2003 Pontiac Excitement 400
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.[1] 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.
| Race details | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 11 of 36 in the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series | |||
 The 2003 Pontiac Excitement 400 program cover. | |||
| Date | May 3, 2003 | ||
| Official name | 49th Annual Pontiac Excitement 400 | ||
| Location | Richmond, Virginia, Richmond International Raceway | ||
| Course |
Permanent racing facility 0.75 mi (1.21 km) | ||
| Distance | 393 laps, 294.75 mi (474.354 km) | ||
| Scheduled Distance | 400 laps, 300 mi (482.803 km) | ||
| Average speed | 86.783 miles per hour (139.664 km/h) | ||
| Attendance | 110,000 | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Hendrick Motorsports | ||
| Time | 21.342 | ||
| Most laps led | |||
| Driver | Joe Nemechek | Hendrick Motorsports | |
| Laps | 156 | ||
| Winner | |||
| No. 25 | Joe Nemechek | Hendrick Motorsports | |
| Television in the United States | |||
| Network | FX | ||
| Announcers | Mike Joy, Larry McReynolds, Darrell Waltrip | ||
| Radio in the United States | |||
| Radio | Motor Racing Network | ||
MB2 Motorsports driver Jerry Nadeau would suffer career-ending injuries in the second practice session of the race.[2]
Background
Entry list
- (R) denotes rookie driver.
*Driver changed to Jason Keller after Nadeau crashed in second practice, leaving Nadeau critically injured and effectively ending Nadeau's racing career.[2][3][4]
**Withdrew after crashing in first practice.[5]
Practice
First practice
The first practice session was held on Friday, May 2, at 11:20 AM EST, and would last for two hours.[5] 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 127.178 miles per hour (204.673 km/h).[6]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 21.230 | 127.178 |
| 2 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 21.249 | 127.065 |
| 3 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 21.259 | 127.005 |
| 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.[5] Jeff Burton of Roush Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 21.640 and an average speed of 124.769 miles per hour (200.796 km/h).[7]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 21.640 | 124.769 |
| 2 | 25 | Joe Nemechek | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 21.701 | 124.418 |
| 3 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 21.737 | 124.212 |
| 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.[5] Jeff Burton of Roush Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 21.640 and an average speed of 124.769 miles per hour (200.796 km/h).[8]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 21.650 | 124.711 |
| 2 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 21.658 | 124.665 |
| 3 | 23 | Kenny Wallace | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 21.678 | 124.550 |
| 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.[5] 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.[9]
Terry Labonte of Hendrick Motorsports would win the pole, setting a time of 21.342 and an average speed of 126.511 miles per hour (203.600 km/h).[10]
Two drivers would fail to qualify: Derrike Cope and Hermie Sadler.
Full qualifying results
Race results
| Fin.[11] | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 25 | Joe Nemechek | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 393 | 156 | running | 185 | $159,375 |
| 2 | 4 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 393 | 62 | running | 175 | $157,758 |
| 3 | 3 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 393 | 5 | running | 170 | $121,867 |
| 4 | 32 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 393 | 29 | running | 165 | $101,212 |
| 5 | 30 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 393 | 10 | running | 160 | $102,533 |
| 6 | 36 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 393 | 12 | running | 155 | $100,928 |
| 7 | 18 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 393 | 0 | running | 146 | $73,675 |
| 8 | 7 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 393 | 17 | running | 147 | $89,925 |
| 9 | 16 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 393 | 0 | running | 138 | $90,342 |
| 10 | 17 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 393 | 0 | running | 134 | $91,942 |
| 11 | 20 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 393 | 0 | running | 130 | $90,781 |
| 12 | 37 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 393 | 0 | running | 127 | $69,910 |
| 13 | 21 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 393 | 0 | running | 124 | $95,425 |
| 14 | 35 | 74 | Tony Raines (R) | BACE Motorsports | Chevrolet | 393 | 0 | running | 121 | $51,325 |
| 15 | 13 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac | 393 | 0 | running | 118 | $82,435 |
| 16 | 6 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 393 | 42 | running | 120 | $97,228 |
