# 2003 Sirius 400

The 2003 Sirius 400 was the 15th stock car race of the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 35th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, June 15, 2003, before a crowd of 160,000 in Brooklyn, Michigan, at Michigan International Speedway, a two-mile (3.2 km) moderate-banked D-shaped speedway. The race took the scheduled 200 laps to complete. At race's end, Kurt Busch of Roush Racing would make adjustments at the end of the race to pass Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon on lap 177, and hold off Bobby Labonte of Joe Gibbs Racing to win his seventh career NASCAR Winston Cup Series win and his third of the season. Labonte and Gordon would fill out the podium, finishing second and third, respectively.

## Background

The race was held at Michigan International Speedway, a two-mile (3.2 km) moderate-banked D-shaped speedway located in Brooklyn, Michigan. The track is used primarily for NASCAR events. It is known as a "sister track" to Texas World Speedway as MIS's oval design was a direct basis of TWS, with moderate modifications to the banking in the corners, and was used as the basis of Auto Club Speedway. The track is owned by International Speedway Corporation. Michigan International Speedway is recognized as one of motorsports' premier facilities because of its wide racing surface and high banking (by open-wheel standards; the 18-degree banking is modest by stock car standards).

### Entry list

| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 0 | Jack Sprague | Haas CNC Racing | Pontiac | NetZero HiSpeed |
| 1 | Jeff Green | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | Pennzoil |
| 01 | Mike Wallace | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | U.S. Army |
| 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing | Dodge | Miller Lite |
| 02 | Hermie Sadler | SCORE Motorsports | Chevrolet | TNA Wrestling |
| 4 | Mike Skinner | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Pontiac | Kodak |
| 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Got Milk?, Kellogg's |
| 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 Summer Sales Deal |
| 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | Valvoline |
| 11 | Brett Bodine* | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | Hooters |
| 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing | Dodge | Alltel |
| 14 | Larry Foyt | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Dodge | Harrah's "Oh Yeah!" |
| 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | NAPA Auto Parts |
| 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Racing | Ford | Grainger |
| 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | DeWalt |
| 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | Interstate Batteries, Hulk |
| 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | Dodge Summer Sales Deal |
| 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 | Steve Park | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | America Online |
| 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Cingular Wireless |
| 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Pontiac | Tide |
| 37 | Derrike Cope | Quest Motor Racing | Chevrolet | Great Barrier Reef |
| 38 | Elliott Sadler | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | M&M's |
| 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | Coors Light |
| 41 | Casey Mears | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | Target |
| 42 | Jamie McMurray | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | Texaco, Havoline |
| 43 | Christian Fittipaldi | 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 |
| 74 | Tony Raines | 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, Sharpie |
| 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | Citgo |
| Official entry list |||||
*Driver changed to Geoff Bodine for the race due to an injury Brett had suffered during the Happy Hour practice session.

## Practice
### First practice

The first practice session was held on Friday, June 13, at 11:00 AM EST, and would last for 2 hours. Bobby Labonte of Joe Gibbs Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 38.293 and an average speed of 188.024 miles per hour (302.595 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 38.293 | 188.024 |
| 2 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 38.347 | 187.759 |
| 3 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 38.409 | 187.456 |
| Full first practice results |||||||

### Second practice

The second practice session was held on Saturday, June 14, at 9:30 AM EST, and would last for 45 minutes. Tony Stewart of Joe Gibbs Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 38.749 and an average speed of 185.811 miles per hour (299.034 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 38.749 | 185.811 |
| 2 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing | Dodge | 39.056 | 184.351 |
| 3 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 39.074 | 184.266 |
| Full second practice results |||||||

