2002 Pennsylvania 500

20th race of the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series February 2025 NASWINSTON Evernham Motorsports 36 20 Allen Bestwick, Benny Parsons, Wally Dallenbach Jr. 106 TNT Motor Racing Network 125.809 mph km/h Bill Elliott Bill Elliott Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Evernham Motorsports 9 Long Pond, Pennsylvania, Pocono Raceway 804.672 704.088 500 200 175 4.0 2.5 30th Annual Pep Boys presents the Pennsylvania 500 Pep Boys presents the Pennsylvania 500 52.765 2002 437.5 July 28 2002_Pennsylvania_500_program_cover.jpg The 2002 Pennsylvania 500 program cover. 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.NASCAR: Elliott prevails in sloppy race passing Marlin to win Pennsylvania 500 https://old.post-gazette.com/sports/auto/20020729carsrp0729p3.asp 2022-03-27 old.post-gazette.comJuly 2026 medicmedic 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.Rodman Dave 2002-07-29 Elliott endures to capture fifth Pocono victory http://www.nascar.com/2002/news/headlines/wc/07/28/pocono_lead/index.html dead https://web.archive.org/web/20021203011502/http://www.nascar.com/2002/news/headlines/wc/07/28/pocono_lead/index.html 2002-12-03 2022-03-27 NASCAR.com2002-07-29 Bill Elliott sets Pocono record with Pennsylvania 500 victory 12 The Tribune https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98481750/bill-elliott-sets-pocono-record-with/ 2022-03-27 Newspapers.com To fill out the podium, Kurt Busch of Roush Racing and Sterling Marlin of Chip Ganassi Racing would finish second and third, respectively. Background thumb|The layout of Pocono Raceway, the venue where the race was held. 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. Entry list (R) denotes rookie driver. #DriverTeamMake1Steve ParkDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet2Rusty WallacePenske RacingFord4Mike SkinnerMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevrolet5Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet6Mark MartinRoush RacingFord7Casey AtwoodUltra-Evernham MotorsportsDodge8Dale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet9Bill ElliottEvernham MotorsportsDodge10Johnny Benson Jr.MBV MotorsportsPontiac11Brett BodineBrett Bodine RacingFord12Ryan Newman (R)Penske RacingFord14Mike WallaceA. J. Foyt EnterprisesPontiac15Michael WaltripDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet17Matt KensethRoush RacingFord18Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac19Jeremy MayfieldEvernham MotorsportsDodge20Tony StewartJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac21Elliott SadlerWood Brothers RacingFord22Ward BurtonBill Davis RacingDodge23Hut StricklinBill Davis RacingDodge24Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet25Joe NemechekHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet26Geoff BodineHaas-Carter MotorsportsFord27Kirk ShelmerdineKirk Shelmerdine RacingFord28Ricky RuddRobert Yates RacingFord29Kevin HarvickRichard Childress RacingChevrolet30Jeff GreenRichard Childress RacingChevrolet31Robby GordonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet32Ricky CravenPPI MotorsportsFord36Ken SchraderMB2 MotorsportsPontiac37Derrike CopeQuest Motor RacingFord40Sterling MarlinChip Ganassi RacingDodge41Jimmy SpencerChip Ganassi RacingDodge43John AndrettiPetty EnterprisesDodge44Jerry NadeauPetty EnterprisesDodge45Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesDodge48Jimmie Johnson (R)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet55Bobby HamiltonAndy Petree RacingChevrolet77Dave BlaneyJasper MotorsportsFord79Carl LongSR RacingDodge88Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord89Morgan ShepherdShepherd Racing VenturesFord97Kurt BuschRoush RacingFord99Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFordOfficial entry list Practice First practice The first practice session was held on Friday, July 26, at 11:20 AM EST, and would last for 2 hours. Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site - 2002 Pocono 2 Race Info & Rundown http://www.jayski.com/next/2002/2002poc2.