- 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup season began on
February 11 and ended onNovember 23 .Jeff Gordon ofHendrick Motorsports was crowned series champion. The season was marked by tragedy, and by safety upgrades as well. It also was the first year of a television contract that had FOX andNBC /TNT broadcasting all the races during the season. TheDodge manufacturer returned to the sport for the first time since 1985.2001 Team Chart
List of teams of 2001.
* *After Earnhardt's death during the
Daytona 500 ,Kevin Harvick (R) took over and the car was renumbered from #3 to #29* *Both Ryan Newman and Jeff Green ran limited schedules.
Budweiser Shootout
The
Budweiser Shootout , an invitational event for all recent Bud Pole winners, was heldFebruary 11 atDaytona International Speedway .Ken Schrader drew the pole.Top Ten Results
#
Tony Stewart
#Dale Earnhardt
#Rusty Wallace
#Dale Jarrett
#Jeff Burton
#Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
#Bobby Labonte
# Mark Martin
#Ricky Rudd
#Mike Skinner Gatorade 125s
The Gatorade 125s, qualifying races for the
Daytona 500 , were heldFebruary 15 atDaytona International Speedway .Bill Elliott andStacy Compton won the poles for both races, respectively.Race One Top Ten Results
#
Sterling Marlin
#Jerry Nadeau
#Dale Earnhardt
#Andy Houston
#Jimmy Spencer
#Jeff Gordon
#Jason Leffler
#Jeff Purvis
#Michael Waltrip
#Casey Atwood Race Two Top Ten Results
#Mike Skinner
#Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
#Jeff Burton
#Ward Burton
#Rusty Wallace
#Ken Schrader
#Matt Kenseth
#Ricky Craven
#Dave Blaney
#Mark MartinDaytona 500
Dura Lube 400
The Dura Lube 400 started on
February 25 but finished onFebruary 26 due to a rain delay, making it a two-day race.Jeff Gordon won the pole. This race was won by DEI driver Steve Park, in an emotional victory for Park.Top Ten Results
#Steve Park
#Bobby Labonte
#Jeff Gordon
#Tony Stewart
#Ricky Craven
#Johnny Benson
#Rusty Wallace
#Sterling Marlin
#Dave Blaney
#Dale Jarrett Failed to qualify:
Andy Houston (#96),Kyle Petty (#45)UAW-Daimler Chrysler 400
The UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 was held
March 4 atLas Vegas Motor Speedway .Dale Jarrett won the pole.Top Ten Results
#
Jeff Gordon
#Dale Jarrett
#Sterling Marlin
#Johnny Benson
#Todd Bodine
#Mark Martin
#Steve Park
#Kevin Harvick
#Ron Hornaday
#Jimmy Spencer Failed to qualify:
Kyle Petty (#45),Brendan Gaughan (#62),Andy Houston (#96),Rick Mast (#50)Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 500
The
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 500 was heldMarch 11 atAtlanta Motor Speedway .Dale Jarrett won the pole. This race is remembered for the exciting finish between Busch Series driver Kevin Harvick, who replaced the late Dale Earnhardt, and 3-time champion Jeff Gordon. Harvick would outduel the champion to the checkers by mere inches in, fittingly, his third start.Top Ten Results
#
Kevin Harvick
#Jeff Gordon
#Jerry Nadeau
#Dale Jarrett
#Terry Labonte
#Ricky Rudd
#Johnny Benson
#Ken Schrader
#Mike Skinner
#Kurt Busch Failed to qualify:
