2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series (Start Your Engines!)

Category:Start Your Engines!
The 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 55th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 32nd modern-era Cup series season.
This was the final year for Dale Earnhardt, as well as Winston being the title sponsor of the Cup Series. Winston had been the title sponsor for NASCAR since 1971. After 33 years, Winston decided not to renew its sponsorship. NASCAR went to work to find a sponsor immediately, and on June 19, 2003, NASCAR announced that the telecommunications firm Nextel would be the new title sponsor of the Cup Series starting in 2004. This was also the final season for Unocal 76 Brand as the official fuel for NASCAR. Unocal had been the official fuel since the sport's inception in 1948. Sunoco would replace Unocal 76 as the official fuel of NASCAR.
==Teams and drivers==
===Complete schedule===
Manufacturer	Team 	No.	Race driver 	Crew chief 	Model
Chevrolet 	BACE Motorsports 	74 	Tony Raines (R) 	Larry Carter 	2003 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Cale Yarborough Motorsports 	98 	Jeremy Mayfield 	 	2003 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 	1 	Steve Park 	Tony Gibson 	2003 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 	8 	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	Tony Eury Sr.
Tony Eury Jr.	2003 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 	17 	Michael Waltrip 	Slugger Labbe 	2003 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 	48 	Jimmie Johnson 	Chad Knaus 	2003 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 	81 	Ron Fellows 	 	2003 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Hendrick Motorsports 	5 	Terry Labonte 	Jim Long 	2003 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Hendrick Motorsports 	25 	Brian Vickers 	Robbie Loomis 	2003 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Hendrick Motorsports 	35 	Casey Atwood 	Peter Sospenzo 	2003 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Joe Gibbs Racing 	18 	Dale Jarrett 	Michael McSwain 	2003 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Joe Gibbs Racing 	20 	Tony Stewart 	Greg Zipadelli 	2003 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Richard Childress Racing 	3 	Dale Earnhardt 	Kevin Hamlin 	2003 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Richard Childress Racing 	30 	Kevin Harvick 	Mike Beam 	2003 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Richard Childress Racing 	31 	Robby Gordon 	Todd Berrier 	2003 Monte Carlo
Dodge 	A. J. Foyt Racing 	14 	Larry Foyt (R) 	Ben Holm 	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	A. J. Foyt Racing 	14 	P. J. Jones 	Ben Holm 	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	A. J. Foyt Racing 	14 	Mark Green 	Ben Holm 	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	AK Racing 	7 	Alan Kulwicki 	 	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	BAM Racing 	49 	Ken Schrader 	Scott Eggleston 	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	Bill Davis Racing 	22 	Jeff Gordon 	Tommy Baldwin Jr.	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	Bill Davis Racing 	23 	Bobby Labonte 	 	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	Bill Davis Racing 	24 	Ward Burton 	Phillipe Lopez 	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	Chip Ganassi Racing 	40 	Sterling Marlin 	Lee McCall 	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	Chip Ganassi Racing 	41 	Kenny Irwin Jr. 	Jimmy Elledge 	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	Chip Ganassi Racing 	42 	Jamie McMurray (R)	Donnie Wingo 	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	Evernham Motorsports 	9 	Bill Elliott 	Mike Ford 	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	Evernham Motorsports 	19 	Casey Elliott 	Kenny Francis 	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	Evernham Motorsports 	91 	Blaise Alexander 	 	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	Kelman Racing 	86 	Ryan Kelman 	Scott Searle 	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	McDuffie Racing 	170	Crissy Hillsworth 	 	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	Moroso-Rudd Racing 	82 	Rob Moroso 	 	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	Moroso-Rudd Racing 	83 	Ricky Rudd 	Billy Ingle 	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	Moroso-Rudd Racing 	84 	Shawna Robinson 	 	