2002 MBNA America 500
{{Short description|Fourth race of the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox NASCAR race report|Type=NASWINSTON|Date=March 10|Booth_Ann=Chuck Carland, Rob Albright|Announcers=Mike Joy, Larry McReynolds, Darrell Waltrip|Pole_Driver=Bill Elliott|Most_Team=Joe Gibbs Racing|First_Team=Joe Gibbs Racing|First_Driver=Tony Stewart|Most_Driver=Tony Stewart|Network=FOX|Radio=Performance Racing Network|Car=20|Pole_Team=Evernham Motorsports|Most_laps=143|Avg={{convert|148.443|mph|km/h}}|Official_name=44th Annual MBNA America 500|Location=Hampton, Georgia, Atlanta Motor Speedway|Course_km=2.48|Race_Name=MBNA America 500|Season_No=36|Race_No=4|Scheduled_laps=325|Scheduled_km=805.476|Scheduled_mi=500.5|Distance_laps=325|Distance_km=805.476|Course_mi=1.54|Year=2002|Pole_Time=28.944|Distance_mi=500.5|Turn_Ann=Brett McMillan, Steve Richards, Pat Patterson|Image=2002_MBNA_America_500_program_cover.jpg|Caption=The 2002 MBNA America 500 program cover, featuring Kevin Harvick, winner of the 2001 race.}}
The 2002 MBNA America 500 was the fourth stock car race of the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the fifth iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, March 10, 2002, in Hampton, Georgia at Atlanta Motor Speedway, a {{Convert|1.54|mi|km}} permanent asphalt quad-oval intermediate speedway. The race took the scheduled 325 laps to complete. Tony Stewart, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would pass the worn-out car of Ward Burton with 23 to go to win his 13th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series win and his first of the season.{{Cite news |last=Minter |first=Rick |date=2002-03-15 |title=Victorious Stewart goes the extra miles |pages=3B |work=Daily World |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96669878/victorious-stewart-goes-the-extra-miles/ |access-date=2022-02-28 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}} To fill out the podium, Dale Earnhardt Jr. of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. and Jimmie Johnson of Hendrick Motorsports would finish second and third, respectively.
Background
File:Atlanta_Motor_Speedway.svg, the venue where the race was held.]]
Atlanta Motor Speedway (formerly Atlanta International Raceway) is a track in Hampton, Georgia, 20 miles (32 km) south of Atlanta. It is a 1.54-mile (2.48 km) quad-oval track with a seating capacity of 111,000. It opened in 1960 as a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) standard oval. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track. In 1997, to standardize the track with Speedway Motorsports' other two 1.5-mile (2.4 km) ovals, the entire track was almost completely rebuilt. The frontstretch and backstretch were swapped, and the configuration of the track was changed from oval to quad-oval. The project made the track one of the fastest on the NASCAR circuit.
= Entry list =
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
!# !Driver !Team !Make !Sponsor |
| 1 |
| 2
|Ford |
| 4 |
| 5 |
| 6
|Ford |
| 7 |
| 8 |
| 9 |
| 10 |
| 11
|Ford |
| 12
|Ryan Newman (R) |Ford |
| 14 |
| 15 |
| 17
|Ford |
| 18 |
| 19 |
| 20 |
| 21
|Ford |
| 22 |
| 23 |
| 24 |
| 25 |
| 26
|Ford |
| 28
|Ford |
| 29 |
| 30 |
| 31 |
| 32
|Ford |Tide |
| 36 |
| 40 |
| 41 |
| 43 |
| 44 |
| 45 |
| 48
|Jimmie Johnson (R) |
| 49
|Shawna Robinson (R) |
| 55 |
| 57
|Ford |
| 71 |
| 77
|Ford |
| 85
|Carl Long (R) |
| 88
|Ford |UPS |
| 90
|Ford |
| 97
|Ford |
| 99
|Ford |
| colspan="5" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20020803213201/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/4/data/entry_list.html Official entry list] |
|---|
Practice
= First practice =
The first practice session was held on Friday, March 8, at 11:20 AM EST, and would last for two hours.{{Cite web |date= |title=Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2003 Atlanta 1 Race Info Page |url=http://www.jayski.com/next/2002/2002ams1.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050206033903/http://www.jayski.com/next/2002/2002ams1.htm |archive-date=2005-02-06 |access-date=2022-03-01 |website=Jayski's Silly Season Site}} Tony Stewart of Joe Gibbs Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.118 and an average speed of {{Convert|190.391|mph|km/h}}.{{Cite web |date= |title=NASCAR.com - Races - 2002 Atlanta 1 Practice 1 Results |url=http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/4/data/practice1_speeds.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020603095057/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/4/data/practice1_speeds.html |archive-date=2002-06-03 |access-date=2022-03-01 |website=NASCAR.com}}
