J. Foyt Racing Pontiac
15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet
17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford
18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac
19 Casey Atwood (R) Evernham Motorsports Dodge
20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac
21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford
22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge
24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford
27 Kenny Wallace Eel River Racing Pontiac
28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford
29 Kevin Harvick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford
33 Joe Nemechek Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet
36 Ken Schrader MBV Motorsports Pontiac
40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge
43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge
44 Buckshot Jones Petty Enterprises Dodge
45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge
50 Rick Mast Midwest Transit Racing Chevrolet
55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet
66 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford
77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford
85 Carl Long Mansion Motorsports Ford
88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford
90 Hut Stricklin Donlavey Racing Ford
92 Stacy Compton Melling Racing Dodge
93 Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing Dodge
96 Andy Houston (R) PPI Motorsports Ford
97 Kurt Busch (R) Roush Racing Ford
99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford

Practice

edit

First practice

edit
Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 15.213 126.129
2 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 15.245 125.884
3 29 Kevin Harvick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 15.300 125.412
Official practice results

Second practice

edit
Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 15.864 120.953
2 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 15.920 120.528
3 19 Casey Atwood (R) Evernham Motorsports Dodge 15.936 120.407
Official practice results

Qualifying

edit
Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time
1 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 15.192
2 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 15.303
3 29 Kevin Harvick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 15.307
4 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 15.330
5 66 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 15.357
6 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 15.379
7 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 15.382
8 93 Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing Dodge 15.387
9 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 15.388
10 36 Ken Schrader MBV Motorsports Pontiac 15.400
11 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 15.400
12 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 15.401
13 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 15.402
14 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 15.410
15 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 15.419
16 19 Casey Atwood (R) Evernham Motorsports Dodge 15.423
17 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 15.424
18 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 15.451
19 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 15.456
20 33 Joe Nemechek Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 15.469
21 44 Buckshot Jones Petty Enterprises Dodge 15.469
22 25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 15.476
23 26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 15.483
24 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 15.484
25 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 15.485
26 77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford 15.507
27 50 Rick Mast Midwest Transit Racing Chevrolet 15.511
28 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac 15.512
29 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 15.524
30 12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske Racing South Ford 15.533
31 27 Kenny Wallace Eel River Racing Pontiac 15.533
32 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 15.539
33 31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 15.545
34 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 15.546
35 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 15.566
36 96 Andy Houston (R) PPI Motorsports Ford 15.575
Provisionals
37 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac
38 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford
39 97 Kurt Busch (R) Roush Racing Ford
40 14 Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) A.J. Foyt Racing Pontiac
41 92 Stacy Compton Melling Racing Dodge
42 4 Kevin Lepage Morgan-McClure Motorsports Chevrolet
43 7 Mike Wallace Ultra Motorsports Ford
Did not qualify
90 Hut Stricklin Donlavey Racing Ford 15.596
01 Jason Leffler (R) Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 15.650
85 Carl Long Mansion Motorsports Ford 16.253

Race results

edit
Pos Grid No Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points
1 38 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 500 180
2 11 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 500 175
3 30 12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske Racing South Ford 500 165
4 15 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 500 165
5 18 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 500 155
6 25 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 500 150
7 4 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 500 146
8 6 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 500 142
9 17 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 500 143
10 14 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 500 134
11 41 92 Stacy Compton Melling Racing Dodge 500 130
12 2 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 500 132
13 13 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 500 124
14 24 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 500 126
15 42 4 Kevin Lepage Morgan-McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 500 118
16 19 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 500 115
17 12 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 500 112
18 33 31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 500 109
19 23 26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 500 106
20 16 19 Casey Atwood (R) Evernham Motorsports Dodge 500 103
21 40 14 Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) A.J. Foyt Racing Pontiac 500 100
22 29 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 500 97
23 34 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 500 94
24 3 29 Kevin Harvick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 500 101
25 37 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 500 88
26 28 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac 499 85
27 35 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 493 82
28 26 77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford 487 79
29 8 93 Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing Dodge 472 76
30 22 25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 459 73
31 9 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 456 70
32 5 66 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 437 67
33 21 44 Buckshot Jones Petty Enterprises Dodge 420 64
34 1 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 412 66
35 10 36 Ken Schrader MBV Motorsports Pontiac 350 58
36 27 50 Rick Mast Midwest Transit Racing Chevrolet 349 55
37 43 7 Mike Wallace Ultra Motorsports Ford 345 57
38 31 27 Kenny Wallace Eel River Racing Pontiac 307 54
39 36 96 Andy Houston (R) PPI Motorsports Ford 265 46
40 32 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 245 43
41 7 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 228 40
42 39 97 Kurt Busch (R) Roush Racing Ford 118 37
43 20 33 Joe Nemechek Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 108 34
Official race results

Standings after the race

edit
Pos Driver Points
  1 Dale Jarrett 871
  2 2 Jeff Gordon 826 (–45)
  1 3 Sterling Marlin 823 (–48)
  1 4 Johnny Benson Jr. 776 (–95)
  5 Steve Park 758 (–113)
  1 6 Rusty Wallace 752 (–119)
  1 7 Ricky Rudd 743 (–128)
  4 8 Bobby Hamilton 716 (–155)
  9 9 Elliott Sadler 709 (–162)
  1 10 Bill Elliott 701 (–170)

References

edit
  1. ^ "The Race: Food City 500". Jayski's Silly Season Site. ESPN Internet Ventures. Archived from the original on August 4, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  2. ^ "2001 Food City 500". Racing-Reference. USA Today Media Sports Group. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  3. ^ "Weather Information for Bristol, Tennessee". Old Farmer's Almanac. Yankee Publishing. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  4. ^ "TV Ratings 2001". Jayski's Silly Season Site. ESPN Internet Ventures. Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  5. ^ "NASCAR Race Tracks". NASCAR. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on August 15, 2010. Retrieved August 17, 2010.
  6. ^ a b "NASCAR Tracks—The Bristol Motor Speedway". Bristol Motor Speedway. Archived from the original on August 9, 2010. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
  7. ^ "2001 Official Driver Standings: Carolina Dodge Dealers 400". NASCAR. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on October 4, 2009. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
  8. ^ "2001 Manufacturers Championship". Jayski's Silly Season Site. ESPN Internet Ventures. Archived from the original on February 7, 2005. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
  9. ^ "2000 Food City 500". Racing-Reference. USA Today Media Sports Group. Retrieved September 11, 2015.


Previous race:
2001 Carolina Dodge Dealers 400
Winston Cup Series
2001 season
Next race:
2001 Harrah's 500