2000 CarsDirect.com 400
{{Short description|Third race of the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox NASCAR race report|Type=NASWINSTON|Location=North Las Vegas, Nevada, Las Vegas Motor Speedway|Distance_mi=222|Pole_Time=31.293|Course_mi=1.5|Course_km=2.41|Scheduled_km=644.542|Distance_km=357.272|Scheduled_mi=400.5|Distance_laps=148|Scheduled_laps=267|Year=2000|Race_Name=CarsDirect.com 400|Official_name=Third Annual CarsDirect.com 400|Race_No=3|Season_No=34|Radio=Motor Racing Network|Date=March 5|Network=ABC|Announcers=Bob Jenkins, Benny Parsons, Ray Evernham|Car=99|Pole_Team=Robert Yates Racing|Most_Driver=Jeff Burton|First_Team=Roush Racing|First_Driver=Jeff Burton|Most_Team=Roush Racing|Most_laps=56|Pole_Driver=Ricky Rudd|Avg={{convert|119.982|mph|km/h}}|Image=2000 CarsDirect.com 400 program cover.jpg|Caption=The 2000 CarsDirect.com 400 program cover.}}
The 2000 CarsDirect.com 400 was the third stock car race of the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the third iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, March 5, 2000, in North Las Vegas, Nevada at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, a {{Convert|1.5|mi|km}} permanent D-shaped oval racetrack. The race was decreased from 267 to 148 laps due to inclement weather. At race's end, Jeff Burton, driving for Roush Racing, took the lead away from teammate Mark Martin, and lead the final 13 laps before the race would get canceled from rain. This was Burton's 12th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series win and his first of the season.{{Cite web |last=Poole |first=David |date=2000-03-05 |title=Burton makes another splash in the rain |url=http://www.thatsracin.com/00/0305/0306400lede.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000407204450/http://www.thatsracin.com/00/0305/0306400lede.htm |archive-date=2000-04-07 |access-date=2022-05-04 |website=ThatsRacin}} To fill out the podium, Tony Stewart of Joe Gibbs Racing and Mark Martin of Roush Racing would finish second and third, respectively.
Background
File:Las Vegas Motor Speedway diagram.svg, the circuit where the race was held.]]
Las Vegas Motor Speedway, located in Clark County, Nevada in Las Vegas, Nevada about 15 miles northeast of the Las Vegas Strip, is a {{convert|1200|acre|abbr=on|adj=on}} complex of multiple tracks for motorsports racing. The complex is owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., which is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.
= Entry list =
- (R) - denotes rookie driver
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
!# !Driver !Team !Make !Sponsor |
| 1 |
| 2
|Ford |
| 3 |
| 4 |
| 5 |
| 6
|Ford |
| 7 |
| 8
|Dale Earnhardt Jr. (R) |
| 9
|Stacy Compton (R) |Ford |
| 10 |
| 11
|Ford |
| 12
|Ford |
| 13
|Ford |
| 14
|Mike Bliss (R) |
| 15
|Ford |
| 16
|Ford |
| 17
|Matt Kenseth (R) |Ford |
| 18 |
| 20 |
| 21
|Ford |
| 22 |
| 24 |
| 25 |
| 26
|Ford |
| 27
|Jeff Fuller (R) |
| 28
|Ford |
| 31 |
| 32
|Scott Pruett (R) |Ford |Tide |
| 33 |
| 36 |
| 40 |
| 41
|Big Daddy's |
| 42 |
| 43 |
| 44 |
| 50 |
| 55 |
| 60 |
| 66
|Ford |
| 71 |
| 75
|Ford |WCW |
| 77
|Ford |
| 88
|Ford |
| 89 |
| 90
|Ford |
| 93
|Dave Blaney (R) |
| 94
|Ford |
| 97
|Ford |
| 99
|Ford |
| colspan="5" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20000823022346/http://www.nascar.com/winstoncup/races00/carsdirect400/entry.html Official entry list] |
|---|
Practice
= First practice =
The first practice session was held on Friday, March 3, at 10:00 AM PST, and would last for three hours and 55 minutes.{{Cite web |date= |title=Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2000 Las Vegas Race Info Page |url=https://www.jayski.com/next/2000/2000-vegas.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050205232224/https://www.jayski.com/next/2000/2000-vegas.htm |archive-date=2005-02-05 |access-date=2022-05-04 |website=Jayski's Silly Season Site}} Dale Earnhardt Jr. of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 31.548 and an average speed of {{Convert|171.167|mph|km/h}}.{{Cite web |date= |title=Winston Cup practice speeds |url=http://www.thatsracin.com/00/0305/0304practice.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000408175633/http://www.thatsracin.com/00/0305/0304practice.htm |archive-date=2000-04-08 |access-date=2022-05-03 |website=ThatsRacin}}
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
!Pos. !# !Driver !Team !Make !Time !Speed |
| 1
|8 |Dale Earnhardt Jr. (R) |31.548 |171.167 |
|---|
| 2
|12 |Ford |31.710 |170.293 |
| 3
|1 |31.737 |170.148 |
| colspan="7" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20001021115812/http://www.nascar.com/winstoncup/races00/carsdirect400/fri_practice.html Full first practice results] |
= Second practice =
The second practice session was held on Saturday, March 4, at 9:00 AM PST, and would last for one hour and 30 minutes. Ed Berrier of Donlavey Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 32.515 and an average speed of {{Convert|166.077|mph|km/h}}.
