# 2002 Samsung/RadioShack 500

The 2002 Samsung/RadioShack 500 was the seventh stock car race of the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the sixth iteration of the event. The race originally was scheduled to be held on Sunday, April 7, 2002, but was delayed to Monday, April 8, 2002, due to rain. The race was held in Fort Worth, Texas at Texas Motor Speedway, a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) permanent tri-oval shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 334 laps to complete. At race's end, Matt Kenseth, driving for Roush Racing, would come from the back to win his third career NASCAR Winston Cup Series win and his first of the season. To fill out the podium, Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports and Mark Martin of Roush Racing would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

Texas Motor Speedway is a speedway located in the northernmost portion of the U.S. city of Fort Worth, Texas – the portion located in Denton County, Texas. The track measures 1.5 miles (2.4 km) around and is banked 24 degrees in the turns, and is of the oval design, where the front straightaway juts outward slightly. The track layout is similar to Atlanta Motor Speedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway (formerly Lowe's Motor Speedway). The track is owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., the same company that owns Atlanta and Charlotte Motor Speedway, as well as the short-track Bristol Motor Speedway.

### Entry list

(R) denotes rookie driver.
| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 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 |
| 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 | RadioShack, 2002 MLB Opening Day |
| 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 | Combos |
| 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | Coors Light, Brooks & Dunn Neon Circus Wild West Show |
| 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 | Samsung, Sprint |
| 48 | Jimmie Johnson (R) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Lowe's |
| 49 | Shawna Robinson (R) | BAM Racing | Dodge | BAM Racing |
| 55 | Bobby Hamilton | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | Square D, Schneider Electric |
| 57 | Ron Hornaday Jr. | Team CLR | Ford | Calcium Lime Rust |
| 71 | Jay Sauter | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Warranty Gold, Hawk Saw Blades |
| 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 |||||

