2002 Samsung/RadioShack 500 explained

Type:NASWINSTON
Location:Fort Worth, Texas, Texas Motor Speedway
Distance Mi:501
Pole Time:27.802
Year:2002
Course Mi:1.5
Scheduled Km:806.281
Course Km:2.41
Distance Laps:334
Scheduled Laps:334
Distance Km:806.281
Scheduled Mi:501
Race Name:Samsung/RadioShack 500
Official Name:6th Annual Samsung/RadioShack 500
Race No:7
Season No:36
Date:April 8
Radio:Performance Racing Network
Booth Ann:Doug Rice, Mark Garrow
Turn Ann:Chuck Carland
Car:17
Most Laps:134
Most Team:Robert Yates Racing
Most Driver:Dale Jarrett
First Driver:Matt Kenseth
First Team:Roush Racing
Pole Team:Evernham Motorsports
Pole Driver:Bill Elliott
Avg:142.453mph
Caption:The 2002 Samsung/RadioShack 500 program cover, with artwork from Sam Bass.
Network:FOX

The 2002 Samsung/RadioShack 500 was the seventh stock car race of the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the sixth iteration of the event. The race originally was scheduled to be held on Sunday, April 7, 2002, but was delayed to Monday, April 8, 2002, due to rain.[1] The race was held in Fort Worth, Texas at Texas Motor Speedway, a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) permanent tri-oval shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 334 laps to complete. At race's end, Matt Kenseth, driving for Roush Racing, would come from the back to win his third career NASCAR Winston Cup Series win and his first of the season.[2] [3] To fill out the podium, Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports and Mark Martin of Roush Racing would finish second and third, respectively.

Background

Texas Motor Speedway is a speedway located in the northernmost portion of the U.S. city of Fort Worth, Texas – the portion located in Denton County, Texas. The track measures 1.5 miles (2.4 km) around and is banked 24 degrees in the turns, and is of the oval design, where the front straightaway juts outward slightly. The track layout is similar to Atlanta Motor Speedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway (formerly Lowe's Motor Speedway). The track is owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., the same company that owns Atlanta and Charlotte Motor Speedway, as well as the short-track Bristol Motor Speedway.

Entry list

(R) denotes rookie driver.

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 MotorsportsPontiacRadioShack, 2002 MLB Opening Day
11Brett BodineBrett Bodine RacingFordHooters
12Ryan Newman (R)Penske RacingFordAlltel
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
25Jerry NadeauHendrick MotorsportsChevroletUAW, Delphi
26Frank KimmelHaas-Carter MotorsportsFordAdvance Auto Parts
28Ricky RuddRobert Yates RacingFordTexaco, Havoline
29Kevin HarvickRichard Childress RacingChevroletGM Goodwrench
30Jeff GreenRichard Childress RacingChevroletAmerica Online
31Robby GordonRichard Childress RacingChevroletCingular Wireless
32Ricky CravenPPI MotorsportsFordTide
36Ken SchraderMB2 MotorsportsPontiacCombos
40Sterling MarlinChip Ganassi RacingDodgeCoors Light, Brooks & Dunn Neon Circus Wild West Show
41Jimmy SpencerChip Ganassi RacingDodgeTarget
43John AndrettiPetty EnterprisesDodgeCheerios
44Buckshot JonesPetty EnterprisesDodgeGeorgia-Pacific Brawny
45Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesDodgeSamsung, Sprint
48Jimmie Johnson (R)Hendrick MotorsportsChevroletLowe's
49Shawna Robinson (R)BAM RacingDodgeBAM Racing
55Bobby HamiltonAndy Petree RacingChevroletSquare D, Schneider Electric
57Ron Hornaday Jr.Team CLRFordCalcium Lime Rust
71Jay SauterMarcis Auto RacingChevroletWarranty Gold, Hawk Saw Blades
77Dave BlaneyJasper MotorsportsFordJasper Engines & Transmissions
88Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFordUPS
90Rick MastDonlavey 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, rain on Saturday would cancel both Saturday sessions.[4]

The only practice session was held on Friday, April 5, at 11:20 AM CST. Ricky Rudd of Robert Yates Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 27.840 and an average speed of 193.958mph.[5]

Pos.DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed
128Ricky RuddRobert Yates RacingFord27.840193.958
224Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet27.841193.951
319Jeremy MayfieldEvernham MotorsportsDodge27.906193.507
Full practice results

Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Friday, April 5, 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.[6] 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.[7]

Bill Elliott of Evernham Motorsports would win the pole, setting a time of 27.802 and an average speed of 194.223mph.[8]

Ron Hornaday Jr. was the only driver to fail to qualify.

