2000 Pepsi 400 presented by Meijer
# 2000 Pepsi 400 presented by Meijer

The 2000 Pepsi 400 presented by Meijer was the 22nd stock car race of the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 31st iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, August 20, 2000, in Brooklyn, Michigan, at Michigan International Speedway, a two-mile (3.2 km) moderate-banked D-shaped speedway. The race took the scheduled 200 laps to complete. At race's end, Penske-Kranefuss Racing driver Rusty Wallace, with the help of his crew chief, would pull away on the final restart with 18 to go to win his 52nd career NASCAR Winston Cup Series win and his third of the season. To fill out the podium, Ricky Rudd of Robert Yates Racing and Bobby Labonte of Joe Gibbs Racing would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

The race was held at Michigan International Speedway, a two-mile (3.2 km) moderate-banked D-shaped speedway located in Brooklyn, Michigan. The track is used primarily for NASCAR events. It is known as a "sister track" to Texas World Speedway as MIS's oval design was a direct basis of TWS, with moderate modifications to the banking in the corners, and was used as the basis of Auto Club Speedway. The track is owned by International Speedway Corporation. Michigan International Speedway is recognized as one of motorsports' premier facilities because of its wide racing surface and high banking (by open-wheel standards; the 18-degree banking is modest by stock car standards).

### 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 | GM Goodwrench Service |
| 4 | Bobby Hamilton | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kodak |
| 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Frosted Flakes |
| 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | Valvoline |
| 7 | Michael Waltrip | Mattei Motorsports | Chevrolet | NationsRent |
| 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. (R) | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | Budweiser |
| 9 | Stacy Compton (R) | Melling Racing | Ford | Kodiak |
| 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Tyler Jet Motorsports | Pontiac | Aaron's, RCA |
| 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | Ralphs |
| 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | Mobil 1 |
| 13 | Robby Gordon | Team Menard | Ford | Menards, Turtle Wax |
| 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 | Cheerios |
| 44 | Kyle Petty | 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 | Geoff Bodine | Joe Bessey Racing | Chevrolet | Power Team |
| 66 | Darrell Waltrip | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | Route 66, Big Kmart |
| 71 | Kerry Earnhardt | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Realtree |
| 75 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Galaxy Motorsports | Ford | RedCell, Dinner and a Movie |
| 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | Jasper Engines & Transmissions |
| 85 | Carl Long | Mansion Motorsports | Ford | Mansion Motorsports |
| 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 |
| 95 | David Keith | Sadler Brothers Racing | Ford | The Visual Bible |
| 96 | Andy Houston | PPI Motorsports | Ford | Ronald McDonald House Charities |
| 97 | Chad Little | Roush Racing | Ford | John Deere |
| 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | Exide |
| Official entry list |||||

## Practice

### First practice

The first practice session was held on Friday, August 18, at 1:35 PM EST. The session would last for 55 minutes. Dale Jarrett of Robert Yates Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 37.678 and an average speed of 191.092 mph (307.533 km/h).

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 37.678 | 191.092 |
| 2 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 37.779 | 190.582 |
| 3 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Tyler Jet Motorsports | Pontiac | 37.783 | 190.561 |
| Full first practice results |||||||

### Second practice

The second practice session was held on Saturday, August 19, at 9:00 AM EST. The session would last for one hour. Andy Houston of PPI Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 38.066 and an average speed of 189.145 mph (304.399 km/h).

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 96 | Andy Houston | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 38.066 | 189.145 |
| 2 | 71 | Kerry Earnhardt | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 38.118 | 188.887 |
| 3 | 90 | Hut Stricklin | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 38.163 | 188.664 |
| Full second practice results |||||||

### Third and final practice

The third and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, August 19, after the preliminary 2000 NAPAonline.com 250. Rusty Wallace of Penske-Kranefuss Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 39.085 and an average speed of 184.213 mph (296.462 km/h).

