|| *Comments on the 2000 Daytona 500:* View the most recent comment <#71> | Post a comment <#post> Tweet 1. Jake posted: 12.19.2004 - 7:40 pm Rate this comment: (0) (2) In his first Daytona 500, Dale Earnhardt Jr. beats his dad in a Winston Cup race for the first time in his career. It was the first of 8 times that year he'd finish ahead of his father!!! 2. Brian posted: 02.20.2005 - 10:05 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Johnny Benson probably would've won thus race.... But at the end while leading there was a late caution and the fords left him out to dry. 3. Brett posted: 03.08.2005 - 6:14 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) Not the most exciting 500 ever...in fact, possibly the least. Only nine lead changes-four on track. Three of them within the first five laps, and Jarrett's winning pass on Benson. Even with the Ford contingent sticking together, it would've been extremely difficult to have passed Benson if the race had stayed green. 4. JJ Lehto posted: 04.11.2005 - 11:33 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Exactly, and as Brian said Johnny Benson should;ve won this race. 5. Anonymous posted: 06.15.2005 - 4:38 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) The suspense of seeing if Benson would win was the only exciting thing about this race. 6. Darrell posted: 12.11.2005 - 5:47 pm Rate this comment: (0) (2) This is not my favorite 500 by any means.(I generally despise Fords). Benson should've won that race, but I guess DJ needed another 500 win. OK, enough moping. One of my favorite memories of this particular Speedweeks however, was watching practice, and ESPN interviewing Greg Sacks, Bobby Gerhart, and Carl Long. Would you see that in today's NASCAR coverage? No. They don't touch anyone running out of the top ten these days. 7. Matthew Sullivan posted: 12.14.2005 - 3:30 am Rate this comment: (3) (0) The worst 500 in recent memory. Larry McReynolds had the best quote from all of Speedweeks, "They're thinking about building more seats here. They oughta build cots 'cause this stuff is going to put everyone to sleep!" Man was his face red! 8. Darrell posted: 01.02.2006 - 4:28 pm Rate this comment: (1) (2) The only exciting about this Speedweeks was DJ sending teammate Ricky Rudd into a flipping crash during the Shootout. 9. HomeDepot20TS posted: 03.17.2006 - 1:49 am Rate this comment: (1) (1) Uh that was Bobby Labonte after getting bumped by Sterling Marlin. DJ was three or four cars ahead winning the race. 10. HomeDepot20TS posted: 05.28.2006 - 1:30 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Tony accidentally ran into former tire changer Michael Lingerfelt, breaking Lingerfelt's femur. He would return to the 20 team later in the year. 11. myself posted: 02.20.2007 - 4:48 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) Wasn't this the 500 Earnhardt drove that red Goodwrench car? Of note, this is the final Daytona 500 Dale Earnhardt would finish. 12. myself posted: 02.20.2007 - 5:12 pm Rate this comment: (0) (7) Sadly, this was the 1st Daytona 500 that Cale wasn't in some way a participant in since the early 60s. :( Also....this race was the first race in which Jeff Gordon didn't have the rainbow paint scheme that he was so successful w/. The flame paint scheme that he still employs made its debut in this race. 13. Anonymous posted: 02.21.2007 - 11:30 pm Rate this comment: (9) (0) Lol, no. He didn't run the flames until 2001. 14. myself posted: 05.18.2007 - 5:43 pm Rate this comment: (1) (6) THE WORST (non-fixed; reference 98') DAYTONA 500 OF ALL TIME! 15. biffle16 posted: 05.24.2007 - 4:25 pm Rate this comment: (3) (3) Great to see Fords dominate!!! :) 16. Ryan posted: 07.28.2007 - 12:39 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) The Last Daytona 500 on CBS. 17. The Real Thomas posted: 08.23.2007 - 9:46 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) The main reason why this race wasn't as good passing-wise was because of a weird spring policy that NASCAR introduced on restrictor plate tracks. The teams couldn't set the cars up how they wanted and it screwed everything up. They mandated the front and rear springs, but after seeing the disaster that it caused, they allowed the teams to choose their front springs, while still mandating the rear springs to combat teams trying to get extra downforce. Dale Earnhardt did drive the red Taz car in this race to promote the new Monte Carlo. He said after the Twin 125s on Thursday that "Bill France Sr. would have rolled over in his grave if he had seen that one," in reference to the excruciatingly bad racing for the Cup cars during Speedweeks. 