THE NEXT Winston Cup RACE
NEWS, STATS and INFO

THE RACE: Pepsi 400 presented by Meijer

Winston Cup Race #23 of 36 for the 2001 season

Updated: often, leading up to the race

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• Race: Sunday, August 19, 2001 in Brooklyn, MI
• TV: TNT – 2:00pm/et, re-aired on TNT Monday, Aug 13th, 12:00noon/et
• Pre-Race Show: 1:30pm/et – Hosted by Bill Weber
• NASCAR on TV and TNT TV Schedule
• Announcers: Allen Bestwick, Benny Parsons and Wally Dallenbach
• Pit Reporters: Bill Weber, Matt Yocum, Marty Snider, Dave Burns
• Purse: $3,307,453 (last year $2,167,970)
• Entry List: Entry List for the: Pepsi 400 from NASCAR.com
• 2000 Race Winner: Rusty Wallace, 132.597mph
• Track Race Record: Dale Jarrett, June 1999, 173.997mph (no cautions)
• Track/Race Length: 2.0 oval, 200 laps, 400 miles
• Pit Road Speed: 45mph
  

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  Practice

• Practice: Friday, Aug 17th 11:05am – 1:05pm/et; Saturday, Aug 18th 11:15 – 12:00noon/et
• Happy Hour Practice: Saturday, Aug 19th after the BGN race (approx 3:00pm/et), TV-TNT
  

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  Qualifying

• Qualifying Draw: Friday, Aug 17th, 10:00am/et
• Qualfying Order: or NASCAR.com
• First Round Qualifying: 2 laps for positions 1-36, Friday, Aug 17th at 3:00pm/et, TV-CNN/SI and live via MRN Radio(link below) and will be re-aired on Friday, Aug 17th at 9:30pm/et on CNN/SI
• NASCAR.com 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: Dale Earnhardt Jr, August 2000, 191.149mph
• Last Year’s Pole Sitter: Dale Earnhardt Jr, 191.149mph
  

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  Track Specs:
  Superspeedway: 2.0-mile D-shaped oval
  Banking: turns: 18 degrees; straights: frontstretch 12 degrees, backstretch 5 degrees
  Backstretch Length: 2,242 feet; Front stretch Length: 2,229 feet
  Pit lane is 50 feet wide and contains space for 44 individual pit areas

• Track Homepage: Michigan International Speedway

  
  

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  RACE BONUS INFO

• The NASCAR Winston Cup Leader Bonus is $10,000 at Michigan for leading the points and winning the race (Jeff Gordon last won the award, $10,000 at Watkins Glen on Aug 12, 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(8-12-2001)

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• : Pepsi 400 Race Info
• CBS Sportsline: Pepsi 400 Preview
• CNN/SI: Pepsi 400 Coverage – Ready to rumble
• Crew Chief Club
• FoxSports: Pepsi 400 preview
• Frontstretch: Raceday Today – Pepsi 400
• NASCAR.com: Pepsi 400 Race Page
• Yahoo: Pepsi 400 – Preview

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• 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

• NASCAR Odds – Early Odds for the Pepsi 400
• United Bet – Pepsi 400 Odds

• Vegas Insider – Pepsi 400 odds

• World Sports Exchange – Pepsi 400 odds

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• Marlin Wins at Michigan: #40-Sterling Marlin wins the Pepsi 400 at Michigan Intl Speedway when the race was called after 162 laps because of rain. It is Marlins first win since July 6, 1996 at Daytona (also in the Pepsi 400) a streak of 169 races. It is also Dodge’s first Winston Cup win since Neil Bonnett won at Ontario CA on Nov 20, 1977 in the #5 Dodge. It was also the first win for a Coor’s sponsored car since Kyle Petty won at Dover in June 1995. #32-Ricky Craven came home 2nd(his career best) with #9-Bill Elliott in 3rd.
  #24-Jeff Gordon’s Winston Cup Drivers Points lead (now has 3353 points) is now 298 over #28-Ricky Rudd with #88-Jarrett now 354 behind in third and #40-Marlin sneaking up on Jarrett in 4th 381 behind.
  See for the Pepsi 400 Unofficial Results, Unofficial Drivers Standings and for a column: Marlin, Dodge score at Michigan(8-19-2001)

