2000 Pontiac Excitement 400

File:Richmond_International_Speedway.png, 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.

• (R) denotes rookie driver.

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%" !# !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
colspan="5" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20000823022934/http://www.nascar.com/winstoncup/races00/pontiacexcitement400/entry.html Official entry list]

The first practice session was held on Friday, May 5, at 12:30 PM EST, and would last for one hour and 25 minutes.{{Cite web |date= |title=Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2000 Richmond 1 Race Info Page |url=http://www.jayski.com/next/2000/2000-richmond.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060315180032/http://www.jayski.com/next/2000/2000-richmond.htm |archive-date=March 15, 2006 |access-date=May 6, 2022 |website=Jayski's Silly Season Site}} 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 {{Convert|124.120|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{Cite web |date=May 5, 2000 |title=Winston Cup practice speeds |url=http://www.thatsracin.com/00/0506/0506speeds.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000823022505/http://www.thatsracin.com/00/0506/0506speeds.htm |archive-date=August 23, 2000 |access-date=May 6, 2022 |website=ThatsRacin}}

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%" !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
colspan="7" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20001022011717/http://www.nascar.com/winstoncup/races00/pontiacexcitement400/fri_practice.html Full first practice results]

The second practice session was held on Friday, May 5, at 3:00 PM EST, and would last for one hour and 30 minutes. 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 {{Convert|124.132|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{Cite web |date= |title=The Racin' Network - The 2000 Pontiac Excitement 400 Friday Practice 2 |url=http://www.racin.net/wcup/races/00/richmond/1/prac2.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000823022542/http://www.racin.net/wcup/races/00/richmond/1/prac2.shtml |archive-date=August 23, 2000 |access-date=May 6, 2022 |website=Racin' Network}}

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%" !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
colspan="7" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20001022024133/http://www.nascar.com/winstoncup/races00/pontiacexcitement400/fri_practice2.html Full second practice results]

The third practice session was held on Saturday, May 6, at 11:30 AM EST, and would last for one hour. Kyle Petty of Petty Enterprises would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 22.193 and an average speed of {{Convert|121.659|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{Cite web |date= |title=The Racin' Network - The 2000 Pontiac Excitement 400 Saturday Practice 1 |url=http://www.racin.net/wcup/races/00/richmond/1/prac3.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000823022530/http://www.racin.net/wcup/races/00/richmond/1/prac3.shtml |archive-date=August 23, 2000 |access-date=May 6, 2022 |website=Racin' Network}}

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%" !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
colspan="7" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20000823023154/http://www.nascar.com/winstoncup/races00/pontiacexcitement400/sat_practice.html Full third practice results]

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. Todd Bodine of LJ Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 22.224 and an average speed of {{Convert|121.490|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{Cite web |date=May 6, 2000 |title=`Happy Hour' practice speeds at Richmond |url=http://www.thatsracin.com/00/0506/0507happyhour.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000823022501/http://www.thatsracin.com/00/0506/0507happyhour.htm |archive-date=August 23, 2000 |access-date=May 6, 2022 |website=ThatsRacin}}

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%" !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
colspan="7" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20001205231000/http://www.nascar.com/winstoncup/races00/pontiacexcitement400/sat_practice2.html Full Happy Hour practice results]

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. 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.{{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}}

Rusty Wallace of Penske-Kranefuss Racing would win the pole, setting a time of 21.645 and an average speed of {{Convert|124.740|mph|km/h}}.{{Cite web |last=Poole |first=David |date=May 5, 2000 |title=Rusty Wallace wins Richmond pole |url=http://www.thatsracin.com/00/0506/0506richpole.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000817093833/http://www.thatsracin.com/00/0506/0506richpole.htm |archive-date=August 17, 2000 |access-date=May 6, 2022 |website=ThatsRacin |publisher=The Charlotte Observer}}

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

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;Drivers' Championship standings

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
! Pos ! Driver ! Points
align="left"| 10px | style="text-align:center;"| 1 | Bobby Labonte | style="text-align:center;"| 1,601
align="left"| 10px 1 | style="text-align:center;"| 2 | Ward Burton | style="text-align:center;"| 1,598 (−3)
align="left"| 10px 1 | style="text-align:center;"| 3 | Mark Martin | style="text-align:center;"| 1,568 (−33)
align="left"| 10px | style="text-align:center;"| 4 | Jeff Burton | style="text-align:center;"| 1,542 (−59)
align="left"| 10px | style="text-align:center;"| 5 | Dale Earnhardt | style="text-align:center;"| 1,523 (−78)
align="left"| 10px | style="text-align:center;"| 6 | Dale Jarrett | style="text-align:center;"| 1,470 (−131)
align="left"| 10px 1 | style="text-align:center;"| 7 | Rusty Wallace | style="text-align:center;"| 1,436 (−165)
align="left"| 10px 1 | style="text-align:center;"| 8 | Ricky Rudd | style="text-align:center;"| 1,411 (−190)
align="left"| 10px 2 | style="text-align:center;"| 9 | Jeff Gordon | style="text-align:center;"| 1,400 (−201)
align="left"| 10px 3 | style="text-align:center;"| 10 | Terry Labonte | style="text-align:center;"| 1,357 (−244)
class="sortbottom" !colspan="9"|[https://www.newspapers.com/article/tampa-bay-times-winston-cup/130997053/ Official driver's standings]

• Note: Only the first 10 positions are included for the driver standings.

{{col-end}}

{{Reflist}}

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Category:2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series

Category:NASCAR races at Richmond Raceway

Category:May 2000 sports events in the United States

Category:2000 in sports in Virginia