• Race: Sunday, February 25, 2001 in Rockingham, NC
  
  
• TV: Fox 1:00pm/et, pre-race show at 12:30pm/et
  
  
• Posted Awards/Purse: $3,205,393
  
  
• Entry List: Entry List for the: Dura Lube 400 from NOL
  
  
• 2000 Race Winner: Bobby Labonte, 127.875mph
  
  
• Race Record: Jeff Burton, Oct 1999, 131.103mph
  
  
• Track/Race Length: 1.017 mile oval, 393 laps, 399.68 miles
  
  
• Pit Road Speed: 45mph
  
  

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  Practice
  
  
• Practice: Saturday, Feb 24th 7:30 - 9:30am/et
  
  
• Happy Hour Practice: Saturday, Feb 24th after the BGN race(approx 3:00pm/et), TV-FX
  
  

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  Qualifying
  
  
• Qualifying Draw: Saturday, Feb 24th at 7:00am/et
  
  
• Qualfying Order - Dura-Lube 400: at That's Racin'
  
  
• Qualifying: 2 laps for positions 1-36, Saturday, Feb 24th at 10:40am/et, TV-FSN(Fox Sports Net) and live via MRN radio/internet
  
  
• NASCAR Online will have live lap-by-lap coverage of Winston Cup qualifying via the web
  
  
• Second-Round Qualifying: there is no longer a 2nd round of qualifying
  
  
• Track Qualifying Record: Rusty Wallace, April 2000, 158.035mph
  
  
• Event Qualifying Record: Rusty Wallace, April 2000, 158.035mph
  
  
• Last Year's Pole Sitter: Rusty Wallace, 158.035mph
  
  
  THE LAST 10 DURA-LUBE 500's:
  Winner Pole Winner
  2000 Bobby Labonte Rusty Wallace
  1999 Mark Martin Ricky Rudd
  1998 Jeff Gordon Rick Mast
  1997 Jeff Gordon Mark Martin
  1996 Dale Earnhardt Terry Labonte
  1995 Jeff Gordon Jeff Gordon
  1994 Geoffrey Bodine Rusty Wallace
  1993 Rusty Wallace Mark Martin
  1992 Bill Elliott Kyle Petty
  1991 Kyle Petty Kyle Petty
  
  See full list winners at my All Time Rockingham Winners page
  
  

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• Track Specs: North Carolina Speedway, know as 'The Rock':
  Degree of Banking: Turns 1-2: 22 degrees; Turns 3-4: 25 degrees; Straightaways: 8 degrees
  Width: Turns 55 feet wide; Straightaways: 50 feet wide
  Number of Pits: 45 on front straight (1,436 ft. long) pit road
  Pit Stalls: 30 feet long; 16 feet wide
  Length of Front Straight: 1,300 feet
  Length of Back Straight: 1,367 feet
  Length of Turns 1 & 2: 1,256 feet
  Length of Turns 3 & 4: 1,437 feet(NCS Website)
  
  
• Track Homepage: North Carolina Speedway
  
  
• Scanner Frequencies: are linked on my Racing Links Page/ Scanners Section
  
  

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  RACE BONUS INFO

• The NASCAR Winston Cup Leader Bonus is $10,000 at Rockingham for leading the points and winning the race(Michael Waltrip last won the award, $10,000 at Daytona on Feb 18, 2001). The $360,000 annual award is paid at $10,000 per race to the point leader at the end of each event if he is also the winner. The award increases by $10,000 each week the it goes unclaimed. If the point leader is not the race winner at the end of the year, the balance of the award is distributed among the top-10 finisher in the point standings(2-18-2001)
  
  

IN-CAR AUDIO SITES

PREVIEW, FACT SHEETS and MISC News

• Childress to take a lap? UPDATE 2 No: Rumor has it in the garage that Cup team owners (#3 and #'s 29,30,31) Richard Childress could take a lap in the black #3 Chevy at some point this weekend(NASCAR Online Buzz)(2-23-2001)
  UPDATE: Dale Earnhardt's black #3 Chevrolet will make its final lap around the race track before being retired. According to Earnhardt team sponsor and "Realtree Outdoors" owner Bill Jordan, the trademark black car driven by "The Intimidator" will make its final appearance at Rockingham, NC, this weekend. The car will be driven for one final tribute lap around the track prior to Sunday's DuraLube 400. Childress would like to drive the car himself. But if the emotion of driving it becomes too much, he'll have driver Dave Marcis of the Realtree team handle it. Earnhardt's black car color scheme is to be retired after the tribute lap(Charleston Gazette)
  UPDATE 2: it was decided not to run the #3 car on a parade lap around Rockingham as the Earnhardt family didn't feel they were ready to see it on the track so soon(ESPN2's RPM 2Day)(2-25-2001)
  
  
• That's Racin': Dura Lube 400 Race Info
  
  
• Raceday Today(2-25-2001)
  
