2002 Checker Auto Parts 500

2002 Checker Auto Parts 500 presented by Pennzoil
Race details
Race 35 of 36 in the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 2002 Checker Auto Parts 500 program cover.
The 2002 Checker Auto Parts 500 program cover.
Date November 10, 2002
Official name 15th Annual Checker Auto Parts 500 presented by Pennzoil
Location Avondale, Arizona, Phoenix International Raceway
Course Permanent racing facility
1 mi (1.6 km)
Distance 312 laps, 312 mi (502.115 km)
Scheduled Distance 312 laps, 312 mi (502.115 km)
Average speed 113.857 miles per hour (183.235 km/h)
Attendance 100,000
Pole position
Driver
Penske Racing
Time 27.138
Most laps led
Driver Kurt Busch Roush Racing
Laps 117
Winner
No. 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing
Television in the United States
Network NBC
Announcers Allen Bestwick, Benny Parsons, Wally Dallenbach Jr.
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

The 2002 Checker Auto Parts 500 presented by Pennzoil was the 35th stock car race of the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 15th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, November 10, 2002, before a crowd of 100,000 in Avondale, Arizona at Phoenix International Raceway, a 1-mile (1.6 km) permanent low-banked tri-oval race track. The race took the scheduled 312 laps to complete. At race's end, Matt Kenseth, driving for Roush Racing, would pull off a clutch two-tire strategy on the final restart of the race to win his fifth career NASCAR Winston Cup Series win and his fourth of the season.[1][2] To fill out the podium, Rusty Wallace of Penske Racing and Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports would finish second and third, respectively.

Background

The layout of Phoenix International Raceway, the venue where the race was held.

Phoenix International Raceway – also known as PIR – is a one-mile, low-banked tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona. It is named after the nearby metropolitan area of Phoenix. The motorsport track opened in 1964 and currently hosts two NASCAR race weekends annually. PIR has also hosted the IndyCar Series, CART, USAC and the Rolex Sports Car Series. The raceway is currently owned and operated by International Speedway Corporation.

The raceway was originally constructed with a 2.5 mi (4.0 km) road course that ran both inside and outside of the main tri-oval. In 1991 the track was reconfigured with the current 1.51 mi (2.43 km) interior layout. PIR has an estimated grandstand seating capacity of around 67,000. Lights were installed around the track in 2004 following the addition of a second annual NASCAR race weekend.

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 Jason Leffler Ultra Motorsports Dodge Sirius Satellite Radio
07 Ted Musgrave Ultra Motorsports Dodge Kenwood
8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet Budweiser
9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge Dodge
10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac Valvoline
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
17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford DeWalt Million Dollar Challenge
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 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 Havoline
29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet GM Goodwrench
30 Jeff Green Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet America Online
31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Cingular Wireless
32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford Tide
36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac Pedigree
37 Jeff Jefferson Quest Motor Racing Pontiac Xtreme Motorsports Marketing
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 Christian Fittipaldi Petty Enterprises Dodge Georgia-Pacific Brawny
45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge Sprint
47 Lance Hooper Dark Horse Motorsports Ford Dark Horse Motorsports
48 Jimmie Johnson (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Lowe's
49 Derrike Cope BAM Racing Dodge BAM Racing
51 Jerry Robertson Ware Racing Enterprises Dodge Family Tree, Smitty's Motorsports
55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet Square D
60 Jack Sprague Haas CNC Racing Chevrolet Haas Automation
74 Tony Raines BACE Motorsports Chevrolet Outdoor Channel, Staff America
77 Dave Blaney Jasper Motorsports Ford Jasper Engines & Transmissions
83 Ron Hornaday Jr. FitzBradshaw Racing Chevrolet Racing USA
88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford UPS
89 Morgan Shepherd Shepherd Racing Ventures Ford Red Line Oil, Racing with Jesus
93 Mike Harmon GIC Motorsports Ford GIC Motorsports
97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford Sharpie, Stain Shield
99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford Citgo
Official entry list

*Withdrew. Harmon would withdraw after crashing during practice, and Hooper would withdraw after crashing in practice.[3]

Practice

First practice

The first practice session was held on Friday, November 8, at 10:30 AM MST, and would last for 2 hours.[3] Ryan Newman of Penske Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 27.074 and an average speed of 132.969 miles per hour (213.993 km/h).[4]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 12 Ryan Newman (R) Penske Racing Ford 27.074 132.969
2 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 27.206 132.324
3 23 Kenny Wallace Bill Davis Racing Dodge 27.227 132.222
Full first practice results

