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2001 Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400

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2001 Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400
Race details
Race 33 of 36 in the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 2001 Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 program cover.
The 2001 Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 program cover.
Date November 4, 2001
Official name 37th Annual Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400
Location Rockingham, North Carolina, North Carolina Speedway
Course Permanent racing facility
1.017 mi (1.636 km)
Distance 393 laps, 399.681 mi (643.224 km)
Scheduled Distance 393 laps, 399.681 mi (643.224 km)
Average speed 128.941 miles per hour (207.510 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Dale Earnhardt, Inc.
Time 23.668
Most laps led
Driver Joe Nemechek Andy Petree Racing
Laps 196
Winner
No. 33 Joe Nemechek Andy Petree Racing
Television in the United States
Network TNT
Announcers Allen Bestwick, Benny Parsons, Wally Dallenbach Jr.
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

The 2001 Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 was the 33rd stock car race of the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 37th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, November 4, 2001, in Rockingham, North Carolina, at North Carolina Speedway, a 1.017 miles (1.637 km) permanent high-banked racetrack. The race took the scheduled 393 laps to complete. At race's end, Joe Nemechek, driving for Andy Petree Racing, managed to dominate the late stages of the race to win his second career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his only victory of the season.[1][2][3] The other podium finishers were Kenny Wallace, driving for Dale Earnhardt, Inc., and Johnny Benson Jr., driving for MBV Motorsports, who placed second and third respectively.

Background

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North Carolina Speedway was opened as a flat, one-mile oval on October 31, 1965. In 1969, the track was extensively reconfigured to a high-banked, D-shaped oval just over one mile in length. In 1997, North Carolina Motor Speedway merged with Penske Motorsports, and was renamed North Carolina Speedway. Shortly thereafter, the infield was reconfigured, and competition on the infield road course, mostly by the SCCA, was discontinued. Currently, the track is home to the Fast Track High Performance Driving School.[4]

Entry list

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
1 Kenny Wallace Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet Pennzoil
01 Jason Leffler (R) Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge Cingular Wireless
2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford Miller Lite
4 Bobby Hamilton Jr. Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet Kodak
5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Kellogg's
6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford Viagra
7 Kevin Lepage Ultra Motorsports Ford NationsRent
8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet Budweiser
9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge Dodge
10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac Valvoline
11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford Ralphs
12 Mike Wallace Penske Racing South Ford Mobil 1
14 Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac Conseco
15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet NAPA Auto Parts Patriotic
17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford DeWalt
18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac Interstate Batteries
19 Casey Atwood (R) Evernham Motorsports Dodge Dodge
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
25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet UAW, Delphi
26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford Kmart School Spirit
28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford Texaco, Havoline
29 Kevin Harvick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet GM Goodwrench
31 Robby Gordon 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 Pedigree
40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge Coors Light
43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge Pop Secret
44 Buckshot Jones Petty Enterprises Dodge Georgia-Pacific Sparkle
45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge Sprint PCS
55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet Square D
66 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford Kmart Blue Light Special
71 Dick Trickle Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet Team Realtree
77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford Jasper Engines & Transmissions
85 Carl Long Mansion Motorsports Dodge Noopco
88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford UPS
90 Rick Mast Donlavey Racing Ford Donlavey Racing
92 Stacy Compton Melling Racing Dodge Kodiak
93 Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing Dodge BP, Amoco Ultimate
97 Kurt Busch (R) Roush Racing Ford Rubbermaid, Sharpie
99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford Citgo Supergard
Official entry list

Practice

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First practice

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The first practice session was held on Friday, November 2, at 11:20 AM EST. The session lasted for two hours.[5] Casey Atwood, driving for Evernham Motorsports, set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 23.848 and an average speed of 153.522 miles per hour (247.070 km/h).[6]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 19 Casey Atwood (R) Evernham Motorsports Dodge 23.848 153.522
2 1 Kenny Wallace Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 23.865 153.413
3 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 23.882 153.304
Full first practice results

Second practice

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The second session was held on Saturday, November 3, at 10:15 AM EST. The session lasted for 45 minutes.[5] Rusty Wallace, driving for Penske Racing South, set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 24.455 and an average speed of 149.773 miles per hour (241.036 km/h).[7]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 24.455 149.773
2 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 24.618 148.720
3 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 24.662 148.662
Full second practice results

Third and final practice

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The final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, November 3, at 12:00 PM EST. The session lasted 45 minutes.[5] Jeff Burton, driving for Roush Racing, set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 24.475 and an average speed of 149.589 miles per hour (240.740 km/h).[8]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 24.475 149.589
2 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 24.573 148.993
3 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 24.601 148.823
Full Happy Hour practice results

Qualifying

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Qualifying was held on Friday, November 2, at 3:05 PM EST. Each driver had two laps to set a fastest time; the fastest of the two counted as their official qualifying lap.[5] Positions 1-36 were be decided on time, while positions 37-43 were be based on provisionals. Six spots were awarded by the use of provisionals based on owner's points. The seventh was awarded to a past champion who has not otherwise qualified for the race. If no past champ needed the provisional, the next team in the owner points would be awarded a provisional.[9]

Kenny Wallace, driving for Dale Earnhardt, Inc., won the pole, setting a time of 23.668 and an average speed of 154.690 miles per hour (248.949 km/h).[10]

Rick Mast was the only driver to fail to qualify.

