# 2003 MBNA Armed Forces Family 400

The 2003 MBNA Armed Forces Family 400 was the 13th 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 1, 2003, in Dover, Delaware at Dover International Speedway, a 1-mile (1.6 km) permanent oval-shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 400 laps to complete. At race's end, Penske Racing South driver Ryan Newman would manage to dominate the late stages of the race to take his third career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his second victory of the season. To fill out the top 3, Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon and Joe Gibbs Racing driver Bobby Labonte would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

Dover International Speedway is an oval race track in Dover, Delaware, United States that has held at least two NASCAR races since it opened in 1969. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosted USAC and the NTT IndyCar Series. The track features one layout, a 1-mile (1.6 km) concrete oval, with 24° banking in the turns and 9° banking on the straights. The speedway is owned and operated by Dover Motorsports.
The track, nicknamed "The Monster Mile", was built in 1969 by Melvin Joseph of Melvin L. Joseph Construction Company, Inc., with an asphalt surface, but was replaced with concrete in 1995. Six years later in 2001, the track's capacity moved to 135,000 seats, making the track have the largest capacity of sports venue in the mid-Atlantic. In 2002, the name changed to Dover International Speedway from Dover Downs International Speedway after Dover Downs Gaming and Entertainment split, making Dover Motorsports. From 2007 to 2009, the speedway worked on an improvement project called "The Monster Makeover", which expanded facilities at the track and beautified the track. After the 2014 season, the track's capacity was reduced to 95,500 seats.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 0 | Jack Sprague (R) | 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 South | Dodge | Miller Lite |
| 4 | Mike Skinner | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Pontiac | Kodak |
| 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kellogg's, Finding Nemo |
| 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 | Valvoline |
| 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | Hooters |
| 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing South | 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 (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | Grainger |
| 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | DeWalt |
| 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | Interstate Batteries, Advair |
| 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | Dodge |
| 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | The Home Depot |
| 21 | Ricky Rudd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | U.S. Air Force |
| 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 | 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 | Jeff Green | 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 | America's Second Harvest |
| 77 | Dave Blaney | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | Jasper Engines & Transmissions, 2 Fast 2 Furious |
| 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | UPS |
| 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | Rubbermaid, Sharpie |
| 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | Citgo Peel Out, Reel Out, And Win! |

## Practice

Originally, three practice sessions were scheduled to be held, with one practice on Friday, May 30, and two on Saturday, May 31. However, due to rain, the final Saturday session was cancelled.

### First practice

The first practice session was held on Friday, May 30, at 11:05 AM EST. The session would last for one hour and 55 minutes. Ryan Newman, driving for Penske Racing South, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 22.738 and an average speed of 158.325 miles per hour (254.799 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 22.738 | 158.325 |
| 2 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 22.836 | 157.646 |
| 3 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 22.838 | 157.632 |
| Full first practice results |||||||

