| Race details | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 15 of 36 in the2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series | |||
 The 2003 Sirius 400 program cover. | |||
| Date | June 15, 2003 | ||
| Official name | 35th Annual Sirius 400 | ||
| Location | Brooklyn, Michigan,Michigan International Speedway | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||
| Course length | 2 miles (3.2 km) | ||
| Distance | 200 laps, 400 mi (643.737 km) | ||
| Scheduled distance | 200 laps, 400 mi (643.737 km) | ||
| Average speed | 131.219 miles per hour (211.177 km/h) | ||
| Attendance | 160,000 | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||
| Time | 37.822 | ||
| Most laps led | |||
| Driver | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | |
| Laps | 102 | ||
| Winner | |||
| No. 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | |
| Television in the United States | |||
| Network | FOX | ||
| Announcers | Mike Joy,Larry McReynolds,Darrell Waltrip | ||
| Radio in the United States | |||
| Radio | Motor Racing Network | ||
The2003 Sirius 400 was the 15thstock car race of the2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season and the 35th iteration of theevent. The race was held on Sunday, June 15, 2003, before a crowd of 160,000 inBrooklyn, Michigan, atMichigan International Speedway, a two-mile (3.2 km) moderate-banked D-shapedspeedway. The race took the scheduled 200 laps to complete. At race's end,Kurt Busch ofRoush Racing would make adjustments at the end of the race to passHendrick Motorsports driverJeff Gordon on lap 177, and hold offBobby Labonte ofJoe Gibbs Racing to win his seventh careerNASCAR Winston Cup Series win and his third of the season.[1] Labonte and Gordon would fill out the podium, finishing second and third, respectively.
The race was held at Michigan International Speedway, a two-mile (3.2 km) moderate-banked D-shapedspeedway located inBrooklyn, Michigan. The track is used primarily forNASCAR events. It is known as a "sister track" toTexas World Speedway as MIS's oval design was a direct basis of TWS, with moderate modifications to the banking in the corners, and was used as the basis ofAuto Club Speedway. The track is owned byInternational Speedway Corporation. Michigan International Speedway is recognized as one of motorsports' premier facilities because of its wide racing surface and high banking (by open-wheel standards; the 18-degree banking is modest by stock car standards).
*Driver changed toGeoff Bodine for the race due to an injury Brett had suffered during the Happy Hour practice session.[2]
The first practice session was held on Friday, June 13, at 11:00 AMEST, and would last for 2 hours.[3]Bobby Labonte ofJoe Gibbs Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 38.293 and an average speed of 188.024 miles per hour (302.595 km/h).[4]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 38.293 | 188.024 |
| 2 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 38.347 | 187.759 |
| 3 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 38.409 | 187.456 |
| Full first practice results | ||||||
The second practice session was held on Saturday, June 14, at 9:30 AMEST, and would last for 45 minutes.[3]Tony Stewart ofJoe Gibbs Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 38.749 and an average speed of 185.811 miles per hour (299.034 km/h).[5]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 38.749 | 185.811 |
| 2 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing | Dodge | 39.056 | 184.351 |
| 3 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 39.074 | 184.266 |
| Full second practice results | ||||||
The third and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, June 14, at 11:10 AMEST, and would last for 45 minutes.[3]Bobby Labonte ofJoe Gibbs Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 39.455 and an average speed of 182.486 miles per hour (293.683 km/h).[6]
In the practice session,Brett Bodine would suffer a violent crash that would result in a broken right clavicle. As a result, brotherGeoff Bodine would replace him for the race.[2]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 39.455 | 182.486 |
| 2 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Pontiac | 39.626 | 181.699 |
| 3 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 39.760 | 181.087 |
| Full Happy Hour practice results | ||||||
Qualifying was held on Friday, June 13, at 3:05 PMEST. Each driver would have two laps to set a fastest time; the fastest of the two would count as their official qualifying lap.[3] Positions 1-36 would be decided on time, while positions 37-43 would be based on provisionals. Six spots are awarded by the use of provisionals based on owner's points. The seventh is awarded to a past champion who has not otherwise qualified for the race. If no past champ needs the provisional, the next team in the owner points will be awarded a provisional.[7]
Bobby Labonte ofJoe Gibbs Racing would win the pole, setting a time of 37.822 and an average speed of 190.365 miles per hour (306.363 km/h).[8]
Jimmy Spencer would blow an engine in the session. He was forced to use a provisional.[9]
Two drivers would fail to qualify:Mike Skinner andLarry Foyt.
| Previous race: 2003 Pocono 500 | NASCAR Winston Cup Series 2003 season | Next race: 2003 Dodge/Save Mart 350 |