2001 Talladega 500

Last updated
2001 Talladega 500
Race details [1] [2]
Race 9 of 36 in the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season
Talladega Superspeedway.png
Map of the Talladega Superspeedway
Date April 22, 2001 (2001-April-22)
Official name Talladega 500
Location Talladega Superspeedway, Talladega, Alabama
Course Permanent racing facility
2.660 mi (4.280 km)
Distance 188 laps, 500.1 mi (804.8 km)
Weather Temperatures of 57.9 °F (14.4 °C) and 82.9 °F (28.3 °C); Wind speeds of 11.1 miles per hour (17.9 km/h)
Average speed 184.003 miles per hour (296.124 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Mark Melling
Most laps led
Driver Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi
Laps 51
Winner
No. 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree
Television in the United States
Network Fox
Announcers Mike Joy
Darrell Waltrip
Larry McReynolds

The 2001 Talladega 500 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series race that took place on April 22, 2001, at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama. A total prize purse of $3,233,740 ($5,564,390.8 when adjusted for inflation); with $173,855 to the winner ($299,157.37 when adjusted for inflation).

Contents

Race report

Kenny Wallace, Kyle Petty, Rick Mast, Hut Stricklin and Andy Hillenburg would fail to qualify for this race. [3] [4]

Stacy Compton would be credited with a last-place finish due to engine failure on lap 116 of the 188-lap race. [3] [4] All 43 of the drivers on the grid were American-born. [3] Bobby Hamilton would defeat Tony Stewart (who drove the No. 20 Pontiac for Joe Gibbs Racing at that time) by 2/10ths of a second after racing a completely caution-free race for almost three hours. [3] [4] [5] The last-place finisher, Compton, qualified for the pole position with a speed of 184.661 miles per hour (297.183 km/h). [3] [4]

Sterling Marlin had the best car in the race but finished in 23rd place; leading 51 laps and overtaking competitors like Michael Waltrip, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Jeff Burton, and Stacy Compton. [3] [4] While Marlin was the class of the field, late in the race he got shuffled back. [3] [4]

This was the only time Andy Houston led a lap in a Cup race. [3] [4] Mike Skinner, who finished 29th, crossed the finish line less than 4 seconds behind winner Bobby Hamilton. [3] [4] Hamilton, who qualified with a speed of 182.99mph, was like most of the field which ran the 500 miles faster than their 1-lap qualification.

Despite the lack of a big crash in the crucial moments of the race, there were still some exciting parts in the race for NASCAR fans in the form of lead changes and drivers leading multiple laps. The last event to end without any caution periods was in 1999. It would be Hamilton's last win. He died 6 years later from head and neck cancer.

Entry list

No.DriverTeamManufacturerSponsor
01 Jason Leffler (R) Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge Cingular Wireless
1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet Pennzoil
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
6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford Viagra / Pfizer
7 Mike Wallace Ultra Motorsports Ford NationsRent
8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet Budweiser
9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge Dodgers Dealers / UAW
10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac Valvoline
11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford Ralphs Supermarkets / RedCell
12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske Racing South Ford Mobil 1
14 Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) A.J. Foyt Racing Pontiac Conseco
15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet NAPA
17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford DeWalt Power Tools
18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac Interstate Batteries
19 Casey Atwood (R) Evernham Motorsports Dodge Dodge / UAW
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 / Pepsi
25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet UAW / Delphi
26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford Kmart
27 Kenny Wallace Eel River Racing Pontiac Subway
28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford Texaco / Havoline
29 Kevin Harvick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet GM Goodwrench
31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Lowe's
32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford Tide
33 Joe Nemechek Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet Oakwood Homes
36 Ken Schrader MBV Motorsports Pontiac M&M's
40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge Coors Light / Brooks & Dunn
43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge Cheerios
44 Buckshot Jones Petty Enterprises Dodge Georgia-Pacific
45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge Sprint
49 Andy Hillenburg BAM Racing Pontiac BAM Racing
50 Rick Mast Midwest Transit Racing Chevrolet Midwest Transit
51 Jeff Purvis Phoenix Racing Ford Subway
55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet Square D
66 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford Kmart Blue Light Special
71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet RealTree Camouflage
77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford Jasper Engines
88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford UPS
90 Hut Stricklin Donlavey Racing Ford Hills Bro. Coffee
92 Stacy Compton Melling Racing Dodge Kodiak
93 Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing Dodge Amoco
96 Andy Houston (R) PPI Motorsports Ford McDonald's
97 Kurt Busch (R) Roush Racing Ford Sharpie / Rubbermaid
99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford Citgo Supergard

Practice

First practice

PosNo.DriverTeamManufacturerTimeSpeed
132 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 51.470186.050
26 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 51.789184.904
340 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 51.891184.541
Official practice results

Happy hour

PosNo.DriverTeamManufacturerTimeSpeed
197 Kurt Busch (R) Roush Racing Ford 49.735192.540
232 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 49.835192.154
34 Kevin Lepage Morgan-McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 49.875192.000
Official practice results

