2002 Pocono 500 Explained

Type:NASWINSTON
Date:June 9
Network:FOX
Most Driver:Ricky Rudd
Most Laps:60
First Driver:Dale Jarrett
Most Team:Robert Yates Racing
First Team:Robert Yates Racing
Car:88
Pole Team:Chip Ganassi Racing
Pole Driver:Sterling Marlin
Pole Time:Set by 2002 owner's points
Avg:143.426mph
Radio:Motor Racing Network
Official Name:21st Annual Pocono 500
Location:Long Pond, Pennsylvania, Pocono Raceway
Distance Laps:200
Scheduled Laps:200
Race Name:Pocono 500
Year:2002
Season No:36
Race No:14
Course Km:4.0
Course Mi:2.5
Scheduled Mi:500
Scheduled Km:804.672
Distance Km:804.672
Distance Mi:500
Announcers:Mike Joy, Larry McReynolds, Darrell Waltrip

The 2002 Pocono 500 was the 14th stock car race of the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 21st iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, June 9, 2002, in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, at Pocono Raceway, a 2.5 miles (4.0 km) triangular permanent course. The race took the scheduled 200 laps to complete. At race's end, Dale Jarrett, driving for Robert Yates Racing, would pass disaster-stricken teammate Ricky Rudd with six to go when Rudd blew a tire while coasting to the finish on the final lap. As a result, the race would end under caution, and Jarrett would win his 29th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series win and his first and only win of the season.[1] [2] To fill out the podium, Mark Martin of Roush Racing and Jimmie Johnson of Hendrick Motorsports would finish second and third, respectively.

Background

The race was held at Pocono Raceway, which is a three-turn superspeedway located in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. The track hosts two annual NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, as well as one Xfinity Series and Camping World Truck Series event. Until 2019, the track also hosted an IndyCar Series race.

Pocono Raceway is one of a very few NASCAR tracks not owned by either Speedway Motorsports, Inc. or International Speedway Corporation. It is operated by the Igdalsky siblings Brandon, Nicholas, and sister Ashley, and cousins Joseph IV and Chase Mattioli, all of whom are third-generation members of the family-owned Mattco Inc, started by Joseph II and Rose Mattioli.

Outside of the NASCAR races, the track is used throughout the year by Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and motorcycle clubs as well as racing schools and an IndyCar race. The triangular oval also has three separate infield sections of racetrack – North Course, East Course and South Course. Each of these infield sections use a separate portion of the tri-oval to complete the track. During regular non-race weekends, multiple clubs can use the track by running on different infield sections. Also some of the infield sections can be run in either direction, or multiple infield sections can be put together – such as running the North Course and the South Course and using the tri-oval to connect the two.

Entry list

DriverTeamMakeSponsor
1Steve ParkDale Earnhardt, Inc.ChevroletPennzoil
2Rusty WallacePenske RacingFordMiller Lite
4Mike SkinnerMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevroletKodak
5Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevroletKellogg's
6Mark MartinRoush RacingFordViagra
7Casey AtwoodUltra-Evernham MotorsportsDodgeSirius Satellite Radio
8Dale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt, Inc.ChevroletBudweiser
9Bill ElliottEvernham MotorsportsDodgeDodge
10Johnny Benson Jr.MBV MotorsportsPontiacEagle One
11Brett BodineBrett Bodine RacingFordHooters
12Ryan Newman (R)Penske RacingFordAlltel, Sony WEGA
14Stacy ComptonA. J. Foyt EnterprisesPontiacConseco
15Michael WaltripDale Earnhardt, Inc.ChevroletNAPA Auto Parts
17Matt KensethRoush RacingFordDeWalt
18Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingPontiacInterstate Batteries
19Jeremy MayfieldEvernham MotorsportsDodgeDodge
20Tony StewartJoe Gibbs RacingPontiacThe Home Depot
21Elliott SadlerWood Brothers RacingFordMotorcraft
22Ward BurtonBill Davis RacingDodgeCaterpillar
23Hut StricklinBill Davis RacingDodgeHills Bros. Coffee
24Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevroletDuPont
25Joe NemechekHendrick MotorsportsChevroletUAW, Delphi
26Todd BodineHaas-Carter MotorsportsFordDiscover Card
28Ricky RuddRobert Yates RacingFordTexaco, Havoline
29Kevin HarvickRichard Childress RacingChevroletGM Goodwrench
30Jeff GreenRichard Childress RacingChevroletAmerica Online Celebrity "You've Got Mail!"
31Robby GordonRichard Childress RacingChevroletCingular Wireless
32Ricky CravenPPI MotorsportsFordTide
36Ken SchraderMB2 MotorsportsPontiacM&M's
40Sterling MarlinChip Ganassi RacingDodgeCoors Original
41Jimmy SpencerChip Ganassi RacingDodgeTarget
43John AndrettiPetty EnterprisesDodgeCheerios
44Steve GrissomPetty EnterprisesDodgeGeorgia-Pacific Brawny
45Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesDodgeSprint
46Frank KimmelLarry Clement RacingFordAdvance Auto Parts
48Jimmie Johnson (R)Hendrick MotorsportsChevroletLowe's
55Bobby HamiltonAndy Petree RacingChevroletSquare D
77Dave BlaneyJasper MotorsportsFordJasper Engines & Transmissions
85Carl Long (R)Mansion MotorsportsFordJuvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
88Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFordUPS
90Hermie SadlerDonlavey RacingFordSauer's, Duke's Mayonnaise
97Kurt BuschRoush RacingFordRubbermaid, Sharpie
99Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFordCitgo
Official entry list

