The 2002 Virginia 500 was the eighth stock car race of the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 53rd iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, April 14, 2002, in Martinsville, Virginia at Martinsville Speedway, a 0.526 miles (0.847 km) permanent oval-shaped short track. The race took the scheduled 500 laps to complete. At race's end, Bobby Labonte, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would hold off the field on the final restart with seven to go to win his 19th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series win and his first and only win of the season.[1][2] To fill out the podium, Matt Kenseth of Roush Racing and Tony Stewart of Joe Gibbs Racing would finish second and third, respectively.

2002 Virginia 500
Race details
Race 8 of 36 in the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 2002 Virginia 500 program cover.
The 2002 Virginia 500 program cover.
Date April 14, 2002
Official name 53rd Annual Virginia 500
Location Martinsville, Virginia, Martinsville Speedway
Course Permanent racing facility
0.526 mi (0.847 km)
Distance 500 laps, 263 mi (423.257 km)
Scheduled Distance 500 laps, 263 mi (423.257 km)
Average speed 73.951 miles per hour (119.013 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Hendrick Motorsports
Time 20.106
Most laps led
Driver Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing
Laps 152
Winner
No. 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing
Television in the United States
Network FX
Announcers Mike Joy, Larry McReynolds, Darrell Waltrip
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network
Booth Announcers Barney Hall, Joe Moore
Turn Announcers Mike Bagley

Background

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

Martinsville Speedway is an NASCAR-owned stock car racing track located in Henry County, in Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At 0.526 miles (0.847 km) in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved oval tracks in NASCAR, being built in 1947 by H. Clay Earles. It is also the only remaining race track that has been on the NASCAR circuit from its beginning in 1948.

Kenny Wallace replaced Kevin Harvick, who was parked by NASCAR for a deliberate collision against Coy Gibbs during the supporting Trucks race (Advance Auto Parts 250); Harvick had been in probation for an altercation against Greg Biffle at the Busch Series Bristol race weeks prior. Harvick was also fined $35,000 and had his probation from the altercation, originally intended to expire on August 28, 2002, extended to December 31 instead.[3]

Entry list

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet Pennzoil
2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing Ford Miller Lite
02 Hermie Sadler SCORE Motorsports Chevrolet Virginia Lottery
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 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
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 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet UAW, Delphi
26 Frank Kimmel Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford Advance Auto Parts
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 M&M's Vote
40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge Coors Light
41 Jimmy Spencer Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge Target
43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge Cheerios
44 Buckshot Jones Petty Enterprises Dodge Georgia-Pacific Brawny
45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge Sprint
48 Jimmie Johnson (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Lowe's
55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet Square D, Schneider Electric
59 Randy Renfrow Price Motorsports Dodge Price Motorsports
71 Andy Hillenburg Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet Fast Track High Performance Driving School, Camp 28 Saloon
77 Dave Blaney Jasper Motorsports Ford Jasper Engines & Transmissions
88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford UPS
90 Rick Mast Donlavey Racing Ford Sauer's, Duke's Mayonnaise
97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford Rubbermaid, Sharpie
99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford Citgo
Official entry list
  • (R) denotes rookie driver.

Practice

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First practice

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The first practice session was held on Friday, April 12, at 11:20 AM EST, and would last for two hours.[4] Dale Earnhardt Jr. of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.145 and an average speed of 168.723 miles per hour (271.533 km/h).[5]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 20.193 93.775
2 12 Ryan Newman (R) Penske Racing Ford 20.197 93.751
3 41 Jimmy Spencer Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 20.211 93.692
Full first practice results

Second practice

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The second practice session was held on Saturday, April 13, at 10:30 AM EST, and would last for 45 minutes.[4] Sterling Marlin of Chip Ganassi Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.145 and an average speed of 168.723 miles per hour (271.533 km/h).[6]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 20.412 92.768
2 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 20.430 92.686
3 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 20.443 92.627
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, April 13, at 12:15 PM EST, and would last for 45 minutes.[4] Tony Stewart of Joe Gibbs Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 20.347 and an average speed of 93.060 miles per hour (149.766 km/h).[7]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 20.347 93.060
2 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 20.409 92.782
3 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 20.440 92.641
Full Happy Hour practice results

Qualifying

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Qualifying was held on Friday, April 12, 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.[4] 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.[8]

Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports would win the pole, setting a time of 20.106 and an average speed of 94.181 miles per hour (151.570 km/h).[9]

Randy Renfrow was the only driver to fail to qualify.

