2003 Pontiac Excitement 400
{{Short description|11th race of the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox NASCAR race report|Type=NASWINSTON|Official_name=49th Annual Pontiac Excitement 400|Date=May 3|Announcers=Mike Joy, Larry McReynolds, Darrell Waltrip|Radio=Motor Racing Network|Network=FX|Pole_Driver=Terry Labonte|Most_laps=156|Most_Driver=Joe Nemechek|First_Driver=Joe Nemechek|Most_Team=Hendrick Motorsports|First_Team=Hendrick Motorsports|Pole_Team=Hendrick Motorsports|Car=25|Avg={{convert|86.783|mph|km/h}}|Attendance=110,000|Race_Name=Pontiac Excitement 400|Location=Richmond, Virginia, Richmond International Raceway|Season_No=36|Race_No=11|Scheduled_laps=400|Scheduled_km=482.803|Course_mi=0.75|Course_km=1.21|Distance_km=474.354|Scheduled_mi=300|Distance_laps=393|Year=2003|Pole_Time=21.342|Distance_mi=294.75|Caption=The 2003 Pontiac Excitement 400 program cover.|Image=2003_Pontiac_Excitement_400_program_cover.jpg}}
The 2003 Pontiac Excitement 400 was the 11th stock car race of the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 49th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, May 3, 2003, before a crowd of 110,000 in Richmond, Virginia, at Richmond International Raceway, a 0.75 miles (1.21 km) D-shaped oval. The race was shortened from its scheduled 400 laps to 393 due to rain cutting the race short. At race's end, Joe Nemechek, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would rally from the mid-pack and eventually win his third career NASCAR Winston Cup Series win and his first and only win of the season.{{Cite news |last=Minter |first=Rick |date=2003-05-04 |title=A slick win for Nemechek |pages=D16 |publisher=The Atlanta Constitution |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96539590/a-slick-win-for-nemechek/ |via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}} To fill out the podium, Bobby Labonte of Joe Gibbs Racing and Dale Earnhardt Jr. of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. would finish second and third, respectively.
MB2 Motorsports driver Jerry Nadeau would suffer career-ending injuries in the second practice session of the race.{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Marty |date=October 25, 2012 |title=Nadeau: 'It's almost like I lost my life' |work=ESPN |publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures |url=https://www.espn.com/racing/nascar/cup/story/_/id/8547110/nascar-door-door-jerry-nadeau-road-back-never-ending |access-date=January 28, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121027233506/http://espn.go.com/racing/nascar/cup/story/_/id/8547110/nascar-door-door-jerry-nadeau-road-back-never-ending |archive-date=October 27, 2012}}
Background
= Entry list =
- (R) denotes rookie driver.
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
!# !Driver !Team !Make !Sponsor |
| 0
|Jack Sprague (R) |
| 1 |
| 01 |
| 2 |
| 02 |
| 4 |
| 5
|Ahh, The Power of Cheese |
| 6
|Ford |
| 7 |
| 8 |
| 9 |
| 10
|Eagle One Wax As-U-Dry |
| 11
|Ford |
| 12 |
| 14
|Larry Foyt (R) |Harrah's "Oh Yeah!" |
| 15 |
| 16
|Greg Biffle (R) |Ford |
| 17
|Ford |
| 18 |
| 19 |
| 20 |
| 21
|Ford |
| 22 |
| 23 |
| 24 |
| 25 |
| 29 |
| 30 |
| 31 |
| 32 |
| 37 |
| 38
|Ford |
| 40 |
| 41
|Casey Mears (R) |
| 42
|Jamie McMurray (R) |
| 43 |
| 45 |
| 48 |
| 49 |
| 54
|Ford |
| 66
|Hideo Fukuyama** (R) |Ford |
| 74
|Tony Raines (R) |
| 77
|Ford |Jasper Engines & Transmissions |
| 88
|Ford |UPS |
| 97
|Ford |
| 99
|Ford |
| colspan="5" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20050204233750/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2003/11/data/entry_list.html Official entry list] |
|---|
Practice
= First practice =
The first practice session was held on Friday, May 2, at 11:20 AM EST, and would last for two hours. Dale Earnhardt Jr. of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 21.230 and an average speed of {{Convert|127.178|mph|km/h}}.{{Cite web |date= |title=NASCAR.com - Races - 2003 Richmond 1 Practice 1 Results |url=http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2003/11/data/practice1_speeds.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050205001040/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2003/11/data/practice1_speeds.html |archive-date=2005-02-05 |access-date=2022-02-27 |website=NASCAR.com}}
