THE NEXT Winston Cup RACE
NEWS, STATS and INFO

THE RACE: Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400

Winston Cup Race #33 of 36 for the 2001 season

Updated: often, leading up to the race

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• Race: Sunday, November 4, 2001 in Rockingham, NC
• TV: TNT – 1:00pm/et, re-aired on TNT Tuesday, Nov 6, 1:00am/et
• Pre-Race Show: 12:30pm/et – Hosted by Bill Weber
• NASCAR on TV and TNT TV Schedule and CNN/SI Schedule
• Announcers: Allen Bestwick, Benny Parsons and Wally Dallenbach
• Pit Reporters: Bill Weber, Matt Yocum, Marty Snider, Dave Burns
• Purse/Race Awards: $3,251,124 (last year $2,217,736)
• Entry List: Entry List for the: Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 from NASCAR.com
• 2000 Race Winner: Dale Jarrett, 110.418mph, started 21st
• 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: Friday, Nov 2nd 11:20 -1:20pm/et; and Saturday, Nov 3rd 10:15 – 11:00am/et
• Happy Hour Practice: Saturday, Nov 3rd 12:00 – 12:45pm/et on TV-TNT
  

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  Qualifying

• Qualifying Draw: Friday, Nov 2nd, 10:20am/et
• Qualfying Order: NASCAR.com or
• First Round Qualifying: 2 laps for positions 1-36, Friday, Nov 2nd at 3:05pm/et,
  TV-CNN/SI live and via MRN Radio(link below)

• 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: Rusty Wallace, Feb 2000, 158.035mph
• Event Qualifying Record: Mark Martin, Oct 1999, 157.383mph
• Last Year’s Pole Sitter: Jeremy Mayfield, 157.342mph, finished 29th
  

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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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  PAST RACE and POLE WINNERS at Rockingham

  All Time Rockingham Winners

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  RACE BONUS INFO

• The NASCAR Winston Cup Leader Bonus is $50,000 at Rockingham for leading the points and winning the race (Jeff Gordon last won the award, $60,000 at Kansas on Sept 30, 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(10-28-2001)

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• Rockingham Facts: Jeff Gordon has qualified ninth or better, including two Bud Poles, in 15 of his 17 NASCAR Winston Cup Series races at Rockingham. Rusty Wallace leads all active drivers with five victories at Rockingham, including back-to-back wins in the fall of 1988 and the spring of 1989 and three consecutive races: a sweep in 1993 and the 1994 spring race. In the 35 years of twice-a-year NASCAR Winston Cup Series racing at Rockingham, a sweep has occurred eight times (23 percent): Richard Petty (1971 and 1976), David Pearson (1973), Cale Yarborough (1975 and 1980), Darrell Waltrip (1981), Rusty Wallace (1993) and Jeff Gordon (1998). Dale Jarrett has finished 10th or better, including one victory, in 12 of the last 13 races at Rockingham. His career-first Rockingham victory came in the fall race in 2000. Ten of those 12 finishes were top fives, including six second-place finishes.(NASCAR PR)(10-31-2001)
• The ‘Gate’ being used in Victory Lane UPDATE: many readers noticed the while ‘gate or fence’ Winston Cup Officials held above Jeff Gordon so he couldn’t get on the roof of the car in the winners circle/victory lane. On CNN/SI’s NASCAR Plus, Benny Parsons was asked about the ‘gate’ and said he wasn’t sure why, but that it was probably to keep the driver off the top of the car so a proper insepction could be done. Last year at California, the #12 Team was penalized for having a car that was too low and it was caused by Mayfield jumping on the roof of the car, denting the spot that the inspectors measure. Otherwise have seen nothing official on the reason for the gate(10-2-2001)
  UPDATE: sources have confirmed that NASCAR doesnt want the drivers on the roof tops after the race for saftey and technical reasons(10-3/8-2001)

• : Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 Race Info
• CBS Sportsline: Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 Preview
• CNN/SI: Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 – Rockingham hard to figure
• FoxSports: Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 preview – Totally NASCAR’s Rockingham preview
• Frontstretch: Raceday Today – Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400
• NASCAR.com: Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 Race Page
• Yahoo: Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 – Preview
• Crew Chief Club
• National Association of Pit Crew Members (NAPCM)

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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 Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400

  
  

• Vegas Insider – Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 odds

• World Sports Exchange – Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 odds

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• Upset! Nemechek wins at The Rock: #33-Joe Nemechek, who started 13th (yes 13th NOT 14th, Waltrip was 14th, qualifying time was tied, the #33 is higher in OWNERS points), won the Pop Secret 400 at Rockingham. It was Nemechek’s first top 5 of the 2001 season and his 2nd career win, and first since Sept 19,1999 at New Hampshire, 69 races ago. Nemechek is the 17th different winner in 2001 (see below). Nemechek’s victory puts him in 2002 The Winston. #-Kenny Wallace was 2nd after starting on the pole. Winston Cup points leader, #24-Jeff Gordon finished 25th and 2nd place #28-Ricky Rudd gained some ground on Gordon but with three races to go, Gordon only needs to finish 28th of better to clinch(see below). See for Pop Secret 400 Results and a column: Nemechek posts another lame-duck win and see my Drivers Points Standing page(11-4-2001)
• Rookies, how did the Rookie of the Year candidates do in qualifying?
  #01-Leffler, 152.106, started 34th, finished 30th, 9 rookie points
  #14-Hornaday, 152.157, started 32nd, finished 31st, 8
  #19-Atwood, 154.266, started 3rd, finished 20th, 11
  #29-Harvick, 152.671, started 23rd, finished 27th, 10
  #97-Busch, 153.374, started 11th, finished 39th, 7(11-4-2001)

• Happy Hour is over at Rockingham. The top five were:
  1)  #99-Burton 149.589mph, ran 66 laps
  2)  #22-Burton 148.993, ran 39 laps
  3)  #2-Wallace 148.823, ran 56 laps
  4)  #40-Marlin 148.269, ran 59 laps
  5)  #31-Gordon 148.221, ran 44 laps
  slowest was – #85-Long 142.826
  See for Saturday’s final practice speeds(11-3-2001)

• Kenny wins pole at Rockingham:, #1-Kenny Wallace won the pole at Rockingham with a speed of 154.690mph, #32-Ricky Craven is on the outside pole with a speed of 154.351mph. Wallace is the 18th different Bud Pole winners in 2002 and it puts Wallace in the 2002 Budweiser Shootout where 23 drivers are now eligible for it. The top five starters are:

  1)  #1-Kenny Wallace 154.690 mph
  2)  #32-Ricky Craven 154.351
  3)  #19-Casey Atwood, 154.266
  4)  #25-Jerry Nadeau 154.247
  5)  #55-Bobby Hamilton 153.716
  slowest was #5-Terry Labonte 150.592. Also in the race are part timers #71-Dick Trickle (will start 7th) and #85-Carl Long (will start 29th). CNN/SI will re-air qualifying at 9:00pm/et Friday, Nov 2nd. See for Winston Cup qualifying results and for a column: Kenny Wallace wins Pop Secret 400 pole (11-2-2001)

• Provisionals and one DNQ: #90-Rick Mast was the one driver who did not qualify – DNQ for the Pop Secret 400 at Rockingham. Using Provisionals to make the race were: #28-Rudd (2nd in owners points and his 1st provisional used in 2001); #99-Burton(10th); #10-Benson(13th); #17-Kenseth(14th); #77-Pressely(24th); #5-Labonte(26th); and #66-Bodine(34th). Only #24-Jeff Gordon has made ALL the 2001 races and NOT used a provisional, Gordon has never used a provisional in his Cup career.(11-2-2001)
• Rookies, how did the Rookie of the Year candidates do in qualifying?
  #01-Leffler, 152.106, will start 34th
  #14-Hornaday, 152.157, will start 32nd
  #19-Atwood, 154.266, will start 3rd
  #29-Harvick, 152.671, will start 23rd
  #97-Busch, 153.374, will start 11th(11-2-2001)

