The 2000 Food City 500 was the sixth stock car race of the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 40th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, March 26, 2000, before an audience of 147,000 in Bristol, Tennessee, at Bristol Motor Raceway, a 0.533 miles (0.858 km) permanent oval-shaped racetrack. At race's end, Penske-Kranefuss Racing's Rusty Wallace managed to avoid wrecks and kept his car clean in the late stages of the race to take his 50th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series and his first victory of the season.[1][2] To fill out the top three, Tyler Jet Motorsports's Johnny Benson Jr. and Bill Davis Racing's Ward Burton finished second and third, respectively.

2000 Food City 500
Race details
Race 6 of 34 in the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 2000 Food City 500 program cover. Artwork by NASCAR artist Sam Bass.
The 2000 Food City 500 program cover. Artwork by NASCAR artist Sam Bass.
Date March 26, 2000
Official name 40th Annual Food City 500
Location Bristol, Tennessee, Bristol Motor Speedway
Course Permanent racing facility
0.533 mi (0.858 km)
Distance 500 laps, 266.5 mi (428.89 km)
Scheduled Distance 500 laps, 266.5 mi (428.89 km)
Average speed 88.018 miles per hour (141.651 km/h)
Attendance 147,000
Pole position
Driver Dale Earnhardt, Inc.
Time 15.184
Most laps led
Driver Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports
Laps 225
Winner
No. 2 Rusty Wallace Penske-Kranefuss Racing
Television in the United States
Network ESPN
Announcers Bob Jenkins, Ned Jarrett, Benny Parsons
Radio in the United States
Radio Performance Racing Network

Background

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The layout of Bristol Motor Speedway, the venue where the race was held.

The Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway, is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961. Despite its short length, Bristol is among the most popular tracks on the NASCAR schedule because of its distinct features, which include extraordinarily steep banking, an all concrete surface, two pit roads, and stadium-like seating. It has also been named one of the loudest NASCAR tracks.

Entry list

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet Pennzoil
2 Rusty Wallace Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford Miller Lite
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 / Cummins
7 Michael Waltrip Mattei Motorsports Chevrolet NationsRent
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 Lycos
11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford Ralphs Supermarkets
12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford Mobil 1
13 Robby Gordon Team Menard Ford Menards / Duracell
14 Dick Trickle 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
20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac The Home Depot
21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford Citgo
22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Pontiac Caterpillar
24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet DuPont Automotive Finishes
25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Michael Holigan
26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford Big Kmart
27 Jeff Fuller 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
41 Rick Mast Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet Big Daddy's BBQ Sauce
42 Kenny Irwin Jr. Team SABCO Chevrolet BellSouth
43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Pontiac STP / Cheerios
44 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac Hot Wheels
50 Ricky Craven Midwest Transit Racing Chevrolet Midwest Transit
55 Kenny Wallace Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet Square D
60 Ted Musgrave 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 Dinner and a Movie / RedCell
77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford Jasper Engines & Transmissions
88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford Quality Care Service / Ford Credit
90 Ed Berrier (R) Donlavey Racing Ford Hills Brothers 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 Batteries

Practice

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First practice

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The first practice session was held on Friday, March 24, at 11:00 AM EST. The session would last for one hour and 15 minutes. Dale Earnhardt, Inc.'s Steve Park set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 15.310 and an average speed of 125.330 mph (201.699 km/h).[3]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 15.310 125.330
2 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Pontiac 15.319 125.256
3 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 15.328 125.183
Full first practice results

Second practice

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The second practice session was held on Friday, March 24, at 1:15 PM EST. The session would last for 30 minutes. Dale Earnhardt, Inc.'s Steve Park set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 15.243 and an average speed of 125.881 mph (202.586 km/h).[3]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 15.243 125.881
2 4 Bobby Hamilton Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 15.282 125.559
3 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 15.284 125.543
Full second practice results

Final practice

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The final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, March 25, after the 2000 Cheez-It 250. The session would last for one hour. Wood Brothers Racing's Elliott Sadler set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 15.786 and an average speed of 121.551 mph (195.617 km/h).[4]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 15.786 121.551
2 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 15.850 121.060
3 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 15.853 121.037
Full Happy Hour practice results

Qualifying

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Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, March 24, at 3:00 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, March 25, at 11:30 AM 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.[3] Positions 26–36 would be decided on time, while positions 37–43 would be based on provisionals. Six spots were awarded by the use of provisionals based on owner's points. The seventh was 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 was awarded a provisional.[5]

Steve Park, driving for Dale Earnhardt, Inc., managed to win the pole, setting a time of 15.184 and an average speed of 126.370 miles per hour (203.373 km/h) in the first round.[6]

Four drivers failed to qualify.

Full qualifying results

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 15.184 126.370
2 55 Kenny Wallace Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 15.242 125.889
3 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 15.256 125.773
4 31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 15.318 125.264
5 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Pontiac 15.319 125.256
6 2 Rusty Wallace Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford 15.328 125.183
7 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 15.336 125.117
8 4 Bobby Hamilton Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 15.338 125.107
9 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 15.348 125.020
10 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 15.349 125.011
11 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 15.379 124.768
12 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. (R) Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 15.384 124.727
13 66 Darrell Waltrip Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 15.386 124.711
14 33 Joe Nemechek Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 15.388 124.695
15 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 15.389 124.686
16 25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 15.398 124.614
17 12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford 15.402 124.581
18 77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford 15.402 124.581
19 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 15.407 124.541
20 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 15.412 124.500
21 14 Dick Trickle A. J. Foyt Racing Pontiac 15.412 124.500
22 17 Matt Kenseth (R) Roush Racing Ford 15.421 124.428
23 7 Michael Waltrip Mattei Motorsports Chevrolet 15.425 124.395
24 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 15.430 124.355
25 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 15.445 124.234
Failed to lock in the first round
26 93 Dave Blaney (R) Bill Davis Racing Pontiac 15.400 124.597
27 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 15.448 124.210
28 40 Sterling Marlin Team SABCO Chevrolet 15.454 124.162
29 9 Stacy Compton (R) Melling Racing Ford 15.463 124.090
30 26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 15.470 124.034
31 97 Chad Little Roush Racing Ford 15.480 123.953
32 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Pontiac 15.481 123.945
33 10 Johnny Benson Jr. Tyler Jet Motorsports Pontiac 15.483 123.929
34 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 15.490 123.873
35 44 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 15.493 123.849
36 60 Ted Musgrave Joe Bessey Racing Chevrolet 15.506 123.746
Provisionals
37 94 Bill Elliott Bill Elliott Racing Ford -* -*
38 16 Kevin Lepage Roush Racing Ford -* -*
39 42 Kenny Irwin Jr. Team SABCO Chevrolet -* -*
40 13 Robby Gordon Team Menard Ford -* -*
41 41 Rick Mast Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet -* -*
42 75 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Galaxy Motorsports Ford -* -*
43 27 Jeff Fuller Eel River Racing Pontiac -* -*
Failed to qualify
44 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 15.613 122.898
45 50 Ricky Craven Midwest Transit Racing Chevrolet 15.665 122.490
46 90 Ed Berrier (R) Donlavey Racing Ford 15.726 122.014
47 32 Scott Pruett (R) PPI Motorsports Ford - -
Official first round qualifying results
Official starting lineup

Race results

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Fin St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 6 2 Rusty Wallace Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford 500 86 running 180 $87,585
2 33 10 Johnny Benson Jr. Tyler Jet Motorsports Pontiac 500 0 running 170 $87,535
3 5 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Pontiac 500 14 running 170 $81,135
4 17 12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford 500 124 running 165 $49,795
5 7 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 500 0 running 155 $60,745
6 10 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 500 0 running 150 $57,695
7 1 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 500 40 running 151 $49,995
8 3 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 500 225 running 152 $51,295
9 15 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 500 0 running 138 $49,990
10 28 40 Sterling Marlin Team SABCO Chevrolet 500 0 running 134 $52,540
11 23 7 Michael Waltrip Mattei Motorsports Chevrolet 500 1 running 135 $48,820
12 22 17 Matt Kenseth (R) Roush Racing Ford 500 0 running 127 $42,165
13 4 31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 500 0 running 124 $40,990
14 27 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 500 0 running 121 $40,315
15 8 4 Bobby Hamilton Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 500 0 running 118 $43,165
16 34 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 499 0 running 115 $46,290
17 18 77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford 499 0 running 112 $33,840
18 30 26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 499 0 running 109 $40,840
19 16 25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 499 0 running 106 $39,530
20 2 55 Kenny Wallace Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 499 0 running 103 $45,175
21 20 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 499 7 running 105 $52,915
22 24 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 498 0 running 97 $27,765
23 31 97 Chad Little Roush Racing Ford 497 0 running 94 $38,915
24 35 44 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 497 0 running 91 $38,740
25 14 33 Joe Nemechek Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 497 0 running 88 $38,595
26 25 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 497 0 running 85 $30,965
27 21 14 Dick Trickle A. J. Foyt Racing Pontiac 496 0 running 82 $27,545
28 29 9 Stacy Compton (R) Melling Racing Ford 496 0 running 79 $30,590
29 42 75 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Galaxy Motorsports Ford 493 0 running 76 $27,460
30 38 16 Kevin Lepage Roush Racing Ford 492 0 running 73 $35,635
31 13 66 Darrell Waltrip Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 475 0 running 70 $26,365
32 40 13 Robby Gordon Team Menard Ford 473 0 running 67 $26,345
33 32 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Pontiac 460 0 accident 64 $44,325
34 41 41 Rick Mast Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet 459 0 accident 61 $26,285
35 26 93 Dave Blaney (R) Bill Davis Racing Pontiac 457 0 accident 58 $26,765
36 37 94 Bill Elliott Bill Elliott Racing Ford 457 0 accident 55 $34,245
37 43 27 Jeff Fuller Eel River Racing Pontiac 414 1 accident 57 $26,235
38 12 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. (R) Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 401 0 accident 49 $26,225
39 11 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 346 2 running 51 $45,215
40 39 42 Kenny Irwin Jr. Team SABCO Chevrolet 335 0 running 43 $34,175
41 9 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 325 0 running 40 $34,150
42 19 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 73 0 engine 37 $45,525
43 36 60 Ted Musgrave Joe Bessey Racing Chevrolet 22 0 engine 34 $34,111
Failed to qualify
44 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet
45 50 Ricky Craven Midwest Transit Racing Chevrolet
46 90 Ed Berrier (R) Donlavey Racing Ford
47 32 Scott Pruett (R) PPI Motorsports Ford
Official race results

Standings after the race

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References

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  1. ^ Poole, David (March 26, 2000). "Wallace hits his Bristol bulls-eye". ThatsRacin. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on December 13, 2000. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  2. ^ Gregory, Allan (March 27, 2000). "A family feud, Darlington-style". Bristol Herald Courier. pp. 1B, 2B. Retrieved August 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ a b c "Jayski's Silly Season Site – Bristol 1 Race Info Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on May 10, 2000. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  4. ^ "Jayski's Silly Season Site – Darlington 1 Race Info Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on April 23, 2001. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  5. ^ "Jayski's Silly Season Site – 2000 Provisional Start Status". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on November 23, 2005. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  6. ^ Poole, David (March 24, 2000). "Park leads parade of record-breakers". ThatsRacin. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on May 1, 2001. Retrieved August 8, 2023.


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