# 2000 Mall.com 400

The 2000 Mall.com 400 was the fifth stock car race of the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 44th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, March 19, 2000, in Darlington, South Carolina, at Darlington Raceway, a 1.366 miles (2.198 km) permanent egg-shaped oval racetrack. The race took the scheduled 293 laps to complete. At race's end, Bill Davis Racing's Ward Burton dominated the late laps of the race to take his second career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory, his only victory of the season, and his first victory in 131 races. To fill out the top three, Robert Yates Racing's Dale Jarrett and Richard Childress Racing's Dale Earnhardt finished second and third, respectively.

## Background

Darlington Raceway is a race track built for NASCAR racing located near Darlington, South Carolina. It is nicknamed "The Lady in Black" and "The Track Too Tough to Tame" by many NASCAR fans and drivers and advertised as "A NASCAR Tradition." It is of a unique, somewhat egg-shaped design, an oval with the ends of very different configurations, a condition which supposedly arose from the proximity of one end of the track to a minnow pond the owner refused to relocate. This situation makes it very challenging for the crews to set up their cars' handling in a way that is effective at both ends.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 1 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | Pennzoil |
| 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | Miller Lite |
| 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | GM Goodwrench Service |
| 4 | Bobby Hamilton | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kodak |
| 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kellogg's |
| 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | Valvoline / Cummins |
| 7 | Michael Waltrip | Mattei Motorsports | Chevrolet | NationsRent |
| 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. (R) | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | Budweiser |
| 9 | Stacy Compton (R) | Melling Racing | Ford | Kodiak |
| 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Tyler Jet Motorsports | Pontiac | Lycos |
| 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | Ralphs Supermarkets |
| 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | Mobil 1 |
| 13 | Robby Gordon | Team Menard | Ford | Menards / Duracell |
| 14 | Dick Trickle | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Pontiac | Conseco |
| 15 | Derrike Cope | Fenley-Moore Motorsports | Ford | Fenley-Moore Motorsports |
| 16 | Kevin Lepage | Roush Racing | Ford | Family Click |
| 17 | Matt Kenseth (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | DeWalt |
| 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | Interstate Batteries |
| 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | The Home Depot |
| 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Citgo |
| 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | Caterpillar |
| 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | DuPont Automotive Finishes |
| 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Michael Holigan |
| 26 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | Big Kmart |
| 27 | Jeff Fuller | Eel River Racing | Pontiac | Viagra |
| 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Texaco / Havoline |
| 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Lowe's |
| 32 | Scott Pruett (R) | PPI Motorsports | Ford | Tide |
| 33 | Joe Nemechek | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | Oakwood Homes |
| 36 | Ken Schrader | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | M&M's |
| 40 | Sterling Marlin | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | Coors Light |
| 41 | Rick Mast | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Big Daddy's BBQ Sauce |
| 42 | Kenny Irwin Jr. | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | BellSouth |
| 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP / Cheerios |
| 44 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | Hot Wheels |
| 50 | Ricky Craven | Midwest Transit Racing | Chevrolet | Midwest Transit |
| 55 | Kenny Wallace | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | Square D |
| 60 | Ted Musgrave | Joe Bessey Racing | Chevrolet | Power Team |
| 66 | Darrell Waltrip | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | Route 66, Big Kmart |
| 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Realtree |
| 75 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Galaxy Motorsports | Ford | Dinner and a Movie / RedCell |
| 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | Jasper Engines & Transmissions |
| 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Quality Care Service / Ford Credit |
| 90 | Ed Berrier (R) | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Hills Brothers Coffee |
| 93 | Dave Blaney (R) | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | Amoco |
| 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | McDonald's |
| 97 | Chad Little | Roush Racing | Ford | John Deere |
| 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | Exide Batteries |
| Official entry list |||||

## Practice
### First practice

The first practice session was held on Friday, March 17, at 11:00 AM EST. The session would last for one hour and 15 minutes. Roush Racing's Jeff Burton set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 28.923 and an average speed of 170.024 mph (273.627 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 28.923 | 170.024 |
| 2 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 28.982 | 169.678 |
| 3 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 29.025 | 169.426 |
| Full first practice results |||||||

### Second practice

The second practice session was held on Friday, March 17, at 1:00 PM EST. The session would last for 45 minutes. Hendrick Motorsports's Jeff Gordon set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 28.747 and an average speed of 171.065 mph (275.302 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 28.747 | 171.065 |
| 2 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 28.833 | 170.555 |
| 3 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 28.844 | 170.490 |
| Full second practice results |||||||

### Third practice

The third practice session was held on Saturday, March 18, at 9:30 AM EST. The session would last for one hour and 30 minutes. Dale Earnhardt, Inc.'s Dale Earnhardt Jr. set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.611 and an average speed of 166.073 mph (267.269 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. (R) | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 29.611 | 166.073 |
| 2 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 29.648 | 165.866 |
| 3 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 29.712 | 165.508 |
| Full third practice results |||||||

