2003 Checker Auto Parts 500

2003 Checker Auto Parts 500 presented by Havoline
Race details
Race 34 of 36 in the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 2003 Checker Auto Parts 500 program cover, featuring Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck promoting Looney Tunes: Back In Action.
The 2003 Checker Auto Parts 500 program cover, featuring Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck promoting Looney Tunes: Back In Action.
Date November 2, 2003
Official name 16th Annual Checker Auto Parts 500 presented by Havoline
Location Avondale, Arizona, Phoenix International Raceway
Course Permanent racing facility
1 mi (1.6 km)
Distance 312 laps, 312 mi (502.115 km)
Scheduled Distance 312 laps, 312 mi (502.115 km)
Average speed 93.984 miles per hour (151.253 km/h)
Attendance 100,000
Pole position
Driver
Penske Racing South
Time 26.931
Most laps led
Driver Kurt Busch Roush Racing
Laps 98
Winner
No. 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc.
Television in the United States
Network NBC
Announcers Allen Bestwick, Benny Parsons, Wally Dallenbach Jr.
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

The 2003 Checker Auto Parts 500 presented by Havoline was the 34th stock car race of the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 16th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, November 2, 2003, before an audience of 100,000 in Avondale, Arizona at Phoenix International Raceway, a 1-mile (1.6 km) permanent low-banked tri-oval race track. The race took the scheduled 312 laps to complete. Within the final laps of the race, Dale Earnhardt, Inc. driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. would manage to defend the field on the final restart with nine to go to take his ninth career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his second and final victory of the season.[1][2] To fill out the top three, Hendrick Motorsports driver Jimmie Johnson and Penske Racing South driver Ryan Newman would finish second and third, respectively.

Heading into the penultimate race of the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season, the 2003 Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400, Roush Racing driver Matt Kenseth was considered the heavy favorite that season's driver's championship, only needing a seventh-place finish in the race to clinch the championship.[3]

Background

The layout of Phoenix International Raceway, the venue where the race was held.

Phoenix International Raceway – also known as PIR – is a one-mile, low-banked tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona. It is named after the nearby metropolitan area of Phoenix. The motorsport track opened in 1964 and currently hosts two NASCAR race weekends annually. PIR has also hosted the IndyCar Series, CART, USAC and the Rolex Sports Car Series. The raceway is currently owned and operated by International Speedway Corporation.

The raceway was originally constructed with a 2.5 mi (4.0 km) road course that ran both inside and outside of the main tri-oval. In 1991 the track was reconfigured with the current 1.51 mi (2.43 km) interior layout. PIR has an estimated grandstand seating capacity of around 67,000. Lights were installed around the track in 2004 following the addition of a second annual NASCAR race weekend.

Entry list

  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# 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
02 Brandon Ash Ash Motorsports Ford Triton Realty Partners
4 Kevin Lepage Morgan–McClure Motorsports Pontiac Kodak Perfect Touch
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
09 Mike Wallace Phoenix Racing Dodge Miccosukee Resort & Gaming
10 Johnny Benson Jr. MB2 Motorsports Pontiac Valvoline
12 Ryan Newman Penske Racing South Dodge Alltel
14 Larry Foyt (R) A. J. Foyt Enterprises Dodge Harrah's "Oh Yeah!"
15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet NAPA Auto Parts
16 Greg Biffle (R) Roush Racing Ford Grainger
17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford DeWalt
18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet Interstate Batteries, Advair
19 Jeremy Mayfield Evernham Motorsports Dodge Dodge
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, Looney Tunes: Back in Action
25 Brian Vickers Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet UAW, Delphi, Bugs Bunny
29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet GM Goodwrench
30 Steve Park Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet America Online, Daffy Duck
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 Pedigree
40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge Coors Light
41 Casey Mears (R) Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge Target
42 Jamie McMurray (R) 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
74 Tony Raines (R) BACE Motorsports Chevrolet BACE Motorsports
77 Dave Blaney Jasper Motorsports Ford Jasper Engines & Transmissions
88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford UPS, Winston Cup Victory Lap
97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford Rubbermaid, Sharpie
99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford Citgo
Official entry list

