The 2003 Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 was the 35th stock car race of the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 39th and to date, final iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, November 9, 2003, before a crowd of 60,000 in Rockingham, North Carolina, at North Carolina Speedway, a 1.017 miles (1.637 km) permanent high-banked racetrack. The race took the scheduled 393 laps to complete. At race's end, Evernham Motorsports driver Bill Elliott charged to the front after starting from the rear to win his 44th and to date, final career NASCAR Winston Cup Series win and his first and only win of the season.[1] Meanwhile, fourth-place finisher, Roush Racing driver Matt Kenseth, would lock up the championship, clinching the championship by points to win his first and to date, only NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship.[2] To fill out the podium, Jimmie Johnson of Hendrick Motorsports and Jeremy Mayfield of Evernham Motorsports would finish second and third, respectively.
| Race details | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 35 of 36 in the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series | |||
 The 2003 Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 program cover. | |||
| Date | November 9, 2003 | ||
| Official name | 39th Annual Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 | ||
| Location | Rockingham, North Carolina, North Carolina Speedway | ||
| Course |
Permanent racing facility 1.017 mi (1.636 km) | ||
| Distance | 393 laps, 399.681 mi (643.224 km) | ||
| Scheduled Distance | 393 laps, 399.681 mi (643.224 km) | ||
| Average speed | 111.677 miles per hour (179.727 km/h) | ||
| Attendance | 60,000 | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Penske Racing South | ||
| Time | 23.533 | ||
| Most laps led | |||
| Driver | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | |
| Laps | 140 | ||
| Winner | |||
| No. 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | |
| 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
edit
North Carolina Speedway was opened as a flat, one-mile oval on October 31, 1965. In 1969, the track was extensively reconfigured to a high-banked, D-shaped oval just over one mile in length. In 1997, North Carolina Motor Speedway merged with Penske Motorsports, and was renamed North Carolina Speedway. Shortly thereafter, the infield was reconfigured, and competition on the infield road course, mostly by the SCCA, was discontinued. Currently, the track is home to the Fast Track High Performance Driving School.[3]
Entry list
editPractice
editOriginally, three practices were going to be held, with one on Friday and two on Saturday. However, rain would cancel one session on Saturday and delay the second Saturday session.[4]
First practice
editThe first practice session was held on Friday, November 7, at 11:20 AM EST, and would last for 2 hours.[4] Ryan Newman of Penske Racing South would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 23.533 and an average speed of 155.577 miles per hour (250.377 km/h).[5]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 23.533 | 155.577 |
| 2 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 23.674 | 154.651 |
| 3 | 54 | Todd Bodine | BelCar Motorsports | Ford | 23.711 | 154.409 |
| Full first practice results | ||||||
Second and final practice
editThe second and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, November 8, at approximately 12:10 PM EST, and would last for 45 minutes.[4] Jeff Burton of Roush Racing ould set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 24.089 and an average speed of 151.986 miles per hour (244.598 km/h).[6]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 24.089 | 151.986 |
| 2 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 24.206 | 151.252 |
| 3 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 24.209 | 151.233 |
| Full Happy Hour practice results | ||||||
Qualifying
editQualifying was held on Friday, November 7, at 3:05 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]
Ryan Newman of Penske Racing South would win the pole, setting a time of 23.533 and an average speed of 155.577 miles per hour (250.377 km/h).[8]
Three drivers would fail to qualify: Hermie Sadler, Tim Sauter, and Rich Bickle.
Full qualifying results
editRace results
editReferences
edit- ^ Anderson, Lars. "A Rock For The Ages On a crossroads afternoon for NASCAR, old school fave Bill Elliott won the final fall race at Rockingham as Matt Kenseth clinched the 2003 crown". Sports Illustrated Vault | SI.com. Retrieved 2022-02-17.
- ^ Rees, Chris. "Kenseth wins 1st Winston Cup championship with 4th place finish at Rockingham". WIS News. Retrieved 2022-02-17.
- ^ "Fast Track High Performance Driving School, Inc". Fasttrackracing.com. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
- ^ a b c d "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2003 Rockingham 2 Race Info Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on 2005-02-07. Retrieved 2022-02-17.
- ^ "NASCAR.com - Races - 2003 Rockingham 2 Practice 1 Results". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on 2005-02-06. Retrieved 2022-02-17.
- ^ "NASCAR.com - Races - 2003 Rockingham 2 Practice 2 Results". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on 2005-02-06. Retrieved 2022-02-17.
- ^ "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2003 Provisional Land Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on 2005-02-04. Retrieved 2022-01-08.
- ^ "Ryan Newman Wins 11th Pole at Rockingham". AP NEWS. Retrieved 2022-02-17.
- ^ "2003 Pop-Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 - The Third Turn". www.thethirdturn.com. Retrieved 2022-02-17.