Second practice

The second practice session was held on Saturday, November 9, at 8:30 AM MST, and would last for 45 minutes.[3] Jimmie Johnson of Hendrick Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 27.860 and an average speed of 129.217 miles per hour (207.955 km/h).[5]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 48 Jimmie Johnson (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 27.860 129.217
2 19 Jeremy Mayfield Evernham Motorsports Dodge 27.980 128.663
3 23 Kenny Wallace Bill Davis Racing Dodge 27.993 128.604
Full second practice results

Third and final practice

The third and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, November 9, at 10:15 AM MST, and would last for 45 minutes.[3] Kenny Wallace of Bill Davis Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 28.004 and an average speed of 128.553 miles per hour (206.886 km/h).[6]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 23 Kenny Wallace Bill Davis Racing Dodge 28.004 128.553
2 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 28.089 128.164
3 27 Scott Wimmer Bill Davis Racing Dodge 28.100 128.114
Full Happy Hour practice results

Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Friday, November 8, at 3:05 PM MST. Each driver would have two laps to set a fastest time; the fastest of the two would count as their official qualifying lap.[3] 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 champion needs the provisional, the next team in the owner points will be awarded a provisional.[7]

Ryan Newman of Penske Racing would win the pole, setting a time of 27.138 and an average speed of 132.655 miles per hour (213.488 km/h).[8]

Six drivers would fail to qualify: Ted Musgrave, Jack Sprague, Brett Bodine, Jerry Robertson, Morgan Shepherd, and Jeff Jefferson.

Full qualifying results

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 12 Ryan Newman (R) Penske Racing Ford 27.138 132.655
2 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 27.152 132.587
3 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 27.204 132.333
4 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 27.214 132.285
5 77 Dave Blaney Jasper Motorsports Ford 27.249 132.115
6 23 Kenny Wallace Bill Davis Racing Dodge 27.304 131.849
7 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 27.329 131.728
8 25 Joe Nemechek Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 27.356 131.598
9 31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 27.379 131.488
10 41 Jimmy Spencer Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 27.384 131.464
11 19 Jeremy Mayfield Evernham Motorsports Dodge 27.393 131.420
12 40 Jamie McMurray Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 27.409 131.344
13 97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford 27.462 131.090
14 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 27.465 131.076
15 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 27.474 131.033
16 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 27.478 131.014
17 44 Christian Fittipaldi Petty Enterprises Dodge 27.479 131.009
18 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 27.480 131.004
19 27 Scott Wimmer Bill Davis Racing Dodge 27.492 130.947
20 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 27.493 130.942
21 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 27.493 130.942
22 83 Ron Hornaday Jr. FitzBradshaw Racing Chevrolet 27.493 130.942
23 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac 27.502 130.900
24 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 27.512 130.852
25 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 27.521 130.809
26 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 27.521 130.809
27 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 27.545 130.695
28 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 27.562 130.615
29 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing Ford 27.579 130.534
30 26 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 27.594 130.463
31 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 27.606 130.406
32 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 27.607 130.402
33 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 27.625 130.317
34 4 Mike Skinner Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 27.635 130.270
35 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 27.637 130.260
36 7 Jason Leffler Ultra Motorsports Dodge 27.645 130.223
Provisionals
37 48 Jimmie Johnson (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 27.674 130.086
38 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 27.758 129.692
39 30 Jeff Green Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 27.848 129.273
40 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 27.781 129.585
41 14 Mike Wallace A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac 27.883 129.111
42 49 Derrike Cope BAM Racing Dodge 27.959 128.760
43 74 Tony Raines BACE Motorsports Chevrolet 27.730 129.823
Failed to qualify or withdrew
44 07 Ted Musgrave Ultra Motorsports Dodge 27.746 129.748
45 60 Jack Sprague Haas CNC Racing Chevrolet 27.830 129.357
46 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 27.848 129.273
47 51 Jerry Robertson Ware Racing Enterprises Dodge 28.074 128.232
48 89 Morgan Shepherd Shepherd Racing Ventures Ford 28.183 127.737
49 37 Jeff Jefferson Quest Motor Racing Pontiac 28.361 126.935
WD 47 Lance Hooper Dark Horse Motorsports Ford - -
WD 93 Mike Harmon GIC Motorsports Ford --
Official qualifying results