• Rain History at Michigan: Four other Winston Cup races at MIS have been affected by rain. In August 1969, the first Yankee 600 was stopped after 165 of 300 laps with David Pearson taking the win. The August 1977 Champion 400 was postponed until Monday, when Darrell Waltrip won. In June 1982, there was a delay of more than three hours before Cale Yarborough edged Waltrip for the Gabriel 400 win. Most recently, last year’s June race had a mid-race delay before another shower gave Tony Stewart a wet Kmart 400 win after 194 of a planned 200 laps.(Detroit Free Press)(8-20-2001)
• How did the Rookie of the Year Candidates do at Michigan?
  #01-Leffler 186.751 started 11th, finished 24th, 10 rookie points
  #14-Hornaday 185.028 started 34th, finished 30th, 9
  #19-Atwood 187.144 started 6th, finished 10th(ties a career best), 12
  #29-Harvick 185.816 started 26th, finished 41st, 7
  #96-Houston 185.424 started 29th, finished 31st, 8
  #97-Busch 185.919 started 23rd, finished 43rd, 6(8-19-2001)

• TNT To Debut “Pride Of NASCAR” today: TNT will introduce a new feature called “Pride of NASCAR” on Sunday, August 19, when they televise the Pepsi 400 live from Michigan at 2:00pm/et with a pre-race show beginning at 1:30pm/et. The new series of features will highlight the careers of some of NASCAR’s living legends beginning this weekend with legendary team owner Bud Moore. Moore has had some of the top drivers in NASCAR history behind the wheel of his cars including Bobby Allison, Buddy Baker, Dale Earnhardt, Ricky Rudd, and both Geoffrey and Brett Bodine. Each week a different NASCAR living legend will have the spotlight. Next week, retired driver Bobby Allison will be featured during the Sharpie 500 from Bristol, TN, on Saturday, August 25(NASCAR PR)(8-19-2001)
• Happy Hour Practice at Michigan is over. #2-Rusty Wallace was the fastest at 181.497mph. The rest of the top 10:
  #29-Harvick 180.936 starts 26th
  #28-Rudd 180.533 starts 3rd
  #6-Martin 180.279 starts 25th
  #40-Marlin 180.252 starts 15th
  #24-Gordon 179.870 starts 13th
  #32-Craven 179.865 starts 1st
  #22-Burton 179.856 starts 37th
  #12-Mayfield 179.739 starts 19th
  #93-Blaney 179.721 starts 41st
  #15-Michael Waltrip wrecked his primary car, which was to start 7th, and will go to a backup car and have to start from the tail end of the field at the start of the race, Waltrip was uninjured. See for Happy Hour speeds(8-18-2001)

• Craven on the Pole at Michigan: #32-Ricky Craven was the final driver out to make a qualifying attempt and took the pole with a speed of 188.127mph, Craven’s 4th career Bud Pole. Outside pole goes to #9-Bill Elliott with a speed of 187.857. #21-Elliott Sadler gets a top 5 spot and starts 4th. #90-Hut Stricklin gets a top 10 spot (starts 8th) and #01-Jason Leffler gets his career best start with an 11th. Missing the race (DNQ’s) are #44-Buckshot Jones (41st in owners points but out of provisionals); and #57-David Keith (62nd). #27-Rick Mast made the race using the final provisional and because #44-Jones is out of provisionals.
  The Top ten starters:
  1)  #32-Ricky Craven 188.127mph

  2)  #9-Bill Elliott 187.857
  3)  #28-Ricky Rudd 187.534
  4)  #21-Elliott Sadler 187.217
  5)  #43-John Andretti 187.164
  6)  #19-Casey Atwood 187.144
  7)  #15-Michael Waltrip 187.066
  8)  #90-Hut Stricklin 187.047
  9)  #18-Bobby Labonte 187.032
  10) #20-Tony Stewart 186.838
  slowest: #27-Rick Mast 182.011
  #25-Jerry Nadeau wrecked on his 2nd qualifying lap and will have to go to a backup car and start at the back of the field Sunday. See starting lineups at or NASCAR.com(8-17-2001)

