The 2003 Samsung/RadioShack 500 was the seventh stock car race of the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the seventh iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, March 30, 2003, before a crowd of 215,000 in Fort Worth, Texas at Texas Motor Speedway, a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) permanent tri-oval shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 334 laps to complete. Penske Racing driver Ryan Newman would make a gamble near the end of the race, pitting for only two tires on the final round of pit stops. He would be able to pass and defend Dale Earnhardt, Inc. driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. to win his second career NASCAR Winston Cup Series win and his first win of the season.[1] To fill out the podium, Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports would finish third.
| Race details | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 7 of 36 in the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series | |||
 The 2003 Samsung/RadioShack 500 program cover, with artwork by NASCAR artist Sam Bass. The painting is called "Most Wanted!" | |||
| Date | March 30, 2003 | ||
| Official name | 7th Annual Samsung/RadioShack 500 | ||
| Location | Fort Worth, Texas, Texas Motor Speedway | ||
| Course |
Permanent racing facility 1.5 mi (2.41 km) | ||
| Distance | 334 laps, 501 mi (806.281 km) | ||
| Scheduled Distance | 334 laps, 501 mi (806.281 km) | ||
| Average speed | 134.517 miles per hour (216.484 km/h) | ||
| Attendance | 215,000 | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||
| Time | 27.905 | ||
| Most laps led | |||
| Driver | Elliott Sadler | Robert Yates Racing | |
| Laps | 91 | ||
| Winner | |||
| No. 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing | |
| Television in the United States | |||
| Network | FOX | ||
| Announcers | Mike Joy, Larry McReynolds, Darrell Waltrip | ||
| Radio in the United States | |||
| Radio | Performance Racing Network | ||
Background
edit
Texas Motor Speedway is a speedway located in the northernmost portion of the U.S. city of Fort Worth, Texas – the portion located in Denton County, Texas. The track measures 1.5 miles (2.4 km) around and is banked 24 degrees in the turns, and is of the oval design, where the front straightaway juts outward slightly. The track layout is similar to Atlanta Motor Speedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway (formerly Lowe's Motor Speedway). The track is owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., the same company that owns Atlanta and Charlotte Motor Speedway, as well as the short-track Bristol Motor Speedway.
Entry list
editPractice
editFirst practice
editThe first practice session was held on Friday, March 28, at 12:20 PM CST, and would last for 2 hours.[2] Jerry Nadeau of MB2 Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 27.870 and an average speed of 193.757 miles per hour (311.822 km/h).[3]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 01 | Jerry Nadeau | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 27.870 | 193.757 |
| 2 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing | Dodge | 27.925 | 193.375 |
| 3 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 28.015 | 192.754 |
| Full first practice results | ||||||
Second practice
editThe second practice session was held on Saturday, March 29, at 10:30 AM CST, and would last for 45 minutes.[2] Bobby Labonte of Joe Gibbs Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 28.620 and an average speed of 188.679 miles per hour (303.649 km/h).[4]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 28.620 | 188.679 |
| 2 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 28.661 | 188.409 |
| 3 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 28.668 | 188.363 |
| Full second practice results | ||||||
Third and final practice
editThe third and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, March 29, at 12:10 PM CST, and would last for 45 minutes.[2] Jimmie Johnson of Hendrick Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 28.574 and an average speed of 188.983 miles per hour (304.139 km/h).[5]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 28.574 | 188.983 |
| 2 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing | Dodge | 28.612 | 188.732 |
| 3 | 01 | Jerry Nadeau | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 28.776 | 187.656 |
| Full Happy Hour practice results | ||||||
Qualifying
editQualifying was held on Friday, March 28, at 4:05 PM CST. Each driver would have two laps to set a fastest time; the fastest of the two would count as their official qualifying lap.[2] 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.[6]
Bobby Labonte of Joe Gibbs Racing would win the pole, setting a time of 27.905 and an average speed of 193.514 miles per hour (311.431 km/h).[7]
Two drivers would fail to qualify: Kerry Earnhardt and David Starr.
