# 2003 Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400

The 2003 Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 was the 35th stock car race of the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 39th and to date, final iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, November 9, 2003, before a crowd of 60,000 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, Evernham Motorsports driver Bill Elliott charged to the front after starting from the rear to win his 44th and to date, final career NASCAR Winston Cup Series win and his first and only win of the season. Meanwhile, fourth-place finisher, Roush Racing driver Matt Kenseth, would lock up the championship, clinching the championship by points to win his first and to date, only NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship. To fill out the podium, Jimmie Johnson of Hendrick Motorsports and Jeremy Mayfield of Evernham Motorsports would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

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.

### Entry list

| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 0 | Ward Burton | Haas CNC Racing | Pontiac | NetZero HiSpeed |
| 1 | John Andretti | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | Pennzoil |
| 01 | Joe Nemechek | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | U.S. Army |
| 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Dodge | Miller Lite Penske Racing 50 Wins |
| 02 | Hermie Sadler | SCORE Motorsports | Chevrolet | Sadler GM |
| 4 | Kevin Lepage | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Pontiac | Kodak EasyShare |
| 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kellogg's, Got Milk? |
| 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, UAW |
| 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | Valvoline |
| 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing South | Dodge | Alltel Penske Racing 50 Wins |
| 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, Winston Cup Victory Lap |
| 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | Dodge, UAW |
| 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | The Home Depot |
| 21 | Ricky Rudd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Motorcraft |
| 22 | Scott Wimmer | 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 | Paramount Hospitality Management |
| 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 House |
| 42 | Jamie McMurray | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | Texaco, Havoline |
| 43 | Jeff Green | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | Pop Secret |
| 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 |
| 71 | Tim Sauter | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | ARAN Trading, Naples Transportation |
| 74 | Tony Raines | BACE Motorsports | Chevrolet | BACE Motorsports |
| 77 | Dave Blaney | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | Jasper Engines & Transmissions |
| 79 | Rich Bickle | Conely Racing | Chevrolet | SBC, Molykote |
| 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 |||||

## Practice

Originally, three practices were going to be held, with one on Friday and two on Saturday. However, rain would cancel one session on Saturday and delay the second Saturday session.

### First practice

The first practice session was held on Friday, November 7, at 11:20 AM EST, and would last for 2 hours. Ryan Newman of Penske Racing South would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 23.533 and an average speed of 155.577 miles per hour (250.377 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 23.533 | 155.577 |
| 2 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 23.674 | 154.651 |
| 3 | 54 | Todd Bodine | BelCar Motorsports | Ford | 23.711 | 154.409 |
| Full first practice results |||||||

