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Ford 400 - Homestead-Miami Speedway
Elliott Dominates, Labonte Wins Season Finale at Homestead
McMurray Wins Final Pole of 2003 Season
Bill Elliott might have dominated the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway but it was Bobby Labonte who went to victory lane. Elliott, who had led a race-high 189 of the event’s 267 laps, appeared well on his way to his second consecutive victory until the race’s final lap. After Elliott had taken the white flag, his right-rear tire blew exiting turn two, handing the lead and the win to the waiting Labonte. When Labonte took the checkered flag, it was the only lap that he had led all day but it was the most important one. Labonte finished 1.749 seconds ahead of Kevin Harvick to take the victory on the newly reconfigured Miami track. The win is the second of the season for Labonte and the 21st of his Winston Cup career. Harvick finished second despite being involved in an early-race accident. Jimmie Johnson brought home a third-place finish and captured the second spot in the point standings. Johnny Benson crossed the stripe in fourth, his best effort of the season, while Jeff Gordon rounded out the top five. Elliott limped home in eighth place.
Jamie McMurray won the first pole position at the reconfigured Homestead-Miami Speedway on Friday afternoon. It is also the final Winston Cup pole position, as Nextel takes over as title sponsor next season. McMurray laid down a lap in 29.816 seconds, at an average speed of 181.111 mph, around the newly high-banked Homestead track to capture his first career pole. Bobby Labonte will start from the outside of the front row on the starting grid, rolling off from the second spot. Labonte and Brain Vickers actually posted identical times, giving Labonte the higher starting position, while Vickers will start third. “The Rocket Man” Ryan Newman had his streak of three straight poles snapped and will start from the fourth position.
