# 2003 MBNA America 400

The 2003 MBNA America 400 was the 28th stock car race of the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 35th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, September 21, 2003, before a crowd of 137,000 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, Ryan Newman of Penske Racing South would come back from two laps down and save fuel at the end to win his eighth career NASCAR Winston Cup Series win and his seventh win of the season. To fill out the podium, Jeremy Mayfield of Evernham Motorsports and Tony Stewart of Joe Gibbs Racing would finish second and third, respectively.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. would suffer a concussion during the race on lap 363.

## 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

| # | 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 | VCU Rams |
| 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 Dealers, UAW |
| 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | Valvoline |
| 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing South | Dodge | Sony WEGA |
| 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, 3M |
| 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 | U.S. Air Force |
| 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | Caterpillar |
| 23 | Kenny Wallace | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | Stacker 2 YJ Stinger |
| 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | DuPont |
| 25 | Joe Nemechek | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | UAW-Delphi |
| 27 | Scott Wimmer | Bill Davis Racing | Chevrolet | Bill Davis Racing |
| 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 | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | Target |
| 42 | Jamie McMurray | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | Texaco, Havoline |
| 43 | Jeff Green | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | Cheerios |
| 44 | Christian Fittipaldi | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | Bugles |
| 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 |
| 71 | Tim Sauter | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | ARAN Trading |
| 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 |
| 79 | Rich Bickle* | Conely Racing | Chevrolet | SBC, Molykote |
| 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | UPS |
| 89 | Morgan Shepherd | Shepherd Racing Ventures | Ford | Racing with Jesus |
| 91 | Shane Hmiel* | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | Evernham Motorsports |
| 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 Saturday, September 20, at 11:15 AM EST, and would last for one hour and 15 minutes. Jimmie Johnson of Hendrick Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 23.472 and an average speed of 153.374 miles per hour (246.832 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.472 | 153.374 |
| 2 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 23.521 | 153.055 |
| 3 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 23.538 | 152.944 |
| Full first practice results |||||||

