2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400

2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400 with The Looney Tunes
Race details
Race 26 of 36 in the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400 program cover, featuring several Looney Tunes sponsored cars.
The 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400 program cover, featuring several Looney Tunes sponsored cars.
Date September 7, 2002
Official name 45th Annual Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400 with The Looney Tunes
Location Richmond, Virginia, Richmond International Raceway
Course Permanent racing facility
0.75 mi (1.21 km)
Distance 400 laps, 300 mi (482.803 km)
Scheduled Distance 400 laps, 300 mi (482.803 km)
Average speed 94.787 miles per hour (152.545 km/h)
Pole position
Driver
Hendrick Motorsports
Time 21.404
Most laps led
Driver Ryan Newman Penske Racing
Laps 145
Winner
No. 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing
Television in the United States
Network TNT
Announcers Allen Bestwick, Benny Parsons, Wally Dallenbach Jr.
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

The 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400 with The Looney Tunes was the 26th stock car race of the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 45th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, September 7, 2002, in Richmond, Virginia, at Richmond International Raceway, a 0.75 miles (1.21 km) D-shaped oval. The race took the scheduled 400 laps to complete. At race's end, Matt Kenseth, driving for Roush Racing, would come back from a two-lap deficit to win his fifth career NASCAR Winston Cup Series win and his fourth of the season.[1][2] To fill out the podium, Ryan Newman of Penske Racing and Jeff Green of Richard Childress Racing would finish second and third, respectively.

Background

The layout of Richmond International Raceway, the venue where the race was at.

Richmond International Raceway (RIR) is a 3/4-mile (1.2 km), D-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in Henrico County. It hosts the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series. Known as "America's premier short track", it formerly hosted a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, an IndyCar Series race, and two USAC sprint car races.

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
02 Hermie Sadler SCORE Motorsports Chevrolet Virginia Lottery
4 Mike Skinner Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet Kodak, Yosemite Sam
5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Kellogg's, The Road-Runner
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
09 Geoff Bodine Phoenix Racing Ford Miccosukee Resort & Gaming
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
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 Dealers
23 Hut Stricklin Bill Davis Racing Dodge Hills Bros. Coffee
24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet DuPont, Bugs Bunny
25 Joe Nemechek Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet UAW, Delphi, Speedy Gonzales
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, Tasmanian Devil
30 Jeff Green Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet America Online, Daffy Duck
31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Cingular Wireless, Pepé Le Pew
32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford Tide
36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac M&M's
40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge Coors Light
41 Jimmy Spencer Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge Target
43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge Cheerios
44 Jerry Nadeau Petty Enterprises Dodge Georgia-Pacific Brawny
45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge Sprint
48 Jimmie Johnson (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Lowe's, Tweety and Sylvester the Cat
51 Carl Long (R) Ware Racing Enterprises Dodge Revival Soy
55 Greg Biffle Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet Square D, Marvin the Martian
71 Tim Sauter Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet Wehr's Chevrolet, George and Sons
77 Dave Blaney Jasper Motorsports Ford Jasper Engines & Transmissions
88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford UPS
97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford Rubbermaid, Sharpie
99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford Citgo
Official entry list

Practice

First practice

The first practice session was held on Friday, September 6, at 11:20 AM EST, and lasted for 2 hours.[3] Ryan Newman of Penske Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 21.279 and an average speed of 126.886 miles per hour (204.203 km/h).[4]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 12 Ryan Newman (R) Penske Racing Ford 21.279 126.886
2 30 Jeff Green Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 21.287 126.838
3 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 21.292 126.808
Full first practice results

Second practice

The second practice session was held on Friday, September 6, at 4:45 PM EST, and lasted for 45 minutes.[3] Jeff Green of Richard Childress Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 21.577 and an average speed of 125.133 miles per hour (201.382 km/h).[5]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 30 Jeff Green Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 21.577 125.133
2 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 21.634 124.803
3 48 Jimmie Johnson (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 21.645 124.740
Full second practice results

