2001 NASCAR Busch Series

The 2001 NASCAR Busch Series season began February 17 and ended November 10. Kevin Harvick of Richard Childress Racing was champion.

Teams and drivers
List of full-time teams at the start of 2001.

NAPA Auto Parts 300
The NAPA Auto Parts 300 was held February 17 at Daytona International Speedway. Joe Nemechek won the pole.

Top ten results

Failed to qualify: Christian Elder (#38), Andy Kirby (#49)

Alltel 200
The Alltel 200 was held February 24 at North Carolina Speedway. Greg Biffle won the pole.

Top ten results

Failed to qualify: none

Sam's Town 300
The Sam's Town 300 was held March 3 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Matt Kenseth won the pole.

Top ten results

Failed to qualify: none

Aaron's 312
The Aaron's 312 was held March 12 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Ryan Newman won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 87-Joe Nemechek
 * 2) 60-Greg Biffle
 * 3) 99-Michael Waltrip
 * 4) 10-Jeff Green
 * 5) 00-Todd Bodine
 * 6) 18-Jeff Purvis
 * 7) 57-Jason Keller
 * 8) 2-Kevin Harvick
 * 9) 92-Jimmie Johnson
 * 10) 33-Tony Raines

Failed to qualify: none

SunCom 200
The SunCom 200 was held March 17 at Darlington Raceway. Ryan Newman won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 10-Jeff Green
 * 2) 17-Matt Kenseth
 * 3) 57-Jason Keller
 * 4) 48-Kenny Wallace
 * 5) 20-Mike McLaughlin
 * 6) 26-Bobby Hamilton, Jr.
 * 7) 31-Steve Park
 * 8) 2-Kevin Harvick
 * 9) 98-Elton Sawyer
 * 10) 18-Jeff Purvis

Failed to qualify: none

Cheez-It 250
The Cheez-It 250 was held March 24 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Kevin Harvick won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 17-Matt Kenseth
 * 2) 66-Tim Fedewa
 * 3) 7-Randy LaJoie
 * 4) 92-Jimmie Johnson
 * 5) 48-Kenny Wallace
 * 6) 02-Ryan Newman
 * 7) 2-Kevin Harvick
 * 8) 33-Tony Raines
 * 9) 61-Tim Sauter
 * 10) 99-Michael Waltrip

Failed to qualify: none

Jani-King 300
The Jani-King 300 was held March 31 at Texas Motor Speedway. Matt Kenseth won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 2-Kevin Harvick
 * 2) 9-Jeff Burton
 * 3) 43-Jay Sauter
 * 4) 87-Joe Nemechek
 * 5) 17-Matt Kenseth
 * 6) 34-David Green
 * 7) 60-Greg Biffle
 * 8) 92-Jimmie Johnson
 * 9) 21-Mike Skinner
 * 10) 71-Kevin Lepage

Failed to qualify: Mike Harmon (#44)

Pepsi 300
The inaugural Pepsi 300 was held April 14 at Nashville Superspeedway. Kevin Harvick won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 60-Greg Biffle
 * 2) 57-Jason Keller
 * 3) 23-Scott Wimmer
 * 4) 7-Randy LaJoie
 * 5) 98-Elton Sawyer
 * 6) 21-Mike Skinner
 * 7) 2-Kevin Harvick
 * 8) 10-Jeff Green
 * 9) 20-Mike McLaughlin
 * 10) 00-Todd Bodine


 * This was Biffle’s first of 20 career Busch Series wins.

Failed to qualify: none

Subway 300
The Subway 300 was held April 21 at Talladega Superspeedway. Joe Nemechek won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 20-Mike McLaughlin
 * 2) 1-Jimmy Spencer
 * 3) 10-Jeff Green
 * 4) 00-Todd Bodine
 * 5) 21-Mike Skinner
 * 6) 98-Elton Sawyer
 * 7) 43-Jay Sauter
 * 8) 37-Kevin Grubb
 * 9) 60-Greg Biffle
 * 10) 48-Kenny Wallace


 * The race was marred for a big wreck which wrecked multiple cars.
 * This would turn out to be McLaughlin’s sixth and final Busch Series win.

Failed to qualify: none

Auto Club 300
The Auto Club 300 was held April 28 at California Speedway. Bobby Hamilton, Jr. won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 36-Hank Parker Jr.
 * 2) 18-Jeff Purvis
 * 3) 10-Jeff Green
 * 4) 71-Kevin Lepage
 * 5) 2-Kevin Harvick
 * 6) 60-Greg Biffle
 * 7) 1-Jimmy Spencer
 * 8) 33-Tony Raines
 * 9) 87-Joe Nemechek
 * 10) 20-Mike McLaughlin

Failed to qualify: none


 * This was Hank Parker Jr’s first of 2 Busch Series wins.

