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2003 Pontiac Excitement 400

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2003 Pontiac Excitement 400
Race details
Race 11 of 36 in the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 2003 Pontiac Excitement 400 program cover.
The 2003 Pontiac Excitement 400 program cover.
Date May 3, 2003
Official name 49th Annual Pontiac Excitement 400
Location Richmond, Virginia, Richmond International Raceway
Course Permanent racing facility
0.75 mi (1.21 km)
Distance 393 laps, 294.75 mi (474.354 km)
Scheduled Distance 400 laps, 300 mi (482.803 km)
Average speed 86.783 miles per hour (139.664 km/h)
Attendance 110,000
Pole position
Driver Hendrick Motorsports
Time 21.342
Most laps led
Driver Joe Nemechek Hendrick Motorsports
Laps 156
Winner
No. 25 Joe Nemechek Hendrick Motorsports
Television in the United States
Network FX
Announcers Mike Joy, Larry McReynolds, Darrell Waltrip
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

The 2003 Pontiac Excitement 400 was the 11th stock car race of the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 49th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, May 3, 2003, before a crowd of 110,000 in Richmond, Virginia, at Richmond International Raceway, a 0.75 miles (1.21 km) D-shaped oval. The race was shortened from its scheduled 400 laps to 393 due to rain cutting the race short. At race's end, Joe Nemechek, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would rally from the mid-pack and eventually win his third career NASCAR Winston Cup Series win and his first and only win of the season.[1] To fill out the podium, Bobby Labonte of Joe Gibbs Racing and Dale Earnhardt Jr. of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. would finish second and third, respectively.

MB2 Motorsports driver Jerry Nadeau would suffer career-ending injuries in the second practice session of the race.[2]

Background

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Entry list

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
0 Jack Sprague (R) Haas CNC Racing Pontiac NetZero HiSpeed
1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet Pennzoil
01 Jerry Nadeau* MB2 Motorsports Pontiac U.S. Army
2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing Dodge Miller Lite
02 Hermie Sadler SCORE Motorsports Pontiac Virginia Tech Hokies
4 Mike Skinner Morgan–McClure Motorsports Pontiac Kodak EasyShare
5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Ahh, The Power of Cheese
6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford Viagra
7 Jimmy Spencer Ultra Motorsports Dodge Sirius Satellite Radio
8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet Budweiser
9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge Dodge
10 Johnny Benson Jr. MB2 Motorsports Pontiac Eagle One Wax As-U-Dry
11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford Hooters
12 Ryan Newman Penske Racing Dodge Alltel
14 Larry Foyt (R) A. J. Foyt Enterprises Dodge Harrah's "Oh Yeah!"
15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet NAPA Auto Parts
16 Greg Biffle (R) Roush Racing Ford Grainger
17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford DeWalt
18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet Interstate Batteries
19 Jeremy Mayfield Evernham Motorsports Dodge Dodge
20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet The Home Depot
21 Ricky Rudd Wood Brothers Racing Ford Motorcraft
22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge Caterpillar
23 Kenny Wallace Bill Davis Racing Dodge Stacker 2
24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet DuPont
25 Joe Nemechek Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet UAW, Delphi
29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet GM Goodwrench
30 Jeff Green Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet America Online
31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Cingular Wireless
32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Pontiac Tide Bleach
37 Derrike Cope Quest Motor Racing Chevrolet Friendly's
38 Elliott Sadler Robert Yates Racing Ford M&M's
40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge Coors Light
41 Casey Mears (R) Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge Target
42 Jamie McMurray (R) Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge Texaco, Havoline
43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge Cheerios
45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge Georgia-Pacific Brawny
48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Lowe's
49 Ken Schrader BAM Racing Dodge BAM Racing
54 Todd Bodine BelCar Motorsports Ford National Guard
66 Hideo Fukuyama** (R) BelCar Motorsports Ford Kikkoman
74 Tony Raines (R) BACE Motorsports Chevrolet BACE Motorsports
77 Dave Blaney Jasper Motorsports Ford Jasper Engines & Transmissions
88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford UPS
97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford Rubbermaid Commercial, Sharpie
99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford Citgo
Official entry list

*Driver changed to Jason Keller after Nadeau crashed in second practice, leaving Nadeau critically injured and effectively ending Nadeau's racing career.[2][3][4]