• #600 for Kyle UPDATE he’s in: Marking a milestone in his career, Kyle Petty will be making his 600th NASCAR Winston Cup start this week when he and the Sprint Dodge team head to the two-mile Michigan Speedway for Sunday’s Michigan 400. Petty, 41, will be making his 600th career start this weekend. He is 13th on the all-time list in NASCAR Winston Cup career starts. His eight career victories place him 45th on NASCAR’s all-time list in Winston Cup wins. One of the most recognizable names in international motorsports, as is his sponsor, Sprint, Petty’s driving career began with a five-race season in 1979. The native of Level Cross, N.C., has won nearly $13 million in NASCAR Winston Cup competition(Williams Company)(8-13-2001)
  UPDATE: Kyle Petty starts 36th Sunday and will be making his 600th career start. Petty, 41, is 13th on the all-time list in Winston Cup starts. “I guess this is a personal milestone, but to be honest, I don’t see it as that big of a deal,” Petty said. “I wasn’t jumping up and down at 100 starts or 300 or 500, and I probably won’t be jumping up and down at 600 either. “I’m grateful to have been in the sport this long but that is about all it marks – longevity. For the most part, 600 starts just means I’m about 20 years older than when I got started racing.” Petty, of course, still is second in his own household in career starts. His father, Richard, started 1,177 Winston Cup events.()(8-19-2001)

• Saturday AM Pracitce is over at Michigan. #24-Jeff Gordon was the fastest at 182.232mph, followed by #2-Rusty Wallace
  Ford at 181.589. Slowest was #5-Terry Labonte at 173.963. See for Saturday’s Practice Speeds(8-18-2001)

• Pole Progression at Michigan (who was on the pole during qualifying)
  #31-Mike Skinner, 1st out to Qualify, 186.123, starts 19th
  #90-Hut Stricklin, 3rd out, 187.047 starts 8th
  #9-Bill Elliott, 7th out, 187.857 starts 2nd
  #32-Ricky Craven, 45th and last out, 188.127 starts on pole(8-17-2001)

• Out of Provisionals: how did the five drivers/teams do who had no provisionals left to use?
  #4-Lepage 185.878 starts 24th
  #7-Wallace 185.057 starts 32nd
  #14-Hornaday 185.028 starts 34th
  #44-Jones 184.625 missed the race
  #92-Compton 185.754 starts 28th
  (note) each of these teams will have a provisional to use at Bristol (8-17-2001)

• Friday Practice is over: at Michigan. #28-Ricky Rudd was the fastest at 187.232mph followed by #2-Rusty Wallace at 187.203. Slowest was #27-Rick Mast at 179.484mph. See for the Pepsi 400 presented by Meijer Practice Results(8-17-2001)
• Qualifying Order is Up see above for the links. 45 cars scheduled to make an attempt. First scheduled out is #31-Mike Skinner (welcome back) and last scheduled out is #32-Ricky Craven. Five teams are out of provisionals and will need to get in on speed: #4-Kevin Lepage, #7-Mike Wallace, #14-Ron Hornaday, #44-Buckshot Jones and #92-Stacey Compton.
  So? What happens if at least 43 cars attempt a race but more then one team is out of provisionals and fails to qualify for the race with still a spot open in the field? The Answer: If one or a few of the teams without provisionals fail to get in on speed, then the part time teams(don’t attempt all races and are deep in the OWNERS points) get a shot at the provisionals, lining up by Owners Points. If spots are still available, then the teams without provisionals get placed in the field by fastest qualifying speed until all 43 spots are filled.
  For more info see my Provisionals Status/Rules/Owners Points page. Qualifying is scheduled for 3:00pm/et and will be televised live on CNN/SI and carried via radio on MRN Radio(8-17-2001)

• Entry List is up for the Pepsi 400 at Michigan. See the link – Entry List – Pepsi 400 presented by Meijer. 46 cars/drivers are listed including #57-David Keith, #89-Morgan Shepherd and #96-Andy Houston(8-15-2001)
  UPDATE: I see #89-Morgan Shepherd has been removed from the Entry list at NASCAR.com, so that makes it 45 cars now(8-16-2001)

• Back to 2 laps UPDATE: it was announced at the beginning of CNN/SI’s qualifying coverage that qualifying would go back to 2 laps of qualifying at all Super Speedways (1 mile or more) starting this week at Michigan. So I guess that means 2 laps is back for all the tracks since 2 laps were going to be the cast at the two short tracks and restrictor plate tracks. All but the road courses which there will be no more in 2001(8-17-2001)
  UPDATE: NASCAR officials have changed their minds again and gone back to two laps during its single round of qualifying. NASCAR announced at Daytona in early July that qualifying would be reduced to a single lap at tracks of 1-mile or longer except for Daytona and Talladega, beginning at New Hampshire on July 22. Teams ran two laps at New Hampshire, however, because of a new sealer that had been applied to the track’s surface. The cars then ran one lap for three races, but after complaints from the teams that a single lap prevented them from overcoming a mistake, the policy has been changed again and cars can now once more run a second lap if they choose()(8-18-2001)

