2003 Coca-Cola 600
{{short description|Auto race run in North Carolina in 2003}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox NASCAR race report
| Type = NASWINSTON
| Description =
| Race Name = Coca-Cola 600
| Details ref = [https://www.thethirdturn.com/wiki/2003_Coca-Cola_600 2003 Coca-Cola 600 Results]
| Fulldate = {{Start date|2003|5|25}}
| Year = 2003
| Race_No = 12
| Season_No = 36
| Image = Lowe's Motor Speedway.svg
| Caption = Layout of Lowe's Motor Speedway
| Location = Lowe's Motor Speedway, Concord, North Carolina
| Course_mi = 1.5
| Course_km = 2.4
| Distance_laps = 276
| Distance_mi = 414
| Distance_km = 666.268
| Scheduled_laps = 400
| Scheduled_mi = 600
| Scheduled_km = 965.606
| Weather =
| Avg = {{convert|126.198|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}
| Attendance = 165,000
| Pole_Driver = Ryan Newman
| Pole_Team = Penske Racing
| Pole_Time = 29.140
| Most_Driver = Matt Kenseth
| Most_Team = Roush Racing
| Most_laps = 82
| Car = 48
| First_Driver = Jimmie Johnson
| First_Team = Hendrick Motorsports
| Network = Fox
| Announcers = Mike Joy, Darrell Waltrip, Larry McReynolds
| Ratings =
}}
The 2003 Coca-Cola 600, the 44th running of the race, was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series race held on May 25, 2003, at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina. The race was the 12th of the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season. The race was scheduled for 400 laps but was shortened to 276 laps because of rain. Jimmie Johnson of Hendrick Motorsports won the race, his first win of the season, and also at Charlotte. Matt Kenseth finished 2nd and Bobby Labonte finished 3rd.
Failed to qualify: Hermie Sadler ({{Abbreviation|No.|Car number}} 02), Brett Bodine (No. 11), Derrike Cope (No. 37)
On the day of the race, 0.55 inches of precipitation were recorded around the speedway.{{cite web | url = http://www.sercc.com/CharlotteNASCARClimatology.pdf | title = Charlotte NASCAR Climatology | publisher = SERCC | access-date = 2018-09-12 | archive-date = 2018-09-08 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180908092914/http://www.sercc.com/CharlotteNASCARClimatology.pdf | url-status = dead }}
Background
File:Lowesmotorspeedway.jpg, the track where the race was held.]]
Lowe's Motor Speedway is a motorsports complex located in Concord, North Carolina, United States 13 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. The complex features 1.5 miles (2.4 km) quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and The Winston, as well as the UAW-GM Quality 500. The speedway was built in 1959 by Bruton Smith and is considered the home track for NASCAR with many race teams located in the Charlotte area. The track is owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports Inc. (SMI) with Marcus G. Smith (son of Bruton Smith) as track president.
Results
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%" |
| Pos[https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/2003_Coca-Cola_600/W 2003 Coca Cola 600 Results - Racing Reference]
! Grid ! {{Tooltip|No.|Car number}} ! Driver ! Team ! Manufacturer ! Sponsor ! {{Tooltip|Laps|Laps completed}} ! Laps Lead ! Status ! Points |
|---|
| 1
| 37 || 48 || Jimmie Johnson || Hendrick Motorsports || Chevrolet || Lowe's / Power of Pride || 276 || 34 || Running || 180 |
| 2
| 18 || 17 || Matt Kenseth || Roush Racing || Ford || DeWalt Power Tools || 276 || 82 || Running || 180 |
| 3
| 11 || 18 || Bobby Labonte || Joe Gibbs Racing || Chevrolet || Interstate Batteries || 276 || 39 || Running || 170 |
| 4
| 14 || 7 || Jimmy Spencer || Ultra Motorsports || Dodge|| Sirius Satellite Radio || 276 || 0 || Running || 160 |
| 5
| 1 || 12 || Ryan Newman || Penske Racing || Dodge || Alltel || 276 || 50 || Running || 160 |
| 6
| 9 || 15 || Michael Waltrip || Dale Earnhardt, Inc. || Chevrolet || NAPA Auto Parts || 276 || 0 || Running || 150 |
| 7
| 36 || 40 || Sterling Marlin || Chip Ganassi Racing || Dodge || Coors Light || 276 || 0 || Running || 146 |
| 8
| 4 || 24 || Jeff Gordon || Hendrick Motorsports || Chevrolet || DuPont || 276 || 0 || Running || 142 |
| 9
| 23 || 88 || Dale Jarrett || Robert Yates Racing || Ford || UPS || 275 || 0 || Running || 138 |
| 10
| 41 || 22 || Ward Burton || Bill Davis Racing || Dodge || Caterpillar || 275 || 0 || Running || 134 |
| 11
| 7 || 25 || Joe Nemechek || Hendrick Motorsports || Chevrolet || UAW-Delphi || 275 || 0 || Running || 130 |
| 12
| 34 || 2 || Rusty Wallace || Penske Racing || Dodge || Miller Lite || 275 || 0 || Running || 127 |
| 13
| 20 || 29 || Kevin Harvick || Richard Childress Racing || Chevrolet || GM Goodwrench || 275 || 1 || Running || 129 |
| 14
| 8 || 77 || Dave Blaney || Jasper Motorsports || Ford || Jasper Engines and Transmissions || 275 || 0 || Running || 121 |
| 15
| 12 || 97 || Kurt Busch || Roush Racing || Ford || Rubbermaid || 275 || 1 || Running || 123 |
| 16
| 26 || 16 || Greg Biffle || Roush Racing || Ford || W. W. Grainger || 275 || 0 || Running || 115 |
Race statistics
References
{{reflist}}
{{NASCAR next race
| Season = 2003
| Series = Winston Cup Series
| Previous_race = 2003 Pontiac Excitement 400
| Next_race = 2003 MBNA Armed Forces Family 400
}}
{{Coca-Cola 600}}