2003 Virginia 500

Ninth race of the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series February 2025 NASWINSTON 75.557 mph km/h FOX Mike Joy, Larry McReynolds, Darrell Waltrip 195 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Jeff Gordon Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Hendrick Motorsports 24 Motor Racing Network Martinsville, Virginia, Martinsville Speedway Virginia 500 April 13 0.847 423.257 500 0.526 36 9 2003 20.079 263 The 2003 Virginia 500 program cover. 2003 Virginia 500.jpeg The 2003 Virginia 500 was the ninth stock car race of the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 54th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, April 13, 2003, before an audience of 86,000 in Martinsville, Virginia at Martinsville Speedway, a 0.526 mi km permanent oval-shaped short track. The race took the scheduled 500 laps to complete. In the final laps of the race, Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon would manage to pass Joe Gibbs Racing driver Bobby Labonte to capture his 62nd career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his first victory of the season.Poole David April 13, 2003 Gordon scores at Martinsville, winning a late-race battle http://www.thatsracin.com/mld/thatsracin/archives/5626301.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20040830230210/http://www.thatsracin.com/mld/thatsracin/archives/5626301.htm August 30, 2004 October 3, 2022 That's Racin' The Charlotte ObserverKurz Jr. Hank April 14, 2003 Gordon nudges Labonte out of way to win at Martinsville 6 Tyrone Daily Herald https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110645182/gordon-nudges-labonte-out-of-way-to-win/ October 3, 2022 Newspapers.com To fill out the top three, Labonte and Dale Earnhardt, Inc. driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. would finish second and third, respectively. Background thumb|The layout of Martinsville Speedway, the venue where the race was held. Martinsville Speedway is a NASCAR-owned stock car racing track located in Henry County, in Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At 0.526 miles (0.847 km) in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved oval tracks in NASCAR, being built in 1947 by H. Clay Earles. It is also the only remaining race track that has been on the NASCAR circuit from its beginning in 1948. Entry list (R) denotes rookie driver. #DriverTeamMake0Jack Sprague (R)Haas CNC RacingPontiac1Steve ParkDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet01Jerry Nadeau*MB2 MotorsportsPontiac2Rusty WallacePenske RacingDodge02Hermie SadlerSCORE MotorsportsPontiac4Mike SkinnerMorgan–McClure MotorsportsPontiac5Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet6Mark MartinRoush RacingFord7Jimmy SpencerUltra MotorsportsDodge8Dale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet9Bill ElliottEvernham MotorsportsDodge10Johnny Benson Jr.MB2 MotorsportsPontiac12Ryan NewmanPenske RacingDodge15Michael WaltripDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet16Greg Biffle (R)Roush RacingFord17Matt KensethRoush RacingFord18Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingChevrolet19Jeremy MayfieldEvernham MotorsportsDodge20Tony StewartJoe Gibbs RacingChevrolet21Ricky RuddWood Brothers RacingFord22Ward BurtonBill Davis RacingDodge23Kenny WallaceBill Davis RacingDodge24Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet25Joe NemechekHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet29Kevin HarvickRichard Childress RacingChevrolet30Jeff GreenRichard Childress RacingChevrolet31Robby GordonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet32Ricky CravenPPI MotorsportsPontiac37Derrike CopeQuest Motor RacingChevrolet38Elliott SadlerRobert Yates RacingFord40Sterling MarlinChip Ganassi RacingDodge41Casey Mears (R)Chip Ganassi RacingDodge42Jamie McMurray (R)Chip Ganassi RacingDodge43John AndrettiPetty EnterprisesDodge45Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesDodge48Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet49Ken SchraderBAM RacingDodge54Todd BodineBelCar MotorsportsFord74Tony Raines (R)BACE MotorsportsChevrolet77Dave BlaneyJasper MotorsportsFord88Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord97Kurt BuschRoush RacingFord99Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFordOfficial entry list Practice First practice The first practice session was held on Friday, April 11, at 11:20 AM EST. The session would last for two hours. Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2003 Martinsville 1 Race Info Page http://jayski.thatsracin.com/next/2003/2003martinsville1.