The 2002 Tropicana 400 was the 18th stock car race of the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the second iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, July 14, 2002, in Joliet, Illinois, at Chicagoland Speedway, a 1.5 miles (2.41 km) tri-oval speedway. The race took the scheduled 267 laps to complete. At race's end, Kevin Harvick, driving for Richard Childress Racing, would stretch out a fuel run and climb through the field to win his third career NASCAR Winston Cup Series win and his first and only win of the season.[1][2] To fill out the podium, Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports and Tony Stewart of Joe Gibbs Racing would finish second and third, respectively.

2002 Tropicana 400
Race details
Race 18 of 36 in the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 2002 Tropicana 400 program cover.
The 2002 Tropicana 400 program cover.
Date July 14, 2002
Official name 2nd Annual Tropicana 400
Location Joliet, Illinois, Chicagoland 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 136.832 miles per hour (220.210 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Penske Racing
Time 29.500
Most laps led
Driver Ryan Newman Penske Racing
Laps 87
Winner
No. 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing
Television in the United States
Network NBC
Announcers Allen Bestwick, Benny Parsons, Wally Dallenbach Jr.
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

Background

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

Chicagoland Speedway is a 1.5 miles (2.41 km) tri-oval speedway in Joliet, Illinois, southwest of Chicago. The speedway opened in 2001 and currently hosts NASCAR racing. Until 2011, the speedway also hosted the IndyCar Series, recording numerous close finishes including the closest finish in IndyCar history. The speedway is owned and operated by International Speedway Corporation and located adjacent to Route 66 Raceway.

Entry list

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
00 Jerry Nadeau Michael Waltrip Racing Chevrolet Aaron's
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, Got Milk?
6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford Viagra
7 Casey Atwood Ultra-Evernham Motorsports Dodge Sirius Satellite Radio, Rowlf the Dog
8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet Budweiser
9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge Dodge, Swedish Chef
10 Mike Wallace MBV Motorsports Pontiac Valvoline, Fozzie Bear
11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford Hooters
12 Ryan Newman (R) Penske Racing Ford Mobil 1, Speedpass
14 Stacy Compton 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, Pepe the King Prawn
19 Jeremy Mayfield Evernham Motorsports Dodge Dodge, Bunsen Honeydew, Beaker
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 Scott Wimmer Bill Davis Racing Dodge Siemens
28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford Texaco, Havoline, Gonzo
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 M&M's
40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge Coors Light
41 Jimmy Spencer Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge Target, Animal
43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge Cheerios
44 Steve Grissom Petty Enterprises Dodge Georgia-Pacific Brawny
45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge Sprint
48 Jimmie Johnson (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Lowe's
49 Ron Hornaday Jr. BAM Racing Dodge BAM Racing
55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet Square D, Jo Dee Messina, Inside Traxx
57 Stuart Kirby Team CLR Ford Calcium Lime Rust
72 Kirk Shelmerdine Kirk Shelmerdine Racing Ford Naturally Fresh Foods
74 Tony Raines BACE Motorsports Chevrolet BACE Motorsports
77 Dave Blaney Jasper Motorsports Ford Jasper Engines & Transmissions
88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford UPS, Miss Piggy, Kermit the Frog "Pigs Love The Truck"
97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford Rubbermaid, Sharpie
98 Kenny Wallace Innovative Motorsports Chevrolet Stacker 2
99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford Citgo, Bassmaster Classic
Official entry list

Practice

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First practice

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The first practice session was held on Friday, July 12, at 11:20 AM CST, and would last for 2 hours.[3] Joe Nemechek of Hendrick Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.467 and an average speed of 183.256 miles per hour (294.922 km/h).[4]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 25 Joe Nemechek Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 29.467 183.256
2 12 Ryan Newman (R) Penske Racing Ford 29.564 182.655
3 97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford 29.663 182.045
Full first practice results

