2000 Save Mart/Kragen 350
Race details
Race 16 of 34 in the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 2000 Save Mart/Kragen 350 program cover, featuring Jeff Gordon.
The 2000 Save Mart/Kragen 350 program cover, featuring Jeff Gordon.
Date June 25, 2000
Official name 12th Annual Save Mart/Kragen 350
Location Sonoma, California, Sears Point Raceway
Course Permanent racing facility
1.99 mi (3.20 km)
Distance 112 laps, 218.288 mi (351.3 km)
Scheduled Distance 112 laps, 218.288 mi (351.3 km)
Average speed 78.789 miles per hour (126.799 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Penske-Kranefuss Racing
Time 1:10.652
Most laps led
Driver Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports
Laps 43
Winner
No. 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports
Television in the United States
Network ESPN
Announcers Bob Jenkins, Ned Jarrett, Benny Parsons
Radio in the United States
Radio Performance Racing Network

The 2000 Save Mart/Kragen 350 was the 16th stock car race of the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 12th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, June 25, 2000, in Sonoma, California, at the club layout in Sears Point Raceway, a 1.99 miles (3.20 km) permanent road course layout. The race took the scheduled 112 laps to complete.

At race's end, Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon would dominate the late stages of a chaotic race to win his 51st career NASCAR Winston Cup Series win and his first of the season.[1][2] To fill out the podium, Sterling Marlin of Team SABCO and Mark Martin of Roush Racing would finish second and third, respectively.

Background

The layout of Sears Point Raceway used by NASCAR at the time.

Sears Point Raceway is one of two road courses to hold NASCAR races, the other being Watkins Glen International. The standard road course at Sears Point Raceway is a 12-turn course that is 2.52 miles (4.06 km) long; the track was modified in 1998, adding the Chute, which bypassed turns 5 and 6, shortening the course to 1.95 miles (3.14 km). The Chute was only used for NASCAR events such as this race, and was criticized by many drivers, who preferred the full layout.[3] In 2001, it was replaced with a 70-degree turn, 4A, bringing the track to its current dimensions of 1.99 miles (3.20 km).

Entry list

  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet Pennzoil
2 Rusty Wallace Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford Miller Lite
3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet GM Goodwrench Service
4 Bobby Hamilton Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet Kodak
5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Kellogg's
6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford Valvoline
7 Michael Waltrip Mattei Motorsports Chevrolet NationsRent
8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. (R) Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet Budweiser
9 Stacy Compton (R) Melling Racing Ford Cougar
10 Johnny Benson Jr. Tyler Jet Motorsports Pontiac Lycos
11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford Ralphs
12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford Mobil 1
13 Robby Gordon Team Menard Ford Menards, CD-2
14 Rick Mast A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac Conseco
16 Kevin Lepage Roush Racing Ford Family Click
17 Matt Kenseth (R) Roush Racing Ford DeWalt
18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac Interstate Batteries
20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac The Home Depot
21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford Citgo
22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Pontiac Caterpillar
23 Boris Said Spencer Motor Ventures Ford Federated Auto Parts
24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet DuPont
25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Michael Holigan
26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford Big Kmart
27 Mike Bliss (R) Eel River Racing Pontiac Viagra
28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford Texaco, Havoline
31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Lowe's
32 Scott Pruett (R) PPI Motorsports Ford Tide
33 Joe Nemechek Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet Oakwood Homes
36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac M&M's
40 Sterling Marlin Team SABCO Chevrolet Coors Light
42 Kenny Irwin Jr. Team SABCO Chevrolet BellSouth
43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Pontiac STP
44 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac Hot Wheels
55 Kenny Wallace Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet Square D, Cooper Lighting
60 Geoff Bodine Joe Bessey Racing Chevrolet Power Team
66 Darrell Waltrip Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford Route 66, Big Kmart
71 R. K. Smith Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet Realtree
75 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Galaxy Motorsports Ford RedCell, Dinner and a Movie
77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford Jasper Engines & Transmissions
88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford Quality Care Service, Ford Credit
90 Brian Simo Donlavey Racing Ford Hills Bros. Coffee
93 Dave Blaney (R) Bill Davis Racing Pontiac Amoco
94 Bill Elliott Bill Elliott Racing Ford McDonald's
97 Chad Little Roush Racing Ford John Deere
99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford Exide
Official entry list

Practice

First practice

The first practice session was held on Friday, June 23, at 10:00 AM PST, and would last for three hours.[4] Kyle Petty of Petty Enterprises would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 1:10.921 and an average speed of 98.932 mph (159.216 km/h).[5]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 44 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 1:10.921 98.932
2 23 Boris Said Spencer Motor Ventures Ford 1:10.988 98.839
3 13 Robby Gordon Team Menard Ford 1:11.024 98.789
Full first practice results