Rick Mast (#50),Carl Long (#85),Casey Atwood (#19)Carolina Dodge Dealers 400
The
Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 was heldMarch 18 atDarlington Raceway .Jeff Gordon won the pole.Top Ten Results
#
Dale Jarrett
#Steve Park
#Jeremy Mayfield
#Jimmy Spencer
#Sterling Marlin
#John Andretti
#Johnny Benson
#Ricky Rudd
#Bobby Hamilton
#Rusty Wallace Failed to qualify:
Andy Houston (#96),Rick Mast (#50),Dave Marcis (#71)Food City 500
The
Food City 500 was heldMarch 25 atBristol Motor Speedway . Mark Martin won the pole.Top Ten Results
#
Elliott Sadler *
#John Andretti
#Jeremy Mayfield
#Jeff Gordon
#Ward Burton
#Terry Labonte
#Rusty Wallace
#Bobby Hamilton
#Steve Park
#Ricky Rudd Failed to qualify:
Hut Stricklin (#90),Jason Leffler (#01),Carl Long (#85)
*This was Elliott Sadler's first career win.Harrah's 500
The
Harrah's 500 was heldApril 1 atTexas Motor Speedway .Dale Earnhardt, Jr. won the pole.Top Ten Results
#
Dale Jarrett
#Steve Park
#Johnny Benson
#Kurt Busch
#Jeff Gordon
#Dave Blaney
#Kevin Harvick
#Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
#Mark Martin
#Ken Schrader Failed to qualify:
Kyle Petty (#45),Rick Mast (#50)Virginia 500
The
Virginia 500 was heldApril 8 atMartinsville Speedway .Jeff Gordon won the pole.Top Ten Results
#
Dale Jarrett
#Ricky Rudd
#Jeff Burton
#Bobby Hamilton
#Sterling Marlin
#Matt Kenseth
#Tony Stewart
#Bobby Labonte
#Jimmy Spencer
#Jerry Nadeau Talladega 500
The
Talladega 500 was heldApril 22 atTalladega Superspeedway .Stacy Compton won the pole. The race was caution-free.Top Ten Results
#
Bobby Hamilton *
#Tony Stewart
#Kurt Busch
#Mark Martin
#Bobby Labonte
#Joe Nemechek
#Johnny Benson
#Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
#Mike Wallace
#Jeff Burton Failed to qualify:
Kenny Wallace (#27),Kyle Petty (#45),Rick Mast (#50),Hut Stricklin (#90),Andy Hillenburg (#49)* This is Bobby Hamilton's fourth and last win in in the cup series.
NAPA Auto Parts 500
The
NAPA Auto Parts 500 was heldApril 29 atCalifornia Speedway .Bobby Labonte won the pole.Top Ten Results
#
Rusty Wallace
#Jeff Gordon
#Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
#Tony Stewart
#Jeremy Mayfield
#Ricky Rudd
#Jeremy Spencer
#Jerry Nadeau
#Sterling Marlin
#Robert Pressley Failed to qualify:
Kevin Lepage (#4),Buckshot Jones (#44),Shawna Robinson (#84)Pontiac Excitement 400
The
Pontiac Excitement 400 was heldMay 5 atRichmond International Raceway . Mark Martin won the pole.Top Ten Results
#
Tony Stewart
#Jeff Gordon
#Rusty Wallace
#Steve Park
#Ricky Rudd
#Johnny Benson
#Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
#Matt Kenseth
#Ken Schrader
#Bobby Labonte Failed to qualify:
Buckshot Jones (#44),Hermie Sadler (#13),Hut Stricklin (#90)The Winston
The Winston , an all-star race for previous race winners, was heldMay 19 atLowe's Motor Speedway .Jeff Gordon won the rain-delayed race in a backup car. NASCAR, in an unprecedented decision, allowed teams to run backup cars after many of the primary cars were damaged in a first lap, rain-caused wreck.Coca-Cola 600
The
Coca-Cola 600 was heldMay 27 atLowe's Motor Speedway .Ryan Newman won the pole.Top Ten Results
#
Jeff Burton
