# 2003 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 (October)

The 2003 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 was the 33rd stock car race of the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the forty-fourth iteration of the event. The race was held over two days from Sunday, October 26, 2003, to Monday, October 27 due to rain on lap 39 on Sunday, forcing the delay of the event. The race was held in Hampton, Georgia at Atlanta Motor Speedway, a 1.54 miles (2.48 km) permanent asphalt quad-oval intermediate speedway. The race took the scheduled 325 laps to complete. At race's end, Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon would win under caution when with three laps to go, Dale Earnhardt Jr. bumped Ryan Newman into the wall. The win was Gordon's 64th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series win and his third of the season. To fill out the podium, Tony Stewart of Joe Gibbs Racing and Jimmie Johnson of Hendrick Motorsports would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

Atlanta Motor Speedway (formerly Atlanta International Raceway) is a track in Hampton, Georgia, 20 miles (32 km) south of Atlanta. It is a 1.54-mile (2.48 km) quad-oval track with a seating capacity of 111,000. It opened in 1960 as a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) standard oval. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track. In 1997, to standardize the track with Speedway Motorsports' other two 1.5-mile (2.4 km) ovals, the entire track was almost completely rebuilt. The frontstretch and backstretch were swapped, and the configuration of the track was changed from oval to quad-oval. The project made the track one of the fastest on the NASCAR circuit.

### Entry list

| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 0 | Jason Leffler | Haas CNC Racing | Pontiac | NetZero HiSpeed |
| 00 | Buckshot Jones | Michael Waltrip Racing | Chevrolet | Aaron's |
| 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 |
| 02 | Hermie Sadler | SCORE Motorsports | Chevrolet | Zapf Creation |
| 4 | Kevin Lepage | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Pontiac | Kodak Perfect Touch |
| 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, Winston Cup Victory Lap |
| 09 | Mike Wallace | Phoenix Racing | Dodge | Miccosukee Resort & Gaming |
| 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | Valvoline |
| 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing South | Dodge | Mobil 1, Speedpass |
| 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 | Smirnoff Ice Triple Black |
| 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | Interstate Batteries |
| 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 | U.S. Air Force |
| 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 |
| 27 | Shelby Howard | Bill Davis Racing | Chevrolet | Mack Trucks |
| 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | GM Goodwrench |
| 30 | Steve Park | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | America Online, GM Card |
| 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Cingular Wireless |
| 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Pontiac | Tide |
| 35 | Bobby Hamilton Jr. | Team Rensi Motorsports | Ford | U.S. Marines, Wawa |
| 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, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital |
| 41 | Casey Mears | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | Target |
| 42 | Jamie McMurray | 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 | 1-800-CALL-ATT |
| 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 | The UPS Store |
| 89 | Morgan Shepherd* | Shepherd Racing Ventures | Ford | Racing with Jesus |
| 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | Sharpie, Brute |
| 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | Citgo |
| Official entry list |||||
*Withdrew.

## Practice
### First practice

The first practice session was held on Friday, October 24, at 3:20 PM 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 28.688 and an average speed of 193.251 miles per hour (311.007 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 28.688 | 193.251 |
| 2 | 25 | Brian Vickers | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 28.836 | 192.260 |
| 3 | 38 | Elliott Sadler | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 28.950 | 191.503 |
| Full first practice results |||||||

### Second practice

The second practice session was held on Saturday, October 25, at 9:30 AM EST, and would last for 45 minutes. Kevin Harvick of Richard Childress Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.218 and an average speed of 189.746 miles per hour (305.367 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 29.218 | 189.746 |
| 2 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 29.256 | 189.500 |
| 3 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 29.475 | 188.092 |
| Full second practice results |||||||

