# 2002 Tropicana 400

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. To fill out the podium, Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports and Tony Stewart of Joe Gibbs Racing would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

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

* (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
### First practice

The first practice session was held on Friday, July 12, at 11:20 AM CST, and would last for 2 hours. 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).
| 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

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

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. 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).
| 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

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

### Full qualifying results

| 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

| Fin | 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 |||||||||||