Practice

Originally, three practice sessions were scheduled to be held, with one session on Friday and two on Saturday. However, due to overnight rain causing groundwater to seep out onto the racetrack on Friday, the Friday session was canceled.[3]

First practice

The first practice session was held on Saturday, June 8, at 9:30 AM EST, and would last for 45 minutes.[4] Sterling Marlin of Chip Ganassi Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 54.009 and an average speed of 166.635mph.[5]

Pos.DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed
140Sterling MarlinChip Ganassi RacingDodge54.009166.635
228Ricky RuddRobert Yates RacingFord54.049166.512
312Ryan Newman (R)Penske RacingFord54.088166.395
Full first practice results

Second and final practice

The second and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, June 8, at 11:15 AM EST, and would last for 45 minutes. Mark Martin of Roush Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 54.297 and an average speed of 165.755mph.[6]

Pos.DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed
16Mark MartinRoush RacingFord54.297165.755
228Ricky RuddRobert Yates RacingFord54.400165.441
324Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet54.442165.313
Full Happy Hour practice results

Qualifying

Qualifying was scheduled to be held on Friday, June 7, at 3:05 PM EST. However, due to overnight rain causing groundwater to seep out onto the racetrack, qualifying was canceled. As a result, the starting lineup was based on the current owner's points standings.

Sterling Marlin of Chip Ganassi Racing would win the pole.

No drivers would fail to qualify.

Full starting lineup

Pos.DriverTeamMake
140Sterling MarlinChip Ganassi RacingDodge
248Jimmie Johnson (R)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
324Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
417Matt KensethRoush RacingFord
52Rusty WallacePenske RacingFord
66Mark MartinRoush RacingFord
720Tony StewartJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac
897Kurt BuschRoush RacingFord
99Bill ElliottEvernham MotorsportsDodge
1028Ricky RuddRobert Yates RacingFord
1199Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFord
1232Ricky CravenPPI MotorsportsFord
1388Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord
148Dale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet
1512Ryan Newman (R)Penske RacingFord
165Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
1715Michael WaltripDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet
1841Jimmy SpencerChip Ganassi RacingDodge
1918Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac
2045Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesDodge
2177Dave BlaneyJasper MotorsportsFord
2222Ward BurtonBill Davis RacingDodge
2330Jeff GreenRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
2419Jeremy MayfieldEvernham MotorsportsDodge
2521Elliott SadlerWood Brothers RacingFord
2655Bobby HamiltonAndy Petree RacingChevrolet
2710Johnny Benson Jr.MBV MotorsportsPontiac
2831Robby GordonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
294Mike SkinnerMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevrolet
3029Kevin HarvickRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
3123Hut StricklinBill Davis RacingDodge
321Steve ParkDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet
3325Joe NemechekHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
3444Steve GrissomPetty EnterprisesDodge
3543John AndrettiPetty EnterprisesDodge
3611Brett BodineBrett Bodine RacingFord
Provisionals
377Casey AtwoodUltra-Evernham MotorsportsDodge
3836Ken SchraderMB2 MotorsportsPontiac
3926Todd BodineHaas-Carter MotorsportsFord
4014Stacy ComptonA. J. Foyt EnterprisesPontiac
4190Hermie SadlerDonlavey RacingFord
4285Carl Long (R)Mansion MotorsportsFord
4346Frank KimmelLarry Clement RacingFord
Official starting lineup

