2000 goracing.com 500

File:Bristol_Motor_Speedway_map.png, the venue where the race was held.]]

The Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway, is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961. Despite its short length, Bristol is among the most popular tracks on the NASCAR schedule because of its distinct features, which include extraordinarily steep banking, an all concrete surface, two pit roads, and stadium-like seating. It has also been named one of the loudest NASCAR tracks.

• (R) denotes rookie driver.

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%" !# !Driver !Team !Make !Sponsor
1 |Steve Park |Dale Earnhardt, Inc. |Chevrolet |Pennzoil
01 |Ted Musgrave |Team SABCO |Chevrolet |BellSouth
2 |Rusty Wallace |Penske-Kranefuss Racing |Ford |Miller Lite, Harley-Davidson
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
7 |Michael Waltrip |Mattei Motorsports |Chevrolet |NationsRent
8 |Dale Earnhardt Jr. (R) |Dale Earnhardt, Inc. |Chevrolet |Budweiser, Team USA
9 |Bobby Hillin Jr. |Melling Racing |Ford |Kodiak, Cougar
10 |Johnny Benson Jr. |Tyler Jet Motorsports |Pontiac |Aaron's, RCA
11 |Brett Bodine |Brett Bodine Racing |Ford |Ralphs
12 |Jeremy Mayfield |Penske-Kranefuss Racing |Ford |Mobil 1
13 |Robby Gordon |Team Menard |Ford |Menards, Turtle Wax
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
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
43 |John Andretti |Petty Enterprises |Pontiac |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, Cooper Lighting
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, WCW
77 |Robert Pressley |Jasper Motorsports |Ford |Jasper Engines & Transmissions
85 |Carl Long |Mansion Motorsports |Ford |Mansion Motorsports
88 |Dale Jarrett |Robert Yates Racing |Ford |Quality Care Service, Ford Credit
90 |Hut Stricklin |Donlavey Racing |Ford |Hills Bros. Coffee
93 |Dave Blaney (R) |Bill Davis Racing |Pontiac |Amoco
94 |David Green |Bill Elliott Racing |Ford |McDonald's McFlurry
97 |Chad Little |Roush Racing |Ford |John Deere
99 |Jeff Burton |Roush Racing |Ford |Exide
colspan="5" |[https://frcs.pro/nascar/cup/races/entrylist/2000/bristol-motor-speedway/goracingcom-500 Official entry list]

The first practice session was held on Friday, August 25, at 12:45 PM EST. The session would last for two hours and 45 minutes.{{Cite web |date= |title=Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2000 Bristol 2 Race Info Page |url=http://jayski.thatsracin.com/next/2000/2000-bristol2.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010423032354/http://jayski.thatsracin.com/next/2000/2000-bristol2.htm |archive-date=April 23, 2001 |access-date=May 23, 2022 |website=Jayski's Silly Season Site}} Sterling Marlin of Team SABCO would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 15.332 and an average speed of {{Convert|125.150|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{Cite web |date= |title=Racin.net - 2000 goracing.com 500 Friday Practice |url=http://www.racin.net/nascar/cup/races/00/bristol/2/prac1.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010707113322/http://www.racin.net/nascar/cup/races/00/bristol/2/prac1.shtml |archive-date=July 7, 2001 |access-date=May 23, 2022 |website=The Racin' Network}}

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%" !Pos. !# !Driver !Team !Make !Time !Speed
1 |40 |Sterling Marlin |Team SABCO |Chevrolet |15.332 |125.150
2 |2 |Rusty Wallace |Penske-Kranefuss Racing |Ford |15.336 |125.117
3 |20 |Tony Stewart (R) |Joe Gibbs Racing |Pontiac |15.407 |124.540
colspan="7" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20001018225842/http://nascar.com/winstoncup/races00/goracing500/fri_practice.html Full first practice results]

The second practice session was held on Saturday, August 26, at 11:30 AM EST. The session would last for one hour and 30 minutes. Geoff Bodine of Joe Bessey Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 15.771 and an average speed of {{Convert|121.666|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{Cite web |date= |title=Racin.net - 2000 goracing.com 500 Saturday AM Practice |url=http://www.racin.net/nascar/cup/races/00/bristol/2/prac2.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010707114035/http://www.racin.net/nascar/cup/races/00/bristol/2/prac2.shtml |archive-date=July 7, 2001 |access-date=May 23, 2022 |website=The Racin' Network}}

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%" !Pos. !# !Driver !Team !Make !Time !Speed
1 |60 |Geoff Bodine |Joe Bessey Racing |Chevrolet |15.771 |121.666
2 |50 |Ricky Craven |Midwest Transit Racing |Chevrolet |15.798 |121.458
3 |27 |Mike Bliss (R) |Eel River Racing |Pontiac |15.847 |121.082
colspan="7" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20001018130936/http://www.nascar.com/winstoncup/races00/goracing500/sat_practice.html Full second practice results]

The final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, August 26, at 2:15 PM EST. The session would last for one hour. Kenny Wallace of Andy Petree Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 15.989 and an average speed of {{Convert|120.008|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{Cite web |date=August 26, 2000 |title=`Happy Hour' practice speeds from Bristol |url=http://www.thatsracin.com/00/0826/0827speeds.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010428083507/http://www.thatsracin.com/00/0826/0827speeds.htm |archive-date=April 28, 2001 |access-date=May 23, 2022 |website=ThatsRacin}}

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%" !Pos. !# !Driver !Team !Make !Time !Speed
1 |55 |Kenny Wallace |Andy Petree Racing |Chevrolet |15.989 |120.008
2 |6 |Mark Martin |Roush Racing |Ford |15.991 |119.992
3 |22 |Ward Burton |Bill Davis Racing |Pontiac |15.998 |119.940
colspan="7" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20010506064604/http://www.racin.net/nascar/cup/races/00/bristol/2/prac3.shtml Full Happy Hour practice results]

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, August 25, at 5:00 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, August 26, 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 |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=November 23, 2005 |access-date=May 4, 2022 |website=Jayski's Silly Season Site}}

Rusty Wallace of Penske-Kranefuss Racing would win the pole, setting a time of 15.292 and an average speed of {{Convert|125.477|mph|km/h}}.{{Cite web |last=Poole |first=David |date=August 25, 2000 |title=Wallace out front; some big names in the back |url=http://www.thatsracin.com/00/0826/0826bristolqual.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011205022859/http://www.thatsracin.com/00/0826/0826bristolqual.htm |archive-date=December 5, 2001 |access-date=May 23, 2022 |website=ThatsRacin |publisher=The Charlotte Observer}}

Four drivers would fail to qualify: Mike Bliss, Hut Stricklin, Carl Long, and Ricky Craven.

The race was aired live on ESPN in the United States. Jerry Punch, 1965 race winner Ned Jarrett and 1973 race winner Benny Parsons called the race from the broadcast booth. Punch filled in for regular commentator Bob Jenkins who had was covering ESPN's coverage of the Belterra Resort Indy 300 at Kentucky Speedway. Bill Weber, John Kernan and Ray Dunlap handled pit road for the television side.

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%"
colspan=3 | ESPN
colspan=2 | Booth announcers ! rowspan=2 | Pit reporters
Lap-by-lap ! Color-commentators
Jerry Punch | Ned Jarrett Benny Parsons | Bill Weber John Kernan Ray Dunlap

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Category:2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series

Category:NASCAR races at Bristol Motor Speedway

Category:August 2000 sports events in the United States

Category:2000 in sports in Tennessee