# 2000 Pocono 500

The 2000 Pocono 500 was the 15th stock car race of the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 19th iteration of the event. The race was originally scheduled to be held on Sunday, June 18, 2000, but was delayed by one day due to rain. The race was held before an audience of 75,000 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.
In the final laps of the race, Penske-Kranefuss Racing's Jeremy Mayfield engaged in a battle with Richard Childress Racing's Dale Earnhardt for the lead. Heading into the final lap of the race, Mayfield performed a bump and run maneuver on Earnhardt, allowing Mayfield to take the victory. The victory was Mayfield's third career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his second and final victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Dale Jarrett and Ricky Rudd, both drivers for Robert Yates Racing, finished 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 International 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 the 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

* (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 | Lycos |
| 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | Ralphs Supermarkets |
| 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 Automotive Finishes |
| 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 | STP, Cheerios |
| 44 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | Hot Wheels |
| 52 | Bill Baird | Baird Motorsports | Chevrolet | Dynatek |
| 55 | Kenny Wallace | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | Square D |
| 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 |
| 72 | Dwayne Leik | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Realtree |
| 75 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Galaxy Motorsports | Ford | Dinner and a Movie |
| 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 Batteries |
| Official entry list |||||

## Practice
### First practice

The first practice session was held on Friday, June 16, at 11:00 AM EST. The session lasted for three hours. Penske-Kranefuss Racing's Rusty Wallace set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 52.557 and an average speed of 171.243 mph (275.589 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 52.557 | 171.243 |
| 2 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 52.849 | 170.297 |
| 3 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 52.871 | 170.226 |
| Full first practice results |||||||

### Second practice

The second practice session was held on Saturday, June 17, at 9:30 AM EST. The session lasted for one hour and 20 minutes. Joe Bessey Racing's Geoff Bodine set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 53.867 and an average speed of 167.078 mph (268.886 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 60 | Geoff Bodine | Joe Bessey Racing | Chevrolet | 53.867 | 167.078 |
| 2 | 27 | Mike Bliss (R) | Eel River Racing | Pontiac | 53.902 | 166.970 |
| 3 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 53.904 | 166.963 |
| Full second practice results |||||||

