2003 Subway 500
The 2003 Subway 500 was the 32nd stock car race of the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 55th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, October 19, 2003, before a crowd of 88,000 in Martinsville, Virginia at Martinsville Speedway, a 0.526 miles (0.847 km) permanent oval-shaped short track. The race took the scheduled 500 laps to complete. At race's end, Jeff Gordon, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would dominate most of the race weekend to win his 63rd career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his second of the season.[1][2] To fill out the podium, Jimmie Johnson, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, and Tony Stewart, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would finish second and third, respectively.
| Race details | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 32 of 36 in the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series | |||
 The 2003 Subway 500 program cover. | |||
| Date | October 19, 2003 | ||
| Official name | 55th Annual Subway 500 | ||
| Location | Martinsville, Virginia, Martinsville Speedway | ||
| Course |
Permanent racing facility 0.526 mi (0.847 km) | ||
| Distance | 500 laps, 263 mi (423.257 km) | ||
| Scheduled Distance | 500 laps, 263 mi (423.257 km) | ||
| Average speed | 67.658 miles per hour (108.885 km/h) | ||
| Attendance | 88,000 | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Hendrick Motorsports | ||
| Time | 20.220 | ||
| Most laps led | |||
| Driver | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | |
| Laps | 313 | ||
| Winner | |||
| No. 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | |
| 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
Martinsville Speedway is an NASCAR-owned stock car racing track located in Henry County, in Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At 0.526 miles (0.847 km) in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved oval tracks in NASCAR, being built in 1947 by H. Clay Earles. It is also the only remaining race track that has been on the NASCAR circuit from its beginning in 1948.
Entry list
- (R) denotes rookie driver.
Practice
First practice
The first practice session was held on Friday, October 17, at 11:20 AM EST. The session would last for two hours.[3] Jeff Gordon, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, and Dale Earnhardt Jr., driving for Dale Earnhardt, Inc., would both set the fastest time in the session, with laps of 20.428 and an average speed of 92.696 miles per hour (149.180 km/h).[4]
In the session, Ultra Motorsports driver Jimmy Spencer would suffer a crash, forcing Spencer to go to a backup car and start at the rear of the field for the race.[3]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20.428 | 92.696 |
| 2 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 20.428 | 92.696 |
| 3 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 20.434 | 92.669 |
| Full first practice results | ||||||
Second practice
The second practice session was held on Saturday, October 18, at 9:30 AM EST. The session would last for 45 minutes.[3] Kevin Harvick, driving for Richard Childress Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 20.440 and an average speed of 92.642 miles per hour (149.093 km/h).[5]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 20.440 | 92.642 |
| 2 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 20.510 | 92.326 |
| 3 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20.525 | 92.258 |
| Full second practice results | ||||||
Third and final practice
The final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, October 18, at 9:30 AM EST. The session would last for 45 minutes.[3] Rusty Wallace, driving for Penske Racing South, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 20.513 and an average speed of 92.312 miles per hour (148.562 km/h).[6]
In the session, BelCar Motorsports driver Todd Bodine would wreck in Turn 1, forcing Bodine to go to a backup car and start at the rear of the field for the race.[7]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 20.513 | 92.312 |
| 2 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 20.559 | 92.106 |
| 3 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 20.570 | 92.056 |
| Full Happy Hour practice results | ||||||
Qualifying
Qualifying was held on Friday, October 17, at 3:05 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.[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.[8]
Jeff Gordon, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would win the pole, setting a time of 20.220 and an average speed of 93.650 miles per hour (150.715 km/h).[9]
Two drivers would fail to qualify: Mark Green and Morgan Shepherd. In addition, three drivers would fail to make a lap: the Robert Yates Racing cars of Elliott Sadler and Dale Jarrett, and the aforementioned Morgan Shepherd. Dale Jarrett would suffer a crash on his first qualifying lap, and Sadler would suffer left rear camber problems that would prevent him from setting a lap, forcing both to take a provisional.[10] Meanwhile, Shepherd's car was declared too light according to NASCAR, and could not get the car out on time to qualify.[8]
Full qualifying results
Race results
| Fin[11] | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 313 | running | 185 | $183,018 |
| 2 | 26 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 0 | running | 170 | $100,250 |
| 3 | 16 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 500 | 2 | running | 170 | $129,478 |
| 4 | 3 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 500 | 61 | running | 165 | $115,937 |
| 5 | 8 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 500 | 0 | running | 155 | $90,225 |
| 6 | 31 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 40 | running | 155 | $85,456 |
| 7 | 5 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 500 | 10 | running | 151 | $92,228 |
| 8 | 17 | 42 | Jamie McMurray (R) | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 500 | 0 | running | 142 | $57,125 |
