The 2003 edition of The Winston was the second exhibition stock car race of the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 19th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, May 17, 2003, in Concord, North Carolina at Lowe's Motor Speedway, a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) permanent quad-oval. The race took the scheduled 90 laps to complete. Within the final segment of the race, Hendrick Motorsports driver Jimmie Johnson would manage to make a charge to the front within the last 20 laps of the segment to earn a US$1,017,604 (adjusted for inflation, US$1,685,453) payout and his first career The Winston victory.[1][2] To fill out the top three, Roush Racing driver Kurt Busch and Joe Gibbs Racing driver Bobby Labonte would finish second and third, respectively.
| Race details | |
|---|---|
| Date | May 17, 2003 |
| Location | Concord, North Carolina, Lowe's Motor Speedway |
| Course | Permanent racing facility 1.5 mi (2.4 km) |
| Distance | Open: 30 laps, 45 mi (72 km) Segment 1: 20 laps Segment 2: 10 laps The Winston: 90 Laps, 135 mi (217 km) Segment 1: 40 laps Segment 2: 30 laps Segment 3: 20 laps |
| Avg Speed | Open: N/A The Winston: 91.889 mph (147.881 km/h) |
| Winston Open | |
| Pole | Steve Park (Richard Childress Racing) |
| Time | 29.309 |
| Winner | Jeff Burton (Roush Racing) |
| The Winston | |
| Pole | Bill Elliott (Evernham Motorsports) |
| Pole | 2:03:192 |
| Most laps led | Tony Stewart (Joe Gibbs Racing) |
| Laps led | 39 |
| Winner | Jimmie Johnson (Hendrick Motorsports) |
| Television | |
| Network | FX |
| Announcers | Mike Joy, Larry McReynolds, Darrell Waltrip |
| Network | Motor Racing Network |
Background
edit
Lowe's Motor Speedway is a motorsports complex located in Concord, North Carolina, United States 13 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. The complex features a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and the NEXTEL All-Star Challenge, as well as the UAW-GM Quality 500. The speedway was built in 1959 by Bruton Smith and is considered the home track for NASCAR with many race teams located in the Charlotte area. The track is owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports Inc. (SMI) with Marcus G. Smith (son of Bruton Smith) as track president.
Format and eligibility
editThe popularity of the reality show Survivor influenced Winston to make changes to the format in 2002, adding a new elimination format ("Survival of the Fastest"), and the final segment returned to 20 laps to make tire wear an issue.
Only race winning drivers and owners from the previous year would be in the field, and all former Cup titleholders and the past five winners of The Winston would be added to the field, plus the winner of the qualifying races.
The No Bull Sprint was eliminated after 2002, and for 2003, The Winston Open would become a 20-lap race with pit stops, and then a 10 green flag lap sprint after pit stops.
If the caution flag waved on Lap 40 of the first segment, two green flag laps or the next yellow flag would be run to finish the segment.
In The Winston, only the top 20 cars advanced to the second segment, and 10 cars (in 2002) or 14 cars (in 2003 planned, but was 12 after crashes) advanced to the third segment.
A green flag pit stop for four tires was mandatory in the first segment, but after Frank Stoddard beat the system in 2002 by changing four tires on the car driven by Jeff Burton just feet from the finish line on the last lap, the rule was changed to mandating tire stops at a specific point in the race.
Also, the inversion is moved to the final 20 lap sprint, and the ten-minute break is restored between the second and final segment.
- Segment 1: 40 Laps / Must take a four-tire pit stop during race (In 2003, must be between Laps 10–30) / only top 20 cars advance.
