2002 NAPA 500
{{Short description|33rd race of the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox NASCAR race report|Type=NASWINSTON|Avg={{convert|127.519|mph|km/h}}|Radio=Performance Racing Network|Caption=The 2002 NAPA 500 program cover.|Official_name=43rd Annual NAPA 500|Pole_Driver=Tony Stewart|Pole_Time=Set by 2002 owner's points|First_Team=Roush Racing|Most_Team=Roush Racing|First_Driver=Kurt Busch|Most_Driver=Kurt Busch|Most_laps=84|Car=97|Pole_Team=Joe Gibbs Racing|Date=October 27|Location=Hampton, Georgia, Atlanta Motor Speedway|Season_No=36|Race_No=33|Network=NBC|Race_Name=NAPA 500|Year=2002|Scheduled_laps=325|Distance_laps=248|Distance_km=614.64|Scheduled_mi=500.5|Scheduled_km=805.476|Course_km=2.48|Course_mi=1.54|Distance_mi=381.92|Announcers=Allen Bestwick, Benny Parsons, Wally Dallenbach Jr.|Image=2002_NAPA_500_program_cover.jpg|Attendance=110,000}}
The 2002 NAPA 500 was the 33rd stock car race of the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 43rd iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, October 27, 2002, before a crowd of 110,000 in Hampton, Georgia at Atlanta Motor Speedway, a {{Convert|1.54|mi|km}} permanent asphalt quad-oval intermediate speedway. The race was shortened from its scheduled 325 laps to 248 due to inclement weather during the race. At race's end, Kurt Busch, driving for Roush Racing, would lead the race when the race was put under caution on lap 242, with the race eventually being called six laps later.{{Cite web |last=Rodman |first=Dave |date=October 29, 2002 |title=Busch wins rain-shortened NAPA 500 |url=http://www.nascar.com/2002/news/headlines/wc/10/27/napa_500/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021209172123/http://www.nascar.com/2002/news/headlines/wc/10/27/napa_500/index.html |archive-date=December 9, 2002 |access-date=May 3, 2022 |website=NASCAR.com |publisher=Turner Sports Interactive}}{{Cite news |last=Woody |first=Larry |date=October 28, 2002 |title=Shutout in 2001 inspires Busch to Atlanta win |pages=30 |work=The Tennessean |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100931400/shutout-in-2001-inspires-busch-to/ |access-date=May 3, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}} The win was Busch's third career NASCAR Winston Cup Series win and his third of the season. To fill out the podium, Joe Nemechek of Hendrick Motorsports and Dale Jarrett of Robert Yates Racing 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 =
- (R) denotes rookie driver.
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
!# !Driver !Team !Make !Sponsor |
| 00 |
| 1 |
| 2
|Ford |
| 4 |
| 5 |
| 6
|Ford |
| 7 |
| 8 |
| 9 |
| 09
|Ford |
| 10 |
| 11
|Ford |
| 12
|Ryan Newman (R) |Ford |
| 14 |
| 15 |
| 16
|Ford |
| 17
|Ford |
| 18 |
| 19 |
| 20 |
| 21
|Ford |
| 22 |
| 23 |
| 24 |
| 25 |
| 26
|Ford |
| 27 |
| 28
|Ford |
| 29 |
| 30 |
| 31 |
| 32
|Ford |Tide |
| 36 |
| 40 |
| 41 |
| 43 |
| 44 |
| 45 |
| 48
|Jimmie Johnson (R) |
| 49 |
| 54 |
| 55 |
| 59
|Carl Long (R) |
| 60 |
| 66
|Ford |
| 74 |
| 77
|Ford |
| 83 |
| 88
|Ford |UPS |
| 97
|Ford |
| 99
|Ford |
| colspan="5" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20021207011231/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/33/data/entry_list.html Official entry list] |
|---|
Practice
= First practice =