Practice

First practice

The first practice session was held on Friday, October 31, at 12:20 PM EST. The session would last for two hours.[4] Brian Vickers, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 26.882 and an average speed of 133.919 miles per hour (215.522 km/h).[5]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 25 Brian Vickers Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 26.882 133.919
2 01 Joe Nemechek MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 26.949 133.586
3 12 Ryan Newman Penske Racing South Dodge 26.983 133.417
Full first practice results

Second practice

The second practice session was held on Saturday, November 1, at 11:30 AM EST. The session would last for 45 minutes.[4] Jeff Gordon, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 27.539 and an average speed of 130.724 miles per hour (210.380 km/h).[6]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 27.539 130.724
2 12 Ryan Newman Penske Racing South Dodge 27.572 130.567
3 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 27.603 130.421
Full second practice results

Final practice

The final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, November 1, at 1:10 PM EST. The session would last for 45 minutes.[4] Jeff Burton, driving for Roush Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 27.537 and an average speed of 130.733 miles per hour (210.394 km/h).[7]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 27.537 130.733
2 16 Greg Biffle (R) Roush Racing Ford 27.541 130.714
3 25 Brian Vickers Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 27.596 130.454
Full Happy Hour practice results

Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Friday, October 31, at 4:05 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.[8]

Ryan Newman, driving for Penske Racing South, would win the pole, setting a time of 26.931 and an average speed of 133.675 miles per hour (215.129 km/h).[9]

Two drivers would fail to qualify: Derrike Cope and Brandon Ash.

Full qualifying results

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 12 Ryan Newman Penske Racing South Dodge 26.931 133.675
2 25 Brian Vickers Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 26.938 133.640
3 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 26.950 133.581
4 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 26.983 133.417
5 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Dodge 27.037 133.151
6 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 27.056 133.057
7 97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford 27.056 133.057
8 77 Dave Blaney Jasper Motorsports Ford 27.062 133.028
9 41 Casey Mears (R) Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 27.135 132.670
10 01 Joe Nemechek MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 27.147 132.611
11 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 27.148 132.607
12 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 27.161 132.543
13 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 27.173 132.484
14 38 Elliott Sadler Robert Yates Racing Ford 27.176 132.470
15 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 27.178 132.460
16 19 Jeremy Mayfield Evernham Motorsports Dodge 27.189 132.406
17 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 27.191 132.397
18 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 27.199 132.358
19 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 27.216 132.275
20 0 Ward Burton Haas CNC Racing Pontiac 27.232 132.197
21 54 Todd Bodine BelCar Motorsports Ford 27.237 132.173
22 42 Jamie McMurray (R) Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 27.246 132.130
23 09 Mike Wallace Phoenix Racing Dodge 27.246 132.130
24 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 27.251 132.105
25 16 Greg Biffle (R) Roush Racing Ford 27.253 132.096
26 23 Kenny Wallace Bill Davis Racing Dodge 27.261 132.057
27 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 27.268 132.023
28 22 Scott Wimmer Bill Davis Racing Dodge 27.275 131.989
29 7 Jimmy Spencer Ultra Motorsports Dodge 27.292 131.907
30 21 Ricky Rudd Wood Brothers Racing Ford 27.303 131.854
31 31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 27.335 131.699
32 14 Larry Foyt (R) A. J. Foyt Enterprises Dodge 27.379 131.488
33 1 John Andretti Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 27.403 131.372
34 49 Ken Schrader BAM Racing Dodge 27.407 131.353
35 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac 27.498 130.919
36 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 27.507 130.876
Provisionals
37 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 27.556 130.643
38 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Pontiac 27.657 130.166
39 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 27.677 130.072
40 74 Tony Raines (R) BACE Motorsports Chevrolet 27.670 130.105
41 30 Steve Park Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 27.702 129.954
42 43 Jeff Green Petty Enterprises Dodge 27.591 130.477
43 4 Kevin Lepage Morgan–McClure Motorsports Pontiac 27.639 130.251
Failed to qualify
44 37 Derrike Cope Quest Motor Racing Chevrolet 27.831 129.352
45 02 Brandon Ash Ash Motorsports Ford 28.669 125.571
Official qualifying results