Full qualifying results

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 20.106 94.181
2 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 20.125 94.092
3 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 20.131 94.064
4 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 20.148 93.984
5 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing Ford 20.159 93.933
6 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 20.164 93.910
7 29 Kenny Wallace Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 20.185 93.812
8 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 20.202 93.733
9 41 Jimmy Spencer Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 20.204 93.724
10 12 Ryan Newman (R) Penske Racing Ford 20.209 93.701
11 31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 20.223 93.636
12 4 Mike Skinner Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 20.236 93.576
13 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 20.237 93.571
14 48 Jimmie Johnson (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 20.246 93.530
15 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 20.255 93.488
16 14 Stacy Compton A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac 20.271 93.414
17 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 20.274 93.400
18 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 20.275 93.396
19 19 Jeremy Mayfield Evernham Motorsports Dodge 20.277 93.387
20 97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford 20.286 93.345
21 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 20.292 93.318
22 23 Hut Stricklin Bill Davis Racing Dodge 20.295 93.304
23 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 20.303 93.267
24 25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 20.306 93.253
25 77 Dave Blaney Jasper Motorsports Ford 20.307 93.249
26 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 20.317 93.203
27 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 20.322 93.180
28 44 Buckshot Jones Petty Enterprises Dodge 20.333 93.129
29 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 20.343 93.084
30 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Ford 20.353 93.038
31 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 20.356 93.024
32 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 20.359 93.010
33 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 20.363 92.992
34 7 Casey Atwood Ultra-Evernham Motorsports Dodge 20.363 92.992
35 02 Hermie Sadler SCORE Motorsports Chevrolet 20.365 92.983
36 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 20.369 92.965
Provisionals
37 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 20.427 92.701
38 30 Jeff Green Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 20.470 92.506
39 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac 20.379 92.919
40 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 20.381 92.910
41 26 Frank Kimmel Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 20.524 92.263
42 90 Rick Mast Donlavey Racing Ford 20.448 92.606
43 71 Andy Hillenburg Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 22.229 85.186
Failed to qualify
44 59 Randy Renfrow Price Motorsports Dodge 20.458 92.560
Official qualifying results

Race results

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Fin[10] St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 15 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 500 61 running 180 $168,078
2 26 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 500 0 running 170 $97,165
3 8 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 500 152 running 175 $111,953
4 31 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 500 0 running 160 $112,553
5 3 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 500 41 running 160 $88,862
6 4 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 500 11 running 155 $80,508
7 13 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 500 0 running 146 $90,442
8 17 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 500 0 running 142 $82,833
9 23 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 500 6 running 143 $88,067
10 20 97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford 500 0 running 134 $59,750
11 19 19 Jeremy Mayfield Evernham Motorsports Dodge 500 0 running 130 $54,085
12 29 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 500 0 running 127 $85,592
13 33 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 500 0 running 124 $53,275
14 36 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 500 20 running 126 $83,775
15 22 23 Hut Stricklin Bill Davis Racing Dodge 500 0 running 118 $55,500
16 5 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing Ford 500 10 running 120 $85,000
17 25 77 Dave Blaney Jasper Motorsports Ford 500 1 running 117 $69,250
18 16 14 Stacy Compton A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac 500 1 running 114 $43,525
19 39 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac 500 0 running 106 $69,875
20 27 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 500 0 running 103 $41,645
21 9 41 Jimmy Spencer Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 499 0 running 100 $43,625
22 38 30 Jeff Green Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 499 0 running 97 $38,725
23 1 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 498 68 running 99 $107,003
24 32 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 498 0 running 91 $71,800
25 12 4 Mike Skinner Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 498 0 running 88 $57,025
26 30 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Ford 498 0 running 85 $54,275
27 2 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 498 47 running 87 $61,460
28 37 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 497 0 running 79 $57,049
29 35 02 Hermie Sadler SCORE Motorsports Chevrolet 497 0 running 76 $37,275
30 18 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 496 40 running 78 $48,750
31 6 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 495 0 running 70 $66,081
32 7 29 Kenny Wallace Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 490 0 running 67 $82,678
33 28 44 Buckshot Jones Petty Enterprises Dodge 483 0 crash 64 $36,680
34 11 31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 481 0 vibration 61 $65,611
35 14 48 Jimmie Johnson (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 446 0 vibration 58 $37,500
36 40 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 442 0 running 55 $46,950
37 42 90 Rick Mast Donlavey Racing Ford 411 0 rear end 52 $36,400
38 34 7 Casey Atwood Ultra-Evernham Motorsports Dodge 357 0 running 49 $36,340
39 24 25 Jerry Nadeau Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 341 42 overheating 51 $44,290
40 41 26 Frank Kimmel Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 282 0 crash 43 $61,402
41 10 12 Ryan Newman (R) Penske Racing Ford 257 0 overheating 40 $44,165
42 21 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 209 0 engine 37 $63,193
43 43 71 Andy Hillenburg Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 9 0 clutch 34 $35,405
Failed to qualify
44 59 Randy Renfrow Price Motorsports Dodge
Official race results

References

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  1. ^ Packman, Time (2002-04-15). "Right call: Labonte stays out, wins Virginia 500". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on 2003-02-22. Retrieved 2022-03-04.
  2. ^ "Bobby's back: Labonte takes win at Martinsville". The Selma Times-Journal. 2002-04-15. p. 12. Retrieved 2022-03-04 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ "BUSCH: More fines for Harvick". Motorsport.com. April 17, 2002. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d "Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site - 2003 Martinsville 1 Race Info & Rundown". Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on 2005-02-06. Retrieved 2022-03-04.
  5. ^ "NASCAR.com - Races - 2002 Martinsville 1 Practice 1 Results". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on 2002-10-15. Retrieved 2022-03-05.
  6. ^ "NASCAR.com - Races - 2002 Martinsville 1 Practice 2 Results". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on 2003-02-08. Retrieved 2022-03-05.
  7. ^ "NASCAR.com - Races - 2002 Martinsville 1 Practice 3 Results". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on 2002-12-04. Retrieved 2022-03-05.
  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. ^ "Gordon wins 41st career pole". ESPN. Retrieved 2022-03-04.
  10. ^ "2002 Virginia 500 - The Third Turn". www.thethirdturn.com. Retrieved 2022-03-04.
Previous race:
2002 Samsung/RadioShack 500
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
2002 season
Next race:
2002 Aaron's 499