# 2000 thatlook.com 300

The 2000 thatlook.com 300 was the 18th stock car race of the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the eighth iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, July 9, 2000, in Loudon, New Hampshire, at New Hampshire International Speedway, a 1.058-mile (1.703 km) permanent, oval-shaped, low-banked racetrack. The race was shortened from its scheduled 300 laps to 273 due to inclement weather. At race's end, Tony Stewart, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would complete a dominant performance when the race was stopped to win his sixth career NASCAR Winston Cup Series win and his third of the season. To fill out the podium, Joe Nemechek of Andy Petree Racing and Mark Martin of Roush Racing would finish second and third, respectively.
The race was marred by the death of Kenny Irwin Jr., who died due to a stuck throttle in the race's Friday practice session. The accident was eerily similar to another fatal crash at the same track when NASCAR Busch Series driver Adam Petty died in the 2000 Busch 200 two months before the race. After Irwin's death, NASCAR would face criticism for its lack of kill switches and safety in general.

## Background

New Hampshire International Speedway is a 1.058-mile (1.703 km) oval speedway located in Loudon, New Hampshire which has hosted NASCAR racing annually since the early 1990s, as well as an IndyCar weekend and the oldest motorcycle race in North America, the Loudon Classic. Nicknamed "The Magic Mile", the speedway is often converted into a 1.6-mile (2.6 km) road course, which includes much of the oval. The track was originally the site of Bryar Motorsports Park before being purchased and redeveloped by Bob Bahre. The track is currently one of eight major NASCAR tracks owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports.

### 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 |
| 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 | Tyler Jet Motorsports |
| 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | Ralphs |
| 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | Mobil 1 |
| 14 | Rick Mast | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Pontiac | Conseco |
| 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 |
| 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Michael Holigan |
| 26 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | Big Kmart |
| 27 | Mike Bliss (R) | 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 |
| 42 | Kenny Irwin Jr.* | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | BellSouth |
| 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | Cheerios |
| 44 | Steve Grissom | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | Hot Wheels |
| 50 | Ricky Craven | Midwest Transit Racing | Chevrolet | Midwest Transit |
| 55 | Kenny Wallace | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | Square D, Cooper Lighting |
| 60 | Geoff Bodine | 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 | RedCell, America Online |
| 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 Bros. 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 |
| Official entry list |||||
*Withdrew due to a practice crash, killing Irwin.

## Practice
### First practice

The first practice session was held on Friday, July 7, at 11:15 AM EST. The session would last for two hours and five minutes. Rusty Wallace of Penske-Kranefuss Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 28.806 and an average speed of 132.222 mph (212.791 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 28.806 | 132.222 |
| 2 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 28.938 | 131.619 |
| 3 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 28.975 | 131.451 |
| Full first practice results |||||||

#### Death of Kenny Irwin Jr.

During the first practice session, Team SABCO driver Kenny Irwin Jr. would suffer a stuck throttle on his first lap, sending Irwin into the outside wall. Brett Bodine, who was behind Irwin at the time, reported in an interview with CNN that the car hit the Turn 3 outside wall, then proceeded to roll onto the driver's side, riding the wall. Eventually, after coming to a stop, Irwin's car flipped over to its roof. Irwin likely died instantly of a basilar skull fracture.
While the cause of the crash is widely believed to be a stuck throttle on Irwin's car, the local police department, led by police chief Robert Fiske, report that they could not hold a proper investigation due to both NASCAR and New Hampshire International Raceway president Bob Bahre continuing the scheduled pre-race activities. Fiske reported that if NASCAR had called the police earlier, they could have found out the exact cause, saying "I think there would be a good possibility, particularly because of the witnesses that we would have been able to gain. If they heard the acceleration, for instance, or saw something through the cockpit there, any number of things. Even the tracks that were left on the track. Was it straight into the wall? Did he start to turn? God only knows. I haven't a clue."
After the crash, NASCAR was criticized for its lack of urgency in safety, with another similar incident happening two months before at the same track with Adam Petty. Within the months after Irwin's crash, NASCAR and some race teams would experiment with creating new kill switches and head harnesses to avoid a crash like Irwin and Petty's. However, NASCAR would still be criticized for its lack of urgency even after the implemented kill switch, with the deaths of Tony Roper, Dale Earnhardt, and Blaise Alexander, all caused by basilar skull fractures finally convincing NASCAR to implement stricter safety measures.

