# 2001 Checker Auto Parts 500

The 2001 Checker Auto Parts 500 presented by Pennzoil was the 32nd stock car race of the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 14th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, October 28, 2001, in Avondale, Arizona at Phoenix International Raceway, a 1-mile (1.6 km) permanent low-banked tri-oval race track. The race took the scheduled 312 laps to complete. At race's end, Jeff Burton, driving for Roush Racing, would prevail in a battle against reliever for Jeremy Mayfield, Penske Racing South driver Mike Wallace, to win his 17th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his second and final victory of the season. To fill out the podium, Wallace and Robert Yates Racing driver Ricky Rudd would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

Phoenix International Raceway – also known as PIR – is a one-mile, low-banked tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona. It is named after the nearby metropolitan area of Phoenix. The motorsport track opened in 1964 and currently hosts two NASCAR race weekends annually. PIR has also hosted the IndyCar Series, CART, USAC and the Rolex Sports Car Series. The raceway is currently owned and operated by International Speedway Corporation.
The raceway was originally constructed with a 2.5 mi (4.0 km) road course that ran both inside and outside of the main tri-oval. In 1991 the track was reconfigured with the current 1.51 mi (2.43 km) interior layout. PIR has an estimated grandstand seating capacity of around 67,000. Lights were installed around the track in 2004 following the addition of a second annual NASCAR race weekend.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 1 | Kenny Wallace | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | Pennzoil |
| 01 | Jason Leffler (R) | Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates | Dodge | Cingular Wireless |
| 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | Miller Lite |
| 02 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing South | Ford | Alltel |
| 4 | Bobby Hamilton Jr. | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kodak |
| 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kellogg's |
| 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | Viagra |
| 7 | Kevin Lepage | 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 | Ralphs |
| 12 | Mike Wallace | 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 Patriotic |
| 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, Shrek |
| 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Texaco, Havoline |
| 29 | Kevin Harvick (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | GM Goodwrench |
| 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Lowe's |
| 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Ford | Tide |
| 33 | Joe Nemechek | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | Oakwood Homes |
| 36 | Ken Schrader | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac | Pedigree |
| 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 |
| 55 | Bobby Hamilton | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | Square D |
| 66 | Todd Bodine | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | Kmart Blue Light Special |
| 70 | Rick Bogart | Bogart Racing | Dodge | Purex |
| 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | Jasper Engines & Transmissions |
| 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | UPS |
| 90 | Hut Stricklin | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Donlavey Racing |
| 92 | Stacy Compton | Melling Racing | Dodge | Kodiak |
| 93 | Dave Blaney | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | Amoco Ultimate |
| 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, October 26, at 10:25 AM MST. The session would last for one hour and 55 minutes. Kyle Petty, driving for Petty Enterprises, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 27.467 and an average speed of 131.066 miles per hour (210.930 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 27.467 | 131.066 |
| 2 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac | 27.476 | 131.023 |
| 3 | 19 | Casey Atwood (R) | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 27.490 | 130.957 |
| Full first practice results |||||||

### Second practice

The second session was held on Saturday, October 27, at 10:30 AM MST. The session would last for 45 minutes. Jeff Burton, driving for Roush Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 28.195 and an average speed of 127.682 miles per hour (205.484 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 28.195 | 127.682 |
| 2 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 28.255 | 127.411 |
| 3 | 55 | Bobby Hamilton | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 28.262 | 127.380 |
| Full second practice results |||||||

### Third and final practice

The final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, October 27, at 3:30 PM 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 28.325 and an average speed of 127.096 miles per hour (204.541 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 28.325 | 127.096 |
| 2 | 29 | Kevin Harvick (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 28.447 | 126.551 |
| 3 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 28.457 | 126.507 |
| Full Happy Hour practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Friday, October 26, at 2:40 PM MST. 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.
Casey Atwood, driving for Evernham Motorsports, would win the pole, setting a time of 27.419 and an average speed of 131.296 miles per hour (211.300 km/h).
Rick Bogart was the only driver to fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 19 | Casey Atwood (R) | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 27.419 | 131.296 |
| 2 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 27.466 | 131.071 |
| 3 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 27.486 | 130.976 |
| 4 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 27.495 | 130.933 |
| 5 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 27.522 | 130.804 |
| 6 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 27.566 | 130.596 |
| 7 | 1 | Kenny Wallace | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 27.590 | 130.482 |
| 8 | 14 | Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Pontiac | 27.604 | 130.416 |
| 9 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 27.607 | 130.402 |
| 10 | 36 | Ken Schrader | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 27.622 | 130.331 |
| 11 | 66 | Todd Bodine | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 27.623 | 130.326 |
| 12 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 27.629 | 130.298 |
| 13 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac | 27.636 | 130.265 |
| 14 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 27.662 | 130.142 |
| 15 | 92 | Stacy Compton | Melling Racing | Dodge | 27.662 | 130.142 |
| 16 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 27.692 | 130.001 |
| 17 | 55 | Bobby Hamilton | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 27.693 | 129.997 |
| 18 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 27.700 | 129.964 |
| 19 | 44 | Buckshot Jones | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 27.719 | 129.875 |
| 20 | 93 | Dave Blaney | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 27.729 | 129.828 |
| 21 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 27.738 | 129.786 |
| 22 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 27.741 | 129.772 |
| 23 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 27.757 | 129.697 |
| 24 | 12 | Mike Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 27.768 | 129.646 |
| 25 | 02 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing South | Ford | 27.774 | 129.618 |
| 26 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 27.779 | 129.594 |
| 27 | 90 | Rick Mast | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 27.790 | 129.543 |
| 28 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 27.790 | 129.543 |
| 29 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 27.810 | 129.450 |
| 30 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 27.833 | 129.343 |
| 31 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates | Dodge | 27.858 | 129.227 |
| 32 | 26 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 27.875 | 129.148 |
| 33 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 27.893 | 129.065 |
| 34 | 33 | Joe Nemechek | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 27.915 | 128.963 |
| 35 | 7 | Kevin Lepage | Ultra Motorsports | Ford | 27.956 | 128.774 |
| 36 | 01 | Jason Leffler (R) | Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates | Dodge | 27.969 | 128.714 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 37 | 29 | Kevin Harvick (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 38 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 39 | 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 40 | 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 41 | 97 | Kurt Busch (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 42 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 43 | 4 | Bobby Hamilton Jr. | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 44 | 70 | Rick Bogart | Bogart Racing | Dodge | 28.420 | 126.671 |
| Official qualifying results |||||||
*Time not available.

