# 2003 Chevy Rock & Roll 400

The 2003 Chevy Rock & Roll 400 was the 26th stock car race of the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 46th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, September 6, 2003, before a crowd of 105,000 in Richmond, Virginia, at Richmond International Raceway, a 0.75 miles (1.21 km) D-shaped oval. The race took the scheduled 400 laps to complete. At race's end, Penske Racing South driver Ryan Newman would hold off the field on a late restart with four to go to win his seventh career NASCAR Winston Cup Series win and his sixth win of the season. To fill out the podium, Jeremy Mayfield of Evernham Motorsports and Ricky Rudd of Wood Brothers Racing would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

Richmond International Raceway (RIR) is a 3/4-mile (1.2 km), D-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in Henrico County. It hosts the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series. Known as "America's premier short track", it formerly hosted a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, an IndyCar Series race, and two USAC sprint car races.

### Entry list

| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 0 | Jason Leffler | Haas CNC Racing | Pontiac | NetZero HiSpeed |
| 1 | John Andretti | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | Pennzoil |
| 01 | Mike Skinner | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | U.S. Army |
| 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Dodge | Miller Lite |
| 02 | Hermie Sadler | SCORE Motorsports | Pontiac | Dollar Tree |
| 4 | Johnny Sauter | 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 True Music, Staind |
| 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | Dodge Dealers, UAW |
| 09 | Mike Wallace | Phoenix Racing | Dodge | Miccosukee Resort & Gaming |
| 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | Valvoline |
| 11 | Brett Bodine* | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | Brett Bodine Racing |
| 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing South | Dodge | Alltel |
| 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | NAPA Auto Parts, Hootie & the Blowfish |
| 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Racing | Ford | Grainger |
| 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | Smirnoff Ice Triple Black |
| 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, Uncle Kracker |
| 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | GM Goodwrench, Sugar Ray |
| 30 | Steve Park | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | America Online, Third Eye Blind |
| 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Cingular Wireless, Trapt |
| 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 | 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 |
| 50 | Larry Foyt | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Dodge | Harrah's "Oh Yeah!" |
| 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 |
| 79 | Billy Bigley | Arnold Motorsports | Dodge | Arnold Development Companies |
| 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
### First practice

The first practice session was held on Friday, September 5, at 11:20 AM EST, and would last for two hours. Tony Stewart of Joe Gibbs Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 21.398 and an average speed of 126.180 miles per hour (203.067 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 21.398 | 126.180 |
| 2 | 01 | Mike Skinner | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 21.449 | 125.880 |
| 3 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 21.450 | 125.874 |
| Full first practice results |||||||

### Second practice

The second practice session was held on Friday, September 5, at 4:45 PM EST, and would last for 45 minutes. Todd Bodine of BelCar Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 21.670 and an average speed of 124.596 miles per hour (200.518 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 54 | Todd Bodine | BelCar Racing | Ford | 21.670 | 124.596 |
| 2 | 01 | Mike Skinner | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 21.716 | 124.332 |
| 3 | 7 | Jimmy Spencer | Ultra Motorsports | Dodge | 21.720 | 124.309 |
| Full second practice results |||||||

