# 2003 Pocono 500

The 2003 Pocono 500 was the 14th stock car race of the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 22nd iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, June 8, 2003, before a crowd of 100,000 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. On the final round of pit stops on lap 190, Tony Stewart of Joe Gibbs Racing would cycle to the lead and hold off the field to win under caution when a crash occurred on lap 198 to give Stewart his 16th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series win and his first of the season. To fill out the podium, Mark Martin and Matt Kenseth of Roush 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

| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 0 | Jack Sprague | Haas CNC Racing | Pontiac | NetZero |
| 1 | Jeff Green | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | Pennzoil |
| 01 | Mike Wallace | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | U.S. Army |
| 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing | Dodge | Miller Lite |
| 4 | Mike Skinner | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Pontiac | Kodak |
| 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Got Milk?, Kellogg's |
| 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 | Dodge | Alltel |
| 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 | DeWalt |
| 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | Interstate Batteries |
| 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 | Motorcraft |
| 22 | Ward Burton | 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 |
| 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 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | Cheerios |
| 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | Georgia-Pacific Brawny |
| 46 | Carl Long* | Glenn Racing | Dodge | Glenn Underwater Services |
| 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Lowe's |
| 49 | Ken Schrader | BAM Racing | Dodge | Blair.com |
| 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 |
| 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | UPS |
| 89 | Morgan Shepherd | Shepherd Racing Ventures | Ford | Racing With Jesus, Red Line Oil |
| 91 | Casey Atwood | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | Mountain Dew LiveWire |
| 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | Rubbermaid, Sharpie |
| 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | Citgo |
| Official entry list |||||
*Withdrew.