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 39.085 | 184.213 |
| 2 | 20 | Tony Stewart (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 39.233 | 183.518 |
| 3 | 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 39.274 | 183.327 |
| Full Happy Hour practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, August 18, at 3:30 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. 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, August 19, at 10:45 AM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have two laps to set a fastest time; the fastest of the two would count as their official qualifying lap. 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.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. would win the pole, setting a time of 37.667 and an average speed of 191.149 miles per hour (307.624 km/h).

Six drivers would fail to qualify: Geoff Bodine, Darrell Waltrip, Stacy Compton, Kyle Petty, David Keith, and Carl Long.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. (R) | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 37.667 | 191.149 |
| 2 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 37.903 | 189.959 |
| 3 | 14 | Rick Mast | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Pontiac | 37.915 | 189.898 |
| 4 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 37.941 | 189.768 |
| 5 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 37.965 | 189.648 |
| 6 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 37.970 | 189.623 |
| 7 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 37.971 | 189.618 |
| 8 | 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 37.991 | 189.519 |
| 9 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 37.998 | 189.484 |
| 10 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 37.999 | 189.479 |
| 11 | 32 | Scott Pruett (R) | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 38.020 | 189.374 |
| 12 | 36 | Ken Schrader | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 38.033 | 189.309 |
| 13 | 50 | Ricky Craven | Midwest Transit Racing | Chevrolet | 38.048 | 189.235 |
| 14 | 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 38.084 | 189.056 |
| 15 | 1 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 38.084 | 189.056 |
| 16 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 38.093 | 189.011 |
| 17 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 38.119 | 188.882 |
| 18 | 7 | Michael Waltrip | Mattei Motorsports | Chevrolet | 38.231 | 188.329 |
| 19 | 20 | Tony Stewart (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 38.246 | 188.255 |
| 20 | 75 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Galaxy Motorsports | Ford | 38.249 | 188.240 |
| 21 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 38.263 | 188.171 |
| 22 | 93 | Dave Blaney (R) | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 38.280 | 188.088 |
| 23 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Tyler Jet Motorsports | Pontiac | 38.282 | 188.078 |
| 24 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 38.290 | 188.039 |
| 25 | 33 | Joe Nemechek | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 38.309 | 187.945 |
| 26 | 90 | Hut Stricklin | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 38.175 | 188.605 |
| 27 | 71 | Kerry Earnhardt | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 38.175 | 188.605 |
| 28 | 17 | Matt Kenseth (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | 38.251 | 188.230 |
| 29 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 38.252 | 188.225 |
| 30 | 16 | Kevin Lepage | Roush Racing | Ford | 38.330 | 187.842 |
| 31 | 27 | Mike Bliss (R) | Eel River Racing | Pontiac | 38.343 | 187.779 |
| 32 | 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 38.348 | 187.754 |
| 33 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 38.354 | 187.725 |
| 34 | 55 | Kenny Wallace | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 38.363 | 187.681 |
| 35 | 96 | Andy Houston | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 38.395 | 187.524 |
| 36 | 97 | Chad Little | Roush Racing | Ford | 38.401 | 187.495 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 37 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 38.435 | 187.329 |
| 38 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 38.452 | 187.246 |
| 39 | 26 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 38.450 | 187.256 |
| 40 | 01 | Ted Musgrave | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 38.711 | 185.994 |
| 41 | 4 | Bobby Hamilton | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 38.525 | 186.892 |
| 42 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 38.407 | 187.466 |
| 43 | 13 | Robby Gordon | Team Menard | Ford | 38.754 | 185.787 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 44 | 60 | Geoff Bodine | Joe Bessey Racing | Chevrolet | 38.409 | 187.456 |
| 45 | 66 | Darrell Waltrip | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 38.551 | 186.766 |
| 46 | 9 | Stacy Compton (R) | Melling Racing | Ford | 38.716 | 185.970 |
| 47 | 44 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 38.729 | 185.907 |
