2002 Tropicana 400

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

Chicagoland Speedway is a 1.5 miles (2.41 km) tri-oval speedway in Joliet, Illinois, southwest of Chicago. The speedway opened in 2001 and currently hosts NASCAR racing. Until 2011, the speedway also hosted the IndyCar Series, recording numerous close finishes including the closest finish in IndyCar history. The speedway is owned and operated by International Speedway Corporation and located adjacent to Route 66 Raceway.

• (R) denotes rookie driver.

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%" !# !Driver !Team !Make !Sponsor
00 |Jerry Nadeau |Michael Waltrip Racing |Chevrolet |Aaron's
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, Got Milk?
6 |Mark Martin |Roush Racing |Ford |Viagra
7 |Casey Atwood |Ultra-Evernham Motorsports |Dodge |Sirius Satellite Radio, Rowlf the Dog
8 |Dale Earnhardt Jr. |Dale Earnhardt, Inc. |Chevrolet |Budweiser
9 |Bill Elliott |Evernham Motorsports |Dodge |Dodge, Swedish Chef
10 |Mike Wallace |MBV Motorsports |Pontiac |Valvoline, Fozzie Bear
11 |Brett Bodine |Brett Bodine Racing |Ford |Hooters
12 |Ryan Newman (R) |Penske Racing |Ford |Mobil 1, Speedpass
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
18 |Bobby Labonte |Joe Gibbs Racing |Pontiac |Interstate Batteries, Pepe the King Prawn
19 |Jeremy Mayfield |Evernham Motorsports |Dodge |Dodge, Bunsen Honeydew, Beaker
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 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 |Texaco, Havoline, Gonzo
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 |M&M's
40 |Sterling Marlin |Chip Ganassi Racing |Dodge |Coors Light
41 |Jimmy Spencer |Chip Ganassi Racing |Dodge |Target, Animal
43 |John Andretti |Petty Enterprises |Dodge |Cheerios
44 |Steve Grissom |Petty Enterprises |Dodge |Georgia-Pacific Brawny
45 |Kyle Petty |Petty Enterprises |Dodge |Sprint
48 |Jimmie Johnson (R) |Hendrick Motorsports |Chevrolet |Lowe's
49 |Ron Hornaday Jr. |BAM Racing |Dodge |BAM Racing
55 |Bobby Hamilton |Andy Petree Racing |Chevrolet |Square D, Jo Dee Messina, Inside Traxx
57 |Stuart Kirby |Team CLR |Ford |Calcium Lime Rust
72 |Kirk Shelmerdine |Kirk Shelmerdine Racing |Ford |Naturally Fresh Foods
74 |Tony Raines |BACE Motorsports |Chevrolet |BACE Motorsports
77 |Dave Blaney |Jasper Motorsports |Ford |Jasper Engines & Transmissions
88 |Dale Jarrett |Robert Yates Racing |Ford |UPS, Miss Piggy, Kermit the Frog "Pigs Love The Truck"
97 |Kurt Busch |Roush Racing |Ford |Rubbermaid, Sharpie
98 |Kenny Wallace |Innovative Motorsports |Chevrolet |Stacker 2
99 |Jeff Burton |Roush Racing |Ford |Citgo, Bassmaster Classic
colspan="5" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20021214111038/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/18/data/entry_list.html Official entry list]

The first practice session was held on Friday, July 12, at 11:20 AM CST, and would last for 2 hours.{{Cite web |date= |title=Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site - 2002 Chicagoland Race Info & Rundown |url=http://www.jayski.com/next/2002/2002chicago.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190131073546/http://www.jayski.com/next/2002/2002chicago.htm |archive-date=2019-01-31 |access-date=2022-03-21 |website=Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site}} Joe Nemechek of Hendrick Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.467 and an average speed of {{Convert|183.256|mph|km/h}}.{{Cite web |date= |title=NASCAR.com - Races - 2002 Chicagoland Practice 1 Results |url=http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/18/data/practice1_speeds.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021005163851/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/18/data/practice1_speeds.html |archive-date=2002-10-05 |access-date=2022-03-21 |website=NASCAR.com}}

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%" !Pos. !# !Driver !Team !Make !Time !Speed
1 |25 |Joe Nemechek |Hendrick Motorsports |Chevrolet |29.467 |183.256
2 |12 |Ryan Newman (R) |Penske Racing |Ford |29.564 |182.655
3 |97 |Kurt Busch |Roush Racing |Ford |29.663 |182.045
colspan="7" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20021005163851/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/18/data/practice1_speeds.html Full first practice results]

The second practice session was held on Saturday, July 13, at 10:15 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 30.071 and an average speed of {{Convert|179.575|mph|km/h}}.{{Cite web |date= |title=NASCAR.com - Races - 2002 Chicagoland Practice 2 Results |url=http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/18/data/practice2_speeds.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021005173505/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/18/data/practice2_speeds.html |archive-date=2002-10-05 |access-date=2022-03-21 |website=NASCAR.com}}

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%" !Pos. !# !Driver !Team !Make !Time !Speed
1 |12 |Ryan Newman (R) |Penske Racing |Ford |30.071 |179.575
2 |8 |Dale Earnhardt Jr. |Dale Earnhardt, Inc. |Chevrolet |30.285 |178.306
3 |25 |Joe Nemechek |Hendrick Motorsports |Chevrolet |30.299 |178.224
colspan="7" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20021005173505/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/18/data/practice2_speeds.html Full second practice results]

The third and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, July 13, at 11:15 AM CST, and would last for 45 minutes. Dale Earnhardt Jr. of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 30.364 and an average speed of {{Convert|177.842|mph|km/h}}.{{Cite web |date= |title=NASCAR.com - Races - 2002 Chicagoland Practice 3 Results |url=http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/18/data/practice3_speeds.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021202121115/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/18/data/practice3_speeds.html |archive-date=2002-12-02 |access-date=2022-03-21 |website=NASCAR.com}}

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%" !Pos. !# !Driver !Team !Make !Time !Speed
1 |8 |Dale Earnhardt Jr. |Dale Earnhardt, Inc. |Chevrolet |30.364 |177.842
2 |12 |Ryan Newman (R) |Penske Racing |Ford |30.438 |177.410
3 |40 |Sterling Marlin |Chip Ganassi Racing |Dodge |30.491 |177.101
colspan="7" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20021202121115/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/18/data/practice3_speeds.html Full Happy Hour practice results]

Qualifying was held on Friday, July 12, 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 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}}

Ryan Newman of Penske Racing would win the pole, setting a time of 29.500 and an average speed of {{Convert|183.051|mph|km/h}}.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Marty |date=2002-07-13 |title=Lead-foot Newman earns Bud Pole at Chicagoland |url=http://www.nascar.com/2002/news/headlines/wc/07/12/cupqual_lede/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021005183209/http://www.nascar.com/2002/news/headlines/wc/07/12/cupqual_lede/index.html |archive-date=2002-10-05 |access-date=2022-03-21 |website=NASCAR.com}}

Four drivers would fail to qualify: Ron Hornaday Jr., Kirk Shelmerdine, Tony Raines, and Scott Wimmer.

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Category:2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series

Category:NASCAR races at Chicagoland Speedway

Category:July 2002 sports events in the United States

Category:2002 in sports in Illinois