2001 Tropicana 400

The 2001 Tropicana 400 was the 18th stock car race of the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the inaugural running of the event. The race was held on July 15, 2001, in Joliet, Illinois at Chicagoland Speedway, a 1.5 mile (2.41 km) tri-oval speedway. The race took the scheduled 267 laps to complete. Kevin Harvick, driving for Richard Childress Racing, would dominate the late stages of the race to win his second career NASCAR Winston Cup Series win and his second and final win of the season.[1][2] To fill out the podium, Robert Pressley of Jasper Motorsports and Ricky Rudd of Robert Yates Racing would finish second and third, respectively.

2001 Tropicana 400
Race details
Race 18 of 36 in the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 2001 Tropicana 400 program cover.
The 2001 Tropicana 400 program cover.
Date July 15, 2001
Official name Inaugural Tropicana 400
Location Joliet, Illinois, Chicagoland Speedway
Course Permanent racing facility
1.5 mi (2.41 km)
Distance 267 laps, 400.5 mi (644.542 km)
Scheduled Distance 267 laps, 400.5 mi (644.542 km)
Average speed 121.200 miles per hour (195.052 km/h)
Pole position
Driver
Haas-Carter Motorsports
Time 29.393
Most laps led
Driver Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing
Laps 113
Winner
No. 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing
Television in the United States
Network NBC
Announcers Allen Bestwick, Benny Parsons, Wally Dallenbach Jr.
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

Background
The layout of Chicagoland Speedway, the venue where the race was held.

Chicagoland Speedway is a 1.5 miles (2.41 km) tri-oval speedway in Joliet, Illinois, southwest of Chicago. The speedway opened in 2001 and currently hosts NASCAR racing. Until 2011, the speedway also hosted the IndyCar Series, recording numerous close finishes including the closest finish in IndyCar history. The speedway is owned and operated by International Speedway Corporation and located adjacent to Route 66 Raceway.

Entry list
  • (R) denotes rookie driver
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
1Steve ParkDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet Pennzoil
01Jason Leffler (R)Chip Ganassi RacingDodge Cingular Wireless, Special Olympics
2Rusty WallacePenske RacingFord Miller Lite
4Kevin LepageMorgan-McClure MotorsportsChevrolet Kodak
5Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet Viagra
6Mark MartinRoush RacingFord NationsRent
7Robby GordonUltra MotorsportsFord Budweiser
8Dale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet Budweiser
9Bill ElliottEvernham MotorsportsDodge Dodge
10Johnny BensonMBV MotorsportsPoniac Valvoline
11Brett BodineBrett Bodine RacingFord RedCell, Ralphs
12Jeremy MayfieldPenske RacingFord Mobil 1, WEGA
14Ron Hornaday Jr. (R)A. J. Foyt RacingPontiac Conseco
15Michael WaltripDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet NAPA Auto Parts
17Matt KensethRoush RacingFord AT&T Broadband
18Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac Interstate Batteries
19Casey Atwood (R)Evernham MotorsportsDodge Dodge
20Tony StewartJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac The Home Depot
21Elliott SadlerWood Brothers RacingFord Motorcraft
22Ward BurtonBill Davis RacingDodge Caterpillar
24Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet DuPont
25Jerry NadeauHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet UAW, Delphi
26Jimmy SpencerHaas-Carter MotorsportsFord Kmart
27Mike BlissEel River RacingPontiac Sauer's, Duke's Mayonnaise
28Ricky RuddRobert Yates RacingFord Texaco, Havoline
29Kevin Harvick (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet GM Goodwrench
30Jeff GreenRichard Childress RacingChevrolet America Online
31Mike SkinnerRichard Childress RacingChevrolet Lowe's
32Ricky CravenPPI MotorsportsFord Tide
33Joe NemechekAndy Petree RacingChevrolet Oakwood Homes
36Ken SchraderMB2 MotorsportsPontiac M&M's
40Sterling MarlinChip Ganassi RacingDodge Coors Light
43John AndrettiPetty EnterprisesDodge Cheerios
44Buckshot JonesPetty EnterprisesDodge Georgia-Pacific
45Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesDodge Sprint PCS
55Bobby HamiltonAndy Petree RacingChevrolet Square D
66Todd BodineHaas-Carter MotorsportsFord Kmart Blue Light Special
71Dave MarcisMarcis Auto RacingChevrolet Team Realtree
77Robert PressleyJasper MotorsportsFord Jasper Engines & Transmissions
84Shawna RobinsonMichael Kranefuss RacingFord Tropicana
88Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord UPS
90Hut StricklinDonlavey RacingFord Hills Bros. Coffee
92Stacy ComptonMelling RacingDodge Kodiak
93Dave BlaneyBill Davis RacingDodge Amoco Ultimate
96Andy Houston (R)PPI MotorsportsFord McDonald's
97Kurt Busch (R)Roush RacingFord Sharpie
99Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFord Citgo Supergard
Official entry list

