2000 Kmart 400
| Race details | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 14 of 34 in the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series | |||
 The 2000 Kmart 400 program cover. | |||
| Date | June 11, 2000 | ||
| Official name | 32nd Annual Kmart 400 | ||
| Location | Brooklyn, Michigan, Michigan International Speedway | ||
| Course |
Permanent racing facility 2 mi (3.2 km) | ||
| Distance | 194 laps, 388 mi (624.425 km) | ||
| Scheduled Distance | 200 laps, 400 mi (643.737 km) | ||
| Average speed | 143.926 miles per hour (231.626 km/h) | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||
| Time | 37.918 | ||
| Most laps led | |||
| Driver | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske-Kranefuss Racing | |
| Laps | 85 | ||
| Winner | |||
| No. 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | |
| Television in the United States | |||
| Network | CBS (shifted after first rain delay to TNN) | ||
| Announcers | Mike Joy, Ned Jarrett, Buddy Baker | ||
| Radio in the United States | |||
| Radio | Motor Racing Network | ||
The 2000 Kmart 400 was the 14th stock car race of the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 32nd iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, June 11, 2000, in Brooklyn, Michigan, at Michigan International Speedway, a two-mile (3.2 km) moderate-banked D-shaped speedway. The race was shortened from its scheduled 200 laps to 194 due to inclement weather. At race's end, Tony Stewart, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would manage to hold off the field until lap 193 when the race was stopped for rain.[1][2] The win was Stewart's fifth career NASCAR Winston Cup Series win and his second of the season. To fill out the podium, Dale Earnhardt of Richard Childress Racing and Bobby Labonte of Joe Gibbs Racing would finish second and third, respectively.
Background[edit]
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[edit]
- (R) denotes rookie driver.
Practice[edit]
First practice[edit]
The first practice session was held on Friday, June 9, at 10:15 AM EST, and would last for one hour and 40 minutes.[3] Jerry Nadeau of Hendrick Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 38.386 and an average speed of 187.568 mph (301.861 km/h).[4]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 38.386 | 187.568 |
| 2 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 38.388 | 187.558 |
| 3 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 38.440 | 187.304 |
| Full first practice results | ||||||
Second practice[edit]
The second practice session was held on Friday, June 9, at 1:00 PM EST, and would last for an hour and 30 minutes.[3] Ricky Rudd of Robert Yates Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 38.387 and an average speed of 187.563 mph (301.853 km/h).[5]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 38.387 | 187.563 |
| 2 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 38.406 | 187.471 |
| 3 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 38.410 | 187.451 |
| Full second practice results | ||||||
Third practice[edit]
The third practice session was held on Saturday, June 10, at 9:30 AM EST, and would last for one hour.[3] Geoff Bodine of Joe Bessey Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 38.550 and an average speed of 186.770 mph (300.577 km/h).[6]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 60 | Geoff Bodine | Joe Bessey Racing | Chevrolet | 38.550 | 186.770 |
| 2 | 27 | Mike Bliss (R) | Eel River Racing | Pontiac | 38.830 | 185.424 |
| 3 | 7 | Michael Waltrip | Mattei Motorsports | Chevrolet | 38.832 | 185.414 |
| Full third practice results | ||||||
Fourth and final practice[edit]
The fourth and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, June 10, after the preliminary 2000 Flagstar 200 ARCA Re/Max Series race, and lasted for up to an hour.[3] Dale Earnhardt Jr. of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 39.716 and an average speed of 181.287 mph (291.753 km/h).[7]
Around 38 minutes into the session, Elliott Sadler would suffer a blowover crash after blowing a right-rear tire, flipping around a dozen times. It was later revealed that the car barrel rolled higher than the catch fencing, and the majority of footage of the crash was subsequently destroyed. While bruised, Elliott would still race with a backup.[8]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. (R) | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 39.716 | 181.287 |
| 2 | 17 | Matt Kenseth (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | 39.969 | 180.139 |
| 3 | 1 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 39.971 | 180.130 |
| Full Happy Hour practice results | ||||||
Qualifying[edit]
Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, June 2, at 3:30 PM EST. Each driver would have two laps to set a fastest time; the fastest of the two would count as their official qualifying lap. During the first round, the top 25 drivers in the round would be guaranteed a starting spot in the race. If a driver was not able to guarantee a spot in the first round, they had the option to scrub their time from the first round and try and run a faster lap time in a second round qualifying run, held on Saturday, June 3, at 11:30 AM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have two laps to set a fastest time; the fastest of the two would count as their official qualifying lap.[3] Positions 26-36 would be decided on time, while positions 37-43 would be based on provisionals. Six spots are awarded by the use of provisionals based on owner's points. The seventh is awarded to a past champion who has not otherwise qualified for the race. If no past champion needs the provisional, the next team in the owner points will be awarded a provisional.[9]
Bobby Labonte of Joe Gibbs Racing would win the pole, setting a time of 37.918 and an average speed of 189.883 miles per hour (305.587 km/h).[10]
Three drivers would fail to qualify: Darrell Waltrip, Ricky Craven, and Dave Marcis.
Full qualifying results[edit]
Race results[edit]
Standings after the race[edit]
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References[edit]
- ^ Utter, Jim (June 11, 2000). "Stewart looks like a man with momentum". ThatsRacin. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
- ^ Harris, Mike (June 12, 2000). "Stewart takes Kmart 400". The Ottawa Citizen. p. 34. Retrieved May 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2000 Michigan 1 Race Info Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on April 25, 2001. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
- ^ "The Racin' Network - The 2000 Kmart 400 Friday AM Practice". The Racin' Network. Archived from the original on August 23, 2000. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
- ^ "The Racin' Network - The 2000 Kmart 400 Friday PM Practice". The Racin' Network. Archived from the original on August 23, 2000. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
- ^ "The Racin' Network - The 2000 Kmart 400 Saturday AM Practice". The Racin' Network. Archived from the original on August 23, 2000. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
- ^ "Saturday's `Happy Hour' practice speeds". ThatsRacin. June 10, 2000. Archived from the original on May 2, 2001. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
- ^ Utter, Jim (June 10, 2000). "Sadler wrecks, will go to backup". ThatsRacin. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
- ^ "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2000 Provisional Start Status". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on November 23, 2005. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
- ^ Utter, Jim (June 9, 2000). "B. Labonte shatters track record". ThatsRacin. Archived from the original on March 9, 2001. Retrieved May 9, 2022.