Hardee's 250
The Hardee's 250 was held May 4 at Richmond International Raceway. Matt Kenseth won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 1-Jimmy Spencer
 * 2) 33-Tony Raines
 * 3) 21-Mike Skinner
 * 4) 17-Matt Kenseth
 * 5) 2-Kevin Harvick
 * 6) 10-Jeff Greenn
 * 7) 23-Scott Wimmer
 * 8) 48-Kenny Wallace
 * 9) 31-Steve Park
 * 10) 43-Jay Sauter

Failed to qualify: none

CVS Pharmacy 200 Presented by Bayer
The CVS Pharmacy 200 Presented by Bayer was held May 12 at New Hampshire International Speedway. Kevin Harvick won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 57-Jason Keller
 * 2) 2-Kevin Harvick
 * 3) 21-Mike Skinner
 * 4) 10-Jeff Green
 * 5) 48-Kenny Wallace
 * 6) 31-Steve Park
 * 7) 26-Bobby Hamilton, Jr.
 * 8) 7-Randy LaJoie
 * 9) 98-Elton Sawyer
 * 10) 20-Mike McLaughlin

Failed to qualify: none

Nazareth 200
The Nazareth 200 was held May 20 at Nazareth Speedway. Tony Raines won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 60-Greg Biffle
 * 2) 2-Kevin Harvick
 * 3) 10-Jeff Green
 * 4) 57-Jason Keller
 * 5) 66-Tim Fedewa
 * 6) 33-Tony Raines
 * 7) 26-Bobby Hamilton, Jr.
 * 8) 59-Rich Bickle
 * 9) 92-Jimmie Johnson
 * 10) 27-Jamie McMurray

Failed to qualify: none

Carquest Auto Parts 300
The Carquest Auto Parts 300 was held May 26 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Kevin Harvick won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 10-Jeff Green
 * 2) 17-Matt Kenseth
 * 3) 57-Jason Keller
 * 4) 00-Todd Bodine
 * 5) 21-Mike Skinner
 * 6) 60-Greg Biffle
 * 7) 9-Jeff Burton
 * 8) 1-Jimmy Spencer
 * 9) 34-David Green
 * 10) 18-Jeff Purvis

Failed to qualify: Dan Pardus (#32), Rich Woodland, Jr. (#65), Dave Blaney (#93), Dwayne Leik (#81)

MBNA Platinum 200
The MBNA Platinum 200 was held June 2 at Dover International Speedway. Jeff Green won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 1-Jimmy Spencer
 * 2) 17-Matt Kenseth
 * 3) 2-Kevin Harvick
 * 4) 21-Mike Skinner
 * 5) 31-Steve Park
 * 6) 98-Elton Sawyer
 * 7) 23-Scott Wimmer
 * 8) 34-David Green
 * 9) 60-Greg Biffle
 * 10) 33-Tony Raines

Failed to qualify: none

Outback Steakhouse 300
The inaugural Outback Steakhouse 300 was held June 16 at Kentucky Speedway. Jay Sauter won the pole. In his first Busch Series start, Travis Kvapil flipped. Tim Sauter suffered a 60-point penalty after an illegal rollcage was found on his car after the race.

Top ten results


 * 1) 2-Kevin Harvick
 * 2) 60-Greg Biffle
 * 3) 33-Tony Raines
 * 4) 98-Elton Sawyer
 * 5) 46-Ashton Lewis
 * 6) 74-Chad Little
 * 7) 7-Randy LaJoie
 * 8) 37-Kevin Grubb
 * 9) 43-Jay Sauter
 * 10) 27-Jamie McMurray

Failed to qualify: Dan Pardus (#32), Jeff Falk (#8), Mike Harmon (#44)

GNC Live Well 250
The GNC Live Well 250 was held July 1 at The Milwaukee Mile. Kevin Harvick won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 60-Greg Biffle
 * 2) 17-Matt Kenseth
 * 3) 37-Kevin Grubb
 * 4) 2-Kevin Harvick
 * 5) 57-Jason Keller
 * 6) 98-Elton Sawyer
 * 7) 18-Jeff Purvis
 * 8) 11-Ron Hornaday, Jr.
 * 9) 10-Jeff Green
 * 10) 33-Tony Raines

Failed to qualify: none

GNC Live Well 200
The GNC Live Well 200 was held July 8 at Watkins Glen International Raceway. Scott Pruett won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 87-Ron Fellows
 * 2) 60-Greg Biffle
 * 3) 2-Kevin Harvick
 * 4) 17-Boris Said
 * 5) 21-Robby Gordon
 * 6) 98-Elton Sawyer
 * 7) 35-Lyndon Amick
 * 8) 71-Scott Pruett
 * 9) 57-Jason Keller
 * 10) 11-Ron Hornaday, Jr.

