26th race of the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
Motor car race
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.
Background
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
(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
First practice
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]
Second and final practice
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]
Qualifying
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
*Time not available.
Race results
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
^ Utter, Jim (September 8, 2001).
"Cheap shots vs. love taps" . ThatsRacin . Archived from
the original on December 19, 2001. Retrieved July 24, 2022 .
^
"Red-hot Rudd teaches rookie a lesson" . The Daily News Leader . September 10, 2001. p. 11. Retrieved July 24, 2022 – via
Newspapers.com .
^ 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 .
^
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 .
^
"Friday's early Cup practice speeds" . ThatsRacin . September 7, 2001. Archived from
the original on December 19, 2001. Retrieved July 24, 2022 .
^
"Friday's final practice speeds" . ThatsRacin . September 7, 2001. Archived from
the original on October 8, 2001. Retrieved July 24, 2022 .
^
"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 .
^ Utter, Jim (September 7, 2001).
"Gordon starts out front, Wallace 2nd" . ThatsRacin . Archived from
the original on January 11, 2002. Retrieved July 24, 2022 .
^
"2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400 - The Third Turn" . The Third Turn . Retrieved July 22, 2022 .
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