# 2000 CarsDirect.com 400

The 2000 CarsDirect.com 400 was the third stock car race of the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the third iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, March 5, 2000, in North Las Vegas, Nevada at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) permanent D-shaped oval racetrack. The race was decreased from 267 to 148 laps due to inclement weather. At race's end, Jeff Burton, driving for Roush Racing, took the lead away from teammate Mark Martin, and lead the final 13 laps before the race would get canceled from rain. This was Burton's 12th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series win and his first of the season. To fill out the podium, Tony Stewart of Joe Gibbs Racing and Mark Martin of Roush Racing would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

Las Vegas Motor Speedway, located in Clark County, Nevada in Las Vegas, Nevada 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

* (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 Plus |
| 4 | Bobby Hamilton | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kodak |
| 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kellogg's |
| 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | Valvoline, Cummins |
| 7 | Michael Waltrip | Mattei Motorsports | Chevrolet | NationsRent |
| 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. (R) | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | Budweiser |
| 9 | Stacy Compton (R) | Melling Racing | Ford | Cougar |
| 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 |
| 13 | Robby Gordon | Team Menard | Ford | Turtle Wax, Duracell, CD2 |
| 14 | Mike Bliss (R) | A. J. Foyt Racing | Pontiac | Conseco |
| 15 | Derrike Cope | Fenley-Moore Motorsports | Ford | Fenley-Moore Motorsports |
| 16 | Kevin Lepage | Roush Racing | Ford | Roush Racing |
| 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, Route 66 |
| 27 | Jeff Fuller (R) | Eel River Racing | Pontiac | Pfizer, 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 |
| 41 | Rick Mast | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Big Daddy's |
| 42 | Kenny Irwin Jr. | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | BellSouth |
| 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP, Cheerios |
| 44 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | Hot Wheels |
| 50 | Ricky Craven | Midwest Transit Racing | Chevrolet | Midwest Transit |
| 55 | Kenny Wallace | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | Square D |
| 60 | Ted Musgrave | 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 |
| 75 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Galaxy Motorsports | Ford | WCW |
| 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | Jasper Engines & Transmissions |
| 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Quality Care Service, Ford Credit |
| 89 | Austin Cameron | AC Motorsports | Chevrolet | AC Motorsports |
| 90 | Ed Berrier | 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, March 3, at 10:00 AM PST, and would last for three hours and 55 minutes. Dale Earnhardt Jr. of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 31.548 and an average speed of 171.167 miles per hour (275.467 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. (R) | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 31.548 | 171.167 |
| 2 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 31.710 | 170.293 |
| 3 | 1 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 31.737 | 170.148 |
| Full first practice results |||||||

### Second practice

The second practice session was held on Saturday, March 4, at 9:00 AM PST, and would last for one hour and 30 minutes. Ed Berrier of Donlavey Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 32.515 and an average speed of 166.077 miles per hour (267.275 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 90 | Ed Berrier | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 32.515 | 166.077 |
| 2 | 93 | Dave Blaney (R) | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 32.549 | 165.903 |
| 3 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 32.571 | 165.791 |
| Full second practice results |||||||

