2002 Protection One 400 Explained

Type:NASWINSTON
Scheduled Laps:267
Attendance:78,000
Avg:119.394mph
Announcers:Allen Bestwick, Benny Parsons, Wally Dallenbach Jr.
Radio:Motor Racing Network
Network:NBC
Most Laps:116
Pole Team:Dale Earnhardt, Inc.
First Team:Hendrick Motorsports
Most Team:Hendrick Motorsports
First Driver:Jeff Gordon
Most Driver:Jeff Gordon
Car:24
Pole Driver:Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Distance Laps:267
Location:Kansas City, Kansas, Kansas Speedway
Scheduled Mi:400.5
Course Km:2.41
Course Mi:1.5
Scheduled Km:644.542
Distance Km:644.542
Official Name:Second Annual Protection One 400
Date:September 29
Season No:36
Race No:29
Race Name:Protection One 400
Year:2002
Pole Time:30.350
Distance Mi:400.5
Caption:The 2002 Protection One 400 program cover.

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.

Sterling Marlin suffered a neck injury from a crash during the race, which resulted in him missing the rest of the season.[3]

Background

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

DriverTeamMakeSponsor
1Steve ParkDale Earnhardt, Inc.ChevroletPennzoil
2Rusty WallacePenske RacingFordMiller Lite
4Mike SkinnerMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevroletKodak
5Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevroletKellogg's
6Mark MartinRoush RacingFordViagra
7Casey AtwoodUltra-Evernham MotorsportsDodgeSirius Satellite Radio
8Dale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt, Inc.ChevroletBudweiser
9Bill ElliottEvernham MotorsportsDodgeDodge
10Johnny Benson Jr.MBV MotorsportsPontiacValvoline
11Brett BodineBrett Bodine RacingFordHooters
12Ryan Newman (R)Penske RacingFordAlltel
14Mike WallaceA. J. Foyt EnterprisesPontiacConseco
15Michael WaltripDale Earnhardt, Inc.ChevroletNAPA Auto Parts
17Matt KensethRoush RacingFordDeWalt
18Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingPontiacInterstate Batteries, Banquet Foods
19Jeremy MayfieldEvernham MotorsportsDodgeDodge
20Tony StewartJoe Gibbs RacingPontiacThe Home Depot
21Elliott SadlerWood Brothers RacingFordMotorcraft
22Ward BurtonBill Davis RacingDodgeCaterpillar
23Hut StricklinBill Davis RacingDodgeHills Bros. Coffee
24Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevroletDuPont
25Joe NemechekHendrick MotorsportsChevroletUAW, Delphi
26Todd BodineHaas-Carter MotorsportsFordDiscover Card
27Kirk ShelmerdineKirk Shelmerdine RacingFordNaturally Fresh Foods
28Ricky RuddRobert Yates RacingFordTexaco, Havoline
29Kevin HarvickRichard Childress RacingChevroletGM Goodwrench
30Jeff GreenRichard Childress RacingChevroletAmerica Online
31Robby GordonRichard Childress RacingChevroletCingular Wireless
32Ricky CravenPPI MotorsportsFordTide
36Ken SchraderMB2 MotorsportsPontiacPedigree
40Sterling MarlinChip Ganassi RacingDodgeCoors Light
41Jimmy SpencerChip Ganassi RacingDodgeEnergizer
43John AndrettiPetty EnterprisesDodgeCheerios
44Jerry NadeauPetty EnterprisesDodgeGeorgia-Pacific Brawny
45Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesDodgeSprint PCS Vision
48Jimmie Johnson (R)Hendrick MotorsportsChevroletLowe's
49Stuart KirbyBAM RacingDodgeBAM Racing
51Carl LongWare Racing EnterprisesDodgeRevival Soy
55Greg BiffleAndy Petree RacingChevroletSquare D
60Jack SpragueHaas CNC RacingChevroletHaas Automation
74Tony RainesBACE MotorsportsChevroletStaff America
77Dave BlaneyJasper MotorsportsFordJasper Engines & Transmissions
88Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFordUPS
89Morgan ShepherdShepherd Racing VenturesFordRacing with Jesus, Red Line Oil
97Kurt BuschRoush RacingFordRubbermaid, Sharpie
99Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFordCitgo
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.[4] Jimmie Johnson of Hendrick Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 30.430 and an average speed of 177.456mph.[5]

Pos.DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed
148Jimmie Johnson (R)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet30.430177.456
212Ryan Newman (R)Penske RacingFord30.466177.247
325Joe NemechekHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet30.473177.206
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. Ryan Newman of Penske Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 30.898 and an average speed of 174.769mph.[6]