- Segment 2: 30 Laps / Only 14 cars (2003) / 10 cars (2002) advance / full field inversion at end of segment
- Segment 3: 20 Green Flag Laps (no caution laps count)
Entry list
editWinston Open
editThe Winston
editWinston Open practice
editFirst Winston Open practice
editThe first practice for the Winston Open was held on Friday, May 16, at 1:30 PM EST. The session would last for 45 minutes.[3] Steve Park, driving for Richard Childress Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.293 and an average speed of 184.344 miles per hour (296.673 km/h).[4]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 30 | Steve Park | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 29.293 | 184.344 |
| 2 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 29.525 | 182.896 |
| 3 | 01 | Mike Wallace | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 29.584 | 182.531 |
| Full first Winston Open practice results | ||||||
Second Winston Open practice
editThe second practice for the Winston Open was held on Friday, May 16, at 3:55 PM EST. The session would last for 45 minutes.[3] Todd Bodine, driving for BelCar Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.489 and an average speed of 183.119 miles per hour (294.701 km/h).[5]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 54 | Todd Bodine | BelCar Motorsports | Ford | 29.489 | 183.119 |
| 2 | 23 | Kenny Wallace | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 29.544 | 182.778 |
| 3 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 29.564 | 182.655 |
| Full second Winston Open practice results | ||||||
Final Winston Open practice
editThe final practice for the Winston Open was held on Friday, May 16, after the preliminary 2003 Hardee's 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race. The session would last for 30 minutes.[3] Todd Bodine, driving for BelCar Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 30.017 and an average speed of 179.898 miles per hour (289.518 km/h).[6]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 54 | Todd Bodine | BelCar Motorsports | Ford | 30.017 | 179.898 |
| 2 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 30.077 | 179.539 |
| 3 | 30 | Steve Park | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 30.088 | 179.473 |
| Full Happy Hour Winston Open practice results | ||||||
The Winston practice
editFirst The Winston practice
editThe first practice for The Winston was held on Friday, May 16, at 2:20 PM EST. The session would last for 45 minutes.[3] Jimmie Johnson, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.872 and an average speed of 180.771 miles per hour (290.923 km/h).[7]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.872 | 180.771 |
| 2 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 29.922 | 180.469 |
| 3 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 29.930 | 180.421 |
| Full first The Winston practice results | ||||||
Second The Winston practice
editThe second practice for The Winston was held on Friday, May 16, at 4:45 PM EST. The session would last for 45 minutes.[3] Tony Stewart, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.463 and an average speed of 183.281 miles per hour (294.962 km/h).[8]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 29.463 | 183.281 |
| 2 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 29.525 | 182.896 |
| 3 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 29.551 | 182.735 |
| Full second The Winston practice results | ||||||
Final The Winston practice
editThe final practice for The Winston was held on Friday, May 16, at 10:30 PM EST. The session would last for 30 minutes.[3] Ryan Newman, driving for Penske Racing South, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 30.181 and an average speed of 178.921 miles per hour (287.945 km/h).[9]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 30.181 | 178.921 |
| 2 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 30.258 | 178.465 |
| 3 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 30.297 | 178.236 |
| Full Happy Hour The Winston practice results | ||||||
Qualifying
editThe Winston Open
editQualifying for the Winston Open was held on Friday, May 16, at 6:05 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.[3]
Steve Park, driving for Richard Childress Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 29.309 and an average speed of 184.244 miles per hour (296.512 km/h).[10]
The Winston
editQualifying for The Winston was held on Friday, May 16, at 8:05 PM EST. Each driver would run 3 laps each, with each driver having to do a mandatory pit stop following the driver's first or second lap.[3]
Bill Elliott, driving for Evernham Motorsports, would win the pole, setting a time of 2:03.192 and an average speed of 43.834 miles per hour (70.544 km/h).[11]
Winston Open results
edit| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Winnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 30 | 10 | running | $52,388 |
