The 2001 MBNA Cal Ripken Jr. 400 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series stock car race held on September 23, 2001, at Dover Downs International Speedway.

The race was the also first to be run against the National Football League regular season since the signing of the consolidated NASCAR TV contract which began in 2001.

The Craftsman Truck Series race at Texas Motor Speedway was postponed to early October.

[5] As a security measure, coolers, backpacks, and large bags were banned from the track, though concession prices were lowered in compensation.

[9] Rick Mast, Jason Leffler, Lance Hooper, and Dave Marcis failed to qualify.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. became the leader on lap three and led until the first caution came out for Labonte and Bill Elliott crashing in turn two.

On lap 56,[10] Jeremy Mayfield hit the turn two wall after his right front tire went down, causing him to lose consciousness.

He was able to walk to the infield care center, suffering only a chipped tooth and minor bruises; NASCAR officials inspected Mayfield's car and found a partially torn left lap seat belt, which was damaged in the same fashion as Dale Earnhardt's in the Daytona 500 earlier that year, a major factor in his death.

[10] To honor the victims of the attack, Earnhardt drove a Polish victory lap with a large American flag.