2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series

The 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Season began on Sunday February 13 and ended on Sunday November 20. Joe Gibbs Racing driver Bobby Labonte was crowned champion at season's end.

2000 Team Chart

List of full time teams after race 5 of 2000.

*Adam Petty drove the car in one race only. After his death Kyle Petty drove the car.

Bud Shootout

The Bud Shootout, NASCAR's race for all Pole Award winners from the previous season, was held February 13 at Daytona International Speedway. Ricky Rudd suffered a spectacular flip at the checkered flag. He was uninjured. Mark Martin drew the pole.

Top Ten Results

# Dale Jarrett
# Jeff Gordon
# Sterling Marlin
# Tony Stewart
# Kevin Lepage
# Ken Schrader
# Rusty Wallace
# Joe Nemechek
# Kenny Irwin, Jr.
# Ward Burton

= Gatorade 125s =

The Gatorade Twin 125s were run on February 17 at Daytona International Speedway. Dale Jarrett and Ricky Rudd were the polesitters for races one and two, respectively.

Race One Top Ten Results

# Bill Elliott
# Dale Jarrett
# Rusty Wallace
# Tony Stewart
# Mark Martin
# Jeff Gordon
# Bobby Labonte
# Scott Pruett
# Robby Gordon
# Jeremy Mayfield

Race Two Top Ten Results

# Ricky Rudd
# Mike Skinner
# Ward Burton
# Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
# Michael Waltrip
# Derrike Cope
# Jeff Burton
# Joe Nemechek
# Kenny Irwin, Jr.
# Jerry Nadeau

Daytona 500

= Dura Lube / Kmart 400 =

The Dura Lube / Kmart 400 was held February 27 at North Carolina Speedway. Rusty Wallace won the pole.

Top Ten Results

#Bobby Labonte
#Dale Earnhardt
#Ward Burton
#Tony Stewart
#Dale Jarrett
#Ricky Rudd
#Jeremy Mayfield
#Mark Martin
#Steve Park
#Jeff Gordon

Failed to qualify: Ricky Craven (#50), Scott Pruett (#32), Dave Blaney (#93), Mike Bliss (#14)

CarsDirect.com 400

The CarsDirect.com 400 was held March 5 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Ricky Rudd won the pole. The race was shortened to 148 laps due to rain.

Top Ten Results

#Jeff Burton
#Tony Stewart
#Mark Martin
#Bill Elliott
#Bobby Labonte
#Johnny Benson
#Dale Jarrett
#Dale Earnhardt
#Joe Nemechek
#Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Failed to qualify: Rick Mast (#41), Mike Bliss (#14), Ed Berrier (#90), Brett Bodine (#11), Dave Marcis (#71), Austin Cameron (#89)

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 500

The Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 500 was held March 12 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Dale Jarrett won the pole.

Top Ten Results

#Dale Earnhardt
#Bobby Labonte
#Mark Martin
#Steve Park
#Joe Nemechek
#Chad Little
#Todd Bodine
#Ward Burton
#Jeff Gordon
#Bill Elliott

Failed to qualify: Dave Marcis (#71), Ed Berrier (#90), Johnny Benson (#10), Mike Bliss (#14), Robby Gordon (#13)

*This was Dale Earnhardt's 75th career NASCAR Winston Cup win.

Mall.com 400

The Mall.com 400 was held March 19 at Darlington Raceway. Jeff Gordon won the pole.

Top Ten Results

#Ward Burton
#Dale Jarrett
#Dale Earnhardt
#Tony Stewart
#Jeff Burton
#Matt Kenseth
#Bobby Hamilton
#Jeff Gordon
#Mark Martin
#Kevin Lepage

Failed to qualify: Derrike Cope (#15), Ricky Craven (#50), Scott Pruett (#32), Wally Dallenbach, Jr. (#75), Ed Berrier (#90)

Food City 500

The Food City 500 was held March 26 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Steve Park won the pole. Rusty Wallace won his 50th race at this event.

