2003 Aaron's 499
Race details[1][2] | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Race 8 of 36 in the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season | |||||
Date | April 6, 2003 | ||||
Location | Talladega Superspeedway, Talladega, Alabama | ||||
Course |
Permanent racing facility 2.66 mi (4.28 km) | ||||
Distance | 188 laps, 500.08 mi (804.8 km) | ||||
Weather | Mild with temperatures approaching 78.1 °F (25.6 °C); wind speeds reaching up to 12 miles per hour (19 km/h) | ||||
Average speed | 144.625 miles per hour (232.751 km/h)[2] | ||||
Pole position | |||||
Driver | Evernham Motorsports | ||||
Time | 51.349 | ||||
Most laps led | |||||
Driver | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | |||
Laps | 65 | ||||
Winner | |||||
No. 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. |
Network | Fox Broadcasting Company | ||
Announcers | Mike Joy, Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds |
The 2003 Aaron's 499 was held on April 6, 2003, at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama. It was the eighth race of 36 in the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season. Jeremy Mayfield was the polesitter.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the race, his first win of the season and fourth consecutive at Talladega, becoming the 8th different winner in the first 8 races, while Kevin Harvick finished second[2] and Elliott Sadler finished third.[2] This was also the fifth consecutive restrictor plate race win for Dale Earnhardt, Inc. stretching back to the previous year's spring Talladega race. There were six cautions,[2] 16 different leaders, and 43 lead changes.[2] The Big One did not take long, collecting 27 cars on the fourth lap — the largest crash in a Cup race in the modern era.
Race Summary
The "Big One"
On lap 4, as the field entered turn 1, Ryan Newman (who already had a violent blowover at the rain shortened Daytona 500 in February) blew a tire and smashed hard into the turn 1 wall, almost turning over on his side and spinning across the middle of the track, collecting an additional 26 cars. Mayhem ensued as cars behind him checked up trying to avoid Newman, whose car suddenly burst into flames. One of Newman's tires came off and got struck by Ricky Rudd's hood, causing it to bounce right over the catch fence and land in a restricted access area.
A total of 27 cars were involved, making it the largest recorded crash in the history of the
Cars involved in the crash
- 0- Jack Sprague
- 01- Jerry Nadeau
- 02- Hermie Sadler
- 09- Mike Wallace
- 1- Steve Park
- 2- Rusty Wallace
- 4- Mike Skinner
- 6- Mark Martin
- 7- Jimmy Spencer
- 8- Dale Earnhardt Jr. (eventual winner)
- 10- Johnny Benson
- 12- Ryan Newman
- 16- Greg Biffle
- 17- Matt Kenseth (championship points leader)
- 18- Bobby Labonte
- 20- Tony Stewart
- 21- Ricky Rudd
- 25- Joe Nemechek
- 30- Jeff Green
- 41- Casey Mears
- 42- Jamie McMurray
- 43- John Andretti
- 45- Kyle Petty
- 49- Ken Schrader
- 54- Todd Bodine
- 77- Dave Blaney
- 99- Jeff Burton
Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s comeback
Perhaps the most well noted one involved in the Big One was
Double yellow line controversy
Earnhardt Jr. was involved in a controversial decision at the end of the race where it appeared he went below the yellow line in an attempt to improve position. As the cars were racing down the back straightaway, leader
In the years to come, the yellow lines would provide several controversial moments, such as Regan Smith being penalized by passing Tony Stewart below the yellow line in the fall race in 2008, as well as a confusing finish in 2020. NASCAR decided to put another yellow line for the next year, in both Daytona and Talladega.
Race results
Pos. | Car # | Driver | Make | Team | Sponsor | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Chevrolet | Dale Earnhardt Inc.
|
Budweiser | |
2 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | GM Goodwrench | |
3 | 38 | Elliott Sadler | Ford | Robert Yates Racing
|
M&M’s
| |
4 | 32 | Ricky Craven | Pontiac | PPI Motorsports | Tide with Bleach | |
5 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | Kellogg’s / got milk?
