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2002 NAPA 500

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2002 NAPA 500
Race details
Race 33 of 36 in the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 2002 NAPA 500 program cover.
The 2002 NAPA 500 program cover.
Date October 27, 2002
Official name 43rd Annual NAPA 500
Location Hampton, Georgia, Atlanta Motor Speedway
Course Permanent racing facility
1.54 mi (2.48 km)
Distance 248 laps, 381.92 mi (614.64 km)
Scheduled Distance 325 laps, 500.5 mi (805.476 km)
Average speed 127.519 miles per hour (205.222 km/h)
Attendance 110,000
Pole position
Driver Joe Gibbs Racing
Time Set by 2002 owner's points
Most laps led
Driver Kurt Busch Roush Racing
Laps 84
Winner
No. 97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing
Television in the United States
Network NBC
Announcers Allen Bestwick, Benny Parsons, Wally Dallenbach Jr.
Radio in the United States
Radio Performance Racing Network

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 1.54 miles (2.48 km) permanent asphalt quad-oval intermediate speedway. The race was shortened from its scheduled 325 laps to 248 due to incumbent 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.[1][2] 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

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The layout of Atlanta Motor Speedway, 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

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
00 Buckshot Jones Michael Waltrip Racing Chevrolet Charter Pipeline
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
6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford Viagra
7 Casey Atwood Ultra-Evernham Motorsports Dodge Sirius Satellite Radio
8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet Budweiser
9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge Dodge
09 Geoff Bodine Phoenix Racing Ford Miccosukee Resort & Gaming
10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac Valvoline, Kentucky Wildcats
11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford Hooters
12 Ryan Newman (R) Penske Racing Ford Alltel
14 Mike Wallace A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac Conseco
15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet NAPA Auto Parts
16 Greg Biffle Roush Racing Ford Grainger Lighting Solutions!
17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford DeWalt
18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac Interstate Batteries, 3M
19 Jeremy Mayfield Evernham Motorsports Dodge Dodge
20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac The Home Depot, Peanuts
21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford Motorcraft
22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge Caterpillar
23 Kenny Wallace 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
29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet GM Goodwrench
30 Jeff Green Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet America Online 8.0
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 Jamie McMurray Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge Coors Light
41 Jimmy Spencer Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge Target
43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge Cheerios
44 Ted Musgrave Petty Enterprises Dodge Georgia-Pacific Brawny
45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge Sprint
48 Jimmie Johnson (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Lowe's
49 Derrike Cope BAM Racing Dodge BAM Racing
54 Ron Hornaday Jr. BH Motorsports Chevrolet National Guard
55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet Square D
59 Carl Long (R) Price Motorsports Dodge Check Into Cash
60 Jack Sprague Haas CNC Racing Chevrolet Haas Automation
66 Frank Kimmel Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford Pork. The Other White Meat
74 Tony Raines BACE Motorsports Chevrolet Staff America
77 Dave Blaney Jasper Motorsports Ford Jasper Engines & Transmissions
83 Kerry Earnhardt FitzBradshaw Racing Chevrolet Aaron's
88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford UPS
97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford Rubbermaid, Sharpie
99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford Citgo
Official entry list

Practice

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First practice

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The first practice session was held on Friday, October 25, at 3:20 PM EST, and would last for 2 hours.[3] Bill Elliott of Evernham Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.033 and an average speed of 190.955 miles per hour (307.312 km/h).[4]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 29.033 190.955
2 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 29.123 190.365
3 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 29.147 190.208
Full first practice results

Second practice

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The second practice session was held on Saturday, October 26, at 9:30 AM EST, and would last for 45 minutes.[3] Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.617 and an average speed of 187.190 miles per hour (301.253 km/h).[5]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 29.617 187.190
2 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 29.620 187.171
3 48 Jimmie Johnson (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 29.738 186.428
Full second practice results

Third and final practice

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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.[3] 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 185.542 miles per hour (298.601 km/h).[6]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 29.880 185.542
2 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 29.911 185.350
3 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 29.944 185.146
Full Happy Hour practice results

Qualifying

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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.[3] Due to this, Joe Gibbs Racing driver Tony Stewart would win the pole.[7]

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

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Pos. # Driver Team Make
1 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac
2 48 Jimmie Johnson (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
3 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford
4 40 Jamie McMurray Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge
5 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing Ford
6 12 Ryan Newman (R) Penske Racing Ford
7 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
8 97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford
9 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford
10 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford
11 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford
12 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge
13 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet
14 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford
15 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet
16 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford
17 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac
18 30 Jeff Green Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
19 77 Dave Blaney Jasper Motorsports Ford
20 31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
21 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
22 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge
23 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
24 41 Jimmy Spencer Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge
25 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac
26 19 Jeremy Mayfield Evernham Motorsports Dodge
27 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge
28 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford
29 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet
30 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge
31 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac
32 23 Kenny Wallace Bill Davis Racing Dodge
33 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet
34 26 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford
35 4 Mike Skinner Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet
36 25 Joe Nemechek Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
37 14 Mike Wallace A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac
38 7 Casey Atwood Ultra-Evernham Motorsports Dodge
39 44 Ted Musgrave Petty Enterprises Dodge
40 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford
41 49 Derrike Cope BAM Racing Dodge
42 74 Tony Raines BACE Motorsports Chevrolet
43 59 Carl Long (R) Price Motorsports Dodge
Failed to qualify
44 09 Geoff Bodine Phoenix Racing Ford
45 66 Frank Kimmel Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford
46 27 Scott Wimmer Bill Davis Racing Dodge
47 16 Greg Biffle Roush Racing Ford
48 00 Buckshot Jones Michael Waltrip Racing Chevrolet
49 60 Jack Sprague Haas CNC Racing Chevrolet
50 83 Kerry Earnhardt FitzBradshaw Racing Chevrolet
51 54 Ron Hornaday Jr. BH Motorsports Chevrolet
Official starting lineup