### Third and final practice

The third and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, October 25, at 11:10 AM EST, and would last for 45 minutes. Kurt Busch of Roush Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.600 and an average speed of 187.297 miles per hour (301.425 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 29.600 | 187.297 |
| 2 | 35 | Bobby Hamilton Jr. | Team Rensi Motorsports | Ford | 29.642 | 187.032 |
| 3 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 29.720 | 186.541 |
| Full Happy Hour practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Friday, October 24, at 7:05 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 29.938 and an average speed of 180.373 miles per hour (290.282 km/h).
Six drivers would fail to qualify: Jeff Green, Buckshot Jones, Larry Foyt, Mike Wallace, Billy Bigley, and Shelby Howard.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 28.534 | 194.294 |
| 2 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 28.575 | 194.016 |
| 3 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 28.678 | 193.319 |
| 4 | 25 | Brian Vickers | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 28.685 | 193.272 |
| 5 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 28.730 | 192.969 |
| 6 | 38 | Elliott Sadler | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 28.854 | 192.140 |
| 7 | 54 | Todd Bodine | BelCar Motorsports | Ford | 28.903 | 191.814 |
| 8 | 01 | Joe Nemechek | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 28.904 | 191.807 |
| 9 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 28.914 | 191.741 |
| 10 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 28.918 | 191.714 |
| 11 | 1 | John Andretti | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 28.944 | 191.542 |
| 12 | 4 | Kevin Lepage | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Pontiac | 28.977 | 191.324 |
| 13 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 29.005 | 191.139 |
| 14 | 41 | Casey Mears | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 29.023 | 191.021 |
| 15 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 29.031 | 190.968 |
| 16 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 29.039 | 190.916 |
| 17 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 29.044 | 190.883 |
| 18 | 42 | Jamie McMurray | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 29.057 | 190.797 |
| 19 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.109 | 190.457 |
| 20 | 30 | Steve Park | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 29.130 | 190.319 |
| 21 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 29.186 | 189.954 |
| 22 | 7 | Jimmy Spencer | Ultra Motorsports | Dodge | 29.200 | 189.863 |
| 23 | 37 | Derrike Cope | Quest Motor Racing | Chevrolet | 29.201 | 189.857 |
| 24 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 29.225 | 189.701 |
| 25 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 29.249 | 189.545 |
| 26 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Pontiac | 29.261 | 189.467 |
| 27 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Racing | Ford | 29.272 | 189.396 |
| 28 | 23 | Kenny Wallace | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 29.276 | 189.370 |
| 29 | 0 | Ward Burton | Haas CNC Racing | Pontiac | 29.286 | 189.305 |
| 30 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 29.293 | 189.260 |
| 31 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 29.303 | 189.196 |
| 32 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.309 | 189.157 |
| 33 | 74 | Tony Raines | BACE Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.331 | 189.015 |
| 34 | 02 | Hermie Sadler | SCORE Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.392 | 188.623 |
| 35 | 77 | Dave Blaney | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 29.409 | 188.514 |
| 36 | 35 | Bobby Hamilton Jr. | Team Rensi Motorsports | Ford | 29.412 | 188.495 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 37 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 29.731 | 186.472 |
| 38 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 29.573 | 187.468 |
| 39 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 29.460 | 188.187 |
| 40 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 29.542 | 187.665 |
| 41 | 22 | Scott Wimmer | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 29.454 | 188.226 |
| 42 | 21 | Ricky Rudd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 29.589 | 187.367 |
| 43 | 49 | Ken Schrader | BAM Racing | Dodge | 29.481 | 188.053 |
| Failed to qualify or withdrew |||||||
| 44 | 43 | Jeff Green | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 29.445 | 188.283 |
| 45 | 00 | Buckshot Jones | Michael Waltrip Racing | Chevrolet | 29.557 | 187.570 |
| 46 | 14 | Larry Foyt | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Dodge | 29.605 | 187.266 |
| 47 | 09 | Mike Wallace | Phoenix Racing | Dodge | 29.922 | 185.282 |
| 48 | 79 | Billy Bigley | Arnold Motorsports | Dodge | 30.046 | 184.517 |
| 49 | 27 | Shelby Howard | Bill Davis Racing | Chevrolet | 30.518 | 181.663 |
| WD | 89 | Morgan Shepherd | Shepherd Racing Ventures | Ford | — | — |
