2001 Kmart 400
# 2001 Kmart 400

The 2001 Kmart 400 was the 14th stock car race of the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 33rd iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, June 10, 2001, 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, Jeff Gordon, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would manage to hold off the field on the final restart with four to go to win his 55th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series win and his third of the season. The win was also Hendrick Motorsports' 100th NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory. To fill out the podium, Ricky Rudd, driving for Robert Yates Racing, and Sterling Marlin, driving for Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, 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.
* (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.

| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | Pennzoil |
| 01 | Jason Leffler (R) | Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates | Dodge | Cingular Wireless, Special Olympics |
| 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | Miller Lite |
| 02 | Ryan Newman (i) | Penske Racing South | Ford | Alltel |
| 4 | Kevin Lepage | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kodak |
| 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kellogg's |
| 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | Viagra |
| 7 | Mike Wallace | Ultra Motorsports | Ford | NationsRent |
| 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | Budweiser |
| 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | Dodge, Muhammad Ali |
| 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac | Valvoline |
| 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | RedCell, Ralphs |
| 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske Racing South | Ford | Mobil 1 |
| 14 | Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Pontiac | Conseco |
| 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | NAPA Auto Parts |
| 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | DeWalt |
| 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | Interstate Batteries |
| 19 | Casey Atwood (R) | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | Dodge |
| 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | The Home Depot |
| 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Motorcraft |
| 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | Caterpillar |
| 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | DuPont |
| 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | UAW, Delphi |
| 26 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | Kmart |
| 27 | Kenny Wallace | Eel River Racing | Pontiac | Sauer's, Duke's Mayonnaise |
| 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Texaco, Havoline |
| 29 | Kevin Harvick (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | GM Goodwrench |
| 30 | Jeff Green | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | America Online |
| 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Lowe's |
| 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Ford | Tide |
| 33 | Bobby Hamilton Jr. | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | Oakwood Homes |
| 36 | Ken Schrader | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac | M&M's |
| 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates | Dodge | Coors Light |
| 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | Cheerios |
| 44 | Buckshot Jones | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | Georgia-Pacific Sparkle |
| 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | Sprint PCS |
| 50 | Rick Mast | Midwest Transit Racing | Chevrolet | Midwest Transit |
| 55 | Bobby Hamilton | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | Square D |
| 66 | Todd Bodine | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | Kmart Blue Light Special |
| 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | Jasper Engines & Transmissions |
| 84 | Shawna Robinson | Michael Kranefuss Racing | Ford | Aaron's |
| 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | UPS |
| 90 | Hut Stricklin | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Hills Bros. Coffee |
| 92 | Stacy Compton | Melling Racing | Dodge | Kodiak |
| 93 | Dave Blaney | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | Amoco Ultimate |
| 96 | Andy Houston (R) | PPI Motorsports | Ford | McDonald's |
| 97 | Kurt Busch (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | Rubbermaid, Sharpie |
| 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | Citgo Supergard |
| Official entry list |||||

## Practice

### First practice

The first practice session was held on Friday, June 8, at 12:00 PM EST. The session would last for two hours. Ryan Newman, driving for Penske Racing South, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 38.467 and an average speed of 187.173 mph (301.226 km/h).

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 02 | Ryan Newman (i) | Penske Racing South | Ford | 38.467 | 187.173 |
| 2 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 38.469 | 187.164 |
| 3 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 38.473 | 187.144 |
| Full first practice results |||||||

### Second practice

The second practice session was held on Saturday, June 9, at 9:00 AM EST. The session would last for 45 minutes. Jeff Gordon, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 38.913 and an average speed of 185.028 mph (297.774 km/h).

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 38.913 | 185.028 |
| 2 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 39.104 | 184.124 |
| 3 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 39.133 | 183.988 |
| Full second practice results |||||||

### Third and final practice

The final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, June 9, at 10:30 AM EST. The session would last for one hour and 30 minutes. Rusty Wallace, driving for Penske Racing South, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 39.462 and an average speed of 182.454 mph (293.631 km/h).