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20040209113922/http://jayski.thatsracin.com/next/2003/2003martinsville1.htm February 9, 2004 October 3, 2022 Jayski's Silly Season Site Jeff Gordon, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 20.250 and an average speed of 93.511 mph km/h.April 11, 2003 Friday's Winston Cup practice speeds http://www.thatsracin.com/mld/thatsracin/5612712.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20040301015804/http://www.thatsracin.com/mld/thatsracin/5612712.htm March 1, 2004 October 3, 2022 That's Racin' Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed124Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet20.25093.511220Tony StewartJoe Gibbs RacingChevrolet20.25393.49738Dale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet20.28393.359Full first practice results Second practice The second practice session was held on Saturday, April 12, at 9:30 AM EST. The session would last for 45 minutes. Jeff Burton, driving for Roush Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 20.572 and an average speed of 92.047 mph km/h.April 12, 2003 Speeds from Saturday's first practice http://www.thatsracin.com/mld/thatsracin/5619991.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20040301015816/http://www.thatsracin.com/mld/thatsracin/5619991.htm March 1, 2004 October 3, 2022 That's Racin' Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed199Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFord20.57292.047220Tony StewartJoe Gibbs RacingChevrolet20.58292.003343John AndrettiPetty EnterprisesDodge20.60791.891Full second practice results Final practice The final practice session, was held on Saturday, April 12, at 11:10 AM EST. The session would last for 45 minutes. Kenny Wallace, driving for Bill Davis Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 20.548 and an average speed of 92.155 mph km/h.April 12, 2003 Saturday's final practice speeds http://www.thatsracin.com/mld/thatsracin/5620087.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20040316153408/http://www.thatsracin.com/mld/thatsracin/5620087.htm March 16, 2004 October 3, 2022 That's Racin' Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed123Kenny WallaceBill Davis RacingDodge20.54892.155224Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet20.59291.958399Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFord20.62191.829Full Happy Hour practice results Qualifying Qualifying was held on Friday, April 11, at 3:05 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. Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2003 Provisional Land Page http://www.jayski.com/stats/2003/2003prov.htm live https://web.archive.org/web/20050204083118/http://www.jayski.com/stats/2003/2003prov.htm February 4, 2005 January 8, 2022 Jayski's Silly Season Site Jeff Gordon, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would win the pole, setting a time of 20.079 and an average speed of 94.308 mph km/h.Poole David April 11, 2003 Jeff Gordon's 94.307 mph goodfor Sunday's Virginia 500 pole http://www.thatsracin.com/mld/thatsracin/archives/5613503.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20040910101452/http://www.thatsracin.com/mld/thatsracin/archives/5613503.htm September 10, 2004 October 3, 2022 That's Racin' The Charlotte Observer No drivers would fail to qualify. Full qualifying results Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed124Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet20.07994.30828Dale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet20.17493.863312Ryan NewmanPenske Racing SouthDodge20.21493.678449Ken SchraderBAM RacingDodge20.23393.59052Rusty WallacePenske Racing SouthDodge20.24393.543625Joe NemechekHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet20.27893.382748Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet20.31393.221820Tony StewartJoe Gibbs RacingChevrolet20.32993.148923Kenny WallaceBill Davis RacingDodge20.33493.1251099Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFord20.33693.1161142Jamie McMurray (R)Chip Ganassi RacingDodge20.33693.1161222Ward BurtonBill Davis RacingDodge20.33793.111137Jimmy SpencerUltra MotorsportsDodge20.33793.111140Jack Sprague (R)Haas CNC RacingPontiac20.34593.0751577Dave BlaneyJasper MotorsportsFord20.34693.070165Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet20.36292.9971732Ricky CravenPPI MotorsportsPontiac20.36992.9651838Elliott SadlerRobert Yates RacingFord20.37592.9371921Ricky RuddWood Brothers RacingFord20.38192.9102016Greg Biffle (R)Roush RacingFord20.38392.901214Mike SkinnerMorgan–McClure MotorsportsPontiac20.38992.8742241Casey Mears (R)Chip Ganassi