Failed to qualify: none

Sam's Club Presents Hill Bros. Coffee 300
The inaugural Sam's Club Presents Hill Bros. Coffee 300 was held July 14 at Chicagoland Speedway. Ryan Newman won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 92-Jimmie Johnson
 * 2) 21-Mike Skinner
 * 3) 9-Jeff Burton
 * 4) 87-Joe Nemechek
 * 5) 57-Jason Keller
 * 6) 10-Jeff Green
 * 7) 00-Buckshot Jones
 * 8) 98-Elton Sawyer
 * 9) 37-Kevin Grubb
 * 10) 71-Kevin Lepage

Failed to qualify: Mike Harmon (#44), Rich Woodland, Jr. (#40)


 * This race stands as Jimmie Johnson’s lone Busch Series victory.

Carquest Auto Parts 250
The Carquest Auto Parts 250 was held July 21 at Gateway International Raceway. Greg Biffle won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 2-Kevin Harvick
 * 2) 57-Jason Keller
 * 3) 37-Kevin Grubb
 * 4) 60-Greg Biffle
 * 5) 10-Jeff Green
 * 6) 48-Kenny Wallace
 * 7) 37-David Green
 * 8) 98-Elton Sawyer
 * 9) 7-Randy LaJoie
 * 10) 23-Scott Wimmer

Failed to qualify: Mark Voigt (#30)

NAPA Autocare 250
The NAPA Autocare 250 was held July 28 at Pikes Peak International Raceway. Kenny Wallace won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 21-Jeff Purvis
 * 2) 10-Jeff Green
 * 3) 2-Kevin Harvick
 * 4) 57-Jason Keller
 * 5) 60-Greg Biffle
 * 6) 37-David Green
 * 7) 92-Jimmie Johnson
 * 8) 37-Kevin Grubb
 * 9) 48-Kenny Wallace
 * 10) 00-Tim Fedewa

Failed to qualify: Mark Voigt (#30)

Kroger 200
The Kroger 200 was held August 4 at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Kenny Wallace won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 2-Kevin Harvick
 * 2) 60-Greg Biffle
 * 3) 74-Chad Little
 * 4) 98-Elton Sawyer
 * 5) 57-Jason Keller
 * 6) 10-Jeff Green
 * 7) 00-Tim Fedewa
 * 8) 66-Geoffrey Bodine
 * 9) 59-Rich Bickle
 * 10) 27-Jamie McMurray

Failed to qualify: Wayman Wittman (#93), Mardy Lindley (#89)

NAPAonline.com 250
The NAPAonline.com 250 was held August 18 at Michigan International Speedway. Jimmy Spencer won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 02-Ryan Newman
 * 2) 2-Kevin Harvick
 * 3) 33-Tony Raines
 * 4) 92-Jimmie Johnson
 * 5) 34-Mike McLaughlin
 * 6) 21-Mike Skinner
 * 7) 98-Elton Sawyer
 * 8) 57-Jason Keller
 * 9) 00-Tim Fedewa
 * 10) 9-Jeff Burton

Failed to qualify: Dwayne Leik (#81)


 * This was Newman’s 1st of 7 Busch Series victories as well as the first for Team Penske.

Food City 250
The Food City 250 was held August 24 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Mike Skinner won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 2-Kevin Harvick
 * 2) 10-Jeff Green
 * 3) 48-Kenny Wallace
 * 4) 31-Steve Park
 * 5) 98-Elton Sawyer
 * 6) 23-Scott Wimmer
 * 7) 1-Jimmy Spencer
 * 8) 02-Ryan Newman
 * 9) 74-Chad Little
 * 10) 43-Jay Sauter

Failed to qualify: Nate Monteith (#44), Randy Ratliff (#75), Ron Young (#71)

South Carolina 200
The South Carolina 200 was held September 1 at Darlington Raceway. Ryan Newman won the pole. On lap 19 of this race, Steve Park lost control of his racecar under caution and was T-boned by rookie Larry Foyt. Park suffered near-fatal injuries that made him miss the 2002 Daytona 500.