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	Pacific Coast Racing 	60 	Chloe Johnson 	Rodney Clay 	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	Pacific Coast Racing 	69 	Jenny Smith 	Alan Walker 	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	Pacific Coast Racing 	80 	Tim Johnson 	Jed Luke 	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	Pacific Coast Racing 	85 	Belle Armstrong 	Andy Lyman 	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	Penske Racing 	2 	Rusty Wallace 	Bill Wilburn 	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	Penske Racing 	12 	Tim Richmond 	 	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	Penske Racing 	39 	Ryan Newman 	Matt Borland 	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	Petty Enterprises 	43 	John Andretti 	Gary Putnam 	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	Petty Enterprises 	44 	Kyle Petty 	 	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	Petty Enterprises 	45 	Adam Petty 	Greg Steadman 	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	Ultra Motorsports 	107	Jimmy Spencer 	 	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	Ultra Motorsports 	107	Ted Musgrave 	 	2003 Intrepid
Ford 	BelCar Motorsports 	54 	Todd Bodine 	Gary Cogswell 	2003 Taurus
Ford 	Jasper Motorsports 	77 	Dave Blaney 	Mark Harrah 	2003 Taurus
Ford 	Orr Motorsports 	37 	Rodney Orr 	 	2003 Taurus
Ford 	PPI Motorsports 	32 	Jerry Nadeau 	 	2003 Taurus
Ford 	Robert Yates Racing 	28 	Clifford Allison 	 	2003 Taurus
Ford 	Robert Yates Racing 	38 	Elliott Sadler 	Raymond Fox Jr. 	2003 Taurus
Ford 	Robert Yates Racing 	88 	Ernie Irvan 	Shawn Parker 	2003 Taurus
Ford 	Roush Racing 	06 	Greg Biffle (R) 	Doug Richert 	2003 Taurus
Ford 	Roush Racing 	6 	Mark Martin 	Pat Tryson 	2003 Taurus
Ford 	Roush Racing 	66 	Matt Kenseth 	Robbie Reiser 	2003 Taurus
Ford 	Roush Racing 	97 	Kurt Busch 	Jimmy Fennig 	2003 Taurus
Ford 	Roush Racing 	99 	Jeff Burton 	Paul Andrews 	2003 Taurus
Ford 	Steele Racing with Brett Favre	15 	Tim Steele 	 	2003 Taurus
Ford 	Steele Racing with Brett Favre	90 	Davey Allison 	 	2003 Taurus
Ford 	Wood Brothers Racing 	21 	Scott Riggs (R) 	Ben Leslie 	2003 Taurus
Pontiac 	Haas CNC Racing 	0 	Jack Sprague (R) 	Tony Furr 	2003 Grand Prix
Pontiac 	Haas CNC Racing 	0 	Jason Leffler 	Tony Furr 	2003 Grand Prix
Pontiac 	Haas CNC Racing 	0 	Ward Burton 	Tony Furr 	2003 Grand Prix
Pontiac 	Kennedy Racing 	03 	Melvin Kennedy 	Mark Cutter 	2003 Grand Prix
Pontiac 	Kennedy Racing 	04 	Willy T. Ribbs 	 	2003 Grand Prix
Pontiac 	MB2 Motorsports 	01 	Joe Nemechek 	Ryan Pemberton 	2003 Grand Prix
Pontiac 	MB2 Motorsports 	10 	Johnny Benson 	Jay Guy 	2003 Grand Prix
Pontiac 	Morgan-McClure Motorsports 	4 	Mike Skinner 	Tim Brewer 	2003 Grand Prix
Pontiac 	Morgan-McClure Motorsports 	4 	Johnny Miller 	Tim Brewer 	2003 Grand Prix
Pontiac 	Morgan-McClure Motorsports 	4 	Stacy Compton 	Tim Brewer 	2003 Grand Prix
Pontiac 	Morgan-McClure Motorsports 	4 	Johnny Sauter (R) 	Tim Brewer 	2003 Grand Prix
Pontiac 	Morgan-McClure Motorsports 	4 	Brett Bodine 	Tim Brewer 	2003 Grand Prix
Pontiac 	Morgan-McClure Motorsports 	4 	Robert Pressley 	Tim Brewer 	2003 Grand Prix
Pontiac 	Morgan-McClure Motorsports 	4 	P. J. Jones 	Tim Brewer 	2003 Grand Prix
Pontiac 	Morgan-McClure Motorsports 	4 	Kevin Lepage 	Tim Brewer 	2003 Grand Prix
=== Limited schedule ===
Manufacturer	Team 	No.	Race driver 	Crew chief 	Model
Chevrolet 	Andy Petree Racing 	33 	Christian Fittipaldi 	Newt Moore 	2003 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Andy Petree Racing 	33 	Paul Menard 	Newt Moore 	2003 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	BC Motorsports 	78 	Mike Harmon 	 	2003 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Bill McAnally Racing 	00 	Jim Inglebright 	 	2003 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Michael Waltrip Racing 	00 	Buckshot Jones 	Bobby Kennedy	2003 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Michael Waltrip Racing 	00 	Mike Skinner 	Bobby Kennedy	2003 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Dale Earnhardt Inc. 	181	Jason Keller 	 	2003 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Dale Earnhardt Inc. 	181	Jeff Green 	Kevin Manion 	2003 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	FitzBradshaw Racing 	183	Kerry Earnhardt 	Bobby Temple 	2003 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Hendrick Motorsports 	160	David Green 	Gary DeHart 	2003 