# 2001 Pocono 500

The 2001 Pocono 500 was the 15th stock car race of the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 20th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, June 17, 2001, in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, at Pocono Raceway, a 2.5 miles (4.0 km) triangular permanent course. The race took the scheduled 200 laps to complete. At race's end, Ricky Rudd, driving for Robert Yates Racing, would take over the final stages of the race to win his 21st career NASCAR Winston Cup Series win and his first of the season. The win also broke a 88-race winless streak for Rudd. Jeff Gordon, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, and Dale Jarrett, driving for Robert Yates Racing, would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

The race was held at Pocono Raceway, which is a three-turn superspeedway located in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. The track hosts two annual NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, as well as one Xfinity Series and Camping World Truck Series event. Until 2019, the track also hosted an IndyCar Series race.
Pocono Raceway is one of a very few NASCAR tracks not owned by either Speedway Motorsports, Inc. or International Speedway Corporation. It is operated by the Igdalsky siblings Brandon, Nicholas, and sister Ashley, and cousins Joseph IV and Chase Mattioli, all of whom are third-generation members of the family-owned Mattco Inc, started by Joseph II and Rose Mattioli.
Outside of the NASCAR races, the track is used throughout the year by Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and motorcycle clubs as well as racing schools and an IndyCar race. The triangular oval also has three separate infield sections of racetrack – North Course, East Course and South Course. Each of these infield sections use a separate portion of the tri-oval to complete the track. During regular non-race weekends, multiple clubs can use the track by running on different infield sections. Also some of the infield sections can be run in either direction, or multiple infield sections can be put together – such as running the North Course and the South Course and using the tri-oval to connect the two.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 1 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | Pennzoil |
| 01 | Jason Leffler (R) | Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates | Dodge | Cingular Wireless, Special Olympics |
| 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | Miller Lite |
| 4 | Kevin Lepage | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kodak |
| 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kellogg's |
| 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | Viagra |
| 7 | Ted Musgrave | Ultra Motorsports | Ford | NationsRent |
| 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | Budweiser |
| 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | Dodge |
| 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac | Valvoline |
| 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | RedCell, Ralphs |
| 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske Racing South | Ford | Mobil 1 |
| 14 | Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Pontiac | Conseco |
| 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | NAPA Auto Parts |
| 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | DeWalt |
| 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | Interstate Batteries |
| 19 | Casey Atwood (R) | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | Dodge |
| 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | The Home Depot |
| 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Motorcraft |
| 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | Caterpillar |
| 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | DuPont |
| 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | UAW, Delphi |
| 26 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | Kmart |
| 27 | Kenny Wallace | Eel River Racing | Pontiac | Sauer's, Duke's Mayonnaise |
| 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Texaco, Havoline |
| 29 | Kevin Harvick (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | GM Goodwrench |
| 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Lowe's |
| 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Ford | Tide |
| 33 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | Oakwood Homes |
| 36 | Ken Schrader | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac | M&M's |
| 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates | Dodge | Coors Light |
| 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | Cheerios |
| 44 | Buckshot Jones | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | Georgia-Pacific Sparkle |
| 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | Sprint PCS |
| 50 | Rick Mast | Midwest Transit Racing | Chevrolet | Blair |
| 55 | Bobby Hamilton | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | Square D |
| 66 | Todd Bodine | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | Kmart Blue Light Special |
| 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | Jasper Engines & Transmissions |
| 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | UPS |
| 90 | Hut Stricklin | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Hills Bros. Coffee |
| 92 | Stacy Compton | Melling Racing | Dodge | Kodiak |
| 93 | Dave Blaney | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | Amoco Ultimate |
| 96 | Andy Houston (R) | PPI Motorsports | Ford | McDonald's |
| 97 | Kurt Busch (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | Rubbermaid, Sharpie |
| 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | Citgo Supergard |
| Official entry list |||||

