# 2003 Virginia 500

The 2003 Virginia 500 was the ninth stock car race of the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 54th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, April 13, 2003, before an audience of 86,000 in Martinsville, Virginia at Martinsville Speedway, a 0.526 miles (0.847 km) permanent oval-shaped short track. The race took the scheduled 500 laps to complete. In the final laps of the race, Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon would manage to pass Joe Gibbs Racing driver Bobby Labonte to capture his 62nd career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his first victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Labonte and Dale Earnhardt, Inc. driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

Martinsville Speedway is a NASCAR-owned stock car racing track located in Henry County, in Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At 0.526 miles (0.847 km) in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved oval tracks in NASCAR, being built in 1947 by H. Clay Earles. It is also the only remaining race track that has been on the NASCAR circuit from its beginning in 1948.

### Entry list

* (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 | Go Team VA |
| 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 Dealers, UAW |
| 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | Valvoline |
| 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing | Dodge | Alltel |
| 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 Dealers, UAW |
| 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 |
| 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 | 1-800-CALL-ATT |
| 54 | Todd Bodine | BelCar Motorsports | Ford | National Guard |
| 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, Sharpie |
| 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | Citgo Muscle Team |
| Official entry list |||||

## Practice
### First practice

The first practice session was held on Friday, April 11, at 11:20 AM EST. The session would last for two hours. Jeff Gordon, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 20.250 and an average speed of 93.511 miles per hour (150.491 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20.250 | 93.511 |
| 2 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 20.253 | 93.497 |
| 3 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 20.283 | 93.359 |
| Full first practice results |||||||

### Second practice

The second practice session was held on Saturday, April 12, at 9:30 AM EST. The session would last for 45 minutes. Jeff Burton, driving for Roush Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 20.572 and an average speed of 92.047 miles per hour (148.135 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 20.572 | 92.047 |
| 2 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 20.582 | 92.003 |
| 3 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 20.607 | 91.891 |
| Full second practice results |||||||