• Some Special Paint at the Rock: #36-Schrader, Pedigree Dog Food; #43-Andretti, Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn; #93-Blaney BP (11-2-2001)
• Saturday AM Practice: #2-Rusty Wallace was the fastest in the AM practice at Rockingham with a speed of 149.773mph with #20-Tony Stewart as the 2nd fastest at 148.720. Slowest were #85-Carl Long at 143.144 and #44-Buckshot Jones at 142.337. See for Speeds from Saturday’s first practice(11-3-2001)
• Pole Progression
  #11-Bodine, 1st out to qualify, 152.106mph, will start 35th
  #93-Blaney, 2nd out, 153.535, will start 6th
  #55-Hamilton, 4th out, 153.716, will start 5th
  #32-Craven, 7th out, 154.361, will start 2nd
  #1-Wallace. 27th out, 154.690, will start 1st (11-2-2001)

• Friday Practice Speeds: #19-Casey Atwood was the fastest with a speed of 153.522mph and #1-Kenny Wallace was the 2nd fastest at 153.413. Slowest were #5-Terry Labonte at 149.321 and #14-Ron Hornaday at 149.230. See for Friday’s practice speeds(11-2-2001)
• Qualifying Order is up for the Pop Secret 400 at Rockingham. 44 drivers/teams, first scheduled out is #11-Brett Bodine and last scheduled out is #20-Tony Stewart. No #89-Morgan Shepherd listed. See above for the link(s).(11-2-2001)
• Qualifying will be televised on CNN/SI ay 3:00pm/et, can be heard on MRN Radio and be seen via the web at NASCAR.com(11-2-2001)
• Entry List is up for Rockingham, see above for the link. 45 drivers/teams are listed to make attempts for 43 spots, drivers included are #85-Carl Long, #89-Morgan Shepherd and #71 with Dave Marcis listed but Dick Trickle will be in the car(10-30-2001)

• Qualifying Rules Changed UPDATE one lap, then back to 2 laps: 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)
  UPDATE 2 Back to 2 laps: 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 3: 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)

• 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

• NASCAR, NHRA and the Army: The United States Army Top Fuel drag racing program is going NASCAR, it was announced today. With its 6,000-horsepower Top Fuel (show car) dragster, an interactive display and a group of recruiters in tow, the United States Army will be a visible element at NASCAR Winston Cup Series tracks the rest of the season. Beginning with last weekend’s race at Kansas Speedway through the race at Atlanta in November, the Army will set up a 50×75 interactive area and four additional 10×10 areas at all of the race venues, primarily, for recruiting purposes. Additionally, the U.S. Army Top Fuel (show car) dragster will be on display each weekend and is scheduled to be started at most of the tracks prior to the Winston Cup race. The U.S. Army has been the primary advertiser on Schumacher’s Top Fuel dragster since the 2000 U.S. Nationals last September(Kermish-Geylin PR)(10-3-2001)
• Aircraft Ban at Stadiums UPDATE: Effective as of noon yesterday (9-20-01) the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) has banned all aircraft from flying within 3 miles of major professional and college sporting events and any other large open air gathering. This protected “no-fly zone” extends up to an altitude of 3,000 feet above such facilities, which by definition, include race tracks. FAA spokeswoman Laura Brown, said the regulation applies to all types of aircraft including small planes, blimps, balloons and gliders. “We issued this to cover everything,” Brown said. “It’s a blanket order so that it would include a state fair, a high school football game.” This ban could change how we view races on TV if the helicopter that relays in-car camera signals would be out of effective signal range above the 3000-foot ceiling or prevented from remaining in the air space at that height by conflicts with scheduled air traffic. It appears blimps will also be prevented from providing their normal overhead views as well. Radio traffic between NASCAR, teams, track officials, spotters and drivers is direct and will not be impacted.(Speedway Illustrated)(9-21-2001)
• 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 – North Carolina Speedway