### Third and final practice

The third and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Friday, September 5, at 6:10 PM EST, and would last for 45 minutes. Jeff Burton of Roush Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 21.599 and an average speed of 125.006 miles per hour (201.178 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 21.599 | 125.006 |
| 2 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 21.705 | 124.395 |
| 3 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 21.775 | 123.995 |
| Full Happy Hour practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Friday, September 5, 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.
Mike Skinner of MB2 Motorsports would win the pole, setting a time of 21.464 and an average speed of 125.792 miles per hour (202.443 km/h).
Larry Foyt and Billy Bigley would fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 01 | Mike Skinner | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 21.464 | 125.792 |
| 2 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Racing | Ford | 21.489 | 125.646 |
| 3 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 21.499 | 125.587 |
| 4 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 21.536 | 125.371 |
| 5 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 21.594 | 125.035 |
| 6 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 21.610 | 124.942 |
| 7 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 21.611 | 124.936 |
| 8 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 21.624 | 124.861 |
| 9 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 21.643 | 124.752 |
| 10 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 21.643 | 124.752 |
| 11 | 25 | Joe Nemechek | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 21.671 | 124.590 |
| 12 | 54 | Todd Bodine | BelCar Racing | Ford | 21.674 | 124.573 |
| 13 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 21.704 | 124.401 |
| 14 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 21.709 | 124.372 |
| 15 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 21.731 | 124.246 |
| 16 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 21.733 | 124.235 |
| 17 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 21.734 | 124.229 |
| 18 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 21.745 | 124.166 |
| 19 | 21 | Ricky Rudd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 21.753 | 124.121 |
| 20 | 74 | Tony Raines | BACE Motorsports | Chevrolet | 21.757 | 124.098 |
| 21 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 21.781 | 123.961 |
| 22 | 7 | Jimmy Spencer | Ultra Motorsports | Dodge | 21.794 | 123.887 |
| 23 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 21.795 | 123.882 |
| 24 | 1 | John Andretti | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 21.803 | 123.836 |
| 25 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 21.830 | 123.683 |
| 26 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 21.838 | 123.638 |
| 27 | 49 | Ken Schrader | BAM Racing | Dodge | 21.838 | 123.638 |
| 28 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 21.845 | 123.598 |
| 29 | 42 | Jamie McMurray | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 21.849 | 123.575 |
| 30 | 38 | Elliott Sadler | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 21.871 | 123.451 |
| 31 | 41 | Casey Mears | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 21.874 | 123.434 |
| 32 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 21.896 | 123.310 |
| 33 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 21.922 | 123.164 |
| 34 | 23 | Kenny Wallace | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 21.938 | 123.074 |
| 35 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Pontiac | 21.939 | 123.068 |
| 36 | 4 | Johnny Sauter | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Pontiac | 21.949 | 123.012 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 37 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 22.014 | 122.649 |
| 38 | 77 | Dave Blaney | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 21.953 | 122.990 |
| 39 | 30 | Steve Park | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 22.005 | 122.699 |
| 40 | 0 | Jason Leffler | Haas CNC Racing | Pontiac | 22.165 | 121.814 |
| 41 | 43 | Christian Fittipaldi | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 22.396 | 120.557 |
| 42 | 09 | Mike Wallace | Phoenix Racing | Dodge | 22.142 | 121.940 |
| 43 | 02 | Hermie Sadler | SCORE Motorsports | Chevrolet | 21.985 | 122.811 |
| Failed to qualify or withdrew |||||||
| 44 | 50 | Larry Foyt | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Dodge | 22.172 | 121.775 |
| 45 | 79 | Billy Bigley | Arnold Motorsports | Dodge | 22.269 | 121.245 |
| WD | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | — | — |
| WD | 37 | Derrike Cope | Quest Motor Racing | Chevrolet | — | — |
| Official qualifying results |||||||

## Post-race conflict

This race was notable for the post-race conflict between veteran Ricky Rudd and 3rd year Winston Cup driver Kevin Harvick. With 8 laps to go with Harvick running 2nd and Rudd running 3rd, Rudd got into the back of Harvick heading into turn 1. Harvick's car got sideways for a bit and eventually snapped around on him and crashed into the outside wall in turn 1 bringing out the 14th and final caution of the race. Once the race concluded, Rudd had finished 3rd which meant Rudd went over to pit road while the others who did not finish in the top 5 went to their haulers behind pit road. Harvick, who finished 16th, knew that Rudd had finished in the top 5 and went to pit road and pulled up alongside his car. Both crews of Harvick and Rudd came running out to their drivers. Rudd came halfway out of his car while Harvick got out of his car with the help of his crew and the two began to yell back and forth at each other with NASCAR officials yelling at Harvick to get off of the top of his car. Harvick went down from Rudd's car with one of his crew members holding him back while another of Havick's crew members behind him jumped up in the air and landed on Rudd's hood damaging his car. Harvick got separated from Rudd and began to walk away. As he was walking away, Harvick took his HANS device and threw it at Rudd's direction landing on top of Rudd's roof. Rudd took the device and threw it back at Harvick. Harvick said in his interview that "Ricky Rudd took a goddamn cheap shot at us. And if he's gonna take a cheap shot, he's going to get one back I promise you that." Rudd said that Harvick braked a little harder than he thought he would and said that the damage to his car from Harvick's crew was unnecessary. He finished his interview by saying "I couldn’t hear him. He’s got that little yap-yap mouth. I couldn’t tell what he was saying."

