Login
Login

2001 Protection One 400

{{short description|Auto race held at Kansas Speedway in 2001}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}

{{Infobox NASCAR race report

| Type = NASWINSTON

| Description =

| Race Name = Protection One 400

| Details ref =

| Fulldate = {{Start date|2001|9|30}}

| Year = 2001

| Race_No = 28

| Season_No = 36

| Image = 2001_Protection_One_400_program_cover.png

| Caption = 2001 Protection One 400 program cover

| Location = Kansas Speedway, Kansas City, Kansas

| Course_mi = 1.5

| Course_km = 2.4

| Distance_laps = 267

| Distance_mi = 400

| Distance_km = 644.542

| Weather = Mild with temperatures of {{convert|73.9|F|C}}; wind speeds of {{convert|7|mph|km/h}}[http://www.almanac.com/weather/history/zipcode/66111/2001-09-30 Weather information for the 2001 Protection One 400] at The Old Farmers' Almanac. Accessed 2013-07-10. 2013-07-13.

| Avg = {{convert|110.576|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}

| Pole_Driver = Jason Leffler

| Pole_Team = Chip Ganassi Racing

| Pole_Time =30.595

| Most_Driver = Rusty Wallace

| Most_Team = Penske Racing

| Most_laps = 117

| Car = 24

| First_Driver = Jeff Gordon

| First_Team = Hendrick Motorsports

| Network = NBC

| Announcers = Allen Bestwick, Benny Parsons, Wally Dallenbach Jr.

| Ratings = 4.7{{cite web|url=http://www.jayski.com/pages/tvratings2001.htm|title=TV RATINGS 2001|work=Jayski's Silly Season Site|access-date=2013-12-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910010508/http://www.jayski.com/pages/tvratings2001.htm|archive-date=2015-09-10|url-status=dead}}

}}

The 2001 Protection One 400 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series stock car race held on September 30, 2001, at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas. The race was the 28th of the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season. The race was the inaugural Cup race held at the {{convert|1.5|mi|km|adj=on}} track.{{cite web|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/motorsports/nascar_plus/news/2001/09/26/waag_kansas/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010928221338/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/motorsports/nascar_plus/news/2001/09/26/waag_kansas/|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 28, 2001|title=NASCAR set to debut at Kansas Speedway|work=CNN Sports Illustrated|date=2001-09-26|access-date=2013-07-01}} Jason Leffler from Chip Ganassi Racing won his first career pole position with a qualifying speed of {{convert|176.499|mi/h}}. Penske Racing's Rusty Wallace led the most laps with 117, while Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports won the race.

Due to the September 11 attacks happening earlier in the month, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered a no-fly zone, prohibiting aircraft from flying within three miles of any sporting event area, which also includes an altitude of 300 feet. To increase security, coolers and large bags were banned from the track, At the same time, other items like purses and binoculars were subject to inspection. Meanwhile, in the sense of patriotism after the attacks, Sterling Marlin ran a "God Bless America" paint scheme, which had not been prepared in time for the 2001 MBNA Cal Ripken Jr. 400 the week before. To support victims of the attacks, Marlin's sponsor Coors Brewing Company donated $10 for every lap completed at the race by Marlin.{{cite web|url=http://www.jayski.com/next/2001/2001kansas.htm|title=2001 Protection One 400|work=Jayski's Silly Season Site|access-date=2013-07-01}}

Entry list

class="wikitable"

!Car{{Cite web|title=2001 Nascar Cup Series Protection One 400 {{!}} Motorsport Stats|url=https://results.motorsportstats.com/results/2001-protection-one-400|access-date=2021-06-22|website=results.motorsportstats.com}}

!Driver

!Team

!Manufacturer

!Sponsor

1

|Kenny Wallace

|Dale Earnhardt, Inc.

|Chevrolet

|Pennzoil

01

|Jason Leffler

|Chip Ganassi Racing

|Dodge

|Cingular Wireless

2

|Rusty Wallace

|Penske Racing South

|Ford

|Miller Lite

02

|Ryan Newman

|Penske Racing South

|Ford

|Alltel

4

|Kevin Lepage

|Morgan–McClure Motorsports

|Pontiac

|Kodak

5

|Terry Labonte

|Hendrick Motorsports

|Chevrolet

|Kellogg's

6

|Mark Martin

|Roush Racing

|Ford

|Viagra / Pfizer

7

|Mike Wallace

|Ultra Motorsports

|Ford

|NationsRent

8

|Dale Earnhardt Jr.