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 39.462 | 182.454 |
| 2 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac | 39.534 | 182.122 |
| 3 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 39.566 | 181.974 |
| Full Happy Hour practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Friday, June 8, at 3:10 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.

Jeff Gordon, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would win the pole, setting a time of 38.247 and an average speed of 188.250 miles per hour (302.959 km/h).

Five drivers would fail to qualify: Mike Wallace, Rick Mast, Andy Houston, Stacy Compton, and Kenny Wallace.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 38.247 | 188.250 |
| 2 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 38.249 | 188.240 |
| 3 | 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 38.361 | 187.691 |
| 4 | 93 | Dave Blaney | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 38.365 | 187.671 |
| 5 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 38.372 | 187.637 |
| 6 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 38.405 | 187.476 |
| 7 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 38.409 | 187.456 |
| 8 | 29 | Kevin Harvick (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 38.412 | 187.441 |
| 9 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske Racing South | Ford | 38.433 | 187.339 |
| 10 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac | 38.480 | 187.110 |
| 11 | 97 | Kurt Busch (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | 38.509 | 186.969 |
| 12 | 02 | Ryan Newman (i) | Penske Racing South | Ford | 38.514 | 186.945 |
| 13 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 38.529 | 186.872 |
| 14 | 26 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 38.533 | 186.853 |
| 15 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 38.594 | 186.557 |
| 16 | 1 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 38.595 | 186.553 |
| 17 | 30 | Jeff Green | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 38.614 | 186.461 |
| 18 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 38.639 | 186.340 |
| 19 | 33 | Bobby Hamilton Jr. | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 38.645 | 186.311 |
| 20 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 38.653 | 186.273 |
| 21 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 38.663 | 186.225 |
| 22 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 38.720 | 185.950 |
| 23 | 90 | Hut Stricklin | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 38.730 | 185.902 |
| 24 | 44 | Buckshot Jones | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 38.750 | 185.806 |
| 25 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 38.753 | 185.792 |
| 26 | 4 | Kevin Lepage | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 38.778 | 185.672 |
| 27 | 14 | Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Pontiac | 38.778 | 185.672 |
| 28 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 38.780 | 185.663 |
| 29 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates | Dodge | 38.784 | 185.644 |
| 30 | 66 | Todd Bodine | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 38.789 | 185.620 |
| 31 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 38.808 | 185.529 |
| 32 | 84 | Shawna Robinson | Michael Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 38.808 | 185.529 |
| 33 | 36 | Ken Schrader | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 38.809 | 185.524 |
| 34 | 19 | Casey Atwood (R) | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 38.822 | 185.462 |
| 35 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 38.825 | 185.448 |
| 36 | 01 | Jason Leffler (R) | Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates | Dodge | 38.845 | 185.352 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 37 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 39.111 | 184.091 |
| 38 | 55 | Bobby Hamilton | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 39.335 | 183.043 |
| 39 | 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 38.980 | 184.710 |
| 40 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 38.950 | 184.852 |
| 41 | 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 39.096 | 184.162 |
| 42 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 38.864 | 185.261 |
| 43 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 38.851 | 185.323 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 44 | 7 | Mike Wallace | Ultra Motorsports | Ford | 38.920 | 184.995 |
| 45 | 50 | Rick Mast | Midwest Transit Racing | Chevrolet | 38.945 | 184.876 |
| 46 | 96 | Andy Houston (R) | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 39.005 | 184.592 |
| 47 | 92 | Stacy Compton | Melling Racing | Dodge | 39.312 | 183.150 |
| 48 | 27 | Kenny Wallace | Eel River Racing | Pontiac | 39.379 | 182.830 |
| Official qualifying results |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 1 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 143 | running | 185 | $240,137 |
