2002 UAW-GM Quality 500

Race details
Race 31 of 36 in the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
Layout of Lowe's Motor Speedway
Date	October 13, 2002 (2002-October-13)
Location	Lowe's Motor Speedway, Concord, North Carolina
Course	Permanent racing facility 1.5 mi (4.02 km)
Distance	334 laps, 501 mi (806.281 km)
Weather	Mild with temperatures approaching 69.8 °F (21.0 °C); wind speeds up to 12 miles per hour (19 km/h)[1]
Average speed	141.481
Attendance	100,000[2]
Pole position
Driver	Tony Stewart	Joe Gibbs Racing
Time	N/A
Most laps led
Driver	Jamie McMurray	Chip Ganassi Racing
Laps	96
Winner
No. 40	Jamie McMurray	Chip Ganassi Racing
Television in the United States
Network	NBC
Announcers	Allen Bestwick, Benny Parsons and Wally Dallenbach Jr.[3]

The 2002 UAW-GM Quality 500 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series stock car race held at Lowe's Motor Speedway on October 13. Qualifying was canceled because of rain showers, so points leader Tony Stewart started on the pole position. Jamie McMurray, subbing for an injured Sterling Marlin, won his first race in his second career start, setting a new modern era NASCAR record for quickest win. The race would also be the final race for Donlavey Racing.

Rain caused the start of the race to be delayed over 3 hours. After the rain stopped, NASCAR decided to start the race under yellow for the first 5 laps as the track continued to dry. The race began at 3:45 pm Charlotte time (Eastern). Sunset time was 6:51 pm, the race was completed at 7:17, The late finish contributed to a large jump in ratings for the NBC telecast. NASCAR decided to move the fall race at Charlotte from Sunday afternoon to Saturday night for 2003.

McMurray would go on to a modest career in NASCAR's Cup Series, with his 2010 season being the most notable, winning Daytona and Indianapolis.

Background

The race was held at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. Lowe's Motor Speedway is a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) quad-oval track that hosted two other NASCAR Winston Cup Series races during the 2002 season, the Coca-Cola Racing Family 600 and The Winston. Construction of the speedway began in 1959 and finished in 1960 before the inaugural 600-mile race. Bruton Smith and Curtis Turner were the architects of the track, which is now operated by Smith's company, Speedway Motorsports.

Race results

Failed to qualify: Carl Long (#59), Kirk Shelmerdine (#72), Scott Wimmer (#27), Jack Sprague (#60), Kerry Earnhardt (#83), Ron Hornaday Jr. (#54)