2001 Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400

North Carolina Speedway was opened as a flat, one-mile oval on October 31, 1965. In 1969, the track was extensively reconfigured to a high-banked, D-shaped oval just over one mile in length. In 1997, North Carolina Motor Speedway merged with Penske Motorsports, and was renamed North Carolina Speedway. Shortly thereafter, the infield was reconfigured, and competition on the infield road course, mostly by the SCCA, was discontinued. Currently, the track is home to the Fast Track High Performance Driving School.{{cite web |date= |title=Fast Track High Performance Driving School, Inc |url=http://www.fasttrackracing.com/ |accessdate=2012-07-16 |publisher=Fasttrackracing.com}}

• (R) denotes rookie driver.

The first practice session was held on Friday, November 2, at 11:20 AM EST. The session lasted for two hours.{{Cite web |date= |title=Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2001 Rockingham 2 Race Info Page |url=http://jayski.thatsracin.com/next/2001/2001rock2.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020213132515/http://jayski.thatsracin.com/next/2001/2001rock2.htm |archive-date=February 13, 2002 |access-date=August 3, 2022 |website=Jayski's Silly Season Site}} Casey Atwood, driving for Evernham Motorsports, set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 23.848 and an average speed of {{Convert|153.522|mph|km/h}}.{{Cite web |date= |title=NASCAR - 2001 Rockingham 2 Practice 1 Results |url=http://www.nascar.com/DATA/2001/race/winston/33/practice_results1.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011204182135/http://www.nascar.com/DATA/2001/race/winston/33/practice_results1.html |archive-date=December 4, 2001 |access-date=August 3, 2022 |website=NASCAR}}

The second session was held on Saturday, November 3, at 10:15 AM EST. The session lasted for 45 minutes. Rusty Wallace, driving for Penske Racing South, set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 24.455 and an average speed of {{Convert|149.773|mph|km/h}}.{{Cite web |date=November 3, 2001 |title=Speeds from Saturday's first practice |url=http://www.thatsracin.com/01/1104/1104speeds1.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020111011756/http://www.thatsracin.com/01/1104/1104speeds1.htm |archive-date=January 11, 2002 |access-date=August 3, 2022 |website=ThatsRacin}}

The final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, November 3, at 12:00 PM EST. The session lasted 45 minutes. Jeff Burton, driving for Roush Racing, set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 24.475 and an average speed of {{Convert|149.589|mph|km/h}}.{{Cite web |date=November 3, 2001 |title=Saturday's final practice speeds |url=http://thatsracin.com/01/1104/1104speeds2.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011120101750/http://thatsracin.com/01/1104/1104speeds2.htm |archive-date=November 20, 2001 |access-date=August 3, 2022 |website=ThatsRacin}}

Qualifying was held on Friday, November 2, at 3:05 PM EST. Each driver had two laps to set a fastest time; the fastest of the two counted as their official qualifying lap. Positions 1-36 were be decided on time, while positions 37-43 were be based on provisionals. Six spots were awarded by the use of provisionals based on owner's points. The seventh was awarded to a past champion who has not otherwise qualified for the race. If no past champ needed the provisional, the next team in the owner points would 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}}

Kenny Wallace, driving for Dale Earnhardt, Inc., won the pole, setting a time of 23.668 and an average speed of {{Convert|154.690|mph|km/h}}.{{Cite web |last=Poole |first=David |date=November 2, 2001 |title=Kenny Wallace wins the pole at Rockingham |url=http://www.thatsracin.com/01/1104/1103polelede.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020111013836/http://www.thatsracin.com/01/1104/1103polelede.htm |archive-date=January 11, 2002 |access-date=August 3, 2022 |website=ThatsRacin |publisher=The Charlotte Observer}}

Rick Mast was the only driver to fail to qualify.

*Time not available.

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{{2001 Winston Cup}}

Category:2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series

Category:NASCAR races at Rockingham Speedway

Category:November 2001 sports events in the United States

Category:2001 in sports in North Carolina