Third and final practice

The third and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Friday, September 6, at 6:15 PM EST, and lasted for 45 minutes.[3] Rusty Wallace of Penske Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 21.590 and an average speed of 125.058 miles per hour (201.261 km/h).[6]

During the session, Jeff Gordon would careen his car into the outside wall in Turn 2, causing substantial damage to his car and forcing Gordon to use a backup. The special Bugs Bunny scheme that was planned to run was instead replaced by Gordon's regular "Flames" scheme, with Gordon saying "We're going to go with the flames. [My firesuit] is about all that is left of Bugs for the day."[7]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing Ford 21.590 125.058
2 30 Jeff Green Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 21.618 124.896
3 55 Greg Biffle Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 21.619 124.890
Full Happy Hour practice results

Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Friday, September 6, 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.[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.[8]

Jimmie Johnson of Hendrick Motorsports would win the pole, setting a time of 21.404 and an average speed of 126.145 miles per hour (203.011 km/h).[9]

Carl Long was the only driver to fail to qualify.

Full qualifying results

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 48 Jimmie Johnson (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 21.404 126.145
2 12 Ryan Newman (R) Penske Racing Ford 21.474 125.733
3 77 Dave Blaney Jasper Motorsports Ford 21.474 125.733
4 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 21.476 125.722
5 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 21.479 125.704
6 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 21.496 125.605
7 26 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 21.501 125.576
8 4 Mike Skinner Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 21.505 125.552
9 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac 21.506 125.546
10 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 21.507 125.540
11 31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 21.510 125.523
12 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 21.514 125.500
13 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 21.517 125.482
14 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 21.530 125.406
15 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 21.538 125.360
16 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 21.547 125.308
17 44 Jerry Nadeau Petty Enterprises Dodge 21.565 125.203
18 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 21.571 125.168
19 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 21.577 125.133
20 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 21.577 125.133
21 19 Jeremy Mayfield Evernham Motorsports Dodge 21.611 124.936
22 97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford 21.622 124.873
23 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing Ford 21.655 124.683
24 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 21.657 124.671
25 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 21.677 124.556
26 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 21.685 124.510
27 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 21.686 124.504
28 25 Joe Nemechek Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 21.690 124.481
29 30 Jeff Green Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 21.698 124.435
30 41 Jimmy Spencer Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 21.707 124.384
31 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 21.708 124.378
32 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 21.709 124.372
33 23 Kenny Wallace Bill Davis Racing Dodge 21.716 124.332
34 7 Casey Atwood Ultra-Evernham Motorsports Dodge 21.723 124.292
35 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 21.724 124.286
36 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 21.739 124.201
Provisionals
37 55 Greg Biffle Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 21.761 124.075
38 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 21.772 124.012
39 14 Mike Wallace A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac 21.865 123.485
40 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 21.740 124.195
41 09 Geoff Bodine Phoenix Racing Ford 21.748 124.149
42 71 Tim Sauter Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 22.028 122.571
43 02 Hermie Sadler SCORE Motorsports Chevrolet 22.283 121.169
Failed to qualify
44 51 Carl Long (R) Ware Racing Enterprises Dodge 21.836 123.649
Official qualifying results

