2001 Dodge/Save Mart 350

The 2001 Dodge/Save Mart 350 was the 16th stock car race of the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 13th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, June 24, 2001, in Sonoma, California, at the club layout in Sears Point Raceway, a 2 miles (3.2 km) permanent road course layout. The race took the scheduled 112 laps to complete. In the final stages of the race, Tony Stewart, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would take an advantage of an angry Robby Gordon, who was focused on lapping Kevin Harvick, and slip by to win his 11th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series win and his second of the season.[1][2][3] Robby Gordon, who was driving for Ultra Motorsports, would earn a second-place finish. To fill out the podium, Jeff Gordon, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would finish third.

2001 Dodge/Save Mart 350
Race details
Race 16 of 36 in the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 2001 Dodge/Save Mart 350 program cover.
The 2001 Dodge/Save Mart 350 program cover.
Date June 24, 2001
Official name 13th Annual Dodge/Save Mart 350
Location Sonoma, California, Sears Point Raceway
Course Permanent racing facility
2 mi (3.2 km)
Distance 112 laps, 224 mi (360.493 km)
Scheduled Distance 112 laps, 224 mi (360.493 km)
Average speed 75.889 miles per hour (122.132 km/h)
Pole position
Driver
Hendrick Motorsports
Time 1:16.841
Most laps led
Driver Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports
Laps 55
Winner
No. 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing
Television in the United States
Network FOX
Announcers Mike Joy, Larry McReynolds, Darrell Waltrip
Radio in the United States
Radio Performance Racing Network

Background
The layout of Infineon Raceway used by NASCAR at the time.

Infineon Raceway is one of two road courses to hold NASCAR races, the other being Watkins Glen International. The standard road course at Infineon Raceway is a 12-turn course that is 2.52 miles (4.06 km) long;[4] the track was modified in 1998, adding the Chute, which bypassed turns 5 and 6, shortening the course to 1.95 miles (3.14 km). The Chute was only used for NASCAR events such as this race, and was criticized by many drivers, who preferred the full layout.[5] In 2001, it was replaced with a 70-degree turn, 4A, bringing the track to its current dimensions of 1.99 miles (3.20 km).[6]

Entry list
  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet Pennzoil
01 Dorsey Schroeder Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge Cingular Wireless, Special Olympics
2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford Miller Lite
4 Kevin Lepage Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet Kodak
04 Jason Leffler (R) Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge Cingular Wireless, Special Olympics
5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Kellogg's
6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford Viagra
7 Robby Gordon Ultra Motorsports Ford NationsRent
8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet Budweiser
9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge Dodge
10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac Valvoline
11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford RedCell, Ralphs
12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske Racing South Ford Mobil 1
14 Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac Conseco
15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet NAPA Auto Parts
17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford AT&T Broadband, DeWalt
18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac Interstate Batteries
19 Casey Atwood (R) Evernham Motorsports Dodge Dodge
20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac The Home Depot
21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford Motorcraft
22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge Caterpillar
24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet DuPont
25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet UAW, Delphi
26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford Kmart
27 Kenny Wallace Eel River Racing Pontiac Duke's Mayonnaise, Ultimate TV
28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford Texaco, Havoline
29 Kevin Harvick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet GM Goodwrench
31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Lowe's
32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford Tide
33 Scott Pruett Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet Oakwood Homes
36 Ken Schrader MBV Motorsports Pontiac M&M's
40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge Coors Light
43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge Cheerios
44 Buckshot Jones Petty Enterprises Dodge Georgia-Pacific, Unisource
45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge Sprint, Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America
55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet Square D
66 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford Kmart Blue Light Special
68 Anthony Lazzaro TWC Motorsports Chevrolet TWC Motorsports
77 Boris Said Jasper Motorsports Ford Jasper Engines & Transmissions
87 Ron Fellows NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet Nortel
88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford UPS
90 Brian Simo Donlavey Racing Ford Hills Bros. Coffee
92 Stacy Compton Melling Racing Dodge Kodiak
93 Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing Dodge Amoco Ultimate
96 Andy Houston (R) PPI Motorsports Ford McDonald's
97 Kurt Busch (R) Roush Racing Ford Rubbermaid, Sharpie
99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford Citgo Supergard
Official entry list

