2002 Checker Auto Parts 500
35th race of the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
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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.
| Race details | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 35 of 36 in the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series | |||
|
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 | ||
| Course length | 1 miles (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 | ||
Background
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 NASCAR.
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.
*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 mph (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 mph (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 | ||||||
Final practice
The final practice session 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 mph (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 Final 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 mph (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
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 |
| Official race results | ||||||||||