Second practice

The second practice session was held on Saturday, June 24, at 9:00 AM PST, and would last for one hour.[4] Dale Earnhardt of Richard Childress Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 1:11.747 and an average speed of 97.793 mph (157.383 km/h).[6]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 1:11.747 97.793
2 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 1:11.801 97.720
3 25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1:11.908 97.574
Full second practice results

Third and final practice

The third and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, June 24 after the preliminary NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series race.[4] John Andretti of Petty Enterprises would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 1:12.510 and an average speed of 96.764 mph (155.727 km/h).[7]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Pontiac 1:12.510 96.764
2 32 Scott Pruett (R) PPI Motorsports Ford 1:12.530 96.737
3 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 1:12.799 96.380
Full Happy Hour practice results

Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, June 23, at 2:00 PM PST. each driver had one lap to set a time. During the first round, the top 25 drivers in the round were 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 24, at 10:45 AM PST. As with the first round, each driver had one lap to set a time.[4] Positions 26-36 were decided on time, while positions 37-43 were based on provisionals. Six spots were awarded by the use of provisionals based on owner's points. The seventh was awarded to a past champion who did not otherwise qualified for the race. If no past champion needs the provisional, the next team in the owner points was awarded a provisional.[8]

Rusty Wallace of Penske-Kranefuss Racing won the pole, setting a time of 1:10.652 and an average speed of 99.309 miles per hour (159.822 km/h) in the first round.[9]

Three drivers would fail to qualify: Rick Mast, Geoff Bodine, and R. K. Smith.

Full qualifying results

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 2 Rusty Wallace Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford 1:10.652 99.309
2 44 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 1:11.132 98.639
3 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 1:11.146 98.620
4 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 1:11.201 98.544
5 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1:11.207 98.535
6 40 Sterling Marlin Team SABCO Chevrolet 1:11.236 98.495
7 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 1:11.257 98.466
8 94 Bill Elliott Bill Elliott Racing Ford 1:11.307 98.397
9 32 Scott Pruett (R) PPI Motorsports Ford 1:11.361 98.323
10 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 1:11.425 98.235
11 13 Robby Gordon Team Menard Ford 1:11.488 98.148
12 26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 1:11.529 98.092
13 31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 1:11.574 98.030
14 4 Bobby Hamilton Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 1:11.617 97.971
15 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 1:11.619 97.968
16 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Pontiac 1:11.718 97.833
17 55 Kenny Wallace Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 1:11.750 97.790
18 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 1:11.763 97.772
19 33 Joe Nemechek Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 1:11.771 97.761
20 25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1:11.794 97.730
21 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 1:11.809 97.709
22 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 1:11.834 97.675
23 23 Boris Said Spencer Motor Ventures Ford 1:11.922 97.556
24 16 Kevin Lepage Roush Racing Ford 1:12.070 97.355
25 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1:12.160 97.234
26 75 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Galaxy Motorsports Ford 1:11.776 97.754
27 27 Mike Bliss (R) Eel River Racing Pontiac 1:11.825 97.687
28 7 Michael Waltrip Mattei Motorsports Chevrolet 1:11.885 97.606
29 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 1:12.086 97.334
30 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 1:12.139 97.262
31 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. (R) Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 1:12.214 97.161
32 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 1:12.232 97.137
33 66 Darrell Waltrip Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 1:12.270 97.086
34 90 Brian Simo Donlavey Racing Ford 1:12.389 96.926
35 10 Johnny Benson Jr. Tyler Jet Motorsports Pontiac 1:12.414 96.893
36 9 Stacy Compton (R) Melling Racing Ford 1:12.486 96.797
Provisionals
37 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Pontiac 1:12.624 96.613
38 17 Matt Kenseth (R) Roush Racing Ford 1:13.193 95.862
39 12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford 1:12.516 96.757
40 97 Chad Little Roush Racing Ford 1:13.285 95.741
41 77 Mark Simo[lower-alpha 1] Jasper Motorsports Ford 1:13.050 96.049
42 42 Kenny Irwin Jr. Team SABCO Chevrolet 1:12.554 96.706
43 93 Dave Blaney (R) Bill Davis Racing Pontiac 1:12.990 96.128
Failed to qualify
44 14 Rick Mast A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac 1:12.576 96.677
45 60 Geoff Bodine Joe Bessey Racing Chevrolet 1:12.783 96.402
46 71 R. K. Smith Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 1:12.862 96.297
Official first round qualifying results
Official starting lineup