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DRIVER/TEAM NEWS

• Pit Crew Competition at the Rock UPDATE #17 WINS and results: The annual Union 76/Rockingham World Pit Crew Competition will be held Saturday, November 3rd at North Carolina Speedway, and Jeff Burton along with his #99 Citgo SUPERGARD Ford crew are preparing to defend their title as the “Fastest Pit Crew” in NASCAR racing. Burton and team won last fall’s pit crew competition and set a new world record with a time of 18.355 seconds. They defeated fellow competitors John Andretti, Dale Jarrett and Dale Earnhardt Jr. to win the $26,000 prize and bragging rights for a year as the best pit crew in the business. There will be a few changes in the line-up for this year’s competition. Only those crews and cars of the top 25 car owners in the current 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Championship car owner point standings as of the completion of the October 28 NASCAR event will be eligible to participate. Total prize money for this year’s event is $76,000, with $30,000 going to the winner and a $1,000 bonus if they set a new world record. The object of the competition is for each crew to empty 14 gallons of gas into the tank of the race car from two cans, each holding seven gallons, and change left and right-side tires in as short a time as possible. Penalties will be applied for loose lug nuts, fuel spills, and fuel left in can. Time will be added to each team’s speed based on penalties they receive. The team with the fastest time becomes the new champion. The Union 76/Rockingham World Pit Crew Competition is the only NASCAR sanctioned pit crew contest on the circuit. The event has been held annually at North Carolina Speedway since 1967. See more at the North Carolina Speedway site(10-31-2001)
  UPDATE: Matt Kenseth’s #17 team kept the Union 76-Rockingham Pit Crew Competition championship in the Roush Racing family on Saturday, ripping off a record-time to beat 24 other teams at North Carolina Speedway. Kenseth’s team, led by crew chief Robbie Reiser, changed four tires and emptied two gas cans, each containing seven gallons of fuel, into the #17 Ford in 17.695 seconds. That broke the record of 18.355 seconds set by Jeff Burton’s team, also part of Roush Racing, in last year’s competition.(See Full story at ) and see the National Association of Pit Crew Members site for the Rank and Times of 2001 Pit Crew Challenge(11-4-2001)

• Gordon Tribute: #31-Robby Gordon will continue to pay tribute to the efforts of the United States Navy in the war against Osama bin Laden and the Taliban government of Afghanistan by wearing a crew hat from the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) during this weekend’s NASCAR events at North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham. Last week at Phoenix International Raceway, Gordon and crewmembers of Richard Childress Racing’s #31 Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse team wore crew hats from the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) and other ships in the Battle Force Seventh Fleet, including the guided missile frigates USS Gary (FFG-51) and USS Vandegrift (FFG-48). The Lowe’s team finished seventh at PIR, a season-best and Gordon’s NASCAR Winston Cup career best on a track other than a road course.(RCR Site)(11-2-2001)
• Dale Jr and Smash Mouth: Budweiser is teaming up with national recording act Smash Mouth on an exclusive concert on Friday, Nov. 2nd, in Charlotte, NC. Tickets for the invitation-only concert can be won through radio station WEND-FM (106.5) in Charlotte. The band will attend Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s “Happy Hour” practice the following day and watch the action from the Budweiser Racing team’s pit during the Pop Secret 400 race on Sunday, Nov. 4. Additionally, the logo of Smash Mouth’s latest album titled “Smash Mouth,” will be displayed on the #8 Bud Chevy’s rear decklid and dashboard during the event. The album will be released Tuesday, November 27.(fingerprint.inc/Budweiser PR)(11-1-2001)
• See the 2001 Team Chart which has links to past news for each team and the 2002 Team Chart

