2002 Pontiac Excitement 400
11th race of the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
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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.
| 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. | |||
| Date | May 4–5 2002 | ||
| Official name | 48th Annual Pontiac Excitement 400 | ||
| Location | Richmond, Virginia, Richmond International Raceway | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||
| Course length | 0.75 miles (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 | ||
Background
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.
Entry list
- (R) denotes rookie driver.
*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
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 |
| Official race results | ||||||||||
