2002 Checker Auto Parts 500

File:Phoenix-international-raceway-2011-new.svg, the venue where the race was held.]]

Phoenix International Raceway – also known as PIR – is a one-mile, low-banked tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona. It is named after the nearby metropolitan area of Phoenix. The motorsport track opened in 1964 and currently hosts two NASCAR race weekends annually. PIR has also hosted the IndyCar Series, CART, USAC and the Rolex Sports Car Series. The raceway is currently owned and operated by International Speedway Corporation.

The raceway was originally constructed with a 2.5 mi (4.0 km) road course that ran both inside and outside of the main tri-oval. In 1991 the track was reconfigured with the current 1.51 mi (2.43 km) interior layout. PIR has an estimated grandstand seating capacity of around 67,000. Lights were installed around the track in 2004 following the addition of a second annual NASCAR race weekend.

• (R) denotes rookie driver.

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%" !# !Driver !Team !Make !Sponsor
1 |Steve Park |Dale Earnhardt, Inc. |Chevrolet |Pennzoil
2 |Rusty Wallace |Penske Racing |Ford |Miller Lite
4 |Mike Skinner |Morgan–McClure Motorsports |Chevrolet |Kodak
5 |Terry Labonte |Hendrick Motorsports |Chevrolet |Kellogg's
6 |Mark Martin |Roush Racing |Ford |Viagra
7 |Jason Leffler |Ultra Motorsports |Dodge |Sirius Satellite Radio
07 |Ted Musgrave |Ultra Motorsports |Dodge |Kenwood
8 |Dale Earnhardt Jr. |Dale Earnhardt, Inc. |Chevrolet |Budweiser
9 |Bill Elliott |Evernham Motorsports |Dodge |Dodge
10 |Johnny Benson Jr. |MBV Motorsports |Pontiac |Valvoline
11 |Brett Bodine |Brett Bodine Racing |Ford |Hooters
12 |Ryan Newman (R) |Penske Racing |Ford |Alltel
14 |Mike Wallace |A. J. Foyt Enterprises |Pontiac |Conseco
15 |Michael Waltrip |Dale Earnhardt, Inc. |Chevrolet |NAPA Auto Parts
17 |Matt Kenseth |Roush Racing |Ford |DeWalt Million Dollar Challenge
18 |Bobby Labonte |Joe Gibbs Racing |Pontiac |Interstate Batteries
19 |Jeremy Mayfield |Evernham Motorsports |Dodge |Dodge
20 |Tony Stewart |Joe Gibbs Racing |Pontiac |The Home Depot
21 |Elliott Sadler |Wood Brothers Racing |Ford |Motorcraft
22 |Ward Burton |Bill Davis Racing |Dodge |Caterpillar
23 |Kenny Wallace |Bill Davis Racing |Dodge |Hills Bros. Coffee
24 |Jeff Gordon |Hendrick Motorsports |Chevrolet |DuPont
25 |Joe Nemechek |Hendrick Motorsports |Chevrolet |UAW, Delphi
26 |Todd Bodine |Haas-Carter Motorsports |Ford |Discover Card
27 |Scott Wimmer |Bill Davis Racing |Dodge |Siemens
28 |Ricky Rudd |Robert Yates Racing |Ford |Havoline
29 |Kevin Harvick |Richard Childress Racing |Chevrolet |GM Goodwrench
30 |Jeff Green |Richard Childress Racing |Chevrolet |America Online
31 |Robby Gordon |Richard Childress Racing |Chevrolet |Cingular Wireless
32 |Ricky Craven |PPI Motorsports |Ford |Tide
36 |Ken Schrader |MB2 Motorsports |Pontiac |Pedigree
37 |Jeff Jefferson |Quest Motor Racing |Pontiac |Xtreme Motorsports Marketing
40 |Jamie McMurray |Chip Ganassi Racing |Dodge |Coors Light
41 |Jimmy Spencer |Chip Ganassi Racing |Dodge |Target
43 |John Andretti |Petty Enterprises |Dodge |Cheerios
44 |Christian Fittipaldi |Petty Enterprises |Dodge |Georgia-Pacific Brawny
45 |Kyle Petty |Petty Enterprises |Dodge |Sprint
47 |Lance Hooper |Dark Horse Motorsports |Ford |Dark Horse Motorsports
48 |Jimmie Johnson (R) |Hendrick Motorsports |Chevrolet |Lowe's
49 |Derrike Cope |BAM Racing |Dodge |BAM Racing
51 |Jerry Robertson |Ware Racing Enterprises |Dodge |Family Tree, Smitty's Motorsports
55 |Bobby Hamilton |Andy Petree Racing |Chevrolet |Square D
60 |Jack Sprague |Haas CNC Racing |Chevrolet |Haas Automation
74 |Tony Raines |BACE Motorsports |Chevrolet |Outdoor Channel, Staff America
77 |Dave Blaney |Jasper Motorsports |Ford |Jasper Engines & Transmissions
83 |Ron Hornaday Jr. |FitzBradshaw Racing |Chevrolet |Racing USA
88 |Dale Jarrett |Robert Yates Racing |Ford |UPS
89 |Morgan Shepherd |Shepherd Racing Ventures |Ford |Red Line Oil, Racing with Jesus
93 |Mike Harmon |GIC Motorsports |Ford |GIC Motorsports
97 |Kurt Busch |Roush Racing |Ford |Sharpie, Stain Shield
99 |Jeff Burton |Roush Racing |Ford |Citgo
colspan="5" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20021214110837/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/35/data/entry_list.html Official entry list]

