2003 Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400

The 2003 Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 was the 35th stock car race of the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 39th and to date, final iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, November 9, 2003, before a crowd of 60,000 in Rockingham, North Carolina, at North Carolina Speedway, a 1.017 miles (1.637 km) permanent high-banked racetrack. The race took the scheduled 393 laps to complete. At race's end, Evernham Motorsports driver Bill Elliott charged to the front after starting from the rear to win his 44th and to date, final career NASCAR Winston Cup Series win and his first and only win of the season.[1] Meanwhile, fourth-place finisher, Roush Racing driver Matt Kenseth, would lock up the championship, clinching the championship by points to win his first and to date, only NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship.[2] To fill out the podium, Jimmie Johnson of Hendrick Motorsports and Jeremy Mayfield of Evernham Motorsports would finish second and third, respectively.

2003 Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400
Race details
Race 35 of 36 in the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 2003 Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 program cover.
The 2003 Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 program cover.
Date November 9, 2003
Official name 39th Annual Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400
Location Rockingham, North Carolina, North Carolina Speedway
Course Permanent racing facility
1.017 mi (1.636 km)
Distance 393 laps, 399.681 mi (643.224 km)
Scheduled Distance 393 laps, 399.681 mi (643.224 km)
Average speed 111.677 miles per hour (179.727 km/h)
Attendance 60,000
Pole position
Driver Penske Racing South
Time 23.533
Most laps led
Driver Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports
Laps 140
Winner
No. 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports
Television in the United States
Network TNT
Announcers Allen Bestwick, Benny Parsons, Wally Dallenbach Jr.
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

Background

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The layout of North Carolina Speedway, the venue where the race was held.

North Carolina Speedway was opened as a flat, one-mile oval on October 31, 1965. In 1969, the track was extensively reconfigured to a high-banked, D-shaped oval just over one mile in length. In 1997, North Carolina Motor Speedway merged with Penske Motorsports, and was renamed North Carolina Speedway. Shortly thereafter, the infield was reconfigured, and competition on the infield road course, mostly by the SCCA, was discontinued. Currently, the track is home to the Fast Track High Performance Driving School.[3]

Entry list

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# Driver Team Make Sponsor
0 Ward Burton Haas CNC Racing Pontiac NetZero HiSpeed
1 John Andretti Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet Pennzoil
01 Joe Nemechek MB2 Motorsports Pontiac U.S. Army
2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Dodge Miller Lite Penske Racing 50 Wins
02 Hermie Sadler SCORE Motorsports Chevrolet Sadler GM
4 Kevin Lepage Morgan–McClure Motorsports Pontiac Kodak EasyShare
5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Kellogg's, Got Milk?
6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford Viagra
7 Jimmy Spencer Ultra Motorsports Dodge Sirius Satellite Radio
8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet Budweiser
9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge Dodge, UAW
10 Johnny Benson Jr. MB2 Motorsports Pontiac Valvoline
12 Ryan Newman Penske Racing South Dodge Alltel Penske Racing 50 Wins
14 Larry Foyt A. J. Foyt Enterprises Dodge Harrah's "Oh Yeah!"
15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet NAPA Auto Parts
16 Greg Biffle Roush Racing Ford Grainger
17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford DeWalt
18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet Interstate Batteries, Winston Cup Victory Lap
19 Jeremy Mayfield Evernham Motorsports Dodge Dodge, UAW
20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet The Home Depot
21 Ricky Rudd Wood Brothers Racing Ford Motorcraft
22 Scott Wimmer Bill Davis Racing Dodge Caterpillar
23 Kenny Wallace Bill Davis Racing Dodge Stacker 2
24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet DuPont
25 Joe Nemechek Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet UAW, Delphi
29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet GM Goodwrench
30 Steve Park Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet America Online
31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Cingular Wireless
32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Pontiac Tide
37 Derrike Cope Quest Motor Racing Chevrolet Paramount Hospitality Management
38 Elliott Sadler Robert Yates Racing Ford M&M's
40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge Coors Light
41 Casey Mears Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge Target House
42 Jamie McMurray Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge Texaco, Havoline
43 Jeff Green Petty Enterprises Dodge Pop Secret
45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge Georgia-Pacific Brawny
48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Lowe's
49 Ken Schrader BAM Racing Dodge BAM Racing
54 Todd Bodine BelCar Motorsports Ford National Guard
71 Tim Sauter Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet ARAN Trading, Naples Transportation
74 Tony Raines BACE Motorsports Chevrolet BACE Motorsports
77 Dave Blaney Jasper Motorsports Ford Jasper Engines & Transmissions
79 Rich Bickle Conely Racing Chevrolet SBC, Molykote
88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford UPS
97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford Rubbermaid, Sharpie
99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford Citgo
Official entry list