Race results

Fin[9] St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 28 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 312 55 running 180 $211,895
2 29 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing Ford 312 0 running 170 $163,825
3 4 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 312 16 running 170 $152,328
4 7 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 312 2 running 165 $129,218
5 3 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 312 105 running 160 $97,850
6 13 97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford 312 117 running 160 $76,500
7 5 77 Dave Blaney Jasper Motorsports Ford 312 1 running 151 $86,400
8 16 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 312 0 running 142 $101,178
9 27 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 312 0 running 138 $89,100
10 15 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 312 0 running 134 $76,650
11 6 23 Kenny Wallace Bill Davis Racing Dodge 312 0 running 130 $57,000
12 20 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 312 0 running 127 $93,267
13 24 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 312 0 running 124 $92,117
14 2 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 312 0 running 121 $77,783
15 37 48 Jimmie Johnson (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 312 1 running 123 $51,325
16 23 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac 312 1 running 120 $73,825
17 25 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 311 0 running 112 $88,653
18 1 12 Ryan Newman (R) Penske Racing Ford 311 14 running 114 $69,950
19 26 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 311 0 running 106 $85,450
20 38 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 311 0 running 103 $56,975
21 32 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 311 0 running 100 $75,675
22 30 26 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 311 0 running 97 $71,262
23 10 41 Jimmy Spencer Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 310 0 running 94 $53,739
24 34 4 Mike Skinner Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 310 0 running 91 $45,100
25 11 19 Jeremy Mayfield Evernham Motorsports Dodge 310 0 running 88 $52,875
26 31 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 310 0 running 85 $73,883
27 9 31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 310 0 running 82 $70,481
28 41 14 Mike Wallace A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac 310 0 running 79 $44,300
29 40 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 310 0 running 76 $51,675
30 14 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 310 0 running 73 $67,606
31 36 7 Jason Leffler Ultra Motorsports Dodge 309 0 running 70 $40,925
32 18 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 309 0 running 67 $40,775
33 8 25 Joe Nemechek Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 309 0 running 64 $48,650
34 35 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 309 0 running 61 $48,525
35 39 30 Jeff Green Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 307 0 running 58 $40,400
36 22 83 Ron Hornaday Jr. FitzBradshaw Racing Chevrolet 307 0 running 55 $40,275
37 21 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 306 0 running 52 $48,150
38 42 49 Derrike Cope BAM Racing Dodge 302 0 running 49 $40,025
39 33 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 269 0 engine 46 $85,678
40 12 40 Jamie McMurray Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 253 0 crash 43 $82,067
41 17 44 Christian Fittipaldi Petty Enterprises Dodge 252 0 crash 40 $39,600
42 19 27 Scott Wimmer Bill Davis Racing Dodge 130 0 crash 37 $39,475
43 43 74 Tony Raines BACE Motorsports Chevrolet 120 0 engine 34 $39,593
Failed to qualify or withdrew
44 07 Ted Musgrave Ultra Motorsports Dodge
45 60 Jack Sprague Haas CNC Racing Chevrolet
46 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford
47 51 Jerry Robertson Ware Racing Enterprises Dodge
48 89 Morgan Shepherd Shepherd Racing Ventures Ford
49 37 Jeff Jefferson Quest Motor Racing Pontiac
WD 47 Lance Hooper Dark Horse Motorsports Ford
WD 93 Mike Harmon GIC Motorsports Ford
Official race results

References

  1. ^ Rodman, Dave (November 12, 2002). "Kenseth overcomes problems for fifth victory". NASCAR.com. Turner Sports Interactive. Archived from the original on December 2, 2002. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  2. ^ "No gas, no problem". Arizona Daily Star. November 11, 2002. p. 23. Retrieved May 4, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2002 Phoenix Race Info Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on February 4, 2005. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  4. ^ "Speeds from Friday's Cup practice". ThatsRacin. November 8, 2002. Archived from the original on February 8, 2005. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  5. ^ "Johnson fastest in Saturday's early practice". ThatsRacin. November 9, 2002. Archived from the original on February 8, 2005. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  6. ^ Packman, Tim (November 9, 2002). "K. Wallace fastest in Phoenix Happy Hour". NASCAR.com. Turner Sports Interactive. Archived from the original on December 3, 2002. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  7. ^ "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2002 Provisional/Owners Points Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on 2005-02-05. Retrieved 2022-03-02.
  8. ^ Packman, Dave (November 8, 2002). "Newman on Bud Pole for record sixth time". NASCAR.com. Turner Sports Interactive. Archived from the original on November 10, 2002. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  9. ^ "2002 Checker Auto Parts 500 presented by Pennzoil - The Third Turn". www.thethirdturn.com. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
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