Practice

First practice

The first practice session was held on Thursday, July 12, at 2:00 PM CST, and would last for an hour and 25 minutes.[3] Bill Elliott of Evernham Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 31.477 and an average speed of 171.554 miles per hour (276.089 km/h).[4]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 9Bill ElliottEvernham MotorsportsDodge29.574 182.593
2 2Rusty WallacePenske RacingFord29.588 182.506
3 26Jimmy SpencerHaas-Carter MotorsportsFord29.633 182.402
Full first practice results

Second practice

The second practice session was held on Thursday, July 12, at 5:05 PM CST, and would last for an hour and 25 minutes.[3] Mark Martin of Roush Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 31.477 and an average speed of 171.554 miles per hour (276.089 km/h).[5]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 6Mark MartinRoush RacingFord29.369 183.867
2 25Jerry NadeauHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet29.444 183.399
3 26Jimmy SpencerHaas-Carter MotorsportsFord29.471 183.231
Full second practice results

Third practice

The third practice session was held on Friday, July 13, at 11:00 AM CST, and would last for an hour and 55 minutes.[3] Todd Bodine of Haas-Carter Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.347 and an average speed of 183.443 miles per hour (295.223 km/h).[6]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 66Todd BodineHaas-Carter MotorsportsFord29.347 183.443
2 25Jerry NadeauHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet29.475 183.206
3 18Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac29.504 183.026
Full third practice results

Fourth practice

The fourth practice session was held on Saturday, July 14, at 11:30 AM CST, and would last for 45 minutes.[3] Dale Jarrett of Robert Yates Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 30.158 and an average speed of 179.057 miles per hour (288.164 km/h).[7]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 88Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord30.158 179.057
2 24Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet30.181 178.921
3 29Kevin Harvick (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet30.195 178.838
Full fourth practice results

Fifth and final practice

The fifth and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, July 14, at 1:00 PM CST, and would last for 45 minutes.[3] Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 30.142 and an average speed of 179.152 miles per hour (288.317 km/h).[8]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 24Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet30.142 179.152
2 26Jimmy SpencerHaas-Carter MotorsportsFord30.154 179.081
3 1Steve ParkDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet30.195 178.838
Full Happy Hour practice results

Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Friday, July 13, at 3:05 PM CST. Each driver would have two laps to set a fastest time; the fastest of the two would count as their official qualifying lap.[3] 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.[9]

Todd Bodine of Haas-Carter Motorsports would win the pole, setting a time of 29.393 and an average speed of 183.7172 miles per hour (295.6642 km/h).[10]

Four drivers would fail to qualify: Kyle Petty, Dave Marcis, Mike Bliss, and Shawna Robinson.

