2002 Pontiac Excitement 400

2002 Pontiac Excitement 400
Race details
Race 11 of 36 in the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 2002 Pontiac Excitement 400 program cover, featuring Tony Stewart. Artwork by Garry Hill.
The 2002 Pontiac Excitement 400 program cover, featuring Tony Stewart. Artwork by Garry Hill.
Date May 4-5 2002
Official name 48th Annual Pontiac Excitement 400
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 86.824 miles per hour (139.730 km/h)
Pole position
Driver
Bill Davis Racing
Time 21.195
Most laps led
Driver Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing
Laps 125
Winner
No. 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing
Television in the United States
Network FX
Announcers Mike Joy, Larry McReynolds, Darrell Waltrip
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

The 2002 Pontiac Excitement 400 was the 11th stock car race of the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 48th iteration of the event. The race was held throughout the days of May 4-5, 2002 due to rain forcing the delay of the race from its scheduled Sunday date.[1] The race was held 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, Tony Stewart, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would win a crash-marred and wild race after taking control of the final restart with 18 to go.[2][3] The win was Stewart's 14th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series win and his second of the season. To fill out the podium, Ryan Newman of Penske Racing and Jeff Burton of Roush 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
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 / Circuit City
8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet Budweiser
9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge Dodge Dealers / UAW
10 Johnny Benson Jr.* MBV Motorsports Pontiac Valvoline / MaxLife
11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford Hooters
12 Ryan Newman (R) Penske Racing Ford Alltel
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 Power Tools
18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac Interstate Batteries
19 Jeremy Mayfield Evernham Motorsports Dodge Dodge Dealers / UAW
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 Brothers Coffee
24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet DuPont
25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet UAW–Delphi
26 Frank Kimmel Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford Pork. The Other White Meat
28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford Havoline
29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet GM Goodwrench Service
30 Jeff Green Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet America Online
31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Cingular Wireless / Spider-Man
32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford Tide New Clean Breeze Scent
36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac M&M's Global Color Vote
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 Steve Grissom Petty Enterprises Dodge Georgia-Pacific
45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge Sprint
48 Jimmie Johnson (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Lowe's
54 Kevin Grubb Team Bristol Motorsports Chevrolet Toys "R" Us
55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet Schneider Electric, Square D
59 Randy Renfrow Price Motorsports Dodge Price Motorsports
77 Dave Blaney Jasper Motorsports Ford Jasper Engines & Transmissions
88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford UPS
90 Rick Mast 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

*Driver changed to Joe Nemechek for the race, as Benson Jr. had suffered injuries during the 2002 Hardee's 250, the preliminary Busch race.[4]

Practice

First practice

The first practice session was held on Friday, May 3, at 11:20 AM EST, and would last for two hours.[5] Tony Stewart of Joe Gibbs Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 20.996 and an average speed of 128.589 miles per hour (206.944 km/h).[6]

During the session, Dale Jarrett and Kurt Busch would both crash in separate incidents.[7]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 20.996 128.589
2 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 21.010 128.509
3 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 21.010 128.509
Full first practice results

Second practice

The second practice session was held on Friday, May 3, at 4:45 PM EST, and would last for 45 minutes.[5] Johnny Benson Jr. of MBV Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 21.502 and an average speed of 125.569 miles per hour (202.084 km/h).[8]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac 21.502 125.569
2 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 21.535 125.371
3 30 Jeff Green Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 21.556 125.249
Full second practice results

Third and final practice

The third and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Friday, May 3, at 6:15 PM EST, and would last for 45 minutes.[5] Johnny Benson Jr. of MBV Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 21.527 and an average speed of 125.424 miles per hour (201.850 km/h).[9]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac 21.527 125.424
2 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 21.579 125.122
3 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 21.593 125.035
Full Happy Hour practice results

Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Friday, May 3, 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.[5] 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.[10]

Ward Burton of Bill Davis Racing would win the pole, setting a time of 21.195 and an average speed of 127.388 miles per hour (205.011 km/h).[11]

Kevin Grubb was the only driver to fail to qualify.

Full qualifying results

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 21.195 127.388
2 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 21.230 127.178
3 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 21.250 127.059
4 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 21.264 126.975
5 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 21.312 126.689
6 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 21.328 126.594
7 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 21.333 126.564
8 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 21.337 126.541
9 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing Ford 21.338 126.535
10 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 21.340 126.523
11 12 Ryan Newman (R) Penske Racing Ford 21.347 126.481
12 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 21.353 126.446
13 25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 21.369 126.351
14 30 Jeff Green Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 21.377 126.304
15 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 21.381 126.280
16 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac 21.383 126.269
17 19 Jeremy Mayfield Evernham Motorsports Dodge 21.397 126.186
18 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 21.402 126.156
19 4 Mike Skinner Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 21.402 126.156
20 44 Steve Grissom Petty Enterprises Dodge 21.413 126.092
21 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 21.431 125.986
22 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 21.437 125.951
23 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 21.438 125.945
24 90 Rick Mast Donlavey Racing Ford 21.440 125.933
25 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 21.445 125.904
26 48 Jimmie Johnson (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 21.449 125.880
27 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 21.457 125.833
28 77 Dave Blaney Jasper Motorsports Ford 21.485 125.669
29 7 Casey Atwood Ultra-Evernham Motorsports Dodge 21.486 125.663
30 02 Hermie Sadler SCORE Motorsports Chevrolet 21.488 125.651
31 14 Stacy Compton A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac 21.537 125.366
32 23 Hut Stricklin Bill Davis Racing Dodge 21.538 125.360
33 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 21.542 125.337
34 31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 21.555 125.261
35 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 21.557 125.249
36 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 21.585 125.087
Provisionals
37 97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford 21.887 123.361
38 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 21.781 123.961
39 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 21.814 123.774
40 41 Jimmy Spencer Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 21.824 123.717
41 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 21.670 124.596
42 26 Frank Kimmel Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 22.343 120.843
43 59 Randy Renfrow Price Motorsports Dodge 22.029 122.566
Failed to qualify
44 54 Kevin Grubb Team Bristol Motorsports Chevrolet 21.632 124.815
Official qualifying results