18. SK posted: 09.02.2007 - 2:54 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) Scott Pruett's Winston Cup debut. 19. Debo posted: 12.01.2007 - 9:59 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Probably the worst anti-climactic race seeing how exciting the rest of Speedweeks was. Exciting Bud Shootout, Busch race, and truck race...then this borefest. 20. SK posted: 12.08.2007 - 2:14 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) It should be noted that Dale Jarrett's win stands as the richest in NASCAR history, factoring in the No Bull 5 bonus money. DJ collected an astonishing $2,277,975 for this third Daytona triumph. 21. myself posted: 02.28.2008 - 10:59 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) The spring theory sure didn't help make the Firecracker 400 a better race. It was the worst ever, as well! 22. Ryan posted: 12.08.2008 - 12:37 am Rate this comment: (3) (2) lol at myself! talking about '98 being a fix... Well, if that was a fix then '86, '90, and '93 were fixes too! I guess 2001 was a fix too?!?! dumb @$$ 23. CHAD posted: 12.31.2008 - 8:20 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) THAT WAS KENNY IRWIN JR FINAL DAYTONA 500 24. Clayton posted: 01.12.2009 - 12:11 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) Mark Martin possibly had the best car that afternoon. As much as I love Dale Jarrett, he told Mark he'd go high with him on the last lap and left Mark high and dry. The first thing Dale said, however, when he was interviewed in victory lane was that he had to apoligize to Mark for leaving him high and dry and that he would have been passed by Jeff Burton, if he moved up high. Wouldn't it have been something if Burton won the 500 that afternoon! Also, Great run for Johnny Benson. I was so happy for him that day leading the 500 with 15 to go, but it wasn't meant to be. Might I add. No Daytona 500 is boring! It's Daytona baby! 25. 18fan posted: 02.12.2009 - 1:25 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) I don't think the clowns who run NASCAR are smart enough to fix a race. The only way they sort of fix races is with their "debris" cautions. Myself does not know what he's talking about 26. myself posted: 02.13.2009 - 1:29 pm Rate this comment: (3) (2) "I guess 2001 was a fix too?!?! dumb @$$ Ryan | 12.08.08 - 12:37 am" Not the 500, but the '01 Firecracker 400 certainly was. 27. myself posted: 02.13.2009 - 1:29 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) "Myself does not know what he's talking about 18fan | 02.12.09 - 1:25 am" Opinions vary. 28. Anonymous posted: 02.17.2009 - 9:11 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Last daytona 500 for drivers Darrell Waltrip, Wally Dallenbech Jr and Derrike Cope (as of now). Also the last Daytona 500 for car owners Larry Hedrick, Dan Oordit and Bud Moore. For the sponsors: First Daytona 500/NASCAR race for- Conseco, Amoco (as a primary sponsor) and Nations Rent. Last Daytona 500/NASCAR race for- Bellsouth, John Deere, Exide Batteries, Ford Quality Care, Hot Wheels and STP. Only Daytona 500/NASCAR race for- Northern Lights.com, Micheal Holigan.com, Turtle Wax/Duracell Batteries and Lycos.com Also Andy Hellingberg DNQed for the 500 dispite the fact that he was the fastest in second round qualifying. Another note, the first Daytona 500 for the revamped Chevrolet Monte Carlo and Ford Taurus. 