# 2001 Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400

The 2001 Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 was the 33rd stock car race of the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 37th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, November 4, 2001, in Rockingham, North Carolina, at North Carolina Speedway, a 1.017 miles (1.637 km) permanent high-banked racetrack. The race took the scheduled 393 laps to complete. At race's end, Joe Nemechek, driving for Andy Petree Racing, managed to dominate the late stages of the race to win his second career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his only victory of the season. The other podium finishers were Kenny Wallace, driving for Dale Earnhardt, Inc., and Johnny Benson Jr., driving for MBV Motorsports, who placed second and third respectively.

## Background

North Carolina Speedway was opened as a flat, one-mile oval on October 31, 1965. In 1969, the track was extensively reconfigured to a high-banked, D-shaped oval just over one mile in length. In 1997, North Carolina Motor Speedway merged with Penske Motorsports, and was renamed North Carolina Speedway. Shortly thereafter, the infield was reconfigured, and competition on the infield road course, mostly by the SCCA, was discontinued. Currently, the track is home to the Fast Track High Performance Driving School.

### 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 |
| 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 School Spirit |
| 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 | Pop Secret |
| 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 |
| 71 | Dick Trickle | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Team Realtree |
| 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | Jasper Engines & Transmissions |
| 85 | Carl Long | Mansion Motorsports | Dodge | Noopco |
| 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | UPS |
| 90 | Rick Mast | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Donlavey Racing |
| 92 | Stacy Compton | Melling Racing | Dodge | Kodiak |
| 93 | Dave Blaney | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | BP, 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, November 2, at 11:20 AM EST. The session lasted for two hours. Casey Atwood, driving for Evernham Motorsports, set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 23.848 and an average speed of 153.522 miles per hour (247.070 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 19 | Casey Atwood (R) | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 23.848 | 153.522 |
| 2 | 1 | Kenny Wallace | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 23.865 | 153.413 |
| 3 | 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 23.882 | 153.304 |
| Full first practice results |||||||

### Second practice

The second session was held on Saturday, November 3, at 10:15 AM EST. The session lasted for 45 minutes. Rusty Wallace, driving for Penske Racing South, set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 24.455 and an average speed of 149.773 miles per hour (241.036 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 24.455 | 149.773 |
| 2 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 24.618 | 148.720 |
| 3 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates | Dodge | 24.662 | 148.662 |
| Full second practice results |||||||

### Third and final practice

The final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, November 3, at 12:00 PM EST. The session lasted 45 minutes. Jeff Burton, driving for Roush Racing, set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 24.475 and an average speed of 149.589 miles per hour (240.740 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 24.475 | 149.589 |
| 2 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 24.573 | 148.993 |
| 3 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 24.601 | 148.823 |
| Full Happy Hour practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Friday, November 2, at 3:05 PM EST. Each driver had two laps to set a fastest time; the fastest of the two counted as their official qualifying lap. Positions 1-36 were be decided on time, while positions 37-43 were 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 champ needed the provisional, the next team in the owner points would be awarded a provisional.
Kenny Wallace, driving for Dale Earnhardt, Inc., won the pole, setting a time of 23.668 and an average speed of 154.690 miles per hour (248.949 km/h).
Rick Mast was the only driver to fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 1 | Kenny Wallace | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 23.668 | 154.690 |
| 2 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 23.720 | 154.351 |
| 3 | 19 | Casey Atwood (R) | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 23.733 | 154.266 |
| 4 | 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.736 | 154.247 |
| 5 | 55 | Bobby Hamilton | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 23.818 | 153.716 |
| 6 | 93 | Dave Blaney | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 23.846 | 153.535 |
| 7 | 71 | Dick Trickle | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 23.849 | 153.516 |
| 8 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.857 | 153.464 |
| 9 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 23.857 | 153.464 |
| 10 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 23.858 | 153.458 |
| 11 | 97 | Kurt Busch (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | 23.871 | 153.374 |
| 12 | 36 | Ken Schrader | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 23.899 | 153.195 |
| 13 | 33 | Joe Nemechek | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 23.911 | 153.118 |
| 14 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 23.911 | 153.118 |
| 15 | 7 | Kevin Lepage | Ultra Motorsports | Ford | 23.914 | 153.099 |
| 16 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 23.939 | 152.939 |
| 17 | 26 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 23.940 | 152.932 |
| 18 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates | Dodge | 23.948 | 152.881 |
| 19 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 23.949 | 152.875 |
| 20 | 12 | Mike Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 23.950 | 152.868 |
| 21 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 23.961 | 152.798 |
| 22 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 23.977 | 152.696 |
| 23 | 29 | Kevin Harvick (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 23.981 | 152.671 |
| 24 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 24.000 | 152.550 |
| 25 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 24.003 | 152.531 |
| 26 | 92 | Stacy Compton | Melling Racing | Dodge | 24.010 | 152.486 |
| 27 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 24.022 | 152.410 |
| 28 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 24.026 | 152.385 |
| 29 | 85 | Carl Long | Mansion Motorsports | Dodge | 24.028 | 152.372 |
| 30 | 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 24.031 | 152.353 |
| 31 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 24.037 | 152.315 |
| 32 | 14 | Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Pontiac | 24.062 | 152.157 |
| 33 | 4 | Bobby Hamilton Jr. | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 24.069 | 152.113 |
| 34 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 24.070 | 152.106 |
| 35 | 01 | Jason Leffler (R) | Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates | Dodge | 24.070 | 152.106 |
| 36 | 44 | Buckshot Jones | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 24.077 | 152.062 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 37 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 38 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 39 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| 40 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 41 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| 42 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 43 | 66 | Todd Bodine | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 44 | 90 | Rick Mast | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 24.123 | 152.062 |
| Official qualifying results |||||||
*Time not available.

