The 2003 MBNA America 400  was the 28th stock car race  of the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series  season and the 35th iteration of the event . The race was held on Sunday, September 21, 2003, before a crowd of 137,000 in Dover, Delaware  at Dover International Speedway , a 1-mile (1.6 km) permanent oval-shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 400 laps to complete. At race's end, Ryan Newman  of Penske Racing South  would come back from two laps down and save fuel at the end to win his eighth career NASCAR Winston Cup Series  win and his seventh win of the season.[ 1] Jeremy Mayfield  of Evernham Motorsports  and Tony Stewart  of Joe Gibbs Racing  would finish second and third, respectively.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.  would suffer a concussion during the race on lap 363.[ 2] 
Background 
The layout of Dover International Speedway , the venue where the race was held. Dover International Speedway is an oval race track  in Dover , Delaware , United States  that has held at least two NASCAR  races since it opened in 1969. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosted USAC  and the NTT IndyCar Series . The track features one layout, a 1-mile (1.6 km) concrete oval , with 24° banking in the turns and 9° banking on the straights. The speedway is owned and operated by Dover Motorsports .
The track, nicknamed "The Monster Mile", was built in 1969 by Melvin Joseph of Melvin L. Joseph Construction Company, Inc., with an asphalt surface, but was replaced with concrete in 1995. Six years later in 2001, the track's capacity moved to 135,000 seats, making the track have the largest capacity of sports venue in the mid-Atlantic. In 2002, the name changed to Dover International Speedway from Dover Downs International Speedway after Dover Downs  Gaming and Entertainment split, making Dover Motorsports. From 2007 to 2009, the speedway worked on an improvement project called "The Monster Makeover", which expanded facilities at the track and beautified the track. After the 2014 season, the track's capacity was reduced to 95,500 seats.
Entry list 
#
 
Driver
 
Team
 
Make
 
Sponsor
  
0
 
Jason Leffler 
Haas CNC Racing 
Pontiac 
NetZero HiSpeed 
 
1
 
John Andretti 
Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 
Chevrolet 
Pennzoil 
 
01
 
Mike Skinner 
MB2 Motorsports 
Pontiac 
U.S. Army 
 
2
 
Rusty Wallace 
Penske Racing South 
Dodge 
Miller Lite 
 
02
 
Hermie Sadler 
SCORE Motorsports 
Pontiac 
VCU Rams 
 
4
 
Kevin Lepage 
Morgan–McClure Motorsports 
Pontiac 
Kodak EasyShare 
 
5
 
Terry Labonte 
Hendrick Motorsports 
Chevrolet 
Kellogg's , Got Milk? 
 
6
 
Mark Martin 
Roush Racing 
Ford 
Viagra 
 
7
 
Jimmy Spencer 
Ultra Motorsports 
Dodge 
Sirius Satellite Radio 
 
8
 
Dale Earnhardt Jr. 
Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 
Chevrolet 
Budweiser 
 
9
 
Bill Elliott 
Evernham Motorsports 
Dodge 
Dodge Dealers , UAW 
 
10
 
Johnny Benson Jr. 
MB2 Motorsports 
Pontiac 
Valvoline 
 
12
 
Ryan Newman 
Penske Racing South 
Dodge 
Sony WEGA 
 
15
 
Michael Waltrip 
Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 
Chevrolet 
NAPA Auto Parts 
 
