The 2003 Subway 400 was last time Dale Jarrett showed his competitive drive behind the wheel as he would massively fall down into irrelevance which lead to his retirement 5 years later after scoring his 2nd to last win of his career.
Dave Blaney would score underdog pole position after qualifying with pole speed of 154.683 and time lap of 23.669.
(Starting Grid)
42 J.McMurray Row 4 2 R.Wallace
88 D.Jarrett Row 5 18 B.Labonte
38 E.Sadler Row 6 8 Dale Jr
16 G.Biffle Row 7 25 J.Nemechek
23 K.Wallace Row 9 17 M.Kenseth
31 R.Gordon Row 10 4 M.Skinner 12 R.Newman Row 11 15 M.Waltrip
24 J.Gordon Row 12 01 J.Nadeau
97 Ku.Busch Row 14 21 Ricky Rudd
19 J.Mayfield Row 15 45 K.Petty
5 T.Labonte Row 16 43 J.Andretti
20 T.Stewart Row 17 0 J.Sprague
49 K.Schrader Row 18 7 J.Spencer
48 J.Johnson Row 19 30 J.Green
74 T.Raines Row 21 54 T.Bodine
99 J.Burton Row 22
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(Race Highlights)
Dave Blaney lead the field to Green Flag then immediately proceeded to lead the first 8 laps of the race.
Mark Martin would attempt to Dave Blaney during first 3 laps of the race but couldn't him as Dave Blaney continued to lead the race.
Mark Martin would give Dave Blaney the bump and run to takeover the race lead then proceeded to lead the next 8 laps of the race.
Dale Jr developed tire rub after making with Elliott Sadler but he would attempt to continue racing with the issue.
Ricky Craven would Mark Martin on high side exiting turn 2 to takeover the race lead then proceeded to lead the next 10 laps of the race.
Both Chip Ganassi Racing cars would end up making slight with wall after getting out of groove or getting clipped by another driver.
Rusty Wallace would Ricky Craven on low side heading into turn 1 then proceeded to lead the next 62 laps of the race.
The 1st caution of the race was scheduled competition caution which saved Dale Jr who's tire officially took it's toll and cut down his right front tire.
The entire field would come down pitroad during yellow flag to make pitstop and Rusty Wallace would win the race off pitroad while retaining the race lead.
The 2nd caution of the race was for Todd Bodine hitting the wall turn 2 which ended his day and forced everyone down pitroad and Mark Martin would takeover the race lead after winning race off pitroad then proceeded to lead the next 3 laps of the race.
Rusty Wallace would Mark Martin in entrance of turn 3 to takeover the race lead then proceeded to lead the next 31 laps of the race.
The 3rd caution of the race was for Kenny Wallace crashing on the backstretch after from Jack Sprague exiting turn 3 while receiving major damage but the 23 team repaired it and continued racing.
Everyone returned down pitroad during yellow flag and Rusty Wallace would win the race off pitroad while retaining the race lead.
The 4th caution of the race was for Jerry Nadeau and Jeremy Mayfield spinning while exiting turn 4 but both continued racing.
Everyone would comeback down pitroad during yellow flag and Mark Martin would win the race off to takeover the race lead then proceeded to lead the next 4 laps of the race.
Rusty Wallace would Mark Martin entering turn 3 to takeover the race lead then proceeded to lead the next 48 laps of the race.
The 5th caution of the race was for Dale Earnhardt Jr spinning on backstretch after getting loose in turn 2 which forced every lead lap car down pitroad and Mark Martin would win the race off pitroad to takeover the race lead then proceeded to lead the next 4 laps of the race
Rusty Wallace would Mark Martin on high side exiting turn 2 to takeover the race lead then proceeded to lead the next 41 laps of the race.
Bobby Labonte would make unscheduled pitstop during Green Flag due to bad vibration that he reported to his team and fell 1 lap down to race leader.