Full qualifying results
Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 66Todd BodineHaas-Carter MotorsportsFord29.393 183.7172
2 26Jimmy SpencerHaas-Carter MotorsportsFord29.442 183.4115
3 28Ricky RuddRobert Yates RacingFord29.483 183.1564
4 9Bill ElliottEvernham MotorsportsDodge29.545 182.7720
5 33Joe NemechekAndy Petree RacingChevrolet29.615 182.3400
6 29Kevin Harvick (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet29.644 182.1617
7 31Mike SkinnerRichard Childress RacingChevrolet29.661 182.0572
8 25Jerry NadeauHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet29.669 182.0082
9 40Sterling MarlinChip Ganassi Racing with Felix SabatesDodge29.701 181.8121
10 11Brett BodineBrett Bodine RacingFord29.722 181.6836
11 88Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord29.733 181.6164
12 36Ken SchraderMBV MotorsportsPontiac29.808 181.1594
13 77Robert PressleyJasper MotorsportsFord29.830 181.0260
14 96Andy Houston (R)PPI MotorsportsFord29.842 180.9530
15 01Jason Leffler (R)Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix SabatesDodge29.846 180.9290
16 14Ron Hornaday Jr. (R)A. J. Foyt RacingPontiac29.847 180.9227
17 19Casey AtwoodEvernham MotorsportsDodge29.869 180.7894
18 6Mark MartinRoush RacingFord29.887 180.6806
19 4Kevin LepageMorgan-McClure MotorsportsChevrolet29.898 180.6141
20 21Elliott SadlerWood Brothers RacingFord29.899 180.6080
21 2Rusty WallacePenske RacingFord29.903 180.5840
22 55Bobby HamiltonAndy Petree RacingChevrolet29.912 180.5296
23 43John AndrettiPetty EnterprisesDodge29.926 180.4450
24 18Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac29.942 180.3487
25 92Stacy ComptonMelling RacingDodge29.969 180.1860
26 22Ward BurtonBill Davis RacingDodge29.987 180.0780
27 20Tony StewartJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac29.990 180.0600
28 24Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet29.994 180.0360
29 30Jeff GreenRichard Childress RacingChevrolet29.999 180.0060
30 1Steve ParkDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet30.027 179.8380
31 97Kurt BuschRoush RacingFord30.030 179.8202
32 99Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFord30.044 179.7364
33 32Ricky CravenPPI MotorsportsFord30.045 179.7304
34 10Johnny BensonMBV MotorsportsPontiac30.046 179.7244
35 93Dave BlaneyBill Davis RacingDodge30.059 179.6467
36 8Dale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet30.085 179.4914
Provisionals
37 17Matt KensethRoush RacingFord- -
38 12Jeremy MayfieldPenske RacingFord- -
39 15Michael WaltripDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet- -
40 5Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet- -
41 7Robby GordonUltra MotorsportsFord- -
42 90Hut StricklinDonlavey RacingFord- -
43 44Buckshot JonesPetty EnterprisesDodge- -
Failed to Qualify
44 45Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesDodge30.102 179.4560
45 71Dave MarcisMarcis Auto RacingChevrolet30.300 178.2180
46 27Mike BlissEel River RacingPontiac30.495 177.0780
47 84Shawna RobinsonMichael Kranefuss RacingFord30.807 175.2850
Official qualifying results