Top Ten Results

#Rusty Wallace
#Johnny Benson
#Ward Burton
#Jeremy Mayfield
#Terry Labonte
#Bobby Labonte
#Steve Park
#Jeff Gordon
#Jeff Burton
#Sterling Marlin

Failed to qualify: Dave Marcis (#71), Ricky Craven (#50), Ed Berrier (#90), Scott Pruett (#32)

DirecTV 500

The DirecTV 500 was held April 2 at Texas Motor Speedway. Terry Labonte won the pole. 19-year-old Adam Petty became the first fourth-generation athlete when he qualified 33rd for this race. He finished 40th after suffering engine failure. This was also the first career win of Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Top Ten Results

#Dale Earnhardt Jr.
#Jeff Burton
#Bobby Labonte
#Rusty Wallace
#Kevin Lepage
#Jeremy Mayfield
#Dale Earnhardt
#Terry Labonte
#Tony Stewart
#Ricky Rudd

Failed to qualify: Robby Gordon (#13), Dave Marcis (#71), Wally Dallenbach, Jr. (#75), Kyle Petty (#44), Todd Bodine (#91)

Goody's Body Pain 500

The Goody's Body Pain 500 was held April 9 at Martinsville Speedway. Mike Wallace won the pole.

Top Ten Results

#Mark Martin
#Jeff Burton
#Michael Waltrip
#Robby Gordon
#Dale Earnhardt
#Tony Stewart
#Jeremy Mayfield
#Bill Elliott
#Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
#Rusty Wallace

Failed to qualify: Wally Dallenbach, Jr. (#75), Rick Mast (#14), Dave Marcis (#71), Ed Berrier (#94)

DieHard 500

The DieHard 500 was held April 16 at Talladega Superspeedway. Jeremy Mayfield won the pole.

Top Ten Results

#Jeff Gordon*
#Mike Skinner
#Dale Earnhardt
#Kenny Irwin, Jr.
#Jimmy Spencer
#Mark Martin
#Terry Labonte
#Sterling Marlin
#Kyle Petty
#Ward Burton

*Jeff Gordon became the youngest driver ever to win over 50 NASCAR races with the win.

Failed to qualify: Brett Bodine (#11), Kevin Lepage (#16), Gary Bradberry (#41), Rick Mast (#14), Elliott Sadler (#21)

NAPA Auto Parts 500

The NAPA Auto Parts 500 was held April 30 at California Speedway. Mike Skinner won the pole.

Top Ten Results

#Jeremy Mayfield*
#Bobby Labonte
#Matt Kenseth
#Ricky Rudd
#Jeff Burton
#Ward Burton
#Mike Skinner
#Rusty Wallace
#Dale Jarrett
#Tony Stewart

*Jeremy Mayfield was fined 151 points and crew chief Peter Sospenzo was fined and suspended after this race for a rules infraction not related to the running of this event. The fine was a result of actions taken at the previous race, the April 16 DieHard 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. NASCAR delayed the penalty in order to research the motive behind the infraction. [http://nascar.about.com/library/weekly/aa050200a.htm]

Failed to qualify: Dave Marcis (#71), Ed Berrier (#90), Dwayne Leik (#72)

Pontiac Excitement 400

The Pontiac Excitement 400 was held May 6 at Richmond International Raceway. Rusty Wallace won the pole.

Top Ten Results

#Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
#Terry Labonte
#Dale Jarrett
#Ricky Rudd
#Rusty Wallace
#Ward Burton
#Jeff Burton
#Tony Stewart
#Bill Elliott
#Dale Earnhardt

Failed to qualify: Rick Mast (#14), Darrell Waltrip (#66), Dave Marcis (#71), Ed Berrier (#90)

The Winston

The Winston, the all-star race for all past champions and recent winners, was held May 20 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. won.

Coca-Cola 600

The Coca-Cola 600 was held May 28 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. won the pole.

