The 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 53rd season of professional stock car racing in the United States, the 30th modern-era Cup series. It began on February 11, 2001, at Daytona International Speedway and ended on November 23, 2001, at New Hampshire International Speedway. Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports was declared as the series champion for the fourth time in seven years.

The season was marred by a two-car collision at the end of the season-opening Daytona 500, which claimed the life of seven-time Series champion Dale Earnhardt. The accident resulted in safety upgrades being instituted. Earnhardt's death would be the last for a full-time driver until 2026, when Kyle Busch died days before the 2026 Coca-Cola 600 due to pneumonia and sepsis. It also was the first year to have a unified television contract with Fox Sports, NBC Sports, and Turner Sports/TNT broadcasting the season's races; previous seasons saw each racetrack negotiate their own TV coverage, creating a patchwork of broadcast companies covering races throughout the season. Dodge returned to the sport for the first time since 1985 under DaimlerChrysler and Mercedes-Benz support after DaimlerChrysler spent six years in the CART FedEx Championship Series via the Mercedes-Benz brand as an engine supplier in addition alongside Formula One programme under Mercedes-Benz branding as a factory engine supplier to West McLaren team. Chevrolet captured the NASCAR Manufacturers' Championship with 16 wins and 248 points.

Teams and drivers Complete schedule ManufacturerTeamDriver(s)Crew Chief Chevrolet Andy Petree Racing 33 Joe Nemechek Chris CarrierBobby Hamilton Jr. Wally Dallenbach Jr. Scott Pruett 55 Bobby Hamilton Jimmy ElledgeDale Earnhardt, Inc. 1 Steve Park Paul AndrewsKenny Wallace 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Tony Eury Sr. 15 Michael Waltrip Scott Eggleston Steve Hmiel Slugger Labbe Hendrick Motorsports 5 Terry Labonte Gary DeHart 24 Jeff Gordon Robbie Loomis 25 Jerry Nadeau Tony FurrMorgan-McClure Motorsports 4 Robby Gordon David IfftKevin Lepage Bobby Hamilton Jr. Rich Bickle Richard Childress Racing Dale Earnhardt Kevin Hamlin Kevin Harvick (R) 31 Mike Skinner Royce McGee Robby Gordon Jeff Green Dodge Bill Davis Racing 22 Ward BurtonTommy Baldwin Jr. 93 Dave Blaney Doug RandolphChip Ganassi Racingwith Felix Sabates 40 Sterling Marlin Lee McCall01 Jason Leffler (R) Kevin CramScott Pruett Dorsey Schroeder Evernham Motorsports 9 Bill Elliott Mike Ford 19 Casey Atwood (R) Patrick Donahue Melling Racing 92 Stacy Compton Chad Knaus Petty Enterprises 43 John Andretti Greg Steadman44 Buckshot Jones Mark TutorWally Dallenbach Jr. 45 Kyle Petty Chris HusseyFord Brett Bodine Racing 11 Brett Bodine Mike HillmanDonlavey Racing90 Hut Stricklin Bobby KingBrian Simo Rick Mast Haas-Carter Motorsports 26 Jimmy Spencer Donnie Wingo 66 Todd Bodine Larry CarterJasper Motorsports77 Robert Pressley Ryan PembertonBoris Said Penske Racing 2 Rusty Wallace Robin Pemberton12 Jeremy Mayfield Peter SospenzoMike Wallace PPI Motorsports 32 Ricky Craven Mike Beam Robert Yates Racing 28 Ricky Rudd Michael McSwain 88 Dale Jarrett Todd Parrott Roush Racing 6 Mark Martin Jimmy Fennig 17 Matt Kenseth Robbie Reiser 97 Kurt Busch (R) Matt Chambers Ben Leslie 99 Jeff Burton Frank StoddardUltra Motorsports7 Mike Wallace Jim LongTed Musgrave Robby Gordon Kevin Lepage Wood Brothers Racing 21 Elliott Sadler Pat Tryson Pontiac A. J. Foyt Racing 14 Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) Donnie Brown Joe Gibbs Racing 18 Bobby Labonte Jimmy Makar 20 Tony Stewart Greg Zipadelli MBV Motorsports 10 Johnny Benson James Ince 36 Ken Schrader Sammy Johns

