The 2002 MBNA America 500 was the fourth stock car race of the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the fifth iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, March 10, 2002, in Hampton, Georgia at Atlanta Motor Speedway, a 1.54 miles (2.48 km) permanent asphalt quad-oval intermediate speedway. The race took the scheduled 325 laps to complete. Tony Stewart, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would pass the worn-out car of Ward Burton with 23 to go to win his 13th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series win and his first of the season.[1] To fill out the podium, Dale Earnhardt Jr. of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. and Jimmie Johnson of Hendrick Motorsports would finish second and third, respectively.

2002 MBNA America 500
Race details
Race 4 of 36 in the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 2002 MBNA America 500 program cover, featuring Kevin Harvick, winner of the 2001 race.
The 2002 MBNA America 500 program cover, featuring Kevin Harvick, winner of the 2001 race.
Date March 10, 2002
Official name 44th Annual MBNA America 500
Location Hampton, Georgia, Atlanta Motor Speedway
Course Permanent racing facility
1.54 mi (2.48 km)
Distance 325 laps, 500.5 mi (805.476 km)
Scheduled Distance 325 laps, 500.5 mi (805.476 km)
Average speed 148.443 miles per hour (238.896 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Evernham Motorsports
Time 28.944
Most laps led
Driver Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing
Laps 143
Winner
No. 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing
Television in the United States
Network FOX
Announcers Mike Joy, Larry McReynolds, Darrell Waltrip
Radio in the United States
Radio Performance Racing Network
Booth Announcers Chuck Carland, Rob Albright
Turn Announcers Brett McMillan, Steve Richards, Pat Patterson

Background

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The layout of Atlanta Motor Speedway, the venue where the race was held.

Atlanta Motor Speedway (formerly Atlanta International Raceway) is a track in Hampton, Georgia, 20 miles (32 km) south of Atlanta. It is a 1.54-mile (2.48 km) quad-oval track with a seating capacity of 111,000. It opened in 1960 as a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) standard oval. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track. In 1997, to standardize the track with Speedway Motorsports' other two 1.5-mile (2.4 km) ovals, the entire track was almost completely rebuilt. The frontstretch and backstretch were swapped, and the configuration of the track was changed from oval to quad-oval. The project made the track one of the fastest on the NASCAR circuit.

Entry list

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# Driver Team Make Sponsor
1 Kenny Wallace Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet Pennzoil
2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing Ford Miller Lite
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
8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet Budweiser
9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge Dodge
10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac Valvoline
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
18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac Interstate Batteries
19 Jeremy Mayfield Evernham Motorsports Dodge Dodge
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 Bros. Coffee
24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet DuPont
25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet UAW, Delphi
26 Joe Nemechek Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford Haas-Carter Motorsports
28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford Texaco, Havoline
29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet GM Goodwrench
30 Jeff Green Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet America Online
31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Cingular Wireless
32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford Tide
36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac Pedigree
40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge Coors Light
41 Jimmy Spencer Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge Target
43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge Cheerios A Book For Every Child
44 Buckshot Jones Petty Enterprises Dodge Georgia-Pacific Brawny
45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge Sprint
48 Jimmie Johnson (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Lowe's
49 Shawna Robinson (R) BAM Racing Dodge BAM Racing
55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet Square D, Schneider Electric
57 Ron Hornaday Jr. Team CLR Ford Calcium Lime Rust
71 Dick Trickle Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet Warranty Gold, Williams Bros. Lumber
77 Dave Blaney Jasper Motorsports Ford Jasper Engines & Transmissions
85 Carl Long (R) Mansion Motorsports Dodge NoopCo
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

Practice

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First practice

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The first practice session was held on Friday, March 8, at 11:20 AM EST, and would last for two hours.[2] Tony Stewart of Joe Gibbs Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.118 and an average speed of 190.391 miles per hour (306.405 km/h).[3]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 29.118 190.391
2 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 29.148 190.201
3 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 29.174 190.026
Full first practice results

Second practice

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The second practice session was held on Saturday, March 9, at 9:30 AM EST, and would last for 45 minutes.[2] Ryan Newman of Penske Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.896 and an average speed of 185.436 miles per hour (298.430 km/h).[4]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 12 Ryan Newman (R) Penske Racing Ford 29.896 185.436
2 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 29.971 184.979
3 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 29.981 184.917
Full second practice results

Third and final practice

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The third and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, March 9, at 11:15 AM EST, and would last for 45 minutes.[2] Jerry Nadeau of Hendrick Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 30.110 and an average speed of 184.125 miles per hour (296.320 km/h).[5]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 30.110 184.125
2 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 30.115 184.087
3 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 30.125 184.026
Full Happy Hour practice results

Qualifying

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Qualifying was held on Friday, March 8, 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.[2] 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.[6]

Bill Elliott of Evernham Motorsports would win the pole, setting a time of 28.944 and an average speed of 191.542 miles per hour (308.257 km/h).[7]

Two drivers would fail to qualify: Ron Hornaday Jr. and Carl Long.

Full qualifying results

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 28.944 191.542
2 12 Ryan Newman (R) Penske Racing Ford 28.955 191.462
3 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 28.975 191.337
4 97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford 29.065 190.744
5 41 Jimmy Spencer Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 29.083 190.620
6 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 29.111 190.436
7 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 29.124 190.358
8 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 29.135 190.286
9 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 29.136 190.273
10 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac 29.166 190.084
11 1 Kenny Wallace Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 29.176 190.019
12 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 29.180 189.986
13 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 29.180 189.986
14 44 Buckshot Jones Petty Enterprises Dodge 29.184 189.960
15 48 Jimmie Johnson (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 29.184 189.960
16 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 29.187 189.941
17 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 29.191 189.914
18 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 29.193 189.908
19 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 29.195 189.889
20 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 29.245 189.570
21 4 Mike Skinner Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 29.260 189.473
22 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 29.268 189.415
23 31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 29.270 189.408
24 77 Dave Blaney Jasper Motorsports Ford 29.273 189.389
25 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 29.281 189.337
26 25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 29.295 189.240
27 26 Joe Nemechek Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 29.299 189.214
28 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 29.312 189.137
29 90 Rick Mast Donlavey Racing Ford 29.322 189.066
30 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 29.340 188.957
31 49 Shawna Robinson (R) BAM Racing Dodge 29.374 188.738
32 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 29.375 188.731
33 23 Hut Stricklin Bill Davis Racing Dodge 29.375 188.731
34 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 29.378 188.706
35 14 Stacy Compton A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac 29.379 188.699
36 30 Jeff Green Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 29.381 188.693
Provisionals
37 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 29.659 186.924
38 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing Ford 29.391 188.628
39 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 29.402 188.559
40 19 Jeremy Mayfield Evernham Motorsports Dodge 29.393 188.609
41 7 Casey Atwood Ultra-Evernham Motorsports Dodge 29.518 187.811
42 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 29.426 188.404
43 71 Dick Trickle Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 29.606 187.259
Failed to qualify
44 57 Ron Hornaday Jr. Team CLR Ford 29.521 187.792
45 85 Carl Long (R) Mansion Motorsports Dodge 29.665 186.886
Official qualifying results

Race results

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Fin[8] St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 9 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 325 143 running 185 $174,978
2 3 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 325 38 running 175 $104,600
3 15 48 Jimmie Johnson (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 325 0 running 165 $72,350
4 32 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 325 46 running 165 $91,700
5 6 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 325 0 running 155 $69,950
6 38 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing Ford 325 0 running 150 $90,625
7 28 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 325 20 running 151 $90,325
8 39 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 325 0 running 142 $89,833
9 12 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 325 0 running 138 $89,117
10 2 12 Ryan Newman (R) Penske Racing Ford 325 15 running 139 $78,000
11 4 97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford 325 59 running 135 $62,225
12 14 44 Buckshot Jones Petty Enterprises Dodge 325 0 running 127 $58,450
13 7 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 325 0 running 124 $77,450
14 13 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 325 0 running 121 $76,083
15 34 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 325 2 running 123 $44,500
16 19 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 325 0 running 115 $96,478
17 24 77 Dave Blaney Jasper Motorsports Ford 324 2 running 117 $65,200
18 23 31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 324 0 running 109 $72,246
19 16 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 324 0 running 106 $62,279
20 37 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 324 0 running 103 $89,157
21 30 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 324 0 running 100 $86,507
22 11 1 Kenny Wallace Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 324 0 running 97 $75,010
23 40 19 Jeremy Mayfield Evernham Motorsports Dodge 323 0 running 94 $52,835
24 25 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 323 0 running 91 $52,535
25 27 26 Joe Nemechek Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 322 0 running 88 $69,822
26 5 41 Jimmy Spencer Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 322 0 running 85 $43,985
27 10 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac 322 0 running 82 $51,670
28 21 4 Mike Skinner Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 321 0 running 79 $43,420
29 22 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 320 0 running 76 $51,110
30 26 25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 320 0 running 73 $51,385
31 35 14 Stacy Compton A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac 320 0 running 70 $42,810
32 41 7 Casey Atwood Ultra-Evernham Motorsports Dodge 319 0 running 67 $42,235
33 29 90 Rick Mast Donlavey Racing Ford 318 0 running 64 $39,670
34 31 49 Shawna Robinson (R) BAM Racing Dodge 310 0 running 61 $39,625
35 1 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 288 0 crash 58 $72,146
36 20 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 288 0 crash 55 $66,638
37 18 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 287 0 running 52 $85,298
38 42 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 276 0 engine 49 $39,475
39 8 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 254 0 engine 46 $85,218
40 17 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 204 0 engine 43 $47,380
41 36 30 Jeff Green Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 187 0 engine 40 $39,345
42 43 71 Dick Trickle Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 178 0 crash 37 $39,305
43 33 23 Hut Stricklin Bill Davis Racing Dodge 164 0 engine 34 $38,605
Failed to qualify
44 57 Ron Hornaday Jr. Team CLR Ford
45 85 Carl Long Mansion Motorsports Dodge
Official race results

References

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  1. ^ Minter, Rick (2002-03-15). "Victorious Stewart goes the extra miles". Daily World. pp. 3B. Retrieved 2022-02-28 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ a b c d "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2003 Atlanta 1 Race Info Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on 2005-02-06. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  3. ^ "NASCAR.com - Races - 2002 Atlanta 1 Practice 1 Results". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on 2002-06-03. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  4. ^ "NASCAR.com - Races - 2002 Atlanta 1 Practice 2 Results". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on 2002-08-03. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  5. ^ "NASCAR.com - Races - 2002 Atlanta 1 Practice 3 Results". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on 2002-06-03. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  6. ^ "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2002 Provisional/Owners Points Page - 1st four races". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on 2005-02-04. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
  7. ^ Smith, Marty (2002-03-09). "Elliott nips Newman for Bud Pole". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on 2002-08-02. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  8. ^ "2002 MBNA America 500 - The Third Turn". www.thethirdturn.com. Archived from the original on 2022-02-25. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
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