The first practice session was held on Friday, October 25, at 3:20 PM EST, and would last for 2 hours.{{Cite web |date= |title=Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2002 Atlanta 2 Race Info Page |url=http://www.jayski.com/next/2002/2002atlanta2.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050205035142/http://www.jayski.com/next/2002/2002atlanta2.htm |archive-date=February 5, 2005 |access-date=May 3, 2022 |website=Jayski's Silly Season Site}} Bill Elliott of Evernham Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.033 and an average speed of {{Convert|190.955|mph|km/h}}.{{Cite web |date= |title=NASCAR.com - Races - 2002 Atlanta 2 Practice 1 Results |url=http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/33/data/practice1_speeds.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021207012146/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/33/data/practice1_speeds.html |archive-date=December 7, 2002 |access-date=May 3, 2022 |website=NASCAR.com}}
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
!Pos. !# !Driver !Team !Make !Time !Speed |
| 1
|9 |29.033 |190.955 |
|---|
| 2
|20 |29.123 |190.365 |
| 3
|88 |Ford |29.147 |190.208 |
| colspan="7" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20021207012146/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/33/data/practice1_speeds.html Full first practice results] |
= Second practice =
The second practice session was held on Saturday, October 26, at 9:30 AM EST, and would last for 45 minutes. Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.617 and an average speed of {{Convert|187.190|mph|km/h}}.{{Cite web |date=October 26, 2022 |title=Jeff Gordon fastest in Saturday's early practice |url=http://www.thatsracin.com/mld/thatsracin/4375713.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050208172402/http://www.thatsracin.com/mld/thatsracin/4375713.htm |archive-date=February 8, 2005 |access-date=May 3, 2022 |website=ThatsRacin}}
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
!Pos. !# !Driver !Team !Make !Time !Speed |
| 1
|24 |29.617 |187.190 |
|---|
| 2
|20 |29.620 |187.171 |
| 3
|48 |Jimmie Johnson (R) |29.738 |186.428 |
| colspan="7" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20021203191407/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/33/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, October 26, at 11:15 AM EST, and would last for 45 minutes. Tony Stewart of Joe Gibbs Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.880 and an average speed of {{Convert|185.542|mph|km/h}}.{{Cite web |date=October 26, 2002 |title=Stewart tops speed chart in final Winston Cup practice |url=http://www.thatsracin.com/mld/thatsracin/4375944.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050208162257/http://www.thatsracin.com/mld/thatsracin/4375944.htm |archive-date=February 8, 2005 |access-date=May 3, 2022 |website=ThatsRacin}}
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
!Pos. !# !Driver !Team !Make !Time !Speed |
| 1
|20 |29.880 |185.542 |
|---|
| 2
|8 |29.911 |185.350 |
| 3
|88 |Ford |29.944 |185.146 |
| colspan="7" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20021203191343/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/33/data/practice3_speeds.html Full Happy Hour practice results] |
Qualifying
Qualifying was scheduled to be held on Friday, October 25, at 7:05 PM EST. However, rain would force the cancellation of qualifying. As a result, the starting lineup would be based on the current 2002 owner's points. Due to this, Joe Gibbs Racing driver Tony Stewart would win the pole.{{Cite web |author=Staff Writer |title=Stewart sits on Atlanta pole |url=https://www.poconorecord.com/story/sports/pro/2002/10/26/stewart-sits-on-atlanta-pole/50921547007/ |access-date=2022-05-03 |website=Pocono Record |language=en-US}}
Eight drivers would fail to qualify: Geoff Bodine, Frank Kimmel, Scott Wimmer, Greg Biffle, Buckshot Jones, Jack Sprague, Kerry Earnhardt, and Ron Hornaday Jr.
= Full qualifying results =
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
!Pos. !# !Driver !Team !Make |
| 1
|20 |
|---|
| 2
|48 |Jimmie Johnson (R) |
| 3
|6 |Ford |
| 4
|40 |
| 5
|2 |Ford |
| 6
