|| *Comments on the 2001 NAPA 500:* View the most recent comment <#50> | Post a comment <#post> Tweet 1. James posted: 07.24.2004 - 12:19 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Bobby Labonte Wins the Race After Jerry Nadeau Runs out of Fuel on The LAST Lap. 2. Jack Lewis posted: 07.28.2004 - 5:35 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) Jeff Gordon clinches his 4th Winston Cup Championship. 3. mcmurrayfan posted: 06.16.2006 - 10:18 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Wow, Kurt Busch failed to make this race. 4. Rusty posted: 07.28.2006 - 10:22 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kurt Busch would win this race one year later after DNQing 5. most posted: 12.18.2006 - 1:54 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Failed to qualify: Mark Green (#41), Robby Gordon (#31), Jason Leffler (#01), Kurt Busch (#97), Rick Mast (#90), Ron Hornaday, Jr. (#14), Dave Marcis (#71), Frank Kimmel (#46) Funny how that works, late in the season there always seems to be a few DNQ shockers (well, before the top 35 rule) 6. Anonymous posted: 01.14.2007 - 3:34 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Should've been Jerry's ... 7. Brock posted: 01.18.2007 - 6:15 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) The only time I've been any angrier at the finish of a sporting event was when the Raiders lost the Super Bowl in '03. 8. Brock posted: 01.18.2007 - 6:23 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) Jeff Gordon clinches his championship as Bobby Labonte snags the win. Not a good day to be a Ricky Rudd or Jerry Nadeau fan like myself. 9. myself posted: 02.21.2007 - 5:13 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) That's 4 & counting! Ole' boy probably has 15 or so good years still left in him! 10. biffle16 posted: 02.24.2007 - 7:24 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) What happened to Jr. late in this race? 11. David posted: 04.10.2007 - 11:13 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) He got a bug in his eye and it affected his ability to drive 12. Douche Bagolow posted: 07.30.2007 - 12:47 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Wow. 18 for 18. 13. RaceFanX posted: 01.21.2008 - 8:03 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Last race for longtime NASCAR sponsor Levi Garrett, coming 11 full years to the race after their last appearence as a full-time sponsor. 14. RaceFanX posted: 01.21.2008 - 8:08 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) I was always angry at Dale Jr for this one. Mark Martin (my favorite driver at the time) was winless but had a great car for this one, qualifing 2nd. On the 2nd lap Junior, trying to win the race on the first lap, ran in the back of Martin and bent the rear quarter panel out. It ruined the #6 Ford's aerodynamics and forced Martin to the pits on the first caution and out of contention, basically assuring Martin would go winless in 2001. Kudos Junior, next time don't do the Dave MacDonald thing 15. Spen posted: 04.27.2008 - 11:39 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Myself : I'm not so sure about that. With the chase, and given that, with the notable exception of '98, Gordon generally loses all his luck in autumn, this just might be his last championship. (And anyway, he has stated that he can't see himself still running in his forties, so he probably doesn't have fifteen years left.) 16. Mr. Big posted: 05.22.2008 - 3:26 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Even though I'm a huge Sterling fan, I guarantee you no one watching the race was rooting harder for Jerry than I was. Plus, it was a great finish. Unfortunately, instead of getting to close the season at a great track (if 9/11 didn't happen this would've been the season-ending race), we have to close it at one of the worst tracks on the circuit, Homestead. :/ 17. Matito posted: 12.02.2008 - 10:42 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Jeff Gordon clinches his championship as Bobby Labonte snags the win." What is this, 1997? 18. insect posted: 06.04.2009 - 12:28 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I was always angry at Dale Jr for this one. Mark Martin (my favorite driver at the time) was winless but had a great car for this one, qualifing 2nd. On the 2nd lap Junior, trying to win the race on the first lap, ran in the back of Martin and bent the rear quarter panel out. It ruined the #6 Ford's aerodynamics and forced Martin to the pits on the first caution and out of contention, basically assuring Martin would go winless in 2001. Kudos Junior, next time don't do the Dave MacDonald thing RaceFanX | 01.21.08 - 8:08 pm and i would have to assume that some how it was all Martin's fault. 19. jr88fan posted: 07.02.2009 - 1:44 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) He got a bug in his eye and it affected his ability to drive David | 04.10.07 - 11:13 pm Whoah. 20. AutoRockinRacing94 posted: 06.15.2010 - 3:47 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) The most angriest I have ever been where: Giants losing to the Angels Raiders losing to the Bucs Jeff Gordon losing to Jimmie Blackhawks losing to the Sharks 21. Brandon posted: 07.13.2010 - 3:53 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) carl long drove a dodge not a chevy, this vid proves it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afuEqzyRFYA 22. Schroeder51 posted: 07.19.2011 - 2:09 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Dave Blaney had another great run at Atlanta, but this time it was ruined by an engine problem. 