Full qualifying results
editRace results
edit| Fin[8] | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing | Dodge | 334 | 77 | running | 180 | $406,500 |
| 2 | 11 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 334 | 35 | running | 175 | $299,667 |
| 3 | 7 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 334 | 16 | running | 170 | $249,753 |
| 4 | 5 | 01 | Jerry Nadeau | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 334 | 0 | running | 160 | $187,725 |
| 5 | 32 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 334 | 0 | running | 155 | $173,058 |
| 6 | 17 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 334 | 65 | running | 155 | $142,950 |
| 7 | 14 | 30 | Jeff Green | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 334 | 2 | running | 151 | $118,575 |
| 8 | 4 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 334 | 0 | running | 142 | $119,575 |
| 9 | 30 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 334 | 0 | running | 138 | $133,150 |
| 10 | 24 | 42 | Jamie McMurray | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 334 | 0 | running | 134 | $101,150 |
| 11 | 19 | 54 | Todd Bodine | BelCar Motorsports | Ford | 334 | 0 | running | 130 | $111,750 |
| 12 | 33 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 334 | 0 | running | 127 | $127,906 |
| 13 | 23 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 334 | 1 | running | 129 | $136,528 |
| 14 | 10 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing | Dodge | 333 | 0 | running | 121 | $126,692 |
| 15 | 8 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 333 | 0 | running | 118 | $128,128 |
| 16 | 12 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 333 | 0 | running | 115 | $115,656 |
| 17 | 37 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 333 | 0 | running | 112 | $102,500 |
| 18 | 21 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 333 | 0 | running | 109 | $112,387 |
| 19 | 43 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 333 | 0 | running | 106 | $121,753 |
| 20 | 29 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 333 | 0 | running | 103 | $120,492 |
| 21 | 38 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Pontiac | 333 | 2 | running | 105 | $102,075 |
| 22 | 31 | 0 | Jack Sprague | Haas CNC Racing | Pontiac | 333 | 0 | running | 97 | $78,975 |
| 23 | 40 | 23 | Kenny Wallace | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 333 | 0 | running | 94 | $90,164 |
| 24 | 42 | 49 | Ken Schrader | BAM Racing | Dodge | 333 | 0 | running | 91 | $75,975 |
| 25 | 27 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 332 | 0 | running | 88 | $85,525 |
| 26 | 16 | 21 | Ricky Rudd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 332 | 0 | running | 85 | $84,175 |
| 27 | 26 | 41 | Casey Mears | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 331 | 0 | running | 82 | $82,475 |
| 28 | 20 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Racing | Ford | 330 | 0 | running | 79 | $68,975 |
| 29 | 36 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 328 | 0 | running | 76 | $111,475 |
| 30 | 35 | 14 | Larry Foyt | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Dodge | 326 | 0 | running | 73 | $69,185 |
| 31 | 25 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 325 | 0 | running | 70 | $67,775 |
| 32 | 13 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 322 | 0 | engine | 67 | $92,450 |
| 33 | 18 | 7 | Jimmy Spencer | Ultra Motorsports | Dodge | 294 | 1 | crash | 69 | $63,075 |
| 34 | 22 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 293 | 0 | engine | 61 | $113,728 |
| 35 | 9 | 25 | Joe Nemechek | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 279 | 0 | crash | 58 | $60,125 |
| 36 | 39 | 77 | Dave Blaney | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 268 | 0 | engine | 55 | $67,075 |
| 37 | 1 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 260 | 0 | crash | 52 | $117,108 |
| 38 | 28 | 45 | Christian Fittipaldi | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 240 | 0 | crash | 49 | $64,950 |
| 39 | 15 | 1 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 234 | 1 | crash | 51 | $82,087 |
| 40 | 41 | 4 | Mike Skinner | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Pontiac | 233 | 0 | crash | 43 | $56,850 |
| 41 | 2 | 38 | Elliott Sadler | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 167 | 91 | crash | 50 | $92,060 |
| 42 | 34 | 74 | Tony Raines | BACE Motorsports | Chevrolet | 152 | 0 | engine | 37 | $56,765 |
| 43 | 6 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 46 | 43 | engine | 39 | $100,781 |
| Failed to qualify | ||||||||||
| 44 | 83 | Kerry Earnhardt | FitzBradshaw Racing | Chevrolet | ||||||
| 45 | 75 | David Starr | Mike Starr Racing | Chevrolet | ||||||
| Official race results | ||||||||||
References
edit- ^ "Newman Wins With a Gamble". The New York Times. Associated Press. 2003-03-31. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-01-15.
- ^ a b c d "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2003 Texas Race Info Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on 2005-02-04. Retrieved 2022-01-15.
- ^ "NASCAR.com - Races - 2003 Texas Practice 1 Results". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on 2005-02-12. Retrieved 2022-01-15.
- ^ "NASCAR.com - Races - 2003 Texas Practice 2 Results". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on 2005-02-12. Retrieved 2022-01-15.
- ^ "NASCAR.com - Races - 2003 Texas Practice 3 Results". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on 2005-02-12. Retrieved 2022-01-15.
- ^ "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2003 Provisional Land Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on 2005-02-04. Retrieved 2022-01-08.
- ^ "B. Labonte Wins Pole". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2022-01-15.
- ^ "2003 Samsung/Radio Shack 500 - The Third Turn". www.thethirdturn.com. Retrieved 2022-01-14.