Qualifying

PosNo.DriverTeamManufacturerTime
192 Stacy Compton Melling Racing Dodge 51.801
240 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 51.881
39 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 52.041
432 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 52.072
56 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 52.082
688 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 52.115
720 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 52.128
815 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 52.164
929 Kevin Harvick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 52.183
1033 Joe Nemechek Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 52.190
1125 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 52.232
1231 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 52.291
1324 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 52.299
1455 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 52.332
1571 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 52.342
1693 Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing Dodge 52.357
171 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 52.364
184 Kevin Lepage Morgan-McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 52.388
198 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 52.389
2066 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 52.433
2119 Casey Atwood (R) Evernham Motorsports Dodge 52.438
2299 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 52.456
2311 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 52.465
2496 Andy Houston (R) PPI Motorsports Ford 52.479
2501 Jason Leffler (R) Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 52.533
262 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 52.536
2797 Kurt Busch (R) Roush Racing Ford 52.550
2877 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford 52.551
2944 Buckshot Jones Petty Enterprises Dodge 52.588
3018 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 52.626
315 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 52.641
3228 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 52.656
3351 Jeff Purvis Phoenix Racing Ford 52.683
3426 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 52.701
3543 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 52.705
3636 Ken Schrader MBV Motorsports Pontiac 52.783
Provisionals
3710 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac
3821 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford
3922 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge
4017 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford
4112 Jeremy Mayfield Penske Racing South Ford
4214 Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) A.J. Foyt Racing Pontiac
437 Mike Wallace Ultra Motorsports Ford
Did not qualify
27 Kenny Wallace Eel River Racing Pontiac 52.793
45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 52.851
50 Rick Mast Midwest Transit Racing Chevrolet 52.873
90 Hut Stricklin Donlavey Racing Ford 53.009
49 Andy Hillenburg BAM Racing Pontiac 53.091

Race results

PosGridNoDriverTeamManufacturerLapsPoints
11455Bobby HamiltonAndy Petree RacingChevrolet188180
2720Tony StewartJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac188175
32797Kurt Busch (R)Roush RacingFord188170
456Mark MartinRoush RacingFord188165
53018Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac188160
61033Joe NemechekAndy Petree RacingChevrolet188155
73710Johnny Benson Jr.MBV MotorsportsPontiac188146
8198Dale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet188147
9437Mike WallaceUltra MotorsportsFord188138
102299Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFord188139
11315Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet188130
12929Kevin Harvick (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet188127
13262Rusty WallacePenske Racing SouthFord188129
143228Ricky RuddRobert Yates RacingFord188126
15432Ricky CravenPPI MotorsportsFord188123
162944Buckshot JonesPetty EnterprisesDodge188115
171693Dave BlaneyBill Davis RacingDodge188112
18688Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord188109
194017Matt KensethRoush RacingFord188111
202501Jason Leffler (R)Chip Ganassi RacingDodge188103
212496Andy Houston (R)PPI MotorsportsFord188105
224214Ron Hornaday Jr. (R)A.J. Foyt RacingPontiac188102
23240Sterling MarlinChip Ganassi RacingDodge188104
242877Robert PressleyJasper MotorsportsFord18896
251125Jerry NadeauHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet18893
262311Brett BodineBrett Bodine RacingFord18885
271324Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet18887
28815Michael WaltripDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet18884
291231Mike SkinnerRichard Childress RacingChevrolet18881
302119Casey Atwood (R)Evernham MotorsportsDodge18773
31171Steve ParkDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet18770
3239Bill ElliottEvernham MotorsportsDodge18772
333922Ward BurtonBill Davis RacingDodge18769
343351Jeff PurvisPhoenix RacingFord18761
354112Jeremy MayfieldPenske Racing SouthFord18758
363426Jimmy SpencerHaas-Carter MotorsportsFord18755
373543John AndrettiPetty EnterprisesDodge18752
381571Dave MarcisMarcis Auto RacingChevrolet18649
393821Elliott SadlerWood Brothers RacingFord18651
403636Ken SchraderMBV MotorsportsPontiac18648
412066Todd BodineHaas-Carter MotorsportsFord18145
42184Kevin LepageMorgan-McClure MotorsportsChevrolet15837
43192Stacy ComptonMelling RacingDodge11639
Official race results

Standings after the race

PosDriverPoints
1rightarrow.png 1 Dale Jarrett 1,345
1rightarrow.png 2 Jeff Gordon 1,200 (–145)
1rightarrow.png 3 Johnny Benson Jr. 1,195 (–150)
1uparrow green.svg 34 Bobby Hamilton 1,175 (–170)
1downarrow red.svg 15 Sterling Marlin 1,153 (–192)
1rightarrow.png 6 Rusty Wallace 1,137 (–208)
1downarrow red.svg 27 Steve Park 1,109 (–236)
1rightarrow.png 8 Ricky Rudd 1,096 (–249)
1uparrow green.svg 49 Tony Stewart 1,047 (–298)
1downarrow red.svg 110 Bill Elliott 1,015 (–330)

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References

  1. "Weather information for the 2001 Talladega 500". The Old Farmers' Almanac. Retrieved 2012-03-23.
  2. "Prize purse for the 2001 Talladega 500". Fantasy Racing Cheat Sheet. Retrieved 2012-03-23.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "2001 Talladega 500 racing information". Racing Reference. Retrieved 2012-03-23.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "2001 Talladega 500 racing information". Race Database. Retrieved 2012-03-23.
  5. "Bobby Hamilton wins 2001 Talladega 500". YouTube . Retrieved 2012-03-23.
Preceded by NASCAR Winston Cup Series Season
2001
Succeeded by