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PAINT SCHEME NEWS

• #93 and BP UPDATE 2 an image: during a NASCAR.com chat with #93 driver Dave Blaney – Q) any special paint schemes this season? A) Right now, there is a green and yellow BP car in the drawing board. I do not know when or where that will show up(NASCAR.com Chat Transcript)(3-29-2001)
  UPDATE: hearing the BP scheme will run in the Coca-Cola 600(5-13-2001)
  UPDATE 2: The #93 Amoco Dodge Intrepid will feature a new paint scheme for the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte, highlighting the current reimaging of the Amoco and BP gas stations nationwide with a special green-and-yellow design displaying the BP shield on the car’s hood. The new look for Dave Blaney and the Amoco Dodge will also be featured in three NASCAR Winston Cup Series races in the fall-the UAW-GM 500 at Charlotte on October 7, the Talladega 500 at Talladega (AL) Superspeedway on October 21 and the Pop Secret 400 at North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham, N.C. on November 4.(Bill Davis Racing PR)(5-16-2001)

• More Paint Scheme news can be found on Paint Schemes Gallery, choose current news

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STATS and STUFF

• Hamilton – 34 races – no DNF UPDATE: #55-Bobby Hamilton has been running at the end of 34 consecutive races(counting last season since he DNF’d at Phoenix), which is the circuit’s longest active streak. No other drivers have made all the races in 2001 and not DNF’d(did not finish). See my DNF Page for past DNF’s and who has the most.(10-28-2001)
• Top Fives: There have been 31 different Cup drivers (add #12-Mike Wallace at Phoenix) 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(10-28-2001)
• Top Tens: There have been 43 different Cup drivers (no new drivers at Phoenix) 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(10-28-2001)
• Provisional Finishes in 2001: In 210 provisional starts (30 races x 7 no qualifying at Darlington 3/2001 or Dover 6/2001), drivers have accumulated 2 Wins, 11 Top 5’s and 28 Top 10’s. #17-Matt Kenseth was the highest provisional starter/finisher at Phoenix with a 4th and #31-Robby Gordon was 7th. See my Provisional Finishes Page for each race finish by the provisionals starters(10-28-2001)
• No Laps Lead by Labonte yet: #5-Terry Labonte remains the only driver to race in all 32 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. 47 drivers have now led laps, no new lap leaders at Martinsville. See the Bonus Points/Laps Led page(10-28-2001)
• Consecutive Winston Cup Starts: Ricky Rudd is the current leader with with 640 consecutive starts followed by Rusty Wallace at 549, Ken Schrader with 519 and Mark Martin has 433 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(10-28-2001)
• 2000 winners who have not won in 2001: Mark Martin, Jeremy Mayfield, Matt Kenseth and Jerry Nadeau. Terry Labonte, Joe Nemechek and John Andretti earned victories in 1999 and have not won since.(10-28-2000)
• Manufacturers: Chevy leads the Manufacturers Championship by 17 points over Ford (220 to 203). See my Manufacturers Points page for more info(10-28-2001)
• 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*     317     3rd     Watkins Glen    8-10-87
     Brett Bodine     231     2nd     Indianapolis    8-6-94
     Rick Mast        142     4th     Martinsville    9-22-96
     Kyle Petty       111     3rd     Dover           9-21-97
     Ken Schrader     108     4th     Richmond        9-12-98
     Hut Stricklin     88     2nd     Darlington      9-1-96
  
  
  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     65
     Stacy Compton   58
     Buckshot Jones  43
  Cup drivers(not including 2001 rookies)
  (* not full time Cup in 2001)
  (compiled from UMI Press Guides, Winston Cup Updates)
  (10-28-2001)
  

