2001 Pepsi 400 (Daytona)

NASCAR race at Daytona in 2001 February 2025 the race at Michigan 2001 Pepsi 400 (Michigan) NASWINSTON Pepsi 400 2001 7 7 2001 17 36 2001_Pepsi_400_program_cover_and_logo.jpg 200px Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Florida 2001 Pepsi 400 program cover 2.5 4.02 160 400 643.27 Temperatures reaching up to 89.1 F C; wind speeds approaching 11.10 mph km/hWeather informationAugust 2026 InternetArchiveBot at The Old Farmers' Almanac 157.601 mph km/h on Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 116 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. NBC Allen Bestwick, Benny Parsons, Wally Dallenbach Jr.http://www.jayski.com/next/2001/2001pepsi400.htm THE RACE: Pepsi 400 Jayski's Silly Season Site May 5, 2014 May 26, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130526044204/http://www.jayski.com/next/2001/2001pepsi400.htm dead 6.1/13(25 million viewers)http://www.jayski.com/pages/tvratings2001.htm TV RATINGS 2001 Jayski's Silly Season Site May 5, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20150910010508/http://www.jayski.com/pages/tvratings2001.htm September 10, 2015 dead MRN Joe Moore, Barney Hall Kurt Becker (1 & 2), Dave Moody (Backstretch) and Kevin O'Neal (3 & 4) The 2001 Pepsi 400 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series stock car race held on July 7, 2001, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida as the 17th of the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season. It was the first race held at Daytona since the 2001 Daytona 500, in which Dale Earnhardt was killed on the final lap. Sterling Marlin of Chip Ganassi Racing won the pole position. Dale Earnhardt Jr. of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. won the race, while DEI teammate Michael Waltrip and Elliott Sadler finished second and third, respectively. The race is often regarded as one of the greatest races in NASCAR history.Lipowski Joshua 5 THINGS YOU PROBABLY NEVER KNEW ABOUT THE 2001 PEPSI 400 https://dailydownforce.com/5-things-you-probably-never-knew-about-the-2001-pepsi-400/ The Daily Downforce 8 July 2026 Entry list (R) denotes rookie driver No. Car number Driver Team Manufacturer 01 Jason Leffler (R) Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevrolet 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing Ford 4 Kevin Lepage Morgan-McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 7 Mike Wallace Ultra Motorsports Ford 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevrolet 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 10 Johnny Benson MBV Motorsports Pontiac 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske Racing Ford 14 Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) A. J. Foyt Racing Pontiac 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevrolet 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 19 Casey Atwood (R) Evernham Motorsports Dodge 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 27 Mike Bliss Eel River Racing Pontiac 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 29 Kevin Harvick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 33 Joe Nemechek Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 36 Ken Schrader MBV Motorsports Pontiac 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 44 Buckshot Jones Petty Enterprises Dodge 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 49 Andy Hillenburg BAM Racing Pontiac 50 Rick Mast Midwest Transit Racing Chevrolet 51 Jeff Purvis Phoenix Racing Ford 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 66 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 90 Hut Stricklin Donlavey Racing Ford 92 Stacy Compton Melling Racing Dodge 93 Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing Dodge 96 Andy Houston (R) PPI Motorsports Ford 97 Kurt Busch (R) Roush Racing Ford 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford Qualifying Qualifying was scheduled for July 5, but was rained out; rain also delayed the start of qualifying the next day.Coble Don http://onlineathens.com/stories/070701/spo_0707010007.shtml Marlin starts on pole for rain-cleansed Pepsi 400 Athens Banner-Herald July 7, 2001 May 1, 2014 On the ten-year anniversary of his first career pole position, Sterling Marlin clinched the pole with a lap speed