### Final practice

The final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, March 18, after the 2000 SunCom 200. The session would last for one hour. Roush Racing's Mark Martin set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.516 and an average speed of 166.607 mph (268.128 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 29.516 | 166.607 |
| 2 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 29.565 | 166.331 |
| 3 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 29.571 | 166.298 |
| Full final practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, March 17, at 3:30 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. During the first round, the top 25 drivers in the round would be guaranteed a starting spot in the race. If a driver was not able to guarantee a spot in the first round, they had the option to scrub their time from the first round and try and run a faster lap time in a second round qualifying run, held on Saturday, March 18, at 11:30 AM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have two laps to set a fastest time; the fastest of the two would count as their official qualifying lap. Positions 26–36 would be decided on time, while positions 37–43 would be based on provisionals. Six spots were awarded by the use of provisionals based on owner's points. The seventh was awarded to a past champion who has not otherwise qualified for the race. If no past champion needs the provisional, the next team in the owner points was awarded a provisional.
Jeff Gordon, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would win the pole, setting a time of 28.481 and an average speed of 172.662 miles per hour (277.873 km/h) in the first round.
Five drivers failed to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 28.481 | 172.662 |
| 2 | 16 | Kevin Lepage | Roush Racing | Ford | 28.552 | 172.233 |
| 3 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 28.557 | 172.203 |
| 4 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 28.685 | 171.435 |
| 5 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 28.729 | 171.172 |
| 6 | 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 28.739 | 171.112 |
| 7 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 28.792 | 170.797 |
| 8 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 28.798 | 170.762 |
| 9 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 28.832 | 170.560 |
| 10 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. (R) | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 28.839 | 170.519 |
| 11 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 28.855 | 170.425 |
| 12 | 14 | Dick Trickle | A. J. Foyt Racing | Pontiac | 28.863 | 170.377 |
| 13 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 28.866 | 170.360 |
| 14 | 27 | Jeff Fuller | Eel River Racing | Pontiac | 28.867 | 170.354 |
| 15 | 93 | Dave Blaney (R) | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 28.874 | 170.312 |
| 16 | 17 | Matt Kenseth (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | 28.891 | 170.212 |
| 17 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 28.899 | 170.165 |
| 18 | 42 | Kenny Irwin Jr. | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 28.902 | 170.147 |
| 19 | 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 28.902 | 170.147 |
| 20 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 28.915 | 170.071 |
| 21 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 28.916 | 170.065 |
| 22 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 28.938 | 169.936 |
| 23 | 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 28.949 | 169.871 |
| 24 | 26 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 28.950 | 169.865 |
| 25 | 55 | Kenny Wallace | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 28.964 | 169.783 |
| Failed to lock in the first round |||||||
| 26 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 28.977 | 169.707 |
| 27 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 28.980 | 169.689 |
| 28 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 28.988 | 169.643 |
| 29 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Tyler Jet Motorsports | Pontiac | 28.988 | 169.643 |
| 30 | 33 | Joe Nemechek | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 28.988 | 169.643 |
| 31 | 1 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 28.996 | 169.596 |
| 32 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 29.000 | 169.572 |
| 33 | 4 | Bobby Hamilton | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.003 | 169.555 |
| 34 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.008 | 169.526 |
| 35 | 7 | Michael Waltrip | Mattei Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.020 | 169.456 |
| 36 | 36 | Ken Schrader | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 29.053 | 169.263 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 37 | 97 | Chad Little | Roush Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 38 | 44 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| 39 | 60 | Ted Musgrave | Joe Bessey Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 40 | 13 | Robby Gordon | Team Menard | Ford | -* | -* |
| 41 | 41 | Rick Mast | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 42 | 9 | Stacy Compton (R) | Melling Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 43 | 66 | Darrell Waltrip | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 44 | 15 | Derrike Cope | Fenley-Moore Motorsports | Ford | 29.371 | 167.430 |
| 45 | 50 | Ricky Craven | Midwest Transit Racing | Chevrolet | 29.401 | 167.260 |
| 46 | 32 | Scott Pruett (R) | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 29.494 | 166.732 |
| 47 | 75 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Galaxy Motorsports | Ford | 29.680 | 165.687 |
| 48 | 90 | Ed Berrier (R) | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 29.806 | 164.987 |
| Official first round qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 3 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 293 | 188 | running | 185 | $132,725 |