## Practice
### First practice

The first practice session was held on Friday, June 15, at 11:30 AM EST. The session would last for two hours and 30 minutes. Ricky Rudd, driving for Robert Yates Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 53.027 and an average speed of 169.725 miles per hour (273.146 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 53.027 | 169.725 |
| 2 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac | 53.431 | 168.442 |
| 3 | 36 | Ken Schrader | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 53.495 | 168.240 |
| Full first practice results |||||||

### Second practice

The second practice session was held on Saturday, June 16, at 9:00 AM EST. The session would last for 45 minutes. Ricky Rudd, driving for Robert Yates Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 54.434 and an average speed of 165.338 miles per hour (266.086 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 54.434 | 165.338 |
| 2 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates | Dodge | 54.499 | 165.141 |
| 3 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 54.533 | 165.038 |
| Full second practice results |||||||

### Third and final practice

The final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, June 16, at 11:15 AM EST. The session would last for one hour. Jeff Gordon, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 54.627 and an average speed of 164.754 miles per hour (265.146 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 54.627 | 164.754 |
| 2 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 54.730 | 164.444 |
| 3 | 7 | Ted Musgrave | Ultra Motorsports | Ford | 54.972 | 163.720 |
| Full Happy Hour practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Friday, June 15, at 3:00 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.
Ricky Rudd, driving for Robert Yates Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 52.785 and an average speed of 170.503 miles per hour (274.398 km/h).