**Withdrew after crashing in first practice.[5]

Practice

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First practice

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The first practice session was held on Friday, May 2, at 11:20 AM EST, and would last for two hours.[5] Dale Earnhardt Jr. of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 21.230 and an average speed of 127.178 miles per hour (204.673 km/h).[6]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 21.230 127.178
2 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 21.249 127.065
3 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 21.259 127.005
Full first practice results

Second practice

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The second practice session was held on Friday, May 2, at 4:45 PM EST, and would last for 45 minutes.[5] Jeff Burton of Roush Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 21.640 and an average speed of 124.769 miles per hour (200.796 km/h).[7]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 21.640 124.769
2 25 Joe Nemechek Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 21.701 124.418
3 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 21.737 124.212
Full second practice results

Third and final practice

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The third and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Friday, May 2, at 6:10 PM EST, and would last for 45 minutes.[5] Jeff Burton of Roush Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 21.640 and an average speed of 124.769 miles per hour (200.796 km/h).[8]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 21.650 124.711
2 97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford 21.658 124.665
3 23 Kenny Wallace Bill Davis Racing Dodge 21.678 124.550
Full Happy Hour practice results

Qualifying

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Qualifying was held on Friday, May 2, at 3:00 PM EST. Each driver would have two laps to set a fastest time; the fastest of the two would count as their official qualifying lap.[5] Positions 1-36 would be decided on time, while positions 37-43 would be based on provisionals. Six spots are awarded by the use of provisionals based on owner's points. The seventh is awarded to a past champion who has not otherwise qualified for the race. If no past champ needs the provisional, the next team in the owner points will be awarded a provisional.[9]

Terry Labonte of Hendrick Motorsports would win the pole, setting a time of 21.342 and an average speed of 126.511 miles per hour (203.600 km/h).[10]

Two drivers would fail to qualify: Derrike Cope and Hermie Sadler.

Full qualifying results

[edit]
Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 21.342 126.511
2 25 Joe Nemechek Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 21.366 126.369
3 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 21.375 126.316
4 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 21.393 126.210
5 12 Ryan Newman Penske Racing South Dodge 21.417 126.068
6 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 21.418 126.062
7 97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford 21.423 126.033
8 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 21.423 126.033
9 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 21.424 126.027
10 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 21.434 125.968
11 41 Casey Mears (R) Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 21.439 125.939
12 01 Jerry Nadeau MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 21.446 125.898
13 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac 21.467 125.774
14 23 Kenny Wallace Bill Davis Racing Dodge 21.473 125.739
15 16 Greg Biffle (R) Roush Racing Ford 21.479 125.704
16 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 21.499 125.587
17 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Dodge 21.504 125.558
18 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 21.510 125.523
19 19 Jeremy Mayfield Evernham Motorsports Dodge 21.515 125.494
20 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 21.516 125.488
21 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 21.520 125.465
22 42 Jamie McMurray (R) Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 21.522 125.453
23 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 21.546 125.313
24 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 21.555 125.261
25 7 Jimmy Spencer Ultra Motorsports Dodge 21.563 125.215
26 4 Mike Skinner Morgan–McClure Motorsports Pontiac 21.563 125.215
27 21 Ricky Rudd Wood Brothers Racing Ford 21.570 125.174
28 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 21.571 125.168
29 0 Jack Sprague (R) Haas CNC Racing Pontiac 21.574 125.151
30 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 21.581 125.110
31 77 Dave Blaney Jasper Motorsports Ford 21.584 125.093
32 31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 21.590 125.058
33 49 Ken Schrader BAM Racing Dodge 21.591 125.052
34 54 Todd Bodine BelCar Motorsports Ford 21.639 124.775
35 74 Tony Raines (R) BACE Motorsports Chevrolet 21.655 124.683
36 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 21.670 124.596
Provisionals
37 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 21.679 124.545
38 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Pontiac 21.677 124.556
39 38 Elliott Sadler Robert Yates Racing Ford 21.876 123.423
40 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 21.852 123.559
41 30 Jeff Green Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 21.679 124.545
42 14 Larry Foyt (R) A. J. Foyt Enterprises Dodge 21.743 124.178
43 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 21.962 122.940
Failed to qualify or withdrew
44 37 Derrike Cope Quest Motor Racing Chevrolet 21.946 123.029
45 02 Hermie Sadler SCORE Motorsports Pontiac 21.836 123.649
WD 66 Hideo Fukuyama (R) BelCar Motorsports Ford
Official qualifying results

