2002 Sharpie 500

24th race of the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series February 2025 NASWINSTON August 24 The 2002 Sharpie 500 program cover. Performance Racing Network TNT 24 Jeff Gordon Jeff Gordon Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports 235 77.097 mph km/h 36 Bristol, Tennessee, Bristol Motor Speedway 24 42nd Annual Sharpie 500 Sharpie 500 500 500 266.5 428.89 428.89 0.858 0.533 2002 15.470 266.5 Allen Bestwick, Benny Parsons, Wally Dallenbach Jr. 2002_Sharpie_500_program_cover.png The 2002 Sharpie 500 was the 24th stock car race of the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 42nd iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, August 24, 2002, in Bristol, Tennessee at Bristol Motor Speedway, a 0.533 miles (0.858 km) permanent oval-shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 500 laps to complete. At race's end, Jeff Gordon, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would complete a bump-and-run with less than three to go on eventual second-place finisher, Penske Racing driver Rusty Wallace, to win his 59th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series win and his first of the season.Packman Tim August 27, 2002 Gordon trips up Wallace, ends losing streak http://www.nascar.com/2002/news/headlines/wc/08/24/sharpie_500/index.html dead https://web.archive.org/web/20021203194639/http://www.nascar.com/2002/news/headlines/wc/08/24/sharpie_500/index.html December 3, 2002 April 9, 2002 NASCAR.com Turner Sports Interactive2002-08-26 With win at Bristol, Gordon savors end to 31-race drought 30 The Rock Island Argus https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99402450/with-win-at-bristol-gordon-savors-end/ 2022-04-09 Newspapers.com To fill out the podium, Dale Earnhardt Jr. of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. would finish third. But the race became notable for it being a night of tempers were there was 4 different instances where drivers showed their tempers to other drivers. Background thumb|The layout of Bristol Motor Speedway, the venue where the race was held. The Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway, is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961. Despite its short length, Bristol is among the most popular tracks on the NASCAR schedule because of its distinct features, which include extraordinarily steep banking, an all concrete surface, two pit roads, and stadium-like seating. It has also been named one of the loudest NASCAR tracks. Entry list (R) denotes rookie driver. #DriverTeamMake1Steve ParkDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet2Rusty WallacePenske RacingFord02Hermie SadlerSCORE MotorsportsChevrolet4Mike 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 MotorsportsChevrolet26Todd BodineHaas-Carter MotorsportsFord27Scott WimmerBill Davis RacingDodge28Ricky RuddRobert Yates RacingFord29Kevin HarvickRichard Childress RacingChevrolet30Jeff GreenRichard Childress RacingChevrolet31Robby GordonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet32Ricky CravenPPI MotorsportsFord36Ken SchraderMB2 MotorsportsPontiac40Sterling MarlinChip Ganassi RacingDodge41Jimmy SpencerChip Ganassi RacingDodge43John AndrettiPetty EnterprisesDodge44Jerry NadeauPetty EnterprisesDodge45Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesDodge48Jimmie Johnson (R)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet49Derrike CopeBAM RacingDodge51Carl LongWare Racing EnterprisesDodge55Bobby HamiltonAndy Petree RacingChevrolet71Tim SauterMarcis Auto RacingChevrolet77Dave BlaneyJasper MotorsportsFord88Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord89Morgan ShepherdShepherd Racing VenturesFord90Lance HooperDonlavey RacingFord97Kurt BuschRoush RacingFord99Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFordOfficial entry list Practice Originally, three practice sessions were going to be held, with all three being held on Friday, August 23. However, due to a long rain delay during qualifying, the second practice session was canceled. Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site - 2002 Bristol 2 Race Info & Rundown http://www.jayski.com/next/2002/2002bms2.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20190129164519/http://www.jayski.com/next/2002/2002bms2.htm 2019-01-29 2022-04-09 Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site First practice The first practice session was held on Friday, August 23, at 11:20 AM EST, and would last for two hours. Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 15.420 and an average speed of 124.436 mph km/h on. NASCAR.com - Races - 2002 Bristol 2 Practice 1 Results http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/24/data/practice1_speeds.html dead https://web.archive.org/web/20021015092301/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/24/data/practice1_speeds.html October 15, 2002 April 9, 2002 NASCAR.com Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed124Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet15.420124.43628Dale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet15.507123.73839Bill ElliottEvernham MotorsportsDodge15.526123.586Full first practice results Final practice The final practice session was held on Friday, August 23, at 6:15 PM EST, and would last for 45 minutes. Ryan Newman of Penske Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 15.790 and an average speed of 121.520 mph km/h on. NASCAR.com - Races - 2002 Bristol 2 Practice 2 Results http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/24/data/practice2_speeds.html dead https://web.archive.org/web/20021203175923/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/24/data/practice2_speeds.html December 3, 2002 April 9, 2022 NASCAR.com Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed112Ryan Newman (R)Penske RacingFord15.790121.52029Bill ElliottEvernham MotorsportsDodge15.889120.763330Jeff GreenRichard Childress RacingChevrolet15.985120.037Full Final practice results Qualifying Qualifying was held on Friday, August 23, 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 champion 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 Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports would win the pole, setting a time of 15.470 and an average speed of 124.034 mph km/h.Smith Marty August 23, 2002 Gordon reigns after rain to take Bristol pole - August 23, 2002 http://www.nascar.com/2002/news/headlines/wc/08/23/bristol_pole/index.html dead https://web.archive.org/web/20021203193703/http://www.nascar.com/2002/news/headlines/wc/08/23/bristol_pole/index.html December 3, 2002 April 9, 2022 NASCAR.com Turner Sports Interactive Four drivers would fail to qualify: Hermie Sadler, Carl Long, Morgan Shepherd, and Tim Sauter. Full qualifying results Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed124Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet15.470124.03428Dale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet15.482123.938315Michael WaltripDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet15.486123.90642Rusty WallacePenske RacingFord15.490123.87359Bill ElliottEvernham MotorsportsDodge15.492123.857610Johnny Benson Jr.MBV MotorsportsPontiac15.505123.754732Ricky CravenPPI MotorsportsFord15.516123.666897Kurt BuschRoush RacingFord15.526123.586922Ward BurtonBill Davis RacingDodge15.528123.5701017Matt KensethRoush RacingFord15.532123.5381141Jimmy SpencerChip Ganassi RacingDodge15.532123.5381218Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac15.544123.4431319Jeremy MayfieldEvernham MotorsportsDodge15.545123.4351412Ryan Newman (R)Penske RacingFord15.555123.3561528Ricky RuddRobert Yates RacingFord15.560123.316164Mike SkinnerMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevrolet15.565123.277177Casey AtwoodUltra-Evernham MotorsportsDodge15.575123.1971830Jeff GreenRichard Childress RacingChevrolet15.582123.1421988Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord15.587123.1032025Joe NemechekHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet15.618122.858216Mark MartinRoush RacingFord15.621122.8352245Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesDodge15.624122.8112329Kevin HarvickRichard Childress RacingChevrolet15.639122.693245Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet15.646122.6382526Todd BodineHaas-Carter MotorsportsFord15.647122.6312620Tony StewartJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac15.648122.6232740Sterling MarlinChip Ganassi RacingDodge15.660122.5292811Brett BodineBrett Bodine RacingFord15.662122.5132949Derrike CopeBAM RacingDodge15.671122.4433031Robby GordonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet15.672122.4353127Scott WimmerBill Davis RacingDodge15.679122.3803248Jimmie Johnson (R)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet15.684122.3413314Mike