Second practice

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The second practice session was held on Saturday, July 13, at 10:15 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 30.071 and an average speed of 179.575 miles per hour (288.998 km/h).[5]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 12 Ryan Newman (R) Penske Racing Ford 30.071 179.575
2 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 30.285 178.306
3 25 Joe Nemechek Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 30.299 178.224
Full second practice results

Third and final practice

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The third and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, July 13, at 11:15 AM CST, and would last for 45 minutes.[3] Dale Earnhardt Jr. of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 30.364 and an average speed of 177.842 miles per hour (286.209 km/h).[6]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 30.364 177.842
2 12 Ryan Newman (R) Penske Racing Ford 30.438 177.410
3 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 30.491 177.101
Full Happy Hour practice results

Qualifying

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Qualifying was held on Friday, July 12, 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 champ needs the provisional, the next team in the owner points will be awarded a provisional.[7]

Ryan Newman of Penske Racing would win the pole, setting a time of 29.500 and an average speed of 183.051 miles per hour (294.592 km/h).[8]

Four drivers would fail to qualify: Ron Hornaday Jr., Kirk Shelmerdine, Tony Raines, and Scott Wimmer.

Full qualifying results

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 12 Ryan Newman (R) Penske Racing Ford 29.500 183.051
2 97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford 29.574 182.593
3 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 29.597 182.451
4 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 29.639 182.192
5 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 29.678 181.953
6 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 29.733 181.616
7 77 Dave Blaney Jasper Motorsports Ford 29.741 181.568
8 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing Ford 29.747 181.531
9 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 29.757 181.470
10 25 Joe Nemechek Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 29.776 181.354
11 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 29.793 181.251
12 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 29.793 181.251
13 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 29.794 181.245
14 26 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 29.802 181.196
15 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 29.806 181.172
16 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 29.868 180.796
17 4 Mike Skinner Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 29.873 180.765
18 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 29.876 180.747
19 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 29.897 180.620
20 19 Jeremy Mayfield Evernham Motorsports Dodge 29.908 180.554
21 31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 29.909 180.548
22 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 29.915 180.511
23 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 29.917 180.499
24 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 29.923 180.463
25 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 29.949 180.307
26 57 Stuart Kirby Team CLR Ford 29.951 180.294
27 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 29.961 180.234
28 98 Kenny Wallace Innovative Motorsports Chevrolet 29.978 180.132
29 23 Hut Stricklin Bill Davis Racing Dodge 29.986 180.084
30 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 29.998 180.012
31 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 30.019 179.886
32 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 30.032 179.808
33 30 Jeff Green Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 30.055 179.671
34 00 Jerry Nadeau Michael Waltrip Racing Chevrolet 30.058 179.653
35 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 30.093 179.444
36 10 Mike Wallace MBV Motorsports Pontiac 30.110 179.342
Provisionals
37 48 Jimmie Johnson (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 30.329 178.047
38 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 30.290 178.277
39 41 Jimmy Spencer Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 30.137 179.182
40 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 30.908 174.712
41 7 Casey Atwood Ultra-Evernham Motorsports Dodge 30.361 177.860
42 44 Steve Grissom Petty Enterprises Dodge 30.784 175.416
43 14 Stacy Compton A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac 30.121 179.277
Failed to qualify
44 49 Ron Hornaday Jr. BAM Racing Dodge 30.195 178.838
45 72 Kirk Shelmerdine Kirk Shelmerdine Racing Ford 30.196 178.832
46 74 Tony Raines BACE Motorsports Chevrolet 30.269 178.400
47 27 Scott Wimmer Bill Davis Racing Dodge 30.332 178.030
Official qualifying results

