# 2002 Subway 400

The 2002 Subway 400 was the second stock car race of the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 37th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, February 24, 2002, in Rockingham, North Carolina, at North Carolina Speedway, a 1.017 miles (1.637 km) permanent high-banked racetrack. The race took the scheduled 393 laps to complete. At race's end, Matt Kenseth, driving for Roush Racing, would dominate the late stages of the race and win under caution when NASCAR determined oil and debris had made racing conditions unsafe with five to go. The win was Kenseth's second career NASCAR Winston Cup Series win and his first win of the season. To fill out the podium, Sterling Marlin of Chip Ganassi Racing and Bobby Labonte of Joe Gibbs Racing would finish second and third, respectively.
The win came under controversy after it was found that Kenseth's car was determined to be lower than minimum height requirements. Penalties were announced on Tuesday, February 26. Kenseth's crew chief, Robbie Reiser, was fined $30,000, but the win for Kenseth would stand. In a radio interview with, "Fast Talk with Benny Parsons", Kenseth stated that a dent in the roof, possibly from victory lane celebrations, had caused the car to fail minimum height requirements.

## Background

North Carolina Speedway was opened as a flat, one-mile oval on October 31, 1965. In 1969, the track was extensively reconfigured to a high-banked, D-shaped oval just over one mile in length. In 1997, North Carolina Motor Speedway merged with Penske Motorsports, and was renamed North Carolina Speedway. Shortly thereafter, the infield was reconfigured, and competition on the infield road course, mostly by the SCCA, was discontinued. Currently, the track is home to the Fast Track High Performance Driving School.

### Entry list

| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 1 | Kenny Wallace | 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 | Pfizer |
| 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 | Dura Lube |
| 12 | Ryan Newman | 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 | Joe Nemechek | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | Kmart School Spirit |
| 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 |
| 33 | Mike Wallace | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | Andy Petree Racing |
| 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 |
| 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 | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Lowe's |
| 55 | Bobby Hamilton | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | Square D, Schneider Electric |
| 59 | Randy Renfrow | Price Motorsports | Dodge | Price Motorsports |
| 66 | Todd Bodine | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | Kmart Blue Light Special |
| 71 | Dick Trickle | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Warranty Gold, Bass Pro Shops |
| 77 | Dave Blaney | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | Jasper Engines & Transmissions |
| 85 | Carl Long | Mansion Motorsports | Ford | Mansion Motorsports |
| 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
### First practice

The first practice session was held on Friday, February 22, at 11:20 AM EST, and would last for two hours. Kyle Petty of Petty Enterprises would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 23.816 and an average speed of 153.729 miles per hour (247.403 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 23.816 | 153.729 |
| 2 | 41 | Jimmy Spencer | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 23.819 | 153.708 |
| 3 | 7 | Casey Atwood | Ultra-Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 23.825 | 153.671 |
| Full first practice results |||||||

### Second practice

The second practice session was held on Saturday, February 23, at 9:30 AM EST, and would last for 45 minutes. Rusty Wallace of Penske Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 24.311 and an average speed of 150.598 miles per hour (242.364 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing | Ford | 24.311 | 150.598 |
| 2 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 24.322 | 150.529 |
| 3 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 24.329 | 150.486 |
| Full second practice results |||||||