of 183.778 mph km/h. Dodge drivers claimed the first four spots, with Ward Burton (183.597 mph km/h on), Stacy Compton (182.678 mph km/h on) and Casey Atwood (182.597 mph km/h on). Chevrolet driver and Cup points leader Jeff Gordon qualified fifth at 182.312 mph km/h on.Associated Press Associated Press https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-jul-07-sp-19602-story.html Marlin Wins the Pole for Pepsi 400 at Daytona Los Angeles Times July 7, 2001 May 1, 2014 Buckshot Jones, Ron Hornaday Jr., Hut Stricklin, Mike Bliss and Andy Hillenburg failed to qualify. Race The Rev. Hal Marchman gave the traditional invocation, Edwin McCain sang the National Anthem, and Pop singer Britney Spears gave the command to start the engines. Ward Burton took the lead from Sterling Marlin on lap one, but relinquished it to Marlin on lap three. After Kevin Harvick, Marlin and Michael Waltrip shared the lead from laps 10 to 26,http://www.racing-reference.info/race/2001-17/W 2001 Pepsi 400 Racing-Reference May 1, 2014 Dale Earnhardt Jr. took the lead on lap 27, leading 22 laps. Matt Kenseth and Todd Bodine would lead for a combined seven laps, before Earnhardt reclaimed the lead and led 33 more laps. The first caution of the race flew on lap 89, when Andy Houston crashed in turn 4. Robert Pressley took the lead on lap 90, which Earnhardt reclaimed the following lap. With 18 laps to go, cars entered pit road for final stops, but ten cars (Mike Skinner, Pressley, Sterling Marlin, Jeff Gordon, Kurt Busch, Terry Labonte, Bobby Hamilton, Kevin Harvick, John Andretti, Mark Martin, Dave Marcis, Jason Leffler) were involved in a crash in turn 4. Earnhardt would surrender the lead again to Johnny Benson Jr., who had made a late-race gamble to pull ahead. Dale Jr had to deal with lap traffic on the restart, but the Caution flew for the final time when Jeff Gordon's oil line cut. The race restarted with six laps to go with Johnny Benson still leading. But with five laps remaining, Earnhardt took back the lead, and with drafting assistance from Waltrip, claimed the victory. Elliott Sadler, Ward Burton and Bobby Labonte finished in the top five. Tony Stewart crossed the line in sixth, but was officially classified in 26th due to receiving the black flag, had his finishing spot taken by Jerry Nadeau; Rusty Wallace, Jeff Burton, Brett Bodine and Mike Wallace rounded out the top ten. Post-race To celebrate, Earnhardt climbed onto his car's roof, and shared an embrace with Waltrip (who had been unable to celebrate his victory in the 500 that February because of Dale Earnhardt's fatal crash) before diving into his pit crew.Thomas Stephan http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/motorsports/nascar_plus/news/2001/07/07/daytona_lede/ https://web.archive.org/web/20010710052007/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/motorsports/nascar_plus/news/2001/07/07/daytona_lede/ dead July 10, 2001 Junior achievement CNN Sports Illustrated July 7, 2001 May 2, 2014 After the race, Tony Stewart, who ignored a black flag and orders to return to pit road due to passing Johnny Benson and Dave BlaneyLipsyte Robert https://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/09/sports/auto-racing-the-call-is-answered-in-earnhardt-s-pepsi-400-victory.html AUTO RACING; 'The Call' Is Answered in Earnhardt's Pepsi 400 Victory The New York Times July 9, 2001 May 4, 2014 below the track's yellow line, knocked a tape recorder away from a Winston-Salem Journal reporterhttps://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/12/sports/plus-auto-racing-further-probation-for-irate-stewart.html PLUS: AUTO RACING; Further Probation For Irate Stewart The New York Times July 12, 2001 May 4, 2014 and kicked it under a hauler, and attempted to confront Cup director Gary Nelson, but was restrained by owner Joe Gibbs and crew chief Greg Zipadelli.http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/motorsports/nascar_plus/news/2001/07/09/stewart_grandfather_ap/ https://web.archive.org/web/20010711205350/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/motorsports/nascar_plus/news/2001/07/09/stewart_grandfather_ap/ dead July 11, 2001 Stewart's grandfather died before race CNN Sports Illustrated July 9, 2001 May 1, 2014 Stewart argued that he had been forced below the yellow line by Benson. Stewart was later fined $10,000, had his probation (dating back to spinning out Jeff Gordon at Bristol Motor Speedway) extended and was penalized 65 points.http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/motorsports/nascar_plus/news/2001/07/07/stewart_punishment/ https://web.archive.org/web/20011123084721/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/motorsports/nascar_plus/news/2001/07/07/stewart_punishment/ dead November 23, 2001 Severe punishment CNN Sports Illustrated July 7, 2001 May 4, 2014 Race results Pos. Car # Driver Make Team 1 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet Dale Earnhardt Inc. 2 15 Michael Waltrip Chevrolet Dale Earnhardt Inc. 3 21 Elliott Sadler Ford Wood Brothers Racing 4 22 Ward Burton Dodge Bill Davis Racing 5 18 Bobby Labonte Pontiac Joe Gibbs Racing 6 25 Jerry Nadeau Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports 7 2 Rusty Wallace Ford Penske Racing 8 99 Jeff Burton Ford Roush Racing 9 11 Brett Bodine Ford Brett Bodine Racing 10 7 Mike Wallace Ford Ultra Motorsports 11 88 Dale Jarrett Ford Robert Yates Racing 12 66 Todd Bodine Ford Haas-Carter Motorsports 13 10 Johnny Benson Pontiac MBV Motorsports 14 28 Ricky Rudd Ford Robert Yates Racing 15 36 Ken Schrader Pontiac MBV Motorsports 16 17 Matt Kenseth Ford Roush Racing 17 12 Jeremy Mayfield Ford Penske Racing 18 6 Mark Martin Ford Roush Racing 19 26 Jimmy Spencer Ford Haas-Carter Motorsports 20 1 Steve Park Chevrolet Dale Earnhardt Inc. 21 93 Dave Blaney Dodge Bill Davis Racing 22 43 John Andretti Dodge Petty Enterprises 23 77 Robert Pressley Ford Jasper Motorsports 24 01 Jason Leffler (R) Dodge Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates 25 29 Kevin Harvick (R) Chevrolet Richard Childress Racing 26 20 Tony Stewart Pontiac Joe Gibbs Racing 27 33 Joe Nemechek Chevrolet Andy Petree Racing 28 19 Casey Atwood (R) Dodge Evernham Motorsports 29 45 Kyle Petty Dodge Petty Enterprises 30 97 Kurt Busch (R) Ford Roush Racing 31 4 Kevin Lepage Chevrolet Morgan-McClure Motorsports 32 92 Stacy Compton Dodge Melling Racing 33 32 Ricky Craven Ford PPI Motorsports 34 50 Rick Mast Chevrolet Midwest Transit Racing 35 9 Bill Elliott Dodge Evernham Motorsports 36 71 Dave Marcis Chevrolet Marcis Auto Racing 37 24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports 38 55 Bobby Hamilton Chevrolet Andy Petree Racing 39 40 Sterling Marlin Chevrolet Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates 40 5 Terry Labonte Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports 41 31 Mike Skinner Chevrolet Richard Childress Racing 42 51 Jeff Purvis Ford Phoenix Racing 43 96 Andy Houston (R) Ford PPI Motorsports Failed to Qualify 44 - Buckshot Jones 14 - Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) 90 - Hut Stricklin 27 - Mike Bliss 49 - Andy Hillenburg Standings after the race Pos Driver Points 1 Jeff Gordon 2403 2 Dale Jarrett 2355 3 Ricky Rudd 2327 4 Tony Stewart 2207 5 Rusty Wallace 2184 6 Sterling Marlin 2159 7 Bobby Labonte 2061 8 Johnny Benson Jr. 2051 9 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2010 10 Kevin Harvick 1987 Broadcasting The 2001 Pepsi 400 was broadcast by NBC,https://bleacherreport.com/articles/210337-from-tragedy-to-triumph-junior-exorcises-the-demons-of-daytona-in-2001 From Tragedy To Triumph: Junior Exorcises The Demons of Daytona in 2001 Bleacher Report July 1, 2009 May 2, 2014 as the first race broadcast by the network under a new centralized NASCAR contract which gave a consortium of NBC Sports and Turner Sports rights to broadcast the second half of the season.Sherman Ed New TV Contracts Place NASCAR In Driver's Seat https://www.chicagotribune.com/1999/11/12/new-tv-contracts-place-nascar-in-drivers-seat/ Chicago Tribune 3 July 2016 25 million viewers watched the race, setting a viewership record for night races.Madden Mark http://old.post-gazette.com/sports/columnists/20010714madden0714p5.asp https://web.archive.org/web/20140506044931/http://old.post-gazette.com/sports/columnists/20010714madden0714p5.asp dead May 6, 2014 Madden: Earnhardt win a quick-fix Pittsburgh Post-Gazette July 14, 2001 May 2, 2014 References Winston Cup Series 2001 2001 Dodge/Save Mart 350 2001 Tropicana 400 collapsed Pepsi 400 Pepsi 400 Category:NASCAR races at Daytona International Speedway