29. Clayton posted: 04.06.2009 - 10:48 am Rate this comment: (3) (0) What an Intro CBS did for this race. God I miss Ken Squier and all of them on CBS. It really got you excited for the race. None of the other BS before hand. They just brought you the race! It was awesome! NASCAR on CBS- God I miss it! 30. Anonymous posted: 09.03.2009 - 2:56 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Jeff Gordon had a silver NASCAR 2000 paint job in this race. Dale Earnhardt had a rare point-race special paint job. He drove a red Taz-themed #3 to celebrate the launch of the new Monte Carlo. 31. Clayton posted: 10.22.2009 - 12:06 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) First Daytona 500 since 1967 without Dave Marcis. 32. myself posted: 02.10.2010 - 10:08 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Very well said, Clayton, in post #29. 33. Anonymous posted: 03.03.2010 - 2:47 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Earnhardt Sr. was also mad about the race during an interview on ESPN, you could actually see it on YouTube. 34. NASCAR 24/7 posted: 03.18.2010 - 5:01 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) Manuf. Order Ford-#1-#88-Dale Jarrett Pontiac-#6-#18-Bobby Labonte Chevy-#7-#5-Terry Labonte 35. Anonymous posted: 02.08.2011 - 1:04 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Not the last Daytona 500 for Cope. He ran in the 2004 500 for Arnold and finished 30th. 36. Evan posted: 03.12.2011 - 12:56 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) For all the hype the Daytona 500 brought it was a huge dissapointment...probably the most boring race, the Chevrolet top guns Earnhardt and Gordon struggled with the new Chevrolet Monte Carlo which should have been worked out before the 500. The new Ford Taurus ruled the track, Dale Jarrett had the best car that day and I got to see the car at Daytona USA that year. 37. 00andJoe posted: 08.10.2011 - 5:36 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Jim Sauter's DNQ team: #72 RealTree Camoflauge Chevrolet (Dave Marcis) Carl Long's DNQ team: #85 Mansion Decorating Ford (Thee Dixon) Stanton Barrett's DNQ team: #48 Sportcut.com Ford (Tri-Star Motorsports) Bobby Gerhart's DNQ team: #89 Kewadin Casinos Chevrolet (Billy Gerhart) Greg Sacks' DNQ team: #96 Island Oasis Chevrolet (Beau Petty) Brett Bodine's DNQ team: #11 Ralph's Supermarkets Ford (Brett Bodine) Dave Marcis' DNQ team: #71 RealTree Camoflauge Chevrolet (Dave Marcis) Andy Hillenburg's DNQ team: #91 KMC Telecom Chevrolet (Joe Falk) Jeff Fuller's DNQ team: #27 Pfizer/Viagra Pontiac (Jack Birmingham) Ricky Craven's DNQ team: #50 Midwest Transit Chevrolet (Hal Hicks/Mike Witter) David Green's team withdrew from the event. 38. Evan posted: 11.18.2011 - 11:22 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) * First race Dale Jarrett won without his mustache, he shaved and adopted a more clean-shaven look in 2000, as did Terry Labonte who wound up seventh. Jarrett would keep the look for the rest of his career. * Matt Kenseth's second ever top 10-finish and first top ten driving for Jack Roush(his first was subbing for Bill Elliott at Dover in 1998, when Elliott had to attend his father's funeral. * First time the 10 car had a driver other than Ricky Rudd driving, the last time was 1992 Hooters 500 with Derrike Cope driving for Bob Whitcomb. And fist time Tide was not with Rudd. * Last Daytona win for Quality Care, 1 of 2 wins for Jarrett this season and Jarrett and it would be the last year as a sponsor. * First time Jeff Gordon drove anything but his rainbow car in the Daytona 500, but had engine trouble. * First time since 1987 that Dale Earnhardt did not run a black 3 at Daytona, the car was instead red with the Tasmanian Devil on the side. * This race was also marked the final year that the Daytona 500 was one of the big races for the NO BULL 5 promotion, with two winners in consecutive years and the big purse that is given to the winner along with the bonus money became too much of a cost and it was moved to the Pepsi 400 at Daytona in 2001 and Las Vegas was the initial spring date for the NO Bull 5. * Last Daytona 500 for a Ford until Matt Kenseth won the rain shortened 500 in 2009 and Trevor Bayne won