## Practice

Originally, three practice sessions were scheduled to be held, with one session on Friday, and two on Saturday. However, rain on Saturday would cancel both Saturday sessions.
The only practice session was held on Friday, April 5, at 11:20 AM CST. Ricky Rudd of Robert Yates Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 27.840 and an average speed of 193.958 miles per hour (312.145 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 27.840 | 193.958 |
| 2 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 27.841 | 193.951 |
| 3 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 27.906 | 193.507 |
| Full practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Friday, April 5, 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.
Bill Elliott of Evernham Motorsports would win the pole, setting a time of 27.802 and an average speed of 194.223 miles per hour (312.572 km/h).
Ron Hornaday Jr. was the only driver to fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 27.802 | 194.223 |
| 2 | 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 27.968 | 193.070 |
| 3 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 27.976 | 193.016 |
| 4 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 27.976 | 193.016 |
| 5 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 27.983 | 192.966 |
| 6 | 14 | Stacy Compton | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Pontiac | 27.983 | 192.966 |
| 7 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 28.018 | 192.725 |
| 8 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 28.028 | 192.658 |
| 9 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 28.054 | 192.485 |
| 10 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 28.061 | 192.438 |
| 11 | 1 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 28.075 | 192.341 |
| 12 | 36 | Ken Schrader | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 28.077 | 192.320 |
| 13 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson (R) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 28.111 | 192.089 |
| 14 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 28.139 | 191.897 |
| 15 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 28.152 | 191.815 |
| 16 | 49 | Shawna Robinson (R) | BAM Racing | Dodge | 28.159 | 191.768 |
| 17 | 30 | Jeff Green | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 28.166 | 191.720 |
| 18 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 28.173 | 191.666 |
| 19 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 28.176 | 191.651 |
| 20 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 28.180 | 191.617 |
| 21 | 41 | Jimmy Spencer | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 28.180 | 191.617 |
| 22 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 28.190 | 191.557 |
| 23 | 7 | Casey Atwood | Ultra-Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 28.193 | 191.537 |
| 24 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 28.218 | 191.360 |
| 25 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 28.222 | 191.339 |
| 26 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 28.228 | 191.298 |
| 27 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 28.231 | 191.279 |
| 28 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing | Ford | 28.290 | 190.880 |
| 29 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 28.298 | 190.819 |
| 30 | 23 | Hut Stricklin | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 28.308 | 190.759 |
| 31 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 28.326 | 190.630 |
| 32 | 26 | Frank Kimmel | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 28.343 | 190.516 |
| 33 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac | 28.354 | 190.442 |
| 34 | 90 | Rick Mast | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 28.402 | 190.121 |
| 35 | 71 | Jay Sauter | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 28.410 | 190.067 |
| 36 | 12 | Ryan Newman (R) | Penske Racing | Ford | 28.423 | 189.986 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 37 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 28.613 | 188.725 |
| 38 | 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 28.478 | 189.647 |
| 39 | 77 | Dave Blaney | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 28.471 | 189.667 |
| 40 | 55 | Bobby Hamilton | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 28.455 | 189.766 |
| 41 | 4 | Mike Skinner | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 28.538 | 189.214 |
| 42 | 44 | Buckshot Jones | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 28.517 | 189.360 |
| 43 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 28.679 | 188.291 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 44 | 57 | Ron Hornaday Jr. | Team CLR | Ford | 28.489 | 189.539 |
| Official qualifying results |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 31 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 334 | 85 | running | 180 | $418,275 |
| 2 | 26 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 334 | 0 | running | 170 | $296,478 |
| 3 | 8 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 334 | 5 | running | 170 | $219,358 |
| 4 | 3 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 334 | 29 | running | 165 | $201,717 |
| 5 | 29 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 334 | 15 | running | 160 | $168,053 |
| 6 | 13 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson (R) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 334 | 0 | running | 150 | $105,275 |
| 7 | 20 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 334 | 1 | running | 151 | $142,992 |
| 8 | 21 | 41 | Jimmy Spencer | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 334 | 0 | running | 142 | $98,375 |
| 9 | 1 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 334 | 13 | running | 143 | $134,806 |
| 17 | 2 | 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 332 | 4 | running | 117 | $102,425 |
| 10 | 27 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 334 | 0 | running | 134 | $124,833 |
| 11 | 28 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing | Ford | 334 | 37 | running | 135 | $130,200 |
| 12 | 41 | 4 | Mike Skinner | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 334 | 1 | running | 132 | $106,250 |
| 13 | 33 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac | 333 | 0 | running | 124 | $112,900 |
| 14 | 10 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 333 | 0 | running | 121 | $92,050 |
| 15 | 39 | 77 | Dave Blaney | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 333 | 0 | running | 118 | $107,975 |
| 16 | 17 | 30 | Jeff Green | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 333 | 0 | running | 115 | $77,725 |
| 18 | 7 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 332 | 0 | running | 109 | $87,225 |
| 19 | 6 | 14 | Stacy Compton | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Pontiac | 332 | 0 | running | 106 | $78,000 |
| 20 | 11 | 1 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 332 | 0 | running | 103 | $110,025 |
| 21 | 14 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 332 | 0 | running | 100 | $72,700 |
| 22 | 18 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 332 | 0 | running | 97 | $101,583 |
| 23 | 19 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 332 | 1 | running | 99 | $80,900 |
| 24 | 5 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 331 | 134 | running | 101 | $115,878 |
| 25 | 25 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 331 | 2 | running | 93 | $112,528 |
| 26 | 42 | 44 | Buckshot Jones | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 331 | 0 | running | 85 | $75,600 |
| 27 | 30 | 23 | Hut Stricklin | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 331 | 4 | running | 87 | $74,300 |
| 28 | 4 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 331 | 0 | running | 79 | $72,200 |
| 29 | 34 | 90 | Rick Mast | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 331 | 0 | running | 76 | $62,600 |
| 30 | 15 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 330 | 0 | running | 73 | $104,628 |
| 31 | 40 | 55 | Bobby Hamilton | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 330 | 0 | running | 70 | $75,839 |
| 32 | 38 | 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 330 | 0 | running | 67 | $65,875 |
| 33 | 32 | 26 | Frank Kimmel | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 330 | 0 | running | 64 | $79,537 |
| 34 | 12 | 36 | Ken Schrader | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 329 | 0 | running | 61 | $61,325 |
| 35 | 23 | 7 | Casey Atwood | Ultra-Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 326 | 0 | running | 58 | $52,300 |
| 36 | 16 | 49 | Shawna Robinson (R) | BAM Racing | Dodge | 322 | 0 | running | 55 | $51,250 |
| 37 | 35 | 71 | Jay Sauter | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 313 | 0 | running | 52 | $50,200 |
| 38 | 43 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 282 | 0 | running | 49 | $49,125 |
| 39 | 37 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 255 | 0 | crash | 46 | $93,742 |
| 40 | 36 | 12 | Ryan Newman (R) | Penske Racing | Ford | 252 | 2 | engine | 48 | $57,025 |
| 41 | 24 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 236 | 0 | crash | 40 | $75,036 |
| 42 | 9 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 192 | 1 | crash | 42 | $85,722 |
| 43 | 22 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 169 | 0 | crash | 34 | $92,124 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 44 | | 57 | Ron Hornaday Jr. | Team CLR | Ford | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||