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
!Pos. !# !Driver !Team !Make !Time !Speed |
| 1
|20 |29.118 |190.391 |
|---|
| 2
|18 |29.148 |190.201 |
| 3
|24 |29.174 |190.026 |
| colspan="7" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20020603095057/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/4/data/practice1_speeds.html Full first practice results] |
= Second practice =
The second practice session was held on Saturday, March 9, at 9:30 AM EST, and would last for 45 minutes. Ryan Newman of Penske Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.896 and an average speed of {{Convert|185.436|mph|km/h}}.{{Cite web |date= |title=NASCAR.com - Races - 2002 Atlanta 1 Practice 2 Results |url=http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/4/data/practice2_speeds.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020803214544/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/4/data/practice2_speeds.html |archive-date=2002-08-03 |access-date=2022-03-01 |website=NASCAR.com}}
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
!Pos. !# !Driver !Team !Make !Time !Speed |
| 1
|12 |Ryan Newman (R) |Ford |29.896 |185.436 |
|---|
| 2
|20 |29.971 |184.979 |
| 3
|24 |29.981 |184.917 |
| colspan="7" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20020803214544/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/4/data/practice2_speeds.html Full second practice results] |
= Third and final practice =
The third and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, March 9, at 11:15 AM EST, and would last for 45 minutes. Jerry Nadeau of Hendrick Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 30.110 and an average speed of {{Convert|184.125|mph|km/h}}.{{Cite web |date= |title=NASCAR.com - Races - 2002 Atlanta 1 Practice 3 Results |url=http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/4/data/practice3_speeds.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020603095940/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/4/data/practice3_speeds.html |archive-date=2002-06-03 |access-date=2022-03-01 |website=NASCAR.com}}
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
!Pos. !# !Driver !Team !Make !Time !Speed |
| 1
|25 |30.110 |184.125 |
|---|
| 2
|8 |30.115 |184.087 |
| 3
|40 |30.125 |184.026 |
| colspan="7" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20020603095940/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/4/data/practice3_speeds.html Full Happy Hour practice results] |
Qualifying
Qualifying was held on Friday, March 8, at 3:05 PM EST. 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 champ 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 - 1st four races |url=http://www.jayski.com/stats/2002/2002prov4.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050204074840/http://www.jayski.com/stats/2002/2002prov4.htm |archive-date=2005-02-04 |access-date=2022-02-24 |website=Jayski's Silly Season Site}}
Bill Elliott of Evernham Motorsports would win the pole, setting a time of 28.944 and an average speed of {{Convert|191.542|mph|km/h}}.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Marty |date=2002-03-09 |title=Elliott nips Newman for Bud Pole |url=http://www.nascar.com/2002/news/headlines/wc/03/08/cup_qual/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020802114203/http://www.nascar.com/2002/news/headlines/wc/03/08/cup_qual/index.html |archive-date=2002-08-02 |access-date=2022-03-01 |website=NASCAR.com}}
Two drivers would fail to qualify: Ron Hornaday Jr. and Carl Long.
= Full qualifying results =
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
!Pos. !# !Driver !Team !Make !Time !Speed |
| 1
|9 |28.944 |191.542 |
|---|
| 2
|12 |Ryan Newman (R) |Ford |28.955 |191.462 |
| 3
|8 |28.975 |191.337 |
| 4
|97 |Ford |29.065 |190.744 |
| 5
|41 |29.083 |190.620 |
| 6
|32 |Ford |29.111 |190.436 |
| 7
|88 |Ford |29.124 |190.358 |
| 8