Practice

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Originally, three practices were going to be held, with one on Friday and two on Saturday. However, rain would cancel one session on Saturday and delay the second Saturday session.[4]

First practice

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The first practice session was held on Friday, November 7, at 11:20 AM EST, and would last for 2 hours.[4] Ryan Newman of Penske Racing South would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 23.533 and an average speed of 155.577 miles per hour (250.377 km/h).[5]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 12 Ryan Newman Penske Racing South Dodge 23.533 155.577
2 19 Jeremy Mayfield Evernham Motorsports Dodge 23.674 154.651
3 54 Todd Bodine BelCar Motorsports Ford 23.711 154.409
Full first practice results

Second and final practice

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The second and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, November 8, at approximately 12:10 PM EST, and would last for 45 minutes.[4] Jeff Burton of Roush Racing ould set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 24.089 and an average speed of 151.986 miles per hour (244.598 km/h).[6]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 24.089 151.986
2 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Dodge 24.206 151.252
3 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 24.209 151.233
Full Happy Hour practice results

Qualifying

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Qualifying was held on Friday, November 7, 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.[4] 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.[7]

Ryan Newman of Penske Racing South would win the pole, setting a time of 23.533 and an average speed of 155.577 miles per hour (250.377 km/h).[8]

Three drivers would fail to qualify: Hermie Sadler, Tim Sauter, and Rich Bickle.

Full qualifying results

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 12 Ryan Newman Penske Racing South Dodge 23.533 155.577
2 25 Brian Vickers Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 23.544 155.505
3 19 Jeremy Mayfield Evernham Motorsports Dodge 23.574 155.307
4 74 Tony Raines BACE Motorsports Chevrolet 23.574 155.307
5 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 23.632 154.926
6 01 Joe Nemechek MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 23.645 154.840
7 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Dodge 23.680 154.611
8 7 Jimmy Spencer Ultra Motorsports Dodge 23.681 154.605
9 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 23.734 154.260
10 16 Greg Biffle Roush Racing Ford 23.739 154.227
11 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 23.744 154.195
12 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 23.744 154.195
13 0 Ward Burton Haas CNC Racing Pontiac 23.764 154.065
14 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 23.765 154.059
15 38 Elliott Sadler Robert Yates Racing Ford 23.768 154.039
16 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 23.771 154.020
17 31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 23.774 154.000
18 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 23.778 153.974
19 97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford 23.784 153.935
20 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 23.787 153.916
21 42 Jamie McMurray Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 23.790 153.897
22 77 Dave Blaney Jasper Motorsports Ford 23.819 153.709
23 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 23.825 153.671
24 21 Ricky Rudd Wood Brothers Racing Ford 23.837 153.593
25 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 23.839 153.580
26 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 23.841 153.567
27 54 Todd Bodine BelCar Motorsports Ford 23.844 153.548
28 49 Ken Schrader BAM Racing Dodge 23.906 153.150
29 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 23.917 153.079
30 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Pontiac 23.931 152.990
31 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 23.932 152.984
32 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 23.935 152.964
33 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 23.976 152.703
34 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 23.979 152.684
35 23 Kenny Wallace Bill Davis Racing Dodge 23.992 152.601
36 1 John Andretti Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 23.997 152.569
Provisionals
37 22 Scott Wimmer Bill Davis Racing Dodge 24.083 152.024
38 30 Steve Park Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 24.146 151.628
39 41 Casey Mears Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 24.063 152.151
40 4 Kevin Lepage Morgan–McClure Motorsports Pontiac 24.032 152.347
41 43 Jeff Green Petty Enterprises Dodge 24.191 151.346
42 14 Larry Foyt A. J. Foyt Enterprises Dodge 24.136 151.690
43 37 Derrike Cope Quest Motor Racing Chevrolet 24.263 150.896
Failed to qualify
44 02 Hermie Sadler SCORE Motorsports Chevrolet 24.024 152.398
45 71 Tim Sauter Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 24.213 151.208
46 79 Rich Bickle Conely Racing Chevrolet 24.777 147.766
Official qualifying results