## Practice

Originally, three practice sessions were going to be held, with one session on Friday, and two on Saturday. However, rain on Saturday would cancel both Saturday practices.
The first and only practice session was held on Friday, June 6, at 11:20 AM EST, and would last for two hours. Tony Stewart of Joe Gibbs Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 52.654 and an average speed of 170.927 miles per hour (275.080 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 52.654 | 170.927 |
| 2 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 52.680 | 170.843 |
| 3 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing | Dodge | 52.686 | 170.823 |
| Full practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Friday, June 6, 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.
Jimmie Johnson of Hendrick Motorsports would win the pole, setting a time of 52.741 and an average speed of 170.645 miles per hour (274.627 km/h).
Two drivers would fail to qualify: Derrike Cope and Morgan Shepherd.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 52.741 | 170.645 |
| 2 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing | Dodge | 52.782 | 170.513 |
| 3 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 52.845 | 170.309 |
| 4 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 52.878 | 170.203 |
| 5 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 52.894 | 170.152 |
| 6 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 52.942 | 169.997 |
| 7 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 53.026 | 169.728 |
| 8 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 53.048 | 169.658 |
| 9 | 38 | Elliott Sadler | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 53.061 | 169.616 |
| 10 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 53.079 | 169.559 |
| 11 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 53.106 | 169.472 |
| 12 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 53.113 | 169.450 |
| 13 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 53.114 | 169.447 |
| 14 | 54 | Todd Bodine | BelCar Motorsports | Ford | 53.145 | 169.348 |
| 15 | 25 | Joe Nemechek | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 53.155 | 169.316 |
| 16 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 53.156 | 169.313 |
| 17 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 53.242 | 169.040 |
| 18 | 0 | Jack Sprague | Haas CNC Racing | Pontiac | 53.307 | 168.833 |
| 19 | 41 | Casey Mears | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 53.355 | 168.682 |
| 20 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 53.370 | 168.634 |
| 21 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 53.485 | 168.271 |
| 22 | 77 | Dave Blaney | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 53.498 | 168.231 |
| 23 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 53.518 | 168.168 |
| 24 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 53.540 | 168.099 |
| 25 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 53.542 | 168.092 |
| 26 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Racing | Ford | 53.543 | 168.089 |
| 27 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing | Dodge | 53.566 | 168.017 |
| 28 | 42 | Jamie McMurray | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 53.612 | 167.873 |
| 29 | 21 | Ricky Rudd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 53.627 | 167.826 |
| 30 | 7 | Jimmy Spencer | Ultra Motorsports | Dodge | 53.636 | 167.798 |
| 31 | 01 | Mike Wallace | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 53.643 | 167.776 |
| 32 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Pontiac | 53.651 | 167.751 |
| 33 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 53.663 | 167.713 |
| 34 | 91 | Casey Atwood | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 53.708 | 167.573 |
| 35 | 1 | Jeff Green | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 53.716 | 167.548 |
| 36 | 30 | Steve Park | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 53.753 | 167.432 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 37 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 54.045 | 166.528 |
| 38 | 23 | Kenny Wallace | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 53.793 | 167.308 |
| 39 | 49 | Ken Schrader | BAM Racing | Dodge | 54.114 | 166.316 |
| 40 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 53.910 | 166.945 |
| 41 | 4 | Mike Skinner | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Pontiac | 53.970 | 166.759 |
| 42 | 74 | Tony Raines | BACE Motorsports | Chevrolet | 53.901 | 166.973 |
| 43 | 14 | Larry Foyt | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Dodge | 55.931 | 160.913 |
| Failed to qualify or withdrew |||||||
| 44 | 37 | Derrike Cope | Quest Motor Racing | Chevrolet | 54.920 | 163.875 |
| 45 | 89 | Morgan Shepherd | Shepherd Racing Ventures | Ford | 55.210 | 163.014 |
| WD | 46 | Carl Long | Glenn Racing | Dodge | — | — |
| Official qualifying results |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 4 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 200 | 37 | running | 180 | $214,253 |
| 2 | 6 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 200 | 7 | running | 175 | $152,278 |
| 3 | 25 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 200 | 10 | running | 170 | $109,870 |
| 4 | 5 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 200 | 22 | running | 165 | $116,272 |
| 5 | 2 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing | Dodge | 200 | 1 | running | 160 | $98,700 |
| 6 | 23 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 200 | 44 | running | 160 | $104,490 |
| 7 | 11 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 1 | running | 151 | $87,946 |
| 8 | 17 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 200 | 2 | running | 147 | $91,146 |
| 9 | 9 | 38 | Elliott Sadler | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 200 | 35 | running | 143 | $101,040 |
| 10 | 32 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Pontiac | 200 | 0 | running | 134 | $83,490 |
| 11 | 14 | 54 | Todd Bodine | BelCar Motorsports | Ford | 200 | 3 | running | 135 | $68,740 |
| 12 | 1 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 23 | running | 132 | $80,375 |
| 13 | 12 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 124 | $95,568 |
| 14 | 16 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 200 | 6 | running | 126 | $84,507 |
| 15 | 33 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 200 | 0 | running | 118 | $59,640 |
| 16 | 27 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing | Dodge | 200 | 0 | running | 115 | $84,957 |
| 17 | 3 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 112 | $91,973 |
| 18 | 13 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 200 | 1 | running | 114 | $64,090 |
| 19 | 8 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 200 | 2 | running | 111 | $84,673 |
| 20 | 26 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Racing | Ford | 199 | 0 | crash | 103 | $52,615 |
| 21 | 19 | 41 | Casey Mears | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 199 | 0 | running | 100 | $69,990 |
| 22 | 18 | 0 | Jack Sprague | Haas CNC Racing | Pontiac | 199 | 0 | running | 97 | $48,690 |
| 23 | 21 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 199 | 0 | running | 94 | $84,143 |
| 24 | 24 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 199 | 0 | running | 91 | $75,765 |
| 25 | 20 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | running | 88 | $84,018 |
| 26 | 22 | 77 | Dave Blaney | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 199 | 0 | running | 85 | $66,090 |
| 27 | 40 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 199 | 0 | running | 82 | $55,340 |
| 28 | 37 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | running | 79 | $72,377 |
| 29 | 38 | 23 | Kenny Wallace | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 199 | 0 | running | 76 | $54,904 |
| 30 | 42 | 74 | Tony Raines | BACE Motorsports | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | running | 73 | $44,365 |
| 31 | 31 | 01 | Mike Wallace | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 198 | 0 | running | 70 | $43,715 |
| 32 | 28 | 42 | Jamie McMurray | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 198 | 0 | running | 67 | $43,565 |
| 33 | 35 | 1 | Jeff Green | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 197 | 1 | crash | 69 | $68,552 |
| 34 | 41 | 4 | Mike Skinner | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Pontiac | 197 | 0 | crash | 61 | $44,065 |
| 35 | 36 | 30 | Steve Park | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 195 | 0 | running | 58 | $50,990 |
| 36 | 10 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 193 | 0 | crash | 55 | $62,790 |
| 37 | 29 | 21 | Ricky Rudd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 171 | 0 | running | 52 | $50,625 |
| 38 | 15 | 25 | Joe Nemechek | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 166 | 0 | transmission | 49 | $42,500 |
| 39 | 30 | 7 | Jimmy Spencer | Ultra Motorsports | Dodge | 156 | 0 | handling | 46 | $42,385 |
| 40 | 34 | 91 | Casey Atwood | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 77 | 0 | engine | 43 | $42,230 |
| 41 | 43 | 14 | Larry Foyt | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Dodge | 71 | 5 | brakes | 45 | $42,090 |
| 42 | 7 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 53 | 0 | crash | 37 | $87,778 |
| 43 | 39 | 49 | Ken Schrader | BAM Racing | Dodge | 7 | 0 | crash | 34 | $42,186 |
| Failed to qualify or withdrew |||||||||||
| 44 | | 37 | Derrike Cope | Quest Motor Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 45 | | 89 | Morgan Shepherd | Shepherd Racing Ventures | Ford | | | | | |
| WD | | 46 | Carl Long | Glenn Racing | Dodge | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||