### Third and final practice

The third and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, February 23, at 11:15 AM EST, and would last for 45 minutes. John Andretti of Petty Enterprises would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 24.249 and an average speed of 150.983 miles per hour (242.984 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 24.249 | 150.983 |
| 2 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 24.257 | 150.927 |
| 3 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 24.264 | 150.884 |
| Full Happy Hour practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Friday, February 22, 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. 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.
Ricky Craven of PPI Motorsports would win the pole, setting a time of 23.468 and an average speed of 156.008 miles per hour (251.071 km/h).
Three drivers would fail to qualify: Dick Trickle, Randy Renfrow, and Carl Long.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 23.468 | 156.008 |
| 2 | 36 | Ken Schrader | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 23.666 | 154.696 |
| 3 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac | 23.677 | 154.631 |
| 4 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 23.695 | 154.507 |
| 5 | 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.718 | 154.357 |
| 6 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 23.729 | 154.292 |
| 7 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 23.742 | 154.207 |
| 8 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing | Ford | 23.791 | 153.883 |
| 9 | 1 | Kenny Wallace | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 23.816 | 153.728 |
| 10 | 55 | Bobby Hamilton | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 23.820 | 153.696 |
| 11 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.822 | 153.683 |
| 12 | 41 | Jimmy Spencer | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 23.826 | 153.657 |
| 13 | 44 | Buckshot Jones | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 23.844 | 153.541 |
| 14 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 23.847 | 153.522 |
| 15 | 30 | Jeff Green | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 23.853 | 153.490 |
| 16 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 23.856 | 153.470 |
| 17 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 23.864 | 153.412 |
| 18 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 23.868 | 153.393 |
| 19 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 23.874 | 153.355 |
| 20 | 7 | Casey Atwood | Ultra-Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 23.881 | 153.310 |
| 21 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 23.900 | 153.181 |
| 22 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 23.909 | 153.124 |
| 23 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing | Ford | 23.910 | 153.117 |
| 24 | 4 | Mike Skinner | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.917 | 153.072 |
| 25 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 23.920 | 153.053 |
| 26 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 23.924 | 153.028 |
| 27 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 23.930 | 152.996 |
| 28 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 23.930 | 152.989 |
| 29 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 23.954 | 152.836 |
| 30 | 33 | Mike Wallace | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 23.958 | 152.811 |
| 31 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 23.969 | 152.740 |
| 32 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 23.969 | 152.740 |
| 33 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.981 | 152.670 |
| 34 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 23.985 | 152.645 |
| 35 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 23.990 | 152.607 |
| 36 | 77 | Dave Blaney | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 24.035 | 152.321 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 37 | 26 | Joe Nemechek | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 24.266 | 150.877 |
| 38 | 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 24.080 | 152.036 |
| 39 | 23 | Hut Stricklin | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 24.479 | 149.558 |
| 40 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 24.045 | 152.264 |
| 41 | 66 | Todd Bodine | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 24.045 | 152.258 |
| 42 | 14 | Stacy Compton | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Pontiac | 24.084 | 152.011 |
| 43 | 90 | Rick Mast | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 24.139 | 151.665 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 44 | 71 | Dick Trickle | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 24.069 | 152.106 |
| 45 | 59 | Randy Renfrow | Price Motorsports | Dodge | 24.775 | 147.772 |
| 46 | 85 | Carl Long | Mansion Motorsports | Ford | 24.840 | 147.385 |
| Official qualifying results |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 25 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 393 | 152 | running | 185 | $157,400 |
| 2 | 6 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 393 | 35 | running | 175 | $125,142 |
| 3 | 14 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 393 | 0 | running | 165 | $114,178 |
| 4 | 19 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 393 | 0 | running | 160 | $109,378 |
| 5 | 1 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 393 | 116 | running | 160 | $70,900 |
| 6 | 22 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 393 | 0 | running | 150 | $92,377 |
| 7 | 33 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 393 | 0 | running | 146 | $104,238 |
| 8 | 8 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing | Ford | 393 | 0 | running | 142 | $89,810 |
| 9 | 10 | 55 | Bobby Hamilton | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 393 | 0 | running | 138 | $76,210 |
| 10 | 9 | 1 | Kenny Wallace | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 393 | 0 | running | 134 | $83,885 |
| 11 | 28 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 393 | 0 | running | 130 | $75,091 |
| 12 | 7 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 393 | 0 | running | 127 | $48,310 |
| 13 | 18 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 393 | 1 | running | 129 | $77,810 |
| 14 | 23 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske Racing | Ford | 393 | 0 | running | 121 | $71,610 |
| 15 | 35 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 393 | 0 | running | 118 | $76,493 |
| 16 | 40 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 393 | 0 | running | 115 | $76,543 |
| 17 | 15 | 30 | Jeff Green | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 393 | 46 | running | 117 | $42,610 |
| 18 | 27 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 393 | 26 | running | 114 | $86,727 |
| 19 | 34 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 393 | 0 | running | 106 | $87,738 |
| 20 | 12 | 41 | Jimmy Spencer | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 392 | 0 | running | 103 | $48,660 |
| 21 | 17 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 392 | 0 | running | 100 | $75,293 |
| 22 | 36 | 77 | Dave Blaney | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 392 | 0 | running | 97 | $65,860 |
| 23 | 3 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac | 392 | 0 | running | 94 | $71,360 |
| 24 | 16 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 392 | 0 | running | 91 | $70,266 |
| 25 | 5 | 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 391 | 0 | running | 88 | $51,960 |
| 26 | 29 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 391 | 0 | running | 85 | $77,587 |
| 27 | 39 | 23 | Hut Stricklin | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 391 | 0 | running | 82 | $51,385 |
| 28 | 11 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 390 | 0 | running | 79 | $40,035 |
| 29 | 21 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 390 | 0 | running | 76 | $50,872 |
| 30 | 31 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 390 | 0 | running | 73 | $53,700 |
| 31 | 38 | 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 390 | 0 | running | 70 | $58,964 |
| 32 | 41 | 66 | Todd Bodine | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 387 | 0 | running | 67 | $42,000 |
| 33 | 37 | 26 | Joe Nemechek | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 386 | 0 | running | 64 | $64,512 |
| 34 | 43 | 90 | Rick Mast | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 385 | 0 | running | 61 | $39,250 |
| 35 | 2 | 36 | Ken Schrader | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 384 | 0 | engine | 58 | $47,350 |
| 36 | 24 | 4 | Mike Skinner | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 362 | 0 | engine | 55 | $39,050 |
| 37 | 32 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 332 | 0 | running | 52 | $39,000 |
| 38 | 30 | 33 | Mike Wallace | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 288 | 0 | running | 49 | $46,940 |
| 39 | 20 | 7 | Casey Atwood | Ultra-Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 281 | 0 | running | 46 | $38,890 |
| 40 | 26 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 173 | 0 | engine | 43 | $46,815 |
| 41 | 13 | 44 | Buckshot Jones | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 153 | 0 | crash | 40 | $38,765 |
| 42 | 4 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 145 | 17 | engine | 42 | $86,563 |
| 43 | 42 | 14 | Stacy Compton | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Pontiac | 25 | 0 | engine | 34 | $38,009 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 44 | | 71 | Dick Trickle | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 45 | | 59 | Randy Renfrow | Price Motorsports | Dodge | | | | | |
| 46 | | 85 | Carl Long | Mansion Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||