| 48 | 95 | David Keith | Sadler Brothers Racing | Ford | 40.157 | 179.296 |
| 49 | 85 | Carl Long | Mansion Motorsports | Ford | 40.497 | 177.791 |
| Official first round qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 10 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 200 | 118 | running | 185 | $110,460 |
| 2 | 4 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 200 | 42 | running | 175 | $94,530 |
| 3 | 5 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 200 | 19 | running | 170 | $73,430 |
| 4 | 2 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 160 | $70,275 |
| 5 | 23 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Tyler Jet Motorsports | Pontiac | 200 | 0 | running | 155 | $44,740 |
| 6 | 37 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 150 | $51,190 |
| 7 | 39 | 26 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 146 | $50,365 |
| 8 | 28 | 17 | Matt Kenseth (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 142 | $42,490 |
| 9 | 9 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 200 | 0 | running | 138 | $49,540 |
| 10 | 24 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 200 | 5 | running | 139 | $60,090 |
| 11 | 7 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 130 | $44,515 |
| 12 | 8 | 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 127 | $39,815 |
| 13 | 6 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 124 | $37,915 |
| 14 | 41 | 4 | Bobby Hamilton | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 121 | $39,215 |
| 15 | 21 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 118 | $40,165 |
| 16 | 14 | 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 115 | $36,665 |
| 17 | 11 | 32 | Scott Pruett (R) | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 112 | $25,115 |
| 18 | 30 | 16 | Kevin Lepage | Roush Racing | Ford | 200 | 1 | running | 114 | $35,715 |
| 19 | 12 | 36 | Ken Schrader | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 200 | 0 | running | 106 | $27,415 |
| 20 | 33 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 103 | $45,015 |
| 21 | 18 | 7 | Michael Waltrip | Mattei Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 100 | $35,865 |
| 22 | 36 | 97 | Chad Little | Roush Racing | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 97 | $34,665 |
| 23 | 25 | 33 | Joe Nemechek | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 94 | $34,440 |
| 24 | 22 | 93 | Dave Blaney (R) | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 200 | 0 | running | 91 | $23,040 |
| 25 | 20 | 75 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Galaxy Motorsports | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 88 | $26,090 |
| 26 | 40 | 01 | Ted Musgrave | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 199 | 1 | running | 90 | $34,190 |
| 27 | 29 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 199 | 1 | running | 87 | $40,615 |
| 28 | 31 | 27 | Mike Bliss (R) | Eel River Racing | Pontiac | 199 | 0 | running | 79 | $22,565 |
| 29 | 3 | 14 | Rick Mast | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Pontiac | 199 | 0 | running | 76 | $23,240 |
| 30 | 34 | 55 | Kenny Wallace | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | running | 73 | $33,915 |
| 31 | 1 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. (R) | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 199 | 13 | running | 75 | $37,710 |
| 32 | 38 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 188 | 0 | engine | 67 | $25,180 |
| 33 | 15 | 1 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 179 | 0 | engine | 64 | $32,630 |
| 34 | 43 | 13 | Robby Gordon | Team Menard | Ford | 177 | 0 | crash | 61 | $22,080 |
| 35 | 35 | 96 | Andy Houston | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 156 | 0 | engine | 58 | $22,030 |
| 36 | 16 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 141 | 0 | crash | 55 | $42,205 |
| 37 | 13 | 50 | Ricky Craven | Midwest Transit Racing | Chevrolet | 124 | 0 | vibration | 52 | $21,980 |
| 38 | 17 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 123 | 0 | crash | 49 | $29,905 |
| 39 | 26 | 90 | Hut Stricklin | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 101 | 0 | engine | 46 | $22,395 |
| 40 | 32 | 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 63 | 0 | crash | 43 | $29,860 |
| 41 | 19 | 20 | Tony Stewart (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 36 | 0 | crash | 40 | $41,250 |
| 42 | 42 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 23 | 0 | engine | 37 | $21,840 |
| 43 | 27 | 71 | Kerry Earnhardt | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 5 | 0 | crash | 34 | $21,830 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 44 | | 60 | Geoff Bodine | Joe Bessey Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 45 | | 66 | Darrell Waltrip | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| 46 | | 9 | Stacy Compton (R) | Melling Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 47 | | 44 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 48 | | 95 | David Keith | Sadler Brothers Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 49 | | 85 | Carl Long | Mansion Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||
