# 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400

The 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400 was the 25th stock car race of the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 40th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, September 9, 2000, in Richmond, Virginia, at Richmond International Raceway, a 0.75 miles (1.21 km) D-shaped oval. The race took the scheduled 400 laps to complete. At race's end, Jeff Gordon, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would manage to pull away on the final restart with 15 to go to win his 52nd career NASCAR Winston Cup Series win and his third and final win of the season. To fill out the podium, Dale Earnhardt of Richard Childress Racing and Mark Martin of Roush Racing would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

Richmond International Raceway (RIR) is a 3/4-mile (1.2 km), D-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in Henrico County. It hosts the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series. Known as "America's premier short track", it formerly hosted a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, an IndyCar Series race, and two USAC sprint car races.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 1 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | Pennzoil |
| 01 | Ted Musgrave | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | BellSouth |
| 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | Miller Lite, Harley-Davidson |
| 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 MaxLife |
| 7 | Michael Waltrip | Mattei Motorsports | Chevrolet | Phillips Light Bulbs |
| 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 | Aaron's, RCA |
| 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | Ralphs |
| 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | Mobil 1 |
| 13 | Robby Gordon | Team Menard | Ford | Menards, Turtle Wax |
| 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, Circuit City |
| 19 | Casey Atwood | Evernham Motorsports | Ford | Motorola |
| 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | The Home Depot |
| 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Citgo, Virginia Tech Hokies |
| 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | Caterpillar |
| 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | DuPont |
| 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 |
| 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | Cheerios |
| 44 | Steve Grissom | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | Hot Wheels |
| 50 | Ricky Craven | Midwest Transit Racing | Chevrolet | Midwest Transit |
| 55 | Kenny Wallace | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | Square D, Cooper Lighting |
| 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 |
| 75 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Galaxy Motorsports | Ford | RotoZip |
| 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | Jasper Engines & Transmissions |
| 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Quality Care Service, Ford Credit |
| 90 | Hut Stricklin | 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 |
| Official entry list |||||

## Practice
### First practice

The first practice session was held on Friday, September 8, at 12:30 PM EST. The session would last for one hours and 25 minutes. Rusty Wallace of Penske-Kranefuss Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 21.656 and an average speed of 124.676 mph (200.647 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 21.656 | 124.676 |
| 2 | 26 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 21.670 | 124.596 |
| 3 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 21.711 | 124.360 |
| Full first practice results |||||||

### Second practice

The second practice session was held on Friday, September 8, at 3:00 PM EST. The session would last for one hour and 30 minutes. Bobby Labonte of Joe Gibbs Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 21.545 and an average speed of 125.319 mph (201.681 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 21.545 | 125.319 |
| 2 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Tyler Jet Motorsports | Pontiac | 21.644 | 124.745 |
| 3 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 21.668 | 124.607 |
| Full second practice results |||||||

### Third practice

The third practice session was held on Saturday, September 9, at 11:30 AM EST. The session would last for one hour. Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 21.545 and an average speed of 125.319 mph (201.681 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.289 | 121.135 |
| 2 | 27 | Mike Bliss (R) | Eel River Racing | Pontiac | 22.337 | 120.875 |
| 3 | 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 22.347 | 120.821 |
| Full third practice results |||||||