Full qualifying results

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 1 Kenny Wallace Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 23.668 154.690
2 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 23.720 154.351
3 19 Casey Atwood (R) Evernham Motorsports Dodge 23.733 154.266
4 25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 23.736 154.247
5 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 23.818 153.716
6 93 Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing Dodge 23.846 153.535
7 71 Dick Trickle Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 23.849 153.516
8 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 23.857 153.464
9 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 23.857 153.464
10 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 23.858 153.458
11 97 Kurt Busch (R) Roush Racing Ford 23.871 153.374
12 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 23.899 153.195
13 33 Joe Nemechek Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 23.911 153.118
14 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 23.911 153.118
15 7 Kevin Lepage Ultra Motorsports Ford 23.914 153.099
16 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 23.939 152.939
17 26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 23.940 152.932
18 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 23.948 152.881
19 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 23.949 152.875
20 12 Mike Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 23.950 152.868
21 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 23.961 152.798
22 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 23.977 152.696
23 29 Kevin Harvick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 23.981 152.671
24 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 24.000 152.550
25 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 24.003 152.531
26 92 Stacy Compton Melling Racing Dodge 24.010 152.486
27 31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 24.022 152.410
28 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 24.026 152.385
29 85 Carl Long Mansion Motorsports Dodge 24.028 152.372
30 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 24.031 152.353
31 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 24.037 152.315
32 14 Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac 24.062 152.157
33 4 Bobby Hamilton Jr. Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 24.069 152.113
34 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 24.070 152.106
35 01 Jason Leffler (R) Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 24.070 152.106
36 44 Buckshot Jones Petty Enterprises Dodge 24.077 152.062
Provisionals
37 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford -* -*
38 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford -* -*
39 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac -* -*
40 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford -* -*
41 77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford -* -*
42 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet -* -*
43 66 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford -* -*
Failed to qualify
44 90 Rick Mast Donlavey Racing Ford 24.123 152.062
Official qualifying results

*Time not available.

Race results

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Fin[11] St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 13 33 Joe Nemechek Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 393 196 running 185 $157,535
2 1 1 Kenny Wallace Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 393 101 running 175 $113,233
3 39 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac 393 0 running 165 $75,350
4 31 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 393 0 running 160 $103,252
5 4 25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 393 0 running 155 $65,350
6 25 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 393 0 running 150 $80,560
7 10 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 393 17 running 151 $61,075
8 37 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 393 0 running 142 $75,572
9 19 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 393 33 running 143 $92,102
10 40 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 392 0 running 134 $57,375
11 18 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 392 0 running 130 $62,685
12 2 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 392 0 running 127 $50,420
13 41 77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford 392 0 running 124 $56,211
14 6 93 Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing Dodge 391 0 running 121 $41,700
15 21 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 391 0 running 118 $75,223
16 15 7 Kevin Lepage Ultra Motorsports Ford 391 0 running 115 $54,590
17 33 4 Bobby Hamilton Jr. Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 391 0 running 112 $43,675
18 38 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 391 0 running 109 $82,646
19 12 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 391 0 running 106 $47,900
20 3 19 Casey Atwood (R) Evernham Motorsports Dodge 391 0 running 103 $44,550
21 14 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 391 1 running 105 $46,450
22 5 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 391 0 running 97 $46,850
23 30 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 391 0 running 94 $56,550
24 28 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 391 0 running 91 $80,490
25 8 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 390 0 running 88 $81,577
26 17 26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 390 0 running 85 $46,850
27 23 29 Kevin Harvick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 390 0 running 82 $80,777
28 42 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 390 0 running 79 $69,780
29 16 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 390 0 running 76 $69,402
30 35 01 Jason Leffler (R) Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 390 0 running 73 $42,750
31 32 14 Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac 389 0 running 70 $34,100
32 20 12 Mike Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 389 0 running 67 $63,259
33 7 71 Dick Trickle Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 389 0 running 64 $33,850
34 9 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 389 0 running 61 $78,076
35 34 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 388 0 running 58 $33,600
36 26 92 Stacy Compton Melling Racing Dodge 388 0 running 55 $33,550
37 27 31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 388 0 running 52 $65,824
38 36 44 Buckshot Jones Petty Enterprises Dodge 385 0 running 49 $41,440
39 11 97 Kurt Busch (R) Roush Racing Ford 333 45 engine 51 $41,390
40 24 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 314 0 running 43 $58,038
41 43 66 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 270 0 handling 40 $33,265
42 29 85 Carl Long Mansion Motorsports Dodge 170 0 crash 37 $38,185
43 22 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 7 0 crash 34 $32,479
Failed to qualify
44 90 Rick Mast Donlavey Racing Ford
Official race results

References

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  1. ^ Poole, David (November 4, 2001). "Nemechek wins at Rockingham for his 2nd Cup victory". ThatsRacin. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on December 19, 2001. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  2. ^ Hinton, Ed (November 5, 2001). "Nemechek cruises". South Florida Sun Sentinel. p. 52. Retrieved August 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Packman, Tim (November 5, 2001). "Nemechek earns long-awaited second win". NASCAR. Turner Sports Interactive. Archived from the original on December 4, 2001. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  4. ^ "Fast Track High Performance Driving School, Inc". Fasttrackracing.com. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
  5. ^ a b c d "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2001 Rockingham 2 Race Info Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on February 13, 2002. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  6. ^ "NASCAR - 2001 Rockingham 2 Practice 1 Results". NASCAR. Archived from the original on December 4, 2001. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  7. ^ "Speeds from Saturday's first practice". ThatsRacin. November 3, 2001. Archived from the original on January 11, 2002. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  8. ^ "Saturday's final practice speeds". ThatsRacin. November 3, 2001. Archived from the original on November 20, 2001. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  9. ^ "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2002 Provisional/Owners Points Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on February 5, 2005. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  10. ^ Poole, David (November 2, 2001). "Kenny Wallace wins the pole at Rockingham". ThatsRacin. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on January 11, 2002. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  11. ^ "2001 Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 - The Third Turn". The Third Turn. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
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NASCAR Winston Cup Series
2001 season
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2001 Pennzoil Freedom 400