Limited schedule ManufacturerTeamDriver(s)Crew ChiefRoundsChevrolet BAM Racing 49 Rich Bickle Bill McAnally Racing 62 Brendan Gaughan Hendrick Motorsports 48 Jimmie Johnson Ken Howes Marcis Auto Racing71 Dave MarcisBob Marcis Dick Trickle 72 Dwayne Leik Midwest Transit Racing50 Rick MastGreg Connors Rich Bickle NEMCO Motorsports 87 Ron Fellows Brian Pattie Norm Benning Racing 84 Norm Benning Richard Childress Racing30 Jeff GreenTodd Berrier Kevin Harvick (R) TWC Motorsports 68 Anthony Lazzaro SCORE Motorsports 13 Hermie Sadler Jim Long Dodge Bill Davis Racing 23 Hut Stricklin Tommy Baldwin Jr. Bogart Racing 70 Rick Bogart Chip Ganassi Racingwith Felix Sabates 04 Jason Leffler (R) Kevin Cram FordBob Schacht Motorsports75Stuart Kirby Brett Bodine Racing 09 Geoff Bodine Donlavey Racing 91 Rick Mast Junie Donlavey Hover Motorsports 80 Morgan Shepherd Larry Clement Racing 46 Frank Kimmel Michael Kranefuss Racing 84 Shawna Robinson Penske Racing 02 Ryan Newman Matt Borland Phoenix Racing 51 Jeff Purvis PPI Motorsports 96 Andy Houston (R) Joe Garone Sadler Brothers Racing 95 Ed Berrier Shepherd Racing Ventures 89 Morgan Shepherd Team CLR57 David Keith Derrike Cope Pontiac A. J. Foyt Racing 41 Mark Green Phillipe Lopez BAM Racing 49 Andy Hillenburg Eel River Racing27 Kenny WallaceBarry Dodson Mike Bliss Rick Mast Quest Motor Racing 37 Derrike Cope Joey Knuckles Chevrolet Ford Dark Horse Motorsports 47 Lance Hooper Dodge Ford Mansion Motorsports 85 Carl Long

Schedule No. Race title TrackLocation DateNCBudweiser ShootoutDaytona International SpeedwayDaytona Beach, FloridaFebruary 11Gatorade 125sFebruary 151Daytona 500February 182Dura Lube 400Rockingham SpeedwayRockingham, North CarolinaFebruary 25–263UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400Las Vegas Motor SpeedwayLas Vegas, NevadaMarch 44Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 500Atlanta Motor SpeedwayHampton, GeorgiaMarch 115Carolina Dodge Dealers 400Darlington RacewayDarlington, South CarolinaMarch 186Food City 500Bristol Motor SpeedwayBristol, TennesseeMarch 257Harrah's 500Texas Motor SpeedwayFort Worth, TexasApril 18Virginia 500Martinsville SpeedwayRidgeway, VirginiaApril 89Talladega 500Talladega SuperspeedwayLincoln, AlabamaApril 2210NAPA Auto Parts 500California SpeedwayFontana, CaliforniaApril 2911Pontiac Excitement 400Richmond International RacewayRichmond, VirginiaMay 5NCNo Bull SprintCharlotte Motor SpeedwayConcord, North CarolinaMay 19Winston OpenThe WinstonMay 19–2012Coca-Cola 600May 2713MBNA Platinum 400Dover Downs International SpeedwayDover, DelawareJune 314Kmart 400Michigan International SpeedwayCambridge Township, MichiganJune 1015Pocono 500Pocono RacewayLong Pond, PennsylvaniaJune 1716Dodge/Save Mart 350Sears Point RacewaySonoma, CaliforniaJune 2417Pepsi 400Daytona International SpeedwayDaytona Beach, FloridaJuly 718Tropicana 400Chicagoland SpeedwayJoliet, IllinoisJuly 1519New England 300New Hampshire International SpeedwayLoudon, New HampshireJuly 2220Pennsylvania 500Pocono RacewayLong Pond, PennsylvaniaJuly 2921Brickyard 400Indianapolis Motor SpeedwaySpeedway, IndianaAugust 522Global Crossing at The GlenWatkins Glen InternationalWatkins Glen, New YorkAugust 1223Pepsi 400 presented by MeijerMichigan International SpeedwayCambridge Township, MichiganAugust 1924Sharpie 500Bristol Motor SpeedwayBristol, TennesseeAugust 2525Mountain Dew Southern 500Darlington RacewayDarlington, South CarolinaSeptember 226Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400Richmond International RacewayRichmond, VirginiaSeptember 827MBNA Cal Ripken Jr. 400Dover Downs International SpeedwayDover, DelawareSeptember 2328Protection One 400Kansas SpeedwayKansas City, KansasSeptember 3029UAW-GM Quality 500Charlotte Motor SpeedwayConcord, North CarolinaOctober 730Old Dominion 500Martinsville SpeedwayRidgeway, VirginiaOctober 1531EA Sports 500Talladega SuperspeedwayLincoln, AlabamaOctober 2132Checker Auto Parts 500 presented by PennzoilPhoenix International RacewayAvondale, ArizonaOctober 2833Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400Rockingham SpeedwayRockingham, North CarolinaNovember 434Pennzoil Freedom 400Homestead–Miami SpeedwayHomestead, FloridaNovember 1135NAPA 500Atlanta Motor SpeedwayHampton, GeorgiaNovember 1836New Hampshire 300New Hampshire International SpeedwayLoudon, New HampshireNovember 23