it in 2011. * Possibly(correct me on this) the only time in the 1990-2000s era that Ford had occupied the top 5 at the Daytona 500. * Also third Daytona 500 win for Yates Racing, his first was in 1992 with Davey Allison. * Also first time in the Daytona 500 where the 17 was not a Chevrolet and did not have Darrell Waltrip driving it, instead it was Matt Kenseth and it was a Ford and sponsored by DeWalt. Ron Hornaday attempted some races in a car number 17 in 1998 but the team was sold to Tim Beverley which took number 10. * First time Dale Earnhardt did not finish in the top dozen since 1997 where he took his battered car home 31st. * First time the 25 was not sponsored by Bud and was not colored red. Instead it was blue and piloted by Jerry Nadeau. * All three Jr.'s Johnny Benson Jr., Dale Earnhardt Jr., and the late Kenny Irwin, Jr. finished 12th, 13th, and 14th respectively. * 11 Fords finished in the top 20 overall. 39. RaceFanX posted: 01.04.2012 - 6:32 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Sponsors: #13 Robby Gordon- Turtle Wax / Ingersoll Rand #24 Jeff Gordon- DuPont Automotive Finishes / NASCAR 2000 40. Daniel posted: 05.25.2012 - 2:37 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) In using top 20/21 from duels: #60 Geoffrey Bodine, #71 Dave Marcis, #72 Jim Sauter, #91 Andy Hillenburg Out using top 20/21 from duels: #1 Steve Park, #16 Kevin Lepage, #55 Kenny Wallace, #66 Darrell Waltrip 43rd based on qualifying: #9 Stacy Compton 41. Anthony posted: 08.05.2012 - 7:08 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) What a colorful race that was. It should have been benson. Dale Jarrett led 222.5 miles that's 44.5% 42. RaceFanX posted: 08.17.2012 - 2:35 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Sponsors: #3 Dale Earnhardt- GM Goodwrench Service / Tasmanian Devil The one-off Taz paint was part of an entire ad campaign launched by GM to tie in with the launch of the restyled Monte Carlo. The animated Taz appeared in a commercial in which Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr taught him how to race in NASCAR. Earnhardt had also previously did a Team Monte Carlo ad where his aggression seemingly made him become Taz during a pit stop before that. The red look was originally scheduled to be run in the 1999 Brickyard 400 when Chevy was intending to debut the Monte Carlo in the middle of the previous season (similar to the Lumina's May debut back in 1989). Fittingly before the new Monte Carlo made production the concept car that introduced the new design in 1997 had been called the Monte Carlo Intimidator after Dale. The red concept car even featured a faded version of his iconic #3 on the doors. 43. Will posted: 10.28.2012 - 9:56 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Pretty dull race overall. Great run by Benson, but as mentioned, got hung out to dry by all those Fords. 44. Speed Freek posted: 02.22.2013 - 9:19 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) This race was a sure cure for insomnia. 45. myself posted: 06.04.2013 - 1:20 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I 2nd what Speed Freek said. 46. Busch77 posted: 01.22.2014 - 6:52 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Dave Marcis' record streak of 32 consecutive Daytona 500 starts comes to an end. 47. Walleyewhacker posted: 03.06.2014 - 10:08 pm Rate this comment: (2) (2) Earnhardt was a sore loser in the post race interview. 48. Evan posted: 04.14.2014 - 5:12 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Sponsors: #75 Wally Dallenbach- Turner Broadcasting-Powerpuff Girls Wally Dallenbach drove a scheme for the Cartoon Network with the Powerpuff Girls characters on the side. This was one of several sponsors, Wally would have that year, and the team thought they locked up Pizza Hut for 2001, but the deal fell through and Wally's driving career in Cup was over. He raced a few Busch races and spent 2001 as a relief driver. 