2001 MBNA Cal Ripken Jr. 400

Last updated
2001 MBNA Cal Ripken Jr. 400
Race details
Race 27 of 36 in the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
2001 MBNA Cal Ripken Jr. 400 program cover.png
2001 MBNA Cal Ripken Jr. 400 program cover
Date September 23, 2001 (2001-09-23)
Location Dover Downs International Speedway
Course Permanent racing facility
1 mi (1.6 km)
Distance 400 laps, 400 mi (643.737 km)
Weather Mild with temperatures of 77 °F (25 °C); wind speeds of 6 miles per hour (9.7 km/h) [1]
Average speed 101.559 miles per hour (163.443 km/h)
Pole position
Driver
 Robert Yates Racing
Most laps led
Driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc.
Laps 193
Winner
No. 8Dale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt, Inc.
Television in the United States
Network NBC
Announcers Allen Bestwick, Benny Parsons, Wally Dallenbach Jr.
Nielsen Ratings 4.5 [2]

The 2001 MBNA Cal Ripken Jr. 400 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series stock car race held on September 23, 2001, at Dover Downs International Speedway. The race was the 27th of the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season. The race is notable for being the first NASCAR Cup Series race run after the September 11 attacks.

Contents

Dale Jarrett of Robert Yates Racing won the pole position, while Dale Earnhardt, Inc.'s Dale Earnhardt Jr. led the most laps with 193 and won the race.

The race was the also first to be run against the National Football League regular season since the signing of the consolidated NASCAR TV contract which began in 2001. [2]

First race since September 11

Dale Jarrett won the pole for the race. His car featured an American flag on the hood. Dale Jarret end of happy hour (2686398754).jpg
Dale Jarrett won the pole for the race. His car featured an American flag on the hood.
Ken Schrader's all-American flag car Ken Schrader's flag car (2686401368).jpg
Ken Schrader's all-American flag car

Following the September 11 attacks, NASCAR moved the previously-upcoming New Hampshire 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway to late November. The Craftsman Truck Series race at Texas Motor Speedway was postponed to early October. [3] This schedule change made the MBNA Cal Ripken Jr. 400 the first race since the attacks. [4]

To honor those killed in the attacks, fans were given American flags. During pre-race ceremonies, Lee Greenwood sang "God Bless the USA", and Tanya Tucker sang "God Bless America" and the national anthem. [4] Greenwood praised the "raw emotion" felt from the fans, who sang along and chanted "U-S-A!" as he performed the song. [5]

Baseball great Cal Ripken Jr. served as the grand marshal and had the race named for him as he was to play in his final game on the evening of the race in nearby Baltimore, Maryland. [4] However, due to the attacks, his final game was postponed and was not on the same day of the race.

In a sense of patriotism, each car featured American flags. Ken Schrader removed every sponsor and decal from his car and completely painted the car as an American flag, [6] a process that sponsor M&M's would recreate ten years later for Kyle Busch in the 2011 Wonderful Pistachios 400 at Richmond Raceway. [5]

As a security measure, coolers, backpacks, and large bags were banned from the track, though concession prices were lowered in compensation. [7] Volunteers from Dover Air Force Base assisted in scanning and inspecting every spectator entering the track, while Dover encouraged teams to not fly to the track. NASCAR on NBC 's helicopters were also prohibited from flying around the track. [5]