16
 
Greg Biffle 
Roush Racing 
Ford 
Grainger 
 
17
 
Matt Kenseth 
Roush Racing 
Ford 
DeWalt 
 
18
 
Bobby Labonte 
Joe Gibbs Racing 
Chevrolet 
Interstate Batteries , 3M 
 
19
 
Jeremy Mayfield 
Evernham Motorsports 
Dodge 
Dodge Dealers , UAW 
 
20
 
Tony Stewart 
Joe Gibbs Racing 
Chevrolet 
The Home Depot 
 
21
 
Ricky Rudd 
Wood Brothers Racing 
Ford 
U.S. Air Force 
 
22
 
Ward Burton 
Bill Davis Racing 
Dodge 
Caterpillar 
 
23
 
Kenny Wallace 
Bill Davis Racing 
Dodge 
Stacker 2 YJ Stinger 
 
24
 
Jeff Gordon 
Hendrick Motorsports 
Chevrolet 
DuPont 
 
25
 
Joe Nemechek 
Hendrick Motorsports 
Chevrolet 
UAW -Delphi 
 
27
 
Scott Wimmer 
Bill Davis Racing 
Chevrolet 
Bill Davis Racing 
 
29
 
Kevin Harvick 
Richard Childress Racing 
Chevrolet 
GM Goodwrench 
 
30
 
Steve Park 
Richard Childress Racing 
Chevrolet 
America Online 
 
31
 
Robby Gordon 
Richard Childress Racing 
Chevrolet 
Cingular Wireless 
 
32
 
Ricky Craven 
PPI Motorsports 
Pontiac 
Tide 
 
37
 
Derrike Cope 
Quest Motor Racing 
Chevrolet 
Friendly's 
 
38
 
Elliott Sadler 
Robert Yates Racing 
Ford 
M&M's 
 
40
 
Sterling Marlin 
Chip Ganassi Racing 
Dodge 
Coors Light 
 
41
 
Casey Mears 
Chip Ganassi Racing 
Dodge 
Target 
 
42
 
Jamie McMurray 
Chip Ganassi Racing 
Dodge 
Texaco , Havoline 
 
43
 
Jeff Green 
Petty Enterprises 
Dodge 
Cheerios 
 
44
 
Christian Fittipaldi 
Petty Enterprises 
Dodge 
Bugles 
 
45
 
Kyle Petty 
Petty Enterprises 
Dodge 
Georgia-Pacific Brawny 
 
48
 
Jimmie Johnson 
Hendrick Motorsports 
Chevrolet 
Lowe's 
 
49
 
Ken Schrader 
BAM Racing 
Dodge 
BAM Racing 
 
50
 
Larry Foyt 
A. J. Foyt Enterprises 
Dodge 
Harrah's  "Oh Yeah!"
 
54
 
Todd Bodine 
BelCar Motorsports 
Ford 
National Guard 
 
71
 
Tim Sauter 
Marcis Auto Racing 
Chevrolet 
ARAN Trading
  
74
 
Tony Raines 
BACE Motorsports 
Chevrolet 
BACE Motorsports 
 
77
 
Dave Blaney 
Jasper Motorsports 
Ford 
Jasper Engines & Transmissions
  
79
 
Billy Bigley 
Arnold Motorsports 
Dodge 
Arnold Development Companies
  
79
 
Rich Bickle *
Conely Racing
 
Chevrolet 
SBC , Molykote
 
88
 
Dale Jarrett 
Robert Yates Racing 
Ford 
UPS 
 
89
 
Morgan Shepherd 
Shepherd Racing Ventures 
Ford 
Racing with Jesus
  
91
 
Shane Hmiel *
Evernham Motorsports 
Dodge 
Evernham Motorsports 
 
97
 
Kurt Busch 
Roush Racing 
Ford 
Sharpie , Brute
 
99
 
Jeff Burton 
Roush Racing 
Ford 
Citgo 
 
Official entry list 
 
*Withdrew.[ 3] 
Practice 
First practice 
The first practice session was held on Saturday, September 20, at 11:15 AM EST , and would last for one hour and 15 minutes.[ 3] Jimmie Johnson  of Hendrick Motorsports  would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 23.472 and an average speed of 153.374 miles per hour (246.832 km/h).[ 4] 
Second and final practice 
The second and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, September 20, at approximately 3:00 PM EST , and would last for approximately one hour.[ 3] Dale Earnhardt Jr.  of Dale Earnhardt, Inc.  would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 23.583 and an average speed of 152.652 miles per hour (245.670 km/h).[ 5] 
Qualifying 
Qualifying was canceled due to the impeding threat of Hurricane Isabel . As a result, the current 2003 owner's standings were used to determine the lineup.[ 3] Matt Kenseth  of Roush Racing  would win the pole.[ 6] 
Race results 
Fin[ 7]  
St
 
