# 2001 Food City 500

The 2001 Food City 500 was the sixth stock car race of the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season. It was held on March 25, 2001 at the Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. The 500-lap race was won by Elliott Sadler for the Wood Brothers Racing team; it was Sadler's first win in the Winston Cup Series and Wood Brothers Racing first since 1993, and the last until the 2011 Daytona 500 10 years later. John Andretti finished second and Jeremy Mayfield came in third.

## Report
### Background

The track, Bristol Motor Speedway, is one of five short tracks to hold NASCAR races; the others are Richmond International Raceway, Dover International Speedway, Martinsville Speedway, and Phoenix International Raceway. Its standard track at Bristol Motor Speedway is a four-turn short track oval that is 0.533 miles (0.858 km) long. The track's turns are banked from twenty-four to thirty degrees, while both the front stretch (the location of the finish line) and the back stretch are banked from six to ten degrees.
Before the race Dale Jarrett led the Drivers' Championship with 756 points, with Sterling Marlin and Johnny Benson Jr. tied for second place with 691 points each. Jeff Gordon and Steve Park rounded out the top five, and Ricky Rudd, Rusty Wallace, Michael Waltrip, Bill Elliott and Ken Schrader rounded out the top ten. In the Manufacturers' Championship, Chevrolet led with 42 points; Ford was second with 31 points. Pontiac was third with 19 points, with Dodge a close fourth with 17 points. Wallace was the race's defending champion.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
| No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| 01 | Jason Leffler (R) | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge |
| 1 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet |
| 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford |
| 4 | Kevin Lepage | Morgan-McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford |
| 7 | Mike Wallace | Ultra Motorsports | Ford |
| 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet |
| 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge |
| 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac |
| 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford |
| 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske Racing South | Ford |
| 14 | Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) | A.J. Foyt Racing | Pontiac |
| 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet |
| 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford |
| 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac |
| 19 | Casey Atwood (R) | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge |
| 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac |
| 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge |
| 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 26 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford |
| 27 | Kenny Wallace | Eel River Racing | Pontiac |
| 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford |
| 29 | Kevin Harvick (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Ford |
| 33 | Joe Nemechek | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet |
| 36 | Ken Schrader | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac |
| 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge |
| 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Dodge |
| 44 | Buckshot Jones | Petty Enterprises | Dodge |
| 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge |
| 50 | Rick Mast | Midwest Transit Racing | Chevrolet |
| 55 | Bobby Hamilton | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet |
| 66 | Todd Bodine | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford |
| 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford |
| 85 | Carl Long | Mansion Motorsports | Ford |
| 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford |
| 90 | Hut Stricklin | Donlavey Racing | Ford |
| 92 | Stacy Compton | Melling Racing | Dodge |
| 93 | Dave Blaney | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge |
| 96 | Andy Houston (R) | PPI Motorsports | Ford |
| 97 | Kurt Busch (R) | Roush Racing | Ford |
| 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford |

## Practice
### First practice

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 15.213 | 126.129 |
| 2 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.245 | 125.884 |
| 3 | 29 | Kevin Harvick (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 15.300 | 125.412 |
| Official practice results |||||||

### Second practice

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 15.864 | 120.953 |
| 2 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 15.920 | 120.528 |
| 3 | 19 | Casey Atwood (R) | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 15.936 | 120.407 |
| Official practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Time |
| 1 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 15.192 |
| 2 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 15.303 |
| 3 | 29 | Kevin Harvick (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 15.307 |
| 4 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 15.330 |
| 5 | 66 | Todd Bodine | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 15.357 |
| 6 | 55 | Bobby Hamilton | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 15.379 |
| 7 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 15.382 |
| 8 | 93 | Dave Blaney | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 15.387 |
| 9 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 15.388 |
| 10 | 36 | Ken Schrader | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac | 15.400 |
| 11 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 15.400 |
| 12 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 15.401 |
| 13 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 15.402 |
| 14 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 15.410 |
| 15 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.419 |
| 16 | 19 | Casey Atwood (R) | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 15.423 |
| 17 | 1 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 15.424 |
| 18 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 15.451 |
| 19 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 15.456 |
| 20 | 33 | Joe Nemechek | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 15.469 |
| 21 | 44 | Buckshot Jones | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 15.469 |
| 22 | 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.476 |
| 23 | 26 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 15.483 |
| 24 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 15.484 |
| 25 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.485 |
| 26 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 15.507 |
| 27 | 50 | Rick Mast | Midwest Transit Racing | Chevrolet | 15.511 |
| 28 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac | 15.512 |
| 29 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 15.524 |
| 30 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske Racing South | Ford | 15.533 |
| 31 | 27 | Kenny Wallace | Eel River Racing | Pontiac | 15.533 |
| 32 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 15.539 |
| 33 | 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 15.545 |
| 34 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 15.546 |
| 35 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 15.566 |
| 36 | 96 | Andy Houston (R) | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 15.575 |
| Provisionals ||||||
| 37 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | — |
| 38 | 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | — |
| 39 | 97 | Kurt Busch (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | — |
| 40 | 14 | Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) | A.J. Foyt Racing | Pontiac | — |
| 41 | 92 | Stacy Compton | Melling Racing | Dodge | — |
| 42 | 4 | Kevin Lepage | Morgan-McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | — |
| 43 | 7 | Mike Wallace | Ultra Motorsports | Ford | — |
| Did not qualify ||||||
| | 90 | Hut Stricklin | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 15.596 |
| | 01 | Jason Leffler (R) | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 15.650 |
| | 85 | Carl Long | Mansion Motorsports | Ford | 16.253 |