• Qualifying Rules Changed UPDATE: ESPN2’s RPM 2Night mentioned tonight that starting at New Hampshire that qualifying would consist of one lap of qualifying instead of the two laps that have been run this year. The exceptions are tracks smaller then one mile (Bristol, Richmond and Martinsville) and the two restrictor plate tracks, Daytona and Talladega(7-5-2001)
  UPDATE: it was mentioned on FSN’s Totally NASCAR show on Thurs that the Cup drivers would run 2 laps of Qualifying for the New England 300 at New Hampshire. The plan is to still have one lap of qualifying at all intermediate tracks (1 to 2 miles in length) but the format will be determined in a track-to-track basis for the rest of the season(7-19-2001)

• an interesting point: When NASCAR officials decided to disallow Jerry Nadeau’s qualifying time at Daytona in Feb 2001, 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’s Provisional Status page
• Links: Practice speeds, qualifying and results can be found at these
  sites: NASCAR Online, Racin Network, and

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TRACK/RACE NEWS

• Dodge Rules Change: NASCAR officials announced today that modifications to the front air dam for the NASCAR Winston
  Cup Series 2001 Dodge Intrepid will go into effect beginning with next weekend’s NASCAR Winston Cup event at Indianapolis Motor
  Speedway. This modification will allow Intrepid teams to extend their front air dam two inches forward below the bumper from the current
  measurement. The front air dam is described as the area below the bumper. The bumper will remain in its standard position(NASCAR PR)(7-27-2001)

• 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 – Michigan

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DRIVER/TEAM NEWS

• Stewart Injured UPDATE: hearing that Tony Stewart was on crutches with a elastic bandage on his left foot at the Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, IL on Tuesday night. When asked during the autograph session was told it was sprained when he fell over his dog while playing in his yard but Stewart said he would be fine at Michigan(8-16-2001)
  UPDATE: Tony Stewart was injured in an accident at home chasing his dog, P.J., up the stairs (outside) of his Cornelius, N.C. residence, when the six-month old pup veered in front of him. In an effort to avoid stepping on the dog, Stewart tried to jump over the dog, only to injure his left foot upon landing. The dog was fine, but Stewart’s foot wasn’t. The result was a sprained left foot. Following the morning practice for the Pepsi 400, Stewart was complaining of soreness while using the clutch, otherwise feels like he’ll not have a problem this weekend(Insider Racing News) during qualifying on CNN/SI this was confirmed(8-17-2001)

• Boxes Optional? UPDATE: Cars will likely not be required to carry the electronic boxes supplying telemetry about their performance and other data for the television broadcast in this weekend’s races at Michigan()(8-17-2001)
  UPDATE: Telemetry boxes, including global positioning systems and in-car cameras, will be optional equipment this weekend for Winston Cup teams competing at Michigan. The decision on the telemetry units by the NASCAR competition department came in the wake of a cockpit fire that started in a NASCAR-mandated telemetry package mounted in Robby Gordon’s #31 RCR Lowes Chevy at Watkins Glen(NASCAR.com)(8-17-2001)

• No Backup for Skinner? Despite a noticeable limp, Mike Skinner says he’ll be running the BGN #21 Rockwell Automation Chevy on Saturday and the Cup #31 Lowe’s Chevy on Sunday without a backup driver. When asked if he would play it by ear on Saturday and try to find someone to drive the Cup car on Sunday if needed, Skinner replied, “Oh I’m sure they could get Robby Gordon up here in a hurry if they need to.”(Insider Racing News)(8-17-2001)
• See the 2001 Team Chart which has links to past news for each team

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PAINT SCHEME NEWS

• #17 Paint Scheme for Aug/Sept: The #17 DeWalt Ford will debut its New Products paint scheme which will run from Indianapolis through Dover. The paint scheme is an integration of the new product line and the designs submitted through the DEWALT 2002 Paint Scheme contest. The winners were Robert Williams Lutherville, MD and Brian Grossman of Cincinnati, OH. This scheme will
  run thru the Sept June race at Dover(Grandstand PR)(7-31-2001)