### Second and final practice

The second and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, November 8, at approximately 12:10 PM EST, and would last for 45 minutes. Jeff Burton of Roush Racing ould set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 24.089 and an average speed of 151.986 miles per hour (244.598 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 24.089 | 151.986 |
| 2 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 24.206 | 151.252 |
| 3 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 24.209 | 151.233 |
| Full Happy Hour practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Friday, November 7, 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.
Ryan Newman of Penske Racing South would win the pole, setting a time of 23.533 and an average speed of 155.577 miles per hour (250.377 km/h).
Three drivers would fail to qualify: Hermie Sadler, Tim Sauter, and Rich Bickle.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 23.533 | 155.577 |
| 2 | 25 | Brian Vickers | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.544 | 155.505 |
| 3 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 23.574 | 155.307 |
| 4 | 74 | Tony Raines | BACE Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.574 | 155.307 |
| 5 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 23.632 | 154.926 |
| 6 | 01 | Joe Nemechek | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 23.645 | 154.840 |
| 7 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 23.680 | 154.611 |
| 8 | 7 | Jimmy Spencer | Ultra Motorsports | Dodge | 23.681 | 154.605 |
| 9 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 23.734 | 154.260 |
| 10 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Racing | Ford | 23.739 | 154.227 |
| 11 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 23.744 | 154.195 |
| 12 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 23.744 | 154.195 |
| 13 | 0 | Ward Burton | Haas CNC Racing | Pontiac | 23.764 | 154.065 |
| 14 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 23.765 | 154.059 |
| 15 | 38 | Elliott Sadler | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 23.768 | 154.039 |
| 16 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.771 | 154.020 |
| 17 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 23.774 | 154.000 |
| 18 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.778 | 153.974 |
| 19 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 23.784 | 153.935 |
| 20 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.787 | 153.916 |
| 21 | 42 | Jamie McMurray | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 23.790 | 153.897 |
| 22 | 77 | Dave Blaney | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 23.819 | 153.709 |
| 23 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 23.825 | 153.671 |
| 24 | 21 | Ricky Rudd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 23.837 | 153.593 |
| 25 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 23.839 | 153.580 |
| 26 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 23.841 | 153.567 |
| 27 | 54 | Todd Bodine | BelCar Motorsports | Ford | 23.844 | 153.548 |
| 28 | 49 | Ken Schrader | BAM Racing | Dodge | 23.906 | 153.150 |
| 29 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 23.917 | 153.079 |
| 30 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Pontiac | 23.931 | 152.990 |
| 31 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 23.932 | 152.984 |
| 32 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 23.935 | 152.964 |
| 33 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 23.976 | 152.703 |
| 34 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 23.979 | 152.684 |
| 35 | 23 | Kenny Wallace | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 23.992 | 152.601 |
| 36 | 1 | John Andretti | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 23.997 | 152.569 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 37 | 22 | Scott Wimmer | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 24.083 | 152.024 |
| 38 | 30 | Steve Park | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 24.146 | 151.628 |
| 39 | 41 | Casey Mears | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 24.063 | 152.151 |
| 40 | 4 | Kevin Lepage | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Pontiac | 24.032 | 152.347 |
| 41 | 43 | Jeff Green | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 24.191 | 151.346 |
| 42 | 14 | Larry Foyt | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Dodge | 24.136 | 151.690 |
| 43 | 37 | Derrike Cope | Quest Motor Racing | Chevrolet | 24.263 | 150.896 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 44 | 02 | Hermie Sadler | SCORE Motorsports | Chevrolet | 24.024 | 152.398 |
| 45 | 71 | Tim Sauter | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 24.213 | 151.208 |
| 46 | 79 | Rich Bickle | Conely Racing | Chevrolet | 24.777 | 147.766 |
| Official qualifying results |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 5 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 393 | 140 | running | 185 | $207,648 |
| 2 | 18 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 393 | 78 | running | 175 | $105,590 |
| 3 | 3 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 393 | 96 | running | 170 | $88,700 |
| 4 | 23 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 393 | 0 | running | 160 | $92,650 |
| 5 | 1 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 393 | 49 | running | 160 | $98,785 |
| 6 | 4 | 74 | Tony Raines | BACE Motorsports | Chevrolet | 393 | 0 | running | 150 | $61,775 |
| 7 | 9 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 393 | 0 | running | 146 | $91,442 |
| 8 | 14 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 393 | 0 | running | 142 | $98,208 |
| 9 | 29 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 393 | 0 | running | 138 | $100,403 |
| 10 | 31 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 393 | 0 | running | 134 | $99,425 |
| 11 | 10 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Racing | Ford | 392 | 0 | running | 130 | $56,675 |
| 12 | 20 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 392 | 0 | running | 127 | $81,681 |
| 13 | 26 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 391 | 0 | running | 124 | $92,042 |
| 14 | 8 | 7 | Jimmy Spencer | Ultra Motorsports | Dodge | 391 | 0 | running | 121 | $72,825 |
| 15 | 34 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 391 | 0 | running | 118 | $91,403 |
| 16 | 27 | 54 | Todd Bodine | BelCar Motorsports | Ford | 391 | 0 | running | 115 | $69,475 |
| 17 | 19 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 391 | 0 | running | 112 | $82,925 |
| 18 | 13 | 0 | Ward Burton | Haas CNC Racing | Pontiac | 390 | 30 | running | 114 | $53,325 |
| 19 | 41 | 43 | Jeff Green | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 390 | 0 | running | 106 | $88,703 |
| 20 | 17 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 390 | 0 | running | 103 | $79,612 |
| 21 | 15 | 38 | Elliott Sadler | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 390 | 0 | running | 100 | $86,325 |
| 22 | 16 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 390 | 0 | running | 97 | $96,203 |
| 23 | 7 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 390 | 0 | running | 94 | $86,242 |
| 24 | 2 | 25 | Brian Vickers | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 390 | 0 | running | 91 | $52,175 |
| 25 | 6 | 01 | Joe Nemechek | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 390 | 0 | running | 88 | $61,875 |
| 26 | 37 | 22 | Scott Wimmer | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 389 | 0 | running | 85 | $83,731 |
| 27 | 22 | 77 | Dave Blaney | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 389 | 0 | running | 82 | $66,849 |
| 28 | 42 | 14 | Larry Foyt | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Dodge | 389 | 0 | running | 79 | $47,260 |
| 29 | 25 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 388 | 0 | running | 76 | $76,825 |
| 30 | 36 | 1 | John Andretti | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 388 | 0 | running | 73 | $75,142 |
| 31 | 35 | 23 | Kenny Wallace | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 387 | 0 | running | 70 | $46,800 |
| 32 | 33 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 387 | 0 | running | 67 | $54,675 |
| 33 | 39 | 41 | Casey Mears | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 386 | 0 | running | 64 | $55,450 |
| 34 | 38 | 30 | Steve Park | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 386 | 0 | running | 61 | $54,425 |
| 35 | 21 | 42 | Jamie McMurray | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 375 | 0 | running | 58 | $46,300 |
| 36 | 28 | 49 | Ken Schrader | BAM Racing | Dodge | 374 | 0 | crash | 55 | $46,255 |
| 37 | 11 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 343 | 0 | engine | 52 | $64,200 |
| 38 | 32 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 339 | 0 | engine | 49 | $91,923 |
| 39 | 30 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Pontiac | 325 | 0 | crash | 46 | $54,090 |
| 40 | 24 | 21 | Ricky Rudd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 325 | 0 | crash | 43 | $54,015 |
| 41 | 12 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 239 | 0 | engine | 40 | $79,773 |
| 42 | 40 | 4 | Kevin Lepage | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Pontiac | 130 | 0 | engine | 37 | $45,860 |
| 43 | 43 | 37 | Derrike Cope | Quest Motor Racing | Chevrolet | 127 | 0 | axle | 34 | $45,170 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 44 | | 02 | Hermie Sadler | SCORE Motorsports | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 45 | | 71 | Tim Sauter | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 46 | | 79 | Rich Bickle | Conely Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||