Race results
Fin.[11] # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 29Kevin Harvick (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet267113running185 $162,500
2 77Robert PressleyJasper MotorsportsFord2670running170 $126,600
3 28Ricky RuddRobert Yates RacingFord26725running170 $112,600
4 88Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord2670running160 $101,300
5 26Jimmy SpencerHaas-Carter MotorsportsFord26750running160 $94,200
6 6Mark MartinRoush RacingFord26720running155 $77,100
7 17Matt KensethRoush RacingFord2670running146 $70,650
8 97Kurt Busch (R)Roush RacingFord2670running142 $68,100
9 40Sterling MarlinChip Ganassi Racing with Felix SabatesDodge2670running138 $65,900
10 9Bill ElliottEvernham MotorsportsDodge2670running134 $71,080
11 8Dale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt Inc.Chevrolet2670running130 $70,800
12 93Dave BlaneyBill Davis RacingDodge2670running127 $54,800
13 2Rusty WallacePenske RacingFord2670running124 $69,300
14 66Todd BodineHaas-Carter MotorsportsFord2676running126 $58,300
15 21Elliott SadlerWood Brothers RacingFord2672running123 $71,600
16 33Joe NemechekAndy Petree RacingFord26717running120 $62,600
17 24Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet2670running112 $68,300
18 99Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFord2660running109 $69,100
19 11Brett BodineBrett Bodine RacingFord2660running106 $52,000
20 22Ward BurtonBill Davis RavingDodge2660running103 $62,600
21 32Ricky CravenPPI MotorsportsFord2660running100 $52,900
22 15Michael WaltripDale Earnhardt Inc.Chevrolet2660running97 $57,900
23 43John AndrettiPetty EnterprisesDodge2660running94 $58,900
24 01Jason Leffler (R)Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix SabatesDodge2660running91 $58,600
25 5Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet2660running88 $58,300
26 92Stacy ComptonMelling RacingDodge2660running85 $50,500
27 10Johnny BensonMBV MotorsportsPontiac2663running87 $57,900
28 19Casey Atwood (R)Evernham MotorsportsDodge2650running79 $46,700
29 36Ken SchraderMBV MotorsportsPontiac2650running76 $54,500
30 55Bobby HamiltonAndy Petree RacingChevrolet2640running73 $54,800
31 90Hut StricklinDonlavey RacingFord2620running70 $46,100
32 12Jeremy MayfieldPenske RacingFord2590running67 $63,900
33 20Tony StewartJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac2570crash64 $65,900
34 4Kevin LepageMorgan-McClure MotorsportsChevrolet2550crash61 $45,500
35 7Robby GordonUltra MotorsportsFord2520crash58 $53,300
36 30Jeff GreenRichard Childress RacingChevrolet2430engine55 $45,100
37 25Jerry NadeauHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet23925engine57 $52,900
38 44Buckshot JonesPetty EnterprisesDodge1840crash49 $52,700
39 18Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac1682engine51 $69,500
40 14Ron Hornady Jr. (R)A. J. Foyt RacingPontiac1500engine43 $44,300
41 1Steve ParkDale Earnhardt Inc.Chevrolet1340flywheel40 $52,100
42 31Mike SkinnerRichard Childress RacingChevrolet220crash37 $51,900
43 96Andy Houston (R)PPI MotorsportsFord30engine34 $43,950
Official race results

References
  1. Smith, Marty (July 16, 2001). "Harvick wins inaugural Tropicana 400". NASCAR.com. Turner Sports Interactive. Archived from the original on December 21, 2001. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  2. "Rookie Harvick leaves Chicagoland with win". The Cincinnati Post. 2001-07-16. p. 19. Retrieved 2022-04-28. open access
  3. "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2001 Chicagoland Race Info Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on August 6, 2001. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  4. "Winston Cup practice speeds". ThatsRacin. July 12, 2001. Archived from the original on August 4, 2001. Retrieved April 28, 2002.
  5. "Thursday's late practice speeds". ThatsRacin. July 12, 2001. Archived from the original on August 4, 2001. Retrieved April 28, 2002.
  6. "Friday's Winston Cup practice speeds". ThatsRacin. July 13, 2001. Archived from the original on October 8, 2001. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  7. "Saturday's early practice speeds". ThatsRacin. July 14, 2002. Archived from the original on October 8, 2001. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  8. "Saturday's final Winston Cup practice speeds". ThatsRacin. July 14, 2001. Archived from the original on August 7, 2001. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  9. "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2001 Provisional Start Status". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on 2001-08-01. Retrieved 2022-02-22.
  10. "BODINE SURPRISINGLY GRABS POLE AT CHICAGOLAND". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
  11. "2001 Tropicana 400 - The Third Turn". www.thethirdturn.com. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
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