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 3 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 312 | 102 | running | 185 | $213,491 |
| 2 | 24 | 12 | Mike Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 312 | 45 | running | 175 | $156,459 |
| 3 | 21 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 312 | 0 | running | 165 | $139,797 |
| 4 | 38 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 312 | 0 | running | 160 | $97,960 |
| 5 | 22 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 312 | 0 | running | 155 | $96,675 |
| 6 | 14 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 312 | 0 | running | 150 | $109,052 |
| 7 | 42 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 312 | 0 | running | 146 | $94,399 |
| 8 | 9 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 312 | 0 | running | 142 | $56,875 |
| 9 | 16 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 312 | 0 | running | 138 | $96,452 |
| 10 | 13 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac | 312 | 0 | running | 134 | $67,675 |
| 11 | 7 | 1 | Kenny Wallace | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 312 | 0 | running | 130 | $78,118 |
| 12 | 18 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 312 | 0 | running | 127 | $97,802 |
| 13 | 33 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 312 | 0 | running | 124 | $81,610 |
| 14 | 1 | 19 | Casey Atwood (R) | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 312 | 71 | running | 126 | $53,075 |
| 39 | 2 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 270 | 2 | crash | 51 | $97,590 |
| 15 | 4 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 312 | 91 | running | 123 | $63,610 |
| 16 | 19 | 44 | Buckshot Jones | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 312 | 0 | running | 115 | $88,277 |
| 17 | 37 | 29 | Kevin Harvick (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 312 | 0 | running | 112 | $60,645 |
| 18 | 10 | 36 | Ken Schrader | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 312 | 0 | running | 109 | $85,176 |
| 19 | 29 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 312 | 0 | running | 106 | $80,330 |
| 20 | 23 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 312 | 0 | running | 103 | $50,936 |
| 21 | 15 | 92 | Stacy Compton | Melling Racing | Dodge | 312 | 0 | running | 100 | $52,850 |
| 22 | 41 | 97 | Kurt Busch (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | 312 | 0 | running | 97 | $50,325 |
| 23 | 26 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 312 | 0 | running | 94 | $51,375 |
| 24 | 40 | 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 312 | 0 | running | 91 | $40,950 |
| 25 | 27 | 90 | Rick Mast | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 312 | 0 | running | 88 | $47,615 |
| 26 | 12 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 312 | 0 | running | 85 | $67,523 |
| 27 | 6 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 312 | 0 | running | 82 | $42,675 |
| 28 | 20 | 93 | Dave Blaney | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 312 | 0 | running | 79 | $42,050 |
| 29 | 11 | 66 | Todd Bodine | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 311 | 0 | running | 76 | $39,925 |
| 30 | 8 | 14 | Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Pontiac | 311 | 0 | running | 73 | $50,375 |
| 31 | 32 | 26 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 311 | 1 | running | 75 | $47,150 |
| 32 | 35 | 7 | Kevin Lepage | Ultra Motorsports | Ford | 310 | 0 | running | 67 | $57,025 |
| 33 | 39 | 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 310 | 0 | running | 64 | $46,900 |
| 34 | 31 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates | Dodge | 309 | 0 | running | 61 | $67,045 |
| 35 | 34 | 33 | Joe Nemechek | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 301 | 0 | running | 58 | $46,650 |
| 36 | 17 | 55 | Bobby Hamilton | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 300 | 0 | running | 55 | $73,248 |
| 37 | 30 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 287 | 0 | engine | 52 | $38,400 |
| 38 | 43 | 4 | Bobby Hamilton Jr. | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 286 | 0 | overheating | 49 | $73,802 |
| 40 | 25 | 02 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing South | Ford | 253 | 0 | crash | 43 | $38,125 |
| 41 | 36 | 01 | Jason Leffler (R) | Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates | Dodge | 252 | 0 | overheating | 40 | $45,975 |
| 42 | 5 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 239 | 0 | crash | 37 | $45,850 |
| 43 | 28 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 65 | 0 | engine | 34 | $37,978 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 44 | | 70 | Rick Bogart | Bogart Racing | Dodge | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||