| |
6 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Dodge | Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates
|
Coors Light | |
7 | 22 | Ward Burton | Dodge | Bill Davis Racing | Caterpillar
| |
8 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | DuPont / Pepsi | |
9 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Ford | Roush Racing
|
DeWalt Power Tools | |
10 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | Cingular Wireless / Special Olympics | |
11 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Dodge | Petty Enterprises | Georgia-Pacific | |
12 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Ford | Robert Yates Racing | UPS New Fast Logo | |
13 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Dodge | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge Dealers / United Auto Workers | |
14 | 43 | John Andretti | Dodge | Petty Enterprises | Cheerios | |
15 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevrolet | Hendrick Motorsports | Lowe’s
| |
16 | 74 | Tony Raines | Chevrolet | BACE Motorsports | BACE Motorsports | |
17 | 23 | Kenny Wallace | Dodge | Bill Davis Racing | Stacker 2 | |
18 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Dodge | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge Dealers / United Auto Workers | |
19 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Ford | Roush Fenway | Rubbermaid | |
20 | 1 | Steve Park | Chevy | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Pennzoil | |
21 | 25 | Joe Nemechek | Chevy | Hendrick Motorsports | UAW-Delphi | |
22 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Ford | Roush Fenway | Grainger | |
23 | 77 | Dave Blaney | Ford | Jasper Motorsports | Jasper Engines and Transmissions | |
24 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Chevy | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | NAPA Auto Parts | |
25 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Chevy | Joe Gibbs Racing | The Home Depot
| |
26 | 6 | Mark Martin | Ford | Roush Racing | Viagra
| |
27 | 42 | Jamie McMurray | Dodge | Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates | Havoline | |
28 | 54 | Todd Bodine | Ford | BelCar Racing | National Guard | |
29 | 30 | Jeff Green | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing | American Online | |
30 | 09 | Mike Wallace | Dodge | Phoenix Racing | Miccosukee Resort & Gaming | |
31 | 4 | Mike Skinner | Pontiac | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Kodak | |
32 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Chevrolet | Joe Gibbs Racing | Interstate Batteries | |
33 | 49 | Ken Schrader | Dodge | BAM Racing | 1-800-CALL-ATT
| |
34 | 0 | Jack Sprague | Pontiac | Haas CNC Racing
|
NetZero | |
35 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Ford | Roush Racing | Citgo | |
36 | 01 | Jerry Nadeau | Pontiac | MB2 Motorsports | U.S. Army | |
37 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Dodge | Penske Racing
|
Miller Lite | |
38 | 7 | Jimmy Spencer
|
Dodge | Ultra Motorsports | Sirius Satellite Radio | |
39 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Dodge | Penske Racing | Alltel | |
40 | 41 | Casey Mears | Dodge | Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates | Target | |
41 | 10 | Johnny Benson | Pontiac | MB2 Motorsports | Valvoline | |
42 | 21 | Ricky Rudd | Ford | Wood Brothers Racing | Motorcraft | |
43 | 02 | Hermie Sadler | Chevrolet | SCORE Motorsports | Aaron's Dream Machine / 1-800-4-AUTISM
| |
Source:[2] |
Failed to qualify
- Brett Bodine (#11)
- Larry Foyt (#14)
- David Green (#60), time disallowed
Race facts
- Average speed: 144.625 mph[2]
- Margin of victory: .125 seconds[2]
- Time of race: 03:27:28[2]
- Lead changes: 43[2] among 16 different drivers
- Cautions: 6 for 32 laps[2]
- Laps 5-13: The "Big One" in turn 2
- Laps 37-40: Debris
- Laps 64-67: Debris
- Laps 84-89: Michael Waltrip, Elliott Sadler, and Jeremy Mayfield crash in turn 3
- Laps 91-94: Greg Biffle, Kurt Busch, and Tony Stewart crash in turn 4
- Laps 133-137: Debris
Points standings after race
- 1. Matt Kenseth 1233 (Leader)
- 2. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 1104 (-129)
- 3. Kurt Busch 1046 (-187)
- 4. Jimmie Johnson 1013 (-220)
- 5. Jeff Gordon 1011 (-222)
- 6. Ricky Craven 1000 (-223)
- 7. Michael Waltrip 994 (-239)
- 8. Kevin Harvick 977 (-256)
- 9. Tony Stewart 937 (-296)
- 10. Elliott Sadler 895 (-338)
See also
- The Big One (NASCAR)