2002 New England 300
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| Race details | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 19 of 36 in the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series | |||
 The 2002 New England 300 program cover | |||
| Date | July 21, 2002 | ||
| Official name | 10th Annual New England 300 | ||
| Location |
Loudon, New Hampshire, New Hampshire International Speedway | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||
| Course length | 1.058 miles (1.703 km) | ||
| Distance | 300 laps, 317.4 mi (510.805 km) | ||
| Scheduled distance | 300 laps, 317.4 mi (510.805 km) | ||
| Average speed | 92.342 miles per hour (148.610 km/h) | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Evernham Motorsports | ||
| Time | 28.971 | ||
| Most laps led | |||
| Driver | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | |
| Laps | 77 | ||
| Winner | |||
| No. 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis 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 New England 300 was the 19th stock car race of the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 10th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, July 21, 2002, in Loudon, New Hampshire, at New Hampshire International Speedway, a 1.058-mile (1.703 km) permanent, oval-shaped, low-banked racetrack. The race took the scheduled 300 laps to complete. At race's end, Ward Burton, driving for Bill Davis Racing, took advantage of a disaster-stricken Matt Kenseth to win his fifth and final career NASCAR Winston Cup Series win and his second and final win of the season.[1][2] To fill out the podium, Jeff Green of Richard Childress Racing and Dale Earnhardt Jr. of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. would finish second and third, respectively.
The race was marred by poor track conditions, as the sealer of the racetrack came apart due to a repave the speedway had which affected the corners of the track.[3][4]
Entry list
New Hampshire International Speedway is a 1.058-mile (1.703 km) oval speedway located in Loudon, New Hampshire which has hosted NASCAR racing annually since the early 1990s, as well as an IndyCar weekend and the oldest motorcycle race in North America, the Loudon Classic. Nicknamed "The Magic Mile", the speedway is often converted into a 1.6-mile (2.6 km) road course, which includes much of the oval. The track was originally the site of Bryar Motorsports Park before being purchased and redeveloped by Bob Bahre. The track is currently one of eight major NASCAR tracks owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports.
- (R) denotes rookie driver.
Practice
First practice
The first practice session was held on Friday, July 19, at 11:20 AM EST, and would last for 2 hours.[5] John Andretti of Petty Enterprises would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 28.795 and an average speed of 132.273 miles per hour (212.873 km/h).[6]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Speed | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 28.795 | 132.273 |
| 2 | 55 | Bobby Hamilton | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 28.890 | 131.838 |
| 3 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson (R) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 28.897 | 131.806 |
| Full first practice results | ||||||
Second practice
The second practice session was held on Saturday, July 20, at 9:30 AM EST, and would last for 45 minutes.[5] Matt Kenseth of Roush Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.560 and an average speed of 128.850 miles per hour (207.364 km/h).[7]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Speed | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 29.560 | 128.850 |
| 2 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson (R) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.635 | 128.524 |
| 3 | 12 | Ryan Newman (R) | Penske Racing | Ford | 29.660 | 128.415 |
| Full second practice results | ||||||
Final practice
The final practice session was held on Saturday, July 20, at 11:15 AM EST, and would last for 45 minutes.[5] Bobby Hamilton of Andy Petree Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.463 and an average speed of 129.274 miles per hour (208.046 km/h).[8]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Speed | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 55 | Bobby Hamilton | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 29.463 | 129.274 |
| 2 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 29.584 | 128.745 |
| 3 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 29.626 | 128.563 |
| Full Final practice results | ||||||
