2001 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
01 |Jason Leffler (R) |Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates |Dodge |Cingular Wireless
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
7 |Mike Wallace |Ultra Motorsports |Ford |NationsRent
8 |Dale Earnhardt Jr. |Dale Earnhardt, Inc. |Chevrolet |Budweiser
9 |Bill Elliott |Evernham Motorsports |Dodge |Dodge
10 |Johnny Benson Jr. |MBV Motorsports |Pontiac |Valvoline
11 |Brett Bodine |Brett Bodine Racing |Ford |RedCell / Ralphs
12 |Jeremy Mayfield |Penske Racing South |Ford |Mobil 1
13 |Hermie Sadler |SCORE Motorsports |Chevrolet |Virginia Lottery
14 |Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) |A. J. Foyt Enterprises |Pontiac |Conseco
15 |Michael Waltrip |Dale Earnhardt, Inc. |Chevrolet |NAPA Auto Parts
17 |Matt Kenseth |Roush Racing |Ford |DeWalt
18 |Bobby Labonte |Joe Gibbs Racing |Pontiac |Interstate Batteries
19 |Casey Atwood (R) |Evernham Motorsports |Dodge |Dodge
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
25 |Jerry Nadeau |Hendrick Motorsports |Chevrolet |UAW-Delphi
26 |Jimmy Spencer |Haas-Carter Motorsports |Ford |Kmart
27 |Kenny Wallace |Eel River Racing |Pontiac |GEICO Direct
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 with Felix Sabates |Dodge |Coors Light
43 |John Andretti |Petty Enterprises |Dodge |Cheerios
44 |Buckshot Jones |Petty Enterprises |Dodge |Georgia-Pacific Sparkle
45 |Kyle Petty |Petty Enterprises |Dodge |Sprint PCS
50 |Rick Mast |Midwest Transit Racing |Chevrolet |Midwest Transit
55 |Bobby Hamilton |Andy Petree Racing |Chevrolet |Square D
66 |Todd Bodine |Haas-Carter Motorsports |Ford |Kmart Blue Light Special
77 |Robert Pressley |Jasper Motorsports |Ford |Jasper Engines & Transmissions
88 |Dale Jarrett |Robert Yates Racing |Ford |UPS
90 |Hut Stricklin |Donlavey Racing |Ford |Hills Brothers Coffee
92 |Stacy Compton |Melling Racing |Dodge |Kodiak
93 |Dave Blaney |Bill Davis Racing |Dodge |Amoco Ultimate
96 |Andy Houston (R) |PPI Motorsports |Ford |McDonald's
97 |Kurt Busch (R) |Roush Racing |Ford |Rubbermaid / Sharpie
99 |Jeff Burton |Roush Racing |Ford |Citgo Supergard
colspan="5" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20011210051128/http://www.nascar.com/DATA/2001/race/winston/11/entry_list.html Official entry list]

The first practice session was held on Friday, May 4, at 12:00 PM EST. The session would last for two hours.{{Cite web |date= |title=Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2001 Richmond 1 Race Info Page |url=http://jayski.thatsracin.com/next/2001/2001rir1.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020213125932/http://jayski.thatsracin.com/next/2001/2001rir1.htm |archive-date=February 13, 2002 |access-date=June 13, 2022 |website=Jayski's Silly Season Site}} Steve Park, driving for Dale Earnhardt, Inc., would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 21.580 and an average speed of {{Convert|125.116|mph|km/h}}.{{Cite web |date=May 4, 2001 |title=Winston Cup practice speeds |url=http://www.thatsracin.com/01/0505/0505practice1.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011008045930/http://www.thatsracin.com/01/0505/0505practice1.htm |archive-date=October 8, 2001 |access-date=June 13, 2022 |website=ThatsRacin}}

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%" !Pos. !# !Driver !Team !Make !Time !Speed
1 |1 |Steve Park |Dale Earnhardt, Inc. |Chevrolet |21.580 |125.116
2 |33 |Joe Nemechek |Andy Petree Racing |Chevrolet |21.593 |125.041
3 |2 |Rusty Wallace |Penske Racing |Ford |21.638 |124.780
colspan="7" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20011215043032/http://www.nascar.com/DATA/2001/race/winston/11/practice_results1.html Full first practice results]

The final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Friday, May 4, at 5:50 PM EST. The session would last for one hour and 30 minutes. Jeff Gordon, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 22.114 and an average speed of {{Convert|122.095|mph|km/h}}.{{Cite web |date=May 4, 2001 |title=Happy Hour practice speeds |url=http://www.thatsracin.com/01/0505/0505happy.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011215144826/http://www.thatsracin.com/01/0505/0505happy.htm |archive-date=December 15, 2001 |access-date=June 13, 2022 |website=ThatsRacin}}

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%" !Pos. !# !Driver !Team !Make !Time !Speed
1 |24 |Jeff Gordon |Hendrick Motorsports |Chevrolet |22.114 |122.095
2 |6 |Mark Martin |Roush Racing |Ford |22.145 |121.924
3 |88 |Dale Jarrett |Robert Yates Racing |Ford |22.169 |121.792
colspan="7" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20011025101240/http://www.nascar.com/DATA/2001/race/winston/11/practice_results2.html Full Happy Hour practice results]

Qualifying was held on Friday, May 4, at 3:30 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. 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 - 2002 Provisional/Owners Points Page |url=http://www.jayski.com/stats/2002/2002prov.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050205192304/http://www.jayski.com/stats/2002/2002prov.htm |archive-date=February 5, 2005 |access-date=March 3, 2022 |website=Jayski's Silly Season Site}}

Mark Martin, driving for Roush Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 21.667 and an average speed of {{Convert|124.613|mph|km/h}}.{{Cite web |last=Poole |first=David |date=May 4, 2001 |title=Pole run like old times for Martin |url=http://www.thatsracin.com/01/0505/0505quallede.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020111013706/http://www.thatsracin.com/01/0505/0505quallede.htm |archive-date=January 11, 2002 |access-date=June 13, 2022 |website=ThatsRacin |publisher=The Charlotte Observer}}

Three drivers would fail to qualify: Buckshot Jones, Hermie Sadler, and Hut Stricklin.

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Category:2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series

Category:NASCAR races at Richmond Raceway

Category:2001 in sports in Virginia

Category:May 2001 sports events in the United States