Full qualifying results

Pos.DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed
19Bill ElliottEvernham MotorsportsDodge27.802194.223
221Elliott SadlerWood Brothers RacingFord27.968193.070
328Ricky RuddRobert Yates RacingFord27.976193.016
415Michael WaltripDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet27.976193.016
588Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord27.983192.966
614Stacy ComptonA. J. Foyt EnterprisesPontiac27.983192.966
719Jeremy MayfieldEvernham MotorsportsDodge28.018192.725
86Mark MartinRoush RacingFord28.028192.658
98Dale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet28.054192.485
1032Ricky CravenPPI MotorsportsFord28.061192.438
111Steve ParkDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet28.075192.341
1236Ken SchraderMB2 MotorsportsPontiac28.077192.320
1348Jimmie Johnson (R)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet28.111192.089
1445Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesDodge28.139191.897
1518Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac28.152191.815
1649Shawna Robinson (R)BAM RacingDodge28.159191.768
1730Jeff GreenRichard Childress RacingChevrolet28.166191.720
1843John AndrettiPetty EnterprisesDodge28.173191.666
1997Kurt BuschRoush RacingFord28.176191.651
2040Sterling MarlinChip Ganassi RacingDodge28.180191.617
2141Jimmy SpencerChip Ganassi RacingDodge28.180191.617
2222Ward BurtonBill Davis RacingDodge28.190191.557
237Casey AtwoodUltra-Evernham MotorsportsDodge28.193191.537
2431Robby GordonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet28.218191.360
2529Kevin HarvickRichard Childress RacingChevrolet28.222191.339
2624Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet28.228191.298
275Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet28.231191.279
282Rusty WallacePenske RacingFord28.290190.880
2920Tony StewartJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac28.298190.819
3023Hut StricklinBill Davis RacingDodge28.308190.759
3117Matt KensethRoush RacingFord28.326190.630
3226Frank KimmelHaas-Carter MotorsportsFord28.343190.516
3310Johnny Benson Jr.MBV MotorsportsPontiac28.354190.442
3490Rick MastDonlavey RacingFord28.402190.121
3571Jay SauterMarcis Auto RacingChevrolet28.410190.067
3612Ryan Newman (R)Penske RacingFord28.423189.986
Provisionals
3799Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFord28.613188.725
3825Jerry NadeauHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet28.478189.647
3977Dave BlaneyJasper MotorsportsFord28.471189.667
4055Bobby HamiltonAndy Petree RacingChevrolet28.455189.766
414Mike SkinnerMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevrolet28.538189.214
4244Buckshot JonesPetty EnterprisesDodge28.517189.360
4311Brett BodineBrett Bodine RacingFord28.679188.291
Failed to qualify
4457Ron Hornaday Jr.Team CLRFord28.489189.539
Official qualifying results