Race results

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Fin[8] St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 8 97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford 248 84 running 185 $212,100
2 36 25 Joe Nemechek Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 248 57 running 175 $153,400
3 11 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 248 0 running 165 $136,250
4 1 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 248 39 running 165 $137,178
5 13 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 248 4 running 160 $97,950
6 7 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 248 41 running 155 $124,978
7 4 40 Jamie McMurray Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 248 0 running 146 $110,742
8 3 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 248 0 running 142 $103,533
9 9 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 248 0 running 138 $82,275
10 6 12 Ryan Newman (R) Penske Racing Ford 248 1 running 139 $92,900
11 15 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 248 1 running 135 $77,850
12 14 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 248 0 running 127 $106,817
13 17 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 248 0 running 124 $106,628
14 22 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 248 17 running 126 $67,025
15 33 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 248 0 running 118 $96,350
16 27 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 248 4 running 120 $102,625
17 5 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing Ford 247 0 running 112 $103,075
18 28 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 247 0 running 109 $83,425
19 19 77 Dave Blaney Jasper Motorsports Ford 247 0 running 106 $80,400
20 20 31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 247 0 running 103 $90,556
21 16 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 247 0 running 100 $69,350
22 2 48 Jimmie Johnson (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 247 0 running 97 $60,500
23 25 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac 246 0 running 94 $86,850
24 18 30 Jeff Green Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 246 0 running 91 $59,700
25 23 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 246 0 running 88 $88,533
26 35 4 Mike Skinner Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 246 0 running 85 $67,389
27 26 19 Jeremy Mayfield Evernham Motorsports Dodge 246 0 running 82 $66,650
28 39 44 Ted Musgrave Petty Enterprises Dodge 246 0 running 79 $58,450
29 42 74 Tony Raines BACE Motorsports Chevrolet 246 0 running 76 $55,300
30 24 41 Jimmy Spencer Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 246 0 running 73 $58,150
31 37 14 Mike Wallace A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac 246 0 running 70 $55,000
32 10 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 246 0 running 67 $99,237
33 12 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 245 0 running 64 $80,106
34 40 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 245 0 running 61 $54,525
35 29 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 245 0 running 58 $62,400
36 32 23 Kenny Wallace Bill Davis Racing Dodge 243 0 running 55 $54,325
37 41 49 Derrike Cope BAM Racing Dodge 243 0 running 52 $54,200
38 38 7 Casey Atwood Ultra-Evernham Motorsports Dodge 241 0 running 49 $54,150
39 43 59 Carl Long (R) Price Motorsports Dodge 237 0 running 46 $54,100
40 21 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 221 0 engine 43 $99,818
41 34 26 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 214 0 engine 40 $79,187
42 31 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 113 0 engine 37 $61,950
43 30 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 4 0 crash 34 $81,243
Failed to qualify
44 09 Geoff Bodine Phoenix Racing Ford
45 66 Frank Kimmel Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford
46 27 Scott Wimmer Bill Davis Racing Dodge
47 16 Greg Biffle Roush Racing Ford
48 00 Buckshot Jones Michael Waltrip Racing Chevrolet
49 60 Jack Sprague Haas CNC Racing Chevrolet
50 83 Kerry Earnhardt FitzBradshaw Racing Chevrolet
51 54 Ron Hornaday Jr. BH Motorsports Chevrolet
Official race results

References

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  1. ^ Rodman, Dave (October 29, 2002). "Busch wins rain-shortened NAPA 500". NASCAR.com. Turner Sports Interactive. Archived from the original on December 9, 2002. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  2. ^ Woody, Larry (October 28, 2002). "Shutout in 2001 inspires Busch to Atlanta win". The Tennessean. p. 30. Retrieved May 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ a b c d "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2002 Atlanta 2 Race Info Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on February 5, 2005. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  4. ^ "NASCAR.com - Races - 2002 Atlanta 2 Practice 1 Results". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on December 7, 2002. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  5. ^ "Jeff Gordon fastest in Saturday's early practice". ThatsRacin. October 26, 2022. Archived from the original on February 8, 2005. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  6. ^ "Stewart tops speed chart in final Winston Cup practice". ThatsRacin. October 26, 2002. Archived from the original on February 8, 2005. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  7. ^ Staff Writer. "Stewart sits on Atlanta pole". Pocono Record. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  8. ^ "2002 NAPA 500 - The Third Turn". www.thethirdturn.com. Retrieved 2022-05-02.
Previous race:
2002 Old Dominion 500
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
2002 season
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2002 Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400