Top Ten Results

#Matt Kenseth
#Bobby Labonte
#Dale Earnhardt
#Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
#Dale Jarrett
#Jeremy Mayfield
#Mike Skinner
#Rusty Wallace
#Steve Park
#Jeff Gordon

Failed to qualify: Ted Musgrave (#15), Steve Grissom (#44), Ed Berrier (#90), Darrell Waltrip (#66), Dave Marcis (#71)

MBNA Platinum 400

The MBNA Platinum 400 was held June 4 at Dover International Speedway. Rusty Wallace won the pole.

Top Ten Results

#Tony Stewart
#Matt Kenseth
#Bobby Labonte
#Dale Jarrett
#Ricky Rudd
#Dale Earnhardt
#Joe Nemechek
#Ward Burton
#Mike Skinner
#Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

Failed to qualify: Kyle Petty (#44), Carl Long (#85)

Kmart 400

The Kmart 400 was held June 11 at Michigan International Speedway. Bobby Labonte won the pole. The race was shortened to 194 laps due to darkness.

Top Ten Results

#Tony Stewart
#Dale Earnhardt
#Bobby Labonte
#Dale Jarrett
#Robert Pressley
#Ward Burton
#Rusty Wallace
#Bill Elliott
#John Andretti
#Sterling Marlin

Failed to qualify: Darrell Waltrip (#66), Ricky Craven (#50), Dave Marcis (#71)

Elliott Sadler, driver of the #21 car went for a wild ride in practice, flipping 12 times after spinning on the frontstretch. He was not injured.

Pocono 500

The Pocono 500 was scheduled for June 18 but was held June 19 at Pocono Raceway due to rain. Rusty Wallace won the pole.

Top Ten Results

#Jeremy Mayfield
#Dale Jarrett
#Ricky Rudd
#Dale Earnhardt
#Mark Martin
#Tony Stewart
#Jeff Burton
#Jeff Gordon
#Mike Skinner
#Rusty Wallace

Failed to qualify: Darrell Waltrip (#66), Dwayne Leik (#72), Bill Baird (#52)

Save Mart/Kragen 350

The Save Mart/Kragen 350 was held June 25 at Sears Point International Raceway. Rusty Wallace won the pole.

Top Ten Results

#Jeff Gordon
#Sterling Marlin
#Mark Martin
#Bobby Labonte
#Ricky Rudd
#Dale Earnhardt
#Dale Jarrett
#Jerry Nadeau
#Jeff Burton
#Tony Stewart

Failed to qualify: Rick Mast (#14), Geoffrey Bodine (#60), R.K. Smith (#71)

Pepsi 400

The Pepsi 400 was held July 1 at Daytona International Speedway. Dale Jarrett won the pole.

Top Ten Results

#Jeff Burton
#Dale Jarrett
#Rusty Wallace
#Mark Martin
#Ricky Rudd
#Tony Stewart
#Ward Burton
#Dale Earnhardt
#Mike Skinner
#Jeff Gordon

Failed to qualify: Brett Bodine (#11), Dave Marcis (#71), Robby Gordon (#13)

New England 300

The New England 300 was held July 9 at New Hampshire International Speedway. Rusty Wallace won the pole. The race was shortened to 273 laps due to rain. The weekend was marked by tragedy as Kenny Irwin, Jr. was killed in a Turn 3 practice crash on July 7. Race winner Tony Stewart later gave the race trophy to Irwin's parents.

Top Ten Results

#Tony Stewart
#Joe Nemechek
#Mark Martin
#Jerry Nadeau
#Jeff Gordon
#Dale Earnhardt
#Dale Jarrett
#Jeremy Mayfield
#Bobby Labonte
#Ricky Rudd

Failed to qualify: Dave Marcis (#71)

Pennsylvania 500

The Pennsylvania 500 was held July 23 at Pocono Raceway. Tony Stewart won the pole.

