The 2002 MBNA America 500 was the fourth stock car race of the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the fifth iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, March 10, 2002, in Hampton, Georgia at Atlanta Motor Speedway, a 1.54 miles (2.48 km) permanent asphalt quad-oval intermediate speedway. The race took the scheduled 325 laps to complete. Tony Stewart, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would pass the worn-out car of Ward Burton with 23 to go to win his 13th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series win and his first of the season.[1] To fill out the podium, Dale Earnhardt Jr. of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. and Jimmie Johnson of Hendrick Motorsports would finish second and third, respectively.
| Race details | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 4 of 36 in the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series | |||
 The 2002 MBNA America 500 program cover, featuring Kevin Harvick, winner of the 2001 race. | |||
| Date | March 10, 2002 | ||
| Official name | 44th Annual MBNA America 500 | ||
| Location | Hampton, Georgia, Atlanta Motor Speedway | ||
| Course |
Permanent racing facility 1.54 mi (2.48 km) | ||
| Distance | 325 laps, 500.5 mi (805.476 km) | ||
| Scheduled Distance | 325 laps, 500.5 mi (805.476 km) | ||
| Average speed | 148.443 miles per hour (238.896 km/h) | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Evernham Motorsports | ||
| Time | 28.944 | ||
| Most laps led | |||
| Driver | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | |
| Laps | 143 | ||
| Winner | |||
| No. 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | |
| Television in the United States | |||
| Network | FOX | ||
| Announcers | Mike Joy, Larry McReynolds, Darrell Waltrip | ||
| Radio in the United States | |||
| Radio | Performance Racing Network | ||
| Booth Announcers | Chuck Carland, Rob Albright | ||
| Turn Announcers | Brett McMillan, Steve Richards, Pat Patterson | ||
Background
editAtlanta 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
editPractice
editFirst practice
editThe first practice session was held on Friday, March 8, at 11:20 AM EST, and would last for two hours.[2] Tony Stewart of Joe Gibbs Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.118 and an average speed of 190.391 miles per hour (306.405 km/h).[3]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 29.118 | 190.391 |
| 2 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 29.148 | 190.201 |
| 3 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.174 | 190.026 |
| Full first practice results | ||||||
Second practice
editThe second practice session was held on Saturday, March 9, at 9:30 AM EST, and would last for 45 minutes.[2] Ryan Newman of Penske Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.896 and an average speed of 185.436 miles per hour (298.430 km/h).[4]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | Ryan Newman (R) | Penske Racing | Ford | 29.896 | 185.436 |
| 2 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 29.971 | 184.979 |
| 3 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.981 | 184.917 |
| Full second practice results | ||||||
Third and final practice
editThe third and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, March 9, at 11:15 AM EST, and would last for 45 minutes.[2] Jerry Nadeau of Hendrick Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 30.110 and an average speed of 184.125 miles per hour (296.320 km/h).[5]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.110 | 184.125 |
| 2 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 30.115 | 184.087 |
| 3 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 30.125 | 184.026 |
| Full Happy Hour practice results | ||||||
Qualifying
editQualifying was held on Friday, March 8, at 3:05 PM EST. Each driver would have two laps to set a fastest time; the fastest of the two would count as their official qualifying lap.[2] 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.[6]
Bill Elliott of Evernham Motorsports would win the pole, setting a time of 28.944 and an average speed of 191.542 miles per hour (308.257 km/h).[7]
Two drivers would fail to qualify: Ron Hornaday Jr. and Carl Long.