23. jrsux posted: 10.24.2011 - 8:02 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) he got a bug in his eye, he had the flu, etc... jr always has something outside hamper him from winning according to his fans 24. JG24FanForever posted: 08.10.2012 - 10:49 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) What kind of race has the Top 4 all starting 28th or worse? 25. Terry Maynard posted: 04.14.2013 - 9:27 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Sponsor correction - Jimmy Spencer # 26 Kmart / How the Grinch Stole Christmas. This was done to promote Universal Studios Home Video's release of the movie on video and DVD. 26. kidracer posted: 01.11.2014 - 11:06 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Failed to qualify owners 97 - Jack Roush 90 - Junie Donlavey 27. luigistarted06 posted: 03.30.2014 - 11:43 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) I remember that Ricky Craven had a really strong car in this race, along with Dave Blaney. However, both would encounter mechanical issues, I remember specifically with Craven his car would constantly pop out of gear 28. sk posted: 08.22.2014 - 5:17 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) 3 provisional starters finish in the top-four, feel like that has to be a record. 29. Evan posted: 12.13.2014 - 11:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) A few sponsor corrections #17 Matt Kenseth DeWalt/PBR "Watch the Bulls Win The Tools" In a promotion with the Professional Bull Riders Association, race fans could watch the Bull Rider Challenge and win some DeWalt tools. Source:Jayski.com and watched the race, but saw a close-up shot of the car during the race. #5 Terry Labonte Kellogg's/"God Bless America" The Kellogg's Chevrolet had the words God Bless America on the trunk. This was done for many cars during the 2001 season, some did it later than others but most cars after 9/11 had an American flag somewhere. Source:Watched the race, car was shown during the pace laps. POLE SITTER #8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Budweiser/USA Dale Earnhardt had an American flag painted on the trunk on the car and ran it ever since his win at Dover in the fall. Tony Stewart #20 Home Depot/Apex Construction Home Depot shared time with Apex Construction on the 20 car again in 2001, in similar to his car at Bristol which he won. The logo was on the trunklid of the car. Source:Jayski.com #21 Elliot Sadler Motorcraft/God Bless America 30. Baxter posted: 02.21.2015 - 9:03 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Last race with no Busch until the 2015 Daytona 500. 31. Robert posted: 05.29.2015 - 7:20 am Rate this comment: (0) (1) Final career DNQ for Dave Marcis, as he would qualify for his only attempt after this, the 2002 Daytona 500. 32. markjeff531 posted: 12.10.2015 - 6:05 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) What made Kurt fail to qualify for this race? Low in Owner points, bad handling car in qualifying, no speed? 33. Captain51 posted: 12.10.2015 - 7:15 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @32, http://www.jayski.com/next/2001/2001atlanta2.htm It looks like Kurt didn't have any more provisionals 34. Mike posted: 12.11.2015 - 12:36 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Yeah, Kurt was out of provisionals going into this race - he'd used six in the previous nine races, as a matter of fact. 35. Mike posted: 12.11.2015 - 12:38 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) To add to that: Given that Terry Labonte got the last provisional, and he was higher in points than Kurt going into this race (Terry 22nd, Kurt 25th), Kurt probably wouldn't have gotten a provisional anyway. 36. Schroeder51 posted: 12.31.2015 - 7:12 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) Craven had one of the strongest cars in this race and could run with Junior, but his car kept popping out of gear and they eventually had to take the car to the garage to repair the transmission. During his stay in the garage area, he got in a jab at Bill Weber while being interviewed...After his first career win at Martinsville earlier that year, Weber had miscalled him "Ricky Rudd". With New Hamsphire being the last race of the year (due to it being delayed by 9/11) and it being Craven's home track, Weber asked him if he was bringing everyone to New England with him for Thanksgiving week. Craven jokingly responded, "I'll take you as long as you don't call me Ricky Rudd!" 37. Windows Millennium Edition posted: 03.14.2016 - 10:33 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Withdrew: WD|Morgan Shepherd|89|Racing for Jesus|Morgan Shepherd|Ford 38. Windows Millennium Edition posted: 03.20.2016 - 1:17 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Sponsor updates: #45 Sprint PCS #13 Lotto South/Scientific Games #20 Home Depot/RIDGID #43 Chex Party Mix #26 The Grinch/Kmart 39. Josh posted: 03.05.2018 - 2:54 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) The first race for the Hut Stricklin-Bill Davis pairing in the #23 Hills Bros Dodge. Stricklin had been driving for Junie Donlavey in the #90 for about the previous 365 days, but took himself and the Hills Bros sponsorship to Bill Davis' #23 for the 2002 season. The team debuted in this race with a solid 11th; unfortunately that was not how the 2002 season went for the team. Stricklin was out by the end of the year, and Kenny Wallace took over the ride for the 2003 season with Stacker2 sponsorship. 