|Dale Earnhardt, Inc.

|Chevrolet

|Budweiser

9

|Bill Elliott

|Evernham Motorsports

|Dodge

|Dodge Dealers / UAW

10

|Johnny Benson Jr.

|MBV Motorsports

|Pontiac

|Valvoline MaxLife

11

|Brett Bodine

|Brett Bodine Racing

|Ford

|Ralph's

12

|Jeremy Mayfield

|Penske Racing South

|Ford

|Mobil 1

14

|Ron Hornaday Jr.

|A.J. Foyt Racing

|Chevrolet

|Conseco

15

|Michael Waltrip

|Dale Earnhardt, Inc.

|Chevrolet

|NAPA Auto Parts "We Keep America Running"

17

|Matt Kenseth

|Roush Racing

|Ford

|DeWalt

18

|Bobby Labonte

|Joe Gibbs Racing

|Pontiac

|Interstate Batteries

19

|Casey Atwood

|Evernham Motorsports

|Dodge

|Dodge Dealers / UAW

20

|Tony Stewart

|Joe Gibbs Racing

|Toyota

|Home Depot

21

|Elliott Sadler

|Wood Brothers Racing

|Ford

|Motorcraft

22

|Ward Burton

|Bill Davis Racing

|Pontiac

|Caterpillar

24

|Jeff Gordon

|Hendrick Motorsports

|Chevrolet

|DuPont Automotive

25

|Jerry Nadeau

|Hendrick Motorsports

|Chevrolet

|UAW-Delphi

26

|Jimmy Spencer

|Haas-Carter Motorsports

|Ford

|Kmart

27

|Rick Mast

|Eel River Racing

|Pontiac

|Save-A-Lot

28

|Ricky Rudd

|Robert Yates Racing

|Ford

|Texaco / Havoline

29

|Kevin Harvick

|Richard Childress Racing

|Chevrolet

|GM Goodwrench

31

|Robby Gordon

|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

|MB2 Motorsports

|Pontiac

|Pedigree

40

|Sterling Marlin

|Chip Ganassi Racing

|Dodge

|Proud to be an American

43

|John Andretti

|Petty Enterprises

|Dodge

|Cheerios

44

|Buckshot Jones

|Petty Enterprises

|Dodge

|Georgia-Pacific

45

|Kyle Petty

|Petty Enterprises

|Ford

|Sprint

55

|Bobby Hamilton

|Andy Petree Racing

|Chevrolet

|Square D

57

|Derrike Cope

|Team CLR

|Ford

|CLR

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 "We Want to Race the Truck"

90

|Hut Stricklin

|Donlavey Racing

|Ford

|Hills Brothers Coffee

92

|Stacy Compton

|Melling Racing

|Dodge

|Kodiak

93

|Dave Blaney

|Bill Davis Racing

|Dodge

|Amoco

96

|Andy Houston

|PPI Motorsports

|Ford

|McDonald's

97

|Kurt Busch

|Roush Racing

|Ford

|Sharpie / Rubbermaid

99

|Jeff Burton

|Roush Racing

|Ford

|Citgo Supergard

Qualifying

class="wikitable"

|+

!Pos.{{Cite web|date=2001-09-28|title=Starting line up: Kansas.|url=https://www.crash.net/nascar/news/85266/1/starting-line-up-kansas|access-date=2021-06-22|website=Crash|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=rpm.espn.com: Protection One 400 lineup|url=https://www.espn.com/rpm/wc/2001/0928/1256608.html|access-date=2021-06-22|website=www.espn.com}}

!Car

!Driver

!Manufacturer

!Time

!Avg. Speed (mph)

1

|01

|Jason Leffler

|Dodge

|30.595

|176.499

2

|24

|Jeff Gordon

|Chevrolet

|30.629

|176.304

3

|9

|Bill Elliott

|Dodge

|30.638

|176.252

4

|92

|Stacy Compton

|Dodge

|30.656

|176.148

5

|19

|Casey Atwood

|Dodge

|30.684

|175.987

6

|10

|Johnny Benson Jr.

|Pontiac

|30.707

|175.856

7

|20

|Tony Stewart

|Pontiac

|30.753

|175.593

8

|28

|Ricky Rudd

|Ford

|30.757

|175.570

9

|32

|Ricky Craven

|Ford

|30.772

|175.484

10

|18

|Bobby Labonte

|Pontiac

|30.802

|175.313

11

|2

|Rusty Wallace

|Ford

|30.829

|175.160

12

|43

|John Andretti

|Dodge

|30.830

|175.154

13

|17

|Matt Kenseth

|Ford

|30.838

|175.109

14

|26

|Jimmy Spencer

|Ford

|30.854

|175.018

15

|29

|Kevin Harvick

|Chevrolet

|30.862

|174.972

16

|96

|Andy Houston

|Ford

|30.884

|174.848

17

|02

|Ryan Newman

|Ford

|30.884

|174.848

18

|88

|Dale Jarrett

|Ford

|30.892

|174.803

19

|40

|Sterling Marlin

|Dodge

|30.892

|174.803

20

|5

|Terry Labonte

|Chevrolet

|30.908

|174.712

21

|93

|Dave Blaney

|Dodge

|30.943

|174.514

22

|8

|Dale Earnhardt Jr.

|Chevrolet

|30.950

|174.475

23

|6

|Mark Martin

|Ford

|30.950

|174.475

24

|55

|Bobby Hamilton

|Chevrolet

|30.985

|174.278

25

|25

|Jerry Nadeau

|Chevrolet

|30.990

|174.250

26

|99

|Jeff Burton

|Ford

|30.991

|174.244

27

|66

|Todd Bodine

|Ford

|31.000

|174.194

28

|36

|Ken Schrader

|Pontiac

|31.045

|173.941

29

|7

|Mike Wallace

|Ford

|31.048

|173.924

30

|57

|Derrike Cope

|Ford

|31.092

|173.678

31

|4

|Kevin Lepage

|Chevrolet

|31.099

|173.639

32

|21

|Elliott Sadler

|Ford

|31.100

|173.633

33

|44

|Buckshot Jones

|Dodge

|31.133

|173.449

34

|31

|Robby Gordon

|Chevrolet

|31.142

|173.399

35

|1

|Kenny Wallace

|Chevrolet

|31.156

|173.321

36

|22

|Ward Burton

|Dodge

|31.167

|173.260

colspan="6" |Provisionals
37

|77

|Robert Pressley

|Ford

|0.000

|0.000

38

|12

|Jeremy Mayfield

|Ford

|0.000

|0.000

39

|33

|Joe Nemechek

|Chevrolet

|0.000

|0.000

40

|97

|Kurt Busch

|Ford

|0.000

|0.000

41

|15

|Michael Waltrip

|Chevrolet

|0.000

|0.000

42

|11

|Brett Bodine

|Ford

|0.000

|0.000

43

|90

|Hut Stricklin

|Ford

|0.000

|0.000

colspan="6" |Failed to qualify
44

|27

|Rick Mast

|Pontiac

|31.187

|173.149

45

|45

|Kyle Petty

|Dodge

|31.208

|173.033

46

|14

|Ron Hornaday Jr.

|Pontiac

|31.344

|172.282

Race recap

The race was filled with caution flags; the first caution flag flew on the first lap when Casey Atwood, John Andretti and Ricky Craven made contact in turn 2. A total of 13 caution flags were flown along with 70 laps were run under caution, both track highs,{{cite web|last=Beaver|first=Dan|url=http://www.cbssports.com/nascar/blog/eye-on-nascar/20607400/nascar-picks-pack-kansas|title=NASCAR Picks Pack: Kansas|publisher=CBS Sports|date=2012-10-19|access-date=2013-07-01}} and a red flag stopped the race for eleven minutes.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/01/sports/plus-auto-racing-gordon-captures-crash-filled-race.html|title=PLUS: AUTO RACING; Gordon Captures Crash-Filled Race|newspaper=The New York Times|date=2001-10-01|access-date=2013-07-01}} Meanwhile, Wallace dominated the race, leading a race-high 117 laps. However, he was eventually penalized for speeding on the pit road.{{cite web|url=http://www.kansasspeedway.com/Articles/2011/04/2001-Cup-Look-Back.aspx|title=NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Look Back: Gordon win takes Kansas by storm in 2001|work=Kansas Speedway|date=2011-04-01|access-date=2013-07-01}} Gordon then took the lead and held off Ryan Newman for his sixth win of the season, also giving him a 222-point advantage over Ricky Rudd in the championship standings.{{cite web|url=http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-racing/nascar/season-recaps/2000s/2001-nascar.htm|title=2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Recap|work=HowStuffWorks|access-date=2013-07-01}} Rudd, Wallace, and Sterling Marlin closed out the top five.{{cite web|url=http://racing-reference.info/race/2001_Protection_One_400/W|title=2001 Protection One 400|work=Racing-Reference|access-date=2013-07-01}}