| 2 | 2 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 200 | 3 | running | 175 | $123,257 |
| 3 | 29 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates | Dodge | 200 | 28 | running | 170 | $95,280 |
| 4 | 9 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske Racing South | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 160 | $98,814 |
| 5 | 12 | 02 | Ryan Newman (i) | Penske Racing South | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 0 | $47,315 |
| 6 | 23 | 90 | Hut Stricklin | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 150 | $57,140 |
| 7 | 13 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 146 | $91,286 |
| 8 | 4 | 93 | Dave Blaney | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 200 | 0 | running | 142 | $47,965 |
| 9 | 6 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 200 | 0 | running | 138 | $71,638 |
| 10 | 8 | 29 | Kevin Harvick (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 134 | $94,042 |
| 11 | 14 | 26 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 130 | $62,735 |
| 12 | 10 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac | 200 | 11 | running | 132 | $53,400 |
| 13 | 25 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 200 | 0 | running | 124 | $92,317 |
| 14 | 33 | 36 | Ken Schrader | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 200 | 0 | running | 121 | $57,701 |
| 15 | 31 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 200 | 10 | running | 123 | $54,040 |
| 16 | 20 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 199 | 0 | running | 115 | $83,041 |
| 17 | 17 | 30 | Jeff Green | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | running | 0 | $38,390 |
| 18 | 21 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 199 | 0 | running | 109 | $83,117 |
| 19 | 36 | 01 | Jason Leffler (R) | Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates | Dodge | 199 | 0 | running | 106 | $54,080 |
| 20 | 3 | 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | running | 103 | $78,014 |
| 21 | 43 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 199 | 0 | running | 100 | $52,115 |
| 22 | 38 | 55 | Bobby Hamilton | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | running | 97 | $48,440 |
| 23 | 16 | 1 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | running | 94 | $66,333 |
| 24 | 19 | 33 | Bobby Hamilton Jr. | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | running | 91 | $68,060 |
| 25 | 37 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 198 | 0 | running | 88 | $57,490 |
| 26 | 42 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 198 | 0 | running | 85 | $71,970 |
| 27 | 22 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 198 | 0 | running | 82 | $35,990 |
| 28 | 41 | 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 198 | 0 | running | 79 | $46,840 |
| 29 | 35 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 198 | 0 | running | 76 | $45,640 |
| 30 | 34 | 19 | Casey Atwood (R) | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 198 | 0 | running | 73 | $39,065 |
| 31 | 26 | 4 | Kevin Lepage | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 198 | 0 | running | 70 | $37,915 |
| 32 | 27 | 14 | Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Pontiac | 197 | 0 | running | 67 | $35,340 |
| 33 | 28 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 197 | 0 | running | 64 | $35,265 |
| 34 | 32 | 84 | Shawna Robinson | Michael Kranefuss Racing | Ford | 197 | 0 | running | 61 | $35,190 |
| 35 | 5 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 196 | 0 | running | 58 | $35,115 |
| 36 | 24 | 44 | Buckshot Jones | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 188 | 1 | engine | 60 | $43,065 |
| 37 | 15 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 186 | 0 | crash | 52 | $70,042 |
| 38 | 40 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 184 | 0 | engine | 49 | $68,040 |
| 39 | 7 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 171 | 4 | engine | 51 | $69,593 |
| 40 | 39 | 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 156 | 0 | running | 43 | $52,835 |
| 41 | 18 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 118 | 0 | running | 40 | $79,940 |
| 42 | 30 | 66 | Todd Bodine | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 38 | 0 | crash | 37 | $34,760 |
| 43 | 11 | 97 | Kurt Busch (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | 16 | 0 | crash | 34 | $42,069 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 44 | | 7 | Mike Wallace | Ultra Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| 45 | | 50 | Rick Mast | Midwest Transit Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 46 | | 96 | Andy Houston (R) | PPI Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| 47 | | 92 | Stacy Compton | Melling Racing | Dodge | | | | | |
| 48 | | 27 | Kenny Wallace | Eel River Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||