|12 |Ryan Newman (R) |Ford |
| 7
|24 |
| 8
|97 |Ford |
| 9
|17 |Ford |
| 10
|28 |Ford |
| 11
|88 |Ford |
| 12
|9 |
| 13
|8 |
| 14
|99 |Ford |
| 15
|15 |
| 16
|32 |Ford |
| 17
|18 |
| 18
|30 |
| 19
|77 |Ford |
| 20
|31 |
| 21
|29 |
| 22
|45 |
| 23
|5 |
| 24
|41 |
| 25
|10 |
| 26
|19 |
| 27
|22 |
| 28
|21 |Ford |
| 29
|55 |
| 30
|43 |
| 31
|36 |
| 32
|23 |
| 33
|1 |
| 34
|26 |Ford |
| 35
|4 |
| 36
|25 |
| 37
|14 |
| 38
|7 |
| 39
|44 |
| 40
|11 |Ford |
| 41
|49 |
| 42
|74 |
| 43
|59 |Carl Long (R) |
| colspan="5" |Failed to qualify |
| 44
|09 |Ford |
| 45
|66 |Ford |
| 46
|27 |
| 47
|16 |Ford |
| 48
|00 |
| 49
|60 |
| 50
|83 |
| 51
|54 |
| colspan="5" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20021206070404/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/33/data/lineup.html Official starting lineup] |
Race results
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
!St !# !Driver !Team !Make !Laps !Led !Status !Pts !Winnings |
| 1
|8 |97 |Ford |248 |84 |running |185 |$212,100 |
|---|
| 2
|36 |25 |248 |57 |running |175 |$153,400 |
| 3
|11 |88 |Ford |248 |0 |running |165 |$136,250 |
| 4
|1 |20 |248 |39 |running |165 |$137,178 |
| 5
|13 |8 |248 |4 |running |160 |$97,950 |
| 6
|7 |24 |248 |41 |running |155 |$124,978 |
| 7
|4 |40 |248 |0 |running |146 |$110,742 |
| 8
|3 |6 |Ford |248 |0 |running |142 |$103,533 |
| 9
|9 |17 |Ford |248 |0 |running |138 |$82,275 |
| 10
|6 |12 |Ryan Newman (R) |Ford |248 |1 |running |139 |$92,900 |
| 11
|15 |15 |248 |1 |running |135 |$77,850 |
| 12
|14 |99 |Ford |248 |0 |running |127 |$106,817 |
| 13
|17 |18 |248 |0 |running |124 |$106,628 |
| 14
|22 |45 |248 |17 |running |126 |$67,025 |
| 15
|33 |1 |248 |0 |running |118 |$96,350 |
| 16
|27 |22 |248 |4 |running |120 |$102,625 |
| 17
|5 |2 |Ford |247 |0 |running |112 |$103,075 |
| 18
|28 |21 |Ford |247 |0 |running |109 |$83,425 |
| 19
|19 |77 |Ford |247 |0 |running |106 |$80,400 |
| 20
|20 |31 |247 |0 |running |103 |$90,556 |
| 21
|16 |32 |Ford |247 |0 |running |100 |$69,350 |
| 22
|2 |48 |Jimmie Johnson (R) |247 |0 |running |97 |$60,500 |
| 23
|25 |10 |246 |0 |running |94 |$86,850 |
| 24
|18 |30 |246 |0 |running |91 |$59,700 |
| 25
|23 |5 |246 |0 |running |88 |$88,533 |
| 26
|35 |4 |246 |0 |running |85 |$67,389 |
| 27
|26 |19 |246 |0 |running |82 |$66,650 |
| 28
|39 |44 |246 |0 |running |79 |$58,450 |
| 29
|42 |74 |246 |0 |running |76 |$55,300 |
| 30
|24 |41 |246 |0 |running |73 |$58,150 |
| 31
|37 |14 |246 |0 |running |70 |$55,000 |
| 32
|10 |28 |Ford |246 |0 |running |67 |$99,237 |
| 33
|12 |9 |245 |0 |running |64 |$80,106 |
| 34
|40 |11 |Ford |245 |0 |running |61 |$54,525 |
| 35
|29 |55 |245 |0 |running |58 |$62,400 |
| 36
|32 |23 |243 |0 |running |55 |$54,325 |
| 37
|41 |49 |243 |0 |running |52 |$54,200 |
| 38
|38 |7 |241 |0 |running |49 |$54,150 |
| 39
|43 |59 |Carl Long (R) |237 |0 |running |46 |$54,100 |
| 40
|21 |29 |221 |0 |engine |43 |$99,818 |
| 41
|34 |26 |Ford |214 |0 |engine |40 |$79,187 |
| 42
|31 |36 |113 |0 |engine |37 |$61,950 |
| 43
|30 |43 |4 |0 |crash |34 |$81,243 |
| colspan="11" |Failed to qualify |
| 44
! rowspan="8" | |09 |Ford ! colspan="5" rowspan="8" | |
| 45
|66 |Ford |
| 46
|27 |
| 47
|16 |Ford |
| 48
|00 |
| 49
|60 |
| 50
|83 |
| 51
|54 |
| colspan="11" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20030118180432/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/33/data/results_official.html Official race results] |
References
{{Reflist}}{{NASCAR next race|Previous_race=2002 Old Dominion 500|Next_race=2002 Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400|Series=NASCAR Winston Cup Series|Monsteryear=2002}}{{NASCAR on NBC}}{{2002 Winston Cup}}
Category:2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
Category:NASCAR races at Atlanta Motor Speedway