RacingDodge20.39292.8602319Jeremy MayfieldEvernham MotorsportsDodge20.40792.792246Mark MartinRoush RacingFord20.41192.7732540Sterling MarlinChip Ganassi RacingDodge20.41292.7692601Jerry NadeauMB2 MotorsportsPontiac20.41292.7692774Tony Raines (R)BACE MotorsportsChevrolet20.41992.7372810Johnny Benson Jr.MBV MotorsportsPontiac20.42492.7152929Kevin HarvickRichard Childress RacingChevrolet20.43492.6693015Michael WaltripDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet20.44592.619319Bill ElliottEvernham MotorsportsDodge20.45092.597321Steve ParkDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet20.45692.5693345Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesDodge20.47292.4973417Matt KensethRoush RacingFord20.48492.4433530Jeff GreenRichard Childress RacingChevrolet20.48492.4433697Kurt BuschRoush RacingFord20.49792.384Provisionals3788Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord20.50992.3303831Robby GordonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet20.50392.3573918Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingChevrolet20.60591.9004043John AndrettiPetty EnterprisesDodge20.50592.3484154Todd BodineBelCar MotorsportsFord20.59091.9674237Derrike CopeQuest Motor RacingChevrolet20.69991.4834302Hermie SadlerSCORE MotorsportsChevrolet20.67691.584Official qualifying results Race results FinSt#DriverTeamMakeLapsLedStatusPtsWinnings1124Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet500190running180$219,14323918Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingChevrolet50049running175$138,348328Dale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet500195running175$112,54241099Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFord5000running160$101,59251838Elliott SadlerRobert Yates RacingFord5005running160$98,9506820Tony StewartJoe Gibbs RacingChevrolet50011running155$105,95372540Sterling MarlinChip Ganassi RacingDodge50023running151$97,275852Rusty WallacePenske Racing SouthDodge50013running147$91,2179748Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet5000running138$70,25010449Ken SchraderBAM RacingDodge5000running134$54,050111921Ricky RuddWood Brothers RacingFord5000running130$78,65012923Kenny WallaceBill Davis RacingDodge5000running127$68,22513319Bill ElliottEvernham MotorsportsDodge4990running124$88,35814165Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet4991running126$78,58115625Joe NemechekHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet4990running118$53,750162929Kevin HarvickRichard Childress RacingChevrolet49913running120$87,67817246Mark MartinRoush RacingFord4990running112$85,433182016Greg Biffle (R)Roush RacingFord4990running109$47,97519137Jimmy SpencerUltra MotorsportsDodge4990running106$63,575203788Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord4990running103$94,303213831Robby GordonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet4990running100$75,262223417Matt KensethRoush RacingFord4990running97$66,725233015Michael WaltripDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet4990running94$63,97524321Steve ParkDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet4990running91$74,562251222Ward BurtonBill Davis RacingDodge4990running88$82,931263530Jeff GreenRichard Childress RacingChevrolet4980running85$56,825271732Ricky CravenPPI MotorsportsPontiac4980running82$67,010283697Kurt BuschRoush RacingFord4980running79$64,91029140Jack Sprague (R)Haas CNC RacingPontiac4970running76$44,725304043John AndrettiPetty EnterprisesDodge4970running73$84,178311577Dave BlaneyJasper MotorsportsFord4970running70$64,064322810Johnny Benson Jr.MBV MotorsportsPontiac4970running67$74,200332774Tony Raines (R)BACE MotorsportsChevrolet4960running64$45,025343345Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesDodge4960running61$55,00035214Mike SkinnerMorgan–McClure MotorsportsPontiac4960running58$46,950362241Casey Mears (R)Chip Ganassi RacingDodge4960running55$54,400374154Todd BodineBelCar MotorsportsFord4920running52$43,85038312Ryan NewmanPenske Racing SouthDodge4360brakes49$74,665391142Jamie McMurray (R)Chip Ganassi RacingDodge3190engine46$43,740402319Jeremy MayfieldEvernham MotorsportsDodge3080overheating43$51,665412601Jerry NadeauMB2 MotorsportsPontiac2670oil pump40$43,615424237Derrike CopeQuest Motor RacingChevrolet2300throttle37$43,575434302Hermie SadlerSCORE MotorsportsChevrolet1330engine34$42,866Official race results References 2003 Aaron's 499 2003 Auto Club 500 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Category:2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Category:NASCAR races at Martinsville Speedway Category:April 2003 sports events in the United States Category:2003 in sports in Virginia