40. Chad posted: 04.03.2018 - 3:40 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Lots of good points made in previous comments. Kurt Busch failed to qualify. Nadeau losing fuel on the last lap, coasted across the finish line still in the top 5 after losing the lead. Blaney and Craven both had great cars but mechanical problems ruined their races. Earnhardt Jr again ruined another driver's race as he did about a dozen times this season. He and Spencer didn't deserve to be racing in the Cup series that year with how many times they'd take out an opponent. I was a fan of his but I never knew until recently about how he performed in 2001 outside of Daytona. Mark Martin had a great car ruined by Jr. Gordon had a great car early on, then faded mid race as he did make times late 2001. Two very close calls in the pits that he avoided damage in part thanks to the grass bordering the pit lane instead of a wall. But unlike some other races, he stayed out of trouble and fixed the handling to nearly get a top 5. Nice way to win the championship. Spencer's team pushed his car trying to push start it while all the lead lap cars came into the pits. That was comically bad decision by his team but thankfully everyone avoided hitting them. The racing at this track was awesome. Multiple times there were side by side for the lead for multiple laps continuously. The top 10-20 cars all had similar speed, and combine that with changing track conditions and heavy tire wear, there was frequently changing who was the fastest car on track. Combined with having so many different grooves to race in, which helped avoid aero push, made for perfect racing. What happened to Nascar??? They had a gold mine in 2001 in terms of competition, tracks, rules and templates, personalities, etc.. 41. Clint posted: 04.03.2018 - 3:46 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Yeah 2001 was the apex of nascar in my opinion. Tons of sponsors, a new manufacturer, new tv deal, they rode that for a few years with the young guns. It was the economy going bad and the COT in 2008 that really sunk nascar. They've never been able to recover from the car of tomorrow killing the competition of racing. I dont think they'll ever get back to those kind of heights again sadly. 42. RaceFanX posted: 01.14.2019 - 8:35 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) This race was originally scheduled with the intent of it being the season finale (the last time Atlanta was to have that honor before the birth of Ford Championship Weekend at Homestead in 2002). All that changed late in the season when New Hampshire had to be postponed from early September to late November due to the September 11 terrorist attacks. Robby Gordon and RCR came into this weekend ready to make a big announcement as they revealed before qualifying that the #31 Chevrolet would have a new full-time sponsorship from Cingular Wireless in 2002, replacing Lowe's as the home improvement chain moved over to Hendrick Motorsports' new fourth car and incoming rookie Jimmie Johnson. The announcement turned out to be the only good thing about this weekend as Gordon ended up shockingly failing to qualify for this race, a second late season DNQ for him and the #31 team. Redemption would however come soon after in the final outing for the Lowe's #31 Chevrolet before its new sponsorship began. 43. Mile501 posted: 05.01.2019 - 9:24 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @24 "What kind of race has the Top 4 all starting 28th or worse?" An exciting race with a lot of parity and close competition throughout the field from front to back. Sadly, we don't see that sort of thing anymore--generally the same drivers start and finish up front every week. The most recent (2019) Atlanta race is a perfect example. All but 1 of the top 15 finishers started in the top 20, while most of the finishers in the 20s (and 30s) started in the 20s (and 30s). 44. LJTolitoYouTuber posted: 05.01.2019 - 9:33 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Can't believe Kurt Busch DNQ for the race 45. Ultimate_Warrior_#18 posted: 05.01.2019 - 10:30 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) Either Kurt had run out of provisionals or he didn't have enough owners points because Terry Labonte took the past champions provisional. But the fall Atlanta Race was notorious for moments like this were guys in the mid 20's in points would DNQ because the entry list was so large. But poor Nadeau half a gallon short of a win. 46. Trent posted: 05.01.2019 - 10:30 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) 44. he was a rookie. its possible 47. Tarheel posted: 05.01.2019 - 11:27 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Greg Biffle failed to qualify for a race in his rookie season too, also Jeff Burton missed the spring race at Atlanta in 96, it wasn't his rookie season but it was his first year at Roush. 48. Corey posted: 05.01.2019 - 2:16 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @47 Biffle and Burton were driving for new teams and the races they missed still used the owners points from the previous seasons for provisionals. Neither had any points to fall back on. Kurt's DNQ came because the team just wasn't very competitive that year. 49. SweetRich posted: 06.28.2020 - 9:35 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) The commentators were Allen Bestwick, Benny Parsons and Wally Dallenbach. The pit road reporters were Bill Weber, Matt Yocum, Marty Snider and Dave Burns. 50. Rich posted: 11.25.2020 - 10:57 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) I am not sure what race was more heartbreaking for Jerry Nadeau. Either this race or at Sonoma the following June. Both instances saw him have a huge lead and the bad luck of racing hit him in the gut with such force. For me, it is a huge toss up, cause he had a great car both times and on any other day, wins two and three would have happened. It is a shame what happened to Nadeau after this race and his career ending so soon, but yeah, a great race with a jaw dropping finish. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *Post a comment:* Your comment may not appear immediately - all comments must be approved by the moderator. Name: Comment: