# 2003 Checker Auto Parts 500

The 2003 Checker Auto Parts 500 presented by Havoline was the 34th stock car race of the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 16th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, November 2, 2003, before an audience of 100,000 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. Within the final laps of the race, Dale Earnhardt, Inc. driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. would manage to defend the field on the final restart with nine to go to take his ninth career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his second and final victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Hendrick Motorsports driver Jimmie Johnson and Penske Racing South driver Ryan Newman would finish second and third, respectively.
Heading into the penultimate race of the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season, the 2003 Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400, Roush Racing driver Matt Kenseth was considered the heavy favorite that season's driver's championship, only needing a seventh-place finish in the race to clinch the championship.

## 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 |
| 0 | Ward Burton | Haas CNC Racing | Pontiac | NetZero HiSpeed |
| 1 | John Andretti | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | Pennzoil |
| 01 | Joe Nemechek | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | U.S. Army |
| 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Dodge | Miller Lite |
| 02 | Brandon Ash | Ash Motorsports | Ford | Triton Realty Partners |
| 4 | Kevin Lepage | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Pontiac | Kodak Perfect Touch |
| 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kellogg's, Got Milk? |
| 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | Viagra |
| 7 | Jimmy Spencer | Ultra Motorsports | Dodge | Sirius Satellite Radio |
| 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | Budweiser |
| 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | Dodge |
| 09 | Mike Wallace | Phoenix Racing | Dodge | Miccosukee Resort & Gaming |
| 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | Valvoline |
| 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing South | Dodge | Alltel |
| 14 | Larry Foyt (R) | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Dodge | Harrah's "Oh Yeah!" |
| 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | NAPA Auto Parts |
| 16 | Greg Biffle (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | Grainger |
| 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | DeWalt |
| 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | Interstate Batteries, Advair |
| 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | Dodge |
| 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | The Home Depot |
| 21 | Ricky Rudd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Motorcraft |
| 22 | Scott Wimmer | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | Caterpillar |
| 23 | Kenny Wallace | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | Stacker 2 |
| 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | DuPont, Looney Tunes: Back in Action |
| 25 | Brian Vickers | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | UAW, Delphi, Bugs Bunny |
| 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | GM Goodwrench |
| 30 | Steve Park | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | America Online, Daffy Duck |
| 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Cingular Wireless |
| 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Pontiac | Tide |
| 37 | Derrike Cope | Quest Motor Racing | Chevrolet | Paramount Hospitality Management |
| 38 | Elliott Sadler | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Pedigree |
| 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | Coors Light |
| 41 | Casey Mears (R) | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | Target |
| 42 | Jamie McMurray (R) | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | Texaco, Havoline |
| 43 | Jeff Green | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | Pop Secret |
| 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | Georgia-Pacific Brawny |
| 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Lowe's |
| 49 | Ken Schrader | BAM Racing | Dodge | BAM Racing |
| 54 | Todd Bodine | BelCar Motorsports | Ford | National Guard |
| 74 | Tony Raines (R) | BACE Motorsports | Chevrolet | BACE Motorsports |
| 77 | Dave Blaney | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | Jasper Engines & Transmissions |
| 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | UPS, Winston Cup Victory Lap |
| 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | Rubbermaid, Sharpie |
| 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | Citgo |
| Official entry list |||||

## Practice
### First practice

The first practice session was held on Friday, October 31, at 12:20 PM EST. The session would last for two hours. Brian Vickers, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 26.882 and an average speed of 133.919 miles per hour (215.522 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 25 | Brian Vickers | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 26.882 | 133.919 |
| 2 | 01 | Joe Nemechek | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 26.949 | 133.586 |
| 3 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 26.983 | 133.417 |
| Full first practice results |||||||

### Second practice

The second practice session was held on Saturday, November 1, at 11:30 AM EST. The session would last for 45 minutes. Jeff Gordon, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 27.539 and an average speed of 130.724 miles per hour (210.380 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 27.539 | 130.724 |
| 2 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 27.572 | 130.567 |
| 3 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 27.603 | 130.421 |
| Full second practice results |||||||

