The 2001 Pocono 500 was the 15th stock car race of the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 20th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, June 17, 2001, in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, at Pocono Raceway, a 2.5 miles (4.0 km) triangular permanent course. The race took the scheduled 200 laps to complete. At race's end, Ricky Rudd, driving for Robert Yates Racing, would take over the final stages of the race to win his 21st career NASCAR Winston Cup Series win and his first of the season. The win also broke a 88-race winless streak for Rudd.[1][2][3] Jeff Gordon, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, and Dale Jarrett, driving for Robert Yates Racing, would finish second and third, respectively.

2001 Pocono 500
Race details
Race 15 of 36 in the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 2001 Pocono 500 program cover.
The 2001 Pocono 500 program cover.
Date June 17, 2001
Official name 20th Annual Pocono 500
Location Long Pond, Pennsylvania, Pocono Raceway
Course Permanent racing facility
2.5 mi (4.0 km)
Distance 200 laps, 500 mi (804.672 km)
Scheduled Distance 200 laps, 500 mi (804.672 km)
Average speed 134.389 miles per hour (216.278 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Robert Yates Racing
Time 52.785
Most laps led
Driver Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports
Laps 86
Winner
No. 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing
Television in the United States
Network FOX
Announcers Mike Joy, Larry McReynolds, Darrell Waltrip
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

Background

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The layout of Pocono Raceway, the venue where the race was held.

The race was held at Pocono Raceway, which is a three-turn superspeedway located in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. The track hosts two annual NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, as well as one Xfinity Series and Camping World Truck Series event. Until 2019, the track also hosted an IndyCar Series race.

Pocono Raceway is one of a very few NASCAR tracks not owned by either Speedway Motorsports, Inc. or International Speedway Corporation. It is operated by the Igdalsky siblings Brandon, Nicholas, and sister Ashley, and cousins Joseph IV and Chase Mattioli, all of whom are third-generation members of the family-owned Mattco Inc, started by Joseph II and Rose Mattioli.

Outside of the NASCAR races, the track is used throughout the year by Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and motorcycle clubs as well as racing schools and an IndyCar race. The triangular oval also has three separate infield sections of racetrack – North Course, East Course and South Course. Each of these infield sections use a separate portion of the tri-oval to complete the track. During regular non-race weekends, multiple clubs can use the track by running on different infield sections. Also some of the infield sections can be run in either direction, or multiple infield sections can be put together – such as running the North Course and the South Course and using the tri-oval to connect the two.

Entry list

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet Pennzoil
01 Jason Leffler (R) Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge Cingular Wireless, Special Olympics
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
6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford Viagra
7 Ted Musgrave 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 RedCell, Ralphs
12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske Racing South Ford Mobil 1
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
18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac Interstate Batteries
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
25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet UAW, Delphi
26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford Kmart
27 Kenny Wallace Eel River Racing Pontiac Sauer's, Duke's Mayonnaise
28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford Texaco, Havoline
29 Kevin Harvick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet GM Goodwrench
31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Lowe's
32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford Tide
33 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 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
50 Rick Mast Midwest Transit Racing Chevrolet Blair
55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet Square D
66 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford Kmart Blue Light Special
77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford Jasper Engines & Transmissions
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 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, June 15, at 11:30 AM EST. The session would last for two hours and 30 minutes.[4] Ricky Rudd, driving for Robert Yates Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 53.027 and an average speed of 169.725 miles per hour (273.146 km/h).[5]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 53.027 169.725
2 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac 53.431 168.442
3 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 53.495 168.240
Full first practice results

Second practice

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The second practice session was held on Saturday, June 16, at 9:00 AM EST. The session would last for 45 minutes.[4] Ricky Rudd, driving for Robert Yates Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 54.434 and an average speed of 165.338 miles per hour (266.086 km/h).[6]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 54.434 165.338
2 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 54.499 165.141
3 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 54.533 165.038
Full second practice results

Third and final practice

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The final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, June 16, at 11:15 AM EST. The session would last for one hour.[4] Jeff Gordon, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 54.627 and an average speed of 164.754 miles per hour (265.146 km/h).[7]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 54.627 164.754
2 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 54.730 164.444
3 7 Ted Musgrave Ultra Motorsports Ford 54.972 163.720
Full Happy Hour practice results

Qualifying

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Qualifying was held on Friday, June 15, 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.[8]

Ricky Rudd, driving for Robert Yates Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 52.785 and an average speed of 170.503 miles per hour (274.398 km/h).

