The 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 52nd season of professional stock car racing in the United States, and was the 29th modern-era Cup series. The season began on February 13 and ended on November 20. Joe Gibbs Racing driver Bobby Labonte was crowned champion at season's end. The NASCAR Manufacturers' Championship was won by Ford as they captured 14 wins and 234 points to better Pontiac's 11 wins and 213 points. Chevrolet finished third with nine wins and 199 points.
The season was marred by tragedy when Adam Petty and Kenny Irwin Jr. were killed in separate accidents at New Hampshire International Raceway.
This was the final season for three-time Winston Cup Champion Darrell Waltrip. Also, this would unexpectedly be the final full-time season for seven-time Winston Cup champion Dale Earnhardt, who was killed the following year in the season-opening Daytona 500.
The 2000 season also marked the final one for various networks that carried NASCAR racing. Because of the new television deal struck on December 15, 1999, it would be the last year for a multitude of these long-time broadcasters. NASCAR on CBS broadcast the final races of its twenty-two-season partnership, ending with the Pepsi 400 at Daytona. NASCAR on TNN and NASCAR on TBS ended their time in the Winston Cup Series; the former's run of ten seasons came to an end at the Checker Auto Parts/Dura Lube 500 at Phoenix, while the latter's abruptly ceased at eighteen seasons following the UAW-GM Quality 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway (TBS had initially won rights for the new deal, but was replaced by TNT). NASCAR on ESPN, alongside its affiliated programming with ESPN on ABC, ended its initial run of covering NASCAR's top series (both networks returned during the 2007 season); ESPN's first run of twenty seasons concluded with the NAPA 500 at Atlanta, while ABC's then twenty-five nonconsecutive seasons with the sport ended with the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis.
Teams and drivers Complete schedule ManufacturerTeamRace driverCrew chief Chevrolet Andy Petree Racing 33 Joe Nemechek Danny Gill 55 Kenny Wallace Jimmy Elledge Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 1 Steve Park Paul Andrews 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. (R) Tony Eury Hendrick Motorsports 5 Terry Labonte Gary DeHart Todd Bodine Ron Hornaday Jr. 24 Jeff Gordon Robbie Loomis 25 Jerry Nadeau Tony FurrJoe Bessey Racing 60 Geoff Bodine Jim Long Ted Musgrave Dick Trickle Rich Bickle Joe Bessey Hermie Sadler Marcis Auto Racing 71 Dave Marcis Bob Marcis R. K. Smith Kerry Earnhardt Dick Trickle Morgan–McClure Motorsports 4 Bobby Hamilton David Ifft Richard Childress Racing 3 Dale Earnhardt Kevin Hamlin 31 Mike Skinner Larry McReynolds Team SABCO 40 Sterling Marlin Scott Eggleston Mattei Motorsports 7 Michael Waltrip Bobby Kennedy Ford Bill Elliott Racing 94 Bill Elliott Mike Ford David Green Brett Bodine Racing 11 Brett Bodine Mike HillmanDonlavey Racing 90 Ed Berrier Craig Huartson Brian Simo Hut Stricklin Galaxy Motorsports 75 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Newt MooreHaas-Carter Motorsports 26 Jimmy Spencer Donnie Wingo 66 Darrell Waltrip Larry Carter Jasper Motorsports 77 Robert Pressley Ryan PembertonMelling Racing 9 Stacy Compton (R)Chad KnausJerry Pitts Bobby Hillin Jr. Penske-Kranefuss Racing 2 Rusty Wallace Robin Pemberton 12 Jeremy Mayfield Peter Sospenzo Kyle Petty Tom Hubert PPI Motorsports 32 Scott Pruett (R) Scott Houston Robert Yates Racing 28 Ricky Rudd Michael McSwain 88 Dale Jarrett Todd Parrott Roush Racing 6 Mark Martin Jimmy Fennig 16 Kevin Lepage Pat Tryson 17 Matt Kenseth (R) Robbie Reiser 97 Chad Little Jeff Hammond Kurt Busch 99 Jeff Burton Frank Stoddard Wood Brothers Racing 21 Elliott Sadler Eddie Wood Pontiac A. J. Foyt Racing 14 Mike Bliss (R) Philippe Lopez Terry Wooden Waddell Wilson Dick Trickle Rick Mast Bill Davis Racing 22 Ward Burton Tommy Baldwin Jr. 93 Dave Blaney (R) Doug RandolphEel River Racing 27 Jeff Fuller (R) Barry Dodson Mike Bliss (R) Joe Gibbs Racing 18 Bobby Labonte Jimmy Makar 20 Tony Stewart Greg Zipadelli MB2 Motorsports 36 Ken Schrader Sammy Johns Petty Enterprises 43 John Andretti Greg Steadman 44 Kyle Petty Bobby LeslieChris Hussey Steve Grissom Tyler Jet Motorsports 10 Johnny Benson James Ince
