# 2001 Mountain Dew Southern 500

The 2001 Mountain Dew Southern 500, the 52nd running of the event, was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series race held on September 2, 2001 at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina. Contested at 367 laps on the 1.366 mile (2.198 km) speedway, it was the 25th race of the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season. Ward Burton of Bill Davis Racing won the race.

## Background

Darlington Raceway, nicknamed by many NASCAR fans and drivers as "The Lady in Black" or "The Track Too Tough to Tame" and advertised as a "NASCAR Tradition", is a race track built for NASCAR racing located near Darlington, South Carolina. 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 will be effective at both ends.
The track, Darlington Raceway, is a four-turn 1.366 miles (2.198 km) oval. The track's first two turns are banked at twenty-five degrees, while the final two turns are banked two degrees lower at twenty-three degrees.

## Entry list

| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 1 | Kenny Wallace | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | Pennzoil |
| 01 | Jason Leffler | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | Cingular Wireless |
| 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | Miller Lite |
| 4 | Kevin Lepage | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Pontiac | Kodak |
| 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kellogg's |
| 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | Viagra, Pfizer |
| 7 | Mike Wallace | Ultra Motorsports | Ford | NationsRent |
| 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | Budweiser |
| 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | Dodge 'Grab Life by the Horns', UAW |
| 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac | Vavoline |
| 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | Ralph's |
| 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske Racing South | Ford | Mobil 1 |
| 14 | Ron Hornaday Jr. | A.J. Foyt Racing | Chevrolet | Conseco |
| 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | NAPA Auto Parts |
| 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | DeWalt |
| 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | Interstate Batteries |
| 19 | Casey Atwood | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | Dodge Dealers, UAW |
| 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | Home Depot |
| 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Motorcraft |
| 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | Caterpillar |
| 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | DuPont Automotive |
| 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | UAW-Delphi |
| 26 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | Kmart |
| 27 | Rick Mast | Eel River Racing | Pontiac | Duke's Mayonnaise, Sauer's |
| 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Texaco, Havoline |
| 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | GM Goodwrench |
| 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Lowe's |
| 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Chevrolet | Tide |
| 33 | Joe Nemechek | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | Oakwood Homes |
| 36 | Ken Schrader | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac | M&M's |
| 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | Coors Light |
| 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | Cheerios |
| 44 | Buckshot Jones | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | Georgia-Pacific |
| 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Ford | Sprint |
| 55 | Bobby Hamilton | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | Square D |
| 66 | Todd Bodine | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | Kmart Blue Light Special |
| 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Team Realtree |
| 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | Jasper Engines & Transmissions |
| 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | UPS |
| 90 | Hut Stricklin | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Hills Brothers Coffee |
| 92 | Stacy Compton | Melling Racing | Dodge | Kodiak |
| 93 | Dave Blaney | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | Amoco |
| 96 | Andy Houston | PPI Motorsports | Ford | McDonald's |
| 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | Sharpie, Rubbermaid |
| 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | MDA, Citgo Supergard |