Full qualifying results

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 52.785 170.503
2 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 53.314 168.811
3 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 53.472 168.312
4 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 53.524 168.149
5 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 53.559 168.039
6 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 53.564 168.023
7 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac 53.596 167.923
8 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 53.619 167.851
9 12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske Racing South Ford 53.624 167.835
10 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 53.627 167.826
11 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 53.679 167.663
12 66 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 53.683 167.651
13 19 Casey Atwood (R) Evernham Motorsports Dodge 53.703 167.588
14 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 53.709 167.570
15 7 Ted Musgrave Ultra Motorsports Ford 53.741 167.470
16 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 53.772 167.373
17 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 53.783 167.339
18 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 53.806 167.268
19 29 Kevin Harvick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 53.843 167.153
20 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 53.852 167.125
21 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 53.863 167.091
22 92 Stacy Compton Melling Racing Dodge 53.891 167.004
23 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 53.944 166.840
24 90 Hut Stricklin Donlavey Racing Ford 53.972 166.753
25 50 Rick Mast Midwest Transit Racing Chevrolet 54.015 166.620
26 31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 54.027 166.583
27 26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 54.035 166.559
28 44 Buckshot Jones Petty Enterprises Dodge 54.043 166.534
29 93 Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing Dodge 54.077 166.429
30 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 54.085 166.405
31 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 54.097 166.368
32 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 54.099 166.362
33 01 Jason Leffler (R) Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 54.109 166.331
34 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 54.118 166.303
35 14 Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac 54.202 166.045
36 4 Kevin Lepage Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 54.240 165.929
Provisionals
37 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 54.372 165.526
38 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 54.332 165.648
39 25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 54.461 165.256
40 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 54.485 165.183
41 97 Kurt Busch (R) Roush Racing Ford 54.412 165.405
42 77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford 54.310 165.715
43 33 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 54.452 165.283
Failed to qualify
44 96 Andy Houston (R) PPI Motorsports Ford 54.317 165.694
45 27 Kenny Wallace Eel River Racing Pontiac 54.904 163.922
Official qualifying results

Race results

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Fin[9] St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 1 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 200 39 running 180 $189,542
2 14 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 200 86 running 180 $148,897
3 10 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 200 62 running 170 $119,947
4 2 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 200 0 running 160 $92,350
5 5 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 200 0 running 155 $102,016
6 31 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 200 0 running 150 $59,715
7 4 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 200 0 running 146 $64,340
8 18 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 200 2 running 147 $94,467
9 3 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 200 0 running 138 $60,960
10 8 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 200 0 running 134 $91,886
11 29 93 Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing Dodge 200 0 running 130 $43,490
12 26 31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 200 0 running 127 $73,714
13 41 97 Kurt Busch (R) Roush Racing Ford 200 0 running 124 $48,940
14 42 77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford 200 0 running 121 $53,651
15 19 29 Kevin Harvick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 200 0 running 118 $83,567
16 16 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 199 0 running 115 $80,580
17 27 26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 199 0 running 112 $51,230
18 38 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 199 0 running 109 $59,415
19 39 25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 199 0 running 106 $46,390
20 6 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 199 11 running 108 $73,288
21 36 4 Kevin Lepage Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 199 0 running 100 $37,440
22 25 50 Rick Mast Midwest Transit Racing Chevrolet 199 0 running 97 $33,740
23 22 92 Stacy Compton Melling Racing Dodge 198 0 running 94 $36,915
24 7 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac 198 0 running 91 $44,665
25 12 66 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 198 0 running 88 $37,290
26 43 33 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 198 0 running 85 $64,410
27 23 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 198 0 running 82 $60,613
28 24 90 Hut Stricklin Donlavey Racing Ford 198 0 running 79 $32,740
29 15 7 Ted Musgrave Ultra Motorsports Ford 198 0 running 76 $43,565
30 17 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 197 0 running 73 $42,915
31 40 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 195 0 running 70 $67,495
32 30 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 190 0 running 67 $58,358
33 37 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 187 0 running 64 $39,915
34 32 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 185 0 engine 61 $31,715
35 35 14 Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac 176 0 running 58 $31,540
36 9 12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske Racing South Ford 176 0 running 55 $70,624
37 11 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 158 0 running 52 $31,175
38 13 19 Casey Atwood (R) Evernham Motorsports Dodge 157 0 engine 49 $31,050
39 20 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 150 0 running 46 $65,952
40 21 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 113 0 crash 43 $63,910
41 33 01 Jason Leffler (R) Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 100 0 crash 40 $38,650
42 28 44 Buckshot Jones Petty Enterprises Dodge 78 0 crash 37 $38,575
43 34 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 34 0 engine 34 $30,751
Failed to qualify
44 96 Andy Houston (R) PPI Motorsports Ford
45 27 Kenny Wallace Eel River Racing Pontiac
Official race results

References

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  1. ^ Poole, David (June 17, 2001). "Finally, it's Ricky Rudd". ThatsRacin. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on June 24, 2001. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  2. ^ Packman, Tim (June 18, 2001). "Rudd finally finds Victory Lane at Pocono". NASCAR. Turner Sports Interactive. Archived from the original on December 17, 2001. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  3. ^ "Rudd outlasts Gordon in Pocono 500". Arizona Daily Sun. June 18, 2001. p. 13. Retrieved July 1, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b c d "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2001 Pocono 1 Race Info Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on February 13, 2002. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  5. ^ "Friday's Winston Cup practice speeds". ThatsRacin. June 15, 2001. Archived from the original on August 7, 2001. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  6. ^ "Saturday's Winston Cup practice speeds". ThatsRacin. June 16, 2001. Archived from the original on August 7, 2001. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  7. ^ "Saturday's 'Happy Hour' speeds". ThatsRacin. June 16, 2001. Archived from the original on August 8, 2001. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  8. ^ "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.
  9. ^ "2002 Pocono 500 - The Third Turn". www.thethirdturn.com. Retrieved 2022-03-04.
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2001 Kmart 400
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
2001 season
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2001 Dodge/Save Mart 350