Race results

Fin St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 5 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 112 43 running 185 $143,025
2 6 40 Sterling Marlin Team SABCO Chevrolet 112 25 running 175 $90,725
3 7 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 112 0 running 165 $75,950
4 3 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 112 0 running 160 $81,290
5 10 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 112 0 running 155 $67,915
6 29 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 112 0 running 150 $65,165
7 18 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 112 0 running 146 $69,665
8 20 25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 112 0 running 142 $56,765
9 11 13 Robby Gordon Team Menard Ford 112 5 running 143 $42,415
10 4 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 112 2 running 139 $73,610
11 19 33 Joe Nemechek Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 112 0 running 130 $55,700
12 28 7 Michael Waltrip Mattei Motorsports Chevrolet 112 0 running 127 $53,475
13 17 55 Kenny Wallace Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 112 16 running 129 $53,325
14 14 4 Bobby Hamilton Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 112 0 running 121 $51,775
15 21 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 112 0 running 118 $45,775
16 30 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 112 0 running 115 $59,225
17 15 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 112 0 running 112 $50,200
18 35 10 Johnny Benson Jr. Tyler Jet Motorsports Pontiac 112 0 running 109 $45,775
26 1 2 Rusty Wallace Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford 112 11 running 90 $61,500
19 2 44 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 112 0 running 106 $50,420
20 13 31 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 112 0 running 103 $53,685
21 37 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Pontiac 112 0 running 100 $55,725
22 27 27 Mike Bliss (R) Eel River Racing Pontiac 112 0 running 97 $38,665
23 42 42 Kenny Irwin Jr. Team SABCO Chevrolet 112 0 running 94 $49,030
24 31 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. (R) Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 112 0 running 91 $47,550
25 40 97 Chad Little Roush Racing Ford 112 0 running 88 $49,230
27 25 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 112 0 running 82 $55,465
28 33 66 Darrell Waltrip Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 111 0 running 79 $40,580
29 43 93 Dave Blaney (R) Bill Davis Racing Pontiac 111 0 running 76 $37,360
30 22 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 110 0 running 73 $37,820
31 36 9 Stacy Compton (R) Melling Racing Ford 110 0 running 70 $40,950
32 38 17 Matt Kenseth (R) Roush Racing Ford 110 0 running 67 $48,190
33 39 12 Jeremy Mayfield Penske-Kranefuss Racing Ford 110 0 running 64 $48,170
34 12 26 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 110 0 running 61 $47,650
35 8 94 Bill Elliott Bill Elliott Racing Ford 98 0 running 58 $45,130
36 34 90 Brian Simo Donlavey Racing Ford 95 0 running 55 $37,110
37 41 77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford 91 0 transmission 52 $37,090
38 32 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 91 0 running 49 $45,045
39 9 32 Scott Pruett (R) PPI Motorsports Ford 67 10 crash 51 $37,025
40 26 75 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Galaxy Motorsports Ford 44 0 transmission 43 $37,480
41 24 16 Kevin Lepage Roush Racing Ford 40 0 transmission 40 $44,960
42 23 23 Boris Said Spencer Motor Ventures Ford 26 0 engine 37 $36,940
43 16 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Pontiac 15 0 crash 34 $54,915
Failed to qualify
44 14 Rick Mast A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac
45 60 Geoff Bodine Joe Bessey Racing Chevrolet
46 71 R. K. Smith Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet
Official race results

Standings after the race

Notes

  1. Pressley was replaced by Simo in an attempt to qualify the car. Pressley was eventually reinstated to run the race.[10]

References

  1. Poole, David (June 25, 2000). "Gordon had the roadmap to victory lane". ThatsRacin. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  2. "Jeff Gordon winds his way to victory at Sonoma". The Desert Sun. Associated Press. June 26, 2000. pp. C5. Retrieved May 11, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. "Passing is tough in Chute | chronicle.augusta.com". June 7, 2011. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2000 Sonoma Race Info Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on April 26, 2001. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  5. "Winston Cup practice speeds". ThatsRacin. June 23, 2000. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  6. "2000 Sonoma NASCAR Winston Cup Series Practice 2". NASCAR Online. Archived from the original on July 11, 2000. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  7. "Happy Hour practice speeds". ThatsRacin. June 24, 2000. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  8. "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.
  9. Poole, David (June 23, 2000). "Rusty Wallace on the pole, again". That's Racin'. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  10. Gardner, Tom (June 24, 2000). "Road courses bring out the specialists". That's Racin'. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on May 11, 2001. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
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