## Qualifying

| Pos. | # | Driver | Make | Team | Time | Avg. Speed (mph) |
| 1 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Ford | Roush Racing | 29.263 | 168.048 |
| 2 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | 29.286 | 167.916 |
| 3 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Ford | Penske Racing South | 29.287 | 167.911 |
| 4 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Ford | Penske Racing South | 29.292 | 167.882 |
| 5 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | 29.294 | 167.871 |
| 6 | 43 | John Andretti | Dodge | Petty Enterprises | 29.360 | 167.493 |
| 7 | 32 | Ricky Craven | Ford | PPI Motorsports | 29.377 | 167.396 |
| 8 | 36 | Ken Schrader | Pontiac | MBV Motorsports | 29.402 | 167.254 |
| 9 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Dodge | Evernham Motorsports | 29.406 | 167.231 |
| 10 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Pontiac | Joe Gibbs Racing | 29.410 | 167.208 |
| 11 | 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | 29.442 | 167.027 |
| 12 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Dodge | Chip Ganassi Racing | 29.448 | 166.993 |
| 13 | 6 | Mark Martin | Ford | Roush Racing | 29.456 | 166.947 |
| 14 | 93 | Dave Blaney | Dodge | Bill Davis Racing | 29.471 | 166.862 |
| 15 | 26 | Jimmy Spencer | Ford | Haas-Carter Motorsports | 29.482 | 166.800 |
| 16 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Ford | Jasper Motorsports | 29.505 | 166.670 |
| 17 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Pontiac | MBV Motorsports | 29.513 | 166.625 |
| 18 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | 29.554 | 166.394 |
| 19 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | 29.559 | 166.366 |
| 20 | 21 | Elliott Sadler | Ford | Wood Brothers Racing | 29.561 | 166.354 |
| 21 | 55 | Bobby Hamilton | Chevrolet | Andy Petree Racing | 29.563 | 166.343 |
| 22 | 92 | Stacy Compton | Dodge | Melling Racing | 29.621 | 166.017 |
| 23 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Ford | Roush Racing | 29.622 | 166.012 |
| 24 | 33 | Joe Nemechek | Chevrolet | Andy Petree Racing | 29.627 | 165.984 |
| 25 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | 29.632 | 165.956 |
| 26 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Ford | Robert Yates Racing | 29.639 | 165.917 |
| 27 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Ford | Robert Yates Racing | 29.641 | 165.905 |
| 28 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Ford | Roush Racing | 29.664 | 165.777 |
| 29 | 4 | Kevin Lepage | Chevrolet | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | 29.669 | 165.749 |
| 30 | 19 | Casey Atwood | Dodge | Evernham Motorsports | 29.673 | 165.726 |
| 31 | 66 | Todd Bodine | Ford | Haas-Carter Motorsports | 29.680 | 165.687 |
| 32 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Ford | Brett Bodine Racing | 29.693 | 165.615 |
| 33 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Pontiac | Joe Gibbs Racing | 29.695 | 165.604 |
| 34 | 1 | Kenny Wallace | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | 29.704 | 165.553 |
| 35 | 31 | Mike Skinner | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | 29.707 | 165.537 |
| 36 | 90 | Hut Stricklin | Ford | Donlavey Racing | 29.784 | 165.109 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 37 | 22 | Ward Burton | Dodge | Bill Davis Racing | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| 38 | 01 | Jason Leffler | Dodge | Chip Ganassi Racing | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| 39 | 7 | Mike Wallace | Ford | Ultra Motorsports | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| 40 | 14 | Ron Hornaday Jr. | Pontiac | A.J. Foyt Racing | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| 41 | 44 | Buckshot Jones | Dodge | Petty Enterprises | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| 42 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Dodge | Petty Enterprises | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| 43 | 27 | Rick Mast | Pontiac | Eel River Racing | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 44 | 96 | Andy Houston | Ford | PPI Motorsports | 29.924 | 164.336 |
| 45 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Chevrolet | Marcis Auto Racing | 30.020 | 163.811 |