Practice

First practice

The first practice session was held on Friday, June 22, at 10:30 AM PST. The session would last for two hours and 30 minutes.[7] Jeff Gordon, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 1:16.648 and an average speed of 93.936 miles per hour (151.175 km/h).[8]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1:16.648 93.936
2 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 1:17.066 93.426
3 87 Ron Fellows NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet 1:17.081 93.408
Full first practice results

Second practice

The second practice session was held on Saturday, June 23, at 9:30 AM PST. The session would last for one hour and 30 minutes.[7] Ron Fellows, driving for NEMCO Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 1:17.421 and an average speed of 92.998 miles per hour (149.666 km/h).[9]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 87 Ron Fellows NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet 1:17.421 92.998
2 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1:17.665 92.706
3 7 Robby Gordon Ultra Motorsports Ford 1:17.685 92.682
Full second practice results

Third and final practice

The final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, June 23, after the preliminary NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series race.[7] Jeff Gordon, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 1:17.124 and an average speed of 93.356 miles per hour (150.242 km/h).[10]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1:17.124 93.356
2 87 Ron Fellows NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet 1:17.348 93.086
3 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 1:17.609 92.773
Full Happy Hour practice results

Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Friday, June 22, at 2:00 PM PST. Drivers would each have one lap to set a lap time.[7] 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.[11]

Jeff Gordon, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would win the pole, setting a time of 1:16.842 and an average speed of 93.699 miles per hour (150.794 km/h).[12]

Four drivers would fail to qualify: Andy Houston, Kenny Wallace, Anthony Lazzaro, and Jason Leffler.

Full qualifying results
Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1:16.842 93.699
2 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 1:17.074 93.417
3 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 1:17.387 93.039
4 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 1:17.511 92.890
5 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 1:17.605 92.777
6 25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1:17.681 92.687
7 7 Robby Gordon Ultra Motorsports Ford 1:17.756 92.597
8 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1:17.801 92.544
9 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 1:17.836 92.502
10 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 1:17.932 92.388
11 33 Scott Pruett Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 1:17.987 92.323
12 29 Kevin Harvick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 1:18.011 92.295
13 87 Ron Fellows NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet 1:18.022 92.282
14 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac 1:18.026 92.277
15 90 Brian Simo Donlavey Racing Ford 1:18.062 92.234
16 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 1:18.071 92.224
17 93 Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing Dodge 1:18.115 92.172
18 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 1:18.120 92.166
19 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 1:18.193 92.080
20 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 1:18.205 92.066
21 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 1:18.207 92.063
22 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 1:18.270 91.989
23 66 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 1:18.542 91.671
24 31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 1:18.549 91.662
25 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 1:18.560 91.650
26 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 1:18.572 91.636
27 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 1:18.631 91.567
28 19 Casey Atwood (R) Evernham Motorsports Dodge 1:18.653 91.541
29 44 Buckshot Jones Petty Enterprises Dodge 1:18.654 91.540
30 92 Stacy Compton Melling Racing Dodge 1:18.775 91.400
31 4 Kevin Lepage Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 1:18.824 91.343
32 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 1:18.903 91.251
33 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 1:19.019 91.117
34 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 1:19.137 90.981
35 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 1:19.161 90.954
36 01 Dorsey Schroeder Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 1:19.210 90.898
Provisionals
37 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 1:19.261 90.839
38 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 1:21.611 88.223
39 26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford - -
40 12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske Racing South Ford 1:20.478 89.465
41 97 Kurt Busch (R) Roush Racing Ford 1:35.671 75.258
42 77 Boris Said Jasper Motorsports Ford 1:19.947 90.060
43 14 Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac 1:19.416 90.662
Failed to qualify
44 96 Andy Houston (R) PPI Motorsports Ford 1:19.670 90.373
45 27 Kenny Wallace Eel River Racing Pontiac 1:19.855 90.163
46 68 Anthony Lazzaro TWC Motorsports Chevrolet 1:19.953 90.053
47 04 Jason Leffler (R) Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 1:22.285 87.501
Official qualifying results