### Final practice

The final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, May 31, at 9:30 AM EST. The session would last for 45 minutes. Sterling Marlin, driving for Chip Ganassi Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 23.263 and an average speed of 154.752 miles per hour (249.049 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 23.263 | 154.752 |
| 2 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 23.299 | 154.513 |
| 3 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 23.428 | 153.662 |
| Full Happy Hour practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Friday, May 30, at 2:35 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.
Ryan Newman, driving for Penske Racing South, would win the pole, setting a time of 22.682 and an average speed of 158.716 miles per hour (255.429 km/h).
Derrike Cope was the only driver to fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 22.682 | 158.716 |
| 2 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 22.883 | 157.322 |
| 3 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 22.901 | 157.198 |
| 4 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 22.929 | 157.006 |
| 5 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.981 | 156.651 |
| 6 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 22.982 | 156.644 |
| 7 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 22.984 | 156.631 |
| 8 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.991 | 156.583 |
| 9 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.064 | 156.087 |
| 10 | 30 | Steve Park | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 23.072 | 156.033 |
| 11 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 23.073 | 156.027 |
| 12 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 23.095 | 155.878 |
| 13 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 23.098 | 155.858 |
| 14 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 23.098 | 155.858 |
| 15 | 16 | Greg Biffle (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | 23.104 | 155.817 |
| 16 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 23.128 | 155.656 |
| 17 | 38 | Elliott Sadler | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 23.139 | 155.581 |
| 18 | 01 | Mike Wallace | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 23.166 | 155.400 |
| 19 | 42 | Jamie McMurray (R) | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 23.185 | 155.273 |
| 20 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Pontiac | 23.212 | 155.092 |
| 21 | 54 | Todd Bodine | BelCar Motorsports | Ford | 23.224 | 155.012 |
| 22 | 41 | Casey Mears (R) | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 23.226 | 154.999 |
| 23 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 23.228 | 154.985 |
| 24 | 21 | Ricky Rudd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 23.237 | 154.925 |
| 25 | 49 | Ken Schrader | BAM Racing | Dodge | 23.240 | 154.905 |
| 26 | 77 | Dave Blaney | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 23.243 | 154.885 |
| 27 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 23.263 | 154.752 |
| 28 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 23.277 | 154.659 |
| 29 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 23.295 | 154.540 |
| 30 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac | 23.308 | 154.453 |
| 31 | 7 | Jimmy Spencer | Ultra Motorsports | Dodge | 23.316 | 154.400 |
| 32 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 23.323 | 154.354 |
| 33 | 1 | Jeff Green | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 23.339 | 154.248 |
| 34 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 23.393 | 153.892 |
| 35 | 4 | Mike Skinner | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Pontiac | 23.415 | 153.748 |
| 36 | 23 | Kenny Wallace | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 23.423 | 153.695 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 37 | 25 | Joe Nemechek | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.442 | 153.570 |
| 38 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 23.446 | 153.544 |
| 39 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 23.645 | 152.252 |
| 40 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 23.468 | 153.400 |
| 41 | 0 | Jack Sprague (R) | Haas CNC Racing | Pontiac | 23.640 | 152.284 |
| 42 | 74 | Tony Raines (R) | BACE Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.668 | 152.104 |
| 43 | 14 | Larry Foyt | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Dodge | 23.632 | 152.336 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 44 | 37 | Derrike Cope | Quest Motor Racing | Chevrolet | 23.813 | 151.178 |
| Official qualifying results |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 1 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 400 | 162 | running | 185 | $199,325 |
| 2 | 9 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 400 | 53 | running | 175 | $176,228 |
| 3 | 13 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 400 | 34 | running | 170 | $139,333 |
| 4 | 11 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 400 | 67 | running | 165 | $145,253 |
| 5 | 30 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac | 400 | 0 | running | 155 | $110,975 |
| 6 | 2 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 400 | 41 | running | 155 | $110,097 |
| 7 | 4 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 400 | 0 | running | 146 | $87,985 |
| 8 | 20 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Pontiac | 400 | 0 | running | 142 | $95,565 |
| 9 | 38 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 400 | 3 | running | 143 | $99,747 |
| 10 | 8 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 400 | 0 | running | 134 | $97,641 |
| 11 | 12 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 400 | 2 | running | 135 | $106,692 |
| 12 | 21 | 54 | Todd Bodine | BelCar Motorsports | Ford | 400 | 0 | running | 127 | $83,110 |
| 13 | 19 | 42 | Jamie McMurray (R) | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 400 | 0 | running | 124 | $68,970 |
| 14 | 28 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 399 | 0 | running | 121 | $98,652 |
| 15 | 7 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 399 | 1 | running | 123 | $95,685 |
| 16 | 16 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 399 | 1 | running | 120 | $78,935 |
| 17 | 24 | 21 | Ricky Rudd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 399 | 0 | running | 112 | $82,950 |
| 18 | 32 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 399 | 0 | running | 109 | $97,968 |
| 19 | 18 | 01 | Mike Wallace | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 398 | 0 | running | 106 | $72,199 |
| 20 | 26 | 77 | Dave Blaney | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 398 | 0 | running | 103 | $73,335 |
| 21 | 3 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 398 | 0 | running | 100 | $71,885 |
| 22 | 14 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 398 | 0 | running | 97 | $98,668 |
| 23 | 36 | 23 | Kenny Wallace | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 398 | 0 | running | 94 | $63,785 |
| 24 | 37 | 25 | Joe Nemechek | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 397 | 0 | running | 91 | $62,630 |
| 25 | 33 | 1 | Jeff Green | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 396 | 0 | running | 88 | $84,942 |
| 26 | 25 | 49 | Ken Schrader | BAM Racing | Dodge | 396 | 0 | running | 85 | $62,205 |
| 27 | 23 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 395 | 0 | running | 82 | $97,833 |
| 28 | 43 | 14 | Larry Foyt | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Dodge | 394 | 0 | running | 79 | $58,880 |
| 29 | 31 | 7 | Jimmy Spencer | Ultra Motorsports | Dodge | 393 | 0 | running | 76 | $61,230 |
| 30 | 15 | 16 | Greg Biffle (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | 387 | 0 | crash | 73 | $59,090 |
| 31 | 42 | 74 | Tony Raines (R) | BACE Motorsports | Chevrolet | 382 | 0 | running | 70 | $58,430 |
| 32 | 10 | 30 | Steve Park | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 367 | 0 | running | 67 | $66,270 |
| 33 | 17 | 38 | Elliott Sadler | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 331 | 0 | running | 64 | $93,270 |
| 34 | 40 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 309 | 0 | running | 61 | $93,688 |
| 35 | 6 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 301 | 0 | crash | 58 | $101,695 |
| 36 | 35 | 4 | Mike Skinner | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Pontiac | 298 | 0 | running | 55 | $57,580 |
| 37 | 39 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 279 | 0 | engine | 52 | $93,526 |
| 38 | 5 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 277 | 36 | crash | 54 | $76,760 |
| 39 | 29 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 255 | 0 | engine | 46 | $103,028 |
| 40 | 22 | 41 | Casey Mears (R) | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 244 | 0 | crash | 43 | $65,120 |
| 41 | 41 | 0 | Jack Sprague (R) | Haas CNC Racing | Pontiac | 215 | 0 | crash | 40 | $56,995 |
| 42 | 34 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 213 | 0 | crash | 37 | $56,890 |
| 43 | 27 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 207 | 0 | crash | 34 | $65,028 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 44 | | 37 | Derrike Cope | Quest Motor Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||