| Official qualifying results |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 19 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 325 | 55 | running | 180 | $249,978 |
| 2 | 24 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 325 | 109 | running | 180 | $207,678 |
| 3 | 9 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 325 | 1 | running | 170 | $122,800 |
| 4 | 5 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 325 | 0 | running | 160 | $133,833 |
| 5 | 2 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 325 | 66 | running | 160 | $133,383 |
| 6 | 3 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 325 | 32 | running | 155 | $121,692 |
| 7 | 15 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 325 | 0 | running | 146 | $89,200 |
| 8 | 17 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 325 | 3 | running | 147 | $110,475 |
| 9 | 22 | 7 | Jimmy Spencer | Ultra Motorsports | Dodge | 325 | 2 | running | 143 | $92,450 |
| 10 | 8 | 01 | Joe Nemechek | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 325 | 0 | running | 134 | $92,225 |
| 11 | 37 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 325 | 0 | running | 130 | $95,825 |
| 12 | 31 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 325 | 0 | running | 127 | $115,403 |
| 13 | 29 | 0 | Ward Burton | Haas CNC Racing | Pontiac | 325 | 0 | running | 99 | $74,125 |
| 14 | 12 | 4 | Kevin Lepage | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Pontiac | 325 | 1 | running | 126 | $78,550 |
| 15 | 18 | 42 | Jamie McMurray | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 324 | 0 | running | 118 | $74,400 |
| 16 | 40 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 324 | 0 | running | 115 | $111,150 |
| 17 | 6 | 38 | Elliott Sadler | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 324 | 1 | running | 117 | $105,300 |
| 18 | 33 | 74 | Tony Raines | BACE Motorsports | Chevrolet | 324 | 1 | running | 114 | $70,550 |
| 19 | 21 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 324 | 0 | running | 106 | $104,692 |
| 20 | 10 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 324 | 41 | running | 108 | $110,753 |
| 21 | 16 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 324 | 0 | running | 100 | $94,712 |
| 22 | 11 | 1 | John Andretti | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 324 | 0 | running | 97 | $94,062 |
| 23 | 38 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 324 | 0 | running | 94 | $102,442 |
| 24 | 30 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 323 | 0 | running | 91 | $94,475 |
| 25 | 25 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 323 | 0 | running | 88 | $75,725 |
| 26 | 43 | 49 | Ken Schrader | BAM Racing | Dodge | 323 | 0 | running | 85 | $67,025 |
| 27 | 36 | 35 | Bobby Hamilton Jr. | Team Rensi Motorsports | Ford | 323 | 0 | running | 82 | $63,575 |
| 28 | 14 | 41 | Casey Mears | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 321 | 0 | running | 79 | $82,864 |
| 29 | 1 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 320 | 13 | crash | 81 | $107,900 |
| 30 | 28 | 23 | Kenny Wallace | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 320 | 0 | running | 73 | $66,585 |
| 31 | 42 | 21 | Ricky Rudd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 319 | 0 | running | 70 | $73,425 |
| 32 | 41 | 22 | Scott Wimmer | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 316 | 0 | running | 67 | $98,801 |
| 33 | 32 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 316 | 0 | running | 64 | $89,531 |
| 34 | 27 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Racing | Ford | 314 | 0 | transmission | 61 | $62,425 |
| 35 | 26 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Pontiac | 222 | 0 | crash | 58 | $70,300 |
| 36 | 20 | 30 | Steve Park | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 221 | 0 | crash | 55 | $70,225 |
| 37 | 35 | 77 | Dave Blaney | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 201 | 0 | crash | 52 | $70,100 |
| 38 | 13 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 170 | 0 | engine | 49 | $80,050 |
| 39 | 39 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 159 | 0 | engine | 46 | $95,833 |
| 40 | 23 | 37 | Derrike Cope | Quest Motor Racing | Chevrolet | 132 | 0 | engine | 43 | $61,950 |
| 41 | 34 | 02 | Hermie Sadler | SCORE Motorsports | Chevrolet | 77 | 0 | crash | 40 | $61,900 |
| 42 | 7 | 54 | Todd Bodine | BelCar Motorsports | Ford | 44 | 0 | crash | 37 | $61,850 |
| 43 | 4 | 25 | Brian Vickers | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 18 | 0 | overheating | 34 | $62,059 |
| Failed to qualify or withdrew |||||||||||
| 44 | | 43 | Jeff Green | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | | | | | |
| 45 | | 00 | Buckshot Jones | Michael Waltrip Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 46 | | 14 | Larry Foyt | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Dodge | | | | | |
| 47 | | 09 | Mike Wallace | Phoenix Racing | Dodge | | | | | |
| 48 | | 79 | Billy Bigley | Arnold Motorsports | Dodge | | | | | |
| 49 | | 27 | Shelby Howard | Bill Davis Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| WD | | 89 | Morgan Shepherd | Shepherd Racing Ventures | Ford | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||