### Final practice

The final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, April 12, at 11:10 AM EST. The session would last for 45 minutes. Kenny Wallace, driving for Bill Davis Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 20.548 and an average speed of 92.155 miles per hour (148.309 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 23 | Kenny Wallace | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 20.548 | 92.155 |
| 2 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20.592 | 91.958 |
| 3 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 20.621 | 91.829 |
| Full Happy Hour practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Friday, April 11, 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.
Jeff Gordon, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would win the pole, setting a time of 20.079 and an average speed of 94.308 miles per hour (151.774 km/h).
No drivers would fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20.079 | 94.308 |
| 2 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 20.174 | 93.863 |
| 3 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 20.214 | 93.678 |
| 4 | 49 | Ken Schrader | BAM Racing | Dodge | 20.233 | 93.590 |
| 5 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 20.243 | 93.543 |
| 6 | 25 | Joe Nemechek | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20.278 | 93.382 |
| 7 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20.313 | 93.221 |
| 8 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 20.329 | 93.148 |
| 9 | 23 | Kenny Wallace | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 20.334 | 93.125 |
| 10 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 20.336 | 93.116 |
| 11 | 42 | Jamie McMurray (R) | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 20.336 | 93.116 |
| 12 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 20.337 | 93.111 |
| 13 | 7 | Jimmy Spencer | Ultra Motorsports | Dodge | 20.337 | 93.111 |
| 14 | 0 | Jack Sprague (R) | Haas CNC Racing | Pontiac | 20.345 | 93.075 |
| 15 | 77 | Dave Blaney | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 20.346 | 93.070 |
| 16 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20.362 | 92.997 |
| 17 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Pontiac | 20.369 | 92.965 |
| 18 | 38 | Elliott Sadler | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 20.375 | 92.937 |
| 19 | 21 | Ricky Rudd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 20.381 | 92.910 |
| 20 | 16 | Greg Biffle (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | 20.383 | 92.901 |
| 21 | 4 | Mike Skinner | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Pontiac | 20.389 | 92.874 |
| 22 | 41 | Casey Mears (R) | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 20.392 | 92.860 |
| 23 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 20.407 | 92.792 |
| 24 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 20.411 | 92.773 |
| 25 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 20.412 | 92.769 |
| 26 | 01 | Jerry Nadeau | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 20.412 | 92.769 |
| 27 | 74 | Tony Raines (R) | BACE Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20.419 | 92.737 |
| 28 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac | 20.424 | 92.715 |
| 29 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 20.434 | 92.669 |
| 30 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 20.445 | 92.619 |
| 31 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 20.450 | 92.597 |
| 32 | 1 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 20.456 | 92.569 |
| 33 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 20.472 | 92.497 |
| 34 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 20.484 | 92.443 |
| 35 | 30 | Jeff Green | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 20.484 | 92.443 |
| 36 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 20.497 | 92.384 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 37 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 20.509 | 92.330 |
| 38 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 20.503 | 92.357 |
| 39 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 20.605 | 91.900 |
| 40 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 20.505 | 92.348 |
| 41 | 54 | Todd Bodine | BelCar Motorsports | Ford | 20.590 | 91.967 |
| 42 | 37 | Derrike Cope | Quest Motor Racing | Chevrolet | 20.699 | 91.483 |
| 43 | 02 | Hermie Sadler | SCORE Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20.676 | 91.584 |
| Official qualifying results |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 1 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 190 | running | 180 | $219,143 |
| 2 | 39 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 500 | 49 | running | 175 | $138,348 |
| 3 | 2 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 500 | 195 | running | 175 | $112,542 |
| 4 | 10 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 500 | 0 | running | 160 | $101,592 |
| 5 | 18 | 38 | Elliott Sadler | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 500 | 5 | running | 160 | $98,950 |
| 6 | 8 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 500 | 11 | running | 155 | $105,953 |
| 7 | 25 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 500 | 23 | running | 151 | $97,275 |
| 8 | 5 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 500 | 13 | running | 147 | $91,217 |
| 9 | 7 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 0 | running | 138 | $70,250 |
| 10 | 4 | 49 | Ken Schrader | BAM Racing | Dodge | 500 | 0 | running | 134 | $54,050 |
| 11 | 19 | 21 | Ricky Rudd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 500 | 0 | running | 130 | $78,650 |
| 12 | 9 | 23 | Kenny Wallace | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 500 | 0 | running | 127 | $68,225 |
| 13 | 31 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 499 | 0 | running | 124 | $88,358 |
| 14 | 16 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 499 | 1 | running | 126 | $78,581 |
| 15 | 6 | 25 | Joe Nemechek | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 499 | 0 | running | 118 | $53,750 |
| 16 | 29 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 499 | 13 | running | 120 | $87,678 |
| 17 | 24 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 499 | 0 | running | 112 | $85,433 |
| 18 | 20 | 16 | Greg Biffle (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | 499 | 0 | running | 109 | $47,975 |
| 19 | 13 | 7 | Jimmy Spencer | Ultra Motorsports | Dodge | 499 | 0 | running | 106 | $63,575 |
| 20 | 37 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 499 | 0 | running | 103 | $94,303 |
| 21 | 38 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 499 | 0 | running | 100 | $75,262 |
| 22 | 34 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 499 | 0 | running | 97 | $66,725 |
| 23 | 30 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 499 | 0 | running | 94 | $63,975 |
| 24 | 32 | 1 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 499 | 0 | running | 91 | $74,562 |
| 25 | 12 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 499 | 0 | running | 88 | $82,931 |
| 26 | 35 | 30 | Jeff Green | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 498 | 0 | running | 85 | $56,825 |
| 27 | 17 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Pontiac | 498 | 0 | running | 82 | $67,010 |
| 28 | 36 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 498 | 0 | running | 79 | $64,910 |
| 29 | 14 | 0 | Jack Sprague (R) | Haas CNC Racing | Pontiac | 497 | 0 | running | 76 | $44,725 |
| 30 | 40 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 497 | 0 | running | 73 | $84,178 |
| 31 | 15 | 77 | Dave Blaney | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 497 | 0 | running | 70 | $64,064 |
| 32 | 28 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac | 497 | 0 | running | 67 | $74,200 |
| 33 | 27 | 74 | Tony Raines (R) | BACE Motorsports | Chevrolet | 496 | 0 | running | 64 | $45,025 |
| 34 | 33 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 496 | 0 | running | 61 | $55,000 |
| 35 | 21 | 4 | Mike Skinner | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Pontiac | 496 | 0 | running | 58 | $46,950 |
| 36 | 22 | 41 | Casey Mears (R) | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 496 | 0 | running | 55 | $54,400 |
| 37 | 41 | 54 | Todd Bodine | BelCar Motorsports | Ford | 492 | 0 | running | 52 | $43,850 |
| 38 | 3 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 436 | 0 | brakes | 49 | $74,665 |
| 39 | 11 | 42 | Jamie McMurray (R) | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 319 | 0 | engine | 46 | $43,740 |
| 40 | 23 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 308 | 0 | overheating | 43 | $51,665 |
| 41 | 26 | 01 | Jerry Nadeau | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 267 | 0 | oil pump | 40 | $43,615 |
| 42 | 42 | 37 | Derrike Cope | Quest Motor Racing | Chevrolet | 230 | 0 | throttle | 37 | $43,575 |
| 43 | 43 | 02 | Hermie Sadler | SCORE Motorsports | Chevrolet | 133 | 0 | engine | 34 | $42,866 |
| Official race results |||||||||||