2002 Protection One 400
Race details
Race 29 of 36 in the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 2002 Protection One 400 program cover.
The 2002 Protection One 400 program cover.
Date September 29, 2002
Official name Second Annual Protection One 400
Location Kansas City, Kansas, Kansas Speedway
Course Permanent racing facility
1.5 mi (2.41 km)
Distance 267 laps, 400.5 mi (644.542 km)
Scheduled Distance 267 laps, 400.5 mi (644.542 km)
Average speed 119.394 miles per hour (192.146 km/h)
Attendance 78,000
Pole position
Driver
Dale Earnhardt, Inc.
Time 30.350
Most laps led
Driver Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports
Laps 116
Winner
No. 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports
Television in the United States
Network NBC
Announcers Allen Bestwick, Benny Parsons, Wally Dallenbach Jr.
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

The 2002 Protection One 400 was the 29th stock car race of the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the second iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, September 29, 2002, before a crowd of 78,000 in Kansas City, Kansas, at Kansas Speedway, a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) permanent D-shaped oval racetrack. The race took the scheduled 267 laps to complete. At race's end, Jeff Gordon, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would pull away on the final restart with three laps to go to win his 61st career NASCAR Winston Cup Series win and his third and final win of the season.[1][2] To fill out the podium, Ryan Newman and Rusty Wallace, both driving for Penske Racing, would finish second and third, respectively.

Background

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

Kansas Speedway is a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) tri-oval race track in Kansas City, Kansas. It was built in 2001 and hosts two annual NASCAR race weekends. The NTT IndyCar Series also raced there until 2011. The speedway is owned and operated by the International Speedway Corporation.

Entry list

# Driver Team Make Sponsor
1 Steve Park 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 Mike Wallace 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, Banquet Foods
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 Joe Nemechek Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet UAW, Delphi
26 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford Discover Card
27 Kirk Shelmerdine Kirk Shelmerdine Racing Ford Naturally Fresh Foods
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 Energizer
43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge Cheerios
44 Jerry Nadeau Petty Enterprises Dodge Georgia-Pacific Brawny
45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge Sprint PCS Vision
48 Jimmie Johnson (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Lowe's
49 Stuart Kirby BAM Racing Dodge BAM Racing
51 Carl Long Ware Racing Enterprises Dodge Revival Soy
55 Greg Biffle Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet Square D
60 Jack Sprague Haas CNC Racing Chevrolet Haas Automation
74 Tony Raines BACE Motorsports Chevrolet Staff America
77 Dave Blaney Jasper Motorsports Ford Jasper Engines & Transmissions
88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford UPS
89 Morgan Shepherd Shepherd Racing Ventures Ford Racing with Jesus, Red Line Oil
97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford Rubbermaid, Sharpie
99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford Citgo
Official entry list

Practice

First practice

The first practice session was held on Friday, September 27, at 11:20 AM CST, and would last for 2 hours.[3] Jimmie Johnson of Hendrick Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 30.430 and an average speed of 177.456 miles per hour (285.588 km/h).[4]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 48 Jimmie Johnson (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 30.430 177.456
2 12 Ryan Newman (R) Penske Racing Ford 30.466 177.247
3 25 Joe Nemechek Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 30.473 177.206
Full first practice results

Second practice

The second practice session was held on Saturday, September 28, at 9:30 AM CST, and would last for 45 minutes.[3] Ryan Newman of Penske Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 30.898 and an average speed of 174.769 miles per hour (281.263 km/h).[5]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 12 Ryan Newman (R) Penske Racing Ford 30.898 174.769
2 97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford 31.108 173.589
3 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 31.128 173.477
Full second practice results

Third and final practice

The third and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, September 28, at 11:15 AM CST, and would last for 45 minutes.[3] Steve Park of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 31.554 and an average speed of 171.135 miles per hour (275.415 km/h).[6]

During the opening minutes of the session, Joe Gibbs Racing driver Bobby Labonte would crash in turn two, forcing the team to go to a backup car.[7]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 31.554 171.135
2 48 Jimmie Johnson (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 31.585 170.967
3 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 31.609 170.837
Full Happy Hour practice results

Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Friday, September 27, at 3:05 PM CST. Each driver would have two laps to set a fastest time; the fastest of the two would count as their official qualifying lap.[3] 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.[8]

Dale Earnhardt Jr. of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. would win the pole, setting a time of 30.350 and an average speed of 177.924 miles per hour (286.341 km/h).[9]

Three drivers would fail to qualify: Brett Bodine, Kirk Shelmerdine, and Carl Long.