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 52.785 | 170.503 |
| 2 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates | Dodge | 53.314 | 168.811 |
| 3 | 36 | Ken Schrader | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 53.472 | 168.312 |
| 4 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 53.524 | 168.149 |
| 5 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 53.559 | 168.039 |
| 6 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 53.564 | 168.023 |
| 7 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac | 53.596 | 167.923 |
| 8 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 53.619 | 167.851 |
| 9 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske Racing South | Ford | 53.624 | 167.835 |
| 10 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 53.627 | 167.826 |
| 11 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 53.679 | 167.663 |
| 12 | 66 | Todd Bodine | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 53.683 | 167.651 |
| 13 | 19 | Casey Atwood (R) | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 53.703 | 167.588 |
| 14 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 53.709 | 167.570 |
| 15 | 7 | Ted Musgrave | Ultra Motorsports | Ford | 53.741 | 167.470 |
| 16 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 53.772 | 167.373 |
| 17 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 53.783 | 167.339 |
| 18 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 53.806 | 167.268 |
| 19 | 29 | Kevin Harvick (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 53.843 | 167.153 |
| 20 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 53.852 | 167.125 |
| 21 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 53.863 | 167.091 |
| 22 | 92 | Stacy Compton | Melling Racing | Dodge | 53.891 | 167.004 |
| 23 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 53.944 | 166.840 |
| 24 | 90 | Hut Stricklin | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 53.972 | 166.753 |
| 25 | 50 | Rick Mast | Midwest Transit Racing | Chevrolet | 54.015 | 166.620 |
| 26 | 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 54.027 | 166.583 |
| 27 | 26 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 54.035 | 166.559 |
| 28 | 44 | Buckshot Jones | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 54.043 | 166.534 |
| 29 | 93 | Dave Blaney | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 54.077 | 166.429 |
| 30 | 1 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 54.085 | 166.405 |
| 31 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 54.097 | 166.368 |
| 32 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 54.099 | 166.362 |
| 33 | 01 | Jason Leffler (R) | Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates | Dodge | 54.109 | 166.331 |
| 34 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 54.118 | 166.303 |
| 35 | 14 | Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Pontiac | 54.202 | 166.045 |
| 36 | 4 | Kevin Lepage | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 54.240 | 165.929 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 37 | 55 | Bobby Hamilton | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 54.372 | 165.526 |
| 38 | 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 54.332 | 165.648 |
| 39 | 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 54.461 | 165.256 |
| 40 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 54.485 | 165.183 |
| 41 | 97 | Kurt Busch (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | 54.412 | 165.405 |
| 42 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 54.310 | 165.715 |
| 43 | 33 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 54.452 | 165.283 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 44 | 96 | Andy Houston (R) | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 54.317 | 165.694 |
| 45 | 27 | Kenny Wallace | Eel River Racing | Pontiac | 54.904 | 163.922 |
| Official qualifying results |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 1 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 200 | 39 | running | 180 | $189,542 |
| 2 | 14 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 86 | running | 180 | $148,897 |
| 3 | 10 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 200 | 62 | running | 170 | $119,947 |
| 4 | 2 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates | Dodge | 200 | 0 | running | 160 | $92,350 |
| 5 | 5 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 155 | $102,016 |
| 6 | 31 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 150 | $59,715 |
| 7 | 4 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 200 | 0 | running | 146 | $64,340 |
| 8 | 18 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 200 | 2 | running | 147 | $94,467 |
| 9 | 3 | 36 | Ken Schrader | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 200 | 0 | running | 138 | $60,960 |
| 10 | 8 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 134 | $91,886 |
| 11 | 29 | 93 | Dave Blaney | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 200 | 0 | running | 130 | $43,490 |
| 12 | 26 | 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 127 | $73,714 |
| 13 | 41 | 97 | Kurt Busch (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 124 | $48,940 |
| 14 | 42 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 121 | $53,651 |
| 15 | 19 | 29 | Kevin Harvick (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 118 | $83,567 |
| 16 | 16 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 199 | 0 | running | 115 | $80,580 |
| 17 | 27 | 26 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 199 | 0 | running | 112 | $51,230 |
| 18 | 38 | 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 199 | 0 | running | 109 | $59,415 |
| 19 | 39 | 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | running | 106 | $46,390 |
| 20 | 6 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 199 | 11 | running | 108 | $73,288 |
| 21 | 36 | 4 | Kevin Lepage | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | running | 100 | $37,440 |
| 22 | 25 | 50 | Rick Mast | Midwest Transit Racing | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | running | 97 | $33,740 |
| 23 | 22 | 92 | Stacy Compton | Melling Racing | Dodge | 198 | 0 | running | 94 | $36,915 |
| 24 | 7 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac | 198 | 0 | running | 91 | $44,665 |
| 25 | 12 | 66 | Todd Bodine | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 198 | 0 | running | 88 | $37,290 |
| 26 | 43 | 33 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 198 | 0 | running | 85 | $64,410 |
| 27 | 23 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 198 | 0 | running | 82 | $60,613 |
| 28 | 24 | 90 | Hut Stricklin | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 198 | 0 | running | 79 | $32,740 |
| 29 | 15 | 7 | Ted Musgrave | Ultra Motorsports | Ford | 198 | 0 | running | 76 | $43,565 |
| 30 | 17 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 197 | 0 | running | 73 | $42,915 |
| 31 | 40 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 195 | 0 | running | 70 | $67,495 |
| 32 | 30 | 1 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 190 | 0 | running | 67 | $58,358 |
| 33 | 37 | 55 | Bobby Hamilton | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 187 | 0 | running | 64 | $39,915 |
| 34 | 32 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 185 | 0 | engine | 61 | $31,715 |
| 35 | 35 | 14 | Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Pontiac | 176 | 0 | running | 58 | $31,540 |
| 36 | 9 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske Racing South | Ford | 176 | 0 | running | 55 | $70,624 |
| 37 | 11 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 158 | 0 | running | 52 | $31,175 |
| 38 | 13 | 19 | Casey Atwood (R) | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 157 | 0 | engine | 49 | $31,050 |
| 39 | 20 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 150 | 0 | running | 46 | $65,952 |
| 40 | 21 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 113 | 0 | crash | 43 | $63,910 |
| 41 | 33 | 01 | Jason Leffler (R) | Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates | Dodge | 100 | 0 | crash | 40 | $38,650 |
| 42 | 28 | 44 | Buckshot Jones | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 78 | 0 | crash | 37 | $38,575 |
| 43 | 34 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 34 | 0 | engine | 34 | $30,751 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 44 | | 96 | Andy Houston (R) | PPI Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| 45 | | 27 | Kenny Wallace | Eel River Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||