2002 Pontiac Excitement 400

File:Richmond_International_Speedway.png, the venue where the race was at.]]

Richmond International Raceway (RIR) is a 3/4-mile (1.2 km), D-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in Henrico County. It hosts the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series. Known as "America's premier short track", it formerly hosted a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, an IndyCar Series race, and two USAC sprint car races.

• (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
02 |Hermie Sadler |SCORE Motorsports |Chevrolet |Virginia Lottery
4 |Mike Skinner |Morgan–McClure Motorsports |Chevrolet |Kodak
5 |Terry Labonte |Hendrick Motorsports |Chevrolet |Kellogg's
6 |Mark Martin |Roush Racing |Ford |Viagra
7 |Casey Atwood |Ultra-Evernham Motorsports |Dodge |Sirius Satellite Radio / Circuit City
8 |Dale Earnhardt Jr. |Dale Earnhardt, Inc. |Chevrolet |Budweiser
9 |Bill Elliott |Evernham Motorsports |Dodge |Dodge Dealers / UAW
10 |Johnny Benson Jr.* |MBV Motorsports |Pontiac |Valvoline / MaxLife
11 |Brett Bodine |Brett Bodine Racing |Ford |Hooters
12 |Ryan Newman (R) |Penske Racing |Ford |Alltel
14 |Stacy Compton |A. J. Foyt Enterprises |Pontiac |Conseco
15 |Michael Waltrip |Dale Earnhardt, Inc. |Chevrolet |NAPA Auto Parts
17 |Matt Kenseth |Roush Racing |Ford |DeWalt Power Tools
18 |Bobby Labonte |Joe Gibbs Racing |Pontiac |Interstate Batteries
19 |Jeremy Mayfield |Evernham Motorsports |Dodge |Dodge Dealers / UAW
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 |Hut Stricklin |Bill Davis Racing |Dodge |Hills Brothers Coffee
24 |Jeff Gordon |Hendrick Motorsports |Chevrolet |DuPont
25 |Jerry Nadeau |Hendrick Motorsports |Chevrolet |UAW–Delphi
26 |Frank Kimmel |Haas-Carter Motorsports |Ford |Pork. The Other White Meat
28 |Ricky Rudd |Robert Yates Racing |Ford |Havoline
29 |Kevin Harvick |Richard Childress Racing |Chevrolet |GM Goodwrench Service
30 |Jeff Green |Richard Childress Racing |Chevrolet |America Online
31 |Robby Gordon |Richard Childress Racing |Chevrolet |Cingular Wireless / Spider-Man
32 |Ricky Craven |PPI Motorsports |Ford |Tide New Clean Breeze Scent
36 |Ken Schrader |MB2 Motorsports |Pontiac |M&M's Global Color Vote
40 |Sterling Marlin |Chip Ganassi Racing |Dodge |Coors Light
41 |Jimmy Spencer |Chip Ganassi Racing |Dodge |Target
43 |John Andretti |Petty Enterprises |Dodge |Cheerios
44 |Steve Grissom |Petty Enterprises |Dodge |Georgia-Pacific
45 |Kyle Petty |Petty Enterprises |Dodge |Sprint
48 |Jimmie Johnson (R) |Hendrick Motorsports |Chevrolet |Lowe's
54 |Kevin Grubb |Team Bristol Motorsports |Chevrolet |Toys "R" Us
55 |Bobby Hamilton |Andy Petree Racing |Chevrolet |Schneider Electric, Square D
59 |Randy Renfrow |Price Motorsports |Dodge |Price Motorsports
77 |Dave Blaney |Jasper Motorsports |Ford |Jasper Engines & Transmissions
88 |Dale Jarrett |Robert Yates Racing |Ford |UPS
90 |Rick Mast |Donlavey Racing |Ford |Sauer's / Duke's Mayonnaise
97 |Kurt Busch |Roush Racing |Ford |Rubbermaid / Sharpie
99 |Jeff Burton |Roush Racing |Ford |Citgo
colspan="5" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20021212235028/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/11/data/entry_list.html Official entry list]

*Driver changed to Joe Nemechek for the race, as Benson Jr. had suffered injuries during the 2002 Hardee's 250, the preliminary Busch race.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Marty |date=May 4, 2002 |title=Nemechek to sub for injured Benson |url=http://www.nascar.com/2002/news/headlines/wc/05/04/benson_nemechek/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021015161942/http://www.nascar.com/2002/news/headlines/wc/05/04/benson_nemechek/index.html |archive-date=October 15, 2002 |access-date=May 6, 2022 |website=NASCAR.com |publisher=Turner Sports Interactive}}

The first practice session was held on Friday, May 3, at 11:20 AM EST, and would last for two hours.{{Cite web |date= |title=Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2002 Richmond 1 Race Info Page |url=http://www.jayski.com/next/2002/2002rir1.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050206142126/http://www.jayski.com/next/2002/2002rir1.htm |archive-date=February 6, 2005 |access-date=May 6, 2022 |website=Jayski's Silly Season Site}} Tony Stewart of Joe Gibbs Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 20.996 and an average speed of {{Convert|128.589|mph|km/h}}.{{Cite web |date=May 3, 2002 |title=Speeds from Friday's first practice |url=http://www.thatsracin.com/mld/thatsracin/3191682.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050210051820/http://www.thatsracin.com/mld/thatsracin/3191682.htm |archive-date=February 10, 2005 |access-date=May 6, 2022 |website=ThatsRacin}}

During the session, Dale Jarrett and Kurt Busch would both crash in separate incidents.{{Cite web |last=Packman |first=Tim |date=May 3, 2002 |title=Jarrett, Busch wreck in first practice |url=http://www.nascar.com/2002/news/headlines/wc/05/03/practice_wrecks/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021015162307/http://www.nascar.com/2002/news/headlines/wc/05/03/practice_wrecks/index.html |archive-date=October 15, 2002 |access-date=May 6, 2022 |website=NASCAR.com |publisher=Turner Sports Interactive}}

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%" !Pos. !# !Driver !Team !Make !Time !Speed
1 |20 |Tony Stewart |Joe Gibbs Racing |Pontiac |20.996 |128.589
2 |22 |Ward Burton |Bill Davis Racing |Dodge |21.010 |128.509
3 |99 |Jeff Burton |Roush Racing |Ford |21.010 |128.509
colspan="7" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20030212052837/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/11/data/practice1_speeds.html Full first practice results]

The second practice session was held on Friday, May 3, at 4:45 PM EST, and would last for 45 minutes. Johnny Benson Jr. of MBV Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 21.502 and an average speed of {{Convert|125.569|mph|km/h}}.{{Cite web |date=May 3, 2002 |title=Speeds from Friday's first practice session |url=http://www.thatsracin.com/mld/thatsracin/3192859.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050210050643/http://www.thatsracin.com/mld/thatsracin/3192859.htm |archive-date=February 10, 2005 |access-date=May 6, 2022 |website=ThatsRacin}}

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%" !Pos. !# !Driver !Team !Make !Time !Speed
1 |10 |Johnny Benson Jr. |MBV Motorsports |Pontiac |21.502 |125.569
2 |28 |Ricky Rudd |Robert Yates Racing |Ford |21.535 |125.371
3 |30 |Jeff Green |Richard Childress Racing |Chevrolet |21.556 |125.249
colspan="7" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20021213233144/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/11/data/practice2_speeds.html Full second practice results]

The third and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Friday, May 3, at 6:15 PM EST, and would last for 45 minutes. Johnny Benson Jr. of MBV Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 21.527 and an average speed of {{Convert|125.424|mph|km/h}}.{{Cite web |date=May 3, 2002 |title=Friday night Happy Hour speeds |url=http://www.thatsracin.com/mld/thatsracin/3193100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050210051214/http://www.thatsracin.com/mld/thatsracin/3193100.htm |archive-date=February 10, 2005 |access-date=May 6, 2022 |website=ThatsRacin}}

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%" !Pos. !# !Driver !Team !Make !Time !Speed
1 |10 |Johnny Benson Jr. |MBV Motorsports |Pontiac |21.527 |125.424
2 |22 |Ward Burton |Bill Davis Racing |Dodge |21.579 |125.122
3 |28 |Ricky Rudd |Robert Yates Racing |Ford |21.593 |125.035
colspan="7" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20021213234933/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/11/data/practice3_speeds.html Full Happy Hour practice results]

Qualifying was held on Friday, May 3, 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 |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}}

Ward Burton of Bill Davis Racing would win the pole, setting a time of 21.195 and an average speed of {{Convert|127.388|mph|km/h}}.{{Cite web |last=Packman |first=Tim |date=May 3, 2002 |title=Virginia native finds fast way around Richmond |url=http://www.nascar.com/2002/news/headlines/bg/05/03/qual_lead/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021213002414/http://www.nascar.com/2002/news/headlines/bg/05/03/qual_lead/index.html |archive-date=December 13, 2002 |access-date=May 6, 2022 |website=NASCAR.com |publisher=Turner Sports Interactive}}

Kevin Grubb was the only driver to fail to qualify.

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Category:2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series

Category:NASCAR races at Richmond Raceway

Category:May 2002 sports events in the United States

Category:2002 in sports in Virginia