### Final practice

The final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, June 17, after the preliminary 2000 Pocono ARCA 200. The session lasted for one hour. Robert Yates Racing's Ricky Rudd set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 54.412 and an average speed of 165.405 mph (266.194 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 54.412 | 165.405 |
| 2 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 54.443 | 165.311 |
| 3 | 36 | Ken Schrader | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 54.594 | 164.853 |
| Full Happy Hour practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, June 16, at 3:00 PM EST. Each driver had two laps to set a fastest time; the fastest of the two counted as their official qualifying lap. During the first round, the top 25 drivers in the round was 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, June 17, at 11:30 AM EST. As with the first round, each driver had two laps to set a fastest time; the fastest of the two would count as their official qualifying lap. Positions 26–36 were decided on time, while positions 37–43 were 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 champion needs the provisional, the next team in the owner points was awarded a provisional.
Rusty Wallace, driving for Penske-Kranefuss Racing, managed to win the pole, setting a time of 52.440 and an average speed of 171.625 miles per hour (276.204 km/h) in the first round.
Three drivers failed to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 52.440 | 171.625 |
| 2 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 52.551 | 171.262 |
| 3 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 52.687 | 170.820 |
| 4 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 52.697 | 170.788 |
| 5 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 52.724 | 170.700 |
| 6 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 52.728 | 170.687 |
| 7 | 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 52.748 | 170.623 |
| 8 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 52.751 | 170.613 |
| 9 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 52.761 | 170.581 |
| 10 | 33 | Joe Nemechek | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 52.816 | 170.403 |
| 11 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 52.832 | 170.351 |
| 12 | 7 | Michael Waltrip | Mattei Motorsports | Chevrolet | 52.901 | 170.129 |
| 13 | 14 | Rick Mast | A. J. Foyt Racing | Pontiac | 52.938 | 170.010 |
| 14 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 52.949 | 169.975 |
| 15 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. (R) | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 53.009 | 169.782 |
| 16 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 53.053 | 169.642 |
| 17 | 75 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Galaxy Motorsports | Ford | 53.208 | 169.147 |
| 18 | 16 | Kevin Lepage | Roush Racing | Ford | 53.212 | 169.135 |
| 19 | 36 | Ken Schrader | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 53.219 | 169.113 |
| 20 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 53.229 | 169.081 |
| 21 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Tyler Jet Motorsports | Pontiac | 53.242 | 169.039 |
| 22 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 53.257 | 168.992 |
| 23 | 44 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 53.258 | 168.989 |
| 24 | 55 | Kenny Wallace | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 53.267 | 168.960 |
| 25 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 53.273 | 168.941 |
| Failed to lock in the first round |||||||
| 26 | 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 53.275 | 168.935 |
| 27 | 1 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 53.370 | 168.634 |
| 28 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 53.455 | 168.366 |
| 29 | 17 | Matt Kenseth (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | 53.463 | 168.341 |
| 30 | 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 53.485 | 168.271 |
| 31 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 53.568 | 168.011 |
| 32 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 53.604 | 167.898 |
| 33 | 4 | Bobby Hamilton | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 53.623 | 167.838 |
| 34 | 26 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 53.807 | 167.264 |
| 35 | 93 | Dave Blaney (R) | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 53.827 | 167.202 |
| 36 | 27 | Mike Bliss (R) | Eel River Racing | Pontiac | 53.828 | 167.199 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 37 | 97 | Chad Little | Roush Racing | Ford | 54.227 | 165.969 |
| 38 | 42 | Kenny Irwin Jr. | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 54.076 | 166.432 |
| 39 | 9 | Stacy Compton (R) | Melling Racing | Ford | 53.880 | 167.038 |
| 40 | 60 | Geoff Bodine | Joe Bessey Racing | Chevrolet | 53.984 | 166.716 |
| 41 | 32 | Scott Pruett (R) | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 54.199 | 166.055 |
| 42 | 90 | Ed Berrier (R) | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 54.189 | 166.085 |
| 43 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 54.285 | 165.792 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 44 | 66 | Darrell Waltrip | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 53.859 | 167.103 |
| 45 | 72 | Dwayne Leik | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 55.569 | 161.961 |
| 46 | 52 | Bill Baird | Baird Motorsports | Chevrolet | - | - |
| Official first round qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 22 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 200 | 9 | running | 180 | $121,020 |
| 2 | 4 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 170 | $131,520 |
| 3 | 3 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 165 | $95,870 |
| 4 | 16 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 200 | 17 | running | 165 | $87,495 |
| 5 | 6 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 200 | 1 | running | 160 | $71,565 |
| 6 | 9 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 200 | 38 | running | 155 | $73,490 |
| 7 | 8 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 200 | 2 | running | 151 | $67,015 |
| 8 | 5 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 142 | $64,765 |
| 9 | 7 | 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 200 | 17 | running | 143 | $54,265 |
| 10 | 1 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 200 | 107 | running | 144 | $76,990 |
| 11 | 28 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 130 | $51,465 |
| 12 | 14 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 127 | $55,415 |
| 13 | 11 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 200 | 0 | running | 124 | $55,965 |
| 14 | 29 | 17 | Matt Kenseth (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 121 | $48,665 |
| 15 | 27 | 1 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 118 | $48,765 |
| 16 | 30 | 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 115 | $49,065 |
| 17 | 37 | 97 | Chad Little | Roush Racing | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 112 | $46,465 |
| 18 | 19 | 36 | Ken Schrader | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 200 | 0 | running | 109 | $38,065 |
| 19 | 15 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. (R) | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 106 | $44,015 |
| 20 | 26 | 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 1 | running | 108 | $48,890 |
| 21 | 2 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 199 | 0 | running | 100 | $55,365 |
| 22 | 31 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | running | 97 | $46,665 |
| 23 | 24 | 55 | Kenny Wallace | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | running | 94 | $45,740 |
| 24 | 40 | 60 | Geoff Bodine | Joe Bessey Racing | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | running | 91 | $44,390 |
| 25 | 38 | 42 | Kenny Irwin Jr. | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | running | 88 | $44,515 |
| 26 | 18 | 16 | Kevin Lepage | Roush Racing | Ford | 199 | 2 | running | 90 | $43,865 |
| 27 | 32 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 199 | 0 | running | 82 | $50,515 |
| 28 | 42 | 90 | Ed Berrier (R) | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 198 | 0 | running | 79 | $32,365 |
| 29 | 43 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 197 | 0 | running | 76 | $32,190 |
| 30 | 35 | 93 | Dave Blaney (R) | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 195 | 0 | running | 73 | $32,040 |
| 31 | 41 | 32 | Scott Pruett (R) | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 194 | 0 | running | 70 | $32,390 |
| 32 | 20 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 182 | 4 | engine | 72 | $31,740 |
| 33 | 36 | 27 | Mike Bliss (R) | Eel River Racing | Pontiac | 181 | 0 | accident | 64 | $31,540 |
| 34 | 21 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Tyler Jet Motorsports | Pontiac | 179 | 0 | engine | 61 | $34,465 |
| 35 | 13 | 14 | Rick Mast | A. J. Foyt Racing | Pontiac | 179 | 0 | running | 58 | $31,190 |
| 36 | 34 | 26 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 178 | 0 | engine | 55 | $41,990 |
| 37 | 39 | 9 | Stacy Compton (R) | Melling Racing | Ford | 175 | 0 | running | 52 | $33,825 |
| 38 | 25 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 169 | 0 | engine | 49 | $41,200 |
| 39 | 17 | 75 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Galaxy Motorsports | Ford | 156 | 0 | accident | 46 | $30,575 |
| 40 | 33 | 4 | Bobby Hamilton | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 154 | 0 | engine | 43 | $38,425 |
| 41 | 23 | 44 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 144 | 2 | engine | 45 | $38,300 |
| 42 | 10 | 33 | Joe Nemechek | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 127 | 0 | engine | 37 | $38,225 |
| 43 | 12 | 7 | Michael Waltrip | Mattei Motorsports | Chevrolet | 35 | 0 | engine | 34 | $38,150 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 44 | | 66 | Darrell Waltrip | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| 45 | | 72 | Dwayne Leik | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 46 | | 52 | Bill Baird | Baird Motorsports | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Bobby Labonte | 2,240 |
| 1 | 2 | Dale Earnhardt | 2,183 (−57) |
| 1 | 3 | Dale Jarrett | 2,125 (−115) |
| 2 | 4 | Ward Burton | 2,096 (−144) |
| | 5 | Jeff Burton | 2,019 (−221) |
| | 6 | Rusty Wallace | 1,999 (−241) |
| | 7 | Tony Stewart | 1,976 (−264) |
| | 8 | Ricky Rudd | 1,975 (−265) |
| | 9 | Mark Martin | 1,958 (−282) |
| | 10 | Jeff Gordon | 1,874 (−366) |
| Official driver's standings ||||