### Second practice

The second practice session was held on Saturday, July 8, at 9:00 AM EST. The session would last for one hour and 30 minutes. Scott Pruett of PPI Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.242 and an average speed of 130.251 mph (209.619 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 32 | Scott Pruett (R) | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 29.242 | 130.251 |
| 2 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Tyler Jet Motorsports | Pontiac | 29.279 | 130.086 |
| 3 | 97 | Chad Little | Roush Racing | Ford | 29.358 | 129.736 |
| Full second practice results |||||||

### Third and final practice

The third and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, July 8, at 1:30 PM EST. The session would last for one hour. Kenny Wallace of Andy Petree Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.386 and an average speed of 129.612 mph (208.590 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 55 | Kenny Wallace | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 29.386 | 129.612 |
| 2 | 60 | Geoff Bodine | Joe Bessey Racing | Chevrolet | 29.428 | 129.427 |
| 3 | 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.497 | 129.124 |
| Full Happy Hour practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, July 7, at 2:30 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, July 8, at 11:00 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 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 champion needs the provisional, the next team in the owner points will be awarded a provisional.
Rusty Wallace of Penske-Kranefuss Racing would win the pole, setting a time of 28.835 and an average speed of 132.089 miles per hour (212.577 km/h).
Dave Marcis was the only driver to fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 28.835 | 132.089 |
| 2 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 28.948 | 131.574 |
| 3 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 28.969 | 131.478 |
| 4 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 28.972 | 131.465 |
| 5 | 50 | Ricky Craven | Midwest Transit Racing | Chevrolet | 28.986 | 131.401 |
| 6 | 20 | Tony Stewart (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 29.034 | 131.184 |
| 7 | 36 | Ken Schrader | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 29.066 | 131.040 |
| 8 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.068 | 131.031 |
| 9 | 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.080 | 130.977 |
| 10 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 29.106 | 130.860 |
| 11 | 14 | Rick Mast | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Pontiac | 29.111 | 130.837 |
| 12 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 29.114 | 130.824 |
| 13 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 29.114 | 130.824 |
| 14 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 29.122 | 130.788 |
| 15 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 29.129 | 130.756 |
| 16 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 29.133 | 130.738 |
| 17 | 60 | Geoff Bodine | Joe Bessey Racing | Chevrolet | 29.133 | 130.738 |
| 18 | 26 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 29.188 | 130.492 |
| 19 | 55 | Kenny Wallace | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 29.213 | 130.380 |
| 20 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 29.225 | 130.327 |
| 21 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 29.255 | 130.193 |
| 22 | 17 | Matt Kenseth (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | 29.261 | 130.166 |
| 23 | 1 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 29.266 | 130.144 |
| 24 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 29.270 | 130.126 |
| 25 | 27 | Mike Bliss (R) | Eel River Racing | Pontiac | 29.307 | 129.962 |
| 26 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. (R) | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 29.364 | 129.710 |
| 27 | 66 | Darrell Waltrip | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 29.374 | 129.666 |
| 28 | 16 | Kevin Lepage | Roush Racing | Ford | 29.389 | 129.600 |
| 29 | 93 | Dave Blaney | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 29.447 | 129.344 |
| 30 | 33 | Joe Nemechek | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 29.452 | 129.322 |
| 31 | 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 29.454 | 129.314 |
| 32 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.468 | 129.252 |
| 33 | 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 29.532 | 129.011 |
| 34 | 97 | Chad Little | Roush Racing | Ford | 29.573 | 128.793 |
| 35 | 32 | Scott Pruett (R) | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 29.579 | 128.767 |
| 36 | 4 | Bobby Hamilton | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.625 | 128.567 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 37 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 29.743 | 128.057 |
| 38 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Tyler Jet Motorsports | Pontiac | 29.775 | 127.919 |
| 39 | 7 | Michael Waltrip | Mattei Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.674 | 128.355 |
| 40 | 44 | Steve Grissom | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 29.792 | 127.846 |