Races No.RacePole positionMost laps ledWinning driverReportNCBudweiser ShootoutKen SchraderTony StewartTony StewartPontiacGatorade 125 (Race 1)Bill ElliottDale EarnhardtSterling MarlinDodgeReportGatorade 125 (Race 2)Stacy ComptonDale Earnhardt Jr.Mike SkinnerChevrolet1Daytona 500Bill ElliottWard BurtonMichael WaltripChevroletReport2Dura Lube 400Jeff GordonJeff GordonSteve ParkChevroletReport3UAW-Daimler Chrysler 400Dale JarrettMark MartinJeff GordonChevroletReport4Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 500Dale JarrettJeff GordonKevin HarvickChevroletReport5Carolina Dodge Dealers 400Jeff GordonSteve ParkDale JarrettFordReport6Food City 500Mark MartinKevin HarvickElliott SadlerFordReport7Harrah's 500Dale Earnhardt Jr.Dale JarrettDale JarrettFordReport8Virginia 500Jeff GordonBobby HamiltonDale JarrettFordReport9Talladega 500Stacy ComptonSterling MarlinBobby HamiltonChevroletReport10NAPA Auto Parts 500Bobby LabonteRusty WallaceRusty WallaceFordReport11Pontiac Excitement 400Mark MartinRusty WallaceTony StewartPontiacReportNCWinston OpenJohnny BensonRyan NewmanJohnny BensonPontiacReportNo Bull SprintMike WallaceTodd BodineTodd BodineFordThe WinstonRusty WallaceWard Burton Johnny BensonJeff GordonChevrolet12Coca-Cola 600Ryan NewmanJeff BurtonJeff BurtonFordReport13MBNA Platinum 400Dale JarrettJeff GordonJeff GordonChevroletReport14Kmart 400Jeff GordonJeff GordonJeff GordonChevroletReport15Pocono 500Ricky RuddJeff GordonRicky RuddFordReport16Dodge/Save Mart 350Jeff GordonJeff GordonTony StewartPontiacReport17Pepsi 400Sterling MarlinDale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt Jr.ChevroletReport18Tropicana 400Todd BodineKevin HarvickKevin HarvickChevroletReport19New England 300Jeff GordonJeff GordonDale JarrettFordReport20Pennsylvania 500Todd BodineJeff GordonBobby LabontePontiacReport21Brickyard 400Jimmy SpencerSteve ParkJeff GordonChevroletReport22Global Crossing @ The GlenDale JarrettJeff BurtonJeff GordonChevroletReport23Pepsi 400 presented by MeijerRicky CravenBill ElliottSterling MarlinDodgeReport24Sharpie 500Jeff GreenJeff GordonTony StewartPontiacReport25Mountain Dew Southern 500Kurt BuschJeff GordonWard BurtonDodgeReport26Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400Jeff GordonRusty WallaceRicky RuddFordReport27MBNA Cal Ripken Jr. 400Dale JarrettDale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt Jr.ChevroletReport28Protection One 400Jason LefflerRusty WallaceJeff GordonChevroletReport29UAW-GM Quality 500Jimmy SpencerSterling MarlinSterling MarlinDodgeReport30Old Dominion 500Todd BodineRicky CravenRicky CravenFordReport31EA Sports 500Stacy ComptonDale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt Jr.ChevroletReport32Checker Auto Parts 500 presented by PennzoilCasey AtwoodJeff BurtonJeff BurtonFordReport33Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400Kenny WallaceJoe NemechekJoe NemechekChevroletReport34Pennzoil Freedom 400Bill ElliottTony StewartBill ElliottDodgeReport35NAPA 500Dale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt Jr.Bobby LabontePontiacReport36New Hampshire 300Jeff GordonJeff GordonRobby GordonChevroletReport

Budweiser Shootout

The Budweiser Shootout, an invitational event for all recent Bud Pole winners, was held February 11 at Daytona International Speedway. Ken Schrader drew the pole. This was the first race broadcast on Fox.

Top 10 Results

#20 - Tony Stewart #3 - Dale Earnhardt #2 - Rusty Wallace #88 - Dale Jarrett #99 - Jeff Burton #8 - Dale Earnhardt Jr. 18 - Bobby Labonte #6 - Mark Martin #28 - Ricky Rudd #31 - Mike Skinner

Gatorade 125s

The Gatorade 125s, qualifying races for the Daytona 500, were held February 15 at Daytona International Speedway. Bill Elliott and Stacy Compton started on pole for both races, respectively. The qualifying races were broadcast live for the first time; races prior to 2001 were broadcast on tape delay.

Race One Top 10 Results

#40 - Sterling Marlin #25 - Jerry Nadeau #3 - Dale Earnhardt #96 - Andy Houston #26 - Jimmy Spencer #24 - Jeff Gordon #01 - Jason Leffler #51 - Jeff Purvis #15 - Michael Waltrip #19 - Casey Atwood

Race Two Top 10 Results

#31 - Mike Skinner* #8 - Dale Earnhardt Jr. #99 - Jeff Burton #22 - Ward Burton #2 - Rusty Wallace #36 - Ken Schrader