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
!Pos. !# !Driver !Team !Make !Time !Speed |
| 1
|90 |Ford |32.515 |166.077 |
|---|
| 2
|93 |Dave Blaney (R) |32.549 |165.903 |
| 3
|6 |Ford |32.571 |165.791 |
| colspan="7" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20000823022408/http://www.nascar.com/winstoncup/races00/carsdirect400/sat_practice.html Full second practice results] |
= Final practice =
The final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, March 4, at 4:15 PM PST. Mark Martin of Roush Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 32.535 and an average speed of {{Convert|165.975|mph|km/h}}.{{Cite web |date= |title=Happy Hour practice speeds |url=http://www.thatsracin.com/00/0305/0305happy.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000817125527/http://www.thatsracin.com/00/0305/0305happy.htm |archive-date=2000-08-17 |access-date=2022-05-04 |website=ThatsRacin}}
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
!Pos. !# !Driver !Team !Make !Time !Speed |
| 1
|6 |Ford |32.535 |165.975 |
|---|
| 2
|12 |Ford |32.562 |165.837 |
| 3
|99 |Ford |32.618 |165.552 |
| colspan="7" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20000823022404/http://www.nascar.com/winstoncup/races00/carsdirect400/sat_practice2.html Full Happy Hour practice results] |
Qualifying
Qualifying was held on Friday, March 3, at 2:00 PM PST. Each driver would have one lap to set a fastest time; and that lap would count as their official qualifying lap. 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.{{Cite web |date= |title=Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2000 Provisional Start Status |url=http://www.jayski.com/stats/2000/2000prov.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051123054225/http://www.jayski.com/stats/2000/2000prov.htm |archive-date=2005-11-23 |access-date=2022-05-04 |website=Jayski's Silly Season Site}}
Ricky Rudd of Robert Yates Racing would win the pole, setting a time of 31.293 and an average speed of {{Convert|172.563|mph|km/h}}.{{Cite web |last=Poole |first=David |title=Rudd, Pruett stem tide of front-row challengers |url=http://www.thatsracin.com/00/0305/0304webqual.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000817130934/http://www.thatsracin.com/00/0305/0304webqual.htm |archive-date=2000-08-17 |access-date=2022-05-04 |website=ThatsRacin'}}
Six drivers would fail to qualify: Rick Mast, Mike Bliss, Ed Berrier, Brett Bodine, Dave Marcis, and Austin Cameron.
