2000 Pontiac Excitement 400

The 2000 Pontiac Excitement 400 was the 11th stock car race of the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 46th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, May 6, 2000, in Richmond, Virginia, at Richmond International Raceway, a 0.75 miles (1.21 km) D-shaped oval. The race took the scheduled 400 laps to complete. At race's end, Dale Earnhardt Jr., driving for Dale Earnhardt, Inc., would hold onto the lead after making a four-tire call on the final round of pit stops 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, Terry Labonte of Hendrick Motorsports and Dale Jarrett of Robert Yates Racing would finish second and third, respectively.

2000 Pontiac Excitement 400
Race details
Race 11 of 34 in the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 2000 Pontiac Excitement 400 program cover, with artwork by Garry Hill.
The 2000 Pontiac Excitement 400 program cover, with artwork by Garry Hill.
Date May 6, 2000
Official name 46th Annual Pontiac Excitement 400
Location Richmond, Virginia, Richmond International Raceway
Course Permanent racing facility
0.75 mi (1.21 km)
Distance 400 laps, 300 mi (482.803 km)
Scheduled Distance 400 laps, 300 mi (482.803 km)
Average speed 99.374 miles per hour (159.927 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Penske-Kranefuss Racing
Time 21.645
Most laps led
Driver Rusty Wallace Penske-Kranefuss Racing
Laps 227
Winner
No. 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc.
Television in the United States
Network ESPN
Announcers Bob Jenkins, Benny Parsons, Ned Jarrett
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

Background

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The layout of Richmond International Raceway, the venue where the race was at.

Richmond International Raceway (RIR) is a 3/4-mile (1.2 km), D-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in Henrico County. It hosts the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series. Known as "America's premier short track", it formerly hosted a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, an IndyCar Series race, and two USAC sprint car races.

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 Burger King, The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas
14 Rick Mast 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 Mike Bliss (R) 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
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 Geoff Bodine 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 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 Bros. Coffee
91 Todd Bodine LJ Racing Chevrolet Little Joe's Autos
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
Official entry list

Practice

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First practice

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The first practice session was held on Friday, May 5, at 12:30 PM EST, and would last for one hour and 25 minutes.[3] Steve Park of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 21.753 and an average speed of 124.120 mph (199.752 km/h).[4]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 21.753 124.120
2 2 Rusty Wallace Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford 21.797 123.870
3 55 Kenny Wallace Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 21.805 123.824
Full first practice results

Second practice

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The second practice session was held on Friday, May 5, at 3:00 PM EST, and would last for one hour and 30 minutes.[3] Ricky Rudd of Robert Yates Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 21.751 and an average speed of 124.132 mph (199.771 km/h).[5]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 21.751 124.132
2 31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 21.786 123.932
3 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 21.834 123.660
Full second practice results

Third practice

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The third practice session was held on Saturday, May 6, at 11:30 AM EST, and would last for one hour.[3] Kyle Petty of Petty Enterprises would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 22.193 and an average speed of 121.659 mph (195.791 km/h).[6]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 44 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 22.193 121.659
2 14 Rick Mast A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac 22.323 120.951
3 91 Todd Bodine LJ Racing Chevrolet 22.339 120.864
Full third practice results

Fourth and final practice

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The fourth and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, May 6 after second-round qualifying, and lasted until 3:00 PM EST.[3] Todd Bodine of LJ Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 22.224 and an average speed of 121.490 mph (195.519 km/h).[7]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 91 Todd Bodine LJ Racing Chevrolet 22.224 121.490
2 25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 22.234 121.435
3 16 Kevin Lepage Roush Racing Ford 22.293 121.114
Full Happy Hour practice results

Qualifying

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Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, May 5, at 5:30 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, May 6, at 1:45 PM 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 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 champion needs the provisional, the next team in the owner points will be awarded a provisional.[8]

Rusty Wallace of Penske-Kranefuss Racing would win the pole, setting a time of 21.645 and an average speed of 124.740 miles per hour (200.750 km/h).[9]

Four drivers would fail to qualify: Rick Mast, Darrell Waltrip, Dave Marcis, and Ed Berrier.

Full qualifying results

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 2 Rusty Wallace Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford 21.645 124.740
2 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 21.687 124.499
3 31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 21.688 124.493
4 60 Geoff Bodine Joe Bessey Racing Chevrolet 21.746 124.161
5 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. (R) Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 21.776 123.990
6 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 21.782 123.956
7 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 21.799 123.859
8 75 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Galaxy Motorsports Ford 21.820 123.740
9 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 21.825 123.711
10 94 Bill Elliott Bill Elliott Racing Ford 21.838 123.638
11 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 21.861 123.508
12 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Pontiac 21.863 123.496
13 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Pontiac 21.869 123.462
14 50 Ricky Craven Midwest Transit Racing Chevrolet 21.888 123.355
15 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 21.903 123.271
16 55 Kenny Wallace Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 21.905 123.260
17 33 Joe Nemechek Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 21.912 123.220
18 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 21.917 123.192
19 9 Stacy Compton (R) Melling Racing Ford 21.918 123.186
20 12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford 21.921 123.170
21 40 Sterling Marlin Team SABCO Chevrolet 21.930 123.119
22 26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 21.936 123.085
23 10 Johnny Benson Jr. Tyler Jet Motorsports Pontiac 21.949 123.012
24 4 Bobby Hamilton Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 21.952 122.996
25 42 Kenny Irwin Jr. Team SABCO Chevrolet 21.986 122.805
26 97 Chad Little Roush Racing Ford 21.990 122.783
27 77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford 22.001 122.722
28 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 22.005 122.699
29 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 22.012 122.660
30 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 22.030 122.560
31 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 22.031 122.555
32 93 Dave Blaney (R) Bill Davis Racing Pontiac 22.033 122.543
33 91 Todd Bodine LJ Racing Chevrolet 22.037 122.521
34 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 22.060 122.393
35 32 Scott Pruett (R) PPI Motorsports Ford 22.077 122.299
36 13 Robby Gordon Team Menard Ford 22.079 122.288
Provisionals
37 17 Matt Kenseth (R) Roush Racing Ford 22.204 121.600
38 7 Michael Waltrip Mattei Motorsports Chevrolet 1:43.167 26.171
39 16 Kevin Lepage Roush Racing Ford 22.277 121.201
40 25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 22.080 122.283
41 44 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 22.232 121.447
42 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 22.191 121.671
43 27 Mike Bliss (R) Eel River Racing Pontiac 22.114 122.095
Failed to qualify
44 14 Rick Mast A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac 22.162 121.830
45 66 Darrell Waltrip Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 22.250 121.348
46 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 22.281 121.179
47 90 Ed Berrier (R) Donlavey Racing Ford 22.288 121.141
Official qualifying results