Top Ten Results

#Rusty Wallace
#Jeff Burton
#Jeff Gordon
#Dale Jarrett
#Matt Kenseth
#Bobby Labonte
#Mike Skinner
#Rick Mast
#Jimmy Spencer
#Jeremy Mayfield

Failed to qualify: Geoffrey Bodine (#60), Carl Long (#85)

Brickyard 400

The Brickyard 400 was held August 5 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Ricky Rudd won the pole.

Top Ten Results

#Bobby Labonte
#Rusty Wallace
#Bill Elliott
#Jerry Nadeau
#Tony Stewart
#Jeff Burton
#Dale Jarrett
#Dale Earnhardt
#Mike Skinner
#Scott Pruett

Failed to qualify: David Keith (#95), Rich Bickle (#61), Dave Marcis (#71), Robby Gordon (#13), Steve Grissom (#44), Bill Baird (#52)

Global Crossing @ The Glen

The Global Crossing @ The Glen was held August 13 at Watkins Glen International Raceway. Bobby Labonte won the pole. Due to qualifying being rained out, the starting lineup was set by owner's points.

Top Ten Results

#Steve Park
#Mark Martin
#Jeff Burton
#Robby Gordon
#Bobby Labonte
#Tony Stewart
#Dale Jarrett
#Joe Nemechek
#Wally Dallenbach, Jr.
#Matt Kenseth

Failed to qualify: Boris Said (#23), Scott Pruett (#32), R.K. Smith (#71), Brett Bodine (#11), Brian Simo (#90)

Pepsi 400 Presented by Meijer

The Pepsi 400 Presented by Meijer was held August 20 at Michigan International Speedway. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. won the pole.

Top Ten Results

#Rusty Wallace
#Ricky Rudd
#Bobby Labonte
#Dale Jarrett
#Johnny Benson
#Dale Earnhardt
#Jimmy Spencer
#Matt Kenseth
#Ward Burton
#Jeff Burton

Failed to qualify: Geoffrey Bodine (#60), Darrell Waltrip (#66), Stacy Compton (#9), Kyle Petty (#44), David Keith (#95), Carl Long (#85)

goracing.com 500

The goracing.com 500 was held August 26 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Rusty Wallace won the pole.

Top Ten Results

#Rusty Wallace
#Tony Stewart
#Mark Martin
#Dale Earnhardt
#Steve Park
#Jeff Burton
#Elliott Sadler
#Sterling Marlin
#Dale Jarrett
#Ricky Rudd

Failed to qualify: Mike Bliss (#27), Hut Stricklin (#90), Carl Long (#85), Ricky Craven (#50)

Pepsi Southern 500

The Pepsi Southern 500 was held September 3 at Darlington Raceway. Jeremy Mayfield won the pole. The race was shortened to 238 laps due to rain.

Top Ten Results

#Bobby Labonte
#Jeff Burton
#Dale Earnhardt
#Jeff Gordon
#Dale Jarrett
#Ward Burton
#Kevin Lepage
#Ricky Rudd
#Tony Stewart
#Steve Park

Failed to qualify: Stacy Compton (#9)

Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400

The Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400 was held September 9 at Richmond International Raceway. Jeff Burton won the pole.

Top Ten Results

#Jeff Gordon
#Dale Earnhardt
#Mark Martin
#Steve Park
#Jeff Burton
#Tony Stewart
#Johnny Benson
#Ward Burton
#Ricky Rudd
#Jerry Nadeau

Failed to qualify: Mike Bliss (#27), Robby Gordon (#13), Darrell Waltrip (#66), Dave Marcis (#71)

Dura Lube 300 Sponsored by Kmart

The Dura Lube 300 Sponsored by Kmart was held September 17 at New Hampshire International Speedway. Bobby Labonte won the pole.

This race also has the distinction of being the only Cup race outside of Daytona and Talladega to run a restrictor plate race since the adoption of the current 358 cubic inch formula. After Adam Petty's fatal crash in the Busch Series practice in May, and Kenny Irwin, Jr.'s fatal crash in the Cup Series practice in July, NASCAR decided to run restrictor plates. Adding restrictor plates did have the desired result of slowing down the cars drastically, but at the same time restricted passing so much that Jeff Burton led all 300 laps. This lack of passing was so uncompetitive that, for Cup cars only, the restrictor plates were gone for the very next race.