| 9 | 28 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 500 | 0 | running | 138 | $89,758 |
| 10 | 21 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 500 | 0 | running | 134 | $90,142 |
| 11 | 39 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 500 | 0 | running | 130 | $94,003 |
| 12 | 41 | 30 | Steve Park | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 500 | 0 | running | 127 | $64,900 |
| 13 | 14 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 500 | 0 | running | 124 | $68,400 |
| 14 | 23 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 500 | 0 | running | 121 | $85,008 |
| 15 | 12 | 21 | Ricky Rudd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 500 | 0 | running | 118 | $76,825 |
| 16 | 4 | 23 | Kenny Wallace | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 500 | 0 | running | 115 | $66,575 |
| 17 | 35 | 41 | Casey Mears (R) | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 500 | 0 | running | 112 | $71,175 |
| 18 | 2 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 500 | 0 | running | 109 | $84,036 |
| 19 | 19 | 16 | Greg Biffle (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | 500 | 0 | running | 106 | $48,925 |
| 20 | 22 | 25 | Joe Nemechek | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 499 | 19 | running | 108 | $50,925 |
| 21 | 11 | 01 | Mike Skinner | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 499 | 0 | running | 100 | $58,825 |
| 22 | 18 | 49 | Ken Schrader | BAM Racing | Dodge | 499 | 0 | running | 97 | $48,075 |
| 23 | 33 | 74 | Tony Raines | BACE Motorsports | Chevrolet | 499 | 0 | running | 94 | $48,725 |
| 24 | 10 | 43 | Jeff Green | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 498 | 0 | running | 91 | $83,353 |
| 25 | 32 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 498 | 0 | running | 88 | $55,725 |
| 26 | 15 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 498 | 0 | running | 85 | $62,175 |
| 27 | 34 | 0 | Jason Leffler | Haas CNC Racing | Pontiac | 498 | 0 | running | 82 | $47,010 |
| 28 | 38 | 38 | Elliott Sadler | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 497 | 0 | running | 79 | $80,610 |
| 29 | 7 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 497 | 18 | running | 81 | $78,392 |
| 30 | 43 | 02 | Hermie Sadler | SCORE Motorsports | Pontiac | 495 | 0 | running | 73 | $44,150 |
| 31 | 40 | 1 | John Andretti | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 495 | 0 | running | 70 | $68,762 |
| 32 | 27 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Pontiac | 495 | 0 | running | 67 | $59,889 |
| 33 | 30 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 490 | 0 | running | 64 | $52,270 |
| 34 | 29 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac | 488 | 0 | running | 61 | $70,070 |
| 35 | 24 | 4 | Kevin Lepage | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Pontiac | 475 | 0 | running | 58 | $43,275 |
| 36 | 37 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 473 | 0 | running | 55 | $68,412 |
| 37 | 25 | 77 | Dave Blaney | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 471 | 0 | running | 52 | $51,175 |
| 38 | 6 | 7 | Jimmy Spencer | Ultra Motorsports | Dodge | 459 | 0 | running | 49 | $43,115 |
| 39 | 13 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 407 | 37 | engine | 51 | $63,065 |
| 40 | 36 | 54 | Todd Bodine | BelCar Motorsports | Ford | 407 | 0 | crash | 43 | $42,990 |
| 41 | 20 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 271 | 0 | engine | 40 | $88,023 |
| 42 | 42 | 37 | Derrike Cope | Quest Motor Racing | Chevrolet | 260 | 0 | overheating | 37 | $42,900 |
| 43 | 9 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 127 | 0 | engine | 34 | $86,191 |
| Failed to qualify | ||||||||||
| 44 | 14 | Mark Green | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Dodge | ||||||
| 45 | 89 | Morgan Shepherd | Shepherd Racing Ventures | Ford | ||||||
| Official race results | ||||||||||
References
- Poole, David (October 19, 2003). "Gordon notches win from polefor '03 sweep at Martinsville". That's Racin'. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on April 6, 2004. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
- "Gordon sweeps Martinsville races". South Idaho Press. Associated Press. October 20, 2003. p. 5. Retrieved August 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2003 Martinsville 2 Race Info Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on December 4, 2003. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
- "Gordon, Earnhardt Jr. fastest in Friday's practice". That's Racin'. October 17, 2003. Archived from the original on April 20, 2004. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
- "Harvick, Wallace, Gordon lead way in Saturday's early Cup practice". That's Racin'. October 18, 2003. Archived from the original on April 22, 2004. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
- "Wallace, Harvick, W. Burton tops in Saturday's final Cup session". That's Racin'. October 18, 2003. Archived from the original on April 22, 2004. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
- Smity, MArty (October 18, 2003). "Streak over? R. Wallace paces Happy Hour". NASCAR. Turner Sports Interactive. Archived from the original on December 4, 2003. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
- "Jayski's® Silly Season Site - 2003 Provisional Land Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on February 4, 2005. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
- Poole, David (October 17, 2003). "Jeff Gordon gets good starton repeat with Friday's pole run". That's Racin'. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on January 18, 2005. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
- Smith, Marty (October 18, 2003). "Hard luck continues for Yates teammates". NASCAR. Turner Sports Interactive. Archived from the original on February 3, 2004. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
- "2003 UAW-GM Quality 500 - The Third Turn". The Third Turn. Retrieved August 4, 2022.