*Withdrew. Harmon would withdraw after crashing during practice, and Hooper would withdraw after crashing in practice.{{Cite web |date= |title=Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2002 Phoenix Race Info Page |url=http://www.jayski.com/next/2002/2002phoenix.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050204223911/http://www.jayski.com/next/2002/2002phoenix.htm |archive-date=February 4, 2005 |access-date=May 4, 2022 |website=Jayski's Silly Season Site}}

The first practice session was held on Friday, November 8, at 10:30 AM MST, and would last for 2 hours. Ryan Newman of Penske Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 27.074 and an average speed of {{Convert|132.969|mph|km/h}}.{{Cite web |date=November 8, 2002 |title=Speeds from Friday's Cup practice |url=http://www.thatsracin.com/mld/thatsracin/4476265.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050208135153/http://www.thatsracin.com/mld/thatsracin/4476265.htm |archive-date=February 8, 2005 |access-date=May 4, 2022 |website=ThatsRacin}}

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%" !Pos. !# !Driver !Team !Make !Time !Speed
1 |12 |Ryan Newman (R) |Penske Racing |Ford |27.074 |132.969
2 |43 |John Andretti |Petty Enterprises |Dodge |27.206 |132.324
3 |23 |Kenny Wallace |Bill Davis Racing |Dodge |27.227 |132.222
colspan="7" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20021203205027/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/35/data/practice1_speeds.html Full first practice results]

The second practice session was held on Saturday, November 9, at 8:30 AM MST, and would last for 45 minutes. Jimmie Johnson of Hendrick Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 27.860 and an average speed of {{Convert|129.217|mph|km/h}}.{{Cite web |date=November 9, 2002 |title=Johnson fastest in Saturday's early practice |url=http://www.thatsracin.com/mld/thatsracin/4482706.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050208135158/http://www.thatsracin.com/mld/thatsracin/4482706.htm |archive-date=February 8, 2005 |access-date=May 4, 2022 |website=ThatsRacin}}

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%" !Pos. !# !Driver !Team !Make !Time !Speed
1 |48 |Jimmie Johnson (R) |Hendrick Motorsports |Chevrolet |27.860 |129.217
2 |19 |Jeremy Mayfield |Evernham Motorsports |Dodge |27.980 |128.663
3 |23 |Kenny Wallace |Bill Davis Racing |Dodge |27.993 |128.604
colspan="7" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20021203210357/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/35/data/practice2_speeds.html Full second practice results]

The third and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, November 9, at 10:15 AM MST, and would last for 45 minutes. Kenny Wallace of Bill Davis Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 28.004 and an average speed of {{Convert|128.553|mph|km/h}}.{{Cite web |last=Packman |first=Tim |date=November 9, 2002 |title=K. Wallace fastest in Phoenix Happy Hour |url=http://www.nascar.com/2002/news/headlines/wc/11/09/kwallace_hh/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021203063727/http://www.nascar.com/2002/news/headlines/wc/11/09/kwallace_hh/index.html |archive-date=December 3, 2002 |access-date=May 4, 2022 |website=NASCAR.com |publisher=Turner Sports Interactive}}

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%" !Pos. !# !Driver !Team !Make !Time !Speed
1 |23 |Kenny Wallace |Bill Davis Racing |Dodge |28.004 |128.553
2 |29 |Kevin Harvick |Richard Childress Racing |Chevrolet |28.089 |128.164
3 |27 |Scott Wimmer |Bill Davis Racing |Dodge |28.100 |128.114
colspan="7" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20030212060949/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/35/data/practice3_speeds.html Full Happy Hour practice results]

Qualifying was held on Friday, November 8, at 3:05 PM MST. Each driver would have two laps to set a fastest time; the fastest of the two would count as their official qualifying lap. Positions 1-36 would be decided on time, while positions 37-43 would be based on provisionals. Six spots are awarded by the use of provisionals based on owner's points. The seventh is awarded to a past champion who has not otherwise qualified for the race. If no past champion needs the provisional, the next team in the owner points will be awarded a provisional.{{Cite web |date= |title=Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2002 Provisional/Owners Points Page |url=http://www.jayski.com/stats/2002/2002prov.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050205192304/http://www.jayski.com/stats/2002/2002prov.htm |archive-date=2005-02-05 |access-date=2022-03-02 |website=Jayski's Silly Season Site}}

Ryan Newman of Penske Racing would win the pole, setting a time of 27.138 and an average speed of {{Convert|132.655|mph|km/h}}.{{Cite web |last=Packman |first=Dave |date=November 8, 2002 |title=Newman on Bud Pole for record sixth time |url=http://www.nascar.com/2002/news/headlines/wc/11/08/rnewman_pole/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021110153450/http://www.nascar.com/2002/news/headlines/wc/11/08/rnewman_pole/index.html |archive-date=November 10, 2002 |access-date=May 4, 2022 |website=NASCAR.com |publisher=Turner Sports Interactive}}

Six drivers would fail to qualify: Ted Musgrave, Jack Sprague, Brett Bodine, Jerry Robertson, Morgan Shepherd, and Jeff Jefferson.

{{Reflist}}{{NASCAR next race|Previous_race=2002 Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400|Next_race=2002 Ford 400|Series=NASCAR Winston Cup Series|Monsteryear=2002}}{{NASCAR on NBC}}{{2002 Winston Cup}}

Category:2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series

Category:NASCAR races at Phoenix Raceway

Category:November 2002 sports events in the United States

Category:2002 in sports in Arizona