Top Ten Results

#Jeff Burton
#Bobby Labonte
#Ricky Rudd
#Dale Jarrett
#Rusty Wallace
#Jeff Gordon
#John Andretti
#Mark Martin
#Joe Nemechek
#Ken Schrader

Failed to qualify: Steve Grissom (#44), Dave Marcis (#71)

MBNA.com 400

The MBNA.com 400 was held September 24 at Dover International Speedway. Jeremy Mayfield won the pole.

Top Ten Results

#Tony Stewart
#Johnny Benson
#Ricky Rudd
#Steve Park
#Bobby Labonte
#Mark Martin
#Joe Nemechek
#Rusty Wallace
#Rick Mast

Failed to qualify: Hut Stricklin (#90), Joe Bessey (#60)

NAPA Autocare 500

The NAPA Autocare 500 was held October 1 at Martinsville Speedway. Tony Stewart won the pole.

Top Ten Results

#Tony Stewart
#Dale Earnhardt
#Jeff Burton
#Ricky Rudd
#Jeff Gordon
#Dale Jarrett
#Jimmy Spencer
#Mike Skinner
#Sterling Marlin
#Bobby Labonte

Failed to qualify: Scott Pruett (#32), Steve Grissom (#44), Carl Long (#85), Dave Marcis (#71), Rich Bickle (#60)

UAW-GM Quality 500

The UAW-GM Quality 500 was held October 8 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Jeff Gordon won the pole.

Top Ten Results

#Bobby Labonte
#Jeremy Mayfield
#Ricky Rudd
#Tony Stewart
#Mark Martin
#Jeff Burton
#Steve Park
#Johnny Benson
#Matt Kenseth
#Ward Burton

Failed to qualify: Scott Pruett (#32), Ricky Craven (#50), Steve Grissom (#44), Carl Long (#85), Stacy Compton (#9), Dave Marcis (#71)

Winston 500

The Winston 500 was held October 15 at Talladega Superspeedway. Joe Nemechek won the pole. This was Earnhardt's 76th and final career victory before his death in 2001 at Daytona.

Top Ten Results

#Dale Earnhardt
#Kenny Wallace
#Joe Nemechek
#Jeff Gordon
#Terry Labonte
#Mike Skinner
#Mark Martin
#Rusty Wallace
#Mike Bliss
#Matt Kenseth

Failed to qualify: Wally Dallenbach, Jr. (#75), Blaise Alexander (#91), Hut Stricklin (#90)

Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400

The Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 was held October 22 at North Carolina Speedway. Jeremy Mayfield won the pole.

Top Ten Results

#Dale Jarrett
#Jeff Gordon
#Ricky Rudd
#Jeff Burton
#Rusty Wallace
#Steve Park
#Tony Stewart
#Ward Burton
#Bobby Hamilton
#Joe Nemechek

Failed to qualify: Ted Musgrave (#01), Rich Bickle (#60), Steve Grissom (#44), Hut Stricklin (#90), Stacy Compton (#9)

Checker Auto Parts/Dura Lube 500

The Checker Auto Parts/Dura Lube 500 was held November 5 at Phoenix International Raceway. Rusty Wallace won the pole.

Top Ten Results

#Jeff Burton
#Jeremy Mayfield
#Steve Park
#Rusty Wallace
#Bobby Labonte
#Mark Martin
#Jeff Gordon
#Dave Blaney
#Dale Earnhardt
#Dale Jarrett

Failed to qualify: Stacy Compton (#9), Steve Grissom (#44), Robby Gordon (#13), Dave Marcis (#71), Hut Stricklin (#90)

It was the last race televised by The Nashville Network, which is now called Spike TV.

