2000 Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400
# 2000 Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400

The 2000 Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 was the 31st stock car race of the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 26th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, October 22, 2000, in Rockingham, North Carolina, at North Carolina Speedway, a 1.017 miles (1.637 km) permanent high-banked racetrack. The race took the scheduled 393 laps to complete. In the final 43 laps of the race, Robert Yates Racing driver Dale Jarrett would manage to make a pass for the lead and defend the field to take his 24th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his second and final victory of the season. To fill out the top 3, Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon and Robert Yates Racing driver Ricky Rudd would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

North Carolina Speedway was opened as a flat, one-mile oval on October 31, 1965. In 1969, the track was extensively reconfigured to a high-banked, D-shaped oval just over one mile in length. In 1997, North Carolina Motor Speedway merged with Penske Motorsports, and was renamed North Carolina Speedway. Shortly thereafter, the infield was reconfigured, and competition on the infield road course, mostly by the SCCA, was discontinued. Currently, the track is home to the Fast Track High Performance Driving School.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.

| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | Pennzoil |
| 01 | Ted Musgrave | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | BellSouth |
| 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | Miller Lite |
| 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Alltel |
| 4 | Bobby Hamilton | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | GM Goodwrench Service |
| 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kodak |
| 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | Kellogg's |
| 7 | Michael Waltrip | Mattei Motorsports | Chevrolet | Valvoline |
| 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. (R) | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | NationsRent |
| 9 | Stacy Compton (R) | Melling Racing | Ford | Budweiser |
| 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Tyler Jet Motorsports | Pontiac | Kodiak |
| 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | Aaron's, RCA |
| 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | Ralphs |
| 13 | Robby Gordon | Team Menard | Ford | Team Menard |
| 14 | Rick Mast | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Pontiac | Conseco |
| 16 | Kevin Lepage | Roush Racing | Ford | Family Click |
| 17 | Matt Kenseth (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | DeWalt |
| 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | Interstate Batteries |
| 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | The Home Depot |
| 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Citgo |
| 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | Caterpillar |
| 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | DuPont |
| 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Michael Holigan |
| 26 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | Big Kmart |
| 27 | Mike Bliss (R) | Eel River Racing | Pontiac | Viagra |
| 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Texaco, Havoline |
| 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Lowe's |
| 32 | Scott Pruett (R) | PPI Motorsports | Ford | Tide |
| 33 | Joe Nemechek | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | Oakwood Homes |
| 36 | Ken Schrader | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | M&M's |
| 40 | Sterling Marlin | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | Coors Light |
| 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | Pop Secret Butter Bomber |
| 44 | Steve Grissom | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | Hot Wheels |
| 50 | Ricky Craven | Midwest Transit Racing | Chevrolet | Midwest Transit |
| 55 | Kenny Wallace | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | Square D, Cooper Lighting |
| 60 | Rich Bickle | Joe Bessey Racing | Chevrolet | Power Team |
| 66 | Darrell Waltrip | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | Route 66, Big Kmart |
| 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Realtree |
| 75 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Galaxy Motorsports | Ford | RedCell |
| 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | Jasper Engines & Transmissions |
| 85 | Carl Long | Mansion Motorsports | Ford | S. T. Wooten Corporation |
| 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Quality Care Service, Ford Credit |
| 90 | Hut Stricklin | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Hills Bros. Coffee |
| 93 | Dave Blaney (R) | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | Amoco |
| 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | McDonald's |
| 96 | Andy Houston | PPI Motorsports | Ford | Ronald McDonald House Charities |
| 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | John Deere |
| 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | Citgo Supergard |

## Practice

### First practice

The first practice session was held on Friday, October 20, at 10:30 AM EST. The session would last for one hour and 45 minutes. Jeremy Mayfield, driving for Penske-Kranefuss Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 23.223 and an average speed of 157.654 mph (253.720 km/h).

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 23.223 | 157.654 |
| 2 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 23.335 | 156.897 |
| 3 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.357 | 156.750 |
| Full first practice results |||||||

### Second practice

The second practice session was held on Saturday, October 21, at 8:00 AM EST. The session would last for one hour and 30 minutes. Tony Stewart, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 24.284 and an average speed of 150.766 mph (242.634 km/h).