#
 
Driver
 
Team
 
Make
 
Laps
 
Led
 
Status
 
Pts
 
Winnings
  
1
 
5
 
12
 
Ryan Newman 
Penske Racing South 
Dodge 
400
 
106
 
running
 
180
 
$160,460
  
2
 
25
 
19
 
Jeremy Mayfield 
Evernham Motorsports 
Dodge 
400
 
0
 
running
 
170
 
$140,635
  
3
 
11
 
20
 
Tony Stewart 
Joe Gibbs Racing 
Chevrolet 
400
 
97
 
running
 
170
 
$153,408
  
4
 
3
 
29
 
Kevin Harvick 
Richard Childress Racing 
Chevrolet 
400
 
133
 
running
 
170
 
$119,533
  
5
 
6
 
24
 
Jeff Gordon 
Hendrick Motorsports 
Chevrolet 
400
 
14
 
running
 
160
 
$123,923
  
6
 
18
 
42
 
Jamie McMurray 
Chip Ganassi Racing 
Dodge 
400
 
0
 
running
 
150
 
$71,890
  
7
 
19
 
16
 
Greg Biffle 
Roush Racing 
Ford 
400
 
0
 
running
 
146
 
$66,440
  
8
 
4
 
48
 
Jimmie Johnson 
Hendrick Motorsports 
Chevrolet 
400
 
0
 
running
 
142
 
$79,940
  
9
 
1
 
17
 
Matt Kenseth 
Roush Racing 
Ford 
400
 
1
 
running
 
143
 
$79,840
  
10
 
14
 
2
 
Rusty Wallace 
Penske Racing South 
Dodge 
400
 
0
 
running
 
134
 
$98,707
  
11
 
23
 
21
 
Ricky Rudd 
Wood Brothers Racing 
Ford 
400
 
0
 
running
 
130
 
$87,155
  
12
 
13
 
99
 
Jeff Burton 
Roush Racing 
Ford 
400
 
0
 
running
 
127
 
$96,007
  
13
 
17
 
40
 
Sterling Marlin 
Chip Ganassi Racing 
Dodge 
400
 
1
 
running
 
129
 
$102,540
  
14
 
15
 
9
 
Bill Elliott 
Evernham Motorsports 
Dodge 
400
 
0
 
running
 
121
 
$94,673
  
15
 
29
 
7
 
Jimmy Spencer 
Ultra Motorsports 
Dodge 
400
 
0
 
running
 
118
 
$75,890
  
16
 
41
 
43
 
Jeff Green 
Petty Enterprises 
Dodge 
400
 
0
 
running
 
115
 
$99,818
  
17
 
33
 
54
 
Todd Bodine 
BelCar Racing 
Ford 
400
 
0
 
running
 
112
 
$71,740
  
18
 
27
 
88
 
Dale Jarrett 
Robert Yates Racing 
Ford 
400
 
0
 
running
 
109
 
$100,703
  
19
 
20
 
38
 
Elliott Sadler 
Robert Yates Racing 
Ford 
400
 
0
 
running
 
106
 
$92,490
  
20
 
9
 
5
 
Terry Labonte 
Hendrick Motorsports 
Chevrolet 
399
 
0
 
running
 
103
 
$86,346
  
21
 
26
 
10
 
Johnny Benson Jr. 
MB2 Motorsports 
Pontiac 
399
 
0
 
running
 
100
 
$84,490
  
22
 
16
 
6
 
Mark Martin 
Roush Racing 
Ford 
398
 
0
 
running
 
97
 
$91,323
  
23
 
12
 
31
 
Robby Gordon 
Richard Childress Racing 
Chevrolet 
398
 
0
 
running
 
94
 
$83,327
  
24
 
28
 
77
 
Dave Blaney 
Jasper Motorsports 
Ford 
398
 
0
 
running
 
91
 
$75,490
  
25
 
37
 
0
 
Jason Leffler 
Haas CNC Racing 
Pontiac 
398
 
0
 
running
 
88
 
$57,215
  
26
 
32
 
30
 
Steve Park 
Richard Childress Racing 
Chevrolet 
397
 
0
 
running
 
85
 
$64,165
  
27
 
40
 
4
 
Kevin Lepage 
Morgan–McClure Motorsports 
Pontiac 
397
 
0
 
running
 
82
 
$61,904
  
28
 
31
 
23
 
Kenny Wallace 
Bill Davis Racing 
Dodge 
397
 
0
 
running
 
79
 
$53,340
  
29
 
21
 
22
 
Ward Burton 
Bill Davis Racing 
Dodge 
397
 
0
 
running
 
76
 
$89,246
  
30
 
39
 
74
 