Race results

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Fin St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 5 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. (R) Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 400 31 running 180 $118,850
2 30 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 400 27 running 175 $85,925
3 18 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 400 0 running 165 $78,525
4 6 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 400 0 running 160 $63,025
5 1 2 Rusty Wallace Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford 400 227 running 165 $68,625
6 13 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Pontiac 400 12 running 155 $57,775
7 29 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 400 0 running 146 $51,900
8 7 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 400 69 running 147 $49,350
9 10 94 Bill Elliott Bill Elliott Racing Ford 400 0 running 138 $42,450
10 31 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 400 19 running 139 $52,800
11 2 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 400 0 running 130 $41,050
12 34 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 400 0 running 127 $41,525
13 4 60 Geoff Bodine Joe Bessey Racing Chevrolet 400 0 running 124 $41,750
14 15 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 400 0 running 121 $46,850
15 37 17 Matt Kenseth (R) Roush Racing Ford 400 0 running 118 $41,660
16 8 75 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Galaxy Motorsports Ford 400 0 running 115 $30,275
17 22 26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 400 0 running 112 $38,675
18 12 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Pontiac 400 0 running 109 $43,825
19 38 7 Michael Waltrip Mattei Motorsports Chevrolet 400 0 running 106 $37,000
20 16 55 Kenny Wallace Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 400 0 running 103 $41,575
21 39 16 Kevin Lepage Roush Racing Ford 400 0 running 100 $37,025
22 19 9 Stacy Compton (R) Melling Racing Ford 400 0 running 97 $28,900
23 17 33 Joe Nemechek Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 399 0 running 94 $36,000
24 42 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 398 1 running 96 $35,775
25 23 10 Johnny Benson Jr. Tyler Jet Motorsports Pontiac 398 0 running 88 $27,925
26 9 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 396 0 running 85 $44,000
27 35 32 Scott Pruett (R) PPI Motorsports Ford 392 0 running 82 $24,075
28 41 44 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 390 0 running 79 $35,050
29 21 40 Sterling Marlin Team SABCO Chevrolet 389 0 running 76 $34,825
30 40 25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 389 0 running 73 $34,700
31 24 4 Bobby Hamilton Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 372 0 rear end 70 $34,650
32 11 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 362 3 crash 72 $41,600
33 3 31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 354 10 running 69 $31,550
34 32 93 Dave Blaney (R) Bill Davis Racing Pontiac 339 0 running 61 $23,500
35 27 77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford 327 0 running 58 $23,450
36 20 12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford 323 0 running 55 $31,400
37 36 13 Robby Gordon Team Menard Ford 282 0 brakes 52 $23,350
38 28 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 280 0 engine 49 $23,300
39 26 97 Chad Little Roush Racing Ford 273 1 crash 51 $31,225
40 14 50 Ricky Craven Midwest Transit Racing Chevrolet 239 0 crash 43 $23,150
41 43 27 Mike Bliss (R) Eel River Racing Pontiac 170 0 crash 40 $23,100
42 25 42 Kenny Irwin Jr. Team SABCO Chevrolet 170 0 crash 37 $31,055
43 33 91 Todd Bodine LJ Racing Chevrolet 42 0 crash 34 $23,000
Failed to qualify
44 14 Rick Mast A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac
45 66 Darrell Waltrip Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford
46 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet
47 90 Ed Berrier (R) Donlavey Racing Ford
Official race results

Standings after the race

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References

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  1. ^ Poole, David (May 6, 2000). "Earnhardt Jr. is first repeat winner of 2000 season". ThatsRacin. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  2. ^ "Earnhardt Jr. becomes first repeat winner". The Star-Democrat. May 7, 2000. p. 24. Retrieved May 6, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2000 Richmond 1 Race Info Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on March 15, 2006. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  4. ^ "Winston Cup practice speeds". ThatsRacin. May 5, 2000. Archived from the original on August 23, 2000. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  5. ^ "The Racin' Network - The 2000 Pontiac Excitement 400 Friday Practice 2". Racin' Network. Archived from the original on August 23, 2000. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  6. ^ "The Racin' Network - The 2000 Pontiac Excitement 400 Saturday Practice 1". Racin' Network. Archived from the original on August 23, 2000. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  7. ^ "`Happy Hour' practice speeds at Richmond". ThatsRacin. May 6, 2000. Archived from the original on August 23, 2000. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  8. ^ "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2000 Provisional Start Status". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on 2005-11-23. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
  9. ^ Poole, David (May 5, 2000). "Rusty Wallace wins Richmond pole". ThatsRacin. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved May 6, 2022.


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