Race results

Fin[10] St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 25 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 400 134 running 180 $163,595
2 2 12 Ryan Newman (R) Penske Racing Ford 400 145 running 180 $127,340
3 29 30 Jeff Green Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 400 2 running 145 $80,930
4 24 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 400 0 running 160 $87,205
5 7 26 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 400 0 running 155 $92,142
6 4 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 400 0 running 150 $87,288
7 6 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 400 0 running 146 $92,222
8 13 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 399 16 running 147 $89,855
9 3 77 Dave Blaney Jasper Motorsports Ford 399 0 running 138 $72,655
10 21 19 Jeremy Mayfield Evernham Motorsports Dodge 399 0 running 134 $60,755
11 38 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 399 31 running 135 $79,230
12 39 14 Mike Wallace A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac 399 1 running 132 $52,940
13 1 48 Jimmie Johnson (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 399 1 running 129 $52,380
14 33 23 Kenny Wallace Bill Davis Racing Dodge 399 3 running 126 $47,080
15 23 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing Ford 399 0 running 118 $87,755
16 19 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 399 0 running 115 $74,211
17 36 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 399 0 running 112 $47,855
18 27 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 399 0 running 109 $88,283
19 22 97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford 398 0 running 106 $53,780
20 40 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 398 0 running 103 $61,680
21 20 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 398 0 running 100 $52,805
22 8 4 Mike Skinner Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 398 0 running 97 $55,080
23 43 02 Hermie Sadler SCORE Motorsports Chevrolet 398 0 running 94 $41,305
24 34 7 Casey Atwood Ultra-Evernham Motorsports Dodge 397 0 running 91 $52,544
25 28 25 Joe Nemechek Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 397 0 running 88 $52,005
26 16 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 397 0 running 85 $51,780
27 17 44 Jerry Nadeau Petty Enterprises Dodge 397 0 running 82 $40,755
28 11 31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 397 0 running 79 $66,686
29 31 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 397 0 running 76 $67,593
30 14 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 396 34 driveshaft 78 $88,478
31 12 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 392 0 running 70 $60,365
32 18 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 371 0 running 67 $86,108
33 37 55 Greg Biffle Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 334 12 running 69 $48,295
34 35 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 317 0 running 61 $48,235
35 9 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac 251 0 crash 58 $66,950
36 26 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 217 21 crash 60 $48,165
37 42 71 Tim Sauter Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 215 0 engine 52 $40,130
38 41 09 Geoff Bodine Phoenix Racing Ford 116 0 engine 49 $40,095
39 15 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 107 0 running 46 $84,702
40 10 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 84 0 engine 43 $92,953
41 5 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 15 0 crash 40 $68,763
42 30 41 Jimmy Spencer Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 8 0 crash 37 $39,880
43 32 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 8 0 crash 34 $82,429
Failed to qualify
44 51 Carl Long (R) Ware Racing Enterprises Dodge
Official race results

References

  1. ^ Smith, Marty (September 10, 2002). "Kenseth stays out, wins Monte Carlo 400 -". NASCAR.com. Turner Sports Interactive. Archived from the original on September 18, 2002. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  2. ^ Kurz, Hank (September 8, 2002). "Kenseth rules Richmond". Evansville Courier and Press. Associated Press. p. 49. Retrieved April 14, 2002 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b c d "Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site - 2002 Richmond 2 Race Info & Rundown". Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on January 29, 2019. Retrieved April 14, 2002.
  4. ^ "NASCAR.com - Races - 2002 Richmond 2 Practice 1 Results". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on October 15, 2002. Retrieved April 14, 2002.
  5. ^ "NASCAR.com - Races - 2002 Richmond 2 Practice 2 Results". NASCAR.com. 2002-10-15. Archived from the original on October 15, 2002. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  6. ^ "NASCAR.com - Races - 2002 Richmond 2 Practice 3 Results". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on September 8, 2002. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  7. ^ Packman, Tim (September 6, 2002). "Gordon to backup after crashing in Happy Hour". NASCAR.com. Turner Sports Interactive. Archived from the original on October 1, 2002. Retrieved April 14, 2002.
  8. ^ "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.
  9. ^ Packman, Tim (September 6, 2002). "Jimmie Johnson scores Bud Pole at Richmond". NASCAR.com. Turner Sports Interactive. Archived from the original on September 8, 2002. Retrieved April 14, 2002.
  10. ^ "2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400 - The Third Turn". www.thethirdturn.com. Retrieved 2022-04-12.
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