#Kevin Harvick
#Tony Stewart
#Mark Martin
#Bobby Labonte
#Jimmy Spencer
#Ricky Rudd
#Dale Jarrett
#Ward Burton
#Jeremy Mayfield Failed to qualify:
John Andretti (#43),Kyle Petty (#45),Derrike Cope (#37), Mike Wallace (#7),Jeff Fultz (#54),Carl Long (#85)MBNA Platinum 400
The
MBNA Platinum 400 was heldJune 3 atDover International Speedway .Dale Jarrett won the pole due to a rainout.Top Ten Results
#
Jeff Gordon
#Steve Park
#Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
#Ricky Craven
#Dale Jarrett
#Sterling Marlin
#Tony Stewart
#Kevin Harvick
#Mark Martin
#Ricky Rudd Failed to qualify:
Rick Mast (#50), Jeff Green (#30),Kyle Petty (#45),Lance Hooper (#47),Dave Marcis (#71)Kmart 400
The
Kmart 400 was heldJune 10 atMichigan International Speedway .Jeff Gordon won the pole.Top Ten Results
#
Jeff Gordon
#Ricky Rudd
#Sterling Marlin
#Jeremy Mayfield
#Ryan Newman
#Hut Stricklin
#Jeff Burton
#Dave Blaney
#Bill Elliott
#Kevin Harvick Failed to qualify: Mike Wallace (#7),
Rick Mast (#50),Andy Houston (#96),Stacy Compton (#92),Kenny Wallace (#27)Pocono 500
The
Pocono 500 was heldJune 17 atPocono Raceway .Ricky Rudd won the pole.Top Ten Results
#
Ricky Rudd
#Jeff Gordon
#Dale Jarrett
#Sterling Marlin
#Mark Martin
#Matt Kenseth
#Tony Stewart
#Bobby Labonte
#Ken Schrader
#Jeff Burton Failed to qualify:
Andy Houston (#96),Kenny Wallace (#27)Dodge/Save Mart 350
The
Dodge/Save Mart 350 was heldJune 24 atSears Point Raceway .Jeff Gordon won the pole.Top Ten Results
#
Tony Stewart
#Robby Gordon
#Jeff Gordon
#Ricky Rudd
#Rusty Wallace
#Ward Burton
#Bobby Labonte
#Jeff Burton
#Bill Elliott
#Mark MartinFailed to qualify:
Andy Houston (#96),Kenny Wallace (#27),Anthony Lazzaro (#68),Jason Leffler (#04)Pepsi 400
The
Pepsi 400 was heldJuly 7 atDaytona International Speedway .Sterling Marlin won the pole. This was the first Cup race at Daytona since the death of Dale Earnhardt.Top Ten Results
#
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
#Michael Waltrip
#Elliott Sadler
#Ward Burton
#Bobby Labonte
#Jerry Nadeau
#Rusty Wallace
#Jeff Burton
#Brett Bodine
#Mike WallaceFailed to qualify:
Buckshot Jones (#44),Ron Hornaday (#14),Hut Stricklin (#90),Mike Bliss (#27),Andy Hillenburg (#49)Tropicana 400
The inaugural
Tropicana 400 was heldJuly 15 atChicagoland Speedway .Todd Bodine won the pole.Top Ten Results
#
Kevin Harvick
#Robert Pressley
#Ricky Rudd
#Dale Jarrett
#Jimmy Spencer
#Mark Martin
#Matt Kenseth
#Kurt Busch
#Sterling Marlin
#Bill Elliott Failed to qualify:
Kyle Petty (#45),Dave Marcis (#71),Mike Bliss (#27),Shawna Robinson (#84)Kmart 500
The
Pennsylvania 500 was heldJuly 22 atPocono Raceway .Todd Bodine won the pole.Top Ten Results
#
Bobby Labonte
#Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
#Tony Stewart
#Bill Elliott
#Johnny Benson
#Rusty Wallace
#Mark Martin
#Jeff Gordon
#Robert Pressley
#Ricky Craven Failed to qualify:
Andy Hillenburg (#49),Carl Long (#85)Brickyard 400
The
Brickyard 400 was heldAugust 5 atIndianapolis Motor Speedway .Jimmy Spencer won the pole.Top Ten Results
#
Jeff Gordon
#Sterling Marlin
#Johnny Benson
#Rusty Wallace
#Kurt Busch
#Ward Burton