Top ten results


 * 1) 9-Jeff Burton
 * 2) 98-Elton Sawyer
 * 3) 20-Mike McLaughlin
 * 4) 02-Ryan Newman
 * 5) 26-Bobby Hamilton, Jr.
 * 6) 57-Jason Keller
 * 7) 17-Matt Kenseth
 * 8) 1-Jimmy Spencer
 * 9) 10-Jeff Green
 * 10) 33-Tony Raines

Failed to qualify: none

Autolite / Fram 250
The Autolite / Fram 250 was held September 7 at Richmond International Raceway. Jeff Green won the pole. During the race, Greg Biffle and Jay Sauter tangled, resulting in Biffle running from his car to punch Sauter. Both drivers were given a 100-point penalty for their actions.

Top ten results


 * 1) 1-Jimmy Spencer
 * 2) 17-Matt Kenseth
 * 3) 37-Kevin Grubb
 * 4) 66-Geoffrey Bodine
 * 5) 21-Johnny Sauter
 * 6) 74-Chad Little
 * 7) 02-Ryan Newman
 * 8) 98-Elton Sawyer
 * 9) 9-Jeff Burton
 * 10) 4-Mike Wallace

Failed to qualify: Steven Christian (#94), Randy Ratliff (#75), Dion Cicarelli (#84), A. J. Alsup (#72), Ron Young (#71), Robbie Faggart (#94), Chad Chaffin (#16), Jeff Oakley (#96), Eddie Beahr (#05)

MBNA.com 200
The MBNA.com 200 was held September 22 at Dover International Speedway. Ryan Newman won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 10-Jeff Green
 * 2) 48-Kenny Wallace
 * 3) 1-Jimmy Spencer
 * 4) 74-Chad Little
 * 5) 60-Greg Biffle
 * 6) 71-Kevin Lepage
 * 7) 33-Tony Raines
 * 8) 36-Hank Parker Jr.
 * 9) 7-Randy LaJoie
 * 10) 17-Matt Kenseth

Failed to qualify: none

Mr. Goodcents 300
The inaugural Mr. Goodcents 300 was held September 29 at Kansas Speedway. Kevin Lepage won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 10-Jeff Green
 * 2) 36-Hank Parker Jr.
 * 3) 60-Greg Biffle
 * 4) 17-Matt Kenseth
 * 5) 57-Jason Keller
 * 6) 92-Jimmie Johnson
 * 7) 33-Tony Raines
 * 8) 00-Buckshot Jones
 * 9) 59-Mark Green
 * 10) 18-Mike McLaughlin

Failed to qualify: Mike Swaim, Jr. (#12), Jason Rudd (#85), A. J. Alsup (#72)

Little Trees 300
The Little Trees 300 was held October 6 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Jeff Burton won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 60-Greg Biffle
 * 2) 57-Jason Keller
 * 3) 9-Jeff Burton
 * 4) 2-Kevin Harvick
 * 5) 46-Ashton Lewis
 * 6) 1-Jimmy Spencer
 * 7) 36-Hank Parker Jr.
 * 8) 5-Ward Burton
 * 9) 98-Elton Sawyer
 * 10) 10-Jeff Green

Failed to qualify: Jeff Fultz (#55), Dwayne Leik (#81), Jason Rudd (#85), J.R. Robbs (#89), Josh Richeson (#06)

Sam's Town 250
The Sam's Town 250 was held October 13 at Memphis Motorsports Park. Kevin Harvick won the pole. The race was supposed to be tape delayed and shown on TNT after the Cup race, but due to rain that also delayed the Winston Cup race at Martinsville, NBC showed this race live instead.

Top ten results


 * 1) 7-Randy LaJoie
 * 2) 10-Jeff Green
 * 3) 2-Kevin Harvick
 * 4) 43-Jay Sauter
 * 5) 11-Tim Fedewa
 * 6) 57-Jason Keller
 * 7) 23-Scott Wimmer
 * 8) 46-Ashton Lewis
 * 9) 18-Mike McLaughlin

Failed to qualify: Sammy Ragan (#78)


 * This was LaJoie’s 15th and final win.