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20190129163926/http://www.jayski.com/next/2002/2002poc2.htm 2019-01-29 2022-03-27 Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site 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 mph km/h. NASCAR.com - Races - 2002 Pocono 2 Practice 1 Results http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/20/data/practice1_speeds.html dead https://web.archive.org/web/20021202122534/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/20/data/practice1_speeds.html 2002-12-02 2022-03-28 NASCAR.com Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed128Ricky RuddRobert Yates RacingFord52.859170.264243John AndrettiPetty EnterprisesDodge53.095169.50839Bill ElliottEvernham MotorsportsDodge53.131169.393Full 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. 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 mph km/h. NASCAR.com - Races - 2002 Pocono 2 Practice 2 Results http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/20/data/practice2_speeds.html dead https://web.archive.org/web/20021202123212/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/20/data/practice2_speeds.html 2002-12-02 2022-03-28 NASCAR.com Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed128Ricky RuddRobert Yates RacingFord54.410165.411217Matt KensethRoush RacingFord54.481165.195324Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet54.489165.171Full 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. 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 mph km/h. NASCAR.com - Races - 2002 Pocono 2 Practice 3 Results http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/20/data/practice3_speeds.html dead https://web.archive.org/web/20021214095647/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/20/data/practice3_speeds.html 2002-12-14 2022-03-28 NASCAR.com Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed197Kurt BuschRoush RacingFord54.747164.39322Rusty WallacePenske RacingFord54.754164.372348Jimmie Johnson (R)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet54.825164.159Full 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. 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. Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2002 Provisional/Owners Points Page http://www.jayski.com/stats/2002/2002prov.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20050205192304/http://www.jayski.com/stats/2002/2002prov.htm 2005-02-05 2022-03-02 Jayski's Silly Season Site Bill Elliott of Evernham Motorsports would win the pole, setting a time of 52.765 and an average speed of 170.568 mph km/h.Nascar Winston Cup: Elliott snares record-tying pole https://www2.ljworld.com/news/2002/jul/27/nascar_winston_cup/ 2022-03-27 LJWorld.com en-US Carl Long was the only driver to fail to qualify. Full qualifying results Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed19Bill ElliottEvernham MotorsportsDodge52.765170.568228Ricky RuddRobert Yates RacingFord52.830170.358315Michael WaltripDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet52.889170.168419Jeremy MayfieldEvernham MotorsportsDodge52.967169.917543John AndrettiPetty EnterprisesDodge53.009169.783610Johnny Benson Jr.MBV MotorsportsPontiac53.119169.431748Jimmie Johnson (R)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet53.122169.421812Ryan Newman (R)Penske RacingFord53.128169.40292Rusty WallacePenske RacingFord53.143169.3541020Tony StewartJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac53.156169.313118Dale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet53.173169.2591244Jerry NadeauPetty EnterprisesDodge53.185169.2211340Sterling MarlinChip Ganassi RacingDodge53.209169.144141Steve ParkDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet53.239169.0491588Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord53.290168.8871632Ricky CravenPPI MotorsportsFord53.333168.751176Mark MartinRoush RacingFord53.338168.7351855Bobby HamiltonAndy Petree RacingChevrolet53.343168.719197Casey AtwoodUltra-Evernham MotorsportsDodge53.358168.6722025Joe NemechekHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet53.390168.5712177Dave BlaneyJasper MotorsportsFord53.420168.4762217Matt KensethRoush RacingFord53.461168.3472397Kurt BuschRoush RacingFord53.488168.2622426Geoff BodineHaas-Carter MotorsportsFord53.490168.2562536Ken SchraderMB2 MotorsportsPontiac53.496168.2372630Jeff GreenRichard Childress RacingChevrolet53.499168.2272731Robby GordonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet53.614167.8672824Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet53.644167.7732929Kevin HarvickRichard Childress RacingChevrolet53.645167.770305Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet53.667167.7013123Hut StricklinBill Davis RacingDodge53.676167.6733221Elliott SadlerWood Brothers RacingFord53.678167.6673399Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFord53.713167.5573422Ward BurtonBill Davis RacingDodge53.732167.4983541Jimmy SpencerChip Ganassi RacingDodge53.739167.4763614Mike WallaceA. J. Foyt EnterprisesPontiac53.892167.001Provisionals3718Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac53.955166.8063845Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesDodge54.174166.131394Mike SkinnerMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevrolet54.124166.2854011Brett BodineBrett Bodine RacingFord54.392165.4654137Derrike CopeQuest Motor RacingFord54.591164.8624227Kirk ShelmerdineKirk Shelmerdine RacingFord——4389Morgan ShepherdShepherd Racing VenturesFord55.309162.722Failed to qualify4479Carl LongSR RacingDodge54.608164.811Official qualifying results Race Lap 1 crash On the first lap, outside pole sitter Ricky Rudd took the lead from pole sitter Bill Elliott in turn 1. Behind the leaders where a whole pack of cars were racing side by side, Rusty Wallace, who started 9th, was running in 10th when Steve Park, who started 11th, began to peak to Wallace's outside. Wallace went up to block Park but instead Wallace went across Park's nose and Wallace hit the wall. Park turned left to avoid Wallace but instead ran into his Dale Earnhardt Inc. teammate in Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Park spun across Jr's right front. Both Park and Junior began to spin and slide through the wet infield grass that was slippery due to the rain that fell. Park's car tipped towards the passenger side of the car and Junior ended up bulldozing Park's car into the inside of an old-fashioned highway guardrail barrier head-on and then with the passenger side and ended up breaking the barrier. Park's car ramped up over Junior's hood and Park flipped over about 2 times before coming to a rest on the driver's side door. Junior got out of his car in a big hurry and ran over to check on his teammate to see if he was ok. The caution flew and Ricky Rudd led the cars back to the line and the red flag was shown shortly after as rescue crews attempted to get Park out of his car. About 2 minutes after the crash, the rescue crews with the help of Dale Earnhardt Jr. were able to get Park out of his car. Park was uninjured and he and Junior walked together to a waiting ambulance to take them to the infield care center. The race was red-flagged for a total of 65 minutes due to the crews attempting to repair the broken barrier.https://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/29/sports/auto-racing-crash-overshadows-elliott-s-triumph.html?scp=10&sq=%22bill+elliott%22&st=nyt The New York Times AUTO RACING; Crash Overshadows Elliott's Triumph Dave Caldwell July 29, 2002 Rest of race After the barrier was repaired, the red flag was lifted. The race restarted on lap 9 with Ricky Rudd leading the race. On the next lap, Bill Elliott took the lead from Rudd. On lap 24, the race was red-flagged again due to rain. The race was red-flagged for 2 hours and 2 minutes due to the rainy weather. Once the rain cleared and the track was dried, the race got back underway on lap 33 with Joe Nemechek as the race leader. On lap 39, Nemechek lost the lead to Sterling Marlin. Green flag pitstops began on lap 62 with Ricky Rudd, Elliott Sadler, and Robby Gordon taking the leads before they made their pit stops. Once everything cycled through, Marlin got his lead back. On lap 98, another cycle of green flag pit stops began again with Kurt Busch and Dave Blaney taking the leads before they made their pit stops. Marlin got his lead back after everything cycled through. The third caution flew on lap 105 when Mike Skinner's car stalled in turn 3. The race restarted on lap 110 with Marlin as the leader. During that green flag period, NASCAR decided to shorten the race from 200 laps to 175 laps due to darkness since the racetrack does not have lights. Green flag pitstops