Race results
Fin[13] St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 3 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 112 11 running 180 $139,875
2 7 7 Robby Gordon Ultra Motorsports Ford 112 20 running 175 $114,035
3 1 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 112 55 running 175 $129,277
4 22 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 112 0 running 160 $98,847
5 2 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 112 0 running 155 $94,780
6 5 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 112 0 running 150 $88,975
7 4 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 112 0 running 146 $106,267
8 26 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 112 0 running 142 $93,186
9 18 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 112 0 running 138 $74,713
10 38 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 112 0 running 134 $96,036
11 42 77 Boris Said Jasper Motorsports Ford 112 0 running 130 $64,695
12 11 33 Scott Pruett Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 112 0 running 127 $77,020
13 25 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 112 1 running 129 $53,811
14 12 29 Kevin Harvick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 112 0 running 121 $89,877
15 10 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 112 0 running 118 $56,850
16 9 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 112 0 running 115 $46,300
17 27 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 112 3 running 117 $67,865
18 43 14 Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac 112 0 running 109 $44,850
19 37 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 112 0 running 106 $75,718
20 19 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 112 1 running 108 $54,560
21 20 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 112 0 running 100 $53,200
22 33 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 112 0 running 97 $40,840
23 41 97 Kurt Busch (R) Roush Racing Ford 112 0 running 94 $52,205
24 30 92 Stacy Compton Melling Racing Dodge 112 0 running 91 $47,100
25 36 01 Dorsey Schroeder Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 112 0 running 88 $52,805
26 35 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 112 0 running 85 $85,702
27 39 26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 112 1 running 87 $51,740
28 16 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 112 0 running 79 $51,555
29 14 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac 112 0 running 76 $51,535
30 21 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 111 0 crash 73 $78,522
31 6 25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 111 0 running 70 $48,425
32 17 93 Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing Dodge 111 0 running 67 $40,365
33 23 66 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 111 0 running 64 $40,340
34 24 31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 111 0 running 61 $72,624
35 29 44 Buckshot Jones Petty Enterprises Dodge 111 0 running 58 78,280
36 8 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 110 0 crash 55 $72,990
37 32 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 104 0 running 52 $48,240
38 13 87 Ron Fellows NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet 101 20 crash 54 $40,195
39 40 12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske Racing South Ford 97 0 running 46 $79,459
40 34 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 93 0 running 43 $66,373
41 28 19 Casey Atwood (R) Evernham Motorsports Dodge 41 0 engine 40 $40,110
42 15 90 Brian Simo Donlavey Racing Ford 30 0 transmission 37 $40,090
43 31 4 Kevin Lepage Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 2 0 engine 34 $40,317
Failed to qualify
44 27 Kenny Wallace Eel River Racing Pontiac
45 96 Andy Houston (R) PPI Motorsports Ford
46 68 Anthony Lazzaro TWC Motorsports Chevrolet
47 04 Jason Leffler (R) Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge
Official race results

References
  1. Poole, David (June 24, 2001). "Stewart capitalizes, wins at Sears Point". ThatsRacin. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on December 19, 2001. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  2. "Stewart's win ends Gordon's streak". The Palm Beach Post. June 25, 2001. p. 26. Retrieved July 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. Rodman, Dave (June 25, 2001). "Stewart beats Robby Gordon for win at Sonoma". NASCAR. Turner Sports Interactive. Archived from the original on October 4, 2001. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  4. "Sears Point". www.gt-racing.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  5. "Passing is tough in Chute | chronicle.augusta.com". 2011-06-07. Archived from the original on 2011-06-07. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  6. "SEARS POINT BREAKS GROUND ON MODIFIED CHUTE - RacingWest". 2007-09-29. Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  7. "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2001 Sonoma Race Info Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on December 9, 2001. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  8. "Friday's Winston Cup practice speeds". ThatsRacin. June 22, 2001. Archived from the original on December 15, 2001. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  9. "Saturday's early Winston Cup practice speeds". ThatsRacin. June 23, 2001. Archived from the original on December 15, 2001. Retrieved July 3, 2001.
  10. "Saturday's 'Happy Hour' speeds". ThatsRacin. June 23, 2001. Archived from the original on December 15, 2001. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  11. "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2002 Provisional/Owners Points Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on February 5, 2005. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  12. Poole, David (June 22, 2001). "Gordon, Wallace could go to front of class". ThatsRacin. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on June 24, 2001. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  13. "2001 Dodge/Save Mart 350 - The Third Turn". www.thethirdturn.com. Retrieved 2022-07-02.
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