Pos.DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed
112Ryan Newman (R)Penske RacingFord30.898174.769
297Kurt BuschRoush RacingFord31.108173.589
324Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet31.128173.477
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. 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 171.135mph.[7]

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.[8]

Pos.DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed
11Steve ParkDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet31.554171.135
248Jimmie Johnson (R)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet31.585170.967
324Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet31.609170.837
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. 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.[9]

Dale Earnhardt Jr. of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. would win the pole, setting a time of 30.350 and an average speed of 177.924mph.[10]

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

Full qualifying results

Pos.DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed
18Dale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet30.350177.924
248Jimmie Johnson (R)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet30.362177.854
312Ryan Newman (R)Penske RacingFord30.526176.898
415Michael WaltripDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet30.598176.482
59Bill ElliottEvernham MotorsportsDodge30.640176.240
688Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord30.645176.212
740Sterling MarlinChip Ganassi RacingDodge30.671176.062
820Tony StewartJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac30.682175.999
96Mark MartinRoush RacingFord30.703175.879
1024Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet30.703175.879
112Rusty WallacePenske RacingFord30.707175.856
1225Joe NemechekHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet30.710175.839
1397Kurt BuschRoush RacingFord30.712175.827
1419Jeremy MayfieldEvernham MotorsportsDodge30.755175.581
1599Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFord30.792175.370
1626Todd BodineHaas-Carter MotorsportsFord30.796175.347
171Steve ParkDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet30.797175.342
185Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet30.803175.308
1922Ward BurtonBill Davis RacingDodge30.830175.154
2032Ricky CravenPPI MotorsportsFord30.833175.137
2143John AndrettiPetty EnterprisesDodge30.849175.046
2231Robby GordonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet30.853175.023
2360Jack SpragueHaas CNC RacingChevrolet30.867174.944
2430Jeff GreenRichard Childress RacingChevrolet30.881174.865
2574Tony RainesBACE MotorsportsChevrolet30.904174.735
2629Kevin HarvickRichard Childress RacingChevrolet30.954174.452
2717Matt KensethRoush RacingFord30.974174.340
2823Kenny WallaceBill Davis RacingDodge30.999174.199
2955Greg BiffleAndy Petree RacingChevrolet31.012174.126
3028Ricky RuddRobert Yates RacingFord31.018174.092
3118Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac31.021174.076
324Mike SkinnerMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevrolet31.022174.070
3345Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesDodge31.032174.014
3477Dave BlaneyJasper MotorsportsFord31.058173.868
3510Johnny Benson Jr.MBV MotorsportsPontiac31.195173.105
3614Mike WallaceA. J. Foyt EnterprisesPontiac31.199173.083
Provisionals
3741Jimmy SpencerChip Ganassi RacingDodge31.513171.358
3821Elliott SadlerWood Brothers RacingFord31.286172.601
3936Ken SchraderMB2 MotorsportsPontiac31.292172.568
407Casey AtwoodUltra-Evernham MotorsportsDodge31.251172.794
4144Jerry NadeauPetty EnterprisesDodge31.307172.485
4249Stuart KirbyBAM RacingDodge31.716170.261
4389Morgan ShepherdShepherd Racing VenturesFord32.028168.602
Failed to qualify
4411Brett BodineBrett Bodine RacingFord31.398171.986
4527Kirk ShelmerdineKirk Shelmerdine RacingFord31.635170.697
4651Carl Long (R)Ware Racing EnterprisesDodge31.640170.670
Official qualifying results