### Final practice

The final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, November 1, at 1:10 PM EST. 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 27.537 and an average speed of 130.733 miles per hour (210.394 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 27.537 | 130.733 |
| 2 | 16 | Greg Biffle (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | 27.541 | 130.714 |
| 3 | 25 | Brian Vickers | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 27.596 | 130.454 |
| Full Happy Hour practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Friday, October 31, at 4:05 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. 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.
Ryan Newman, driving for Penske Racing South, would win the pole, setting a time of 26.931 and an average speed of 133.675 miles per hour (215.129 km/h).
Two drivers would fail to qualify: Derrike Cope and Brandon Ash.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 26.931 | 133.675 |
| 2 | 25 | Brian Vickers | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 26.938 | 133.640 |
| 3 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 26.950 | 133.581 |
| 4 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 26.983 | 133.417 |
| 5 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 27.037 | 133.151 |
| 6 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 27.056 | 133.057 |
| 7 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 27.056 | 133.057 |
| 8 | 77 | Dave Blaney | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 27.062 | 133.028 |
| 9 | 41 | Casey Mears (R) | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 27.135 | 132.670 |
| 10 | 01 | Joe Nemechek | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 27.147 | 132.611 |
| 11 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 27.148 | 132.607 |
| 12 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 27.161 | 132.543 |
| 13 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 27.173 | 132.484 |
| 14 | 38 | Elliott Sadler | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 27.176 | 132.470 |
| 15 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 27.178 | 132.460 |
| 16 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 27.189 | 132.406 |
| 17 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 27.191 | 132.397 |
| 18 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 27.199 | 132.358 |
| 19 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 27.216 | 132.275 |
| 20 | 0 | Ward Burton | Haas CNC Racing | Pontiac | 27.232 | 132.197 |
| 21 | 54 | Todd Bodine | BelCar Motorsports | Ford | 27.237 | 132.173 |
| 22 | 42 | Jamie McMurray (R) | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 27.246 | 132.130 |
| 23 | 09 | Mike Wallace | Phoenix Racing | Dodge | 27.246 | 132.130 |
| 24 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 27.251 | 132.105 |
| 25 | 16 | Greg Biffle (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | 27.253 | 132.096 |
| 26 | 23 | Kenny Wallace | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 27.261 | 132.057 |
| 27 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 27.268 | 132.023 |
| 28 | 22 | Scott Wimmer | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 27.275 | 131.989 |
| 29 | 7 | Jimmy Spencer | Ultra Motorsports | Dodge | 27.292 | 131.907 |
| 30 | 21 | Ricky Rudd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 27.303 | 131.854 |
| 31 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 27.335 | 131.699 |
| 32 | 14 | Larry Foyt (R) | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Dodge | 27.379 | 131.488 |
| 33 | 1 | John Andretti | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 27.403 | 131.372 |
| 34 | 49 | Ken Schrader | BAM Racing | Dodge | 27.407 | 131.353 |
| 35 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac | 27.498 | 130.919 |
| 36 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 27.507 | 130.876 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 37 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 27.556 | 130.643 |
| 38 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Pontiac | 27.657 | 130.166 |
| 39 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 27.677 | 130.072 |
| 40 | 74 | Tony Raines (R) | BACE Motorsports | Chevrolet | 27.670 | 130.105 |
| 41 | 30 | Steve Park | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 27.702 | 129.954 |
| 42 | 43 | Jeff Green | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 27.591 | 130.477 |
| 43 | 4 | Kevin Lepage | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Pontiac | 27.639 | 130.251 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 44 | 37 | Derrike Cope | Quest Motor Racing | Chevrolet | 27.831 | 129.352 |
| 45 | 02 | Brandon Ash | Ash Motorsports | Ford | 28.669 | 125.571 |