### Final practice

The final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, March 4, at 4:15 PM PST. Mark Martin of Roush Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 32.535 and an average speed of 165.975 miles per hour (267.111 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 32.535 | 165.975 |
| 2 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 32.562 | 165.837 |
| 3 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 32.618 | 165.552 |
| Full Happy Hour practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Friday, March 3, at 2:00 PM PST. Each driver would have one lap to set a fastest time; and that lap 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.
Ricky Rudd of Robert Yates Racing would win the pole, setting a time of 31.293 and an average speed of 172.563 miles per hour (277.713 km/h).
Six drivers would fail to qualify: Rick Mast, Mike Bliss, Ed Berrier, Brett Bodine, Dave Marcis, and Austin Cameron.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 31.293 | 172.563 |
| 2 | 32 | Scott Pruett (R) | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 31.326 | 172.381 |
| 3 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. (R) | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 31.356 | 172.216 |
| 4 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 31.429 | 171.816 |
| 5 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 31.460 | 171.647 |
| 6 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 31.553 | 171.141 |
| 7 | 7 | Michael Waltrip | Mattei Motorsports | Chevrolet | 31.579 | 171.000 |
| 8 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Tyler Jet Motorsports | Pontiac | 31.588 | 170.951 |
| 9 | 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 31.646 | 170.638 |
| 10 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 31.659 | 170.568 |
| 11 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 31.663 | 170.546 |
| 12 | 13 | Robby Gordon | Team Menard | Ford | 31.713 | 170.277 |
| 13 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 31.716 | 170.261 |
| 14 | 16 | Kevin Lepage | Roush Racing | Ford | 31.720 | 170.240 |
| 15 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 31.727 | 170.202 |
| 16 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 31.731 | 170.181 |
| 17 | 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 31.746 | 170.100 |
| 18 | 33 | Joe Nemechek | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 31.752 | 170.068 |
| 19 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 31.766 | 169.993 |
| 20 | 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 31.779 | 169.924 |
| 21 | 17 | Matt Kenseth (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | 31.781 | 169.913 |
| 22 | 27 | Jeff Fuller (R) | Eel River Racing | Pontiac | 31.791 | 169.859 |
| 23 | 1 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 31.800 | 169.811 |
| 24 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 31.865 | 169.465 |
| 25 | 42 | Kenny Irwin Jr. | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 31.920 | 169.173 |
| 26 | 15 | Derrike Cope | Fenley-Moore Motorsports | Ford | 31.965 | 168.935 |
| 27 | 97 | Chad Little | Roush Racing | Ford | 31.981 | 168.850 |
| 28 | 60 | Ted Musgrave | Joe Bessey Racing | Chevrolet | 31.981 | 168.850 |
| 29 | 50 | Ricky Craven | Midwest Transit Racing | Chevrolet | 31.986 | 168.824 |
| 30 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 31.987 | 168.819 |
| 31 | 4 | Bobby Hamilton | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 31.988 | 168.813 |
| 32 | 9 | Stacy Compton (R) | Melling Racing | Ford | 32.080 | 168.329 |
| 33 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 32.081 | 168.324 |
| 34 | 36 | Ken Schrader | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 32.092 | 168.266 |
| 35 | 26 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 32.100 | 168.224 |
| 36 | 93 | Dave Blaney (R) | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 32.121 | 168.114 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 37 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | — | — |
| 38 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | — | — |
| 39 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | — | — |
| 40 | 55 | Kenny Wallace | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | — | — |
| 41 | 44 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | — | — |
| 42 | 75 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Galaxy Motorsports | Ford | — | — |
| 43 | 66 | Darrell Waltrip | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | — | — |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 44 | 41 | Rick Mast | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 32.406 | 166.636 |
| 45 | 14 | Mike Bliss (R) | A. J. Foyt Racing | Pontiac | 32.525 | 166.026 |
| 46 | 90 | Ed Berrier | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 32.728 | 164.996 |
| 47 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 32.972 | 163.775 |
| 48 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 33.291 | 162.206 |
| 49 | 89 | Austin Cameron | AC Motorsports | Chevrolet | 33.571 | 160.853 |
| Official qualifying results |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts |
| 1 | 11 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 148 | 56 | Running | 185 |
| 2 | 16 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 148 | 0 | Running | 170 |
| 3 | 5 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 148 | 33 | Running | 170 |
| 4 | 39 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 148 | 0 | Running | 160 |
| 5 | 4 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 148 | 0 | Running | 155 |
| 6 | 8 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Tyler Jet Motorsports | Pontiac | 148 | 0 | Running | 150 |
| 7 | 6 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 148 | 0 | Running | 146 |
| 8 | 33 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 148 | 0 | Running | 142 |
| 9 | 18 | 33 | Joe Nemechek | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 148 | 0 | Running | 138 |
| 10 | 3 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. (R) | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 148 | 42 | Running | 139 |
| 11 | 14 | 16 | Kevin Lepage | Roush Racing | Ford | 148 | 0 | Running | 130 |
| 12 | 1 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 148 | 1 | Running | 132 |
| 13 | 12 | 13 | Robby Gordon | Team Menard | Ford | 148 | 8 | Running | 129 |
| 14 | 21 | 17 | Matt Kenseth (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | 148 | 0 | Running | 121 |
| 15 | 19 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 148 | 0 | Running | 118 |
| 16 | 34 | 36 | Ken Schrader | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 148 | 0 | Running | 115 |
| 17 | 15 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 148 | 0 | Running | 112 |
| 18 | 30 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 148 | 0 | Running | 109 |
| 19 | 27 | 97 | Chad Little | Roush Racing | Ford | 148 | 0 | Running | 106 |
| 20 | 9 | 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 147 | 0 | Running | 103 |
| 21 | 13 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 147 | 0 | Running | 100 |
| 22 | 36 | 93 | Dave Blaney (R) | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 147 | 0 | Running | 97 |
| 23 | 37 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 147 | 0 | Running | 94 |
| 24 | 25 | 42 | Kenny Irwin Jr. | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 147 | 0 | Running | 91 |
| 25 | 38 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 147 | 0 | Running | 88 |
| 26 | 28 | 60 | Ted Musgrave | Joe Bessey Racing | Chevrolet | 147 | 0 | Running | 85 |
| 27 | 20 | 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 147 | 0 | Running | 82 |
| 28 | 10 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 147 | 0 | Running | 79 |
| 29 | 41 | 44 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 147 | 6 | Running | 81 |
| 30 | 35 | 26 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 147 | 0 | Running | 73 |
| 31 | 24 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 147 | 0 | Running | 70 |
| 32 | 32 | 9 | Stacy Compton (R) | Melling Racing | Ford | 147 | 0 | Running | 67 |
| 33 | 7 | 7 | Michael Waltrip | Mattei Motorsports | Chevrolet | 147 | 0 | Running | 64 |
| 34 | 31 | 4 | Bobby Hamilton | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 146 | 0 | Running | 61 |
| 35 | 42 | 75 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Galaxy Motorsports | Ford | 146 | 0 | Running | 58 |
| 36 | 22 | 27 | Jeff Fuller (R) | Eel River Racing | Pontiac | 146 | 0 | Running | 55 |
| 37 | 26 | 15 | Derrike Cope | Fenley-Moore Motorsports | Ford | 146 | 0 | Running | 52 |
| 38 | 43 | 66 | Darrell Waltrip | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 146 | 2 | Running | 54 |
| 39 | 40 | 55 | Kenny Wallace | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 146 | 0 | Running | 46 |
| 40 | 29 | 50 | Ricky Craven | Midwest Transit Racing | Chevrolet | 145 | 0 | Running | 43 |
| 41 | 17 | 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 145 | 0 | Running | 40 |
| 42 | 2 | 32 | Scott Pruett (R) | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 143 | 0 | Running | 37 |
| 43 | 23 | 1 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 92 | 0 | Engine | 34 |
| Failed to qualify ||||||||||
| 44 | | 41 | Rick Mast | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | | | | |
| 45 | | 14 | Mike Bliss (R) | A. J. Foyt Racing | Pontiac | | | | |
| 46 | | 90 | Ed Berrier | Donlavey Racing | Ford | | | | |
| 47 | | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | | | | |
| 48 | | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | | | | |
| 49 | | 89 | Austin Cameron | AC Motorsports | Chevrolet | | | | |
| Official race results ||||||||||

## Media
### Television

The race was aired live on ABC in the United States for the third and final time. Bob Jenkins, 1973 Cup Series champion Benny Parsons and former crew chief Ray Evernham called the race from the broadcast booth. Jerry Punch, Bill Weber and John Kernan handled pit road for the television side.
ABC :
| Booth announcers | Booth announcers | Pit reporters |
| Lap-by-lap | Color-commentators | Pit reporters |
| Bob Jenkins | Benny Parsons Ray Evernham | Jerry Punch Bill Weber John Kernan |