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
!Pos. !# !Driver !Team !Make !Time !Speed |
| 1
|8 |21.230 |127.178 |
|---|
| 2
|18 |21.249 |127.065 |
| 3
|48 |21.259 |127.005 |
| colspan="7" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20050205001040/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2003/11/data/practice1_speeds.html Full first practice results] |
= Second practice =
The second practice session was held on Friday, May 2, at 4:45 PM EST, and would last for 45 minutes. Jeff Burton of Roush Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 21.640 and an average speed of {{Convert|124.769|mph|km/h}}.{{Cite web |date= |title=NASCAR.com - Races - 2003 Richmond 1 Practice 2 Results |url=http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2003/11/data/practice2_speeds.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050205001901/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2003/11/data/practice2_speeds.html |archive-date=2005-02-05 |access-date=2022-02-27 |website=NASCAR.com}}
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
!Pos. !# !Driver !Team !Make !Time !Speed |
| 1
|99 |Ford |21.640 |124.769 |
|---|
| 2
|25 |21.701 |124.418 |
| 3
|17 |Ford |21.737 |124.212 |
| colspan="7" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20050205001901/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2003/11/data/practice2_speeds.html Full second practice results] |
= Third and final practice =
The third and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Friday, May 2, at 6:10 PM EST, and would last for 45 minutes. Jeff Burton of Roush Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 21.640 and an average speed of {{Convert|124.769|mph|km/h}}.{{Cite web |date= |title=NASCAR.com - Races - 2003 Richmond 1 Practice 3 Results |url=http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2003/11/data/practice3_speeds.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050205002329/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2003/11/data/practice3_speeds.html |archive-date=2005-02-05 |access-date=2022-02-27 |website=NASCAR.com}}
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
!Pos. !# !Driver !Team !Make !Time !Speed |
| 1
|99 |Ford |21.650 |124.711 |
|---|
| 2
|97 |Ford |21.658 |124.665 |
| 3
|23 |21.678 |124.550 |
| colspan="7" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20050205002329/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2003/11/data/practice3_speeds.html Full Happy Hour practice results] |
Qualifying
Qualifying was held on Friday, May 2, at 3:00 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. 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 - 2003 Provisional Land Page |url=http://www.jayski.com/stats/2003/2003prov.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050204083118/http://www.jayski.com/stats/2003/2003prov.htm |archive-date=2005-02-04 |access-date=2022-01-08 |website=Jayski's Silly Season Site}}
Terry Labonte of Hendrick Motorsports would win the pole, setting a time of 21.342 and an average speed of {{Convert|126.511|mph|km/h}}.{{Cite web |date=2003-05-02 |title=Labonte takes top spot at Richmond |url=http://www.espn.com/rpm/wc/2003/0502/1548497.html |access-date=2022-02-27 |website=www.espn.com}}
Two drivers would fail to qualify: Derrike Cope and Hermie Sadler.
= Full qualifying results =
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
!Pos. !# !Driver !Team !Make !Time !Speed |
| 1
|5 |21.342 |126.511 |
|---|
| 2
|25 |21.366 |126.369 |
| 3
|8 |21.375 |126.316 |
| 4
|18 |21.393 |126.210 |
| 5
|12 |21.417 |126.068 |
| 6
|24 |21.418 |126.062 |
| 7
|97 |Ford |21.423 |126.033 |
| 8
|45 |21.423 |126.033 |
| 9
|20 |21.424 |126.027 |
| 10
|48 |21.434 |125.968 |
| 11
|41 |Casey Mears (R) |21.439 |125.939 |
| 12
|01 |21.446 |125.898 |
| 13
|10 |21.467 |125.774 |
| 14
|23 |21.473 |125.739 |
| 15
|16 |Greg Biffle (R) |Ford |21.479 |125.704 |
| 16