### Fourth and final practice

The final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held after second-round qualifying. The session would last until 2:20 PM EST. Jeremy Mayfield of Penske-Kranefuss Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 22.220 and an average speed of 121.512 mph (195.555 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 22.220 | 121.512 |
| 2 | 50 | Ricky Craven | Midwest Transit Racing | Chevrolet | 22.234 | 121.435 |
| 3 | 60 | Geoff Bodine | Joe Bessey Racing | Chevrolet | 22.259 | 121.299 |
| Full Happy Hour practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, September 8, at 5:30 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. During the first round, the top 25 drivers in the round would be 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, September 9, at 1:15 PM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have two laps to set a fastest time; the fastest of the two would count as their official qualifying lap. Positions 26-36 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 champion needs the provisional, the next team in the owner points will be awarded a provisional.
Jeff Burton of Roush Racing would win the pole, setting a time of 21.466 and an average speed of 125.780 miles per hour (202.423 km/h).
Four drivers would fail to qualify: Mike Bliss, Robby Gordon, Darrell Waltrip, and Dave Marcis.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 21.466 | 125.780 |
| 2 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 21.489 | 125.646 |
| 3 | 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 21.493 | 125.622 |
| 4 | 14 | Rick Mast | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Pontiac | 21.516 | 125.488 |
| 5 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 21.526 | 125.430 |
| 6 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 21.599 | 125.006 |
| 7 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 21.610 | 124.942 |
| 8 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Tyler Jet Motorsports | Pontiac | 21.619 | 124.890 |
| 9 | 36 | Ken Schrader | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 21.621 | 124.879 |
| 10 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 21.646 | 124.734 |
| 11 | 55 | Kenny Wallace | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 21.655 | 124.683 |
| 12 | 1 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 21.658 | 124.665 |
| 13 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 21.661 | 124.648 |
| 14 | 20 | Tony Stewart (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 21.663 | 124.636 |
| 15 | 16 | Kevin Lepage | Roush Racing | Ford | 21.670 | 124.596 |
| 16 | 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 21.690 | 124.481 |
| 17 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 21.697 | 124.441 |
| 18 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 21.699 | 124.430 |
| 19 | 26 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 21.701 | 124.418 |
| 20 | 17 | Matt Kenseth (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | 21.709 | 124.372 |
| 21 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 21.709 | 124.372 |
| 22 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 21.712 | 124.355 |
| 23 | 93 | Dave Blaney (R) | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 21.725 | 124.281 |
| 24 | 60 | Geoff Bodine | Joe Bessey Racing | Chevrolet | 21.733 | 124.235 |
| 25 | 50 | Ricky Craven | Midwest Transit Racing | Chevrolet | 21.744 | 124.172 |
| 26 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 21.758 | 124.092 |
| 27 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 21.763 | 124.064 |
| 28 | 9 | Stacy Compton (R) | Melling Racing | Ford | 21.782 | 123.956 |
| 29 | 33 | Joe Nemechek | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 21.787 | 123.927 |
| 30 | 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 21.798 | 123.865 |
| 31 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. (R) | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 21.822 | 123.728 |
| 32 | 90 | Hut Stricklin | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 21.845 | 123.598 |
| 33 | 4 | Bobby Hamilton | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 21.848 | 123.581 |
| 34 | 75 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Galaxy Motorsports | Ford | 21.850 | 123.570 |
| 35 | 19 | Casey Atwood | Evernham Motorsports | Ford | 21.850 | 123.570 |
| 36 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 21.861 | 123.508 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 37 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.204 | 121.600 |
| 38 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 1:43.167 | 26.171 |
| 39 | 97 | Chad Little | Roush Racing | Ford | 22.277 | 121.201 |
| 40 | 7 | Michael Waltrip | Mattei Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.080 | 122.283 |
| 41 | 01 | Ted Musgrave | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 22.232 | 121.447 |
| 42 | 44 | Steve Grissom | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 22.191 | 121.671 |
| 43 | 32 | Scott Pruett (R) | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 22.114 | 122.095 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 44 | 27 | Mike Bliss (R) | Eel River Racing | Pontiac | 22.114 | 122.095 |