  
• NASCAR - Dura Lube 400 Preview(WRAL)(2-25-2000)
  
  
• Crew Chief Club
  
  

• note: this is not to promote gambling but to offer readers odds and ideas on what the 'experts' think about the upcoming race and the Cup series season
  
  
• Don Best Sports - Dura Lube 400 and the 2001 Winston Cup Championship(2-25-2001)
  
  
• Imperial Palace NASCAR Odds - Dura Lube 400 and the 2001 Winston Cup(SportsFax News)(2-25-2001)
  
  
• NASCAR Odds - Dura Lube 400(2-25-2001)
  
  
• Stardust NASCAR Odds - Winston Cup Championship(WRAL)(2-20-2001)
  
  
• United Bet - Dura Lube 400 Odds(2-21-2001)
  
  
• Vegas Insider - Dura Lube 400 odds(2-25-2001)
  
  

• Park wins at Rockingham: #1-Steve Park won a thrilling finish, just beating 18-Bobby Labonte. The second win for DEI (Dale Earnhardt Inc) in a row (#15-Waltrip won the Daytona 500). Park drove around the track clockwise (the Polish Victory lap) holding a black #3 cap out the window. Waltrip stayed out on the track to high five Park. The win is Park's 2nd career win in Winston Cup and first on an oval(Park won at Watkins Glen last August). Parks car ran out of gas on pitroad coming in and had to be pushed into victory lane. Park was very emotional in Victory Lane and jumped into his crew arms. #32-Ricky Craven, who finished 5th, had his first top five since he ran 3rd at Rockingham in Oct 1997 a span of 54 races, it was also the highest finish for a PPI Motorsports/Cal Wells owned car.
  See results at That's Racin' or NASCAR Online(2-26-2001)
  
  
• Gordon to drop back: Jeff Gordon wore a black Dale Earnhardt cap with silver and red streaks after winning the pole for the Dura Lube 400. Gordon will drop from the first starting spot on one of the parade laps before the race to honor Earnhardt(Roanoke Times)(2-25-2001)
  
  
• Happy Hour(s) Practice is over for the Dura Lube 400 at Rockingham. #24-Jeff Gordon was the fastest at 150.209mph with #2-Rusty Wallace 2nd with a speed of 148.847. Happy Hour was extended to two hours. See the speeds of the two hour session at That's Racin': `Happy Hour' practice speeds. Noticed during the one hour FX broadcast(the first of the two hour session), #6-Mark Martin has Pfizer decals not Viagra and #55-Bobby Hamilton has Integrated Electrical Services on the rear 1/4 panels(2-24-2001)
  
  
• Qualifying is over: for the Dura Lube 400 at Rockingham. #24-Jeff Gordon won the pole with a speed of 156.455mph, #1-Steve Park was 2nd. #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr will start 25th after running a speed of 153.981. Daytona 500 winner, #15-Micheal Waltrip will start 7th after wrecking in practice and using a backup. #29-Kevin Harvick got the GM Goodwrench Chevy in the race and will make his Cup debut, starting 36th. The two missing the race are #96-Andy Houston(50th in 2000 Owners Points) and #45-Kyle Petty(53rd). Provisionals go to #31-Skinner(12th in 2000 Owners Points), #17-Kenseth(14th), #66-T Bodine(39th), #92-Compton(40th), #32-Craven(41st), #44-Jones(42nd) and #90-Stricklin(44th). See my Provisional Page for info and standings. See the starting lineup at That's Racin': Dura-lube 400 lineup(2-24-2001)
  
  
• Poles at the Rock: Mark Martin and Kyle Petty lead all active drivers each with five Bud Poles at Rockingham. Retired drivers Cale Yarborough and David Pearson also scored five Bud Poles at Rockingham(NASCAR PR)(2-20-2001)
  
  
• Qualifying Order is up at That's Racin'. See above for the link. 45(no #60-Bessey or #85-Long as listed on the Entry List) cars are listed, so two will go home. #22-Ward Burton is scheduled to go out first, scheduled out 45th and last is #36-Ken Schrader. Kevin Harvick is due out 39th in the #29 GM Goodwrench Chevy(sounds weird). Qualifying is on Fox Sports Net(if you get it, check local listings, not here in South Jersey). NASACR Online has online live scoring(2-24-2001)
  
  
• Saturday AM Practice is over at Rockingham. #1-Steve Park was the fastest at 156.844 (track record is 158.035mph set last Feb by #2-Rusty Wallace). 2nd was #18-Bobby Labonte at 156.609. #29-Kevin Harvick in the GM Goodwrench Chevy was 30th fastest at 154.052. Slowest was #90-Hut Stricklin at 151.678. See full rundown of speeds at That's Racin'(2-24-2001)
  