WallaceA. J. Foyt EnterprisesPontiac15.684122.3413455Bobby HamiltonAndy Petree RacingChevrolet15.708122.1543544Jerry NadeauPetty EnterprisesDodge15.741121.8983699Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFord15.769121.682Provisionals3777Dave BlaneyJasper MotorsportsFord15.891120.7483821Elliott SadlerWood Brothers RacingFord15.787121.5433943John AndrettiPetty EnterprisesDodge15.848121.0754036Ken SchraderMB2 MotorsportsPontiac——4123Hut StricklinBill Davis RacingDodge15.840121.136421Steve ParkDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet15.791121.5124390Lance HooperDonlavey RacingFord16.072119.388Failed to qualify4402Hermie SadlerSCORE MotorsportsChevrolet15.831121.2054551Carl LongWare Racing EnterprisesDodge15.942120.3614689Morgan ShepherdShepherd Racing VenturesFord16.098119.1954771Tim SauterMarcis Auto RacingChevrolet16.198118.459Official qualifying results Race Dale Earnhardt Jr. led the first lap of the race from pole sitter Jeff Gordon. The first caution flew on lap 5 when Todd Bodine, Steve Park, and Lance Hooper crashed on the backstretch. Dale Earnhardt Jr. held on to his lead on the restart of the race on lap 12. On lap 17, the second caution flew when Todd Bodine crashed on the backstretch. The race restarted on lap 23 and Dale Jr. held on to his lead. The third caution flew on lap 30 when Robby Gordon spun in turn 4. The race restarted on lap 36 and no one could catch Dale Earnhardt Jr. as Jr. went on to lead the first 130 laps of the race. After only 21 green flag laps, the fourth caution flew on lap 56 when Ricky Craven spun in turn 2 after he got dumped by Robby Gordon. On pit road during the caution, points leader Sterling Marlin was penalized for dragging his jack out of his pit box and had to go to the rear of the field. The race restarted on lap 62. On lap 68, the 5th caution flew when Elliott Sadler crashed on the backstretch after contact with Joe Nemechek. Sadler got out of his car and pointed at his head at Nemechek as Nemechek went by as if Sadler was saying "I will remember that."https://twitter.com/basso488/status/1429940356561375235 Andrew on Twitter:"2002 Sharpie 500 @ Bristol August 14, 2018 The race restarted on lap 76. On lap 131, Jeff Gordon took the lead from Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Gordon would go on to lead the next 116 laps of the race. After 75 green flag laps, The 6th caution flew on lap 150 when rookie star Jimmie Johnson spun in turn 4. Jeff Gordon beat out Jimmy Spencer to win the race off of pit road to keep his lead and the race restarted on lap 157. The 7th caution flew on lap 168 when multiple cars like Scott Wimmer, Terry Labonte, and Derrike Cope cut tires after running over debris. The race restarted on lap 175. On lap 247, Dale Earnhardt Jr. took the lead from Jeff Gordon. But 11 laps later on lap 257, Jeff Gordon took the lead back from Dale Jr. and Gordon would lead the next 116 laps. After the longest green flag run of 117 laps, the 8th caution flew on lap 291 when Steve Park spun in turn 2. Jeff Gordon won the race off of pit road to keep his lead. On the restart on lap 298, chaos ensued that collected a total of 9 cars. Jeremy Mayfield got turned by Dale Jarrett and Mayfield spun up and back down and clipped Jarett causing Jarrett to spin in turn 1 and collect more cars. The wreck also collected Jeff Burton, Ryan Newman, Mark Martin, Jerry Nadeau, Bobby Labonte, Michael Waltrip, and Kurt Busch. The race restarted on lap 308. On lap 315, the 10th caution flew when Ricky Craven slowed on the backstretch and was run into from behind by Jeff Green giving Green major front end damage. The race restarted on lap 331 but on lap 333, the 11th caution flew when Ryan Newman crashed in turn 4 after contact with Mark Martin. Terry Labonte also spun trying to avoid the crash. The race restarted on lap 339. More tempers On lap 347, the 12th caution flew when Hut Stricklin crashed in turn 3 after contact by Jeremy Mayfield. Stricklin, making his final Winston Cup start, got out of his car and pointed and clapped at Mayfield as Mayfield went by as a show of displeasure.https://twitter.com/basso488/status/1429940356561375235 Andrew on Twitter:"2002 Sharpie 500 @ Bristol August 14, 2018 The race restarted on lap 356. On lap 370, the 13th caution flew when Casey Atwood and Dave Blaney crashed in turn 2. Ward Burton won the race off of pit