# 2002 Pocono 500

The 2002 Pocono 500 was the 14th stock car race of the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 21st iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, June 9, 2002, in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, at Pocono Raceway, a 2.5 miles (4.0 km) triangular permanent course. The race took the scheduled 200 laps to complete. At race's end, Dale Jarrett, driving for Robert Yates Racing, would pass disaster-stricken teammate Ricky Rudd with six to go when Rudd blew a tire while coasting to the finish on the final lap. As a result, the race would end under caution, and Jarrett would win his 29th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series win and his first and only win of the season. To fill out the podium, Mark Martin of Roush Racing and Jimmie Johnson of Hendrick Motorsports would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

The race was held at Pocono Raceway, which is a three-turn superspeedway located in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. The track hosts two annual NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, as well as one Xfinity Series and Camping World Truck Series event. Until 2019, the track also hosted an IndyCar Series race.
Pocono Raceway is one of a very few NASCAR tracks not owned by either Speedway Motorsports, Inc. or International Speedway Corporation. It is operated by the Igdalsky siblings Brandon, Nicholas, and sister Ashley, and cousins Joseph IV and Chase Mattioli, all of whom are third-generation members of the family-owned Mattco Inc, started by Joseph II and Rose Mattioli.
Outside of the NASCAR races, the track is used throughout the year by Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and motorcycle clubs as well as racing schools and an IndyCar race. The triangular oval also has three separate infield sections of racetrack – North Course, East Course and South Course. Each of these infield sections use a separate portion of the tri-oval to complete the track. During regular non-race weekends, multiple clubs can use the track by running on different infield sections. Also some of the infield sections can be run in either direction, or multiple infield sections can be put together – such as running the North Course and the South Course and using the tri-oval to connect the two.

### 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 | Eagle One |
| 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | Hooters |
| 12 | Ryan Newman (R) | Penske Racing | Ford | Alltel, Sony WEGA |
| 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 | Joe Nemechek | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | UAW, Delphi |
| 26 | Todd Bodine | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | Discover Card |
| 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 Celebrity "You've Got Mail!" |
| 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 Original |
| 41 | Jimmy Spencer | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | Target |
| 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | Cheerios |
| 44 | Steve Grissom | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | Georgia-Pacific Brawny |
| 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | Sprint |
| 46 | Frank Kimmel | Larry Clement Racing | Ford | Advance Auto Parts |
| 48 | Jimmie Johnson (R) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Lowe's |
| 55 | Bobby Hamilton | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | Square D |
| 77 | Dave Blaney | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | Jasper Engines & Transmissions |
| 85 | Carl Long (R) | Mansion Motorsports | Ford | Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation |
| 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | UPS |
| 90 | Hermie Sadler | 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, due to overnight rain causing groundwater to seep out onto the racetrack on Friday, the Friday session was canceled.

### First practice

The first practice session was held on Saturday, June 8, at 9:30 AM EST, and would last for 45 minutes. Sterling Marlin of Chip Ganassi Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 54.009 and an average speed of 166.635 miles per hour (268.173 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 54.009 | 166.635 |
| 2 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 54.049 | 166.512 |
| 3 | 12 | Ryan Newman (R) | Penske Racing | Ford | 54.088 | 166.395 |
| Full first practice results |||||||

### Second and final practice

The second and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, June 8, at 11:15 AM EST, and would last for 45 minutes. Mark Martin of Roush Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 54.297 and an average speed of 165.755 miles per hour (266.757 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 54.297 | 165.755 |
| 2 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 54.400 | 165.441 |
| 3 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 54.442 | 165.313 |
| Full Happy Hour practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Qualifying was scheduled to be held on Friday, June 7, at 3:05 PM EST. However, due to overnight rain causing groundwater to seep out onto the racetrack, qualifying was canceled. As a result, the starting lineup was based on the current owner's points standings.
Sterling Marlin of Chip Ganassi Racing would win the pole.
No drivers would fail to qualify.

### Full starting lineup

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make |
| 1 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge |
| 2 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson (R) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 3 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 4 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford |
| 5 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing | Ford |
| 6 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford |
| 7 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac |
| 8 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford |
| 9 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge |
| 10 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford |
| 11 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford |
| 12 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Ford |
| 13 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford |
| 14 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet |
| 15 | 12 | Ryan Newman (R) | Penske Racing | Ford |
| 16 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 17 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet |
| 18 | 41 | Jimmy Spencer | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge |
| 19 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac |
| 20 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge |
| 21 | 77 | Dave Blaney | Jasper Motorsports | Ford |
| 22 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge |
| 23 | 30 | Jeff Green | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 24 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge |
| 25 | 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 26 | 55 | Bobby Hamilton | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet |
| 27 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac |
| 28 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 29 | 4 | Mike Skinner | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 30 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 31 | 23 | Hut Stricklin | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge |
| 32 | 1 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet |
| 33 | 25 | Joe Nemechek | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 34 | 44 | Steve Grissom | Petty Enterprises | Dodge |
| 35 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Dodge |
| 36 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford |
| Provisionals |||||
| 37 | 7 | Casey Atwood | Ultra-Evernham Motorsports | Dodge |
| 38 | 36 | Ken Schrader | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac |
| 39 | 26 | Todd Bodine | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford |
| 40 | 14 | Stacy Compton | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Pontiac |
| 41 | 90 | Hermie Sadler | Donlavey Racing | Ford |
| 42 | 85 | Carl Long (R) | Mansion Motorsports | Ford |
| 43 | 46 | Frank Kimmel | Larry Clement Racing | Ford |
| Official starting lineup |||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 13 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 200 | 35 | running | 180 | $206,298 |
| 2 | 6 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 200 | 7 | running | 175 | $141,003 |
| 3 | 2 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson (R) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 165 | $83,570 |
| 4 | 1 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 200 | 2 | running | 165 | $113,772 |
| 5 | 3 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 30 | running | 160 | $125,003 |
| 6 | 11 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 200 | 9 | running | 155 | $95,532 |
| 7 | 7 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 200 | 0 | running | 146 | $96,043 |
| 8 | 17 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 142 | $59,265 |
| 9 | 5 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 138 | $89,315 |
| 10 | 21 | 77 | Dave Blaney | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 134 | $75,815 |
| 11 | 37 | 7 | Casey Atwood | Ultra-Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 200 | 0 | running | 130 | $67,615 |
| 12 | 14 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 127 | $78,612 |
| 13 | 20 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 200 | 0 | running | 124 | $45,465 |
| 14 | 12 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 200 | 4 | running | 126 | $51,965 |
| 15 | 25 | 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 118 | $65,215 |
| 16 | 38 | 36 | Ken Schrader | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 200 | 0 | running | 115 | $63,765 |
| 17 | 10 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 200 | 60 | running | 122 | $83,582 |
| 18 | 39 | 26 | Todd Bodine | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 199 | 0 | engine | 109 | $67,852 |
| 19 | 28 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | running | 106 | $68,371 |
| 20 | 27 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac | 199 | 0 | running | 103 | $71,990 |
| 21 | 18 | 41 | Jimmy Spencer | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 199 | 0 | running | 100 | $41,665 |
| 22 | 31 | 23 | Hut Stricklin | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 199 | 0 | running | 97 | $49,365 |
| 23 | 32 | 1 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 198 | 0 | running | 94 | $70,915 |
| 24 | 36 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 198 | 1 | running | 96 | $49,179 |
| 25 | 19 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 198 | 0 | running | 88 | $83,693 |
| 26 | 34 | 44 | Steve Grissom | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 198 | 0 | running | 85 | $40,365 |
| 27 | 26 | 55 | Bobby Hamilton | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 197 | 0 | running | 82 | $48,215 |
| 28 | 40 | 14 | Stacy Compton | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Pontiac | 195 | 0 | running | 79 | $39,565 |
| 29 | 41 | 90 | Hermie Sadler | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 193 | 0 | running | 76 | $36,890 |
| 30 | 9 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 180 | 26 | engine | 78 | $63,296 |
| 31 | 35 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 179 | 4 | running | 75 | $63,673 |
| 32 | 15 | 12 | Ryan Newman (R) | Penske Racing | Ford | 174 | 19 | running | 72 | $44,440 |
| 33 | 22 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 173 | 0 | running | 64 | $79,240 |
| 34 | 23 | 30 | Jeff Green | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 171 | 0 | running | 61 | $36,040 |
| 35 | 4 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 161 | 3 | running | 63 | $53,865 |
| 36 | 24 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 146 | 0 | engine | 55 | $43,665 |
| 37 | 29 | 4 | Mike Skinner | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 142 | 0 | engine | 52 | $35,500 |
| 38 | 16 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 102 | 0 | engine | 49 | $64,208 |
| 39 | 30 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 81 | 0 | transmission | 46 | $81,028 |
| 40 | 8 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 67 | 0 | crash | 43 | $43,100 |
| 41 | 33 | 25 | Joe Nemechek | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29 | 0 | crash | 40 | $42,965 |
| 42 | 42 | 85 | Carl Long (R) | Mansion Motorsports | Ford | 18 | 0 | brakes | 0 | $34,875 |
| 43 | 43 | 46 | Frank Kimmel | Larry Clement Racing | Ford | 8 | 0 | overheating | 0 | $35,069 |
| Official race results |||||||||||