| 45 | 13 | Robby Gordon | Team Menard | Ford | 22.246 | 121.370 |
| 46 | 66 | Darrell Waltrip | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 22.280 | 121.185 |
| 47 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 22.294 | 121.109 |
| Full first round qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 13 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 400 | 15 | running | 80 | $130,220 |
| 2 | 22 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 400 | 0 | running | 170 | $81,190 |
| 3 | 10 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 400 | 0 | running | 165 | $69,130 |
| 4 | 12 | 1 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 400 | 130 | running | 165 | $60,610 |
| 5 | 1 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 400 | 152 | running | 165 | $79,780 |
| 6 | 14 | 20 | Tony Stewart (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 400 | 5 | running | 155 | $55,130 |
| 7 | 8 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Tyler Jet Motorsports | Pontiac | 400 | 0 | running | 146 | $34,730 |
| 8 | 6 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 400 | 0 | running | 142 | $50,780 |
| 9 | 26 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 400 | 0 | running | 138 | $42,580 |
| 10 | 3 | 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 400 | 0 | running | 134 | $52,230 |
| 11 | 27 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 400 | 0 | running | 130 | $50,080 |
| 12 | 7 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 400 | 0 | running | 127 | $39,855 |
| 13 | 31 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. (R) | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 399 | 5 | running | 129 | $37,905 |
| 14 | 11 | 55 | Kenny Wallace | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 399 | 0 | running | 121 | $41,005 |
| 15 | 2 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 399 | 3 | running | 123 | $49,280 |
| 16 | 43 | 32 | Scott Pruett (R) | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 399 | 0 | running | 115 | $30,805 |
| 17 | 9 | 36 | Ken Schrader | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 399 | 0 | running | 112 | $30,105 |
| 18 | 23 | 93 | Dave Blaney (R) | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 399 | 0 | running | 109 | $25,855 |
| 19 | 35 | 19 | Casey Atwood | Evernham Motorsports | Ford | 398 | 0 | running | 106 | $25,730 |
| 20 | 38 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 398 | 1 | running | 108 | $42,005 |
| 21 | 41 | 01 | Ted Musgrave | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 398 | 1 | running | 105 | $37,255 |
| 22 | 15 | 16 | Kevin Lepage | Roush Racing | Ford | 397 | 0 | running | 97 | $37,530 |
| 23 | 34 | 75 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Galaxy Motorsports | Ford | 397 | 0 | running | 94 | $28,755 |
| 24 | 28 | 9 | Stacy Compton (R) | Melling Racing | Ford | 397 | 0 | running | 91 | $28,530 |
| 25 | 37 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 397 | 0 | running | 88 | $42,880 |
| 26 | 25 | 50 | Ricky Craven | Midwest Transit Racing | Chevrolet | 396 | 0 | running | 85 | $24,755 |
| 27 | 42 | 44 | Steve Grissom | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 395 | 0 | running | 82 | $36,430 |
| 28 | 4 | 14 | Rick Mast | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Pontiac | 394 | 0 | running | 79 | $24,505 |
| 29 | 39 | 97 | Chad Little | Roush Racing | Ford | 393 | 0 | running | 76 | $35,685 |
| 30 | 30 | 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 392 | 0 | running | 73 | $35,975 |
| 31 | 17 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 382 | 0 | running | 70 | $48,840 |
| 32 | 20 | 17 | Matt Kenseth (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | 376 | 0 | engine | 67 | $35,305 |
| 33 | 19 | 26 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 317 | 0 | crash | 64 | $35,170 |
| 34 | 5 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 313 | 88 | engine | 66 | $42,110 |
| 35 | 21 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 296 | 0 | engine | 58 | $24,075 |
| 36 | 32 | 90 | Hut Stricklin | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 249 | 0 | engine | 55 | $24,040 |
| 37 | 36 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 226 | 0 | overheating | 52 | $27,005 |
| 38 | 33 | 4 | Bobby Hamilton | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 213 | 0 | engine | 49 | $34,470 |
| 39 | 18 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 172 | 0 | engine | 46 | $31,910 |
| 40 | 29 | 33 | Joe Nemechek | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 120 | 0 | crash | 43 | $31,850 |
| 41 | 24 | 60 | Geoff Bodine | Joe Bessey Racing | Chevrolet | 57 | 0 | crash | 40 | $31,815 |
| 42 | 16 | 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 54 | 0 | crash | 37 | $31,780 |
| 43 | 40 | 7 | Michael Waltrip | Mattei Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30 | 0 | crash | 34 | $31,770 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 44 | | 27 | Mike Bliss (R) | Eel River Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 45 | | 13 | Robby Gordon | Team Menard | Ford | | | | | |
| 46 | | 66 | Darrell Waltrip | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| 47 | | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||