Limited schedule ManufacturerTeamRace driverCrew chiefRounds Chevrolet Andy Petree Racing 35 Geoff Bodine Chris Carrier Bill Baird Motorsports 52 Bill Baird Bobby Hamilton Racing 57 Bobby Hamilton Jr. Coulter Racing61 Rich Bickle Xpress Motorsports Tim Sauter Gerhart Racing89 Bobby Gerhart AC Motorsports Austin Cameron Jim & Judie Motorsports 65 Dan Pardus JKR Motorsports34 David Green Cicci-Welliver Racing Todd Bodine Larry Hedrick Motorsports41 Rick MastPhilippe Lopez Gary Bradberry LJ Racing91 Andy Hillenburg Todd Bodine Larry Gunselman Blaise Alexander Marcis Auto Racing72 Jim Sauter Bob Marcis Dwayne Leik Midwest Transit Racing 50 Ricky Craven Greg Connors NEMCO Motorsports 87 Ron Fellows Brian Pattie Norm Benning Racing 84 Norm Benning Petty-Huggins Motorsports 96 Greg Sacks Team SABCO 42 Kenny Irwin Jr. Tony Glover01 Ted Musgrave P. J. Jones Bobby Hamilton Jr. Ford Evernham Motorsports 19 Casey Atwood Chad Knaus Patrick Donahue Fenley-Moore Motorsports 15 Derrike Cope Joey Knuckles Ted Musgrave Haas-Carter Motorsports 46 Todd Bodine Hover Motorsports 80 Morgan Shepherd MacPherson Motorsports 98 Jeff Fuller Vic Kangas Geoff Bodine Mansion Motorsports 85 Carl Long Keith Montgomery Darrell Waltrip Penske-Kranefuss Racing 02 Ryan Newman Matt Borland PPI Motorsports 96 Andy Houston Joe Garone Sadler Brothers Racing 95 David Keith Spencer Motor Ventures 23 Boris Said Richard Broome TriStar Motorsports 48 Stanton Barrett Team Menard 13 Robby Gordon Mark Tudor P. J. Jones Pontiac A. J. Foyt Racing 41 Larry Foyt Bill Davis Racing 23 Scott Wimmer Buckshot Racing 00 Buckshot Jones Chevrolet Pontiac Petty Enterprises 45 Adam Petty Chris Hussey Kyle Petty
Schedule No. Race title TrackLocation DateBud Shootout QualifierDaytona International SpeedwayDaytona Beach, FloridaFebruary 13Bud ShootoutGatorade 125sFebruary 171Daytona 500February 202Dura Lube/Kmart 400Rockingham SpeedwayRockingham, North CarolinaFebruary 273CarsDirect.com 400Las Vegas Motor SpeedwayLas Vegas, NevadaMarch 54Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 500Atlanta Motor SpeedwayHampton, GeorgiaMarch 125Mall.com 400Darlington RacewayDarlington, South CarolinaMarch 196Food City 500Bristol Motor SpeedwayBristol, TennesseeMarch 267DirecTV 500Texas Motor SpeedwayFort Worth, TexasApril 28Goody's Body Pain 500Martinsville SpeedwayRidgeway, VirginiaApril 99DieHard 500Talladega SuperspeedwayLincoln, AlabamaApril 1610NAPA Auto Parts 500California SpeedwayFontana, CaliforniaApril 3011Pontiac Excitement 400Richmond International RacewayRichmond, VirginiaMay 6No Bull 25 ShootoutCharlotte Motor SpeedwayConcord, North CarolinaMay 19Winston OpenMay 20No Bull SprintThe Winston12Coca-Cola 600May 2813MBNA Platinum 400Dover Downs International SpeedwayDover, DelawareJune 414Kmart 400Michigan SpeedwayCambridge Township, MichiganJune 1115Pocono 500Pocono RacewayLong Pond, PennsylvaniaJune 1916Save Mart/Kragen 350Sears Point RacewaySonoma, CaliforniaJune 2517Pepsi 400Daytona International SpeedwayDaytona Beach, FloridaJuly 118thatlook.com 300New Hampshire International SpeedwayLoudon, New HampshireJuly 919Pennsylvania 500Pocono RacewayLong Pond, PennsylvaniaJuly 2320Brickyard 400Indianapolis Motor SpeedwaySpeedway, IndianaAugust 521Global Crossing @ The GlenWatkins Glen InternationalWatkins Glen, New YorkAugust 1322Pepsi 400 presented by MeijerMichigan SpeedwayCambridge Township, MichiganAugust 2023goracing.com 500 presented by SkyTelBristol Motor SpeedwayBristol, TennesseeAugust 2624Pepsi Southern 500 presented by KmartDarlington RacewayDarlington, South CarolinaSeptember 325Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400Richmond International RacewayRichmond, VirginiaSeptember 926Dura Lube 300 sponsored by KmartNew Hampshire International SpeedwayLoudon, New HampshireSeptember 1727MBNA.com 400Dover Downs International SpeedwayDover, DelawareSeptember 2428NAPA Autocare 500Martinsville SpeedwayRidgeway, VirginiaOctober 129UAW-GM Quality 500Charlotte Motor SpeedwayConcord, North CarolinaOctober 830Winston 500 presented by UPSTalladega SuperspeedwayLincoln, AlabamaOctober 1531Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400Rockingham SpeedwayRockingham, North CarolinaOctober 2232Checker Auto Parts/Dura Lube 500kPhoenix International RacewayAvondale, ArizonaNovember 533Pennzoil 400 presented by Discount Auto PartsHomestead–Miami SpeedwayHomestead, FloridaNovember 1234NAPA 500Atlanta Motor SpeedwayHampton, GeorgiaNovember 20