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 24.284 | 150.766 |
| 2 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 24.302 | 150.654 |
| 3 | 27 | Mike Bliss (R) | Eel River Racing | Pontiac | 24.314 | 150.580 |
| Full second practice results |||||||

### Final practice

The final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, October 21, after the preliminary 2000 Sam's Club 200 NASCAR Busch Series race. The session would last for one hour. Kurt Busch, driving for Roush Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 24.275 and an average speed of 150.822 mph (242.724 km/h).

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 24.275 | 150.822 |
| 2 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 24.343 | 150.401 |
| 3 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 24.368 | 150.246 |
| Full Happy Hour practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, October 20, at 2:00 PM EST. Each driver would have one lap to set a time. During the first round, the top 25 drivers in the round would be guaranteed a starting spot in the race. If a driver was not able to guarantee a spot in the first round, they had the option to scrub their time from the first round and try and run a faster lap time in a second round qualifying run, held on Saturday, October 21, at 9:30 AM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time. Positions 26-36 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 champion needs the provisional, the next team in the owner points will be awarded a provisional.

Jeremy Mayfield, driving for Penske-Kranefuss Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 23.269 and an average speed of 157.342 miles per hour (253.217 km/h).

Five drivers would fail to qualify: Ted Musgrave, Rich Bickle, Steve Grissom, Hut Stricklin, and Stacy Compton.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 23.269 | 157.342 |
| 2 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 23.283 | 157.248 |
| 3 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.364 | 156.703 |
| 4 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 23.364 | 156.703 |
| 5 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 23.399 | 156.468 |
| 6 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 23.412 | 156.381 |
| 7 | 33 | Joe Nemechek | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 23.423 | 156.308 |
| 8 | 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 23.434 | 156.235 |
| 9 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 23.441 | 156.188 |
| 10 | 55 | Kenny Wallace | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 23.449 | 156.135 |
| 11 | 14 | Rick Mast | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Pontiac | 23.449 | 156.135 |
| 12 | 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.460 | 156.061 |
| 13 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 23.469 | 156.002 |
| 14 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Tyler Jet Motorsports | Pontiac | 23.472 | 155.982 |
| 15 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 23.473 | 155.975 |
| 16 | 16 | Kevin Lepage | Roush Racing | Ford | 23.498 | 155.809 |
| 17 | 1 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 23.511 | 155.723 |
| 18 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 23.516 | 155.690 |
| 19 | 36 | Ken Schrader | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 23.538 | 155.544 |
| 20 | 7 | Michael Waltrip | Mattei Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.557 | 155.419 |
| 21 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 23.565 | 155.366 |
| 22 | 93 | Dave Blaney (R) | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 23.573 | 155.313 |
| 23 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 23.590 | 155.201 |
| 24 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 23.592 | 155.188 |
| 25 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 23.592 | 155.188 |
| 26 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 23.596 | 155.162 |
| 27 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 23.607 | 155.090 |
| 28 | 17 | Matt Kenseth (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | 23.640 | 154.873 |
| 29 | 50 | Ricky Craven | Midwest Transit Racing | Chevrolet | 23.659 | 154.749 |
| 30 | 96 | Andy Houston | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 23.679 | 154.618 |
| 31 | 66 | Darrell Waltrip | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 23.693 | 154.527 |
| 32 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.695 | 154.514 |
| 33 | 75 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Galaxy Motorsports | Ford | 23.711 | 154.409 |
| 34 | 26 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 23.713 | 154.396 |
| 35 | 4 | Bobby Hamilton | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.720 | 154.351 |
| 36 | 27 | Mike Bliss (R) | Eel River Racing | Pontiac | 23.727 | 154.305 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 37 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. (R) | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 23.890 | 153.252 |
| 38 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 23.762 | 154.078 |
| 39 | 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 23.766 | 154.052 |
| 40 | 32 | Scott Pruett (R) | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 23.746 | 154.182 |
| 41 | 13 | Robby Gordon | Team Menard | Ford | 23.785 | 153.929 |
| 42 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 24.120 | 151.791 |