Race results

Fin[9] StDriverTeamMakeLapsLedStatusPtsWinnings
13117Matt KensethRoush RacingFord33485running180$418,275
22624Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet3340running170$296,478
386Mark MartinRoush RacingFord3345running170$219,358
4328Ricky RuddRobert Yates RacingFord33429running165$201,717
52920Tony StewartJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac33415running160$168,053
61348Jimmie Johnson (R)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet3340running150$105,275
72040Sterling MarlinChip Ganassi RacingDodge3341running151$142,992
82141Jimmy SpencerChip Ganassi RacingDodge3340running142$98,375
919Bill ElliottEvernham MotorsportsDodge33413running143$134,806
17221Elliott SadlerWood Brothers RacingFord3324running117$102,425
10275Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet3340running134$124,833
11282Rusty WallacePenske RacingFord33437running135$130,200
12414Mike SkinnerMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevrolet3341running132$106,250
133310Johnny Benson Jr.MBV MotorsportsPontiac3330running124$112,900
141032Ricky CravenPPI MotorsportsFord3330running121$92,050
153977Dave BlaneyJasper MotorsportsFord3330running118$107,975
161730Jeff GreenRichard Childress RacingChevrolet3330running115$77,725
18719Jeremy MayfieldEvernham MotorsportsDodge3320running109$87,225
19614Stacy ComptonA. J. Foyt EnterprisesPontiac3320running106$78,000
20111Steve ParkDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet3320running103$110,025
211445Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesDodge3320running100$72,700
221843John AndrettiPetty EnterprisesDodge3320running97$101,583
231997Kurt BuschRoush RacingFord3321running99$80,900
24588Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord331134running101$115,878
252529Kevin HarvickRichard Childress RacingChevrolet3312running93$112,528
264244Buckshot JonesPetty EnterprisesDodge3310running85$75,600
273023Hut StricklinBill Davis RacingDodge3314running87$74,300
28415Michael WaltripDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet3310running79$72,200
293490Rick MastDonlavey RacingFord3310running76$62,600
301518Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac3300running73$104,628
314055Bobby HamiltonAndy Petree RacingChevrolet3300running70$75,839
323825Jerry NadeauHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet3300running67$65,875
333226Frank KimmelHaas-Carter MotorsportsFord3300running64$79,537
341236Ken SchraderMB2 MotorsportsPontiac3290running61$61,325
35237Casey AtwoodUltra-Evernham MotorsportsDodge3260running58$52,300
361649Shawna Robinson (R)BAM RacingDodge3220running55$51,250
373571Jay SauterMarcis Auto RacingChevrolet3130running52$50,200
384311Brett BodineBrett Bodine RacingFord2820running49$49,125
393799Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFord2550crash46$93,742
403612Ryan Newman (R)Penske RacingFord2522engine48$57,025
412431Robby GordonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet2360crash40$75,036
4298Dale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet1921crash42$85,722
432222Ward BurtonBill Davis RacingDodge1690crash34$92,124
Failed to qualify
4457Ron Hornaday Jr.Team CLRFord
Official race results

Notes and References

  1. News: Associated Press . 2002-04-08 . PLUS: AUTO RACING; Texas Nascar Race Postponed by Rain . en-US . The New York Times . 2022-03-03 . 0362-4331.
  2. Web site: 2002-10-01 . NASCAR.com - Kenseth cruises to second win of year - April 9, 2002 . 2022-03-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20021001134453/http://www.nascar.com/2002/news/headlines/wc/04/08/texas_lead/index.html . 1 October 2002 . dead.
  3. News: Pedley . Jim . 2002-04-09 . Texas: Kenseth wins race . 23 . The Kansas City Star . 2022-03-03 . Newspapers.com.
  4. Web site: BUSCH: Rain in Texas delays Saturday events (Update) . 2022-03-03 . us.motorsport.com . en.
  5. Web site: NASCAR.com - Races - 2003 Texas Practice 1 Results . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20021001133927/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/7/data/practice1_speeds.html . 2002-10-01 . 2022-03-03 . NASCAR.com.
  6. Web site: Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site - 2003 Texas Race Info & Rundown . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170703005931/http://www.jayski.com/next/2002/2002texas.htm . 2017-07-03 . 2022-03-03 . Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site.
  7. Web site: Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2002 Provisional/Owners Points Page . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20050205192304/http://www.jayski.com/stats/2002/2002prov.htm . 2005-02-05 . 2022-03-02 . Jayski's Silly Season Site.
  8. Web site: ELLIOTT TAKES FAST TRACK TO POLE AT HARROWING TEXAS . 2022-03-03 . Orlando Sentinel . en.
  9. Web site: 2002 Samsung/RadioShack 500 - The Third Turn . 2022-03-03 . www.thethirdturn.com . en.