Races
Stacker 200 presented by YJ Stinger
The Stacker 200 presented by YJ Stinger was held on September 20 at Dover International Speedway. Kevin Harvick won the pole.
Top ten results
- 5–Brian Vickers
- 25–Bobby Hamilton Jr.
- 10–Scott Riggs
- 38–Kasey Kahne
- 20–Mike Bliss
- 2–Ron Hornaday Jr.
- 46–Ashton Lewis
- 57–Jason Keller
- 21–Kevin Harvick
- 4–Mike Wallace
Failed to qualify: Kenny Hendrick (#94), Jeff Streeter (#83), Martin Truex Jr. (#81), Jason Rudd (#01), Morgan Shepherd (#89), Jimmy Henderson (#63), Jimmy Kitchens (#41)
Note: Due to Hurricane Isabel, the qualifying was rained out, consequently Martin Truex Jr. replaced an unknown driver in the No. 91 in the race, after failed to qualify his No. 81 and Jason Rudd also replaced an unknown driver in the No. 70 in the race, after failed to qualify his No. 01.
Bashas' Supermarkets 200
The Bashas' Supermarkets 200 was held on November 1 at Phoenix International Raceway. Kevin Harvick won the pole. The race was shortened to 181 laps due to rain.
Top ten results
- 25–Bobby Hamilton Jr.
- 21–Kevin Harvick
- 5–Brian Vickers
- 87–Joe Nemechek
- 10–Scott Riggs
- 23–Scott Wimmer
- 14–Casey Atwood
- 43–Johnny Sauter
- 7–Greg Biffle
Failed to qualify: Stan Boyd (#51), Blake Mallory (#39), Josh Richeson (#67), Jeff Fuller (#97), Randy MacDonald (#72), John Hayden (#85), Freddy Tame (#73), Jeff Streeter (#83), Clint Vahsholtz (#90)
- This would be Hamilton’s 5th and final Busch Series win as well as his fourth of the season.
- Hamilton's victory, along with point leader David Green's 17th place finish, tightened up the championship fight. With 2 races to go, 6 drivers were still in contention for the Busch Series crown, while 7th place Scott Wimmer was 502 out of the lead, and therefore mathematically ineligible.
Target House 200
The Target House 200 was held on November 8 at North Carolina Speedway. Brian Vickers won the pole.
Top ten results
- 1–Jamie McMurray
- 8–Martin Truex Jr.
- 25–Bobby Hamilton Jr.
- 79–Jeremy Mayfield
- 30–David Stremme
- 5–Brian Vickers
- 87–Kyle Busch
- 23–Scott Wimmer
- 43-Johnny Sauter
- 37–David Green
Failed to qualify: Josh Richeson (#67), Morgan Shepherd (#89), Rich Bickle (#94), Brad Teague (#52), Jason Schuler (#73), Justin Ashburn (#61), Caleb Holman (#78), Dion Ciccarelli (#84), Norm Benning (#81), Jerry Reary (#22), Justin Hobgood (#80)
- The championship battle took on a new complexion going into Miami. After polesitter Brian Vickers led the opening 6 laps, none of the title contenders were a serious threat for the win, though all but Keller and Hornaday ran in the Top 10 in the first half of the race. Point leader Scott Riggs dropped from the Top 10 due to a loose condition, exacerbated by a long green flag run. Though he gained several spots in the pit cycle by coming in early, he slid into the wall on Lap 166 and ended his day in the garage in 38th. Hamilton rebounded with another Top 5, with Vickers and Green in the Top 10, Keller on the lead lap in 13th, and Hornaday, who never cracked the Top 10 all day, a lap down in 17th. All this left 20 year old Brian Vickers with a 22 point lead over 1994 champion David Green, with Riggs dropping from the lead to 5th, and 6th place Hamilton still in reasonable contention at 89 points out of the lead. Disregarding what any of his title challengers might do, Vickers would secure the championship if he could finish 3rd or better at Homestead.
Ford 300
The Ford 300 was held on November 15 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Greg Biffle won the pole.
Top ten results
- 38–Kasey Kahne
- 8–Martin Truex Jr.
- 25–Bobby Hamilton Jr.
- 00–Jason Leffler
- 46–Ashton Lewis
- 21–Kevin Harvick
- 20–Mike Bliss
- 19–Casey Mears
- 37–David Green
- 99–Michael Waltrip
- This was Kahne's first Busch series victory.
Failed to qualify: Morgan Shepherd (#9), Jason Schuler (#73), Clint Vahsholtz (#39), Justin Ashburn (#61), Mike Harmon (#44), Stan Boyd (#51), Joe Aramendia (#79), Brad Baker (#28)
- Scott Riggs' championship hopes ended on the first lap, when he crashed in Turn 3 with teammate Jon Wood and the FitzBradshaw Racing duo of Casey Atwood and Tim Fedewa. Riggs' crew would repair the car, but he would only complete 28 laps before ending his day in 41st. Despite the disappointing end to 2003, he would look ahead to 2004 and the start of his Nextel Cup Series career with MBV Motorsports.
- Two-time series runner-up Jason Keller was never a factor, and he finished a lap down in 24th. Ron Hornaday Jr finished 15th, leader Brian Vickers 11th, David Green 9th, and Bobby Hamilton Jr 3rd after leading 41 laps.
- With Green only gaining 8 points on leader Vickers, the 20 year old from Thomasville, North Carolina won the Busch Series championship by 14 points. He was also the youngest series champion in history, breaking the record set by the late Rob Moroso, who was 21 when he overcame Tommy Houston for the 1989 NASCAR Busch Series title. Vickers, like Riggs, would be a candidate for 2004 Nextel Cup rookie of the year, graduating with Hendrick Motorsports. 18 year old Kyle Busch would take his place in the #5 Busch car for 2004.