### Third and final practice

The third and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, June 14, at 11:10 AM EST, and would last for 45 minutes. Bobby Labonte of Joe Gibbs Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 39.455 and an average speed of 182.486 miles per hour (293.683 km/h).
In the practice session, Brett Bodine would suffer a violent crash that would result in a broken right clavicle. As a result, brother Geoff Bodine would replace him for the race.
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 39.455 | 182.486 |
| 2 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Pontiac | 39.626 | 181.699 |
| 3 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 39.760 | 181.087 |
| Full Happy Hour practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Friday, June 13, at 3:05 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. 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.
Bobby Labonte of Joe Gibbs Racing would win the pole, setting a time of 37.822 and an average speed of 190.365 miles per hour (306.363 km/h).
Jimmy Spencer would blow an engine in the session. He was forced to use a provisional.
Two drivers would fail to qualify: Mike Skinner and Larry Foyt.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 37.822 | 190.365 |
| 2 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 38.002 | 189.464 |
| 3 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 38.077 | 189.090 |
| 4 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 38.139 | 188.783 |
| 5 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 38.158 | 188.689 |
| 6 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 38.188 | 188.541 |
| 7 | 38 | Elliott Sadler | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 38.197 | 188.497 |
| 8 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing | Dodge | 38.238 | 188.294 |
| 9 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 38.259 | 188.191 |
| 10 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 38.260 | 188.186 |
| 11 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 38.289 | 188.044 |
| 12 | 25 | Joe Nemechek | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 38.289 | 188.044 |
| 13 | 1 | Jeff Green | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 38.298 | 187.999 |
| 14 | 0 | Jack Sprague | Haas CNC Racing | Pontiac | 38.334 | 187.823 |
| 15 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 38.339 | 187.798 |
| 16 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 38.340 | 187.793 |
| 17 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing | Dodge | 38.355 | 187.720 |
| 18 | 02 | Hermie Sadler | SCORE Motorsports | Chevrolet | 38.365 | 187.671 |
| 19 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 38.367 | 187.661 |
| 20 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 38.377 | 187.612 |
| 21 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 38.394 | 187.529 |
| 22 | 41 | Casey Mears | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 38.411 | 187.446 |
| 23 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 38.412 | 187.441 |
| 24 | 23 | Kenny Wallace | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 38.414 | 187.432 |
| 25 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 38.463 | 187.193 |
| 26 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 38.492 | 187.052 |
| 27 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 38.504 | 186.994 |
| 28 | 49 | Ken Schrader | BAM Racing | Dodge | 38.521 | 186.911 |
| 29 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Racing | Ford | 38.526 | 186.887 |
| 30 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 38.534 | 186.848 |
| 31 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 38.552 | 186.761 |
| 32 | 21 | Ricky Rudd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 38.581 | 186.620 |
| 33 | 30 | Steve Park | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 38.593 | 186.562 |
| 34 | 01 | Mike Wallace | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 38.618 | 186.442 |
| 35 | 37 | Derrike Cope | Quest Motor Racing | Chevrolet | 38.632 | 186.374 |
| 36 | 43 | Christian Fittipaldi | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 38.651 | 186.282 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 37 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Pontiac | 39.101 | 184.139 |
| 38 | 77 | Dave Blaney | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 38.819 | 185.476 |
| 39 | 42 | Jamie McMurray | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 38.670 | 186.191 |
| 40 | 7 | Jimmy Spencer | Ultra Motorsports | Dodge | 46.798 | 153.853 |
| 41 | 54 | Todd Bodine | BelCar Motorsports | Ford | 38.748 | 185.816 |
| 42 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 38.661 | 186.234 |
| 43 | 74 | Tony Raines | BACE Motorsports | Chevrolet | 38.681 | 186.138 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 44 | 4 | Mike Skinner | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Pontiac | 38.729 | 185.907 |
| 45 | 14 | Larry Foyt | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Dodge | 38.918 | 185.004 |
| Official qualifying results |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 4 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 200 | 24 | running | 180 | $172,650 |
| 2 | 1 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 170 | $142,858 |
| 3 | 6 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 17 | running | 170 | $126,228 |
| 4 | 21 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 160 | $93,275 |
| 5 | 9 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 155 | $81,475 |
| 6 | 30 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 200 | 102 | running | 160 | $114,540 |
| 7 | 3 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 200 | 1 | running | 151 | $100,607 |
| 8 | 2 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 200 | 51 | running | 147 | $110,843 |
| 9 | 15 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 138 | $96,248 |
| 10 | 5 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 134 | $89,571 |
| 11 | 23 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 130 | $93,447 |
| 12 | 17 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing | Dodge | 200 | 0 | running | 127 | $93,457 |
| 13 | 20 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 200 | 0 | running | 124 | $67,290 |
| 14 | 39 | 42 | Jamie McMurray | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 200 | 0 | running | 121 | $63,590 |
| 15 | 37 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Pontiac | 200 | 0 | running | 118 | $83,590 |
| 16 | 11 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | running | 115 | $71,890 |
| 17 | 7 | 38 | Elliott Sadler | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 199 | 0 | running | 112 | $90,440 |
| 18 | 10 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | running | 109 | $91,468 |
| 19 | 14 | 0 | Jack Sprague | Haas CNC Racing | Pontiac | 199 | 0 | running | 106 | $55,290 |
| 20 | 22 | 41 | Casey Mears | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 199 | 0 | running | 103 | $80,190 |
| 21 | 12 | 25 | Joe Nemechek | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | running | 100 | $54,540 |
| 22 | 19 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | running | 97 | $79,427 |
| 23 | 34 | 01 | Mike Wallace | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 199 | 0 | running | 94 | $67,790 |
| 24 | 16 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 199 | 0 | running | 91 | $89,223 |
| 25 | 24 | 23 | Kenny Wallace | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 199 | 0 | running | 88 | $64,290 |
| 26 | 26 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 199 | 0 | running | 85 | $79,790 |
| 27 | 33 | 30 | Steve Park | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | running | 82 | $60,775 |
| 28 | 13 | 1 | Jeff Green | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | running | 79 | $77,812 |
| 29 | 40 | 7 | Jimmy Spencer | Ultra Motorsports | Dodge | 199 | 0 | running | 76 | $60,304 |
| 30 | 31 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 199 | 0 | running | 73 | $85,896 |
| 31 | 29 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Racing | Ford | 199 | 1 | running | 75 | $49,190 |
| 32 | 25 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 199 | 0 | running | 67 | $94,893 |
| 33 | 43 | 74 | Tony Raines | BACE Motorsports | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | running | 64 | $49,940 |
| 34 | 42 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 199 | 0 | running | 61 | $56,935 |
| 35 | 36 | 43 | Christian Fittipaldi | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 199 | 1 | running | 63 | $84,573 |
| 36 | 18 | 02 | Hermie Sadler | SCORE Motorsports | Chevrolet | 198 | 1 | running | 60 | $48,745 |
| 37 | 41 | 54 | Todd Bodine | BelCar Motorsports | Ford | 191 | 0 | crash | 52 | $48,695 |
| 38 | 38 | 77 | Dave Blaney | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 167 | 0 | running | 49 | $56,585 |
| 39 | 27 | 11 | Geoff Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 119 | 0 | vibration | 46 | $48,550 |
| 40 | 35 | 37 | Derrike Cope | Quest Motor Racing | Chevrolet | 68 | 0 | engine | 43 | $48,515 |
| 41 | 8 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing | Dodge | 36 | 2 | engine | 45 | $78,355 |
| 42 | 28 | 49 | Ken Schrader | BAM Racing | Dodge | 1 | 0 | crash | 37 | $48,440 |
| 43 | 32 | 21 | Ricky Rudd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 1 | 0 | crash | 34 | $55,765 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 44 | | 4 | Mike Skinner | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 45 | | 14 | Larry Foyt | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Dodge | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||