| 2 | 10 | 77 | Dave Blaney | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 30 | 0 | running | $42,388 |
| 3 | 7 | 4 | Mike Skinner | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Pontiac | 30 | 11 | running | $38,388 |
| 4 | 8 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 30 | 0 | running | $36,388 |
| 5 | 27 | 16 | Greg Biffle (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | 30 | 0 | running | $35,388 |
| 6 | 3 | 7 | Jimmy Spencer | Ultra Motorsports | Dodge | 30 | 0 | running | $33,388 |
| 7 | 5 | 23 | Kenny Wallace | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 30 | 5 | running | $32,388 |
| 8 | 1 | 30 | Steve Park | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 30 | 1 | running | $31,788 |
| 9 | 15 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 30 | 0 | running | $31,288 |
| 10 | 13 | 0 | Jack Sprague (R) | Haas CNC Racing | Pontiac | 30 | 0 | running | $31,038 |
| 11 | 16 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 30 | 0 | running | $30,788 |
| 12 | 19 | 41 | Casey Mears (R) | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 30 | 0 | running | $30,538 |
| 13 | 6 | 49 | Ken Schrader | BAM Racing | Dodge | 30 | 0 | running | $30,288 |
| 14 | 14 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 26 | 0 | overheating | $30,188 |
| 15 | 11 | 1 | Jeff Green | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 20 | 0 | did not advance | $30,088 |
| 16 | 4 | 01 | Mike Wallace | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 20 | 0 | did not advance | $29,988 |
| 17 | 17 | 14 | Larry Foyt (R) | A. J. Foyt Racing | Dodge | 20 | 0 | did not advance | $29,888 |
| 18 | 12 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 20 | 0 | did not advance | $29,788 |
| 19 | 9 | 74 | Tony Raines (R) | BACE Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20 | 0 | did not advance | $29,688 |
| 20 | 24 | 46 | Carl Long | Glenn Racing | Dodge | 20 | 0 | did not advance | $29,588 |
| 21 | 21 | 37 | Derrike Cope | Quest Motor Racing | Chevrolet | 20 | 0 | did not advance | $29,488 |
| 22 | 20 | 72 | Kirk Shelmerdine | Kirk Shelmerdine Racing | Ford | 20 | 0 | did not advance | $29,388 |
| 23 | 26 | 89 | Morgan Shepherd | Shepherd Racing Ventures | Ford | 20 | 0 | did not advance | $29,288 |
| 24 | 25 | 90 | Jason Hedlesky | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 19 | 0 | did not advance | $29,188 |
| 25 | 22 | 02 | Hermie Sadler | SCORE Motorsports | Chevrolet | 18 | 0 | handling | $29,088 |
| 26 | 23 | 71 | Kevin Lepage | Marcis Auto Racing | Ford | 16 | 0 | overheating | $28,988 |
| 27 | 2 | 54 | Todd Bodine | BelCar Motorsports | Ford | 4 | 3 | accident | $28,912 |
| Official Winston Open results | |||||||||
The Winston results
editReferences
edit- ^ Poole, David (May 17, 2003). "Johnson moves from 4th, pulls away for Winston win". That's Racin'. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on August 30, 2004. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
- ^ Pearce, Al (May 18, 2003). "All-star win earns Johnson $1 million". The Orlando Sentinel. pp. C3. Retrieved October 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Jayski's Silly Season Site - The Winston 2003 Race Info Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on December 3, 2003. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
- ^ "NASCAR.com - Races - 2003 Winston Open Practice 1 Results". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on October 5, 2003. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
- ^ "NASCAR.com - Races - 2003 Winston Open Practice 2 Results". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on December 12, 2003. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
- ^ "NASCAR.com - Races - 2003 Winston Open Practice 3 Results". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on December 12, 2003. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
- ^ "Speeds from the first Winston practice". That's Racin'. May 16, 2003. Archived from the original on February 5, 2004. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
- ^ "Stewart, Newman, Elliot lead way in 2nd practice for The Winston". That's Racin'. May 16, 2003. Archived from the original on February 5, 2004. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
- ^ "Stewart, B. Labonte top chart in midnight hour session". That's Racin'. May 16, 2003. Archived from the original on December 6, 2003. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
- ^ Scott, David (May 16, 2003). "Winston Open pole goes to Park on first time out with RCR". That's Racin'. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on August 29, 2004. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
- ^ Fabrizo, Tony (May 17, 2003). "Elliott Wins Pole For The Winston". The Tampa Tribune. p. 36. Retrieved October 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
