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NASCAR WCUP: Emphasis is on 'team' at 'The Winston'

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
March 25, 2001

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Drivers garner much of the spotlight in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, but when the series reaches its all-star break in May, the emphasis shifts to the entire team.

Qualifying for The Winston, NASCAR's all-star race, will feature a four-tire pit stop at the beginning of each team's qualifying attempt. In the past, qualifying has included a two-tire stop somewhere within the multi-lap qualifying process. The Winston is set for Saturday night, May 19, 2001.

Last season, the pit stop was moved to the beginning of the attempt. This year, each team will perform a four-tire pit stop followed by three hot laps. The teams will compete for the quickest total time. Only the drivers who enter The Winston weekend as qualified drivers will compete in this process.

"NASCAR Winston Cup racing is a team sport," Rick Sanders, president of RJR's Sports Marketing Enterprises said. "Just last weekend at Darlington, Dale Jarrett's pit crew put him back on the track ahead of the field late in the race, and he went on to win. By including a four-tire stop, we are able to place even more emphasis on the team. The drivers are the all-stars of NASCAR Winston Cup racing, but the crews are all-stars, too."

The remaining NASCAR Winston Cup drivers will attempt to qualify for The Winston through The Winston Open and The No Bull Sprint races run immediately prior to The Winston. Qualifying for The Winston Open will be Friday night, May 18th. A two-lap qualifying format replaces the No Bull 25 qualifying races

The winner of The Winston Open, a 30-lap affair, will advance into The Winston.

Following the Winston Open, the winner will go to victory lane. The remaining cars will stay on the track for four caution laps followed by the 16-lap No Bull Sprint. Teams may elect to pit during the caution period, but they will lose track position. The winner of the No Bull Sprint will also advance into The Winston.

The format of The Winston will again be three segments of 30, 30 and 10 laps, respectively. Only green-flag laps count in The Winston. Following the first 30-lap segment, there will be a 10-minute break, and the field will be inverted between six and 12 positions. The actual inversion process and number will be announced at a later date. Following the second segment, pit road will open, but the pace car will remain on the track. Teams may pit, but they will lose track position.

All restarts in The Winston will be double-file. The first row will consist of the cars running first and second. The second row will consist of the cars running third and fourth, etc. Cars not on the lead lap will restart behind all lead-lap cars.

The Winston 2001 Eligibility List
As of March 23, 2001

Driver Race Won Car Owner

  • Dale Jarrett 2000 Daytona 500 Robert Yates
  • Bobby Labonte 2000 Dura Lube 400, Rockingham Joe Gibbs
  • Jeff Burton 2000 Carsdirect.com 400, Las Vegas Jack Roush
  • Ward Burton 2000 Mall.Com 400, Darlington Bill Davis
  • Rusty Wallace 2000 Food City 500, Bristol Roger Penske
  • Dale Earnhardt, Jr. 2000 DirecTV 500, Fort Worth Teresa Earnhardt
  • Mark Martin 2000 Goody's 500, Martinsville Jack Roush
  • Jeff Gordon 2000 DieHard 500, Talladega Rick Hendrick
  • Jeremy Mayfield 2000 Napa Auto Parts 500 Roger Penske
  • Matt Kenseth 2000 Coca-Cola 600 Jack Roush
  • Tony Stewart 2000 MBNA Platinum 400 Joe Gibbs
  • Steve Park 2000 Global Crossing at the Glen Teresa Earnhardt
  • Jerry Nadeau 2000 NAPA 500 Rick Hendrick
  • Michael Waltrip 2001 Daytona 500 Teresa Earnhardt
  • Kevin Harvick 2001 Cracker Barrel 500 Richard Childress

NASCAR WINSTON CUP CHAMPIONS
(Not Otherwise Exempt)
Drivers Year(s) won
Bill Elliott 1988
Terry Labonte 1984, 96

PREVIOUS WINNERS OF THE WINSTON
(Last five years, not otherwise exempt)
Drivers Year(s) won
None

RACE WINNERS FROM PREVIOUS SEASONS
(Not otherwise exempt)
Drivers Race Won
John Andretti 1999 Goody's 500, Martinsville
Joe Nemechek 1999 Dura-Lube 300, Loudon

(If a non-qualified driver wins a NASCAR Winston Cup race before The Winston, Andretti and Nemechek will drop out of the field. If
either Andretti or Nemechek wins a race, the other will drop out.)

WINNER OF THE WINSTON OPEN

WINNER OF THE NO BULL SPRINT

Total Qualified drivers: 21

Text provided by Denny Darnell

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