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 13 | 33 | Joe Nemechek | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 393 | 196 | running | 185 | $157,535 |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | Kenny Wallace | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 393 | 101 | running | 175 | $113,233 |
| 3 | 39 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac | 393 | 0 | running | 165 | $75,350 |
| 4 | 31 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 393 | 0 | running | 160 | $103,252 |
| 5 | 4 | 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 393 | 0 | running | 155 | $65,350 |
| 6 | 25 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 393 | 0 | running | 150 | $80,560 |
| 7 | 10 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 393 | 17 | running | 151 | $61,075 |
| 8 | 37 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 393 | 0 | running | 142 | $75,572 |
| 9 | 19 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 393 | 33 | running | 143 | $92,102 |
| 10 | 40 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 392 | 0 | running | 134 | $57,375 |
| 11 | 18 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates | Dodge | 392 | 0 | running | 130 | $62,685 |
| 12 | 2 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 392 | 0 | running | 127 | $50,420 |
| 13 | 41 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 392 | 0 | running | 124 | $56,211 |
| 14 | 6 | 93 | Dave Blaney | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 391 | 0 | running | 121 | $41,700 |
| 15 | 21 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 391 | 0 | running | 118 | $75,223 |
| 16 | 15 | 7 | Kevin Lepage | Ultra Motorsports | Ford | 391 | 0 | running | 115 | $54,590 |
| 17 | 33 | 4 | Bobby Hamilton Jr. | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 391 | 0 | running | 112 | $43,675 |
| 18 | 38 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 391 | 0 | running | 109 | $82,646 |
| 19 | 12 | 36 | Ken Schrader | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 391 | 0 | running | 106 | $47,900 |
| 20 | 3 | 19 | Casey Atwood (R) | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 391 | 0 | running | 103 | $44,550 |
| 21 | 14 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 391 | 1 | running | 105 | $46,450 |
| 22 | 5 | 55 | Bobby Hamilton | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 391 | 0 | running | 97 | $46,850 |
| 23 | 30 | 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 391 | 0 | running | 94 | $56,550 |
| 24 | 28 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 391 | 0 | running | 91 | $80,490 |
| 25 | 8 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 390 | 0 | running | 88 | $81,577 |
| 26 | 17 | 26 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 390 | 0 | running | 85 | $46,850 |
| 27 | 23 | 29 | Kevin Harvick (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 390 | 0 | running | 82 | $80,777 |
| 28 | 42 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 390 | 0 | running | 79 | $69,780 |
| 29 | 16 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 390 | 0 | running | 76 | $69,402 |
| 30 | 35 | 01 | Jason Leffler (R) | Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates | Dodge | 390 | 0 | running | 73 | $42,750 |
| 31 | 32 | 14 | Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Pontiac | 389 | 0 | running | 70 | $34,100 |
| 32 | 20 | 12 | Mike Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 389 | 0 | running | 67 | $63,259 |
| 33 | 7 | 71 | Dick Trickle | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 389 | 0 | running | 64 | $33,850 |
| 34 | 9 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 389 | 0 | running | 61 | $78,076 |
| 35 | 34 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 388 | 0 | running | 58 | $33,600 |
| 36 | 26 | 92 | Stacy Compton | Melling Racing | Dodge | 388 | 0 | running | 55 | $33,550 |
| 37 | 27 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 388 | 0 | running | 52 | $65,824 |
| 38 | 36 | 44 | Buckshot Jones | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 385 | 0 | running | 49 | $41,440 |
| 39 | 11 | 97 | Kurt Busch (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | 333 | 45 | engine | 51 | $41,390 |
| 40 | 24 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 314 | 0 | running | 43 | $58,038 |
| 41 | 43 | 66 | Todd Bodine | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 270 | 0 | handling | 40 | $33,265 |
| 42 | 29 | 85 | Carl Long | Mansion Motorsports | Dodge | 170 | 0 | crash | 37 | $38,185 |
| 43 | 22 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 7 | 0 | crash | 34 | $32,479 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 44 | | 90 | Rick Mast | Donlavey Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||