Results

class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%"
Fin

! St

! #

! Driver

! Make

!Team

! Sponsor

! Laps

! Led

!Status

!Pts

!Winnings

1

| 2 || 24 || Jeff Gordon || Chevrolet

|Hendrick Motorsports|| DuPont Automotive || 267 || 53

|running

|180

|254377

2

| 17 || 02 || Ryan Newman || Ford

|Penske Racing South|| Alltel || 267 || 0

|running

|170

|100100

3

| 8 || 28 || Ricky Rudd || Ford

|Robert Yates Racing|| Texaco, Havoline || 267 || 20

|running

|170

|138947

4

| 11 || 2 || Rusty Wallace || Ford

|Penske Racing South|| Miller Lite || 267 || 117

|running

|170

|130140

5

| 19 || 40 || Sterling Marlin || Dodge

|Chip Ganassi Racing|| Proud to be an American || 267 || 1

|running

|160

|98760

6

| 23 || 6 || Mark Martin || Ford

|Roush Racing|| Viagra, Pfizer || 267 || 1

|running

|155

|109551

7

| 37 || 77 || Robert Pressley || Ford

|Jasper Motorsports|| Jasper Engines & Transmissions || 267 || 0

|running

|146

|77820

8

| 7 || 20 || Tony Stewart || Pontiac

|Joe Gibbs Racing|| The Home Depot || 267 || 0

|running

|142

|76150

9

| 40 || 97 || Kurt Busch || Ford

|Roush Racing|| Sharpie, Rubbermaid || 267 || 0

|running

|138

|67700

10

| 21 || 93 || Dave Blaney || Dodge

|Bill Davis Racing|| Amoco || 267 || 1

|running

|139

|61580

11

|26

|99

|Jeff Burton

|Ford

|Roush Racing

|Citgo Supergard

|267

|0

|running

|130

|100046

12

|25

|25

|Jerry Nadeau

|Chevrolet

|Hendrick Motorsports

|UAW-Delphi

|267

|15

|running

|132

|63200

13

|31

|4

|Kevin Lepage

|Chevrolet

|Morgan-McClure Motorsports

|Kodak

|267

|0

|running

|124

|60111

14

|34

|31

|Robby Gordon

|Chevrolet

|Richard Childress Racing

|Lowe's

|267

|0

|running

|121

|86024

15

|24

|55

|Bobby Hamilton

|Chevrolet

|Andy Petree Racing

|Square D

|267

|0

|running

|118

|64300

16

|15

|29

|Kevin Harvick

|Chevrolet

|Richard Childress Racing

|GM Goodwrench

|267

|0

|running

|115

|95727

17

|35

|1

|Kenny Wallace

|Chevrolet

|Dale Earnhardt, Inc.

|Pennzoil

|266

|1

|running

|117

|78843

18

|16

|96

|Andy Houston

|Ford

|PPI Motorsports

|McDonald's

|266

|0

|running

|109

|52300

19

|29

|7

|Mike Wallace

|Ford

|Ultra Motorsports

|NationsRent

|266

|0

|running

|106

|64590

20

|39

|33

|Joe Nemechek

|Chevrolet

|Andy Petree Racing

|Oakwood Homes

|266

|0

|running

|103

|83870

21

|9

|32

|Ricky Craven

|Ford

|PPI Motorsports

|Tide

|265

|0

|running

|100

|51900

22

|14

|26

|Jimmy Spencer

|Ford

|Haas-Carter Motorsports

|Kmart

|265

|0

|running

|97

|62175

23

|32

|21

|Elliott Sadler

|Ford

|Wood Brothers Racing

|Motorcraft

|265

|0

|running

|94

|68800

24

|30

|57

|Derrike Cope

|Ford

|Team CLR

|CLR

|263

|0

|running

|91

|47500

25

|42

|11

|Brett Bodine

|Ford

|Brett Bodine Racing

|Ralphs

|263

|0

|running

|88

|51200

26

|28

|36

|Ken Schrader

|Pontiac

|MB2 Motorsports

|Pedigree

|262

|0

|running

|85

|58100

27

|20

|5

|Terry Labonte

|Chevrolet

|Hendrick Motorsports

|Kellogg's

|258

|0

|suspension

|82

|82130

28

|1

|01

|Jason Leffler

|Dodge

|Chip Ganassi Racing

|Cingular Wireless

|256

|8

|crash

|84

|59700

29

|10

|18

|Bobby Labonte

|Pontiac

|Joe Gibbs Racing

|Interstate Batteries

|246

|0

|crash

|76

|98527

30

|18

|88

|Dale Jarrett

|Ford

|Robert Yates Racing

|UPS "We Want to Race the Truck"