• Labonte Scheme? hearing #5-Terry Labonte will run a Honey Frosted Mini Wheats paint scheme in August at Michigan, see the scheme at my Paint Scheme Gallery(5-21-2001)
• Rusty Special Scheme UPDATE: not sure what it’ll look like or what it’s for, but the Rusty Wallace site (www.rustywallace.com) is showing an image of a car under a tarp, no idea what it is for, but the announcement will be on March 5th (this coming Monday) at 6:00pm/et. It looks gray and orange, Harley Davidson?(3-1-2001)
  UPDATE: For the third straight year, two Milwaukee landmarks with legendary racing programs, Miller Brewing Company and Harley-Davidson, are joining together in a program that will feature Miller Lite stock car driver Rusty Wallace. Rusty Wallace will drive a special Miller Lite/Harley-Davidson stock car in three races this year. The Miller Lite/Harley-Davidson stock car will debut in ‘The Winston’ night race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte, May 19. Following the event in North Carolina, Wallace and the Penske Racing team will field the Miller Lite/Harley-Davidson stock car at Florida’s Daytona International Speedway, July 7, and Michigan International Speedway, August 19. Along with partnering at three stock car races, Miller Brewing Company and Harley-Davidson will also work together to promote responsibility at a number of motorcycle rallies across the country, including events in Daytona Beach, Sturgis, SD, and Milwaukee. Both companies will help dealers and distributors focus on responsible drinking and safe riding issues. In addition, both companies will prepare materials that can be used in conjunction with local activities and special events, including a poster featuring Miller Brewing’s “Think When You Drink” message and Harley-Davidson’s “Ride Straight” slogan.(Rusty Wallace Site/TRPR), see image at either site or on my Paint Scheme Gallery(3-5-2001)

• #24 Pepsi Car unveiled: For the first time since 1983, NASCAR fans could see a Pepsi car in a Winston Cup winner’s circle. Beginning this spring, Jeff Gordon will race the #24 Pepsi/DuPont car in two races – the spring race at Talladega on April 22 and the Pepsi 400 at Daytona on July 7. In addition, DuPont Automotive has developed a special pearlescent blue paint for the car so fans won’t miss it. For the past four years, Pepsi-Cola has enjoyed a successful relationship with Jeff Gordon and Hendrick Motorsports, highlighted by its associate sponsorship of the #24 DuPont Chevrolet in the Cup Series and its two-year title sponsorship of Gordon’s #24 Pepsi Chevrolet on the BGN. But now, the Pepsi car graduates to the Cup, where a Pepsi car has not been seen since Darrell Waltrip’s Pepsi Challenger finished second in points in 1983(actually Ernie Irvan ran a few cars with Pepsi on the hood in the late 1980’s). Last June, Pepsi extended its relationship with Gordon through 2005 and will continue to include him in promotional activities. Pepsi serves its products at 18 of the 23 Winston Cup Series tracks and is the title sponsor of NASCAR Winston Cup Series races in Daytona, Fla. (Pepsi 400), Brooklyn, Mich. (Pepsi 400) and Darlington, S.C. (Pepsi Southern 500).(in part from a Pepsi-Cola Company/Millsport PR). See the image of the car in my 2001 Cup section of my Paint Schemes Gallery(1-9-2001)
• More Paint Scheme news can be found on Paint Schemes Gallery, choose current news

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STATS and STUFF

• Bodine – 28 races – no DNF UPDATE: #11-Brett Bodine has been running at the end of 28 consecutive races(counting last season since he DNF’d at Martinsville), which is the circuit’s longest active streak. Two other drivers have made all the races in 2001 and not DNF’d(did not finish): 9-Bill Elliott (now 27 races straight) and #55-Bobby Hamilton (now 24 straight without a DNF)(8-12-2001)
• Top Fives: There have been 29 different Cup drivers(no new drivers at Watkins Glen) who have scored a Top-5 so far in 2001….2000’s total was 28, 1999’s total was 28 and 1998’s total number was 27(8-12-2001)
• Top Tens: There have been 40 different Cup drivers (add #77-Boris Said at Watkins Glen) who have scored a Top-10 in 2001…..2000’s total was 41, 1999’s total was 40 and 1998’s total number was 41(8-12-2001)
• Provisional Finishes in 2001: In 140 provisional starts(20 races x 7 no qualifying at Darlington 3/2001 or Dover 6/2001), drivers have accumulated 1 Win, 6 Top 5’s and 18 Top 10’s. #12-Jeremy Mayfield was the highest provisional starter at Watkins Glen with a 3rd and #1-Steve Park was 10th. See my Provisional Finishes Page for each race finish by the provisionals starters(8-12-2001)
• No Laps Lead by Labonte yet: #5-Terry Labonte remains the only driver to race in all 22 events this season and not lead at least one lap. The last time Labonte led a lap was the Winston 500 last October at Talladega. See my Bonus Points/Laps Led page(8-12-2001)