#Steve Park
#Bill Elliott
#Ricky Craven
#Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Failed to qualify:
Kevin Lepage (#4),Derrike Cope (#37), Mike Wallace (#7),Hermie Sadler (#13),Ed Berrier (#95),David Keith (#57),Rick Mast (#27),Dave Marcis (#71),Kyle Petty (#45),Shawna Robinson (#84),Andy Hillenburg (#49)Global Crossing at the Glen
The
Global Crossing at the Glen was heldAugust 12 atWatkins Glen International Raceway .Dale Jarrett won the pole.Top Ten Results
#
Jeff Gordon
#Jeff Burton
#Jeremy Mayfield
#Ricky Rudd
#Todd Bodine
#Jerry Nadeau
#Kevin Harvick
#Boris Said
#Bobby Labonte
#Steve ParkFailed to qualify: Mike Wallace (#7),
Wally Dallenbach, Jr. (#44)Pepsi 400 Presented by Meijer
The
Pepsi 400 Presented by Meijer was heldAugust 19 atMichigan International Speedway .Ricky Craven won the pole. The race was shortened to 162 laps due to rain, and the race also marked Dodge's first trip to victory lane since its return to NASCAR.Top Ten Results
#
Sterling Marlin
#Ricky Craven
#Bill Elliott
#Matt Kenseth
#Johnny Benson
#Dave Blaney
#Jeff Gordon
#Mark Martin
#Steve Park
#Casey Atwood Failed to qualify:
David Keith (#57),Buckshot Jones (#44)Sharpie 500
The
Sharpie 500 was heldAugust 25 atBristol Motor Speedway . Jeff Green won the pole.Top Ten Results
#
Tony Stewart
#Kevin Harvick
#Jeff Gordon
#Ricky Rudd
#Rusty Wallace
#Dale Jarrett
#Steve Park
#Bobby Labonte
#Sterling Marlin
#Terry Labonte Failed to qualify:
Stacy Compton (#92),Kyle Petty (#45),Hermie Sadler (#13),Dave Marcis (#71),Hut Stricklin (#90),Carl Long (#85)Mountain Dew Southern 500
The
Mountain Dew Southern 500 was heldSeptember 2 atDarlington Raceway .Kurt Busch won the pole.Top Ten Results
#
Ward Burton
#Jeff Gordon
#Bobby Labonte
#Tony Stewart
#Bill Elliott
#Jeff Burton
#Ricky Rudd
#Kevin Harvick
#Jerry Nadeau
#Ken Schrader Failed to qualify:
Andy Houston (#96),Dave Marcis (#71)Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400
The
Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400 was heldSeptember 8 atRichmond International Raceway .Jeff Gordon won the pole.Top Ten Results
#
Ricky Rudd
#Kevin Harvick
#Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
#Dale Jarrett
#Rusty Wallace
#Bobby Labonte
#Tony Stewart
#Jimmy Spencer
#Jeff Burton
#Johnny Benson Failed to qualify:
Andy Houston (#96),Hermie Sadler (#13),Hut Stricklin (#90),Carl Long (#85)MBNA Cal Ripken, Jr. 400
The
MBNA Cal Ripken, Jr. 400 was heldSeptember 23 atDover International Speedway .Dale Jarrett won the pole. This was the first race to be held after theSeptember 11th attacks . Most cars sported patriotic decals and tributes.Top Ten Results
#
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
#Jerry Nadeau
#Ricky Rudd
#Jeff Gordon
#Tony Stewart
#Kevin Harvick
#Joe Nemechek
#Sterling Marlin
#Casey Atwood
#Bobby Hamilton Failed to qualify:
Rick Mast (#27),Jason Leffler (#01),Lance Hooper (#47),Dave Marcis (#71)Protection One 400
The inaugural
Protection One 400 was heldSeptember 30 atKansas Speedway .Jason Leffler won the pole.Top Ten Results
#
Jeff Gordon
#Ryan Newman
#Ricky Rudd
#Rusty Wallace
#Sterling Marlin
#Mark Martin