Pennzoil 400 Presented by Discount Auto Parts

The Pennzoil 400 Presented by Discount Auto Parts was held November 12 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Steve Park won the pole.

Top Ten Results

#Tony Stewart
#Jeremy Mayfield
#Mark Martin
#Bobby Labonte
#Jimmy Spencer
#Ricky Rudd
#Jeff Gordon
#Steve Park
#Dave Blaney
#Casey Atwood

Failed to qualify: Kyle Petty (#45), Hut Stricklin (#90), Ricky Craven (#50), Dave Marcis (#71), Steve Grissom (#44), Norm Benning (#84), Hermie Sadler (#60), Ted Musgrave (#01)

NAPA 500

The NAPA 500 was scheduled for November 19 but was held on November 20 due to a rain delay. Jeff Gordon won the pole.

Top Ten Results

#Jerry Nadeau
#Dale Earnhardt
#Ward Burton
#Jeff Gordon
#Bobby Labonte
#Mike Skinner
#Rusty Wallace
#Sterling Marlin
#Matt Kenseth
#Johnny Benson

Failed to qualify: Stacy Compton (#9), Hermie Sadler (#60), Hut Stricklin (#90), Dick Trickle (#71), Blaise Alexander (#91), Morgan Shepherd (#80), Tim Sauter (#61), Larry Foyt (#41), Kevin Lepage (#16), Carl Long (#85), Mike Bliss (#27), Steve Grissom (#44), Norm Benning (#84)

Final Points Standings

#Bobby Labonte - 5130
#Dale Earnhardt - 4865
#Jeff Burton - 4841
#Dale Jarrett - 4684
#Ricky Rudd - 4575
#Tony Stewart - 4570
#Rusty Wallace - 4544
#Mark Martin - 4410
#Jeff Gordon - 4361
#Ward Burton - 4152
#Steve Park - 3934
#Mike Skinner- 3898
#Johnny Benson - 3716
#Matt Kenseth - 3711
#Joe Nemechek - 3534
#Dale Earnhardt, Jr. - 3516
#Terry Labonte - 3433
#Ken Schrader - 3398
#Sterling Marlin - 3363
#Jerry Nadeau - 3273
#Bill Elliott - 3267
#Jimmy Spencer - 3188
#John Andretti - 3169
#Jeremy Mayfield - 3156
#Robert Pressley - 3055
#Kenny Wallace - 2874
#Michael Waltrip - 2797
#Kevin Lepage - 2795
#Elliott Sadler - 2762
#Bobby Hamilton - 2715
#Dave Blaney - 2656
#Chad Little - 2634
#Rick Mast - 2366
#Wally Dallenbach, Jr. - 2344
#Brett Bodine - 2145
#Darrell Waltrip - 1981
#Scott Pruett - 1929
#Stacy Compton - 1857
#Mike Bliss - 1748
#Ted Musgrave - 1614
#Kyle Petty - 1441
#Kenny Irwin, Jr. - 1440
#Robby Gordon - 1309
#Ricky Craven - 1175
#Geoffrey Bodine - 1039
#Dave Marcis - 723
#Ed Berrier - 628
#Kurt Busch - 613
#Todd Bodine- 456

= Rookie of the Year =

In the preseason, the two favorites for the award were Matt Kenseth and Dale Earnhardt, Jr.. While Earnhardt had the name, the popularity, and the two wins, Kenseth had more consistency and was able to claim the title by a narrow margin. The third-place finisher was Dave Blaney, who had finished 31st in points. Scott Pruett and Stacy Compton showed promise in the beginning of the year, but eventually lost momentum and bottomed out at the end of the year. Mike Bliss started the year with A.J. Foyt Racing, was released after 4 races, then finished the season with Eel River Racing. Ed Berrier and Jeff Fuller finished towards the bottom, mainly due to being released from their rides during the season.

External links

* [http://racing-reference.info/raceyear?yr=2000&series=W Winston Cup Standings and Statistics for 2000]