Entry list

Car [8] DriverTeamManufacturerSponsor
1Kenny Wallace Dale Earnhardt, Inc. ChevroletPennzoil
01Jason Leffler Chip Ganassi Racing DodgeCingular Wireless
2Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South FordMiller Lite/USA
4Kevin Lepage Morgan-McClure Motorsports PontiacKodak
5Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletKellogg's/USA
6Mark Martin Roush Racing FordViagra, Pfizer
7Mike Wallace Ultra Motorsports FordNationsRent
8Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. ChevroletBudweiser/USA
9Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports DodgeDodge Dealers, UAW
10Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports PontiacValvoline
11Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing FordRalph's, Red Cell Batteries
12Jeremy Mayfield Penske Racing South FordMobil 1
13Hermie Sadler Peak Performance Motorsports ChevroletLittle Trees
14Ron Hornaday Jr. A.J. Foyt Racing ChevroletConseco
15Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. ChevroletNAPA Auto Parts/God Bless America
17Matt Kenseth Roush Racing FordDeWalt New Products/USA
18Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing PontiacInterstate Batteries, MBNA, Cal Ripken, Jr.
19Casey Atwood Evernham Motorsports DodgeDodge Dealers, UAW
20Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaHome Depot/God Bless America
21Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing FordMotorcraft/USA
22Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing PontiacCaterpillar/USA
24Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletDuPont Automotive
25Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletUAW-Delphi
26Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports FordKmart School Spirit/God Bless America
27Rick Mast Eel River Racing PontiacDuke's Mayonnaise/Sauer's
28Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing FordTexaco, Havoline
29Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing ChevroletGM Goodwrench Service Plus/USA
31Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing ChevroletLowe's
32Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports ChevroletTide
33Joe Nemechek Andy Petree Racing ChevroletOakwood Homes
36Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports PontiacAmerican Red Cross, 1-800-HELP-NOW
40Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing DodgeCoors Light
43John Andretti Petty Enterprises DodgeCheerios
44Buckshot Jones Petty Enterprises DodgeGeorgia-Pacific
45Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises FordSprint
47Lance Hooper Dark Horse Motorsports ChevroletJ.J. Baker Custom Homes
55Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing ChevroletUSA/Square D
66Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports FordKmart Blue Light Special
71Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing ChevroletTeam Realtree
77Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports FordForever in our Hearts, United We Stand
88Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing FordUPS/USA
90Hut Stricklin Donlavey Racing FordHills Brothers Coffee
92Stacy Compton Melling Racing DodgeKodiak/God Bless America
93Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing DodgeAmerican Red Cross, Amoco, 1-800-HELP-NOW
96Andy Houston PPI Motorsports FordMcDonald's
97Kurt Busch Roush Racing FordSharpie, Rubbermaid, USA
99Jeff Burton Roush Racing FordCitgo Supergard/USA

Qualifying

Pos. [9] CarDriverManufacturerTimeAvg. Speed
188Dale JarrettFord23.238154.919
218Bobby LabontePontiac23.245154.872
38Dale Earnhardt, Jr.Chevy23.248154.852
428Ricky RuddFord23.257154.792
532Ricky CravenFord23.321154.367
61Kenny WallaceChevy23.325154.341
712Jeremy MayfieldFord23.368154.057
814Ron Hornaday, Jr.Pontiac23.402153.833
966Todd BodineFord23.427153.669
109Bill ElliottDodge23.432153.636
1120Tony StewartPontiac23.435153.616
1292Stacy ComptonDodge23.438153.597
1336Ken SchraderPontiac23.453153.498
1429Kevin HarvickChevy23.461153.446
152Rusty WallaceFord23.472153.374
1633Joe NemechekChevy23.482153.309
1755Bobby HamiltonChevy23.511153.120
1819Casey AtwoodDodge23.515153.094
1921Elliott SadlerFord23.525153.029
2044Buckshot JonesDodge23.526153.022
2145Kyle PettyDodge23.531152.990
2299Jeff BurtonFord23.543152.912
2324Jeff GordonChevy23.551152.860
244Kevin LepageChevy23.554152.840
2522Ward BurtonDodge23.575152.704
2640Sterling MarlinDodge23.576152.698
2715Michael WaltripChevy23.584152.646
2877Robert PressleyFord23.597152.562
2943John AndrettiDodge23.633152.329
3031Mike SkinnerChevy23.633152.329
3190Hut StricklinFord23.641152.278
3213Hermie SadlerChevy23.668152.104
335Terry LabonteChevy23.678152.040
347Mike WallaceFord23.678152.040
3511Brett BodineFord23.680152.027
3696Andy HoustonFord23.704151.873
Provisionals
3710Johnny Benson, Jr.Pontiac0.0000.000
386Mark MartinFord0.0000.000
3926Jimmy SpencerFord0.0000.000
4017Matt KensethFord0.0000.000
4125Jerry NadeauChevy0.0000.000
4293Dave BlaneyDodge0.0000.000
4397Kurt BuschFord0.0000.000
Failed to qualify
4427Rick MastPontiac
4501Jason LefflerDodge
4647Lance HooperFord
4771Dave MarcisChevrolet

Race

Dale Jarrett won the pole for the race with a lap time of 23.238 seconds and speed of 154.919 miles per hour (249.318 km/h), his first pole at Dover, while Bobby Labonte qualified second. [10] Rick Mast, Jason Leffler, Lance Hooper, and Dave Marcis failed to qualify. [11]

Labonte took the lead from Jarrett on the first lap before Jarrett reclaimed it on lap two. Dale Earnhardt Jr. became the leader on lap three and led until the first caution came out for Labonte and Bill Elliott crashing in turn two. Ricky Craven inherited the lead, which he maintained until Earnhardt retook it on lap 41. On lap 56, [11] Jeremy Mayfield hit the turn two wall after his right front tire went down, causing him to lose consciousness. He was able to walk to the infield care center, suffering only a chipped tooth and minor bruises; NASCAR officials inspected Mayfield's car and found a partially torn left lap seat belt, which was damaged in the same fashion as Dale Earnhardt's in the Daytona 500 earlier that year, a major factor in his death. A Goodyear spokesman later stated Mayfield's tire was too damaged to determine what had happened. [12]

Ricky Rudd led during the nine caution laps following Mayfield's wreck, though Earnhardt became the leader for the restart on lap 65, which he would hold for 104 laps. During Earnhardt's run, three more cautions occurred: Brett Bodine spun on lap 71, oil was found on the track on lap 117, and Mark Martin, Johnny Benson Jr., Ron Hornaday Jr., and Ward Burton all crashed on the front stretch on lap 130. Earnhardt lost the lead to Elliott Sadler during caution laps on lap 169, when Andy Houston had an accident in turn two. Tony Stewart also led three laps under the yellow flag until Earnhardt was cycled back into the lead for the green flag on lap 173. On lap 184, Rudd took the lead, holding it for a race-high 161 laps. Between the start and end of Rudd's lead, three yellow flags were waved: Michael Waltrip wrecked on lap 201, Robert Pressley crashed in turn one, and Dave Blaney fell victim to a broken seat belt on lap 268. [11] [12] With 140 laps remaining, Earnhardt had a slow pit stop and was relegated to eighth. He was able to recover from the error and was in third by lap 329. [13] On lap 345, Rudd spun after making contact with Rusty Wallace, bringing out the caution and making Jarrett the new leader until Earnhardt passed him on lap 362. With 11 laps to go, Jarrett also had problems of his own as he spun on the backstretch for the final yellow of the race. [11] Earnhardt held off Jerry Nadeau on the final restart to take the win. [14] During the final lap, the white flag was not waved to signify the refusal to surrender. [15] Nadeau finished second and Rudd in third, while Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart rounded out the top five. [11]

To honor the victims of the attack, Earnhardt drove a Polish victory lap with a large American flag. The win was described as the third time in 2001 in which Earnhardt had to "carry the emotional burden of the sport", after his father's death at the Daytona 500 and his victorious return to Daytona at the Pepsi 400. [5] In Victory Lane, he stated he would donate $75,000 to relief efforts. [15] [16] Earnhardt added he would pledge $100 a lap and $10,000 for every pit stop under 14 seconds. [17]