Results No.RacePole positionMost laps ledWinning driverBud Shootout QualifierRicky CravenDale JarrettDale JarrettFordBud ShootoutMark MartinSterling MarlinDale JarrettFordGatorade 125#1Dale JarrettBill ElliottBill ElliottFordGatorade 125#2Ricky RuddRicky RuddRicky RuddFord1Daytona 500Dale JarrettDale JarrettDale JarrettFord2Dura Lube/Kmart 400Rusty WallaceBobby LabonteBobby LabontePontiac3CarsDirect.com 400Ricky RuddJeff BurtonJeff BurtonFord4Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 500Dale JarrettMike SkinnerDale EarnhardtChevrolet5Mall.com 400Jeff GordonWard BurtonWard BurtonPontiac6Food City 500Steve ParkJeff GordonRusty WallaceFord7DirecTV 500Terry LabonteDale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt Jr.Chevrolet8Goody's Body Pain 500Rusty WallaceRusty WallaceMark MartinFord9DieHard 500Jeremy MayfieldMark MartinJeff GordonChevrolet10NAPA Auto Parts 500Mike SkinnerMatt KensethJeremy MayfieldFord11Pontiac Excitement 400Rusty WallaceRusty WallaceDale Earnhardt Jr.ChevroletNo Bull 25 Race 1Ricky CravenJerry NadeauJerry NadeauChevroletNo Bull 25 Race 2Mike SkinnerSteve ParkJimmy SpencerFordWinston OpenJerry NadeauJerry NadeauSteve ParkChevroletNo Bull SprintMike SkinnerMike SkinnerJerry NadeauChevroletThe WinstonBill ElliottBill ElliottDale Earnhardt Jr.Chevrolet12Coca-Cola 600Dale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt Jr.Matt KensethFord13MBNA Platinum 400Rusty WallaceTony StewartTony StewartPontiac14Kmart 400Bobby LabonteJeremy MayfieldTony StewartPontiac15Pocono 500Rusty WallaceRusty WallaceJeremy MayfieldFord16Save Mart/Kragen 350Rusty WallaceJeff GordonJeff GordonChevrolet17Pepsi 400Dale JarrettDale JarrettJeff BurtonFord18thatlook.com 300Rusty WallaceTony StewartTony StewartPontiac19Pennsylvania 500Tony StewartDale JarrettRusty WallaceFord20Brickyard 400Ricky RuddRusty WallaceBobby LabontePontiac21Global Crossing @ The GlenBobby LabonteSteve ParkSteve ParkChevrolet22Pepsi 400 presented by MeijerDale Earnhardt Jr.Rusty WallaceRusty WallaceFord23goracing.com 500Rusty WallaceRusty WallaceRusty WallaceFord24Pepsi Southern 500Jeremy MayfieldJeremy MayfieldBobby LabontePontiac25Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400Jeff BurtonJeff BurtonJeff GordonChevrolet26Dura Lube 300 sponsored by KmartBobby LabonteJeff BurtonJeff BurtonFord27MBNA.com 400Jeremy MayfieldTony StewartTony StewartPontiac28NAPA Autocare 500Tony StewartJeff BurtonTony StewartPontiac29UAW-GM Quality 500Jeff GordonRicky RuddBobby LabontePontiac30Winston 500 Joe NemechekBill ElliottDale EarnhardtChevrolet31Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400Jeremy MayfieldJeremy MayfieldDale JarrettFord32Checker Auto Parts/Dura Lube 500kRusty WallaceJeff BurtonJeff BurtonFord33Pennzoil 400 presented by Discount Auto PartsSteve ParkTony StewartTony StewartPontiac34NAPA 500Jeff GordonJerry NadeauJerry NadeauChevrolet
Bud Shootout
The Bud Shootout, an exhibition race for all Pole Award winners from the previous season, was held February 13 at Daytona International Speedway. Mark Martin drew the pole. The race was broadcast on CBS.
Top 10 results #88 - Dale Jarrett #24 - Jeff Gordon #40 - Sterling Marlin #20 - Tony Stewart #16 - Kevin Lepage #36 - Ken Schrader #2 - Rusty Wallace #33 - Joe Nemechek #42 - Kenny Irwin Jr. #22 - Ward Burton
Ricky Rudd suffered a spectacular flip at the checkered flag when he was tapped by Sterling Marlin when Marlin ran into Bobby Labonte. Everyone involved walked away uninjured.