Tony Raines 
BACE Motorsports 
Chevrolet 
395
 
0
 
running
 
73
 
$53,540
  
31
 
8
 
18
 
Bobby Labonte 
Joe Gibbs Racing 
Chevrolet 
395
 
0
 
running
 
70
 
$97,948
  
32
 
36
 
45
 
Kyle Petty 
Petty Enterprises 
Dodge 
394
 
0
 
running
 
67
 
$60,705
  
33
 
38
 
49
 
Ken Schrader 
BAM Racing 
Dodge 
393
 
0
 
running
 
64
 
$53,455
  
34
 
30
 
1
 
John Andretti 
Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 
Chevrolet 
393
 
0
 
running
 
61
 
$77,532
  
35
 
42
 
37
 
Derrike Cope 
Quest Motor Racing 
Chevrolet 
393
 
0
 
running
 
58
 
$52,130
  
36
 
35
 
41
 
Casey Mears 
Chip Ganassi Racing 
Dodge 
392
 
0
 
running
 
55
 
$60,000
  
37
 
2
 
8
 
Dale Earnhardt Jr. 
Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 
Chevrolet 
362
 
48
 
crash
 
57
 
$97,792
  
38
 
7
 
97
 
Kurt Busch 
Roush Racing 
Ford 
347
 
0
 
engine
 
49
 
$71,750
  
39
 
43
 
02
 
Hermie Sadler 
SCORE Motorsports 
Pontiac 
257
 
0
 
engine
 
46
 
$51,635
  
40
 
22
 
32
 
Ricky Craven 
PPI Motorsports 
Pontiac 
249
 
0
 
engine
 
43
 
$59,465
  
41
 
34
 
01
 
Mike Skinner 
MB2 Motorsports 
Pontiac 
195
 
0
 
engine
 
40
 
$51,325
  
42
 
10
 
15
 
Michael Waltrip 
Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 
Chevrolet 
171
 
0
 
engine
 
37
 
$69,200
  
43
 
24
 
25
 
Joe Nemechek 
Hendrick Motorsports 
Chevrolet 
78
 
0
 
crash
 
34
 
$51,330
  
Failed to qualify or withdrew
  
44
 
 
50
 
Larry Foyt 
A. J. Foyt Enterprises 
Dodge 
  
45
 
27
 
Scott Wimmer 
Bill Davis Racing 
Chevrolet 
 
46
 
89
 
Morgan Shepherd 
Shepherd Racing Ventures 
Ford 
 
47
 
79
 
Billy Bigley 
Arnold Motorsports 
Dodge 
 
48
 
44
 
Christian Fittipaldi 
Petty Enterprises 
Dodge 
 
49
 
71
 
Tim Sauter 
Marcis Auto Racing 
Chevrolet 
 
WD
 
79
 
Rich Bickle 
Conely Racing
 
Chevrolet 
 
WD
 
91
 
Shane Hmiel 
Evernham Motorsports 
Dodge 
 
Official race results 
 
References 
^ "Newman scores seventh win of 2003" . www.espn.com . Retrieved February 5,  2022 .^ "Dale Jr.'s final ride: Dover" . ESPN.com . September 30, 2017. Retrieved February 5,  2022 .^ a b c d   "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2003 Dover 2 Race Info Page" . Jayski's Silly Season Site . Archived from the original  on February 4, 2005. Retrieved February 5,  2022 .^ "NASCAR.com - Races - 2003 Dover 2 Practice 1Results" . NASCAR.com . Archived from the original  on February 5, 2005. Retrieved February 5,  2022 .^ "NASCAR.com - Races - 2003 Dover 2 Practice 2 Results" . NASCAR.com . Archived from the original  on February 5, 2005. Retrieved February 5,  2022 .^ "Kenseth on pole at Dover" . UPI . Retrieved February 5,  2022 .^ "2003 MBNA America 400 - The Third Turn" . www.thethirdturn.com . Retrieved February 5,  2022 .  
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