2001 Protection One 400 – Wikipedia

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Auto race held at Kansas Speedway in 2001

Motor car race

The 2001 Protection One 400 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series stock car race held on September 30, 2001, at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas. The race was the 28th of the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season. The race was the inaugural Cup race held at the 1.5-mile (2.4 km) track.[3]Jason Leffler from Chip Ganassi Racing won his first career pole position with a qualifying speed of 176.499 miles per hour (284.048 km/h). Penske Racing’s Rusty Wallace led the most laps with 117, while Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports won the race.[4]

Due to the September 11 attacks happening earlier in the month, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered a no-fly zone, prohibiting aircraft from flying within three miles of any sporting event area, which also includes an altitude of 300 feet. To increase security, coolers and large bags were banned from the track, while other items like purses and binoculars were subject to inspection. Meanwhile, in a sense of patriotism after the attacks, Sterling Marlin ran a “God Bless America” paint scheme, which had not been prepared in time for the 2001 MBNA Cal Ripken Jr. 400 the week before. To support victims of the attacks, Marlin’s sponsor Coors Brewing Company donated $10 for every lap completed at the race by Marlin.[4]

Entry list[edit]

Qualifying[edit]

Pos.[6][7] Car Driver Manufacturer Time Avg. Speed (mph)
1 01 Jason Leffler Dodge 30.595 176.499
2 24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet 30.629 176.304
3 9 Bill Elliott Dodge 30.638 176.252
4 92 Stacy Compton Dodge 30.656 176.148
5 19 Casey Atwood Dodge 30.684 175.987
6 10 Johnny Benson Jr. Pontiac 30.707 175.856
7 20 Tony Stewart Pontiac 30.753 175.593
8 28 Ricky Rudd Ford 30.757 175.570
9 32 Ricky Craven Ford 30.772 175.484
10 18 Bobby Labonte Pontiac 30.802 175.313
11 2 Rusty Wallace Ford 30.829 175.160
12 43 John Andretti Dodge 30.830 175.154
13 17 Matt Kenseth Ford 30.838 175.109
14 26 Jimmy Spencer Ford 30.854 175.018
15 29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 30.862 174.972
16 96 Andy Houston Ford 30.884 174.848
17 02 Ryan Newman Ford 30.884 174.848
18 88 Dale Jarrett Ford 30.892 174.803
19 40 Sterling Marlin Dodge 30.892 174.803
20 5 Terry Labonte Chevrolet 30.908 174.712
21 93 Dave Blaney Dodge 30.943 174.514
22 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 30.950 174.475
23 6 Mark Martin Ford 30.950 174.475
24 55 Bobby Hamilton Chevrolet 30.985 174.278
25 25 Jerry Nadeau Chevrolet 30.990 174.250
26 99 Jeff Burton Ford 30.991 174.244
27 66 Todd Bodine Ford 31.000 174.194
28 36 Ken Schrader Pontiac 31.045 173.941
29 7 Mike Wallace Ford 31.048 173.924
30 57 Derrike Cope Ford 31.092 173.678
31 4 Kevin Lepage Chevrolet 31.099 173.639
32 21 Elliott Sadler Ford 31.100 173.633
33 44 Buckshot Jones Dodge 31.133 173.449
34 31 Robby Gordon Chevrolet 31.142 173.399
35 1 Kenny Wallace Chevrolet 31.156 173.321
36 22 Ward Burton Dodge 31.167 173.260
Provisionals
37 77 Robert Pressley Ford 0.000 0.000
38 12 Jeremy Mayfield Ford 0.000 0.000
39 33 Joe Nemechek Chevrolet 0.000 0.000
40 97 Kurt Busch Ford 0.000 0.000
41 15 Michael Waltrip Chevrolet 0.000 0.000
42 11 Brett Bodine Ford 0.000 0.000
43 90 Hut Stricklin Ford 0.000 0.000
Failed to qualify
44 27 Rick Mast Pontiac 31.187 173.149
45 45 Kyle Petty Dodge 31.208 173.033
46 14 Ron Hornaday Jr. Pontiac 31.344 172.282

Race recap[edit]

The race was filled with caution flags; the first caution flag flew on the first lap, when John Andretti and Ricky Craven made contact in turn 2. A total of 13 caution flags were flown along with 70 laps were run under caution, both track highs,[8] and a red flag stopped the race for eleven minutes.[9] Meanwhile, Wallace dominated the race, leading a race-high 117 laps. However, he was eventually penalized for speeding on the pit road.[10] Gordon then took the lead and held off Ryan Newman for his sixth win of the season, also giving him a 222-point advantage over Ricky Rudd in the championship standings.[11] Rudd, Wallace, and Sterling Marlin closed out the top five.[12]

Results[edit]

Standings after the race[edit]

Race winner Jeff Gordon led the points standings after the race.

References[edit]