#Robert Pressley
#Tony Stewart
#Kurt Busch
#Dave Blaney Failed to qualify:
Rick Mast (#27),Kyle Petty (#45),Ron Hornaday (#14)UAW-GM Quality 500
The
UAW-GM Quality 500 was heldOctober 7 atLowe's Motor Speedway .Jimmy Spencer won the pole.Top Ten Results
#
Sterling Marlin
#Tony Stewart
#Ward Burton
#Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
#Jeff Burton
#Dale Jarrett
#Rusty Wallace
#Kevin Harvick
#Mark Martin
#Bobby Labonte Failed to qualify:
Kyle Petty (#45),Derrike Cope (#57), Jeff Green (#30),Robby Gordon (#31),Buckshot Jones (#44),Frank Kimmel (#46)Old Dominion 500
The
Old Dominion 500 was scheduled forOctober 14 atMartinsville Speedway , but was heldOctober 15 due to rain.Todd Bodine won the pole.Top Ten Results
#
Ricky Craven
#Dale Jarrett
#Ward Burton
#Bobby Labonte
#Jeff Burton
#Johnny Benson
#Mark Martin
#Mike Wallace
#Jeff Gordon
#Sterling Marlin Failed to qualify:
Carl Long (#85),Kyle Petty (#45),Frank Kimmel (#46)EA Sports 500
The
EA Sports 500 was heldOctober 21 atTalladega Superspeedway .Stacy Compton won the pole.Top Ten Results
#
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
#Tony Stewart
#Jeff Burton
#Matt Kenseth
#Bobby Hamilton
#Kenny Wallace
#Jeff Gordon
#Joe Nemechek
#Mark Martin
#Kevin Lepage Failed to qualify:
Rick Mast (#91),Dave Marcis (#71)Checker Auto Parts 500 Presented by Pennzoil
The
Checker Auto Parts 500 Presented by Pennzoil was heldOctober 28 atPhoenix International Raceway .Casey Atwood won the pole.Top Ten Results
#
Jeff Burton
#Mike Wallace
#Ricky Rudd
#Matt Kenseth
#Tony Stewart
#Jeff Gordon
#Robby Gordon
#Ricky Craven
#Dale Jarrett
#Johnny Benson Failed to qualify:
Rick Bogart (#70)Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400
The
Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 was heldNovember 4 atNorth Carolina Speedway .Kenny Wallace won the pole.Top Ten Results
#
Joe Nemechek
#Kenny Wallace
#Johnny Benson
#Dale Jarrett
#Jerry Nadeau
#Ward Burton
#Tony Stewart
#Ricky Rudd
#Bobby Labonte
#Matt Kenseth Failed to qualify:
Rick Mast (#90)Pennzoil Freedom 400
The
Pennzoil Freedom 400 was heldNovember 11 atHomestead-Miami Speedway .Bill Elliott won the pole.Casey Atwood nearly won the race, until a late race pass byBill Elliott .Top Ten Results
#
Bill Elliott
#Michael Waltrip
#Casey Atwood
#Jeff Burton
#Sterling Marlin
#Dave Blaney
#Kevin Harvick
#Bobby Labonte
#Jeff Green
#Jason Leffler Failed to qualify:
Rich Bickle (#49),Derrike Cope (#57),Ron Hornaday (#14),Hermie Sadler (#13),Carl Long (#85)NAPA 500
The
NAPA 500 was heldNovember 18 atAtlanta Motor Speedway .Dale Earnhardt, Jr. won the pole.Jeff Gordon clinched the 2001 Winston Cup with his 6th place finish.Top Ten Results
#
Bobby Labonte
#Sterling Marlin
#Kevin Harvick
#Jerry Nadeau
#Ward Burton
#Jeff Gordon
#Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
#Dale Jarrett
#Tony Stewart
#Jeff Burton Failed to qualify: Mark Green (#41),
Robby Gordon (#31),Jason Leffler (#01),Kurt Busch (#97),Rick Mast (#90),Ron Hornaday (#14),Dave Marcis (#71),Frank Kimmel (#46)New Hampshire 300
The