| 2 | 17 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 293 | 26 | running | 175 | $90,905 |
| 3 | 4 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 293 | 0 | running | 165 | $68,590 |
| 4 | 9 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 293 | 0 | running | 160 | $68,230 |
| 5 | 27 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 293 | 0 | running | 155 | $65,925 |
| 6 | 16 | 17 | Matt Kenseth (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | 293 | 3 | running | 155 | $47,575 |
| 7 | 33 | 4 | Bobby Hamilton | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 293 | 19 | running | 151 | $45,820 |
| 8 | 1 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 293 | 22 | running | 147 | $56,915 |
| 10 | 2 | 16 | Kevin Lepage | Roush Racing | Ford | 293 | 1 | running | 139 | $54,630 |
| 9 | 5 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 293 | 0 | running | 138 | $48,010 |
| 11 | 34 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 293 | 0 | running | 130 | $47,250 |
| 12 | 6 | 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 293 | 0 | running | 127 | $41,945 |
| 13 | 7 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 292 | 34 | running | 129 | $48,290 |
| 14 | 23 | 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 292 | 0 | running | 121 | $40,410 |
| 15 | 37 | 97 | Chad Little | Roush Racing | Ford | 292 | 0 | running | 118 | $43,130 |
| 16 | 20 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 292 | 0 | running | 115 | $45,685 |
| 17 | 22 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 292 | 0 | running | 112 | $39,440 |
| 18 | 13 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 292 | 0 | running | 109 | $31,020 |
| 19 | 8 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 292 | 0 | running | 106 | $38,690 |
| 20 | 11 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 291 | 0 | running | 103 | $49,220 |
| 21 | 28 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 291 | 0 | running | 100 | $41,805 |
| 22 | 36 | 36 | Ken Schrader | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 291 | 0 | running | 97 | $29,790 |
| 23 | 24 | 26 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 291 | 0 | running | 94 | $37,975 |
| 24 | 29 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Tyler Jet Motorsports | Pontiac | 290 | 0 | running | 91 | $29,160 |
| 25 | 38 | 44 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 290 | 0 | running | 88 | $37,245 |
| 26 | 15 | 93 | Dave Blaney (R) | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 290 | 0 | running | 85 | $25,435 |
| 27 | 32 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 290 | 0 | running | 82 | $25,250 |
| 28 | 40 | 13 | Robby Gordon | Team Menard | Ford | 289 | 0 | running | 79 | $25,095 |
| 29 | 42 | 9 | Stacy Compton (R) | Melling Racing | Ford | 288 | 0 | running | 76 | $28,590 |
| 30 | 41 | 41 | Rick Mast | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 288 | 0 | running | 73 | $28,260 |
| 31 | 12 | 14 | Dick Trickle | A. J. Foyt Racing | Pontiac | 287 | 0 | running | 70 | $24,605 |
| 32 | 35 | 7 | Michael Waltrip | Mattei Motorsports | Chevrolet | 282 | 0 | running | 67 | $35,475 |
| 33 | 26 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 281 | 0 | running | 64 | $24,295 |
| 34 | 21 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 281 | 0 | running | 61 | $34,665 |
| 35 | 25 | 55 | Kenny Wallace | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 255 | 0 | engine | 58 | $32,035 |
| 36 | 14 | 27 | Jeff Fuller | Eel River Racing | Pontiac | 232 | 0 | running | 55 | $23,905 |
| 37 | 19 | 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 232 | 0 | running | 52 | $31,800 |
| 38 | 18 | 42 | Kenny Irwin Jr. | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 219 | 0 | running | 49 | $31,675 |
| 39 | 31 | 1 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 218 | 0 | engine | 46 | $31,550 |
| 40 | 10 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. (R) | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 213 | 0 | accident | 43 | $23,375 |
| 41 | 30 | 33 | Joe Nemechek | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 186 | 0 | running | 40 | $31,250 |
| 42 | 39 | 60 | Ted Musgrave | Joe Bessey Racing | Chevrolet | 135 | 0 | engine | 37 | $31,125 |
| 43 | 43 | 66 | Darrell Waltrip | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 116 | 0 | handling | 34 | $23,271 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 44 | | 15 | Derrike Cope | Fenley-Moore Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| 45 | | 50 | Ricky Craven | Midwest Transit Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 46 | | 32 | Scott Pruett (R) | PPI Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| 47 | | 75 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Galaxy Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| 48 | | 90 | Ed Berrier (R) | Donlavey Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Media
### Television

The race was aired live on ESPN. Jerry Punch, 1973 Cup Series champion Benny Parsons and two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Ned Jarrett called the race from the broadcast booth. Punch filled in for regular commentator Bob Jenkins was covering ABC's coverage of the MCI WorldCom Indy 200 IndyCar Series race at Phoenix International Raceway. Bill Weber, John Kernan and Ray Dunlap handled pit road for the television side.
ESPN :
| Booth announcers | Booth announcers | Pit reporters |
| Lap-by-lap | Color-commentators | Pit reporters |
| Jerry Punch | Ned Jarrett Benny Parsons | Bill Weber John Kernan Ray Dunlap |

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Bobby Labonte | 794 |
| | 2 | Mark Martin | 785 (−9) |
| | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | 762 (−32) |
| 1 | 4 | Ward Burton | 733 (−61) |
| 1 | 5 | Dale Jarrett | 721 (−73) |
| 2 | 6 | Tony Stewart | 663 (−131) |
| 3 | 7 | Bill Elliott | 663 (−131) |
| 1 | 8 | Ricky Rudd | 647 (−147) |
| 4 | 9 | Jeff Burton | 621 (−173) |
| 1 | 10 | Rusty Wallace | 595 (−199) |
| Official driver's standings ||||