| 41 | 75 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Galaxy Motorsports | Ford | 29.821 | 127.722 |
| 42 | 9 | Stacy Compton (R) | Melling Racing | Ford | 29.821 | 127.722 |
| 43 | 90 | Ed Berrier (R) | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 30.652 | 124.259 |
| Failed to qualify or withdrew |||||||
| 44 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 29.911 | 127.338 |
| WD | 42 | Kenny Irwin Jr. | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | - | - |
| Official first round qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 6 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 273 | 156 | running | 185 | $164,800 |
| 2 | 30 | 33 | Joe Nemechek | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 273 | 3 | running | 175 | $107,550 |
| 3 | 3 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 273 | 13 | running | 170 | $81,200 |
| 4 | 9 | 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 273 | 2 | running | 165 | $73,825 |
| 5 | 8 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 273 | 0 | running | 155 | $74,375 |
| 6 | 24 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 273 | 0 | running | 150 | $69,425 |
| 7 | 10 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 273 | 1 | running | 151 | $70,725 |
| 8 | 16 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 273 | 10 | running | 147 | $56,125 |
| 9 | 20 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 273 | 2 | running | 143 | $64,125 |
| 10 | 14 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 273 | 0 | running | 134 | $68,925 |
| 11 | 4 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 273 | 1 | running | 135 | $63,125 |
| 12 | 11 | 14 | Rick Mast | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Pontiac | 273 | 0 | running | 127 | $45,025 |
| 13 | 17 | 60 | Geoff Bodine | Joe Bessey Racing | Chevrolet | 273 | 20 | running | 129 | $55,325 |
| 14 | 38 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Tyler Jet Motorsports | Pontiac | 272 | 0 | running | 121 | $50,525 |
| 15 | 1 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 272 | 1 | running | 123 | $67,025 |
| 16 | 33 | 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 272 | 0 | running | 115 | $57,325 |
| 17 | 5 | 50 | Ricky Craven | Midwest Transit Racing | Chevrolet | 272 | 63 | running | 117 | $41,700 |
| 18 | 12 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 272 | 0 | running | 109 | $59,550 |
| 19 | 22 | 17 | Matt Kenseth (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | 272 | 0 | running | 106 | $54,400 |
| 20 | 13 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 272 | 0 | running | 103 | $45,650 |
| 21 | 26 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. (R) | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 272 | 0 | running | 100 | $51,075 |
| 22 | 36 | 4 | Bobby Hamilton | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 272 | 0 | running | 97 | $52,725 |
| 23 | 7 | 36 | Ken Schrader | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 272 | 0 | running | 94 | $44,475 |
| 24 | 15 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 272 | 0 | running | 91 | $52,225 |
| 25 | 37 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 272 | 0 | running | 88 | $52,375 |
| 26 | 19 | 55 | Kenny Wallace | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 272 | 0 | running | 85 | $51,725 |
| 27 | 41 | 75 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Galaxy Motorsports | Ford | 271 | 0 | running | 82 | $43,450 |
| 28 | 23 | 1 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 271 | 0 | running | 79 | $51,200 |
| 29 | 42 | 9 | Stacy Compton (R) | Melling Racing | Ford | 271 | 0 | running | 76 | $42,950 |
| 30 | 35 | 32 | Scott Pruett (R) | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 271 | 0 | running | 73 | $40,225 |
| 31 | 28 | 16 | Kevin Lepage | Roush Racing | Ford | 271 | 0 | running | 70 | $50,600 |
| 32 | 25 | 27 | Mike Bliss (R) | Eel River Racing | Pontiac | 270 | 0 | running | 67 | $39,475 |
| 33 | 27 | 66 | Darrell Waltrip | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 270 | 0 | running | 64 | $42,350 |
| 34 | 29 | 93 | Dave Blaney | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 270 | 0 | running | 61 | $39,225 |
| 35 | 39 | 7 | Michael Waltrip | Mattei Motorsports | Chevrolet | 270 | 0 | running | 58 | $49,600 |
| 36 | 40 | 44 | Steve Grissom | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 268 | 0 | running | 55 | $46,975 |
| 37 | 43 | 90 | Ed Berrier (R) | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 267 | 0 | running | 52 | $38,850 |
| 38 | 21 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 162 | 0 | electrical | 49 | $38,750 |
| 39 | 31 | 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 155 | 0 | running | 46 | $46,725 |
| 40 | 2 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 109 | 1 | engine | 48 | $59,175 |
| 41 | 18 | 26 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 98 | 0 | crash | 40 | $46,650 |
| 42 | 34 | 97 | Chad Little | Roush Racing | Ford | 5 | 0 | crash | 37 | $46,625 |
| 43 | 32 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 5 | 0 | crash | 34 | $56,600 |
| Failed to qualify or withdrew |||||||||||
| 44 | | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| WD | | 42 | Kenny Irwin Jr. | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||