|99 |Ford |21.499 |125.587 |
| 17
|2 |21.504 |125.558 |
| 18
|17 |Ford |21.510 |125.523 |
| 19
|19 |21.515 |125.494 |
| 20
|22 |21.516 |125.488 |
| 21
|40 |21.520 |125.465 |
| 22
|42 |Jamie McMurray (R) |21.522 |125.453 |
| 23
|1 |21.546 |125.313 |
| 24
|43 |21.555 |125.261 |
| 25
|7 |21.563 |125.215 |
| 26
|4 |21.563 |125.215 |
| 27
|21 |Ford |21.570 |125.174 |
| 28
|9 |21.571 |125.168 |
| 29
|0 |Jack Sprague (R) |21.574 |125.151 |
| 30
|6 |Ford |21.581 |125.110 |
| 31
|77 |Ford |21.584 |125.093 |
| 32
|31 |21.590 |125.058 |
| 33
|49 |21.591 |125.052 |
| 34
|54 |Ford |21.639 |124.775 |
| 35
|74 |Tony Raines (R) |21.655 |124.683 |
| 36
|29 |21.670 |124.596 |
| colspan="7" |Provisionals |
| 37
|15 |21.679 |124.545 |
| 38
|32 |21.677 |124.556 |
| 39
|38 |Ford |21.876 |123.423 |
| 40
|88 |Ford |21.852 |123.559 |
| 41
|30 |21.679 |124.545 |
| 42
|14 |Larry Foyt (R) |21.743 |124.178 |
| 43
|11 |Ford |21.962 |122.940 |
| colspan="7" |Failed to qualify or withdrew |
| 44
|37 |21.946 |123.029 |
| 45
|02 |21.836 |123.649 |
| WD
|66 |Hideo Fukuyama (R) |Ford |— |— |
| colspan="7" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20050205002442/http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2003/11/data/lineup.html Official qualifying results] |
Race results
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
!St !# !Driver !Team !Make !Laps !Led !Status !Pts !Winnings |
| 1
|2 |25 |393 |156 |running |185 |$159,375 |
|---|
| 2
|4 |18 |393 |62 |running |175 |$157,758 |
| 3
|3 |8 |393 |5 |running |170 |$121,867 |
| 4
|32 |31 |393 |29 |running |165 |$101,212 |
| 5
|30 |6 |Ford |393 |10 |running |160 |$102,533 |
| 6
|36 |29 |393 |12 |running |155 |$100,928 |
| 7
|18 |17 |Ford |393 |0 |running |146 |$73,675 |
| 8
|7 |97 |Ford |393 |17 |running |147 |$89,925 |
| 9
|16 |99 |Ford |393 |0 |running |138 |$90,342 |
| 10
|17 |2 |393 |0 |running |134 |$91,942 |
| 11
|20 |22 |393 |0 |running |130 |$90,781 |
| 12
|37 |15 |393 |0 |running |127 |$69,910 |
| 13
|21 |40 |393 |0 |running |124 |$95,425 |
| 14
|35 |74 |Tony Raines (R) |393 |0 |running |121 |$51,325 |
| 15
|13 |10 |393 |0 |running |118 |$82,435 |
| 16
|6 |24 |393 |42 |running |120 |$97,228 |
| 17
|15 |16 |Greg Biffle (R) |Ford |393 |0 |running |112 |$49,150 |
| 18
|31 |77 |Ford |393 |0 |running |109 |$76,000 |
| 19
|10 |48 |393 |0 |running |106 |$68,275 |
| 20
|28 |9 |393 |6 |running |108 |$89,058 |
| 21
|1 |5 |393 |30 |running |105 |$83,456 |
| 22
|22 |42 |Jamie McMurray (R) |393 |0 |running |97 |$47,975 |
| 23
|34 |54 |Ford |393 |0 |running |94 |$65,375 |
| 24
|33 |49 |392 |0 |running |91 |$58,100 |
| 25
|19 |19 |392 |0 |running |88 |$59,050 |
| 26
|29 |0 |Jack Sprague (R) |392 |0 |running |85 |$47,725 |
| 27
|8 |45 |391 |0 |running |82 |$58,700 |
| 28
|11 |41 |Casey Mears (R) |391 |0 |running |79 |$66,864 |
| 29
|14 |23 |390 |0 |crash |76 |$50,250 |
| 30
|24 |43 |390 |0 |running |73 |$86,253 |
| 31
|43 |11 |Ford |389 |0 |running |70 |$49,825 |
| 32
|12 |01 |388 |0 |running |67 |$49,675 |
| 33
|42 |14 |Larry Foyt (R) |387 |0 |running |64 |$49,625 |
| 34
|27 |21 |Ford |378 |0 |crash |61 |$57,075 |
| 35
|26 |4 |378 |0 |crash |58 |$47,425 |
| 36
|40 |88 |Ford |363 |0 |crash |55 |$92,253 |
| 37
|39 |38 |Ford |338 |0 |running |52 |$80,675 |
| 38
|38 |32 |287 |0 |crash |49 |$54,375 |
| 39
|5 |12 |277 |24 |running |51 |$76,185 |
| 40
|41 |30 |267 |0 |crash |43 |$54,230 |
| 41
|9 |20 |223 |0 |crash |40 |$98,748 |
| 42
|25 |7 |139 |0 |crash |37 |$46,110 |
| 43
|23 |1 |42 |0 |crash |34 |$71,502 |
| colspan="11" |Failed to qualify or withdrew |
| 44
! rowspan="3" | |37 ! colspan="5" rowspan="3" | |
| 45
|02 |
| WD
|66 |Hideo Fukuyama (R) |Ford |
| colspan="11" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20050404010901/http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2003/11/data/results_official.html Official race results] |
References
{{Reflist}}{{NASCAR next race|Previous_race=2003 Auto Club 500|Next_race=2003 Coca-Cola 600|Series=NASCAR Winston Cup Series|Monsteryear=2003}}
{{NASCAR on Fox}}{{2003 Winston Cup}}
Category:2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
Category:NASCAR races at Richmond Raceway