49. Evan posted: 04.24.2014 - 5:27 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Sponsor #36 Ken Schrader- M&M's/"Keep Back New Driver" MB2 ran a scheme that had the scared red M&M holding a sign saying "Keep Back New Driver" on the rear decklid of the car. This scheme was used for Daytona only. The rest of the year, the 1999 scheme was used. Source:Jayski.com, Winner's Circle Sneak Preview(was designated as Ernie Irvan at press time, before a driver was announced). 50. Evan posted: 01.18.2015 - 3:10 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) * The chassis of Johnny Benson's car he drove in this race was melted down into a coffee table for Benson's home, so I have heard. The car here was used in every plate race when it was sponsored by Lycos and later Valvoline, as a backup or primary in the 2000's until it caught on fire on pit road at Talladega in the spring of 2002 and at Daytona in 2002 in the Pepsi 400 where Benson crashed it and re-injured his ribs from a crash driving Ted Marsh's Whelen Chevrolet at Richmond. 51. Big Mac Fan posted: 09.13.2015 - 6:39 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @38 This was actually Matt Kenseth's 3rd top 10 and 2nd for Roush. His first for Roush was a 4th at Dover in 1999. 52. NASCARLover22 posted: 09.16.2015 - 6:51 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) David Green in the #34 actually withdrew from the race, according to Jayski. 53. Accutech posted: 09.22.2015 - 4:53 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Lots of sponsor updates: #94 McDonald's Drive Thru #13 Turtle Wax/Menards/Ingersoll Rand #20 Home Depot/RIDGID #9 Kodiak/Melling Genune Parts #16 NorthernLight.com/TV Guide #7 NationsRent/Phillips Light Bulbs #21 Citgo Superguard #4 Kodak MAX Film #71/72 Team Realtree #11 Ralph's/Coca-Cola 54. Geronimo posted: 02.29.2016 - 8:54 pm Rate this comment: (1) (2) Yeah of course earnhardt was crying about the race its what he done best if he wasn't contending for the win or someone would run into him. I'm sure people will get mad but earnhardt was nothing more than a big baby if it didn't go his way. 55. Jared DiCarlo posted: 08.20.2016 - 7:05 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 2000 was a really shitty year for plate races. Both Daytona races and both Talladega races were as exciting as watching paint dry, and lest we forget that awful plate race at New Hampshire? 56. Xxplode posted: 08.25.2016 - 5:03 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Spring Dega was not boring? I just literally got done watching it on YouTube, I actually found it quite entertaining. Neither was the Fall race. I'll give you Daytona though! Both of the Daytona races in 2000 were mediocre at best. 57. Josh posted: 01.17.2017 - 5:17 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Dale Earnhardt thought this race was boring...he must have forgot about the 1990 Daytona 500 when he was out leading by himself for 150+ laps. 58. Anonymous posted: 02.25.2017 - 9:35 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) first daytona 500 dave marcis was not in since 1967 59. Steve posted: 06.10.2017 - 10:31 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) First time in Daytona 500 history that car #11 was not in the field. Car #21 had been absent just twice, and #43 just 3 times. 60. Joe posted: 09.12.2017 - 12:48 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) This is, as of this comment, the most recent Daytona 500 won by the defending Champion 61. Joe posted: 09.12.2017 - 12:55 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) In fact, after checking data, this was only the 5th time ever, and the 2nd in a row: -Lee Petty, 1959, 1958 Champion -Richard Petty, 1973, 1972 Champion -Cale Yarborough, 1977, 1976 Champion -Jeff Gordon, 1999, 1998 Champion -Dale Jarrett, 2000, 1999 Champion 62. Chad posted: 04.03.2018 - 9:52 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Why did Benson give Jarrett the inside line on turn 2 on that final restart? WHY??? One of the worst mistakes I've seen in Nascar history. Was the spring mandate to try to keep the cars ride height a certain height? Strange rule, mandating the spring strength. Interesting how the low drag