The Winston format, schedule

Format for The Winston -- 2003

* The Winston Qualifying
    Qualifying for The Winston will consist of three laps with a mandatory four-tire pit stop included. The total elapsed time of the pit stops and laps will make up each team's qualifying effort. Drivers must adhere to the pit road speed limit when entering pit road, but there is no speed limit when exiting. The winning team will earn $50,000.

* The Winston Open Qualifying
    Qualifying for The Winston Open will be two laps, with the better of the two representing the team's qualifying effort.

* The Winston Open
    This 30-lap event is for all NASCAR Winston Cup teams that competed in a NASCAR Winston Cup Series event in 2002 or 2003 that are not already eligible for The Winston. It will be run in two segments. The first segment will be 20 laps after which the field will be reduced to 14 cars. All laps count including caution laps in the first segment. The second segment will be 10 laps and only green-flag laps will count to ensure a green-flag finish. The winner of The Winston Open will advance to The Winston.

* The Winston

The Winston will be 90 laps total and consist of three segments totaling 40, 30 and 20 laps. The field will be inverted for the final segment as determined by a fan vote on NASCAR.com.

The first segment will be 40 laps. Teams must make a mandatory green-flag, four-tire pit stop at some point during this segment and must complete Lap 40 on the track. All restarts will be double-file. All laps count including caution laps. If a late-segment caution occurs, every effort will be made to ensure a green-flag finish. The top-20 finishers from the first segment will advance to the second segment. The winner of the first segment will earn $50,000.

There will be a 10-minute break following the first segment, at which time teams may change tires and make chassis adjustments without losing track position.

The second segment will be 30 laps. The finish of the first segment will determine the double-file starting order of the 20-car field for the second segment. There are no pit-stop requirements, but teams may pit if they wish. All laps count including caution laps. If a late-segment caution occurs, every effort will be made to ensure a green-flag finish. Only the top-14 finishers in the second segment will advance to the final segment. The winner of the second segment will earn $50,000. There will be a 10-minute break following the second segment, at which time teams may change tires and make chassis adjustments without losing track position.

The third and final segment will be 20 laps. The top-14 finishers in the second segment will compete in the third and final segment with the field inverted as determined by a fans vote on nascar.com. The start of the final segment will be double file. Only green flag laps count.

The winner of The Winston will win $1 million.

Where: Lowe's Motor Speedway, Concord, N.C.
When: 7:30 p.m. ET, Saturday, May 17.
TV: FX, 7 p.m. ET.

Posted awards: $3 million;
$1 million to winner of The Winston.

Race length: 135 Miles/90 laps.
Track layout: 1.5-mile oval.

2002 winner: Ryan Newman.
2002 polesitter: Matt Kenseth.

Weekend Schedule (all times local)

Friday, May 16th, 2003:
12:30pm: Drawing for Qualifying
1:30 - 2:10pm: Winston Open Practice
2:20 - 3:05pm: The Winston Practice
3:55 - 4:40pm: Winston Open Practice
4:45 - 4:50pm: The Winston Pit Road Practice
4:50 - 5:30pm: The Winston Practice
6:05pm: Qualifying for The Winston Open (2 laps/all positions)
7:05pm: Qualifying for The Winston (3 laps w/pit stop/4-tire change)
    TV: Speed Channel Live
Winston Open Final Practice (30 minutes)
The Winston Final Practice (30 minutes)
    NOTE: Both final practices after the Truck Series race.
    TV-Speed Channel at 10:30pm

Saturday May 17th, 2003
7:30 p.m. The Winston Open
9 p.m. The Winston

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