Race results

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Fin[9] St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 32 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 267 29 running 180 $200,028
2 15 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 267 0 running 170 $180,268
3 6 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 267 35 running 170 $153,928
4 37 48 Jimmie Johnson (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 267 2 running 165 $88,175
5 1 12 Ryan Newman (R) Penske Racing Ford 267 87 running 165 $115,725
6 2 97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford 267 0 running 150 $85,000
7 3 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 267 0 running 146 $95,556
8 21 31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 267 0 running 142 $93,956
9 13 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 267 13 running 143 $100,133
10 9 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 267 81 running 139 $102,437
11 11 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 267 9 running 110 $109,878
12 33 30 Jeff Green Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 267 2 running 132 $59,100
13 24 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 267 0 running 124 $91,033
14 16 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 267 3 running 126 $75,800
15 40 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 267 0 running 118 $88,100
16 4 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 266 0 running 115 $100,867
17 7 77 Dave Blaney Jasper Motorsports Ford 266 0 running 112 $82,200
18 12 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 266 0 running 109 $102,778
19 38 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 266 0 running 106 $101,217
20 25 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 266 0 running 103 $71,850
21 19 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 266 5 running 105 $78,600
22 30 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 266 0 running 97 $86,883
23 17 4 Mike Skinner Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 266 0 running 94 $67,889
24 35 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 266 0 running 91 $55,800
25 8 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing Ford 266 0 running 88 $99,850
26 14 26 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 265 0 running 85 $84,387
27 22 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 265 0 running 82 $88,375
28 41 7 Casey Atwood Ultra-Evernham Motorsports Dodge 264 0 running 79 $58,200
29 28 98 Kenny Wallace Innovative Motorsports Chevrolet 263 0 running 76 $54,800
30 23 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 262 0 running 73 $58,200
31 42 44 Steve Grissom Petty Enterprises Dodge 262 0 running 70 $54,900
32 39 41 Jimmy Spencer Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 239 0 running 67 $57,700
33 10 25 Joe Nemechek Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 237 0 crash 64 $65,500
34 20 19 Jeremy Mayfield Evernham Motorsports Dodge 234 0 running 61 $64,800
35 43 14 Stacy Compton A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac 230 0 engine 58 $54,050
36 29 23 Hut Stricklin Bill Davis Racing Dodge 218 0 crash 55 $61,800
37 34 00 Jerry Nadeau Michael Waltrip Racing Chevrolet 217 0 steering 52 $53,600
38 36 10 Mike Wallace MBV Motorsports Pontiac 172 0 engine 49 $80,150
39 18 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 167 0 engine 46 $97,867
40 27 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 151 0 engine 43 $61,000
41 31 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 137 0 handling 40 $95,800
42 5 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 136 1 crash 42 $60,600
43 26 57 Stuart Kirby Team CLR Ford 124 0 rear end 34 $52,403
Failed to qualify
44 49 Ron Hornaday Jr. BAM Racing Dodge
45 72 Kirk Shelmerdine Kirk Shelmerdine Racing Ford
46 74 Tony Raines BACE Motorsports Chevrolet
47 27 Scott Wimmer Bill Davis Racing Dodge
Official race results

References

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  1. ^ Smith, Marty (2002-07-15). "Harvick has just enough juice to win". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on 2002-12-15. Retrieved 2022-03-21.
  2. ^ Harris, Mike (2002-07-15). "Harvick criticized for winning Chicago move". El Paso Times. p. 23. Retrieved 2022-03-21 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ a b c d "Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site - 2002 Chicagoland Race Info & Rundown". Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on 2019-01-31. Retrieved 2022-03-21.
  4. ^ "NASCAR.com - Races - 2002 Chicagoland Practice 1 Results". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on 2002-10-05. Retrieved 2022-03-21.
  5. ^ "NASCAR.com - Races - 2002 Chicagoland Practice 2 Results". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on 2002-10-05. Retrieved 2022-03-21.
  6. ^ "NASCAR.com - Races - 2002 Chicagoland Practice 3 Results". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on 2002-12-02. Retrieved 2022-03-21.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ Smith, Marty (2002-07-13). "Lead-foot Newman earns Bud Pole at Chicagoland". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on 2002-10-05. Retrieved 2022-03-21.
  9. ^ "2002 Tropicana 400 - The Third Turn". www.thethirdturn.com. Retrieved 2022-03-17.
Previous race:
2002 Pepsi 400
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
2002 season
Next race:
2002 New England 300