| Official qualifying results |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 11 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 312 | 87 | running | 180 | $203,017 |
| 2 | 3 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 312 | 84 | running | 175 | $173,625 |
| 3 | 1 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 312 | 41 | running | 170 | $152,625 |
| 4 | 7 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 312 | 98 | running | 170 | $142,585 |
| 5 | 17 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 312 | 0 | running | 155 | $100,925 |
| 6 | 37 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 312 | 0 | running | 150 | $86,000 |
| 7 | 4 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 312 | 0 | running | 146 | $111,778 |
| 8 | 27 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 312 | 0 | running | 142 | $98,917 |
| 9 | 28 | 22 | Scott Wimmer | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 312 | 0 | running | 138 | $95,656 |
| 10 | 12 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 312 | 0 | running | 134 | $99,133 |
| 11 | 15 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 312 | 0 | running | 130 | $100,000 |
| 12 | 22 | 42 | Jamie McMurray (R) | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 312 | 0 | running | 127 | $59,900 |
| 13 | 2 | 25 | Brian Vickers | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 312 | 0 | running | 124 | $58,900 |
| 14 | 18 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 312 | 0 | running | 121 | $90,633 |
| 15 | 25 | 16 | Greg Biffle (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | 312 | 0 | running | 118 | $56,130 |
| 16 | 33 | 1 | John Andretti | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 312 | 0 | running | 115 | $75,162 |
| 17 | 30 | 21 | Ricky Rudd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 312 | 0 | running | 112 | $76,875 |
| 18 | 6 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 312 | 0 | running | 109 | $102,128 |
| 19 | 41 | 74 | Tony Raines (R) | BACE Motorsports | Chevrolet | 312 | 0 | running | 106 | $53,350 |
| 20 | 14 | 38 | Elliott Sadler | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 312 | 0 | running | 103 | $89,225 |
| 21 | 35 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac | 312 | 0 | running | 100 | $79,900 |
| 22 | 21 | 54 | Todd Bodine | BelCar Motorsports | Ford | 312 | 0 | running | 97 | $65,575 |
| 23 | 43 | 4 | Kevin Lepage | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Pontiac | 312 | 1 | running | 99 | $60,250 |
| 24 | 8 | 77 | Dave Blaney | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 312 | 0 | running | 91 | $68,589 |
| 25 | 26 | 23 | Kenny Wallace | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 312 | 0 | running | 88 | $52,375 |
| 26 | 23 | 09 | Mike Wallace | Phoenix Racing | Dodge | 312 | 0 | running | 85 | $48,450 |
| 27 | 34 | 49 | Ken Schrader | BAM Racing | Dodge | 312 | 0 | running | 82 | $51,625 |
| 28 | 32 | 14 | Larry Foyt (R) | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Dodge | 312 | 0 | running | 79 | $49,200 |
| 29 | 39 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 312 | 0 | running | 76 | $93,853 |
| 30 | 19 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 310 | 0 | running | 73 | $77,706 |
| 31 | 10 | 01 | Joe Nemechek | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 310 | 0 | running | 70 | $50,925 |
| 32 | 31 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 310 | 0 | running | 67 | $75,862 |
| 33 | 5 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 305 | 0 | running | 64 | $85,217 |
| 34 | 13 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 297 | 0 | running | 61 | $86,603 |
| 35 | 36 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 280 | 0 | engine | 58 | $55,300 |
| 36 | 24 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 267 | 0 | running | 55 | $92,233 |
| 37 | 42 | 43 | Jeff Green | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 266 | 0 | engine | 52 | $82,803 |
| 38 | 38 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Pontiac | 207 | 1 | crash | 54 | $54,900 |
| 39 | 40 | 30 | Steve Park | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 206 | 0 | crash | 46 | $54,775 |
| 40 | 29 | 7 | Jimmy Spencer | Ultra Motorsports | Dodge | 167 | 0 | crash | 0 | $46,625 |
| 41 | 20 | 0 | Ward Burton | Haas CNC Racing | Pontiac | 167 | 0 | crash | 40 | $47,185 |
| 42 | 9 | 41 | Casey Mears (R) | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 117 | 0 | engine | 37 | $54,350 |
| 43 | 16 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 32 | 0 | engine | 34 | $54,471 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 44 | | 37 | Derrike Cope | Quest Motor Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 45 | | 02 | Brandon Ash | Ash Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||