| 17 | 15 | 16 | Greg Biffle (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | 393 | 0 | running | 112 | $49,150 |
| 18 | 31 | 77 | Dave Blaney | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 393 | 0 | running | 109 | $76,000 |
| 19 | 10 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 393 | 0 | running | 106 | $68,275 |
| 20 | 28 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 393 | 6 | running | 108 | $89,058 |
| 21 | 1 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 393 | 30 | running | 105 | $83,456 |
| 22 | 22 | 42 | Jamie McMurray (R) | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 393 | 0 | running | 97 | $47,975 |
| 23 | 34 | 54 | Todd Bodine | BelCar Motorsports | Ford | 393 | 0 | running | 94 | $65,375 |
| 24 | 33 | 49 | Ken Schrader | BAM Racing | Dodge | 392 | 0 | running | 91 | $58,100 |
| 25 | 19 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 392 | 0 | running | 88 | $59,050 |
| 26 | 29 | 0 | Jack Sprague (R) | Haas CNC Racing | Pontiac | 392 | 0 | running | 85 | $47,725 |
| 27 | 8 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 391 | 0 | running | 82 | $58,700 |
| 28 | 11 | 41 | Casey Mears (R) | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 391 | 0 | running | 79 | $66,864 |
| 29 | 14 | 23 | Kenny Wallace | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 390 | 0 | crash | 76 | $50,250 |
| 30 | 24 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 390 | 0 | running | 73 | $86,253 |
| 31 | 43 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 389 | 0 | running | 70 | $49,825 |
| 32 | 12 | 01 | Jason Keller | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 388 | 0 | running | 67 | $49,675 |
| 33 | 42 | 14 | Larry Foyt (R) | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Dodge | 387 | 0 | running | 64 | $49,625 |
| 34 | 27 | 21 | Ricky Rudd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 378 | 0 | crash | 61 | $57,075 |
| 35 | 26 | 4 | Mike Skinner | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Pontiac | 378 | 0 | crash | 58 | $47,425 |
| 36 | 40 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 363 | 0 | crash | 55 | $92,253 |
| 37 | 39 | 38 | Elliott Sadler | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 338 | 0 | running | 52 | $80,675 |
| 38 | 38 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Pontiac | 287 | 0 | crash | 49 | $54,375 |
| 39 | 5 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing South | Dodge | 277 | 24 | running | 51 | $76,185 |
| 40 | 41 | 30 | Jeff Green | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 267 | 0 | crash | 43 | $54,230 |
| 41 | 9 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 223 | 0 | crash | 40 | $98,748 |
| 42 | 25 | 7 | Jimmy Spencer | Ultra Motorsports | Dodge | 139 | 0 | crash | 37 | $46,110 |
| 43 | 23 | 1 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 42 | 0 | crash | 34 | $71,502 |
| Failed to qualify or withdrew | ||||||||||
| 44 | 37 | Derrike Cope | Quest Motor Racing | Chevrolet | ||||||
| 45 | 02 | Hermie Sadler | SCORE Motorsports | Pontiac | ||||||
| WD | 66 | Hideo Fukuyama (R) | BelCar Motorsports | Ford | ||||||
| Official race results | ||||||||||
References
- Minter, Rick (2003-05-04). "A slick win for Nemechek". The Atlanta Constitution. pp. D16 – via Newspapers.com.
- Smith, Marty (October 25, 2012). "Nadeau: 'It's almost like I lost my life'". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Archived from the original on October 27, 2012. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
- Lew Freedman (2013). Encyclopedia of Stock Car Racing. ABC-CLIO. p. 529. ISBN 978-0-313-38710-4.
- "Nadeau's condition improves". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. May 6, 2003. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
- "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2003 Richmond 1 Race Info Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on 2005-02-04. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
- "NASCAR.com - Races - 2003 Richmond 1 Practice 1 Results". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on 2005-02-05. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
- "NASCAR.com - Races - 2003 Richmond 1 Practice 2 Results". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on 2005-02-05. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
- "NASCAR.com - Races - 2003 Richmond 1 Practice 3 Results". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on 2005-02-05. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
- "Jayski's® Silly Season Site - 2003 Provisional Land Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on 2005-02-04. Retrieved 2022-01-08.
- "Labonte takes top spot at Richmond". www.espn.com. 2003-05-02. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
- "2003 Pontiac Excitement 400 - The Third Turn". www.thethirdturn.com. Retrieved 2022-02-26.