### Second and final practice

The second and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, September 20, at approximately 3:00 PM EST, and would last for approximately one hour. Dale Earnhardt Jr. of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 23.583 and an average speed of 152.652 miles per hour (245.670 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 23.583 | 152.652 |
| 2 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 23.630 | 152.349 |
| 3 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 23.650 | 152.220 |
| Full Happy Hour practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Qualifying was canceled due to the impeding threat of Hurricane Isabel. As a result, the current 2003 owner's standings were used to determine the lineup. Matt Kenseth of Roush Racing would win the pole.
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make |
| 1 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford |
| 2 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet |
| 3 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 4 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 5 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing South | Dodge |
| 6 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 7 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford |
| 8 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet |
| 9 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 10 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet |
| 11 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet |
| 12 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 13 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford |
| 14 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Dodge |
| 15 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge |
| 16 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford |
| 17 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge |
| 18 | 42 | Jamie McMurray | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge |
| 19 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Racing | Ford |
| 20 | 38 | Elliott Sadler | Robert Yates Racing | Ford |
| 21 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge |
| 22 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Pontiac |
| 23 | 21 | Ricky Rudd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 24 | 25 | Joe Nemechek | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 25 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge |
| 26 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac |
| 27 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford |
| 28 | 77 | Dave Blaney | Jasper Motorsports | Ford |
| 29 | 7 | Jimmy Spencer | Ultra Motorsports | Dodge |
| 30 | 1 | John Andretti | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet |
| 31 | 23 | Kenny Wallace | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge |
| 32 | 30 | Steve Park | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 33 | 54 | Todd Bodine | BelCar Racing | Ford |
| 34 | 01 | Mike Skinner | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac |
| 35 | 41 | Casey Mears | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge |
| 36 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge |
| 37 | 0 | Jason Leffler | Haas CNC Racing | Pontiac |
| 38 | 49 | Ken Schrader | BAM Racing | Dodge |
| 39 | 74 | Tony Raines | BACE Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 40 | 4 | Kevin Lepage | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Pontiac |
| 41 | 43 | Jeff Green | Petty Enterprises | Dodge |
| 42 | 37 | Derrike Cope | Quest Motor Racing | Chevrolet |
| 43 | 02 | Hermie Sadler | SCORE Motorsports | Pontiac |
| Failed to qualify or withdrew |||||
| 44 | 50 | Larry Foyt | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Dodge |
| 45 | 27 | Scott Wimmer | Bill Davis Racing | Chevrolet |
| 46 | 89 | Morgan Shepherd | Shepherd Racing Ventures | Ford |
| 47 | 79 | Billy Bigley | Arnold Motorsports | Dodge |
| 48 | 44 | Christian Fittipaldi | Petty Enterprises | Dodge |
| 49 | 71 | Tim Sauter | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet |
| WD | 79 | Rich Bickle | Conely Racing | Chevrolet |
| WD | 91 | Shane Hmiel | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge |
| Official starting lineup |||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 5 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 400 | 106 | running | 180 | $160,460 |
| 2 | 25 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 400 | 0 | running | 170 | $140,635 |
| 3 | 11 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 400 | 97 | running | 170 | $153,408 |
| 4 | 3 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 400 | 133 | running | 170 | $119,533 |
| 5 | 6 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 400 | 14 | running | 160 | $123,923 |
| 6 | 18 | 42 | Jamie McMurray | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 400 | 0 | running | 150 | $71,890 |
| 7 | 19 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Racing | Ford | 400 | 0 | running | 146 | $66,440 |
| 8 | 4 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 400 | 0 | running | 142 | $79,940 |
| 9 | 1 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 400 | 1 | running | 143 | $79,840 |
| 10 | 14 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 400 | 0 | running | 134 | $98,707 |
| 11 | 23 | 21 | Ricky Rudd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 400 | 0 | running | 130 | $87,155 |
| 12 | 13 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 400 | 0 | running | 127 | $96,007 |
| 13 | 17 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 400 | 1 | running | 129 | $102,540 |
| 14 | 15 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 400 | 0 | running | 121 | $94,673 |
| 15 | 29 | 7 | Jimmy Spencer | Ultra Motorsports | Dodge | 400 | 0 | running | 118 | $75,890 |
| 16 | 41 | 43 | Jeff Green | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 400 | 0 | running | 115 | $99,818 |
| 17 | 33 | 54 | Todd Bodine | BelCar Racing | Ford | 400 | 0 | running | 112 | $71,740 |
| 18 | 27 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 400 | 0 | running | 109 | $100,703 |
| 19 | 20 | 38 | Elliott Sadler | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 400 | 0 | running | 106 | $92,490 |
| 20 | 9 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 399 | 0 | running | 103 | $86,346 |
| 21 | 26 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 399 | 0 | running | 100 | $84,490 |
| 22 | 16 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 398 | 0 | running | 97 | $91,323 |
| 23 | 12 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 398 | 0 | running | 94 | $83,327 |
| 24 | 28 | 77 | Dave Blaney | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 398 | 0 | running | 91 | $75,490 |
| 25 | 37 | 0 | Jason Leffler | Haas CNC Racing | Pontiac | 398 | 0 | running | 88 | $57,215 |
| 26 | 32 | 30 | Steve Park | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 397 | 0 | running | 85 | $64,165 |
| 27 | 40 | 4 | Kevin Lepage | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Pontiac | 397 | 0 | running | 82 | $61,904 |
| 28 | 31 | 23 | Kenny Wallace | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 397 | 0 | running | 79 | $53,340 |
| 29 | 21 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 397 | 0 | running | 76 | $89,246 |
| 30 | 39 | 74 | Tony Raines | BACE Motorsports | Chevrolet | 395 | 0 | running | 73 | $53,540 |
| 31 | 8 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 395 | 0 | running | 70 | $97,948 |
| 32 | 36 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 394 | 0 | running | 67 | $60,705 |
| 33 | 38 | 49 | Ken Schrader | BAM Racing | Dodge | 393 | 0 | running | 64 | $53,455 |
| 34 | 30 | 1 | John Andretti | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 393 | 0 | running | 61 | $77,532 |
| 35 | 42 | 37 | Derrike Cope | Quest Motor Racing | Chevrolet | 393 | 0 | running | 58 | $52,130 |
| 36 | 35 | 41 | Casey Mears | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 392 | 0 | running | 55 | $60,000 |
| 37 | 2 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 362 | 48 | crash | 57 | $97,792 |
| 38 | 7 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 347 | 0 | engine | 49 | $71,750 |
| 39 | 43 | 02 | Hermie Sadler | SCORE Motorsports | Pontiac | 257 | 0 | engine | 46 | $51,635 |
| 40 | 22 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Pontiac | 249 | 0 | engine | 43 | $59,465 |
| 41 | 34 | 01 | Mike Skinner | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 195 | 0 | engine | 40 | $51,325 |
| 42 | 10 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 171 | 0 | engine | 37 | $69,200 |
| 43 | 24 | 25 | Joe Nemechek | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 78 | 0 | crash | 34 | $51,330 |
| Failed to qualify or withdrew |||||||||||
| 44 | | 50 | Larry Foyt | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Dodge | | | | | |
| 45 | | 27 | Scott Wimmer | Bill Davis Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 46 | | 89 | Morgan Shepherd | Shepherd Racing Ventures | Ford | | | | | |
| 47 | | 79 | Billy Bigley | Arnold Motorsports | Dodge | | | | | |
| 48 | | 44 | Christian Fittipaldi | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | | | | | |
| 49 | | 71 | Tim Sauter | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| WD | | 79 | Rich Bickle | Conely Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| WD | | 91 | Shane Hmiel | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||