| 43 | 85 | Carl Long | Mansion Motorsports | Ford | 24.120 | 151.791 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 44 | 01 | Ted Musgrave | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 23.758 | 154.104 |
| 45 | 60 | Rich Bickle | Joe Bessey Racing | Chevrolet | 23.879 | 153.323 |
| 46 | 44 | Steve Grissom | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 24.062 | 152.157 |
| 47 | 90 | Hut Stricklin | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 24.451 | 149.736 |
| 48 | 9 | Stacy Compton (R) | Melling Racing | Ford | 24.454 | 149.718 |
| Official first round qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 21 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 393 | 43 | running | 180 | $125,850 |
| 2 | 3 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 393 | 4 | running | 175 | $81,300 |
| 3 | 13 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 393 | 13 | running | 170 | $65,300 |
| 4 | 6 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 393 | 115 | running | 170 | $62,925 |
| 5 | 15 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 393 | 43 | running | 160 | $50,875 |
| 6 | 17 | 1 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 393 | 2 | running | 155 | $47,050 |
| 7 | 18 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 393 | 0 | running | 146 | $53,200 |
| 8 | 9 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 393 | 0 | running | 142 | $50,900 |
| 9 | 35 | 4 | Bobby Hamilton | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 393 | 0 | running | 138 | $45,600 |
| 10 | 7 | 33 | Joe Nemechek | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 393 | 0 | running | 134 | $49,500 |
| 11 | 14 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Tyler Jet Motorsports | Pontiac | 393 | 0 | running | 130 | $39,550 |
| 12 | 26 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 393 | 2 | running | 132 | $32,725 |
| 13 | 11 | 14 | Rick Mast | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Pontiac | 393 | 0 | running | 124 | $29,625 |
| 14 | 8 | 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 393 | 0 | running | 121 | $40,025 |
| 15 | 29 | 50 | Ricky Craven | Midwest Transit Racing | Chevrolet | 393 | 0 | running | 118 | $30,125 |
| 16 | 4 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 393 | 0 | running | 115 | $39,325 |
| 17 | 27 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 393 | 1 | running | 117 | $46,625 |
| 18 | 19 | 36 | Ken Schrader | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 393 | 0 | running | 109 | $30,525 |
| 19 | 39 | 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 393 | 0 | running | 106 | $42,725 |
| 20 | 2 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 392 | 1 | running | 108 | $50,252 |
| 21 | 36 | 27 | Mike Bliss (R) | Eel River Racing | Pontiac | 392 | 0 | running | 100 | $27,350 |
| 22 | 33 | 75 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Galaxy Motorsports | Ford | 392 | 0 | running | 97 | $29,175 |
| 23 | 38 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 392 | 0 | running | 94 | $43,375 |
| 24 | 24 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 392 | 0 | running | 91 | $36,675 |
| 25 | 28 | 17 | Matt Kenseth (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | 391 | 0 | running | 88 | $36,775 |
| 26 | 25 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 391 | 0 | running | 85 | $24,775 |
| 27 | 12 | 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 390 | 0 | running | 82 | $35,875 |
| 28 | 30 | 96 | Andy Houston | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 389 | 0 | running | 79 | $24,375 |
| 29 | 1 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 387 | 169 | running | 86 | $51,900 |
| 30 | 40 | 32 | Scott Pruett (R) | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 386 | 0 | running | 73 | $24,575 |
| 31 | 42 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 370 | 0 | engine | 70 | $23,925 |
| 32 | 43 | 85 | Carl Long | Mansion Motorsports | Ford | 341 | 0 | running | 67 | $26,900 |
| 33 | 23 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 328 | 0 | running | 64 | $34,675 |
| 34 | 37 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. (R) | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 301 | 0 | crash | 61 | $33,550 |
| 35 | 20 | 7 | Michael Waltrip | Mattei Motorsports | Chevrolet | 295 | 0 | engine | 58 | $34,425 |
| 36 | 16 | 16 | Kevin Lepage | Roush Racing | Ford | 253 | 0 | crash | 55 | $33,875 |
| 37 | 31 | 66 | Darrell Waltrip | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 193 | 0 | engine | 52 | $23,325 |
| 38 | 32 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 191 | 0 | crash | 49 | $41,275 |
| 39 | 34 | 26 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 174 | 0 | crash | 46 | $31,225 |
| 40 | 5 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 174 | 0 | crash | 43 | $41,150 |
| 41 | 41 | 13 | Robby Gordon | Team Menard | Ford | 154 | 0 | crash | 40 | $23,100 |
| 42 | 22 | 93 | Dave Blaney (R) | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 115 | 0 | engine | 37 | $23,050 |
| 43 | 10 | 55 | Kenny Wallace | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 14 | 0 | engine | 34 | $30,994 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 44 | | 01 | Ted Musgrave | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 45 | | 60 | Rich Bickle | Joe Bessey Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 46 | | 44 | Steve Grissom | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 47 | | 90 | Hut Stricklin | Donlavey Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 48 | | 9 | Stacy Compton (R) | Melling Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||
