# 2001 Sam's Town 300

The 2001 Sam's Town 300 was the third stock car race of the 2001 NASCAR Busch Series and the fifth iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, March 3, 2001, in North Las Vegas, Nevada at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) permanent D-shaped oval racetrack. The race took the scheduled 200 laps to complete. At race's end, Buckshot Racing driver Todd Bodine came back after a bad pit stop to pull away on the final restart with four to go to win his 13th career NASCAR Busch Series win and his second and final win of the season. To fill out the podium, Greg Biffle of Roush Racing and Jason Keller of ppc Racing would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

Las Vegas Motor Speedway, located in Clark County, Nevada outside the Las Vegas city limits and about 15 miles northeast of the Las Vegas Strip, is a 1,200-acre (490 ha) complex of multiple tracks for motorsports racing. The complex is owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., which is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.

### Entry list

| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 00 | Todd Bodine | Buckshot Racing | Chevrolet | Shasta |
| 1 | P. J. Jones | Phoenix Racing | Chevrolet | Yellow Transportation |
| 2 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | ACDelco |
| 7 | Randy LaJoie | Evans Motorsports | Chevrolet | Cottonelle, Kleenex |
| 8 | Blaise Alexander | HighLine Performance Group | Chevrolet | Channellock |
| 9 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | Gain |
| 10 | Jeff Green | ppc Racing | Ford | Nesquik |
| 11 | Marty Houston | HighLine Performance Group | Chevrolet | Channellock |
| 14 | Larry Foyt | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Chevrolet | Harrah's |
| 16 | Sammy Sanders | Day Enterprise Racing | Pontiac | 31-W Insulation |
| 17 | Matt Kenseth | Reiser Enterprises | Chevrolet | Visine |
| 18 | Jeff Purvis | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | MBNA |
| 20 | Mike McLaughlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 21 | Mike Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Rockwell Automation |
| 23 | Scott Wimmer | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | Jani-King |
| 25 | Chad Chaffin | Team Rensi Motorsports | Chevrolet | U.S. Marines |
| 26 | Bobby Hamilton Jr. | Carroll Racing | Chevrolet | Dr Pepper |
| 27 | Jamie McMurray | Brewco Motorsports | Chevrolet | Williams Travel Centers |
| 28 | Brad Baker | Brewco Motorsports | Chevrolet | Brewco Motorsports |
| 33 | Tony Raines | BACE Motorsports | Chevrolet | Alka-Seltzer |
| 34 | David Green | Cicci-Welliver Racing | Chevrolet | AFG Glass |
| 36 | Hank Parker Jr. | Cicci-Welliver Racing | Chevrolet | GNC |
| 37 | Kevin Grubb | Brewco Motorsports | Chevrolet | Timber Wolf |
| 38 | Christian Elder | Akins Motorsports | Ford | Great Clips |
| 43 | Jay Sauter | Curb Agajanian Motorsports | Chevrolet | Quality Farm Stores |
| 46 | Ashton Lewis Jr. | Lewis Motorsports | Chevrolet | Lewis Motorsports |
| 48 | Kenny Wallace | Innovative Motorsports | Chevrolet | Goulds Pumps |
| 49 | Brian Tyler | Jay Robinson Racing | Chevrolet | Jay Robinson Racing |
| 52 | Scott Gaylord | Means Racing | Ford | Means Racing |
| 55 | Mark Green | ST Motorsports | Ford | ST Motorsports |
| 57 | Jason Keller | ppc Racing | Ford | Albertsons |
| 59 | Rich Bickle | ST Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kingsford |
| 60 | Greg Biffle | Roush Racing | Ford | Grainger |
| 61 | Tim Sauter | Xpress Motorsports | Chevrolet | Stoops Freightliner |
| 63 | Shane Hall | Hensley Motorsports | Ford | Lance Snacks |
| 66 | Tim Fedewa | Cicci-Welliver Racing | Chevrolet | Phillips 66 |
| 71 | Kevin Lepage | Matrix Motorsports | Ford | State Fair Corn Dogs |
| 74 | Chad Little | BACE Motorsports | Chevrolet | Staff America |
| 77 | Kelly Denton | PRW Racing | Ford | Merck-Medco |
| 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | Cellular One |
| 92 | Jimmie Johnson | Herzog Motorsports | Chevrolet | Excedrin |
| 98 | Elton Sawyer | Akins Motorsports | Ford | Hot Tamales |
| 99 | Michael Waltrip | Michael Waltrip Racing | Chevrolet | Aaron's |
| Official entry list |||||

## Practice

Originally, there were two planned practice sessions to occur, with both being held on Friday, March 2, with the first being an hour-long session held at 11:15 AM PST, and the second being held after qualifying. However, both sessions were cancelled due to rain.

## Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Friday, March 2, at 12:15 PM PST. 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.
Matt Kenseth of Reiser Enterprises would win the pole, setting a time of 31.880 and an average speed of 169.385 miles per hour (272.599 km/h).
No drivers would fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Reiser Enterprises | Chevrolet | 31.880 | 169.385 |
| 2 | 00 | Todd Bodine | Buckshot Racing | Chevrolet | 32.050 | 168.487 |
| 3 | 60 | Greg Biffle | Roush Racing | Ford | 32.058 | 168.445 |
| 4 | 26 | Bobby Hamilton Jr. | Carroll Racing | Chevrolet | 32.117 | 168.135 |
| 5 | 46 | Ashton Lewis Jr. | Lewis Motorsports | Chevrolet | 32.155 | 167.937 |
| 6 | 27 | Jamie McMurray | Brewco Motorsports | Chevrolet | 32.183 | 167.790 |
| 7 | 92 | Jimmie Johnson | Herzog Motorsports | Chevrolet | 32.226 | 167.567 |
| 8 | 20 | Mike McLaughlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 32.228 | 167.556 |
| 9 | 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | 32.245 | 167.468 |
| 10 | 48 | Kenny Wallace | Innovative Motorsports | Chevrolet | 32.295 | 167.209 |
| 11 | 71 | Kevin Lepage | Matrix Motorsports | Ford | 32.321 | 167.074 |
| 12 | 74 | Chad Little | BACE Motorsports | Chevrolet | 32.359 | 166.878 |
| 13 | 10 | Jeff Green | ppc Racing | Ford | 32.392 | 166.708 |
| 14 | 98 | Elton Sawyer | Akins Motorsports | Ford | 32.400 | 166.667 |
| 15 | 37 | Kevin Grubb | Brewco Motorsports | Chevrolet | 32.421 | 166.559 |
| 16 | 2 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 32.424 | 166.543 |
| 17 | 55 | Mark Green | ST Motorsports | Ford | 32.428 | 166.523 |
| 18 | 11 | Marty Houston | HighLine Performance Group | Chevrolet | 32.432 | 166.502 |
| 19 | 14 | Larry Foyt | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Chevrolet | 32.449 | 166.415 |
| 20 | 57 | Jason Keller | ppc Racing | Ford | 32.495 | 166.179 |
| 21 | 61 | Tim Sauter | Xpress Motorsports | Chevrolet | 32.500 | 166.154 |
| 22 | 36 | Hank Parker Jr. | Cicci-Welliver Racing | Chevrolet | 32.529 | 166.006 |
| 23 | 1 | P. J. Jones | Phoenix Racing | Chevrolet | 32.532 | 165.990 |
| 24 | 7 | Randy LaJoie | Evans Motorsports | Chevrolet | 32.535 | 165.975 |
| 25 | 25 | Chad Chaffin | Team Rensi Motorsports | Chevrolet | 32.553 | 165.883 |
| 26 | 9 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 32.599 | 165.649 |
| 27 | 34 | David Green | Cicci-Welliver Racing | Chevrolet | 32.615 | 165.568 |
| 28 | 77 | Kelly Denton | PRW Racing | Ford | 32.616 | 165.563 |
| 29 | 43 | Jay Sauter | Curb Agajanian Motorsports | Chevrolet | 32.620 | 165.543 |
| 30 | 66 | Tim Fedewa | Cicci-Welliver Racing | Chevrolet | 32.625 | 165.517 |
| 31 | 33 | Tony Raines | BACE Motorsports | Chevrolet | 32.798 | 164.644 |
| 32 | 38 | Christian Elder | Akins Motorsports | Ford | 32.832 | 164.474 |
| 33 | 99 | Michael Waltrip | Michael Waltrip Racing | Chevrolet | 32.866 | 164.304 |
| 34 | 18 | Jeff Purvis | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 32.882 | 164.224 |
| 35 | 23 | Scott Wimmer | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 32.913 | 164.069 |
| 36 | 8 | Blaise Alexander | HighLine Performance Group | Chevrolet | 32.969 | 163.790 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 37 | 59 | Rich Bickle | ST Motorsports | Chevrolet | 33.002 | 163.626 |
| 38 | 21 | Mike Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 33.171 | 162.793 |
| 39 | 63 | Shane Hall | Hensley Motorsports | Ford | 33.028 | 163.498 |
| 40 | 28 | Brad Baker | Brewco Motorsports | Chevrolet | 33.512 | 161.136 |
| 41 | 16 | Sammy Sanders | Day Enterprise Racing | Pontiac | 33.841 | 159.570 |
| 42 | 49 | Brian Tyler | Jay Robinson Racing | Chevrolet | 35.379 | 152.633 |
| 43 | 52 | Scott Gaylord | Means Racing | Ford | 34.780 | 155.262 |
| Official qualifying results |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 2 | 00 | Todd Bodine | Buckshot Racing | Chevrolet | 200 | 104 | running | 185 | $94,450 |
| 2 | 3 | 60 | Greg Biffle | Roush Racing | Ford | 200 | 39 | running | 175 | $59,925 |
| 3 | 20 | 57 | Jason Keller | ppc Racing | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 165 | $53,100 |