Race results

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Fin[9] St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 5 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 393 140 running 185 $207,648
2 18 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 393 78 running 175 $105,590
3 3 19 Jeremy Mayfield Evernham Motorsports Dodge 393 96 running 170 $88,700
4 23 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 393 0 running 160 $92,650
5 1 12 Ryan Newman Penske Racing South Dodge 393 49 running 160 $98,785
6 4 74 Tony Raines BACE Motorsports Chevrolet 393 0 running 150 $61,775
7 9 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 393 0 running 146 $91,442
8 14 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 393 0 running 142 $98,208
9 29 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 393 0 running 138 $100,403
10 31 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 393 0 running 134 $99,425
11 10 16 Greg Biffle Roush Racing Ford 392 0 running 130 $56,675
12 20 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 392 0 running 127 $81,681
13 26 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 391 0 running 124 $92,042
14 8 7 Jimmy Spencer Ultra Motorsports Dodge 391 0 running 121 $72,825
15 34 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 391 0 running 118 $91,403
16 27 54 Todd Bodine BelCar Motorsports Ford 391 0 running 115 $69,475
17 19 97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford 391 0 running 112 $82,925
18 13 0 Ward Burton Haas CNC Racing Pontiac 390 30 running 114 $53,325
19 41 43 Jeff Green Petty Enterprises Dodge 390 0 running 106 $88,703
20 17 31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 390 0 running 103 $79,612
21 15 38 Elliott Sadler Robert Yates Racing Ford 390 0 running 100 $86,325
22 16 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 390 0 running 97 $96,203
23 7 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Dodge 390 0 running 94 $86,242
24 2 25 Brian Vickers Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 390 0 running 91 $52,175
25 6 01 Joe Nemechek MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 390 0 running 88 $61,875
26 37 22 Scott Wimmer Bill Davis Racing Dodge 389 0 running 85 $83,731
27 22 77 Dave Blaney Jasper Motorsports Ford 389 0 running 82 $66,849
28 42 14 Larry Foyt A. J. Foyt Enterprises Dodge 389 0 running 79 $47,260
29 25 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 388 0 running 76 $76,825
30 36 1 John Andretti Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 388 0 running 73 $75,142
31 35 23 Kenny Wallace Bill Davis Racing Dodge 387 0 running 70 $46,800
32 33 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 387 0 running 67 $54,675
33 39 41 Casey Mears Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 386 0 running 64 $55,450
34 38 30 Steve Park Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 386 0 running 61 $54,425
35 21 42 Jamie McMurray Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 375 0 running 58 $46,300
36 28 49 Ken Schrader BAM Racing Dodge 374 0 crash 55 $46,255
37 11 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 343 0 engine 52 $64,200
38 32 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 339 0 engine 49 $91,923
39 30 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Pontiac 325 0 crash 46 $54,090
40 24 21 Ricky Rudd Wood Brothers Racing Ford 325 0 crash 43 $54,015
41 12 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 239 0 engine 40 $79,773
42 40 4 Kevin Lepage Morgan–McClure Motorsports Pontiac 130 0 engine 37 $45,860
43 43 37 Derrike Cope Quest Motor Racing Chevrolet 127 0 axle 34 $45,170
Failed to qualify
44 02 Hermie Sadler SCORE Motorsports Chevrolet
45 71 Tim Sauter Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet
46 79 Rich Bickle Conely Racing Chevrolet
Official race results

References

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  1. ^ Anderson, Lars. "A Rock For The Ages On a crossroads afternoon for NASCAR, old school fave Bill Elliott won the final fall race at Rockingham as Matt Kenseth clinched the 2003 crown". Sports Illustrated Vault | SI.com. Retrieved 2022-02-17.
  2. ^ Rees, Chris. "Kenseth wins 1st Winston Cup championship with 4th place finish at Rockingham". WIS News. Retrieved 2022-02-17.
  3. ^ "Fast Track High Performance Driving School, Inc". Fasttrackracing.com. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
  4. ^ a b c d "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2003 Rockingham 2 Race Info Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on 2005-02-07. Retrieved 2022-02-17.
  5. ^ "NASCAR.com - Races - 2003 Rockingham 2 Practice 1 Results". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on 2005-02-06. Retrieved 2022-02-17.
  6. ^ "NASCAR.com - Races - 2003 Rockingham 2 Practice 2 Results". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on 2005-02-06. Retrieved 2022-02-17.
  7. ^ "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2003 Provisional Land Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on 2005-02-04. Retrieved 2022-01-08.
  8. ^ "Ryan Newman Wins 11th Pole at Rockingham". AP NEWS. Retrieved 2022-02-17.
  9. ^ "2003 Pop-Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 - The Third Turn". www.thethirdturn.com. Retrieved 2022-02-17.
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NASCAR Winston Cup Series
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2003 Ford 400