Race results

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Fin.[11] St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 2 25 Joe Nemechek Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 393 156 running 185 $159,375
2 4 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 393 62 running 175 $157,758
3 3 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 393 5 running 170 $121,867
4 32 31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 393 29 running 165 $101,212
5 30 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 393 10 running 160 $102,533
6 36 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 393 12 running 155 $100,928
7 18 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 393 0 running 146 $73,675
8 7 97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford 393 17 running 147 $89,925
9 16 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 393 0 running 138 $90,342
10 17 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Dodge 393 0 running 134 $91,942
11 20 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 393 0 running 130 $90,781
12 37 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 393 0 running 127 $69,910
13 21 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 393 0 running 124 $95,425
14 35 74 Tony Raines (R) BACE Motorsports Chevrolet 393 0 running 121 $51,325
15 13 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac 393 0 running 118 $82,435
16 6 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 393 42 running 120 $97,228
17 15 16 Greg Biffle (R) Roush Racing Ford 393 0 running 112 $49,150
18 31 77 Dave Blaney Jasper Motorsports Ford 393 0 running 109 $76,000
19 10 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 393 0 running 106 $68,275
20 28 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 393 6 running 108 $89,058
21 1 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 393 30 running 105 $83,456
22 22 42 Jamie McMurray (R) Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 393 0 running 97 $47,975
23 34 54 Todd Bodine BelCar Motorsports Ford 393 0 running 94 $65,375
24 33 49 Ken Schrader BAM Racing Dodge 392 0 running 91 $58,100
25 19 19 Jeremy Mayfield Evernham Motorsports Dodge 392 0 running 88 $59,050
26 29 0 Jack Sprague (R) Haas CNC Racing Pontiac 392 0 running 85 $47,725
27 8 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 391 0 running 82 $58,700
28 11 41 Casey Mears (R) Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 391 0 running 79 $66,864
29 14 23 Kenny Wallace Bill Davis Racing Dodge 390 0 crash 76 $50,250
30 24 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 390 0 running 73 $86,253
31 43 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 389 0 running 70 $49,825
32 12 01 Jason Keller MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 388 0 running 67 $49,675
33 42 14 Larry Foyt (R) A. J. Foyt Enterprises Dodge 387 0 running 64 $49,625
34 27 21 Ricky Rudd Wood Brothers Racing Ford 378 0 crash 61 $57,075
35 26 4 Mike Skinner Morgan–McClure Motorsports Pontiac 378 0 crash 58 $47,425
36 40 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 363 0 crash 55 $92,253
37 39 38 Elliott Sadler Robert Yates Racing Ford 338 0 running 52 $80,675
38 38 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Pontiac 287 0 crash 49 $54,375
39 5 12 Ryan Newman Penske Racing South Dodge 277 24 running 51 $76,185
40 41 30 Jeff Green Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 267 0 crash 43 $54,230
41 9 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 223 0 crash 40 $98,748
42 25 7 Jimmy Spencer Ultra Motorsports Dodge 139 0 crash 37 $46,110
43 23 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 42 0 crash 34 $71,502
Failed to qualify or withdrew
44 37 Derrike Cope Quest Motor Racing Chevrolet
45 02 Hermie Sadler SCORE Motorsports Pontiac
WD 66 Hideo Fukuyama (R) BelCar Motorsports Ford
Official race results

References

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  1. ^ Minter, Rick (2003-05-04). "A slick win for Nemechek". The Atlanta Constitution. pp. D16 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  2. ^ a b Smith, Marty (October 25, 2012). "Nadeau: 'It's almost like I lost my life'". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Archived from the original on October 27, 2012. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  3. ^ Lew Freedman (2013). Encyclopedia of Stock Car Racing. ABC-CLIO. p. 529. ISBN 978-0-313-38710-4.
  4. ^ "Nadeau's condition improves". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. May 6, 2003. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2003 Richmond 1 Race Info Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on 2005-02-04. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
  6. ^ "NASCAR.com - Races - 2003 Richmond 1 Practice 1 Results". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on 2005-02-05. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
  7. ^ "NASCAR.com - Races - 2003 Richmond 1 Practice 2 Results". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on 2005-02-05. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
  8. ^ "NASCAR.com - Races - 2003 Richmond 1 Practice 3 Results". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on 2005-02-05. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
  9. ^ "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2003 Provisional Land Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on 2005-02-04. Retrieved 2022-01-08.
  10. ^ "Labonte takes top spot at Richmond". www.espn.com. 2003-05-02. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
  11. ^ "2003 Pontiac Excitement 400 - The Third Turn". www.thethirdturn.com. Retrieved 2022-02-26.
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