Race results

Fin St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 11 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 312 87 running 180 $203,017
2 3 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 312 84 running 175 $173,625
3 1 12 Ryan Newman Penske Racing South Dodge 312 41 running 170 $152,625
4 7 97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford 312 98 running 170 $142,585
5 17 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 312 0 running 155 $100,925
6 37 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 312 0 running 150 $86,000
7 4 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 312 0 running 146 $111,778
8 27 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 312 0 running 142 $98,917
9 28 22 Scott Wimmer Bill Davis Racing Dodge 312 0 running 138 $95,656
10 12 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 312 0 running 134 $99,133
11 15 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 312 0 running 130 $100,000
12 22 42 Jamie McMurray (R) Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 312 0 running 127 $59,900
13 2 25 Brian Vickers Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 312 0 running 124 $58,900
14 18 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 312 0 running 121 $90,633
15 25 16 Greg Biffle (R) Roush Racing Ford 312 0 running 118 $56,130
16 33 1 John Andretti Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 312 0 running 115 $75,162
17 30 21 Ricky Rudd Wood Brothers Racing Ford 312 0 running 112 $76,875
18 6 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 312 0 running 109 $102,128
19 41 74 Tony Raines (R) BACE Motorsports Chevrolet 312 0 running 106 $53,350
20 14 38 Elliott Sadler Robert Yates Racing Ford 312 0 running 103 $89,225
21 35 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac 312 0 running 100 $79,900
22 21 54 Todd Bodine BelCar Motorsports Ford 312 0 running 97 $65,575
23 43 4 Kevin Lepage Morgan–McClure Motorsports Pontiac 312 1 running 99 $60,250
24 8 77 Dave Blaney Jasper Motorsports Ford 312 0 running 91 $68,589
25 26 23 Kenny Wallace Bill Davis Racing Dodge 312 0 running 88 $52,375
26 23 09 Mike Wallace Phoenix Racing Dodge 312 0 running 85 $48,450
27 34 49 Ken Schrader BAM Racing Dodge 312 0 running 82 $51,625
28 32 14 Larry Foyt (R) A. J. Foyt Enterprises Dodge 312 0 running 79 $49,200
29 39 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 312 0 running 76 $93,853
30 19 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 310 0 running 73 $77,706
31 10 01 Joe Nemechek MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 310 0 running 70 $50,925
32 31 31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 310 0 running 67 $75,862
33 5 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Dodge 305 0 running 64 $85,217
34 13 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 297 0 running 61 $86,603
35 36 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 280 0 engine 58 $55,300
36 24 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 267 0 running 55 $92,233
37 42 43 Jeff Green Petty Enterprises Dodge 266 0 engine 52 $82,803
38 38 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Pontiac 207 1 crash 54 $54,900
39 40 30 Steve Park Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 206 0 crash 46 $54,775
40 29 7 Jimmy Spencer Ultra Motorsports Dodge 167 0 crash 0 $46,625
41 20 0 Ward Burton Haas CNC Racing Pontiac 167 0 crash 40 $47,185
42 9 41 Casey Mears (R) Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 117 0 engine 37 $54,350
43 16 19 Jeremy Mayfield Evernham Motorsports Dodge 32 0 engine 34 $54,471
Failed to qualify
44 37 Derrike Cope Quest Motor Racing Chevrolet
45 02 Brandon Ash Ash Motorsports Ford
Official race results

References

  1. ^ Poole, David (November 2, 2003). "It wasn't Alabama, but it was a win for Earnhardt Jr., 8 team". That's Racin'. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on March 28, 2004. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  2. ^ Harris, Mike (November 3, 2003). "Timely victory for Junior". The Times. p. 22. Retrieved October 4, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ Harris, Mike (November 9, 2003). "Kenseth can wrap up title today". The Macon Telegraph. p. 41. Retrieved March 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  4. ^ a b c d "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2003 Phoenix Race Info Page". That's Racin'. Archived from the original on December 4, 2003. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  5. ^ "NASCAR.com - Races - 2003 Phoenix Practice 1 Results". NASCAR. Archived from the original on February 14, 2004. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  6. ^ "Gordon, Newman and Biffle out front in first practice". That's Racin'. November 1, 2003. Archived from the original on March 28, 2004. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  7. ^ "Jeff Burton, Biffle, Vickers at top of speed chart in final practice". That's Racin'. November 1, 2003. Archived from the original on March 28, 2004. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  8. ^ "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.
  9. ^ Poole, David (October 31, 2003). "Newman edges Vickers for polein Sunday's race at Phoenix". That's Racin'. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on March 28, 2004. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
Previous race:
2003 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 (October) 		NASCAR Winston Cup Series
2003 season 		Next race:
2003 Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400