Outback Steakhouse 200
The Outback Steakhouse 200 was held October 27 at Phoenix International Raceway. Jimmy Spencer won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 60-Greg Biffle
 * 2) 10-Jeff Green
 * 3) 2-Kevin Harvick
 * 4) 43-Ron Hornaday, Jr.
 * 5) 92-Todd Bodine
 * 6) 57-Jason Keller
 * 7) 23-Scott Wimmer
 * 8) 36-Hank Parker Jr.
 * 9) 9-Jeff Burton
 * 10) 48-Kenny Wallace

Failed to qualify: Lance Hooper (#75), Damon Lusk (#80)

Sam's Club 200
The Sam's Club 200 was held November 3 at North Carolina Speedway. Ryan Newman won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 48-Kenny Wallace
 * 2) 17-Matt Kenseth
 * 3) 18-Mike McLaughlin
 * 4) 57-Jason Keller
 * 5) 2-Kevin Harvick
 * 6) 34-David Green
 * 7) 02-Ryan Newman
 * 8) 36-Hank Parker Jr.
 * 9) 10-Jeff Green
 * 10) 98-Elton Sawyer 1 lap down

Failed to qualify: Scott Hansen (#75), Drew White (#22)


 * Harvick's fifth-place finish was good enough to clinch the 2001 NASCAR Busch Series champion by 156 points over Jeff Green.
 * This was Kenny Wallace's final Busch Series win.

GNC Live Well 300
The GNC Live Well 300 was held November 10 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Jeff Green won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 87-Joe Nemechek
 * 2) 98-Elton Sawyer
 * 3) 60-Greg Biffle
 * 4) 23-Scott Wimmer
 * 5) 17-Matt Kenseth
 * 6) 99-Michael Waltrip
 * 7) 5-Ward Burton
 * 8) 02-Ryan Newman
 * 9) 10-Jeff Green
 * 10) 59-Stacy Compton

Failed to qualify: Morgan Shepherd (#89), Tim Fedewa (#12), Martin Truex Jr. (#56), Dan Pardus (#32), Jeff Fultz (#86), Ron Young (#71), Tom Carey, Jr. (#01), Mike Harmon (#44), Michael Dokken (#8), Dion Ciccarelli (#84), Brian Tyler (#94), Danny Bagwell (#55)

Final points standings

 * 1) Kevin Harvick - 4813
 * 2) Jeff Green - 4689
 * 3) Jason Keller - 4642
 * 4) Greg Biffle - 4509
 * 5) Elton Sawyer - 4100
 * 6) Tony Raines - 3975
 * 7) Mike McLaughlin - 3962
 * 8) Jimmie Johnson - 3871
 * 9) Chad Little - 3846
 * 10) Kenny Wallace - 3799
 * 11) Scott Wimmer - 3773
 * 12) Randy LaJoie - 3578
 * 13) David Green - 3554
 * 14) Kevin Grubb - 3533
 * 15) Hank Parker Jr. - 3341
 * 16) Jamie McMurray - 3308
 * 17) Bobby Hamilton, Jr. - 3267
 * 18) Matt Kenseth - 3167
 * 19) Jay Sauter - 3084
 * 20) Ashton Lewis - 2904
 * 21) Jeff Purvis - 2863
 * 22) Larry Foyt - 2673
 * 23) Shane Hall - 2624
 * 24) Rich Bickle - 2595
 * 25) Tim Fedewa - 2403
 * 26) Jimmy Spencer - 2329
 * 27) Mike Skinner - 1999
 * 28) Ryan Newman - 1978
 * 29) Todd Bodine - 1915
 * 30) Kelly Denton - 1863
 * 31) Kevin Lepage - 1687
 * 32) Tim Sauter - 1611
 * 33) Jeff Burton - 1600
 * 34) Geoffrey Bodine - 1582
 * 35) Joe Nemechek - 1541
 * 36) Ron Hornaday, Jr. - 1346
 * 37) Marty Houston - 1294
 * 38) Brad Baker - 1270
 * 39) Christian Elder - 1228
 * 40) Mark Green - 1198
 * 41) Michael Waltrip - 1195
 * 42) Chad Chaffin - 967
 * 43) David Donohue - 935
 * 44) Andy Santerre - 928
 * 45) Randy Tolsma - 924
 * 46) Steve Park - 840
 * 47) Brad Teague - 754
 * 48) Buckshot Jones - 736
 * 49) Clay Rogers - 677
 * 50) Mike Wallace - 663

Rookie of the Year
Greg Biffle of Roush Racing won the Rookie of the Year title in 2001, winning a record five races and finishing fourth in points, in addition to leading the championship standings at one point in the season. Runner-up was Scott Wimmer, who finished twenty-six points out of tenth in final standings. Jamie McMurray and Larry Foyt finished 3rd and 4th respectively, while Kelly Denton and Christian Elder signed to run limited schedules with their teams. Marty Houston, Tim Sauter, and David Donohue were either released during the season or had their team shut down due to sponsor issues.