## Results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Make | Team | Sponsor | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 37 | 22 | Ward Burton | Dodge | Bill Davis Racing | Caterpillar | 367 | 27 | running | 180 | $181435 |
| 2 | 2 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | DuPont Automotive | 367 | 138 | running | 180 | $153127 |
| 3 | 10 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Pontiac | Joe Gibbs Racing | Interstate Batteries | 367 | 17 | running | 170 | $133327 |
| 4 | 33 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Pontiac | Joe Gibbs Racing | Home Depot | 367 | 0 | running | 160 | $93900 |
| 5 | 9 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Dodge | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge 'Grab Life by the Horns', UAW | 367 | 0 | running | 155 | $92583 |
| 6 | 23 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Ford | Roush Racing | MDA, Citgo Supergard | 367 | 0 | running | 150 | $100726 |
| 7 | 26 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Ford | Robert Yates Racing | Texaco, Havoline | 367 | 0 | running | 146 | $85657 |
| 8 | 5 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | GM Goodwrench | 367 | 0 | running | 142 | $93727 |
| 9 | 11 | 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | UAW-Delphi | 367 | 0 | running | 138 | $55660 |
| 10 | 8 | 36 | Ken Schrader | Pontiac | MBV Motorsports | M&M's | 367 | 0 | running | 134 | $70815 |
| 11 | 19 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | Kellogg's | 367 | 0 | running | 130 | $78875 |
| 12 | 39 | 7 | Mike Wallace | Ford | Ultra Motorsports | NationsRent | 367 | 0 | running | 127 | $63570 |
| 13 | 3 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Ford | Penske Racing South | Mobil 1 | 367 | 53 | running | 129 | $84444 |
| 14 | 17 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Pontiac | MBV Motorsports | Valvoline | 367 | 0 | running | 121 | $52670 |
| 15 | 21 | 55 | Bobby Hamilton | Chevrolet | Andy Petree Racing | Square D | 367 | 0 | running | 118 | $55750 |
| 16 | 12 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Dodge | Chip Ganassi Racing | Coors Light | 367 | 2 | running | 120 | $59196 |
| 17 | 18 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Budweiser | 367 | 0 | running | 112 | $74788 |
| 18 | 7 | 32 | Ricky Craven | Ford | PPI Motorsports | Tide | 367 | 1 | running | 114 | $43290 |
| 19 | 14 | 93 | Dave Blaney | Dodge | Bill Davis Racing | Amoco | 367 | 0 | running | 106 | $42935 |
| 20 | 13 | 6 | Mark Martin | Ford | Roush Racing | Viagra, Pfizer | 366 | 0 | running | 103 | $88091 |
| 21 | 6 | 43 | John Andretti | Dodge | Petty Enterprises | Cheerios | 366 | 0 | running | 100 | $77967 |
| 22 | 4 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Ford | Penske Racing South | Miller Lite | 366 | 0 | running | 97 | $84135 |
| 23 | 28 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Ford | Roush Racing | DeWalt | 365 | 0 | running | 94 | $50025 |
| 24 | 35 | 31 | Mike Skinner | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | Lowe's | 365 | 0 | running | 91 | $74049 |
| 25 | 30 | 19 | Casey Atwood | Dodge | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge Dealers, UAW | 364 | 0 | running | 88 | $41990 |
| 26 | 42 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Dodge | Petty Enterprises | Sprint | 362 | 0 | running | 85 | $38705 |
| 27 | 32 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Ford | Brett Bodine Racing | Ralph's | 362 | 0 | running | 82 | $45760 |
| 28 | 29 | 4 | Kevin Lepage | Chevrolet | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Kodak | 361 | 0 | running | 79 | $43610 |
| 29 | 20 | 21 | Elliott Sadler | Ford | Wood Brothers Racing | Motorcraft | 359 | 0 | running | 76 | $55900 |
| 30 | 43 | 27 | Rick Mast | Pontiac | Eel River Racing | Duke's Mayonnaise, Sauer's | 359 | 0 | running | 73 | $37815 |
| 31 | 15 | 26 | Jimmy Spencer | Ford | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Kmart | 358 | 0 | crash | 70 | $46155 |
| 32 | 36 | 90 | Hut Stricklin | Ford | Donlavey Racing | Hills Brothers Coffee | 358 | 0 | running | 67 | $37540 |
| 33 | 24 | 33 | Joe Nemechek | Chevrolet | Andy Petree Racing | Oakwood Homes | 357 | 2 | crash | 69 | $65720 |
| 34 | 27 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Ford | Robert Yates Racing | UPS | 356 | 53 | running | 66 | $82417 |
| 35 | 41 | 44 | Buckshot Jones | Dodge | Petty Enterprises | Georgia-Pacific | 355 | 0 | running | 58 | $45255 |
| 36 | 25 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | NAPA Auto Parts | 355 | 0 | running | 55 | $47170 |
| 37 | 40 | 14 | Ron Hornaday Jr. | Pontiac | A.J. Foyt Racing | Conseco | 355 | 0 | running | 52 | $37081 |
| 38 | 16 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Ford | Jasper Motorsports | Jasper Engines & Transmissions | 348 | 0 | crash | 49 | $44910 |
| 39 | 1 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Ford | Roush Racing | Sharpie, Rubbermaid | 316 | 74 | running | 51 | $50375 |
| 40 | 31 | 66 | Todd Bodine | Ford | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Kmart Blue Light Special | 282 | 0 | transmission | 43 | $36775 |
| 41 | 34 | 1 | Kenny Wallace $^{DC}$ | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Pennzoil | 279 | 0 | overheating | 40 | $62968 |
| 42 | 22 | 92 | Stacy Compton | Dodge | Melling Racing | Kodiak | 191 | 0 | crash | 37 | $36675 |
| 43 | 38 | 01 | Jason Leffler | Dodge | Chip Ganassi Racing | Cingular Wireless | 90 | 0 | overheating | 34 | $44880 |
| Failed to qualify ||||||||||||
| 44 | | 96 | Andy Houston | Ford | PPI Motorsports | McDonald's | | | | 31o | |
| 45 | | 71 | Dave Marcis | Chevrolet | Marcis Auto Racing | Team Realtree | | | | 28o | |
NOTES:
* Steve Park was injured during the support race Saturday. Kenny Wallace started the car.
* (o): Teams that did not qualify were awarded owner points based on speed. (The procedure ended in 2011.)

## Race statistics

* Time of race: 4:05:00
* Average Speed: 122.773 miles per hour (197.584 km/h)
* Pole Speed: 168.048
* Cautions: 11 for 51 laps
* Margin of Victory: under caution
* Lead changes: 19
* Percent of race run under caution: 14.2%
* Average green flag run: 28.6 laps