• Consecutive Winston Cup Starts: Ricky Rudd is the current leader with with 630 consecutive starts followed by Rusty Wallace at 539, Ken Schrader with 509 and Mark Martin has 423 consecutive Cup starts. Terry Labonte had 655 (and holds the all time record) but sat out the 2000 Brickyard 400 to end his record streak. Dale Earnhardt had 648 consecutive Winston Cup starts until his death at Daytona(8-12-2001)
• 2000 winners who have not won in 2001: Mark Martin, Ward Burton, Jeremy Mayfield, Matt Kenseth and Jerry Nadeau. Terry Labonte, Joe Nemechek and John Andretti earned victories in 1999 and have not won since.(8-12-2000)
• No Top Fives Since…. It has been a while since some drivers have had a top five finish on the Winston Cup circuit. Here are those with the longest streak of races without a top-five finish:

  
     Driver          Races  Finish    Track           Date
                     Since
  
     Dave Marcis*     316     3rd     Watkins Glen    8-10-87
     Brett Bodine     221     2nd     Indianapolis    8-6-94
     Rick Mast        137     4th     Martinsville    9-22-96
     Kyle Petty       105     3rd     Dover           9-21-97
     Ken Schrader      98     4th     Richmond        9-12-98
     Hut Stricklin     81     2nd     Darlington      9-1-96
     Mike Wallace      62     5th     Atlanta         11-13-94
  
  
  Dave Marcis has not had a top 10 since April 10, 1994
  in the Food City 500 at Bristol, he finished 10th.
  
  Regular Drivers Without a Career Top Five
  
     Driver         Races
     Dave Blaney     55
     Stacy Compton   48
     Buckshot Jones  35
  Cup drivers(not including 2001 rookies)
  (* not full time Cup in 2001)
  (compiled from UMI Press Guides, Winston Cup Updates)
  (8-12-2001)
  

• No Wins Ever…. Some regular drivers in Winston Cup who have
  never won a Cup race and how many starts they have:

Active Drivers	
Driver        Races Run
Rick Mast        348
Ted Musgrave     299*
Hut Stricklin    285
Dick Trickle     266*
Kenny Wallace    231*
Wally Dallenbach 226*
Chad Little      216*
Robert Pressley  190
Johnny Benson    184
Ricky Craven     166
Mike Skinner     163
Steve Grissom    141*
Todd Bodine      131
Kevin Lepage     111
David Green       78*
Dave Blaney       55
Stacy Compton     48
Buckshot Jones    36

All Time - Over 400 Starts	
Driver          Races Run
JD McDuffie       653
Buddy Arrington   560
Neil Castles      497
Jimmy Means       455
Cecil Gordon      450
G.C. Spencer      415


*not a full time or regular Cup driver
(8-12-2001)(UMI Press Guides Stats/Winston Cup Updates)

• Drivers with the longest streak since they won a CUP race:

   Driver          Races Run   Last Win   Track

   Dave Marcis      481*       2/21/82    Richmond
   Brett Bodine     348        4/22/90    North Wilkesboro
   Ken Schrader     324        6/2/91     Dover
   Derrike Cope     272*       6/3/90     Dover
   Jimmy Spencer    223        7/24/94    Talladega
   Bill Elliott     214        9/4/94     Darlington
   Kyle Petty       176        6/4/95     Dover
   Sterling Marlin  169        7/6/96     Daytona
   Geoffrey Bodine  120*       8/11/96    Watkins Glen
   Terry Labonte     81        3/28/99    Texas
   John Andretti     80        4/18/99    Martinsville
   Joe Nemechek      58        9/19/99    New Hampshire
   Ward Burton       51        3/19/00    Rockingham
   Mark Martin       47        4/9/00     Martinsville
   Matt Kenseth      44        5/28/00    Lowes
   Jeremy Mayfield   39        6/19/00    Pocono
   Jerry Nadeau      22        11/20/00   Atlanta

   *not a full time or regular Cup driver
(8-12-2001)(UMI Press Guides Stats/Winston Cup Updates)

• Drivers with the current streak of consecutive seasons with at least one win a year:

Have already won in 2001 and extended or started their streaks:
   Driver          Years   Last Win
   Rusty Wallace     16    California, Apr 2001
   Dale Jarrett       9    New Hamsphire, July 2001
   Jeff Gordon        8    Watkins Glen, Aug 2001
   Bobby Labonte      7    Pocono, July 2001
   Jeff Burton        5    Lowes, May 2001
   Tony Stewart       3    Sears Point, June 2001   
   Steve Park         2    Rockingham, Feb 2001
   Dale Earnhardt Jr  2    Daytona, July 2001
   Michael Waltrip    1    Daytona, Feb 2001
   Kevin Harvick      1    Chicago, July 2001
   Elliott Sadler     1    Bristol, Mar 2001
   Bobby Hamiton      1    Talladega, Apr 2001
   Ricky Rudd         1    Pocono, June 2001
   
Thru 2000 season:
   Mark Martin        4    Martinsville, Apr 2000
   Ward Burton        1    Darlington, Mar 2000
   Jeremy Mayfield    1    Pocono, June 2000
   Matt Kenseth       1    Charlotte, May 2000
   Jerry Nadeau       1    Atlanta, Nov 2000
   
Streaks that ended in 2000 that were thru 1999 season:
   Driver          Years   Last Win
   Terry Labonte      6    Texas, Apr 1999
   John Andretti      1    Martinsville, Apr 1999
   Joe Nemechek       1    New Hampshire, Sept 1999


All Time Record is Richard Petty – 18 years from 1960-1977
(info from UMI Official NASCAR Preview and Press Guides
and Winston Cup Updates)(8-12-2001)

• Top 10’s in restrictor plates: Only two drivers have finished in the top 10 in the three restrictor plate races run so far in 2001 (Daytona – twice and Talladega): #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr (2nd at Daytona, 8th at Talladega, 1st at Daytona) and #7-Mike Wallace (6th at Daytona, 9th at Talladega, 10th at Daytona in the Pepsi 400). Only one more to go, Talladega in October(7-7-2001)
• Interesting UPDATE: In the past four Winston Cup seasons, the top 10 in points after seven races has provided a good indication of which drivers will be in the top 10 at season’s end – 33 of 40 drivers in the final top 10s were there seven races into the season: see the chart at : Signs of things to come?
  UPDATE: and an addition to the story: Others in early season points peril by David Poole(4-6-2001)

• A Championship Outlook: Only five times in the modern era(1972-present) has the eventual champion not won in the first six races. The winners in the first 6 eaces this year: Michael Waltrip, Steve Park, Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Dale Jarrett and Elliott Sadler. When did a driver win the Championship and not win a race in the first six? 1973-Benny Parsons; 1984 and 1996-Terry Labonte; 1985-Darrell Waltrip; and 1999-Dale Jarrett(3-25-2001)
• Single Car Winner: Even though the #21 Wood Brothers team uses Roush chassis and engines, they are considered a single car team, and before Elliott Sadler’s win at Bristol. The last time a single-car team scored a victory was by Ricky Rudd at Martinsville in September 1998(3-25-2001)
• Hendrick Motorsports Double wins: Two drivers from Hendrick Motorsports have won at least one Winston Cup race for seven consecutive seasons. No other current multi-car team has done that.(Gordon 1994-2000, T Labonte 1994-1999 and Nadeau in 2000)(11-22-2000)

• Four 1st Timers: The four first-time winners in 2000 was the most since 1988 when there were also four, those winners: Ken Schrader(Talladega), Alan Kulwicki(Phoenix), Phil Parsons(Talladega), and Lake Speed(Darlington). Parsons and Speed have not won in Cup since and are out of the series. Kulwicki died in an aircraft accident in 1993. Schrader is still active on the Cup circuit and has four career Cup wins. The winners in 2000: Dale Earnhardt Jr(Texas), Matt Kenseth(Lowes), Steve Park(Watkins Glen) and Jerry Nadeau(Atlanta)(11-21-2000)
• Pontiac Win Record: Pontiac Grand Prix, which clinched its third NASCAR Winston Cup Driver championship and first since 1989, thanks to driver Bobby Labonte, could had set a NASCAR modern-era standard for itself with a victory in Atlanta. Pontiac had 11 wins this season, matching the highest number of wins in a season that was set in 1993(Rusty had 10 of those). Tony Stewart, Labonte’s teammate at Joe Gibbs Racing, had a series-leading six wins this season, while Labonte had four and Ward Burton one(AP), The All-Time Pontiac Record is held in 1961 with 30. Ford holds the all-time mark of 48 in 1965 while the all time modern-era(1972 to present) is held by Buick with 25 wins in 1982(Winston Cup Updates)(11-18-2000)
• Different Winners in 2000: There were 14 different race winners in 2000, the most in a single season since 1991 when there were 14, which is a record for NASCAR’s modern era, which began in 1972.
  