Race results

Fin[12] St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 3 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 400 28 running 180 $185,653
2 11 12 Ryan Newman (R) Penske Racing Ford 400 48 running 175 $121,950
3 23 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 400 0 running 165 $126,067
4 18 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 400 0 running 160 $106,708
5 17 19 Jeremy Mayfield Evernham Motorsports Dodge 400 0 running 155 $67,950
6 7 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 400 0 running 150 $68,000
7 4 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 400 0 running 146 $99,403
8 20 44 Steve Grissom Petty Enterprises Dodge 400 0 running 142 $60,875
9 10 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 400 0 running 138 $59,975
10 40 41 Jimmy Spencer Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 400 75 running 139 $74,275
11 35 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 400 0 running 130 $87,692
12 16 10 Joe Nemechek MBV Motorsports Pontiac 400 0 running 127 $74,710
13 14 30 Jeff Green Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 400 2 running 129 $43,575
14 38 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 400 0 running 121 $73,531
15 22 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 400 0 running 118 $68,335
16 32 23 Hut Stricklin Bill Davis Racing Dodge 400 0 running 115 $54,700
17 36 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 399 5 running 117 $62,289
18 30 02 Hermie Sadler SCORE Motorsports Chevrolet 399 0 running 109 $42,050
19 33 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 399 0 running 106 $45,525
20 41 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 399 0 running 103 $74,508
21 21 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 399 0 running 100 $52,550
22 29 7 Casey Atwood Ultra-Evernham Motorsports Dodge 399 0 running 97 $45,325
23 6 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 399 0 running 94 $40,825
24 27 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 398 3 running 96 $51,850
25 9 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing Ford 396 0 running 88 $84,750
26 31 14 Stacy Compton A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac 395 0 running 85 $43,475
27 37 97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford 395 0 running 82 $51,650
28 19 4 Mike Skinner Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 378 0 running 79 $43,125
29 28 77 Dave Blaney Jasper Motorsports Ford 377 10 engine 81 $50,500
30 1 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 364 125 running 83 $98,375
36 2 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 327 0 running 55 $76,862
31 26 48 Jimmie Johnson (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 360 0 running 70 $40,325
32 8 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 351 0 running 67 $86,053
33 15 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 333 0 crash 64 $69,058
34 5 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 333 0 crash 61 $70,050
35 24 90 Rick Mast Donlavey Racing Ford 331 0 crash 58 $40,125
37 34 31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 309 0 crash 52 $66,081
38 39 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 309 14 running 54 $87,753
39 12 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 308 90 crash 51 $84,317
40 25 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 295 0 running 43 $85,603
41 13 25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 225 0 crash 40 $47,765
42 42 26 Frank Kimmel Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 213 0 crash 37 $64,892
43 43 59 Randy Renfrow Price Motorsports Dodge 58 0 oil pump 34 $39,667
Failed to qualify
44 54 Kevin Grubb Team Bristol Motorsports Chevrolet
Official race results

References

  1. ^ Clarke, Liz (2002-05-05). "Rain Washes Out Racing, Crowd". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2022-05-06.
  2. ^ Smith, Marty (May 7, 2002). "Stewart wins wild Pontiac Excitement 400 at RIR". NASCAR.com. Turner Sports Interactive. Archived from the original on December 14, 2002. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  3. ^ Kurz Jr., Hank (May 6, 2002). "Patient Tony Stewart repeats at Richmond". The Morning Call. p. 21. Retrieved May 6, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  4. ^ Smith, Marty (May 4, 2002). "Nemechek to sub for injured Benson". NASCAR.com. Turner Sports Interactive. Archived from the original on October 15, 2002. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2002 Richmond 1 Race Info Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on February 6, 2005. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  6. ^ "Speeds from Friday's first practice". ThatsRacin. May 3, 2002. Archived from the original on February 10, 2005. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  7. ^ Packman, Tim (May 3, 2002). "Jarrett, Busch wreck in first practice". NASCAR.com. Turner Sports Interactive. Archived from the original on October 15, 2002. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  8. ^ "Speeds from Friday's first practice session". ThatsRacin. May 3, 2002. Archived from the original on February 10, 2005. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  9. ^ "Friday night Happy Hour speeds". ThatsRacin. May 3, 2002. Archived from the original on February 10, 2005. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  10. ^ "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.
  11. ^ Packman, Tim (May 3, 2002). "Virginia native finds fast way around Richmond". NASCAR.com. Turner Sports Interactive. Archived from the original on December 13, 2002. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  12. ^ "2003 Pontiac Excitement 400 - The Third Turn". www.thethirdturn.com. Retrieved 2022-02-26.
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