Race results

Fin[11] StDriverTeamMakeLapsLedStatusPtsWinnings
11024Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet267116running185$217,928
2312Ryan Newman (R)Penske RacingFord26781running175$150,140
3112Rusty WallacePenske RacingFord2670running165$140,800
41225Joe NemechekHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet2670running160$105,025
559Bill ElliottEvernham MotorsportsDodge2673running160$106,231
618Dale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet26710running155$96,700
72717Matt KensethRoush RacingFord2670running146$89,400
8820Tony StewartJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac2670running142$111,778
91419Jeremy MayfieldEvernham MotorsportsDodge2670running138$74,400
10248Jimmie Johnson (R)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet2660running134$69,650
112629Kevin HarvickRichard Childress RacingChevrolet26648running135$107,478
12185Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet2660running127$92,333
132231Robby GordonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet2660running124$88,156
142143John AndrettiPetty EnterprisesDodge2660running121$90,283
153345Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesDodge2662running123$64,250
162823Kenny WallaceBill Davis RacingDodge2660running115$61,100
172430Jeff GreenRichard Childress RacingChevrolet2660running112$61,800
183821Elliott SadlerWood Brothers RacingFord2651running114$83,500
193614Mike WallaceA. J. Foyt EnterprisesPontiac2640running106$60,200
203028Ricky RuddRobert Yates RacingFord2630running103$104,117
213477Dave BlaneyJasper MotorsportsFord2610running100$81,050
223118Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac2610running97$101,978
233510Johnny Benson Jr.MBV MotorsportsPontiac2602crash99$85,950
243741Jimmy SpencerChip Ganassi RacingDodge2590crash91$69,400
2596Mark MartinRoush RacingFord2501engine93$92,833
26415Michael WaltripDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet2390running85$66,400
274144Jerry NadeauPetty EnterprisesDodge2310ignition82$66,089
283936Ken SchraderMB2 MotorsportsPontiac2300running79$63,000
291599Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFord2223engine81$99,467
30171Steve ParkDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet2160running73$84,975
311397Kurt BuschRoush RacingFord2060running70$62,400
32324Mike SkinnerMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevrolet1980running67$54,200
33740Sterling MarlinChip Ganassi RacingDodge1470crash64$96,317
341626Todd BodineHaas-Carter MotorsportsFord1290engine61$78,987
352360Jack SpragueHaas CNC RacingChevrolet970crash58$53,550
362955Greg BiffleAndy Petree RacingChevrolet740crash55$61,300
374249Stuart KirbyBAM RacingDodge440engine52$53,100
382032Ricky CravenPPI MotorsportsFord400overheating49$60,900
39688Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord390engine46$72,700
404389Morgan ShepherdShepherd Racing VenturesFord300crash43$52,500
412574Tony RainesBACE MotorsportsChevrolet50crash40$52,300
42407Casey AtwoodUltra-Evernham MotorsportsDodge50crash37$52,100
431922Ward BurtonBill Davis RacingDodge50crash34$95,153
Failed to qualify
4411Brett BodineBrett Bodine RacingFord
4527Kirk ShelmerdineKirk Shelmerdine RacingFord
4651Carl Long (R)Ware Racing EnterprisesDodge
Official race results

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rodman . Dave . October 1, 2002 . Gordon wins at Kansas as points race tightens . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20021203125636/http://www.nascar.com/2002/news/headlines/wc/09/29/protectionone_400/index.html . December 3, 2002 . April 25, 2022 . NASCAR.com . Turner Sports Interactive.
  2. News: 2002-09-30 . Gordon tops the field in Kansas . 29 . Florida Today . 2022-04-25 . Newspapers.com.
  3. Web site: Neck injury ends Marlin's title bid . Crash.net . August 17, 2024 . October 3, 2002.
  4. Web site: Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2002 Kansas Race Info Page . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20050204222849/http://www.jayski.com/next/2002/2002kansas.htm . February 4, 2005 . April 25, 2022 . Jayski's Silly Season Site.
  5. Web site: NASCAR.com - Races - 2002 Kansas Practice 1 Results . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20021210062755/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/29/data/practice1_speeds.html . December 10, 2002 . April 25, 2022 . NASCAR.com.
  6. Web site: NASCAR.com - Races - 2002 Kansas Practice 2 Results . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20021211215659/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/29/data/practice2_speeds.html . December 11, 2002 . April 25, 2022 . NASCAR.com.
  7. Web site: NASCAR.com - Races - 2002 Kansas Practice 3 Results . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20021211195314/http://www.nascar.com/races/wc/2002/29/data/practice3_speeds.html . December 11, 2002 . April 25, 2022 . NASCAR.com.
  8. Web site: Rodman . Dave . September 28, 2002 . B. Labonte walks away from Happy Hour crash . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20021211195545/http://www.nascar.com/2002/news/headlines/wc/09/28/blabonte_happyhour/index.html . December 11, 2002 . April 25, 2022 . NASCAR.com . Turner Sports Interactive.
  9. Web site: Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2002 Provisional/Owners Points Page . 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.
  10. Web site: Rodman . Dave . September 27, 2002 . Earnhardt Jr. captures Bud Pole at Kansas . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20021209231552/http://www.nascar.com/2002/news/headlines/wc/09/27/quals_kansas/index.html . December 9, 2002 . April 25, 2022 . NASCAR.com . Turner Sports Interactive.
  11. Web site: 2002 Protection One 400 - The Third Turn . 2022-04-24 . www.thethirdturn.com . en.