2003 Pontiac Excitement 400
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| Race details | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 11 of 36 in the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series | |||
 The 2003 Pontiac Excitement 400 program cover. | |||
| Date | May 3, 2003 | ||
| Official name | 49th Annual Pontiac Excitement 400 | ||
| Location | Richmond, Virginia, Richmond International Raceway | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||
| Course length | 0.75 miles (1.21 km) | ||
| Distance | 393 laps, 294.75 mi (474.354 km) | ||
| Scheduled distance | 400 laps, 300 mi (482.803 km) | ||
| Average speed | 86.783 miles per hour (139.664 km/h) | ||
| Attendance | 110,000 | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Hendrick Motorsports | ||
| Time | 21.342 | ||
| Most laps led | |||
| Driver | Joe Nemechek | Hendrick Motorsports | |
| Laps | 156 | ||
| Winner | |||
| No. 25 | Joe Nemechek | Hendrick Motorsports | |
| Television in the United States | |||
| Network | FX | ||
| Announcers | Mike Joy, Larry McReynolds, Darrell Waltrip | ||
| Radio in the United States | |||
| Radio | Motor Racing Network | ||
The 2003 Pontiac Excitement 400 was the 11th stock car race of the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 49th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, May 3, 2003, before a crowd of 110,000 in Richmond, Virginia, at Richmond International Raceway, a 0.75 miles (1.21 km) D-shaped oval. The race was shortened from its scheduled 400 laps to 393 due to rain cutting the race short. At race's end, Joe Nemechek, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would rally from the mid-pack and eventually win his third career NASCAR Winston Cup Series win and his first and only win of the season.[1] To fill out the podium, Bobby Labonte of Joe Gibbs Racing and Dale Earnhardt Jr. of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. would finish second and third, respectively.
MB2 Motorsports driver Jerry Nadeau would suffer career-ending injuries in the second practice session of the race.[2]
Entry list
- (R) denotes rookie driver.
*Driver changed to Jason Keller after Nadeau crashed in second practice, leaving Nadeau critically injured and effectively ending Nadeau's racing career.[2][3][4]
**Withdrew after crashing in first practice.[5]
Practice
First practice
The first practice session was held on Friday, May 2, at 11:20 AM EST, and would last for two hours.[5] Dale Earnhardt Jr. of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 21.230 and an average speed of 127.178 miles per hour (204.673 km/h).[6]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 21.230 | 127.178 |
| 2 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 21.249 | 127.065 |
| 3 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 21.259 | 127.005 |
| Full first practice results | ||||||
Second practice
The second practice session was held on Friday, May 2, at 4:45 PM EST, and would last for 45 minutes.[5] Jeff Burton of Roush Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 21.640 and an average speed of 124.769 miles per hour (200.796 km/h).[7]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 21.640 | 124.769 |
| 2 | 25 | Joe Nemechek | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 21.701 | 124.418 |
| 3 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 21.737 | 124.212 |
| Full second practice results | ||||||
Third and final practice
The third and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Friday, May 2, at 6:10 PM EST, and would last for 45 minutes.[5] Jeff Burton of Roush Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 21.640 and an average speed of 124.769 miles per hour (200.796 km/h).[8]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 21.650 | 124.711 |
| 2 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 21.658 | 124.665 |
| 3 | 23 | Kenny Wallace | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 21.678 | 124.550 |
| Full Happy Hour practice results | ||||||