= Full qualifying results =
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
!Pos. !# !Driver !Team !Make !Time !Speed |
| 1
|28 |Ford |31.293 |172.563 |
|---|
| 2
|32 |Scott Pruett (R) |Ford |31.326 |172.381 |
| 3
|8 |Dale Earnhardt Jr. (R) |31.356 |172.216 |
| 4
|18 |31.429 |171.816 |
| 5
|6 |Ford |31.460 |171.647 |
| 6
|88 |Ford |31.553 |171.141 |
| 7
|7 |31.579 |171.000 |
| 8
|10 |31.588 |170.951 |
| 9
|25 |31.646 |170.638 |
| 10
|24 |31.659 |170.568 |
| 11
|99 |Ford |31.663 |170.546 |
| 12
|13 |Ford |31.713 |170.277 |
| 13
|77 |Ford |31.716 |170.261 |
| 14
|16 |Ford |31.720 |170.240 |
| 15
|12 |Ford |31.727 |170.202 |
| 16
|20 |31.731 |170.181 |
| 17
|21 |Ford |31.746 |170.100 |
| 18
|33 |31.752 |170.068 |
| 19
|2 |Ford |31.766 |169.993 |
| 20
|31 |31.779 |169.924 |
| 21
|17 |Matt Kenseth (R) |Ford |31.781 |169.913 |
| 22
|27 |Jeff Fuller (R) |31.791 |169.859 |
| 23
|1 |31.800 |169.811 |
| 24
|5 |31.865 |169.465 |
| 25
|42 |31.920 |169.173 |
| 26
|15 |Ford |31.965 |168.935 |
| 27
|97 |Ford |31.981 |168.850 |
| 28
|60 |31.981 |168.850 |
| 29
|50 |31.986 |168.824 |
| 30
|40 |31.987 |168.819 |
| 31
|4 |31.988 |168.813 |
| 32
|9 |Stacy Compton (R) |Ford |32.080 |168.329 |
| 33
|3 |32.081 |168.324 |
| 34
|36 |32.092 |168.266 |
| 35
|26 |Ford |32.100 |168.224 |
| 36
|93 |Dave Blaney (R) |32.121 |168.114 |
| colspan="7" |Provisionals |
| 37
|22 |— |— |
| 38
|43 |— |— |
| 39
|94 |Ford |— |— |
| 40
|55 |— |— |
| 41
|44 |— |— |
| 42
|75 |Ford |— |— |
| 43
|66 |Ford |— |— |
| colspan="7" |Failed to qualify |
| 44
|41 |32.406 |166.636 |
| 45
|14 |Mike Bliss (R) |32.525 |166.026 |
| 46
|90 |Ford |32.728 |164.996 |
| 47
|11 |Ford |32.972 |163.775 |
| 48
|71 |33.291 |162.206 |
| 49
|89 |33.571 |160.853 |
| colspan="7" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20000815194734/http://www.nascar.com/winstoncup/races00/carsdirect400/grid.html Official qualifying results] |
Race results
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
!Fin !St !# !Driver !Team !Make !Laps !Led !Status !Pts |
| 1
|11 |99 |Jeff Burton |Roush Racing |Ford |148 |56 |Running |185 |
|---|
| 2
|16 |20 |Tony Stewart |Joe Gibbs Racing |Pontiac |148 |0 |Running |170 |
| 3
|5 |6 |Mark Martin |Roush Racing |Ford |148 |33 |Running |170 |
| 4
|39 |94 |Bill Elliott |Bill Elliott Racing |Ford |148 |0 |Running |160 |
| 5
|4 |18 |Bobby Labonte |Joe Gibbs Racing |Pontiac |148 |0 |Running |155 |
| 6
|8 |10 |Johnny Benson Jr. |Tyler Jet Motorsports |Pontiac |148 |0 |Running |150 |
| 7
|6 |88 |Dale Jarrett |Robert Yates Racing |Ford |148 |0 |Running |146 |
| 8
|33 |3 |Dale Earnhardt |Richard Childress Racing |Chevrolet |148 |0 |Running |142 |
| 9
|18 |33 |Joe Nemechek |Andy Petree Racing |Chevrolet |148 |0 |Running |138 |
| 10
|3 |8 |Dale Earnhardt Jr. (R) |Dale Earnhardt, Inc. |Chevrolet |148 |42 |Running |139 |
| 11
|14 |16 |Kevin Lepage |Roush Racing |Ford |148 |0 |Running |130 |
| 12
|1 |28 |Ricky Rudd |Robert Yates Racing |Ford |148 |1 |Running |132 |
| 13
|12 |13 |Robby Gordon |Team Menard |Ford |148 |8 |Running |129 |
| 14
|21 |17 |Matt Kenseth (R) |Roush Racing |Ford |148 |0 |Running |121 |
| 15
|19 |2 |Rusty Wallace |Penske-Kranefuss Racing |Ford |148 |0 |Running |118 |
| 16
|34 |36 |Ken Schrader |MB2 Motorsports |Pontiac |148 |0 |Running |115 |
| 17
|15 |12 |Jeremy Mayfield |Penske-Kranefuss Racing |Ford |148 |0 |Running |112 |
| 18
