The 2001 Talladega 500 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series race that took place on April 22, 2001, at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama. A total prize purse of $3,233,740 ($5,564,390.8 when adjusted for inflation); with $173,855 to the winner ($299,157.37 when adjusted for inflation).

2001 Talladega 500
Race details[1][2]
Race 9 of 36 in the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season
Map of the Talladega Superspeedway
Map of the Talladega Superspeedway
Date April 22, 2001 (2001-April-22)
Official name Talladega 500
Location Talladega Superspeedway, Talladega, Alabama
Course Permanent racing facility
2.660 mi (4.280 km)
Distance 188 laps, 500.1 mi (804.8 km)
Weather Temperatures of 57.9 °F (14.4 °C) and 82.9 °F (28.3 °C); Wind speeds of 11.1 miles per hour (17.9 km/h)
Average speed 184.003 miles per hour (296.124 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Mark Melling
Most laps led
Driver Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi
Laps 51
Winner
No. 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree
Television in the United States
Network Fox
Announcers Mike Joy
Darrell Waltrip
Larry McReynolds

Race report

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Kenny Wallace, Kyle Petty, Rick Mast, Hut Stricklin and Andy Hillenburg would fail to qualify for this race.[3][4]

Stacy Compton would be credited with a last-place finish due to engine failure on lap 116 of the 188-lap race.[3][4] All 43 of the drivers on the grid were American-born.[3] Bobby Hamilton would defeat Tony Stewart (who drove the No. 20 Pontiac for Joe Gibbs Racing at that time) by 2/10ths of a second after racing a completely caution-free race for almost three hours.[3][4][5] The last-place finisher, Compton, qualified for the pole position with a speed of 184.661 miles per hour (297.183 km/h).[3][4]

Sterling Marlin had the best car in the race but finished in 23rd place; leading 51 laps and overtaking competitors like Michael Waltrip, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Jeff Burton, and Stacy Compton.[3][4] While Marlin was the class of the field, late in the race he got shuffled back.[3][4]

This was the only time Andy Houston led a lap in a Cup race.[3][4] Mike Skinner, who finished 29th, crossed the finish line less than 4 seconds behind winner Bobby Hamilton.[3][4] Hamilton, who qualified with a speed of 182.99mph, was like most of the field which ran the 500 miles faster than their 1-lap qualification.

Despite the lack of a big crash in the crucial moments of the race, there were still some exciting parts in the race for NASCAR fans in the form of lead changes and drivers leading multiple laps. The last event to end without any caution periods was in 1999. It would be Hamilton's last win. He died 6 years later from head and neck cancer.

Entry list

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
No. Driver Team Manufacturer Sponsor
01 Jason Leffler (R) Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge Cingular Wireless
1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet Pennzoil
2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford Miller Lite
4 Kevin Lepage Morgan-McClure Motorsports Chevrolet Kodak
5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Kellogg's
6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford Viagra / Pfizer
7 Mike Wallace Ultra Motorsports Ford NationsRent
8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet Budweiser
9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge Dodgers Dealers / UAW
10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac Valvoline
11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford Ralphs Supermarkets / RedCell
12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske Racing South Ford Mobil 1
14 Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) A.J. Foyt Racing Pontiac Conseco
15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet NAPA
17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford DeWalt Power Tools
18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac Interstate Batteries
19 Casey Atwood (R) Evernham Motorsports Dodge Dodge / UAW
20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac The Home Depot
21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford Motorcraft
22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge Caterpillar
24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet DuPont / Pepsi
25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet UAW / Delphi
26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford Kmart
27 Kenny Wallace Eel River Racing Pontiac Subway
28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford Texaco / Havoline
29 Kevin Harvick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet GM Goodwrench
31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Lowe's
32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford Tide
33 Joe Nemechek Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet Oakwood Homes
36 Ken Schrader MBV Motorsports Pontiac M&M's
40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge Coors Light / Brooks & Dunn
43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge Cheerios
44 Buckshot Jones Petty Enterprises Dodge Georgia-Pacific
45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge Sprint
49 Andy Hillenburg BAM Racing Pontiac BAM Racing
50 Rick Mast Midwest Transit Racing Chevrolet Midwest Transit
51 Jeff Purvis Phoenix Racing Ford Subway
55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet Square D
66 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford Kmart Blue Light Special
71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet RealTree Camouflage
77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford Jasper Engines
88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford UPS
90 Hut Stricklin Donlavey Racing Ford Hills Bro. Coffee
92 Stacy Compton Melling Racing Dodge Kodiak
93 Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing Dodge Amoco
96 Andy Houston (R) PPI Motorsports Ford McDonald's
97 Kurt Busch (R) Roush Racing Ford Sharpie / Rubbermaid
99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford Citgo Supergard

Practice

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First practice

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Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 51.470 186.050
2 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 51.789 184.904
3 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 51.891 184.541
Official practice results

Happy hour

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Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 97 Kurt Busch (R) Roush Racing Ford 49.735 192.540
2 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 49.835 192.154
3 4 Kevin Lepage Morgan-McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 49.875 192.000
Official practice results

Qualifying

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Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time
1 92 Stacy Compton Melling Racing Dodge 51.801
2 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 51.881
3 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 52.041
4 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 52.072
5 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 52.082
6 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 52.115
7 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 52.128
8 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 52.164
9 29 Kevin Harvick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 52.183
10 33 Joe Nemechek Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 52.190
11 25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 52.232
12 31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 52.291
13 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 52.299
14 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 52.332
15 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 52.342
16 93 Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing Dodge 52.357
17 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 52.364
18 4 Kevin Lepage Morgan-McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 52.388
19 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 52.389
20 66 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 52.433
21 19 Casey Atwood (R) Evernham Motorsports Dodge 52.438
22 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 52.456
23 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 52.465
24 96 Andy Houston (R) PPI Motorsports Ford 52.479
25 01 Jason Leffler (R) Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 52.533
26 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 52.536
27 97 Kurt Busch (R) Roush Racing Ford 52.550
28 77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford 52.551
29 44 Buckshot Jones Petty Enterprises Dodge 52.588
30 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 52.626
31 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 52.641
32 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 52.656
33 51 Jeff Purvis Phoenix Racing Ford 52.683
34 26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 52.701
35 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 52.705
36 36 Ken Schrader MBV Motorsports Pontiac 52.783
Provisionals
37 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac
38 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford
39 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge
40 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford
41 12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske Racing South Ford
42 14 Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) A.J. Foyt Racing Pontiac
43 7 Mike Wallace Ultra Motorsports Ford
Did not qualify
27 Kenny Wallace Eel River Racing Pontiac 52.793
45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 52.851
50 Rick Mast Midwest Transit Racing Chevrolet 52.873
90 Hut Stricklin Donlavey Racing Ford 53.009
49 Andy Hillenburg BAM Racing Pontiac 53.091

Race results

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Pos Grid No Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points
1 14 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 188 180
2 7 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 188 175
3 27 97 Kurt Busch (R) Roush Racing Ford 188 170
4 5 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 188 165
5 30 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 188 160
6 10 33 Joe Nemechek Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 188 155
7 37 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac 188 146
8 19 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 188 147
9 43 7 Mike Wallace Ultra Motorsports Ford 188 138
10 22 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 188 139
11 31 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 188 130
12 9 29 Kevin Harvick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 188 127
13 26 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 188 129
14 32 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 188 126
15 4 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 188 123
16 29 44 Buckshot Jones Petty Enterprises Dodge 188 115
17 16 93 Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing Dodge 188 112
18 6 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 188 109
19 40 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 188 111
20 25 01 Jason Leffler (R) Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 188 103
21 24 96 Andy Houston (R) PPI Motorsports Ford 188 105
22 42 14 Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) A.J. Foyt Racing Pontiac 188 102
23 2 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 188 104
24 28 77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford 188 96
25 11 25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 188 93
26 23 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 188 85
27 13 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 188 87
28 8 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 188 84
29 12 31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 188 81
30 21 19 Casey Atwood (R) Evernham Motorsports Dodge 187 73
31 17 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 187 70
32 3 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 187 72
33 39 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 187 69
34 33 51 Jeff Purvis Phoenix Racing Ford 187 61
35 41 12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske Racing South Ford 187 58
36 34 26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 187 55
37 35 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 187 52
38 15 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 186 49
39 38 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 186 51
40 36 36 Ken Schrader MBV Motorsports Pontiac 186 48
41 20 66 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 181 45
42 18 4 Kevin Lepage Morgan-McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 158 37
43 1 92 Stacy Compton Melling Racing Dodge 116 39
Official race results

Standings after the race

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Pos Driver Points
  1 Dale Jarrett 1,345
  2 Jeff Gordon 1,200 (–145)
  3 Johnny Benson Jr. 1,195 (–150)
  3 4 Bobby Hamilton 1,175 (–170)
  1 5 Sterling Marlin 1,153 (–192)
  6 Rusty Wallace 1,137 (–208)
  2 7 Steve Park 1,109 (–236)
  8 Ricky Rudd 1,096 (–249)
  4 9 Tony Stewart 1,047 (–298)
  1 10 Bill Elliott 1,015 (–330)

References

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  1. ^ "Weather information for the 2001 Talladega 500". The Old Farmers' Almanac. Retrieved 2012-03-23.
  2. ^ "Prize purse for the 2001 Talladega 500". Fantasy Racing Cheat Sheet. Retrieved 2012-03-23.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i "2001 Talladega 500 racing information". Racing Reference. Retrieved 2012-03-23.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h "2001 Talladega 500 racing information". Race Database. Retrieved 2012-03-23.
  5. ^ "Bobby Hamilton wins 2001 Talladega 500". YouTube. Retrieved 2012-03-23.
Preceded by NASCAR Winston Cup Series Season
2001
Succeeded by