## Race results

| Pos | Grid | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps | Points |
| 1 | 38 | 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 500 | 180 |
| 2 | 11 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 500 | 175 |
| 3 | 30 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske Racing South | Ford | 500 | 165 |
| 4 | 15 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 165 |
| 5 | 18 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 500 | 155 |
| 6 | 25 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 150 |
| 7 | 4 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 500 | 146 |
| 8 | 6 | 55 | Bobby Hamilton | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 500 | 142 |
| 9 | 17 | 1 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 500 | 143 |
| 10 | 14 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 500 | 134 |
| 11 | 41 | 92 | Stacy Compton | Melling Racing | Dodge | 500 | 130 |
| 12 | 2 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 500 | 132 |
| 13 | 13 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 500 | 124 |
| 14 | 24 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 500 | 126 |
| 15 | 42 | 4 | Kevin Lepage | Morgan-McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 118 |
| 16 | 19 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 500 | 115 |
| 17 | 12 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 500 | 112 |
| 18 | 33 | 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 500 | 109 |
| 19 | 23 | 26 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 500 | 106 |
| 20 | 16 | 19 | Casey Atwood (R) | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 500 | 103 |
| 21 | 40 | 14 | Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) | A.J. Foyt Racing | Pontiac | 500 | 100 |
| 22 | 29 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 500 | 97 |
| 23 | 34 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 500 | 94 |
| 24 | 3 | 29 | Kevin Harvick (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 500 | 101 |
| 25 | 37 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 500 | 88 |
| 26 | 28 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac | 499 | 85 |
| 27 | 35 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 493 | 82 |
| 28 | 26 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 487 | 79 |
| 29 | 8 | 93 | Dave Blaney | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 472 | 76 |
| 30 | 22 | 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 459 | 73 |
| 31 | 9 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 456 | 70 |
| 32 | 5 | 66 | Todd Bodine | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 437 | 67 |
| 33 | 21 | 44 | Buckshot Jones | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 420 | 64 |
| 34 | 1 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 412 | 66 |
| 35 | 10 | 36 | Ken Schrader | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac | 350 | 58 |
| 36 | 27 | 50 | Rick Mast | Midwest Transit Racing | Chevrolet | 349 | 55 |
| 37 | 43 | 7 | Mike Wallace | Ultra Motorsports | Ford | 345 | 57 |
| 38 | 31 | 27 | Kenny Wallace | Eel River Racing | Pontiac | 307 | 54 |
| 39 | 36 | 96 | Andy Houston (R) | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 265 | 46 |
| 40 | 32 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 245 | 43 |
| 41 | 7 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 228 | 40 |
| 42 | 39 | 97 | Kurt Busch (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | 118 | 37 |
| 43 | 20 | 33 | Joe Nemechek | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 108 | 34 |
| Official race results ||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Dale Jarrett | 871 |
| 2 | 2 | Jeff Gordon | 826 (–45) |
| 1 | 3 | Sterling Marlin | 823 (–48) |
| 1 | 4 | Johnny Benson Jr. | 776 (–95) |
| | 5 | Steve Park | 758 (–113) |
| 1 | 6 | Rusty Wallace | 752 (–119) |
| 1 | 7 | Ricky Rudd | 743 (–128) |
| 4 | 8 | Bobby Hamilton | 716 (–155) |
| 9 | 9 | Elliott Sadler | 709 (–162) |
| 1 | 10 | Bill Elliott | 701 (–170) |