|246

|0

|crash

|73

|91827

31

|33

|44

|Buckshot Jones

|Dodge

|Petty Enterprises

|Georgia-Pacific

|245

|0

|running

|70

|54100

32

|13

|17

|Matt Kenseth

|Ford

|Roush Racing

|DeWalt

|238

|14

|crash

|72

|53900

33

|22

|8

|Dale Earnhardt Jr.

|Chevrolet

|Dale Earnhardt, Inc.

|Budweiser

|228

|3

|crash

|69

|80423

34

|4

|92

|Stacy Compton

|Dodge

|Melling Racing

|Kodiak

|202

|0

|crash

|61

|45500

35

|43

|90

|Hut Stricklin

|Ford

|Donlavey Racing

|Hills Brothers Coffee

|198

|0

|running

|58

|45300

36

|38

|12

|Jeremy Mayfield

|Ford

|Penske Racing South

|Mobil 1

|192

|0

|running

|55

|84384

37

|6

|10

|Johnny Benson Jr.

|Pontiac

|MBV Motorsports

|Valvoline MaxLife

|184

|0

|engine

|52

|52900

38

|41

|15

|Michael Waltrip

|Chevrolet

|Dale Earnhardt, Inc.

|NAPA Auto Parts "We Keep America Running"

|164

|0

|crash

|49

|54700

39

|12

|43

|John Andretti

|Dodge

|Petty Enterprises

|Cheerios

|146

|0

|running

|46

|79527

40

|3

|9

|Bill Elliott

|Dodge

|Evernham Motorsports

|Dodge Dealers, UAW

|134

|33

|engine

|48

|69023

41

|36

|22

|Ward Burton

|Dodge

|Bill Davis Racing

|Caterpillar

|67

|0

|crash

|40

|77235

42

|27

|66

|Todd Bodine

|Ford

|Haas-Carter Motorsports

|Kmart Blue Light Special

|67

|0

|crash

|37

|43900

43

|5

|19

|Casey Atwood

|Dodge

|Evernham Motorsports

|Dodge Dealers, UAW

|0

|0

|crash

|34

|4390\50

colspan="12" |Failed to qualify
44

|

|27

|Rick Mast

|Pontiac

|Eel River Racing

|Save-A-Lot

! colspan="5" rowspan="3" |

45

|

|45

|Kyle Petty

|Dodge

|Petty Enterprises

|Sprint

46

|

|14

|Ron Hornaday Jr.

|Pontiac

|A.J. Foyt Racing

|Conseco

Standings after the race

File:Jeff Gordon NASCAR Photography By Darryl Moran.jpg

class="sortable wikitable " style="font-size: 95%;"
Pos

! Driver

! Points

! Differential

1 10px

| Jeff Gordon

| style="text-align:center;"|4108

| 0

2 10px

| Ricky Rudd

| style="text-align:center;"|3886

| -222

3 10px

| Tony Stewart

| style="text-align:center;"|3663

| -445

4 {{Increase}}

| Sterling Marlin

| style="text-align:center;"|3604

| -504

5 {{Decrease}}

| Dale Jarrett

| style="text-align:center;"|3580

| -528

6 {{Increase}}

| Rusty Wallace

| style="text-align:center;"|3525

| -583

7 {{Decrease}}

| Dale Earnhardt Jr.

| style="text-align:center;"|3498

| -610

8 {{Decrease}}

| Kevin Harvick

| style="text-align:center;"|3495

| -613

9 10px

| Bobby Labonte

| style="text-align:center;"|3403

| -705

10 10px

| Johnny Benson Jr.

| style="text-align:center;"|3220

| -888

References

{{reflist}}

{{NASCAR next race

| Series = Winston Cup Series

| Season = 2001

| Previous_race = 2001 MBNA Cal Ripken Jr. 400

| Next_race = 2001 UAW-GM Quality 500

}}

{{2001 Winston Cup |state=collapsed}}

Protection One 400

Protection One 400

Category:NASCAR races at Kansas Speedway