road but many cars stayed out including Johnny Benson who was the new race leader. During the caution period, things got a little heated in the lap down lane. Rookie Jimmie Johnson, who was third in points coming into the race, was the first car that was 1 lap down and he lined up alongside the second to last car on the lead lap in Mike Wallace. Behind Johnson was Robby Gordon who was the second car one lap down. During the caution period, Gordon bumped into Johnson's rear bumper a few times for what appears to be because Gordon wanted to restart in front of Johnson. As soon as they took the green flag, Gordon continued to run all over the bumper of Johnson and ended up turning him around collecting Mark Martin as well as John Andretti who spun late bringing out the 14th caution of the race. While they were racing back to the line, Gordon went all over the back bumper of race leader Johnny Benson even shoving him up the race track in an attempt to get his lap back which he did. An angry Johnson got out of his car and waited for Robby Gordon to come by. About 3 laps after the wreck, Johnson went to Gordon's car, gave him the finger, and walked to the ambulance. Johnson in his interview said "just like every form of racing he's ever been it's always somebody else's fault. He had me turned before we even took the green I didn't even have a chance to grab a gear. He's beating my bumper cover off coming to the green because he wanted to restart in front of me. I'm trying to get my lap back as well so he's just crying up a river like he always does. It's a shame we got a chance to win the championship and we get spun out before we take the green on a restart it's just wrong." He also said later that he enjoyed flipping off Gordon. Eventually, NASCAR said that Gordon must come down pit road and serve a 2 lap penalty. But both Gordon and his car owner Richard Childress agreed that Johnson missed a gear shift and that there was nothing that Gordon could do about it. Gordon did eventually serve his penalty.https://www.pilotonline.com/sports/article_cbb3da46-5e6b-5f6f-ab6e-60f1345dafd4.html Bristol racing track losing rough-and-tumble image August 22, 2009 The race restarted on lap 388. On lap 389, Kurt Busch took the lead from Benson. But the tempers did not end. On lap 403, the 15th and final caution flew when Dale Earnhardt Jr. bumped Ward Burton turning Burton around. An angry Burton got out of his car, took off his heel pads on his shoes, and went up to the apron of the race track waiting for Jr. As soon as Burton saw Jr's race car, Burton put his arms out as a gesture to Jr. and threw his brake pads at Jr's car as he went by. Burton's pads ricocheted off of Jr's car and hit Burton. NASCAR did tell Burton and his crew chief Tommy Baldwin Jr. to visit the NASCAR hauler. In his interview, Burton quoted "I wish I had something I could've shot through the window."https://www.bristolmotorspeedway.com/media/news/bass-pro-shops-nra-night-race-unleashes-drivers-inner-beast-epic-battles-inside-last-great-colosseum.html BASS PRO SHOPS NRA NIGHT RACE UNLEASHES DRIVERS' INNER BEAST IN EPIC BATTLES INSIDE THE LAST GREAT COLOSSEUM August 4, 2017 After the tempers that flared throughout the night, TNT, who was broadcasting the event, decided to have a good sense of humor about the tempers that were shown by different drivers throughout the night. They put up a temper statline on TV that said "Mouthing Off – 2, Finger Pointing – 3, Car Bumping – 5, Heel Pads Thrown – 2, Ambulance Abuse – 1."https://www.reddit.com/r/NASCAR/comments/66608h/whats_your_favorite_bristol_race_mine_is_the/ What's your favorite Bristol race? August 18, 2017 Final laps The race restarted on lap 424 with Kurt Busch still the leader. On lap 434, Matt Kenseth took the lead from his Roush racing teammate. On lap 444, Kevin Harvick took the lead from Kenseth and held on to it for the next 38 laps. With 22 laps to go, Rusty Wallace passed Matt Kenseth for second and began to close in on Kevin Harvick. With 19 laps to go, Rusty Wallace pulled the bump and run on Harvick and took the lead. With 18 to go, Jeff Gordon passed Harvick for 2nd place. With 10 laps to go, Wallace had built a manageable lead over Gordon and it looked like Wallace was gonna win. But with the laps winding down, Jeff Gordon kept getting closer and closer to Wallace. With 4 laps to go, Wallace got loose coming out of turn 