New Hampshire 300 was scheduled forSeptember 16 but was moved toNovember 23 (the Friday after Thanksgiving due to theSeptember 11 terrorist attacks ). The starting order was set according to owner's points as ofSeptember 10 . The win was Robby Gordon's first career victory.Top Ten Results
#
Robby Gordon
#Sterling Marlin
#Bobby Labonte
#Matt Kenseth
#Tony Stewart
#Jerry Nadeau
#Robert Pressley
#Brett Bodine
#Mark Martin
#Dale Jarrett Final Points Standings
#
Jeff Gordon - 5112
#Tony Stewart - 4763
#Sterling Marlin - 4741
#Ricky Rudd - 4706
#Dale Jarrett - 4612
#Bobby Labonte - 4561
#Rusty Wallace - 4481
#Dale Earnhardt, Jr. - 4460
#Kevin Harvick - 4406
#Jeff Burton - 4394
#Johnny Benson - 4152
#Mark Martin - 4095
#Matt Kenseth - 3982
#Ward Burton - 3846
#Bill Elliott - 3824
#Jimmy Spencer - 3782
#Jerry Nadeau - 3675
#Bobby Hamilton - 3575
#Ken Schrader - 3480
#Elliott Sadler - 3471
#Ricky Craven - 3379
#Dave Blaney - 3303
#Terry Labonte - 3280
#Michael Waltrip -3159
#Robert Pressley - 3156
#Casey Atwood - 3132
#Kurt Busch - 3081
#Joe Nemechek - 2994
#Todd Bodine - 2960
#Brett Bodine - 2948
#John Andretti - 2943
#Steve Park - 2854
#Stacy Compton - 2752
#Mike Wallace - 2693
#Jeremy Mayfield - 2651
#Kevin Lepage - 2461
#Jason Leffler - 2413
#Ron Hornaday - 2305
#Kenny Wallace - 2054
#Mike Skinner - 2029
#Buckshot Jones - 1939
#Hut Stricklin - 1770
#Kyle Petty - 1673
#Robby Gordon - 1552
#Rick Mast - 1187
#Andy Houston - 1123
#Bobby Hamilton, Jr. - 748
#Jeff Green - 539
#Ryan Newman - 497
#Boris Said - 272Rookie of the Year
Kevin Harvick emerged as the victor of the Rookie of the Year battle despite not declaring for the award until the second race of the season, as he replacedDale Earnhardt following his fatal crash. Harvick won two races and finished ninth in season points.Kurt Busch finished second, despite only having one year of experience in a major NASCAR series. Third-place finisherCasey Atwood was pre-season favorite, but was held back due to a rough start and only finished 26th in points.Jason Leffler had a sub-par season that cost him his job withChip Ganassi Racing , andRon Hornaday was a disappointment after years of success in the Busch and Truck series. The last-place driver wasAndy Houston , another pre-season favorite, had a tough season that resulted in his schedule being reduced.Trivia
*There were 19 different race winners, a new record for the series.
*There were 15 different pole winners.
*Five of the race winners won a Cup race for the first time:Michael Waltrip ,Kevin Harvick ,Elliott Sadler ,Ricky Craven , andRobby Gordon .
*Mark Martin finished a season without a race win for the first time since 1996, and for the second time since 1989.
*Bill Elliott won in the series for the first time since 1994,Sterling Marlin for the first time since 1996, andRicky Rudd for the first time since 1998.
*Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the first Cup race at Daytona since the death of his father. He also won the first NASCAR race after9/11 .External links
* [http://racing-reference.info/raceyear?yr=2001&series=W Winston Cup Standings and Statistics for 2001]
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