• 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        353
Hut Stricklin    305
Ted Musgrave     299*
Dick Trickle     266*
Kenny Wallace    239
Wally Dallenbach 226*
Chad Little      216*
Robert Pressley  200
Johnny Benson    194
Mike Skinner     168
Steve Grissom    141*
Todd Bodine      141
Kevin Lepage     121
David Green       78*
Dave Blaney       65
Stacy Compton     58
Buckshot Jones    43

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
(10-28-2001)(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      482*       2/21/82    Richmond
   Brett Bodine     358        4/22/90    North Wilkesboro
   Ken Schrader     335        6/2/91     Dover
   Derrike Cope     273*       6/3/90     Dover
   Jimmy Spencer    234        7/24/94    Talladega
   Bill Elliott     225        9/4/94     Darlington
   Kyle Petty       182        6/4/95     Dover
   Geoffrey Bodine  121*       8/11/96    Watkins Glen
   Terry Labonte     91        3/28/99    Texas
   John Andretti     90        4/18/99    Martinsville
   Joe Nemechek      68        9/19/99    New Hampshire
   Mark Martin       57        4/9/00     Martinsville
   Matt Kenseth      54        5/28/00    Lowes
   Jeremy Mayfield   46        6/19/00    Pocono
   Jerry Nadeau      32        11/20/00   Atlanta

   *not a full time or regular Cup driver
(10-28-2001)(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    Kansas, Sept 2001
   Bobby Labonte      7    Pocono, July 2001
   Jeff Burton        5    Phoenix, Oct 2001
   Tony Stewart       3    Bristol, Aug 2001   
   Steve Park         2    Rockingham, Feb 2001
   Dale Earnhardt Jr  2    Talladega, Oct 2001
   Ward Burton        2    Darlington, Sept 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    Richmond, Sept 2001
   Sterling Marlin    1    Charlotte, Oct 2001
   Ricky Craven     1    Martinsville, Oct 2001
   
Thru 2000 season:
   Mark Martin        4    Martinsville, Apr 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)(10-28-2001)

• All Time Winston Cup Starts:

Richard Petty   1,177
Dave Marcis       881*
Darrell Waltrip   809
Ricky Rudd        727*
Bobby Allison     717
Terry Labonte     705*
Bill Elliott      655*


* = active drivers(10-28-2001)

• 16th Different Winner in 2001 a record: when #22-Ward Burton won the 2001 Southern 500, he became the 15th different Winston Cup winner in 2001, which breaks the record for NASCAR’s modern era (which began in 1972) of 14 set in 2000 and 1991. Winners in 2001: #15-Waltrip, #1-Park, #24-Gordon, #29-Harvick, #88-Jarrett, #21-Sadler, #55-Hamilton, #2-Wallace, #20-Stewart, #99-Burton, #28-Rudd, #18-Labonte, #40-Marlin, #22-Burton, #8-Earnhardt Jr.(9-2-2001)
  Make it 16 in 2001: #32-Ricky Craven becomes the 16th different winner in the Cup series in 2001, extending the record(10-15-2001)

• 1st Time winners – ties a record: The four first-time winners in 2001, #15-Michael Waltrip(Daytona), #29-Kevin Harvick(Atlanta), #21-Elliott Sadler(Bristol), #32-Ricky Craven(Martinsville), ties the record that was tied in 2000 when there were four first time winners: Dale Earnhardt Jr(Texas), Matt Kenseth(Lowes), Steve Park(Watkins Glen) and Jerry Nadeau(Atlanta), which previsouly was held in 1988 when the following won for the first time: 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(10-15-2001)
• 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)

• 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)
• 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)
  UPDATE 4: Add Ward Burton as the 5th ever provisional winner by winning the 2001 Southern 500 at Darlington(9-2-2001)

• 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 provisional    2001 Southern 500, Darlington        Ward Burton
 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
(9-2-2001)

• 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)