|30 |40 |Sterling Marlin |Team SABCO |Chevrolet |148 |0 |Running |109 |
| 19
|27 |97 |Chad Little |Roush Racing |Ford |148 |0 |Running |106 |
| 20
|9 |25 |Jerry Nadeau |Hendrick Motorsports |Chevrolet |147 |0 |Running |103 |
| 21
|13 |77 |Robert Pressley |Jasper Motorsports |Ford |147 |0 |Running |100 |
| 22
|36 |93 |Dave Blaney (R) |Bill Davis Racing |Pontiac |147 |0 |Running |97 |
| 23
|37 |22 |Ward Burton |Bill Davis Racing |Pontiac |147 |0 |Running |94 |
| 24
|25 |42 |Kenny Irwin Jr. |Team SABCO |Chevrolet |147 |0 |Running |91 |
| 25
|38 |43 |John Andretti |Petty Enterprises |Pontiac |147 |0 |Running |88 |
| 26
|28 |60 |Ted Musgrave |Joe Bessey Racing |Chevrolet |147 |0 |Running |85 |
| 27
|20 |31 |Mike Skinner |Richard Childress Racing |Chevrolet |147 |0 |Running |82 |
| 28
|10 |24 |Jeff Gordon |Hendrick Motorsports |Chevrolet |147 |0 |Running |79 |
| 29
|41 |44 |Kyle Petty |Petty Enterprises |Pontiac |147 |6 |Running |81 |
| 30
|35 |26 |Jimmy Spencer |Haas-Carter Motorsports |Ford |147 |0 |Running |73 |
| 31
|24 |5 |Terry Labonte |Hendrick Motorsports |Chevrolet |147 |0 |Running |70 |
| 32
|32 |9 |Stacy Compton (R) |Melling Racing |Ford |147 |0 |Running |67 |
| 33
|7 |7 |Michael Waltrip |Mattei Motorsports |Chevrolet |147 |0 |Running |64 |
| 34
|31 |4 |Bobby Hamilton |Morgan–McClure Motorsports |Chevrolet |146 |0 |Running |61 |
| 35
|42 |75 |Wally Dallenbach Jr. |Galaxy Motorsports |Ford |146 |0 |Running |58 |
| 36
|22 |27 |Jeff Fuller (R) |Eel River Racing |Pontiac |146 |0 |Running |55 |
| 37
|26 |15 |Derrike Cope |Fenley-Moore Motorsports |Ford |146 |0 |Running |52 |
| 38
|43 |66 |Darrell Waltrip |Haas-Carter Motorsports |Ford |146 |2 |Running |54 |
| 39
|40 |55 |Kenny Wallace |Andy Petree Racing |Chevrolet |146 |0 |Running |46 |
| 40
|29 |50 |Ricky Craven |Midwest Transit Racing |Chevrolet |145 |0 |Running |43 |
| 41
|17 |21 |Elliott Sadler |Wood Brothers Racing |Ford |145 |0 |Running |40 |
| 42
|2 |32 |Scott Pruett (R) |PPI Motorsports |Ford |143 |0 |Running |37 |
| 43
|23 |1 |Steve Park |Dale Earnhardt, Inc. |Chevrolet |92 |0 |Engine |34 |
| colspan="10" |Failed to qualify |
| 44
! rowspan="6" | |41 |Rick Mast |Larry Hedrick Motorsports |Chevrolet ! colspan="4" rowspan="6" | |
| 45
|14 |Mike Bliss (R) |A. J. Foyt Racing |Pontiac |
| 46
|90 |Ed Berrier |Donlavey Racing |Ford |
| 47
|11 |Brett Bodine |Brett Bodine Racing |Ford |
| 48
|71 |Dave Marcis |Marcis Auto Racing |Chevrolet |
| 49
|89 |Austin Cameron |AC Motorsports |Chevrolet |
| colspan="10" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20001206055400/http://nascar.com/winstoncup/races00/carsdirect400/race_un.html Official race results] |
Media
=Television=
The race was aired live on ABC in the United States for the third and final time. Bob Jenkins, 1973 Cup Series champion Benny Parsons and former crew chief Ray Evernham called the race from the broadcast booth. Jerry Punch, Bill Weber and John Kernan handled pit road for the television side.
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%" |
| colspan=3 | ABC |
|---|
| colspan=2 | Booth announcers
! rowspan=2 | Pit reporters |
| Lap-by-lap
! Color-commentators |
| Bob Jenkins |
References
{{NASCAR next race|Previous_race=2000 Dura Lube/Kmart 400|Series=NASCAR Winston Cup Series|Next_race=2000 Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 500|Monsteryear=2000}}{{NASCAR on ESPN}}{{2000 Winston Cup}}