  The drivers who won in 2000: Dale Jarrett, Bobby Labonte, Jeff Burton, Dale Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Matt Kenseth, Tony Stewart, Rusty Wallace, Mark Martin, Steve Park, Jeremy Mayfield, Ward Burton, Jeff Gordon and Jerry Nadeau.
  Terry Labonte, Joe Nemechek and John Andretti are the drivers who earned victories in 1999 and did not win in 2000. Two drivers who won in 1998 Bobby Hamilton and Ricky Rudd, have not won since(11-21-2000)

• 43rd Fact: Last driver to win from the 43rd starting spot was Fonty Flock at Raleigh, NC in 1953, the only other driver to do so was Johnny Mantz in the 1950 Southern 500
• Backstretch/Provisional/Backup Car Winner: Only two drivers in the history of Bristol had ever won a race after pitting on the backstretch. Davey Allison(started 19th) in the spring 1990 race and Dale Earnhardt(26th) in the 2nd 1999 race, and now #21-Elliott Sadler who came from 38th, pitting on the backstretch and having to use a provisional to make the race in a backup car only the 4th ever Provisional Starter to gain a win in a Cup race(3-25-2001)
• Provisional Starting Winners: Jeff Burton was the first driver to win from a provisional starting spot EVER at New Hampshire in 1999 and that is the farthest back any driver has won from since Kyle Petty won from 37th at Dover in June 1995(in 1995 37th was not a provisional starting spot). Bill Elliott also won from 38th spot in the 1988 Pepsi 400. In fact ALL the provisional starters for the race finished in the top 25 at NHIS(7-11-1999)
  UPDATE: Add Bobby Labonte as the 2nd ever provisional winner by winning the 1999 NAPA 500 at Atlanta(11-21-1999)
  UPDATE 2: Add Bobby Labonte as the 3rd ever provisional winner by winning the 2000 Southern 500 at Darlington(9-3-2000)
  UPDATE 3: Add Elliott Sadler as the 4th ever provisional winner by winning the 2001 Food City 500 at Bristol(3-25-2001)

• Amazing Finishes: Races won from a starting position of 35 or worse in the history of
  NASCAR

Starting Position  Race                                 Driver
 43                1950 Southern 500, Darlington        Johnny Mantz
 43                1953 Raliegh, NC                     Fonty Flock
 38 provisional    2001 Food City 500, Bristol          Elliott Salder   
 38 provisional    1999 Jiffy Lube 300, Loudon          Jeff Burton
 38                1988 Firecracker 400, Daytona        Bill Elliott
 37 provisional    1999 NAPA 500, Atlanta               Bobby Labonte
 37 provisional    2000 Southern 500, Darlington        Bobby Labonte
 37                1995 Miller 500, Dover               Kyle Petty
 37                1959 Lakewood Speedway, Atl, GA      Lee Petty
 36                2000 Diehard 500, Talladega          Jeff Gordon
 35                2000 Cracker Barrel 500, Atlanta     Dale Earnhardt
(3-25-2001)

• Championship and no poles? ever happen? With Dale Jarrett winning the Cup championship and not scoring any poles in 1999, I was asked, has it ever happened before? Yep, five times, most recently, in 1991 when Dale Earnhardt won the Winston Cup Championship with four wins and NO poles. It also happened in 1983-Bobby Allison; 1980-Earnhardt; 1973-Benny Parsons; and 1950-Bill Rexford(The Stock Car Racing Encyclodepia)(11-14/21-1999)
• Stats: Only five times in NASCAR’s modern era(1972-present) has the eventual champion not won by the sixth race of the season. Those champions were Benny Parsons in 1973, Terry Labonte in 1984 and 1996, Darrell Waltrip in 1985 and Dale Jarrett in 1999
• Did ya know? When Bobby Labonte won the 2000 Winston Cup Championship, he
  and his brother Terry, who won it in 1984 and 1996, have become the first brothers to do so in
  Winston Cup history. There have been two father-son pairs; Lee and Richard Petty, and Ned and
  Dale Jarrett AND Bobby Labonte is the first former BGN champ(since the series began in
  1982, not counting the old Sportsman division) to win the Winston Cup championship(11-12-2000)