2002 Pocono 500

2002 Pocono 500
Race details
Race 14 of 36 in the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 2002 Pocono 500 program cover, featuring Ricky Rudd, winner of the 2001 race.
The 2002 Pocono 500 program cover, featuring Ricky Rudd, winner of the 2001 race.
Date June 9, 2002
Official name 21st Annual Pocono 500
Location Long Pond, Pennsylvania, Pocono Raceway
Course Permanent racing facility
2.5 mi (4.0 km)
Distance 200 laps, 500 mi (804.672 km)
Scheduled Distance 200 laps, 500 mi (804.672 km)
Average speed 143.426 miles per hour (230.822 km/h)
Pole position
Driver
Chip Ganassi Racing
Time Set by 2002 owner's points
Most laps led
Driver Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing
Laps 60
Winner
No. 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing
Television in the United States
Network FOX
Announcers Mike Joy, Larry McReynolds, Darrell Waltrip
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

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 layout of Pocono Raceway, the venue where the race was held.

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

  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
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
10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac Eagle One
11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford Hooters
12 Ryan Newman (R) Penske Racing Ford Alltel, Sony WEGA
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
19 Jeremy Mayfield Evernham Motorsports Dodge Dodge
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
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 Celebrity "You've Got Mail!"
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 Original
41 Jimmy Spencer Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge Target
43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge Cheerios
44 Steve Grissom Petty Enterprises Dodge Georgia-Pacific Brawny
45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge Sprint
46 Frank Kimmel Larry Clement Racing Ford Advance Auto Parts
48 Jimmie Johnson (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Lowe's
55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet Square D
77 Dave Blaney Jasper Motorsports Ford Jasper Engines & Transmissions
85 Carl Long (R) Mansion Motorsports Ford Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford UPS
90 Hermie Sadler Donlavey Racing Ford Sauer's, Duke's Mayonnaise
97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford Rubbermaid, Sharpie
99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford Citgo
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 166.635 miles per hour (268.173 km/h).[5]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 54.009 166.635
2 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 54.049 166.512
3 12 Ryan Newman (R) Penske Racing Ford 54.088 166.395
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.[4] Mark Martin of Roush Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 54.297 and an average speed of 165.755 miles per hour (266.757 km/h).[6]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 54.297 165.755
2 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 54.400 165.441
3 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 54.442 165.313
Full Happy Hour practice results

Qualifying

Qualifying was scheduled to be held on Friday, June 7, at 3:05 PM EST.[4] 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.[3]

Sterling Marlin of Chip Ganassi Racing would win the pole.[3]

No drivers would fail to qualify.

Full starting lineup

Pos. # Driver Team Make
1 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge
2 48 Jimmie Johnson (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
3 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
4 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford
5 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing Ford
6 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford
7 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac
8 97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford
9 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge
10 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford
11 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford
12 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford
13 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford
14 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet
15 12 Ryan Newman (R) Penske Racing Ford
16 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
17 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet
18 41 Jimmy Spencer Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge
19 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac
20 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge
21 77 Dave Blaney Jasper Motorsports Ford
22 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge
23 30 Jeff Green Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
24 19 Jeremy Mayfield Evernham Motorsports Dodge
25 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford
26 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet
27 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac
28 31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
29 4 Mike Skinner Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet
30 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
31 23 Hut Stricklin Bill Davis Racing Dodge
32 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet
33 25 Joe Nemechek Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
34 44 Steve Grissom Petty Enterprises Dodge
35 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge
36 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford
Provisionals
37 7 Casey Atwood Ultra-Evernham Motorsports Dodge
38 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac
39 26 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford
40 14 Stacy Compton A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac
41 90 Hermie Sadler Donlavey Racing Ford
42 85 Carl Long (R) Mansion Motorsports Ford
43 46 Frank Kimmel Larry Clement Racing Ford
Official starting lineup

Race results

Fin[7] St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 13 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 200 35 running 180 $206,298
2 6 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 200 7 running 175 $141,003
3 2 48 Jimmie Johnson (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 200 0 running 165 $83,570
4 1 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 200 2 running 165 $113,772
5 3 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 200 30 running 160 $125,003
6 11 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 200 9 running 155 $95,532
7 7 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 200 0 running 146 $96,043
8 17 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 200 0 running 142 $59,265
9 5 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing Ford 200 0 running 138 $89,315
10 21 77 Dave Blaney Jasper Motorsports Ford 200 0 running 134 $75,815
11 37 7 Casey Atwood Ultra-Evernham Motorsports Dodge 200 0 running 130 $67,615
12 14 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 200 0 running 127 $78,612
13 20 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 200 0 running 124 $45,465
14 12 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 200 4 running 126 $51,965
15 25 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 200 0 running 118 $65,215
16 38 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 200 0 running 115 $63,765
17 10 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 200 60 running 122 $83,582
18 39 26 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 199 0 engine 109 $67,852
19 28 31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 199 0 running 106 $68,371
20 27 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac 199 0 running 103 $71,990
21 18 41 Jimmy Spencer Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 199 0 running 100 $41,665
22 31 23 Hut Stricklin Bill Davis Racing Dodge 199 0 running 97 $49,365
23 32 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 198 0 running 94 $70,915
24 36 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 198 1 running 96 $49,179
25 19 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 198 0 running 88 $83,693
26 34 44 Steve Grissom Petty Enterprises Dodge 198 0 running 85 $40,365
27 26 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 197 0 running 82 $48,215
28 40 14 Stacy Compton A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac 195 0 running 79 $39,565
29 41 90 Hermie Sadler Donlavey Racing Ford 193 0 running 76 $36,890
30 9 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 180 26 engine 78 $63,296
31 35 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 179 4 running 75 $63,673
32 15 12 Ryan Newman (R) Penske Racing Ford 174 19 running 72 $44,440
33 22 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 173 0 running 64 $79,240
34 23 30 Jeff Green Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 171 0 running 61 $36,040
35 4 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 161 3 running 63 $53,865
36 24 19 Jeremy Mayfield Evernham Motorsports Dodge 146 0 engine 55 $43,665
37 29 4 Mike Skinner Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 142 0 engine 52 $35,500
38 16 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 102 0 engine 49 $64,208
39 30 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 81 0 transmission 46 $81,028
40 8 97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford 67 0 crash 43 $43,100
41 33 25 Joe Nemechek Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 29 0 crash 40 $42,965
42 42 85 Carl Long (R) Mansion Motorsports Ford 18 0 brakes 0 $34,875
43 43 46 Frank Kimmel Larry Clement Racing Ford 8 0 overheating 0 $35,069
Official race results

References

  1. ^ Packman, Tim (2002-06-10). "Jarrett takes first victory since July 2001". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on 2002-10-13. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
  2. ^ Levine, Al (2002-06-10). "Jarrett finally bumps slump". The Atlanta Constitution. Newspapers.com. pp. D1. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
  3. ^ a b c Packman, Tim (2002-06-07). "Rain's effects wash out Pocono activity". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on 2002-10-15. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
  4. ^ a b c "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2002 Pocono 1 Race Info Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on 2005-02-06. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
  5. ^ "NASCAR.com - Races - 2002 Pocono 1 Practice 1 Results". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on 2002-10-14. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
  6. ^ "NASCAR.com - Races - 2002 Pocono 1 Practice 2 Results". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on 2002-10-14. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
  7. ^ "2002 Pocono 500 - The Third Turn". www.thethirdturn.com. Retrieved 2022-03-04.
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