package gave so much benefit to the leading car in a draft. The physics confuse me. Like how Jeff Gordon in 1997 was on his own after an unscheduled pit stop. He was caught by the lead pack but kept in front of them until the next caution flag to get his lap back. Really strange how he was fast enough on his own to not only gain enough from the draft to stay with the lead pack but to stay in front of them all was crazy. While it was pretty boring, the last 50 laps were fairly tense and there was a fair bit of action. Earnhardt Jr sure did learn a lot from Sr after this race, he must have. His plate skills improved dramatically over the 12 months between this race and the next Daytona 500. Credit to him though for trying the high line late in the race. Why not go for the win and risk a bad finish , instead of staying in line for a guaranteed 3rd or 4th place. Better to take chances and go for the win. 63. JSPorts posted: 04.03.2018 - 10:46 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I think the reason that nobody could pass the leader with this package was because the lead car had less drag and therefore the other cars couldn't suck up to it as well, at least not with enough speed to attempt a slingshot pass. With the higher-drag package, the leader is punching a bigger hole in the air, leading to less resistance on the following car and allowing that car to build speed and momentum up to the leader's bumper and possibly around him. 64. Jolly Mean Giant posted: 06.02.2018 - 11:57 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) First Daytona 500 starts for Matt Kenseth, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Stacy Compton, Dave Blaney, and Mike Bliss. Only Daytona 500 starts for Scott Pruett and Ed Berrier. Last Daytona 500 starts for Chad Little, Rick Mast, Darrell Waltrip, and Wally Dallenbach, Jr. 65. GoPM21 posted: 05.09.2019 - 3:31 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Question to the webmaster: Is it possible to have the Twin 125s/150s linked on the Daytona 500 pages, much like you do with the Eldora truck races? 66. webmaster posted: 05.09.2019 - 7:23 pm Rate this comment: (4) (0) Thanks for the suggestion! Daytona 500 results pages from 1972-present now have links to their qualifying races similar to the Eldora truck races. Prior to 1972 the Daytona qualifiers counted for points and are listed with the regularly-scheduled races for those seasons. 67. RaceFanX posted: 07.31.2019 - 2:05 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Dale Jarrett won this race in a car with an ARCA pedigree of all things. Cup cars and ARCA cars were similar enough to switch between series in this era but usually that was a one-way street into the lower tier for outdated equipment. Still the Robert Yates Racing #88 Quality Care Ford Taurus Jarrett drove to victory in this race was the same car Kenny Irwin, Jr. won the ARCA race at Daytona with two years earlier when it had still been bodied as a Thunderbird. 68. NotSure posted: 12.07.2019 - 8:15 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) Bill Davis Racing and Petty Enterprises were announced as the 2nd and 3rd Dodge teams for 2001 the day before the race. 69. SweetRich posted: 02.13.2020 - 9:15 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) The Last Daytona 500 For Numerous Drivers: Kenny Irwin, Scott Pruett, Chad Little, Rick Mast, Darrell Waltrip, Ed Berrier And Wally Dallenbach. 70. BlueOval posted: 11.12.2020 - 5:59 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Earnhardt's whining after the race was hilarious. Ford had an all new Taurus and it was good all Speedweeks, especially Jarrett's. 71. Rich posted: 11.27.2020 - 9:55 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Mike Joy, Ned Jarrett and Buddy Baker were the commentators. Dr. Dick Berggren, Ralph Sheheen and Bill Stephens were the pit road reporters. Ken Squier was the studio host. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *Post a comment:* Your comment may not appear immediately - all comments must be approved by the moderator. Name: Comment: