The 2002 Subway 400 was the second stock car race of the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 37th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, February 24, 2002, in Rockingham, North Carolina, at North Carolina Speedway, a 1.017 miles (1.637 km) permanent high-banked racetrack. The race took the scheduled 393 laps to complete. At race's end, Matt Kenseth, driving for Roush Racing, would dominate the late stages of the race and win under caution when NASCAR determined oil and debris had made racing conditions unsafe with five to go.[1] The win was Kenseth's second career NASCAR Winston Cup Series win and his first win of the season. To fill out the podium, Sterling Marlin of Chip Ganassi Racing and Bobby Labonte of Joe Gibbs Racing would finish second and third, respectively.

2002 Subway 400
Race details
Race 2 of 36 in the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 2002 Subway 400 program cover.
The 2002 Subway 400 program cover.
Date February 24, 2002
Official name 37th Annual Subway 400
Location Rockingham, North Carolina, North Carolina Speedway
Course Permanent racing facility
1.017 mi (1.637 km)
Distance 393 laps, 399.681 mi (643.224 km)
Scheduled Distance 393 laps, 399.681 mi (643.224 km)
Average speed 115.478 miles per hour (185.844 km/h)
Pole position
Driver PPI Motorsports
Time 23.468
Most laps led
Driver Matt Kenseth Roush Racing
Laps 152
Winner
No. 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing
Television in the United States
Network FOX
Announcers Mike Joy, Larry McReynolds, Darrell Waltrip
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network
Booth Announcers Barney Hall, Joe Moore
Turn Announcers Kurt Becker, Dave Moody

The win came under controversy after it was found that Kenseth's car was determined to be lower than minimum height requirements. Penalties were announced on Tuesday, February 26. Kenseth's crew chief, Robbie Reiser, was fined $30,000, but the win for Kenseth would stand. In a radio interview with, "Fast Talk with Benny Parsons", Kenseth stated that a dent in the roof, possibly from victory lane celebrations, had caused the car to fail minimum height requirements.[2]

Background

edit
 
The layout of North Carolina Speedway, the venue where the race was held.

North Carolina Speedway was opened as a flat, one-mile oval on October 31, 1965. In 1969, the track was extensively reconfigured to a high-banked, D-shaped oval just over one mile in length. In 1997, North Carolina Motor Speedway merged with Penske Motorsports, and was renamed North Carolina Speedway. Shortly thereafter, the infield was reconfigured, and competition on the infield road course, mostly by the SCCA, was discontinued. Currently, the track is home to the Fast Track High Performance Driving School.[3]

Entry list

edit
# 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 Pfizer
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 Dura Lube
12 Ryan Newman 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 Kmart School Spirit
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
33 Mike Wallace Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet Andy Petree Racing
36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac M&M's
40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge Coors Light
41 Jimmy Spencer Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge Target
43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge Cheerios
44 Buckshot Jones Petty Enterprises Dodge Georgia-Pacific Brawny
45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge Sprint
48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Lowe's
55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet Square D, Schneider Electric
59 Randy Renfrow Price Motorsports Dodge Price Motorsports
66 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford Kmart Blue Light Special
71 Dick Trickle Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet Warranty Gold, Bass Pro Shops
77 Dave Blaney Jasper Motorsports Ford Jasper Engines & Transmissions
85 Carl Long Mansion Motorsports Ford Mansion Motorsports
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

edit

First practice

edit

The first practice session was held on Friday, February 22, at 11:20 AM EST, and would last for two hours.[4] Kyle Petty of Petty Enterprises would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 23.816 and an average speed of 153.729 miles per hour (247.403 km/h).[5]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 23.816 153.729
2 41 Jimmy Spencer Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 23.819 153.708
3 7 Casey Atwood Ultra-Evernham Motorsports Dodge 23.825 153.671
Full first practice results

Second practice

edit

The second practice session was held on Saturday, February 23, at 9:30 AM EST, and would last for 45 minutes.[4] Rusty Wallace of Penske Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 24.311 and an average speed of 150.598 miles per hour (242.364 km/h).[6]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing Ford 24.311 150.598
2 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 24.322 150.529
3 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 24.329 150.486
Full second practice results

Third and final practice

edit

The third and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, February 23, at 11:15 AM EST, and would last for 45 minutes.[4] John Andretti of Petty Enterprises would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 24.249 and an average speed of 150.983 miles per hour (242.984 km/h).[7]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 24.249 150.983
2 31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 24.257 150.927
3 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 24.264 150.884
Full Happy Hour practice results

Qualifying

edit

Qualifying was held on Friday, February 22, 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]

Ricky Craven of PPI Motorsports would win the pole, setting a time of 23.468 and an average speed of 156.008 miles per hour (251.071 km/h).[9]

Three drivers would fail to qualify: Dick Trickle, Randy Renfrow, and Carl Long.

Full qualifying results

edit
Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 23.468 156.008
2 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 23.666 154.696
3 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac 23.677 154.631
4 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 23.695 154.507
5 25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 23.718 154.357
6 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 23.729 154.292
7 97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford 23.742 154.207
8 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing Ford 23.791 153.883
9 1 Kenny Wallace Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 23.816 153.728
10 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 23.820 153.696
11 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 23.822 153.683
12 41 Jimmy Spencer Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 23.826 153.657
13 44 Buckshot Jones Petty Enterprises Dodge 23.844 153.541
14 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 23.847 153.522
15 30 Jeff Green Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 23.853 153.490
16 31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 23.856 153.470
17 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 23.864 153.412
18 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 23.868 153.393
19 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 23.874 153.355
20 7 Casey Atwood Ultra-Evernham Motorsports Dodge 23.881 153.310
21 19 Jeremy Mayfield Evernham Motorsports Dodge 23.900 153.181
22 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 23.909 153.124
23 12 Ryan Newman Penske Racing Ford 23.910 153.117
24 4 Mike Skinner Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 23.917 153.072
25 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 23.920 153.053
26 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 23.924 153.028
27 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 23.930 152.996
28 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 23.930 152.989
29 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 23.954 152.836
30 33 Mike Wallace Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 23.958 152.811
31 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 23.969 152.740
32 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 23.969 152.740
33 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 23.981 152.670
34 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 23.985 152.645
35 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 23.990 152.607
36 77 Dave Blaney Jasper Motorsports Ford 24.035 152.321
Provisionals
37 26 Joe Nemechek Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 24.266 150.877
38 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 24.080 152.036
39 23 Hut Stricklin Bill Davis Racing Dodge 24.479 149.558
40 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 24.045 152.264
41 66 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 24.045 152.258
42 14 Stacy Compton A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac 24.084 152.011
43 90 Rick Mast Donlavey Racing Ford 24.139 151.665
Failed to qualify
44 71 Dick Trickle Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 24.069 152.106
45 59 Randy Renfrow Price Motorsports Dodge 24.775 147.772
46 85 Carl Long Mansion Motorsports Ford 24.840 147.385
Official qualifying results

Race results

edit
Fin[10] St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 25 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 393 152 running 185 $157,400
2 6 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 393 35 running 175 $125,142
3 14 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 393 0 running 165 $114,178
4 19 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 393 0 running 160 $109,378
5 1 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 393 116 running 160 $70,900
6 22 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 393 0 running 150 $92,377
7 33 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 393 0 running 146 $104,238
8 8 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing Ford 393 0 running 142 $89,810
9 10 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 393 0 running 138 $76,210
10 9 1 Kenny Wallace Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 393 0 running 134 $83,885
11 28 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 393 0 running 130 $75,091
12 7 97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford 393 0 running 127 $48,310
13 18 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 393 1 running 129 $77,810
14 23 12 Ryan Newman Penske Racing Ford 393 0 running 121 $71,610
15 35 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 393 0 running 118 $76,493
16 40 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 393 0 running 115 $76,543
17 15 30 Jeff Green Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 393 46 running 117 $42,610
18 27 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 393 26 running 114 $86,727
19 34 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 393 0 running 106 $87,738
20 12 41 Jimmy Spencer Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 392 0 running 103 $48,660
21 17 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 392 0 running 100 $75,293
22 36 77 Dave Blaney Jasper Motorsports Ford 392 0 running 97 $65,860
23 3 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac 392 0 running 94 $71,360
24 16 31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 392 0 running 91 $70,266
25 5 25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 391 0 running 88 $51,960
26 29 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 391 0 running 85 $77,587
27 39 23 Hut Stricklin Bill Davis Racing Dodge 391 0 running 82 $51,385
28 11 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 390 0 running 79 $40,035
29 21 19 Jeremy Mayfield Evernham Motorsports Dodge 390 0 running 76 $50,872
30 31 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 390 0 running 73 $53,700
31 38 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 390 0 running 70 $58,964
32 41 66 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 387 0 running 67 $42,000
33 37 26 Joe Nemechek Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 386 0 running 64 $64,512
34 43 90 Rick Mast Donlavey Racing Ford 385 0 running 61 $39,250
35 2 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 384 0 engine 58 $47,350
36 24 4 Mike Skinner Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 362 0 engine 55 $39,050
37 32 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 332 0 running 52 $39,000
38 30 33 Mike Wallace Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 288 0 running 49 $46,940
39 20 7 Casey Atwood Ultra-Evernham Motorsports Dodge 281 0 running 46 $38,890
40 26 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 173 0 engine 43 $46,815
41 13 44 Buckshot Jones Petty Enterprises Dodge 153 0 crash 40 $38,765
42 4 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 145 17 engine 42 $86,563
43 42 14 Stacy Compton A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac 25 0 engine 34 $38,009
Failed to qualify
44 71 Dick Trickle Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet
45 59 Randy Renfrow Price Motorsports Dodge
46 85 Carl Long Mansion Motorsports Ford
Official race results

References

edit
  1. ^ Poole, David (2002-02-24). "Kenseth wins, but car fails post-race". ThatsRacin. Archived from the original on 2005-03-06. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
  2. ^ Poole, David (2002-02-26). "Kenseth: Dent in roof caused violation". ThatsRacin. Archived from the original on 2004-12-16. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
  3. ^ "Fast Track High Performance Driving School, Inc". Fasttrackracing.com. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
  4. ^ a b c d "Jayski's Silly Season Site – 2002 Rockingham 1 Race Info Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on 2005-02-06. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
  5. ^ "NASCAR.com – Races – 2002 Rockingham 1 Practice 1 Results". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on 2002-06-03. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
  6. ^ "NASCAR.com – Races – 2002 Rockingham 1 Practice 2 Results". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on 2002-06-03. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
  7. ^ "NASCAR.com – Races – 2002 Rockingham 1 Practice 3 Results". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on 2002-06-03. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
  8. ^ "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.
  9. ^ "Craven continues form with Rockingham pole". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
  10. ^ "2002 Subway 400 – The Third Turn". www.thethirdturn.com. Retrieved 2022-02-23.
Previous race:
2002 Daytona 500
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
2002 season
Next race:
2002 UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400