2002 Pennsylvania 500
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| Race details | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 20 of 36 in the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series | |||
 The 2002 Pennsylvania 500 program cover. | |||
| Date | July 28, 2002 | ||
| Official name | 30th Annual Pep Boys presents the Pennsylvania 500 | ||
| Location | Long Pond, Pennsylvania, Pocono Raceway | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||
| Course length | 2.5 miles (4.0 km) | ||
| Distance | 175 laps, 437.5 mi (704.088 km) | ||
| Scheduled distance | 200 laps, 500 mi (804.672 km) | ||
| Average speed | 125.809 miles per hour (202.470 km/h) | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Evernham Motorsports | ||
| Time | 52.765 | ||
| Most laps led | |||
| Driver | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | |
| Laps | 106 | ||
| Winner | |||
| No. 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | |
| 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 Pep Boys presents the Pennsylvania 500 was the 20th stock car race of the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 30th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, July 28, 2002, in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, at Pocono Raceway, a 2.5 miles (4.0 km) triangular permanent course. The race was shortened from its scheduled from its scheduled 200 laps to 175 due to darkness caused by delays during the race.[1] At race's end, Bill Elliott, driving for Evernham Motorsports, would pull away during the late stages of the race to win his 42nd career NASCAR Winston Cup Series win and his first of the season.[2][3] To fill out the podium, Kurt Busch of Roush Racing and Sterling Marlin of Chip Ganassi Racing would finish second and third, respectively.
Entry list
The race was held at Pocono Raceway, which is a three-turn superspeedway located in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. The track hosts two annual NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, as well as one Xfinity Series and Camping World Truck Series event. Until 2019, the track also hosted an IndyCar Series race.
Pocono Raceway is one of a very few NASCAR tracks not owned by either Speedway Motorsports or International Speedway Corporation. It is operated by the Igdalsky siblings Brandon, Nicholas, and sister Ashley, and cousins Joseph IV and Chase Mattioli, all of whom are third-generation members of the family-owned Mattco Inc, started by Joseph II and Rose Mattioli.
Outside of the NASCAR races, the track is used throughout the year by Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and motorcycle clubs as well as racing schools and an IndyCar race. The triangular oval also has three separate infield sections of racetrack – North Course, East Course and South Course. Each of these infield sections use a separate portion of the tri-oval to complete the track. During regular non-race weekends, multiple clubs can use the track by running on different infield sections. Also some of the infield sections can be run in either direction, or multiple infield sections can be put together – such as running the North Course and the South Course and using the tri-oval to connect the two.
- (R) denotes rookie driver.
Practice
First practice
The first practice session was held on Friday, July 26, at 11:20 AM EST, and would last for 2 hours.[4] Ricky Rudd of Robert Yates Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 52.859 and an average speed of 170.264 miles per hour (274.013 km/h).[5]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 52.859 | 170.264 |
| 2 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 53.095 | 169.508 |
| 3 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 53.131 | 169.393 |
| Full first practice results | ||||||
Second practice
The second practice session was held on Saturday, July 27, at 9:30 AM EST, and would last for 45 minutes.[4] Ricky Rudd of Robert Yates Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 54.410 and an average speed of 165.411 miles per hour (266.203 km/h).[6]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 54.410 | 165.411 |
| 2 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 54.481 | 165.195 |
| 3 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 54.489 | 165.171 |
| Full second practice results | ||||||
Final practice
The final practice session was held on Saturday, July 27, at 11:15 AM EST, and would last for 45 minutes.[4] Kurt Busch of Roush Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 54.747 and an average speed of 164.393 miles per hour (264.565 km/h).[7]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 54.747 | 164.393 |
| 2 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing | Ford | 54.754 | 164.372 |
| 3 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson (R) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 54.825 | 164.159 |
| Full Final practice results | ||||||
Qualifying
Qualifying was held on Friday, July 26, 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.[4] 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.[8]
Bill Elliott of Evernham Motorsports would win the pole, setting a time of 52.765 and an average speed of 170.568 miles per hour (274.503 km/h).[9]
Carl Long was the only driver to fail to qualify.