began again on lap 136 with Jeff Burton, Kurt Busch, and Jimmie Johnson switching the lead. With 37 laps to go, the 4th caution flew when Jeremy Mayfield crashed in turn 2. Sterling Marlin led the field to the restart with 30 to go. On the next lap, the 5th and final caution flew when Jerry Nadeau crashed in turn 2. With 24 to go, Marlin led the field to the restart. With 19 to go, Bill Elliott passed Sterling Marlin to take the lead and his first win of 2002. Kurt Busch, Sterling Marlin, Dale Jarrett, and Ryan Newman rounded out the top 5 while Kevin Harvick, Tony Stewart, Matt Kenseth, Terry Labonte, and Ricky Rudd rounded out the top 10.https://old.post-gazette.com/sports/auto/20020729carsrp0729p3.asp NASCAR: Elliott prevails in sloppy race passing Marlin to win Pennsylvania 500 July 29, 2002July 2026 medicmedic Race results Fin2002 Pennsylvania 500 - The Third Turn https://www.thethirdturn.com/wiki/2002_Pennsylvania_500 2022-03-25 www.thethirdturn.com en#DriverTeamMakeLapsLedStatusPtsWinnings19Bill ElliottEvernham MotorsportsDodge17535running180$193,401297Kurt BuschRoush RacingFord1753running175$113,570340Sterling MarlinChip Ganassi RacingDodge175106running175$136,487488Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord1750running160$109,355512Ryan Newman (R)Penske RacingFord1750running155$85,975629Kevin HarvickRichard Childress RacingChevrolet1750running150$98,943720Tony StewartJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac1750running146$96,043817Matt KensethRoush RacingFord1750running142$64,76595Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet1750running138$78,4981028Ricky RuddRobert Yates RacingFord17510running139$93,1821118Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac1750running130$93,7431224Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet1750running127$93,903136Mark MartinRoush RacingFord1750running124$78,2981422Ward BurtonBill Davis RacingDodge1750running121$82,8651548Jimmie Johnson (R)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet1752running123$46,5151699Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFord1751running120$84,0321732Ricky CravenPPI MotorsportsFord1750running112$51,2651815Michael WaltripDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet1750running109$50,9651955Bobby HamiltonAndy Petree RacingChevrolet1750running106$63,5152036Ken SchraderMB2 MotorsportsPontiac1750running103$64,1402121Elliott SadlerWood Brothers RacingFord1752running105$58,2542277Dave BlaneyJasper MotorsportsFord1752running102$49,5652343John AndrettiPetty EnterprisesDodge1750running94$68,3232425Joe NemechekHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet1759running96$48,9902531Robby GordonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet1751running93$67,1712630Jeff GreenRichard Childress RacingChevrolet1750running85$40,4652745Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesDodge1740running82$40,215287Casey AtwoodUltra-Evernham MotorsportsDodge1740running79$40,065294Mike SkinnerMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevrolet1730running76$39,3903010Johnny Benson Jr.MBV MotorsportsPontiac1730running73$63,9903123Hut StricklinBill Davis RacingDodge1680transmission70$36,5903241Jimmy SpencerChip Ganassi RacingDodge1620engine67$36,4403311Brett BodineBrett Bodine RacingFord1570running64$36,2403426Geoff BodineHaas-Carter MotorsportsFord1540engine61$61,2273537Derrike CopeQuest Motor RacingFord1540engine58$35,8653644Jerry NadeauPetty EnterprisesDodge1460crash55$35,665378Dale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet1440running52$55,1003819Jeremy MayfieldEvernham MotorsportsDodge1360crash49$43,3753914Mike WallaceA. J. Foyt EnterprisesPontiac1140engine46$35,250402Rusty WallacePenske RacingFord830crash43$79,3504127Kirk ShelmerdineKirk Shelmerdine RacingFord810brakes40$34,9654289Morgan ShepherdShepherd Racing VenturesFord524overheating42$34,875431Steve ParkDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet00crash34$64,944Official race results References 2002 New England 300 NASCAR Winston Cup Series 2002 2002 Brickyard 400 Category:2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Category:NASCAR races at Pocono Raceway Category:July 2002 sports events in the United States Category:2002 in sports in Pennsylvania