2002 Protection One 400

File:Kansas_Speedway_diagram.svg, the venue where the race was held.]]

Kansas Speedway is a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) tri-oval race track in Kansas City, Kansas. It was built in 2001 and hosts two annual NASCAR race weekends. The NTT IndyCar Series also raced there until 2011. The speedway is owned and operated by the International Speedway Corporation.

• (R) denotes rookie driver.

The first practice session was held on Friday, September 27, at 11:20 AM CST, and would last for 2 hours.{{Cite web |date= |title=Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2002 Kansas Race Info Page |url=http://www.jayski.com/next/2002/2002kansas.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050204222849/http://www.jayski.com/next/2002/2002kansas.htm |archive-date=February 4, 2005 |access-date=April 25, 2022 |website=Jayski's Silly Season Site}} Jimmie Johnson of Hendrick Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 30.430 and an average speed of {{Convert|177.456|mph|km/h}}.{{Cite web |date= |title=NASCAR.com - Races - 2002 Kansas Practice 1 Results |url=http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/29/data/practice1_speeds.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021210062755/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/29/data/practice1_speeds.html |archive-date=December 10, 2002 |access-date=April 25, 2022 |website=NASCAR.com}}

The second practice session was held on Saturday, September 28, at 9:30 AM CST, and would last for 45 minutes. Ryan Newman of Penske Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 30.898 and an average speed of {{Convert|174.769|mph|km/h}}.{{Cite web |date= |title=NASCAR.com - Races - 2002 Kansas Practice 2 Results |url=http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/29/data/practice2_speeds.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021211215659/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/29/data/practice2_speeds.html |archive-date=December 11, 2002 |access-date=April 25, 2022 |website=NASCAR.com}}

The third and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, September 28, at 11:15 AM CST, and would last for 45 minutes. Steve Park of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 31.554 and an average speed of {{Convert|171.135|mph|km/h}}.{{Cite web |date= |title=NASCAR.com - Races - 2002 Kansas Practice 3 Results |url=http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/29/data/practice3_speeds.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021211195314/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/29/data/practice3_speeds.html |archive-date=December 11, 2002 |access-date=April 25, 2022 |website=NASCAR.com}}

During the opening minutes of the session, Joe Gibbs Racing driver Bobby Labonte would crash in turn two, forcing the team to go to a backup car.{{Cite web |last=Rodman |first=Dave |date=September 28, 2002 |title=B. Labonte walks away from Happy Hour crash |url=http://www.nascar.com/2002/news/headlines/wc/09/28/blabonte_happyhour/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021211195545/http://www.nascar.com/2002/news/headlines/wc/09/28/blabonte_happyhour/index.html |archive-date=December 11, 2002 |access-date=April 25, 2022 |website=NASCAR.com |publisher=Turner Sports Interactive}}

Qualifying was held on Friday, September 27, at 3:05 PM CST. 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}}

Dale Earnhardt Jr. of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. would win the pole, setting a time of 30.350 and an average speed of {{Convert|177.924|mph|km/h}}.{{Cite web |last=Rodman |first=Dave |date=September 27, 2002 |title=Earnhardt Jr. captures Bud Pole at Kansas |url=http://www.nascar.com/2002/news/headlines/wc/09/27/quals_kansas/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021209231552/http://www.nascar.com/2002/news/headlines/wc/09/27/quals_kansas/index.html |archive-date=December 9, 2002 |access-date=April 25, 2022 |website=NASCAR.com |publisher=Turner Sports Interactive}}

Three drivers would fail to qualify: Brett Bodine, Kirk Shelmerdine, and Carl Long.

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Category:2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series

Category:NASCAR races at Kansas Speedway

Category:September 2002 sports events in the United States

Category:2002 in sports in Kansas