Full qualifying results
editRace results
edit| Fin[8] | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 325 | 143 | running | 185 | $174,978 |
| 2 | 3 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 325 | 38 | running | 175 | $104,600 |
| 3 | 15 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson (R) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 325 | 0 | running | 165 | $72,350 |
| 4 | 32 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 325 | 46 | running | 165 | $91,700 |
| 5 | 6 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 325 | 0 | running | 155 | $69,950 |
| 6 | 38 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing | Ford | 325 | 0 | running | 150 | $90,625 |
| 7 | 28 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 325 | 20 | running | 151 | $90,325 |
| 8 | 39 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 325 | 0 | running | 142 | $89,833 |
| 9 | 12 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 325 | 0 | running | 138 | $89,117 |
| 10 | 2 | 12 | Ryan Newman (R) | Penske Racing | Ford | 325 | 15 | running | 139 | $78,000 |
| 11 | 4 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 325 | 59 | running | 135 | $62,225 |
| 12 | 14 | 44 | Buckshot Jones | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 325 | 0 | running | 127 | $58,450 |
| 13 | 7 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 325 | 0 | running | 124 | $77,450 |
| 14 | 13 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 325 | 0 | running | 121 | $76,083 |
| 15 | 34 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 325 | 2 | running | 123 | $44,500 |
| 16 | 19 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 325 | 0 | running | 115 | $96,478 |
| 17 | 24 | 77 | Dave Blaney | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 324 | 2 | running | 117 | $65,200 |
| 18 | 23 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 324 | 0 | running | 109 | $72,246 |
| 19 | 16 | 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 324 | 0 | running | 106 | $62,279 |
| 20 | 37 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 324 | 0 | running | 103 | $89,157 |
| 21 | 30 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 324 | 0 | running | 100 | $86,507 |
| 22 | 11 | 1 | Kenny Wallace | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 324 | 0 | running | 97 | $75,010 |
| 23 | 40 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 323 | 0 | running | 94 | $52,835 |
| 24 | 25 | 36 | Ken Schrader | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 323 | 0 | running | 91 | $52,535 |
| 25 | 27 | 26 | Joe Nemechek | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 322 | 0 | running | 88 | $69,822 |
| 26 | 5 | 41 | Jimmy Spencer | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 322 | 0 | running | 85 | $43,985 |
| 27 | 10 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac | 322 | 0 | running | 82 | $51,670 |
| 28 | 21 | 4 | Mike Skinner | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 321 | 0 | running | 79 | $43,420 |
| 29 | 22 | 55 | Bobby Hamilton | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 320 | 0 | running | 76 | $51,110 |
| 30 | 26 | 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 320 | 0 | running | 73 | $51,385 |
| 31 | 35 | 14 | Stacy Compton | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Pontiac | 320 | 0 | running | 70 | $42,810 |
| 32 | 41 | 7 | Casey Atwood | Ultra-Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 319 | 0 | running | 67 | $42,235 |
| 33 | 29 | 90 | Rick Mast | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 318 | 0 | running | 64 | $39,670 |
| 34 | 31 | 49 | Shawna Robinson (R) | BAM Racing | Dodge | 310 | 0 | running | 61 | $39,625 |
| 35 | 1 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 288 | 0 | crash | 58 | $72,146 |
| 36 | 20 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 288 | 0 | crash | 55 | $66,638 |
| 37 | 18 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 287 | 0 | running | 52 | $85,298 |
| 38 | 42 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 276 | 0 | engine | 49 | $39,475 |
| 39 | 8 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 254 | 0 | engine | 46 | $85,218 |
| 40 | 17 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 204 | 0 | engine | 43 | $47,380 |
| 41 | 36 | 30 | Jeff Green | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 187 | 0 | engine | 40 | $39,345 |
| 42 | 43 | 71 | Dick Trickle | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 178 | 0 | crash | 37 | $39,305 |
| 43 | 33 | 23 | Hut Stricklin | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 164 | 0 | engine | 34 | $38,605 |
| Failed to qualify | ||||||||||
| 44 | 57 | Ron Hornaday Jr. | Team CLR | Ford | ||||||
| 45 | 85 | Carl Long | Mansion Motorsports | Dodge | ||||||
| Official race results | ||||||||||
References
edit- ^ Minter, Rick (2002-03-15). "Victorious Stewart goes the extra miles". Daily World. pp. 3B. Retrieved 2022-02-28 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2003 Atlanta 1 Race Info Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on 2005-02-06. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
- ^ "NASCAR.com - Races - 2002 Atlanta 1 Practice 1 Results". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on 2002-06-03. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
- ^ "NASCAR.com - Races - 2002 Atlanta 1 Practice 2 Results". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on 2002-08-03. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
- ^ "NASCAR.com - Races - 2002 Atlanta 1 Practice 3 Results". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on 2002-06-03. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
- ^ "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2002 Provisional/Owners Points Page - 1st four races". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on 2005-02-04. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
- ^ Smith, Marty (2002-03-09). "Elliott nips Newman for Bud Pole". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on 2002-08-02. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
- ^ "2002 MBNA America 500 - The Third Turn". www.thethirdturn.com. Archived from the original on 2022-02-25. Retrieved 2022-02-28.