Kurt Busch would Rusty Wallace on low side in middle of turns 1 and 2 then proceeded to lead the next 39 laps of the race.
Green Flag pitstop's would begin after lap down cars of Tony Raines and Dale Earnhardt Jr were the first 2 cars down pitroad.
Kurt Busch retained the race lead after Green Flag pitstop's concluded but 6th caution of the race would come out for Dale Earnhardt Jr and Jeremy Mayfield crashing in turn 2 which effectively ended Jeremy Mayfield's day.
Everyone would comeback down pitroad during yellow flag and Kurt Busch would win the race off pitroad to retain the race lead.
The final caution of the race was for Jeff Gordon and Jerry Nadeau spinning exiting turn 4 but both continued racing.
Bobby Labonte would takeover the race lead after staying out during the yellow flag then proceeded to lead the next 4 laps of the race.
Jeff Burton would Bobby Labonte on low side exiting turn 2 then proceeded to lead the next 6 laps of the race.
Kurt Busch would Jeff Burton on frontstrech to takeover the race lead then proceeded to lead the next 74 laps of the race.
Sterling Marlin would fall off pace after diagnosing engine troubles but team was unable to fix the issue as water pump which effectively ended his day.
Kevin Harvick and Dale Earnhardt Jr would make unscheduled pitstop during Green Flag as both drivers were no where near contention for race win.
Kurt Busch and Dale Jarrett would duel in final 10 laps of the race but lap traffic would play massive factor in outcome race but Dale Jarrett would Kurt Busch with 4 laps to go.
Kurt Busch attempted to make 1 last charge at Dale Jarrett but his competitive speed went away as Dale Jarrett would cruise away from Kurt Busch to win at Rockingham.
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(Finishing Results)
1st Dale Jarrett - Lead 9 Laps and Won the Race
2nd Kurt Busch - Lead 150 Laps
3rd Matt Kenseth - Lead 2 Laps
4th Ricky Craven - Lead 10 Laps
5th Jamie McMurray
6th Rusty Wallace - Lead The Most Laps of 182
7th Mark Martin - Lead 18 Laps
8th Jimmie Johnson-Comeback Driver of the Race
9th Elliott Sadler
10th Dave Blaney - Lead 8 Laps
11th Ricky Rudd
12th Jeff Burton - 1 Lap Down/Lead 6 Laps
13th Johnny Benson 1 Lap Down
14th Ryan Newman - 1 Lap Down
15th Jeff Gordon - 1 Lap Down
16th Bobby Labonte - 1 Lap Down/Lead 4 Laps
17th Mike Skinner - 1 Lap Down
18th Ward Burton - 1 Lap Down
19th Michael Waltrip - 1 Lap Down
20th Tony Stewart - 1 Lap Down
21st Steve Park - 1 Lap Down
22nd Greg Biffle - 1 Lap Down
23rd Joe Nemechek - 1 Lap Down
24th Ken Schrader - 1 Lap Down
25th Kevin Harvick - 2 Laps Down
26th Jerry Nadeau - 2 Laps Down
27th Terry Labonte - 2 Laps Down
28th Jimmy Spencer - 2 Laps Down
29th Robby Gordon - 2 Laps Down
30th Casey Mears - 3 Laps Down
31st Jeff Green - 3 Laps Down
32nd Bill Elliott - 3 Laps Down
33rd Dale Earnhardt Jr - 3 Laps Down
34th Jack Sprague - 3 Laps Down
35th Kyle Petty - 4 Laps Down
36th Larry Foyt - 5 Laps Down
37th Tony Raines - 6 Laps Down
38th Kenny Wallace - 7 Laps Down
39th John Andretti - 46 Laps Down
40th Sterling Marlin - Water Pump/Lead 3 Laps
41st Jeremy Mayfield - Crashed Out
42nd Todd Bodine - Crashed Out
43rd Derrike Cope - Clutch Issues
Comments (1)
I miss him and ups