Full qualifying results

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 30.350 177.924
2 48 Jimmie Johnson (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 30.362 177.854
3 12 Ryan Newman (R) Penske Racing Ford 30.526 176.898
4 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 30.598 176.482
5 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 30.640 176.240
6 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 30.645 176.212
7 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 30.671 176.062
8 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 30.682 175.999
9 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 30.703 175.879
10 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 30.703 175.879
11 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing Ford 30.707 175.856
12 25 Joe Nemechek Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 30.710 175.839
13 97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford 30.712 175.827
14 19 Jeremy Mayfield Evernham Motorsports Dodge 30.755 175.581
15 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 30.792 175.370
16 26 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 30.796 175.347
17 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 30.797 175.342
18 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 30.803 175.308
19 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 30.830 175.154
20 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 30.833 175.137
21 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 30.849 175.046
22 31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 30.853 175.023
23 60 Jack Sprague Haas CNC Racing Chevrolet 30.867 174.944
24 30 Jeff Green Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 30.881 174.865
25 74 Tony Raines BACE Motorsports Chevrolet 30.904 174.735
26 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 30.954 174.452
27 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 30.974 174.340
28 23 Kenny Wallace Bill Davis Racing Dodge 30.999 174.199
29 55 Greg Biffle Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 31.012 174.126
30 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 31.018 174.092
31 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 31.021 174.076
32 4 Mike Skinner Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 31.022 174.070
33 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 31.032 174.014
34 77 Dave Blaney Jasper Motorsports Ford 31.058 173.868
35 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac 31.195 173.105
36 14 Mike Wallace A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac 31.199 173.083
Provisionals
37 41 Jimmy Spencer Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 31.513 171.358
38 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 31.286 172.601
39 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 31.292 172.568
40 7 Casey Atwood Ultra-Evernham Motorsports Dodge 31.251 172.794
41 44 Jerry Nadeau Petty Enterprises Dodge 31.307 172.485
42 49 Stuart Kirby BAM Racing Dodge 31.716 170.261
43 89 Morgan Shepherd Shepherd Racing Ventures Ford 32.028 168.602
Failed to qualify
44 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 31.398 171.986
45 27 Kirk Shelmerdine Kirk Shelmerdine Racing Ford 31.635 170.697
46 51 Carl Long (R) Ware Racing Enterprises Dodge 31.640 170.670
Official qualifying results

Race results

Fin[10] St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 10 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 267 116 running 185 $217,928
2 3 12 Ryan Newman (R) Penske Racing Ford 267 81 running 175 $150,140
3 11 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing Ford 267 0 running 165 $140,800
4 12 25 Joe Nemechek Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 267 0 running 160 $105,025
5 5 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 267 3 running 160 $106,231
6 1 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 267 10 running 155 $96,700
7 27 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 267 0 running 146 $89,400
8 8 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 267 0 running 142 $111,778
9 14 19 Jeremy Mayfield Evernham Motorsports Dodge 267 0 running 138 $74,400
10 2 48 Jimmie Johnson (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 266 0 running 134 $69,650
11 26 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 266 48 running 135 $107,478
12 18 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 266 0 running 127 $92,333
13 22 31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 266 0 running 124 $88,156
14 21 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 266 0 running 121 $90,283
15 33 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 266 2 running 123 $64,250
16 28 23 Kenny Wallace Bill Davis Racing Dodge 266 0 running 115 $61,100
17 24 30 Jeff Green Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 266 0 running 112 $61,800
18 38 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 265 1 running 114 $83,500
19 36 14 Mike Wallace A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac 264 0 running 106 $60,200
20 30 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 263 0 running 103 $104,117
21 34 77 Dave Blaney Jasper Motorsports Ford 261 0 running 100 $81,050
22 31 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 261 0 running 97 $101,978
23 35 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac 260 2 crash 99 $85,950
24 37 41 Jimmy Spencer Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 259 0 crash 91 $69,400
25 9 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 250 1 engine 93 $92,833
26 4 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 239 0 running 85 $66,400
27 41 44 Jerry Nadeau Petty Enterprises Dodge 231 0 ignition 82 $66,089
28 39 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 230 0 running 79 $63,000
29 15 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 222 3 engine 81 $99,467
30 17 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 216 0 running 73 $84,975
31 13 97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford 206 0 running 70 $62,400
32 32 4 Mike Skinner Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 198 0 running 67 $54,200
33 7 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 147 0 crash 64 $96,317
34 16 26 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 129 0 engine 61 $78,987
35 23 60 Jack Sprague Haas CNC Racing Chevrolet 97 0 crash 58 $53,550
36 29 55 Greg Biffle Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 74 0 crash 55 $61,300
37 42 49 Stuart Kirby BAM Racing Dodge 44 0 engine 52 $53,100
38 20 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 40 0 overheating 49 $60,900
39 6 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 39 0 engine 46 $72,700
40 43 89 Morgan Shepherd Shepherd Racing Ventures Ford 30 0 crash 43 $52,500
41 25 74 Tony Raines BACE Motorsports Chevrolet 5 0 crash 40 $52,300
42 40 7 Casey Atwood Ultra-Evernham Motorsports Dodge 5 0 crash 37 $52,100
43 19 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 5 0 crash 34 $95,153
Failed to qualify
44 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford
45 27 Kirk Shelmerdine Kirk Shelmerdine Racing Ford
46 51 Carl Long (R) Ware Racing Enterprises Dodge
Official race results

References

  1. ^ Rodman, Dave (October 1, 2002). "Gordon wins at Kansas as points race tightens". NASCAR.com. Turner Sports Interactive. Archived from the original on December 3, 2002. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  2. ^ "Gordon tops the field in Kansas". Florida Today. 2002-09-30. p. 29. Retrieved 2022-04-25 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b c d "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2002 Kansas Race Info Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on February 4, 2005. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  4. ^ "NASCAR.com - Races - 2002 Kansas Practice 1 Results". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on December 10, 2002. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  5. ^ "NASCAR.com - Races - 2002 Kansas Practice 2 Results". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on December 11, 2002. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  6. ^ "NASCAR.com - Races - 2002 Kansas Practice 3 Results". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on December 11, 2002. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  7. ^ Rodman, Dave (September 28, 2002). "B. Labonte walks away from Happy Hour crash". NASCAR.com. Turner Sports Interactive. Archived from the original on December 11, 2002. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  8. ^ "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2002 Provisional/Owners Points Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on 2005-02-05. Retrieved 2022-03-02.
  9. ^ Rodman, Dave (September 27, 2002). "Earnhardt Jr. captures Bud Pole at Kansas". NASCAR.com. Turner Sports Interactive. Archived from the original on December 9, 2002. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  10. ^ "2002 Protection One 400 - The Third Turn". www.thethirdturn.com. Retrieved 2022-04-24.
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