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Hendrick Motorsports 	160	Brian Vickers 	Gary DeHart 	2003 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Joe Gibbs Racing 	180	Mike Bliss 	Jimmy Makar 	2003 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Joe Varde Racing 	135	Joe Varde 	 	2003 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Marcis Auto Racing 	71 	Tim Sauter 	 	2003 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Marcis Auto Racing 	71 	Jim Sauter 	 	2003 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Mike Starr Racing 	75 	David Starr 	 	2003 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Quest Motor Racing 	137	Derrike Cope 	Ernie Cope 	2003 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Richard Childress Racing 	90 	Jeff Green 	Bobby Leslie 	2003 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Richard Childress Racing 	90 	Ron Hornaday Jr. 	 	2003 Monte Carlo
Dodge 	Conley Racing 	78 	Rich Bickle 	 	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	Conley Racing 	79 	Billy Bigley 	 	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	Conley Racing 	79 	Rich Bickle 	 	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	Arnold Motorsports 	79 	Derrike Cope 	 	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	Bill Davis Racing 	27 	Scott Wimmer 	 	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	Bill Davis Racing 	27 	Shelby Howard 	 	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	Chip Ganassi Racing 	139	Scott Pruett 	Matt Chambers	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	Donlavey Racing 	90 	Kirk Shelmerdine 	 	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	Glenn Racing 	46 	Carl Long 	 	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	Pacific Coast Racing 	02 	Dennis Malone 	 	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	Pacific Coast Racing 	70 	Ace Johnson 	 	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	Petty Enterprises 	144	Christian Fittipaldi (R)	Greg Steadman	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	Phoenix Racing 	09 	Mike Wallace 	Marc Reno 	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	Phoenix Racing 	09 	Scott Pruett 	Marc Reno 	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	Phoenix Racing 	09 	Buckshot Jones 	Marc Reno 	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	Ultra Motorsports 	07 	Ted Musgrave 	 	2003 Intrepid
Ford 	Ash Motorsports 	02 	Brandon Ash 	 	2003 Taurus
Ford 	BelCar Racing 	166	Hideo Fukuyama 	Gary Cogswell	2003 Taurus
Ford 	Brett Bodine Racing 	11 	Brett Bodine 	Mike Hillman 	2003 Taurus
Ford 	Brett Bodine Racing 	11 	Geoff Bodine 	Mike Hillman 	2003 Taurus
Ford 	CLR Racing 	57 	Jeff Fultz 	Joey Cudmore 	2003 Taurus
Ford 	CLR Racing 	57 	Brett Bodine 	Joey Cudmore 	2003 Taurus
Ford 	CLR Racing 	57 	Kevin Lepage 	Joey Cudmore 	2003 Taurus
Ford 	Harrah Racing 	55 	Jeff Fultz 	 	2003 Taurus
Ford 	Matrix Motorsports 	71 	Kevin Lepage 	 	2003 Taurus
Ford 	Robert Yates Racing 	98 	Jason Jarrett 	 	2003 Taurus
Ford 	Shepherd Racing Ventures 	89 	Morgan Shepherd 	 	2003 Taurus
Ford 	Team Rensi Motorsports 	135	Bobby Hamilton Jr. 	 	2003 Taurus
Pontiac 	Morgan-McClure Motorsports	104	David Reutimann 	Garth Finley 	2003 Grand Prix
Pontiac 	Morgan-McClure Motorsports	104	Johnny Miller 	Garth Finley 	2003 Grand Prix
Chevrolet
Pontiac	SCORE Motorsports 	102	Hermie Sadler 	Jeff Buckner 	2003 Monte Carlo
2003 Grand Prix
== Schedule ==
No.	Race title 	Track 	Date 	TV
1 	Dodge/Save Mart 350 	Infineon Raceway, Sonoma 	January 26 	Fox
 	Budweiser Shootout 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	February 8 	CBS
 	Gatorade 125s 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	February 13 	CBS
2 	Daytona 500 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	February 16 	CBS
3 	Subway 400 	North Carolina Speedway, Rockingham 	February 23 	Fox
4 	San Jose 500 	San Jose Motorplex, Gilroy 	March 2 	Fox
5 	UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 	Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas 	March 9 	Fox
6 	Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 	Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton 	March 16 	Fox
7 	Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 	Darlington Raceway, Darlington 	March 23 	Fox
8 	Food City 500 	Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol 	March 30 	Fox
9 	Samsung/RadioShack 500 	Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth 	April 6 	Fox
10 	Aaron's 499 	Talladega Superspeewday, Lincoln 	April 13 	Fox
11 	Virginia 500 	Martinsville Speeway, Ridgeway 	April 20 	FX
12 	Auto Club 500 	California Speedway, Fontana 	April 27 	Fox
13 	Pontiac Excitement 400 	Richmond International Raceway, Richmond 	May 3 	FX
14 	Diet Coke 500 	Coca-Cola Superspeedway, Denver 	May 10 	Fox
 	Winston Open 	Lowe's Motor Speedway, Concord 	May 17 	FX
 	The Winston 	Lowe's Motor Speedway, Concord 	May 17 	FX
15 	Coca-Cola 600 	Lowe's Motor Speedway, Concord 	May 25 	CBS
16 	MBNA Armed Forces Family 400 	Dover International Speedway, Dover 	June 1 	FX
17 	Pabst Blue Ribbon 400 	The Milwaukee Mile, West Allis 	June 8 	CBS
18 	Dodge Viper 400 	Nazareth Speedway, Nazareth 	June 15 	CBS
19 	Budweiser 400 	Riverside International Raceway, Riverside 	June 22 	CBS
20 	Music City USA 420 	Music City Motorplex, Nashville 	June 29 	CBS
21 	Pepsi 400 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	July 5 	CBS
22 	Tropicana 400 	Chicagoland Speedway, Joliet 	July 13 	CBS
23 	New England 300 	New Hampshire International Speedway, Loudon 	July 20 	CBS
24 	Pennsylvania 500 	Pocono Raceway, Long Pond 	July 27 	CBS
25 	Brickyard 400 	Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway 	August 3 	NBC
26 	Sirius Satellite Radio at The Glen 	Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen 	August 10 	NBC
27 	GFS Marketplace 400 	Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn 	August 17 	TBS
28 	Sharpie 500 	Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol 	August 23 	TBS
29 	Mountain Dew Southern 500 	Darlington Raceway, Darlington 	August 31 	NBC
30 	Chevy Rock & Roll 400 	Richmond International Raceway, Richmond 	September 6 	TBS
31 	Tyson Holly Farms 400 	North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro 	September 14 	TBS
32 	MBNA America 400 	Dover International Speedway, Dover 	September 21 	TBS
33 	EA Sports 500 	Talladega Superspeedway, Lincoln 	September 28 	NBC
34 	Banquet 400 Presented by ConAgra Foods 	Kansas Speedway, Kansas City 	October 5 	NBC
35 	UAW-GM Quality 500 	Lowe's Motor Speedway, Concord 	October 11 	NBC
36 	Subway 500 	Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway 	October 19 	NBC
37 	Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 	Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton 	October 26-27	NBC
TBS
38 	Checker Auto Parts 500 Presented by Havoline	Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale 	November 2 	TBS
39 	Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 	North Carolina Speedway, Rockingham 	November 9 	NBC
40 	Ford 400 	Homestead-Miami Speedway, Homestead 	November 16 	NBC
41 	Google 500 	San Jose Motorplex, Gilroy 	November 23 	NBC
42 	Sprite 500 	Coca-Cola Superspeedway, Denver 	November 30 	TBS
43 	Los Angeles Times 500 	Ontario Motor Speedway, Ontario 	December 7 	NBC
==Technical changes==
2003 saw the second major change to the SAFER Car body, the first since 1999. Chevrolet and Ford had been making massive changes to the Monte Carlo and Taurus bodies, respectively, on a weekly basis in an attempt to match the dominant Dodge Intrepids. For 2003, NASCAR mandated the use of a common template for rooflines and rear decklids to rein the two makes in. The new body was known as the WC-03 car, and would remain in use until 2007.
Ford Motor Company decided to rationalize the amount of makes they had in NASCAR before the end of 2002, and decided to focus all their efforts on their namesake marquee. Mercury and Lincoln, as a result, exited the sport, with Mercury going defunct in 2011 during the Great Recession, while Lincoln quietly returned in 2015, as both GM and Ford had brought in additional marquees to combat Dodge and Toyota. Lincoln left again after the 2020 season. No Mercuries or Lincolns ran in the Winston Cup Series in 2003 due to the WC-99 body being rendered illegal; all Mercury and Lincoln teams ran Fords.
2003 also saw Pontiac bowing out of NASCAR, again so General Motors could focus their resources on a single marquee to combat Dodge, this being Chevrolet. Pontiac maintained a presence through Kennedy Racing until 2012. Pontiac would eventually return in 2015 to combat Toyota.
== Cars Used in 2003 ==
File:2003 chevrolet monte carlo.png|Chevrolet Monte Carlo
File:2003 ford taurus.png|Ford Taurus
File:2003 dodge intrepid.png|Dodge Intrepid (final year with factory support)
File:2003 pontiac grand prix.png|Pontiac Grand Prix (final year with factory support)