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 4 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 400 | 125 | running | 180 | $160,970 |
| 2 | 23 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 400 | 0 | running | 170 | $136,365 |
| 3 | 19 | 21 | Ricky Rudd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 400 | 0 | running | 165 | $104,130 |
| 4 | 7 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 400 | 5 | running | 165 | $116,897 |
| 5 | 17 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 400 | 0 | running | 155 | $99,047 |
| 6 | 16 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 400 | 5 | running | 155 | $104,513 |
| 7 | 18 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 400 | 0 | running | 146 | $75,230 |
| 8 | 32 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 400 | 10 | running | 147 | $83,161 |
| 9 | 9 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 400 | 0 | running | 138 | $83,455 |
| 10 | 5 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 400 | 126 | running | 144 | $102,333 |
| 11 | 26 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 400 | 0 | running | 130 | $70,605 |
| 12 | 42 | 09 | Mike Wallace | Phoenix Racing | Dodge | 400 | 7 | running | 132 | $56,290 |
| 13 | 3 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 400 | 1 | running | 129 | $89,463 |
| 14 | 24 | 1 | John Andretti | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 400 | 0 | running | 121 | $76,917 |
| 15 | 8 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 400 | 0 | running | 118 | $88,811 |
| 16 | 28 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 400 | 23 | running | 120 | $89,383 |
| 17 | 13 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 399 | 76 | running | 117 | $105,522 |
| 18 | 1 | 01 | Mike Skinner | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 399 | 0 | running | 109 | $73,155 |
| 19 | 29 | 42 | Jamie McMurray | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 399 | 0 | running | 106 | $53,930 |
| 20 | 2 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Racing | Ford | 399 | 2 | running | 108 | $54,680 |
| 21 | 37 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 399 | 0 | running | 100 | $94,333 |
| 22 | 6 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 399 | 1 | running | 102 | $92,430 |
| 23 | 34 | 23 | Kenny Wallace | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 399 | 0 | running | 94 | $65,555 |
| 24 | 25 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 398 | 0 | running | 91 | $78,605 |
| 25 | 27 | 49 | Ken Schrader | BAM Racing | Dodge | 398 | 0 | running | 88 | $51,655 |
| 26 | 11 | 25 | Joe Nemechek | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 397 | 0 | running | 85 | $51,030 |
| 27 | 14 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 397 | 0 | running | 82 | $100,283 |
| 28 | 40 | 0 | Jason Leffler | Haas CNC Racing | Pontiac | 397 | 19 | running | 84 | $50,680 |
| 29 | 21 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 397 | 0 | running | 76 | $75,647 |
| 30 | 35 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Pontiac | 396 | 0 | running | 73 | $67,189 |
| 31 | 39 | 30 | Steve Park | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 394 | 0 | running | 70 | $57,765 |
| 32 | 33 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 388 | 0 | running | 67 | $65,230 |
| 33 | 38 | 77 | Dave Blaney | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 377 | 0 | running | 64 | $56,100 |
| 34 | 10 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 373 | 0 | running | 61 | $55,135 |
| 35 | 20 | 74 | Tony Raines | BACE Motorsports | Chevrolet | 360 | 0 | running | 58 | $47,100 |
| 36 | 22 | 7 | Jimmy Spencer | Ultra Motorsports | Dodge | 324 | 0 | engine | 55 | $47,065 |
| 37 | 15 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 302 | 0 | running | 52 | $85,863 |
| 38 | 36 | 4 | Johnny Sauter | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Pontiac | 291 | 0 | running | 49 | $46,995 |
| 39 | 30 | 38 | Elliott Sadler | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 280 | 0 | crash | 46 | $81,195 |
| 40 | 43 | 02 | Hermie Sadler | SCORE Motorsports | Chevrolet | 266 | 0 | crash | 43 | $46,885 |
| 41 | 31 | 41 | Casey Mears | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 247 | 0 | crash | 40 | $54,830 |
| 42 | 12 | 54 | Todd Bodine | BelCar Racing | Ford | 230 | 0 | crash | 37 | $46,790 |
| 43 | 41 | 43 | Christian Fittipaldi | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 130 | 0 | crash | 34 | $82,778 |
| Failed to qualify or withdrew |||||||||||
| 44 | | 50 | Larry Foyt | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Dodge | | | | | |
| 45 | | 79 | Billy Bigley | Arnold Motorsports | Dodge | | | | | |
| WD | | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| WD | | 37 | Derrike Cope | Quest Motor Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||