Top 10 Mistakes of 2001

December 28, 2001
9:21 AM EST (1521 GMT)

1. Robby Gordon not allowing Kevin Harvick to pass at Sears Point.

Robby Gordon

Robby Gordon entered Sears Point with a temporary ride from Ultra Motorsports and a real shot at claiming his first Winston Cup win.

Late in the race, Kevin Harvick, on fresh tires, attempted to pass Gordon and get back on the lead lap; but Gordon refused to let him by. Harvick got together with Gordon, and Tony Stewart slipped by to win the race. Harvick got his lap back and finished 14th, and Gordon finished a disappointing second.

2. Tony Stewart goes below the yellow line at Daytona.

It's still a topic of debate, but Tony Stewart either intentionally crossed or was forced below the yellow line during the Pepsi 400. Either way, the act earned him a black flag. Instead of capitalizing on a chance to win, Stewart finished 26th.

In a now infamous encounter, Stewart angrily confronted NASCAR officials and was penalized for his behavior.

3. Tony Stewart punts Jeff Gordon on pit road.

Tony Stewart

After the Food City 500 at Bristol, Tony Stewart drove up behind Jeff Gordon on pit road and rammed his car with enough force to spin it sideways into the wall that separates the pits from the race track. The act drew a $10,000 fine and a five-month probation.

Stewart was apparently retaliating for earlier contact with Gordon that resulted in a 25th-place finish for Stewart.

4. Nadeau's tank runs dry at Atlanta.

Jerry Nadeau enjoyed a solid year in 2001 -- he scored 10 top-10 finishes -- but he badly needed a win.

Late in the NAPA 500 at Atlanta, Nadeau was poised to win the race for the second straight year. But on the final lap, his No. 25 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet sputtered as he exited the backstretch -- out of gas. Bobby Labonte and Sterling Marlin flew by.

To add insult to injury, Kevin Harvick nipped him at the line for third, leaving Nadeau with a fourth-place finish.

5. Kenny Wallace signs with Eel River.

Kenny Wallace left the No. 55 Chevy of Andy Petree Racing after the 2000 season for the unsponsored Pontiac of Eel River Racing.

This relationship was doomed from the very beginning.

The team couldn't find sponsorship until May; and when it did, it was limited. They had a hard time qualifying for races, and their on-track performance was anemic.

Frustrated, Wallace eventually left the team and concentrated on his Busch Series efforts. Later in the year, he got the break of his Winston Cup career when he signed to drive for DEI in place of the injured Steve Park.

6. Jarrett loses radiator at Pocono.

Dale Jarrett suffered damage at Pocono and took his No. 88 Robert Yates Racing Ford to the garage for repairs, hoping to salvage a top-30 finish.

But the team repaired the car too quickly. Jarrett re-entered the race, and the radiator promptly fell out.

Jarrett finished 41st -- his worst showing of the year. He fell to third in the championship points, 107 behind leader Jeff Gordon and 62 behind teammate Ricky Rudd.

7. NASCAR decides to use a Victory Lane gate.

At Kansas Speedway, Lowe's Motor Speedway and Martinsville Speedway, NASCAR officials set up a PVC pipe barrier that prevented each winning driver from climbing atop his car.

The move was designed to preserve the car for inspection, but the gate became a laughingstock among drivers, crew members and fans.

8. Ryan Newman crashes on lap 12 of the Coca-Cola 600.

Ryan Newman surprisingly won his first Winston Cup pole by taking the top spot for the Coca-Cola 600 in May, but the Penske Racing rookie slapped the wall in Turn 4 while racing Jeff Gordon.

"Impatience, that's what I'd say happened," said a disgusted Newman from the cockpit of his car following the wreck.

Newman finished 43rd.

9. Harvick nearly wrecks Rudd at Richmond.

Ricky Rudd was leading the Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400 with 17 laps remaining when Kevin Harvick stormed to his rear bumper, got under him, lifted him up and turned him sideways coming out of Turn 2.

Rudd somehow managed to save the car, but the run-in fired him up.

The veteran began a furious charge, and he moved Harvick from his path on lap 394 on the way to his second win of the year.

10. Houston lasts just three laps at Chicagoland.

Andy Houston was driving for his job as the Winston Cup Series headed to Chicago for the inaugural Tropicana 400. The No. 96 Ford desperately needed a good showing in front of McDonald's at their sponsor's home track.

It didn't happen. His engine lasted just three laps after a failed green flag start. Houston finished 43rd, and the team didn't make the trip to New Hampshire the next week.

The above is written by NASCAR.com staff and the opinions listed here are solely those of the writers.