Results

Fin [18] [19] St#DriverMakeSponsorTeamLapsLedStatusPtsWinnings
138Dale Earnhardt, Jr.ChevroletBudweiser/USA Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 400193running185168858
24125Jerry NadeauChevroletUAW-Delphi Hendrick Motorsports 4000running170104960
3428Ricky RuddFordTexaco, Havoline Robert Yates Racing 400169running170117507
42324Jeff GordonChevroletDuPont Automotive Hendrick Motorsports 4000running160117832
51120Tony StewartPontiacHome Depot/God Bless America Joe Gibbs Racing 4003running16089270
61429Kevin HarvickChevroletGM Goodwrench/USA Richard Childress Racing 4000running150102167
71633Joe NemechekChevroletOakwood Homes Andy Petree Racing 4000running14685735
82640Sterling MarlinDodgeCoors Light Chip Ganassi Racing 4000running14273025
91819Casey AtwoodDodgeDodge Dealers, UAW Evernham Motorsports 4000running13853565
101755Bobby HamiltonChevroletUSA/Square D Andy Petree Racing 4000running13466765
11152Rusty WallaceFordMiller Lite/USA Penske Racing South 4000running13092305
12188Dale JarrettFordUPS/USA Robert Yates Racing 40018running13298142
133926Jimmy SpencerFordKmart School Spirit/God Bless America Haas-Carter Motorsports 4000running12465585
141921Elliott SadlerFordMotorcraft/USA Wood Brothers Racing 4001running12673576
15966Todd BodineFordKmart Blue Light Special Haas-Carter Motorsports 3990running11851665
16244Kevin LepageChevroletKodak Morgan-McClure Motorsports 3990running11553655
17335Terry LabonteChevroletKellogg's/USA Hendrick Motorsports 3980running11281095
181336Ken SchraderPontiacAmerican Red Cross, 1-800-HELP-NOW MB2 Motorsports 3980running10959125
192943John AndrettiDodgeCheerios Petty Enterprises 3980running10682792
203031Mike SkinnerChevroletLowe's Richard Childress Racing 3980running10383939
212299Jeff BurtonFordCitgo Supergard/USA Roush Racing 3980running10090111
2261Kenny WallaceChevroletPennzoil Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 3970running9773358
23347Mike WallaceFordNationsRent Ultra Motorsports 3960running9454865
241292Stacy ComptonDodgeKodiak/God Bless America Melling Racing 3960running9146615
253190Hut StricklinFordHills Brothers Coffee Donlavey Racing 3960running8844340
26532Ricky CravenFordTide PPI Motorsports 39515running9056290
273213Hermie SadlerChevroletLittle Trees Peak Performance Motorsports 3940running43140
283511Brett BodineFordRalph's, Red Cell Batteries Brett Bodine Racing 3910suspension7945465
294017Matt KensethFordDeWalt New Products/USA Roush Racing 3900running7650815
30109Bill ElliottDodgeDodge Dealers, UAW Evernham Motorsports 3830running7367888
313710Johnny Benson, Jr.PontiacValvoline MBV Motorsports 3170running7050490
32386Mark MartinFordViagra, Pfizer Roush Racing 3140running6786681
332522Ward BurtonDodgeCaterpillar/USA Bill Davis Racing 3040crash6475315
34814Ron Hornaday, Jr.PontiacConseco A.J. Foyt Racing 2680crash6142005
354293Dave BlaneyDodgeAmerican Red Cross, Amoco, 1-800-HELP-NOW Bill Davis Racing 2660crash5841855
36218Bobby LabontePontiacInterstate Batteries, MBNA, Cal Ripken, Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing 2581running6094152
372877Robert PressleyFordForever in our Hearts, United We Stand Jasper Motorsports 2280crash5249600
382044Buckshot JonesDodgeGeorgia-Pacific Petty Enterprises 2030engine4949475
392715Michael WaltripChevroletNAPA Auto Parts/God Bless America Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 1990crash4651350
403696Andy HoustonFordMcDonald's PPI Motorsports 1650crash4341200
414397Kurt BuschFordSharpie, Rubbermaid, USA Roush Racing 1150engine4049075
42712Jeremy MayfieldFordMobil 1 Penske Racing South 540crash3780234
432145Kyle PettyDodgeSprint Petty Enterprises 130engine3441076
Failed to qualify
4427Rick MastPontiacDuke's Mayonnaise / Sauer's Eel River Racing
4501Jason LefflerDodgeCingular Wireless Chip Ganassi Racing
4647Lance HooperFordJ.J. Baker Custom Homes Dark Horse Motorsports
4771Dave MarcisChevroletTeam Realtree Marcis Auto Racing
Jeff Gordon led the points standings after the race. Jeff Gordon NASCAR Photography By Darryl Moran.jpg
Jeff Gordon led the points standings after the race.

Standings after the race

PosDriverPointsDifferential
1 1rightarrow.png Jeff Gordon 39280
2 1rightarrow.png Ricky Rudd 3716-212
3 Increase2.svg Tony Stewart 3521-407
4 Decrease2.svg Dale Jarrett 3507-421
5 1rightarrow.png Sterling Marlin 3444-484
6 Increase2.svg Dale Earnhardt Jr. 3429-499
7 Increase2.svg Kevin Harvick 3380-548
8 Increase2.svg Rusty Wallace 3355-573
9 Decrease2.svg Bobby Labonte 3327-601
10 1rightarrow.png Johnny Benson Jr. 3168-760

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  15. 1 2 Fitzgerald, Jim (September 29, 2012). "Dover's Place In NASCAR History". Insider Racing News. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
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  17. ↑ McKee, Sandra (September 24, 2001). "Earnhardt Jr. delivers when it counts". The Baltimore Sun . Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  18. ↑ "2001 MBNA Cal Ripken, Jr. 400 - The Third Turn". www.thethirdturn.com. Retrieved 2021-06-21.
  19. ↑ "2001 MBNA Cal Ripken Jr. 400 race results". Racing-Reference. Archived from the original on 2021-04-28.
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