  
• Entry List is up at NOL for the Dura Lube 400. See above for the link(NOTE: for some reason it is alphabetical by first name, hard to follow). 47 cars are list(43 make the race), the #29-Kevin Harvick GM Goodwrench Chevy is listed as TBA for driver and number. #60-Joe Bessey is listed in the #60 Chevy, no sponsor. #85-Carl Long is listed but I have been told he will not go to Rockingham as they didn't have time to prepare the car. Also two mistakes noticed(no need to email about them), the #27 is listed as the Square-D Pontiac and the #97 is listed as the John Deere Ford. No John Deere is not back on the #97 and Sqaure-D is still on the #55 not the #27(2-23-2001)
  
  
• an interesting point: When NASCAR officials decided to disallow Jerry Nadeau's qualifying time yesterday, it raised an interesting question. With the Winston Cup series having only one round of qualifying the rest of the season, what happens if an unapproved part is found? According to NASCAR, drivers no longer have to post an official qualifying time to use a provisional, they only have to practice. So a driver could have a penalty on a qualifying issue but still have access to one of the seven provisionals for the race(Richmond Times Dispatch)(2-11-2001)
  
  
• How to break a tie during qualifying?(same speed/time) When drivers are tied for a starting spot during qualifying, it is broken by owners points standings(not drivers). For provisionals standings see the Jayski Provisional Status page(2-20-2000)
  
  
• Links: Practice speeds, qualifying and results can be found at these sites: NASCAR Online, Racin Network, and That's Racin'
  
  

TRACK/RACE NEWS

• Tix at the Rock: Ticket sales have remained steady for this weekend race at Rockingham following the death of driver Dale Earnhardt. A tribute to Earnhardt is being planned for the race weekend. Earnhardt fans, who have left flowers and mementos at the driver's shop and signed guest books at funeral homes around the country, also have left flowers and pictures outside the track. While ticket sales are stable, several motel operators in Rockingham said they have had cancelations from Earnhardt fans too upset to attend a race since the driver was killed in a crash last weekend at the Daytona 500(AP/ESPN)(2-21-2001)
  
  
• How to Calculate Track Speeds: use the formula Speed = Distance divided by Time. Distance is Track Length, and Lap Time into Hours. Once hour is 3600 seconds, so the calculation for a 48 second lap at Daytona(2.5 miles) would be: Speed = 2.5 x (3600/48), = 2.5 x 75 = 187.500mph. For a 19 second lap at Bristol(.533 miles): Speed = .533 x (3600/19), = .533 x 189.474 = a speed of 100.990mph
  
  
• Past track news: posted in the past at Jayski's Past Track News/Rumors - Rockingham
  
  

DRIVER/TEAM NEWS

• Rock Fact: Michael Waltrip will try to become only the third driver in history to win the first two races of the season. Jeff Gordon accomplished the feat in 1997 and David Pearson turned the trick in 1976. Only two drivers have ever won the Daytona 500 and went on to win the first race at North Carolina Speedway -- Richard Petty (1974) and Gordon (1997). (WRAL/Sports Network)(2-25-2001)
  
  
• Graves to Sub: Andy Graves, team manager at Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, will replace suspended crew chief Kevin Cram on the #01 Cingular Wireless Dodge Intrepid R/T after the running of the Daytona 500. Kram is scheduled to begin a four-race suspension, and will remain on seasonlong probation, after NASCAR officials found an illegal substance in the car's fuel cell last week. Cram, who also has been fined $10,000, will resume his duties at Bristol Motor Speedway on March 25(Star Telegram)(2-17-2001)
  
  
• #25 Crew Chief: Gordon Gibbs will be the crew chief for Jerry Nadeau in the upcoming weeks. Tony Furr begins serving a four-week suspension next week at Rockingham, NC. Furr altered the suspension system on his car, earning a $10,000 fine, the suspension and a year's probation(Times Dispatch)(2-14-2001)
  
  
• See the 2001 Team Chart which has links to past news for each team
  
  

PAINT SCHEME NEWS

• #17 Special Scheme: With a year of Winston Cup experience and the 2000 Raybestos Rookie of the Year(ROTY) crown under their belts, the only thing "rookie" about Matt Kenseth and the DEWALT Racing team in the year 2001 will be the paint scheme of the #17 Ford Taurus. In honor of last season's well-deserved title, the #17 car will feature yellow paint with the Raybestos Rookie of the Year logo on the hood. The paint scheme will be featured at Daytona, Rockingham and Las Vegas. In addition to the Rookie of the Year paint scheme, DEWALT Industrial Tools is launching a new product line for 2001 which is expected to be larger than their original launch in 1992. To market the new tools, DEWALT has decided to use the #17 car to help create excitement about the launch. Kenseth will have four new paint schemes throughout the season to compliment DEWALT's new power tools(DeWalt Racing PR). See images of the car at my Paint Scheme Gallery(1-19-2001)
  
  
• More Paint Scheme news can be found on Paint Schemes Gallery, choose current news
  
  

STATS and STUFF thru the race before this one