|29 |29.135 |190.286 |
| 9
|20 |29.136 |190.273 |
| 10
|10 |29.166 |190.084 |
| 11
|1 |29.176 |190.019 |
| 12
|40 |29.180 |189.986 |
| 13
|5 |29.180 |189.986 |
| 14
|44 |29.184 |189.960 |
| 15
|48 |Jimmie Johnson (R) |29.184 |189.960 |
| 16
|21 |Ford |29.187 |189.941 |
| 17
|15 |29.191 |189.914 |
| 18
|18 |29.193 |189.908 |
| 19
|24 |29.195 |189.889 |
| 20
|43 |29.245 |189.570 |
| 21
|4 |29.260 |189.473 |
| 22
|55 |29.268 |189.415 |
| 23
|31 |29.270 |189.408 |
| 24
|77 |Ford |29.273 |189.389 |
| 25
|36 |29.281 |189.337 |
| 26
|25 |29.295 |189.240 |
| 27
|26 |Ford |29.299 |189.214 |
| 28
|22 |29.312 |189.137 |
| 29
|90 |Ford |29.322 |189.066 |
| 30
|99 |Ford |29.340 |188.957 |
| 31
|49 |Shawna Robinson (R) |29.374 |188.738 |
| 32
|17 |Ford |29.375 |188.731 |
| 33
|23 |29.375 |188.731 |
| 34
|45 |29.378 |188.706 |
| 35
|14 |29.379 |188.699 |
| 36
|30 |29.381 |188.693 |
| colspan="7" |Provisionals |
| 37
|28 |Ford |29.659 |186.924 |
| 38
|2 |Ford |29.391 |188.628 |
| 39
|6 |Ford |29.402 |188.559 |
| 40
|19 |29.393 |188.609 |
| 41
|7 |29.518 |187.811 |
| 42
|11 |Ford |29.426 |188.404 |
| 43
|71 |29.606 |187.259 |
| colspan="7" |Failed to qualify |
| 44
|57 |Ford |29.521 |187.792 |
| 45
|85 |Carl Long (R) |29.665 |186.886 |
| colspan="7" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20020803165948/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/4/data/lineup.html Official qualifying results] |
Race results
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
!St !# !Driver !Team !Make !Laps !Led !Status !Pts !Winnings |
| 1
|9 |20 |325 |143 |running |185 |$174,978 |
|---|
| 2
|3 |8 |325 |38 |running |175 |$104,600 |
| 3
|15 |48 |Jimmie Johnson (R) |325 |0 |running |165 |$72,350 |
| 4
|32 |17 |Ford |325 |46 |running |165 |$91,700 |
| 5
|6 |32 |Ford |325 |0 |running |155 |$69,950 |
| 6
|38 |2 |Ford |325 |0 |running |150 |$90,625 |
| 7
|28 |22 |325 |20 |running |151 |$90,325 |
| 8
|39 |6 |Ford |325 |0 |running |142 |$89,833 |
| 9
|12 |40 |325 |0 |running |138 |$89,117 |
| 10
|2 |12 |Ryan Newman (R) |Ford |325 |15 |running |139 |$78,000 |
| 11
|4 |97 |Ford |325 |59 |running |135 |$62,225 |
| 12
|14 |44 |325 |0 |running |127 |$58,450 |
| 13
|7 |88 |Ford |325 |0 |running |124 |$77,450 |
| 14
|13 |5 |325 |0 |running |121 |$76,083 |
| 15
|34 |45 |325 |2 |running |123 |$44,500 |
| 16
|19 |24 |325 |0 |running |115 |$96,478 |
| 17
|24 |77 |Ford |324 |2 |running |117 |$65,200 |
| 18
|23 |31 |324 |0 |running |109 |$72,246 |
| 19
|16 |21 |Ford |324 |0 |running |106 |$62,279 |
| 20
|37 |28 |Ford |324 |0 |running |103 |$89,157 |
| 21
|30 |99 |Ford |324 |0 |running |100 |$86,507 |
| 22
|11 |1 |324 |0 |running |97 |$75,010 |
| 23
|40 |19 |323 |0 |running |94 |$52,835 |
| 24
|25 |36 |323 |0 |running |91 |$52,535 |
| 25
|27 |26 |Ford |322 |0 |running |88 |$69,822 |
| 26
|5 |41 |322 |0 |running |85 |$43,985 |
| 27
|10 |10 |322 |0 |running |82 |$51,670 |
| 28
|21 |4 |321 |0 |running |79 |$43,420 |
| 29
|22 |55 |320 |0 |running |76 |$51,110 |
| 30
|26 |25 |320 |0 |running |73 |$51,385 |
| 31
|35 |14 |320 |0 |running |70 |$42,810 |
| 32
|41 |7 |319 |0 |running |67 |$42,235 |
| 33
|29 |90 |Ford |318 |0 |running |64 |$39,670 |
| 34
|31 |49 |Shawna Robinson (R) |310 |0 |running |61 |$39,625 |
| 35
|1 |9 |288 |0 |crash |58 |$72,146 |
| 36
|20 |43 |288 |0 |crash |55 |$66,638 |
| 37
|18 |18 |287 |0 |running |52 |$85,298 |
| 38
|42 |11 |Ford |276 |0 |engine |49 |$39,475 |
| 39
|8 |29 |254 |0 |engine |46 |$85,218 |
| 40
|17 |15 |204 |0 |engine |43 |$47,380 |
| 41
|36 |30 |187 |0 |engine |40 |$39,345 |
| 42
|43 |71 |178 |0 |crash |37 |$39,305 |
| 43
|33 |23 |164 |0 |engine |34 |$38,605 |
| colspan="11" |Failed to qualify |
| 44
! rowspan="2" | |57 |Ford ! colspan="5" rowspan="2" | |
| 45
|85 |
| colspan="11" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20021014151023/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/4/data/results_official.html Official race results] |
References
{{Reflist}}{{NASCAR next race|Previous_race=2002 UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400|Next_race=2002 Carolina Dodge Dealers 400|Series=NASCAR Winston Cup Series|Monsteryear=2002}}
{{NASCAR on Fox}}{{2002 Winston Cup}}
Category:2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
Category:NASCAR races at Atlanta Motor Speedway