| 4 | 31 | 33 | Tony Raines | BACE Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 8 | running | 165 | $35,500 |
| 5 | 13 | 10 | Jeff Green | ppc Racing | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 155 | $39,000 |
| 6 | 26 | 9 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 150 | $23,350 |
| 7 | 9 | 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 146 | $22,300 |
| 8 | 14 | 98 | Elton Sawyer | Akins Motorsports | Ford | 200 | 1 | running | 147 | $25,350 |
| 9 | 8 | 20 | Mike McLaughlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 200 | 0 | running | 138 | $20,300 |
| 10 | 29 | 43 | Jay Sauter | Curb Agajanian Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 134 | $25,550 |
| 11 | 35 | 23 | Scott Wimmer | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 200 | 0 | running | 130 | $19,100 |
| 12 | 16 | 2 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 127 | $28,150 |
| 13 | 21 | 61 | Tim Sauter | Xpress Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 124 | $18,000 |
| 14 | 7 | 92 | Jimmie Johnson | Herzog Motorsports | Chevrolet | 199 | 12 | running | 126 | $21,490 |
| 15 | 37 | 59 | Rich Bickle | ST Motorsports | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | running | 118 | $21,880 |
| 16 | 12 | 74 | Chad Little | BACE Motorsports | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | running | 115 | $17,070 |
| 17 | 34 | 18 | Jeff Purvis | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 199 | 0 | running | 112 | $20,960 |
| 18 | 38 | 21 | Mike Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | running | 109 | $19,850 |
| 19 | 15 | 37 | Kevin Grubb | Brewco Motorsports | Chevrolet | 199 | 4 | running | 111 | $19,740 |
| 20 | 6 | 27 | Jamie McMurray | Brewco Motorsports | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | running | 103 | $20,430 |
| 21 | 11 | 71 | Kevin Lepage | Matrix Motorsports | Ford | 199 | 0 | running | 100 | $16,520 |
| 22 | 22 | 36 | Hank Parker Jr. | Cicci-Welliver Racing | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | running | 97 | $24,190 |
| 23 | 32 | 38 | Christian Elder | Akins Motorsports | Ford | 199 | 0 | running | 94 | $16,275 |
| 24 | 10 | 48 | Kenny Wallace | Innovative Motorsports | Chevrolet | 198 | 0 | running | 91 | $19,165 |
| 25 | 25 | 25 | Chad Chaffin | Team Rensi Motorsports | Chevrolet | 198 | 0 | running | 88 | $18,130 |
| 26 | 28 | 77 | Kelly Denton | PRW Racing | Ford | 198 | 0 | running | 85 | $15,920 |
| 27 | 23 | 1 | P. J. Jones | Phoenix Racing | Chevrolet | 197 | 0 | running | 82 | $23,310 |
| 28 | 30 | 66 | Tim Fedewa | Cicci-Welliver Racing | Chevrolet | 196 | 0 | running | 79 | $24,200 |
| 29 | 39 | 63 | Shane Hall | Hensley Motorsports | Ford | 194 | 0 | running | 76 | $18,590 |
| 30 | 5 | 46 | Ashton Lewis Jr. | Lewis Motorsports | Chevrolet | 191 | 0 | crash | 73 | $15,580 |
| 31 | 19 | 14 | Larry Foyt | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Chevrolet | 190 | 0 | crash | 70 | $15,370 |
| 32 | 17 | 55 | Mark Green | ST Motorsports | Ford | 187 | 0 | vibration | 67 | $16,260 |
| 33 | 42 | 49 | Brian Tyler | Jay Robinson Racing | Chevrolet | 185 | 0 | running | 64 | $15,150 |
| 34 | 1 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Reiser Enterprises | Chevrolet | 182 | 32 | running | 66 | $21,740 |
| 35 | 40 | 28 | Brad Baker | Brewco Motorsports | Chevrolet | 181 | 0 | running | 58 | $14,930 |
| 36 | 18 | 11 | Marty Houston | HighLine Performance Group | Chevrolet | 152 | 0 | crash | 55 | $14,895 |
| 37 | 4 | 26 | Bobby Hamilton Jr. | Carroll Racing | Chevrolet | 122 | 0 | overheating | 52 | $17,860 |
| 38 | 24 | 7 | Randy LaJoie | Evans Motorsports | Chevrolet | 103 | 0 | engine | 49 | $20,325 |
| 39 | 33 | 99 | Michael Waltrip | Michael Waltrip Racing | Chevrolet | 97 | 0 | crash | 46 | $14,790 |
| 40 | 27 | 34 | David Green | Cicci-Welliver Racing | Chevrolet | 59 | 0 | engine | 43 | $17,755 |
| 41 | 41 | 16 | Sammy Sanders | Day Enterprise Racing | Pontiac | 22 | 0 | ignition | 40 | $14,720 |
| 42 | 43 | 52 | Scott Gaylord | Means Racing | Ford | 15 | 0 | engine | 37 | $14,685 |
| 43 | 36 | 8 | Blaise Alexander | HighLine Performance Group | Chevrolet | 5 | 0 | crash | 34 | $14,650 |
| Official race results |||||||||||