2 and Gordon was now all over the back bumper of Wallace. Gordon attempted to bump and run Wallace a couple different times but Wallace held on to his ground. Finally, with 3 laps to go in turn 3, Gordon got to the back bumper of Wallace and moved him up the race track and Gordon sneaked by Wallace and took the lead. Wallace attempted to get Gordon back in the last 2 laps but could not get to his back bumper and the defending Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon took home his first win of the 2002 season and Wallace finished 2nd. This was Gordon's first win since the 2001 Protection One 400 at Kansas. This was also Gordon's 5th and final career win at Bristol.https://www.theintelligencer.com/news/article/Jeff-Gordon-Wins-the-Sharpie-500-10534066.php Jeff Gordon Wins the Sharpie 500 August 23, 2002 Dale Earnhardt Jr., Matt Kenseth, and Kevin Harvick rounded out the top 5 while Kurt Busch, Sterling Marlin, Jimmy Spencer, Bobby Labonte, and Mike Wallace rounded out the top 10. Race results Fin2002 Sharpie 500 - The Third Turn https://www.thethirdturn.com/wiki/2002_Sharpie_500 2022-04-08 www.thethirdturn.com enSt#DriverTeamMakeLapsLedStatusPtsWinnings1124Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet500235running185$245,543242Rusty WallacePenske RacingFord50016running175$173,240328Dale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet500140running170$131,09042329Kevin HarvickRichard Childress RacingChevrolet50038running165$137,03351017Matt KensethRoush RacingFord50010running160$98,3756897Kurt BuschRoush RacingFord50045running155$83,26572740Sterling MarlinChip Ganassi RacingDodge5000running146$113,55781141Jimmy SpencerChip Ganassi RacingDodge5000running142$89,84091218Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac5000running138$110,868103314Mike WallaceA. J. Foyt EnterprisesPontiac5000running134$71,690113455Bobby HamiltonAndy Petree RacingChevrolet5000running130$91,29012610Johnny Benson Jr.MBV MotorsportsPontiac50016running132$92,840133699Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFord5000running124$104,607144036Ken SchraderMB2 MotorsportsPontiac4990running121$88,990152245Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesDodge4990running118$64,36016732Ricky CravenPPI MotorsportsFord4990running115$71,3101759Bill ElliottEvernham MotorsportsDodge4990running112$88,01618177Casey AtwoodUltra-Evernham MotorsportsDodge4990running109$72,200193943John AndrettiPetty EnterprisesDodge4990running106$88,533203031Robby GordonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet4980running103$90,366213544Jerry NadeauPetty EnterprisesDodge4980running100$69,62422315Michael WaltripDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet4980running97$68,93523216Mark MartinRoush RacingFord4970running94$93,818242620Tony StewartJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac4970running91$103,788251319Jeremy MayfieldEvernham MotorsportsDodge4970running88$66,51526421Steve ParkDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet4960running85$88,015272025Joe NemechekHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet4940running82$64,730281988Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord4940running79$72,72029164Mike SkinnerMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevrolet4930running76$54,71030245Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet4920running73$81,283314390Lance HooperDonlavey RacingFord4880running70$51,840322811Brett BodineBrett Bodine RacingFord4730running67$51,755333777Dave BlaneyJasper MotorsportsFord4660running64$59,720343248Jimmie Johnson (R)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet4620running61$52,685351830Jeff GreenRichard Childress RacingChevrolet4600running58$51,640361412Ryan Newman (R)Penske RacingFord4540running55$59,60537922Ward BurtonBill Davis RacingDodge4010crash52$94,545384123Hut StricklinBill Davis RacingDodge3440crash49$51,475391528Ricky RuddRobert Yates RacingFord2710overheating46$95,842403127Scott WimmerBill Davis RacingDodge1640crash43$51,350412949Derrike CopeBAM RacingDodge1620crash40$51,300423821Elliott SadlerWood Brothers RacingFord740crash37$59,255432526Todd BodineHaas-Carter MotorsportsFord210crash34$76,634Official race results References 2002 Pepsi 400 presented by Farmer Jack 2002 Mountain Dew Southern 500 NASCAR Winston Cup Series 2002 Sharpie 500 Category:NASCAR races at Bristol Motor Speedway Sharpie 500 Sharpie 500