Race results

Fin[7] StDriverTeamMakeLapsLedStatusPtsWinnings
11388Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord20035running180$206,298
266Mark MartinRoush RacingFord2007running175$141,003
3248Jimmie Johnson (R)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet2000running165$83,570
4140Sterling MarlinChip Ganassi RacingDodge2002running165$113,772
5324Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet20030running160$125,003
61199Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFord2009running155$95,532
7720Tony StewartJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac2000running146$96,043
81715Michael WaltripDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet2000running142$59,265
952Rusty WallacePenske RacingFord2000running138$89,315
102177Dave BlaneyJasper MotorsportsFord2000running134$75,815
11377Casey AtwoodUltra-Evernham MotorsportsDodge2000running130$67,615
12148Dale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet2000running127$78,612
132045Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesDodge2000running124$45,465
141232Ricky CravenPPI MotorsportsFord2004running126$51,965
152521Elliott SadlerWood Brothers RacingFord2000running118$65,215
163836Ken SchraderMB2 MotorsportsPontiac2000running115$63,765
171028Ricky RuddRobert Yates RacingFord20060running122$83,582
183926Todd BodineHaas-Carter MotorsportsFord1990engine109$67,852
192831Robby GordonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet1990running106$68,371
202710Johnny Benson Jr.MBV MotorsportsPontiac1990running103$71,990
211841Jimmy SpencerChip Ganassi RacingDodge1990running100$41,665
223123Hut StricklinBill Davis RacingDodge1990running97$49,365
23321Steve ParkDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet1980running94$70,915
243611Brett BodineBrett Bodine RacingFord1981running96$49,179
251918Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac1980running88$83,693
263444Steve GrissomPetty EnterprisesDodge1980running85$40,365
272655Bobby HamiltonAndy Petree RacingChevrolet1970running82$48,215
284014Stacy ComptonA. J. Foyt EnterprisesPontiac1950running79$39,565
294190Hermie SadlerDonlavey RacingFord1930running76$36,890
3099Bill ElliottEvernham MotorsportsDodge18026engine78$63,296
313543John AndrettiPetty EnterprisesDodge1794running75$63,673
321512Ryan Newman (R)Penske RacingFord17419running72$44,440
332222Ward BurtonBill Davis RacingDodge1730running64$79,240
342330Jeff GreenRichard Childress RacingChevrolet1710running61$36,040
35417Matt KensethRoush RacingFord1613running63$53,865
362419Jeremy MayfieldEvernham MotorsportsDodge1460engine55$43,665
37294Mike SkinnerMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevrolet1420engine52$35,500
38165Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet1020engine49$64,208
393029Kevin HarvickRichard Childress RacingChevrolet810transmission46$81,028
40897Kurt BuschRoush RacingFord670crash43$43,100
413325Joe NemechekHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet290crash40$42,965
424285Carl Long (R)Mansion MotorsportsFord180brakes0$34,875
434346Frank KimmelLarry Clement RacingFord80overheating0$35,069
Official race results

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Packman . Tim . 2002-06-10 . Jarrett takes first victory since July 2001 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20021013115213/http://www.nascar.com/2002/news/headlines/wc/06/09/pocono_sunday/index.html . 2002-10-13 . 2022-03-07 . NASCAR.com.
  2. News: Levine . Al . 2002-06-10 . Jarrett finally bumps slump . D1 . The Atlanta Constitution . . 2022-03-07.
  3. Web site: Packman . Tim . 2002-06-07 . Rain's effects wash out Pocono activity . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20021015104625/http://www.nascar.com/2002/news/headlines/wc/06/07/pocono_qual/index.html . 2002-10-15 . 2022-03-07 . NASCAR.com.
  4. Web site: Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2002 Pocono 1 Race Info Page . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20050206140615/http://www.jayski.com/next/2002/2002poc1.htm . 2005-02-06 . 2022-03-07 . Jayski's Silly Season Site.
  5. Web site: NASCAR.com - Races - 2002 Pocono 1 Practice 1 Results . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20021014213003/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/14/data/practice2_speeds.html . 2002-10-14 . 2022-03-07 . NASCAR.com.
  6. Web site: NASCAR.com - Races - 2002 Pocono 1 Practice 2 Results . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20021014223553/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/14/data/practice3_speeds.html . 2002-10-14 . 2022-03-07 . NASCAR.com.
  7. Web site: 2002 Pocono 500 - The Third Turn . 2022-03-04 . www.thethirdturn.com . en.