The 2002 Dodge/Save Mart 350 was the 16th stock car race of the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 14th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, June 23, 2002, in Sonoma, California, at the club layout in Infineon Raceway, a 1.99 miles (3.20 km) permanent road course layout. The race took the scheduled 110 laps to complete. Ricky Rudd, driving for Robert Yates Racing, would take advantage of a disaster-stricken Jerry Nadeau when Nadeau suffered rear end problems while leading with three to go.[1][2] The win was Rudd's 23rd and final NASCAR Winston Cup Series win and his first and only win of the season. To fill out the podium, Tony Stewart of Joe Gibbs Racing and Terry Labonte of Hendrick Motorsports would finish second and third, respectively.
Background
Infineon Raceway is one of two road courses to hold NASCAR races, the other being Watkins Glen International. The standard road course at Infineon Raceway is a 12-turn course that is 2.52 miles (4.06 km) long;[3] the track was modified in 1998, adding the Chute, which bypassed turns 5 and 6, shortening the course to 1.95 miles (3.14 km). The Chute was only used for NASCAR events such as this race, and was criticized by many drivers, who preferred the full layout.[4] In 2001, it was replaced with a 70-degree turn, 4A, bringing the track to its current dimensions of 1.99 miles (3.20 km).[5]
Entry list
- (R) denotes rookie driver.
Practice
First practice
The first practice session was held on Friday, June 21, at 10:20 AM PST, and would last for two hours.[6] Ryan Newman of Penske Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 1:16.664 and an average speed of 93.447 miles per hour (150.388 km/h).[7]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | Ryan Newman (R) | Penske Racing | Ford | 1:16.664 | 93.447 |
| 2 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 1:16.679 | 93.428 |
| 3 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 1:16.704 | 93.398 |
| Full first practice results | ||||||
Second practice
The second practice session was held on Saturday, June 22, at 9:30 AM PST, and would last for 45 minutes.[6] Rusty Wallace of Penske Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 1:17.455 and an average speed of 92.492 miles per hour (148.851 km/h).[8]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing | Ford | 1:17.455 | 92.492 |
| 2 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 1:17.491 | 92.449 |
| 3 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 1:17.496 | 92.443 |
| Full second practice results | ||||||
Third and final practice
The third and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, June 22, at 11:15 AM PST, and would last for 45 minutes.[6] Robby Gordon of Richard Childress Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 1:16.110 and an average speed of 94.127 miles per hour (151.483 km/h).[9]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 1:16.110 | 94.127 |
| 2 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 1:16.926 | 93.129 |
| 3 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing | Ford | 1:16.940 | 93.112 |
| Full Happy Hour practice results | ||||||
Qualifying
Qualifying was held on Friday, June 21, at 2:05 PM PST. Drivers would each have one lap to set a lap time.[6] 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.[10]
Tony Stewart of Joe Gibbs Racing would win the pole, setting a time of 1:16.640 and an average speed of 93.476 miles per hour (150.435 km/h).[11]
Two drivers would fail to qualify: Stacy Compton and Brandon Ash.
Full qualifying results
Race results
| Fin[12] | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 110 | 3 | running | 180 | $184,992 |
| 2 | 1 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 110 | 6 | running | 175 | $143,203 |
| 3 | 39 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 110 | 0 | running | 165 | $113,933 |
| 4 | 2 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 110 | 30 | running | 165 | $81,765 |
| 5 | 33 | 30 | Jeff Green | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 110 | 0 | running | 155 | $63,990 |
| 6 | 40 | 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 110 | 0 | running | 150 | $84,815 |
| 7 | 12 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 110 | 0 | running | 146 | $93,048 |
| 8 | 5 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 110 | 3 | running | 147 | $83,546 |
| 9 | 17 | 12 | Ryan Newman (R) | Penske Racing | Ford | 110 | 0 | running | 138 | $82,502 |
| 10 | 13 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 110 | 15 | running | 139 | $95,643 |
| 11 | 9 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 110 | 0 | running | 130 | $82,006 |
| 12 | 16 | 4 | Mike Skinner | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 110 | 0 | running | 127 | $69,385 |
| 13 | 14 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 110 | 0 | running | 124 | $96,003 |
| 14 | 24 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 110 | 0 | running | 121 | $95,453 |
| 15 | 37 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 110 | 0 | running | 118 | $100,353 |
| 16 | 30 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac | 110 | 0 | running | 115 | $79,650 |
| 17 | 27 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 110 | 0 | running | 112 | $52,020 |
| 18 | 28 | 25 | Joe Nemechek | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 110 | 0 | running | 109 | $59,475 |
| 19 | 38 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 110 | 0 | running | 106 | $59,175 |
| 20 | 21 | 77 | Dave Blaney | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 110 | 0 | running | 103 | $74,275 |
| 21 | 43 | 7 | Casey Atwood | Ultra-Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 110 | 0 | running | 100 | $61,850 |
| 22 | 20 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 110 | 0 | running | 97 | $59,175 |
| 23 | 42 | 1 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 110 | 0 | running | 94 | $80,500 |
| 24 | 25 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 110 | 1 | running | 96 | $58,439 |
| 25 | 19 | 87 | Ron Fellows | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | 110 | 0 | running | 88 | $47,930 |
| 26 | 29 | 26 | Todd Bodine | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 110 | 1 | running | 90 | $47,500 |
| 27 | 8 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing | Ford | 110 | 0 | running | 82 | $91,715 |
| 28 | 26 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 109 | 0 | running | 79 | $55,380 |
| 29 | 3 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 109 | 0 | running | 76 | $92,527 |
| 30 | 23 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 109 | 0 | running | 73 | $84,607 |
| 31 | 31 | 55 | Bobby Hamilton | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 109 | 0 | running | 70 | $55,250 |
| 32 | 34 | 0 | Jim Inglebright | Roadrunner Motorsports | Chevrolet | 109 | 0 | running | 67 | $47,190 |
| 33 | 41 | 23 | Hut Stricklin | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 109 | 0 | running | 64 | $55,160 |
| 34 | 22 | 44 | Jerry Nadeau | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 107 | 20 | rear end | 66 | $47,150 |
| 35 | 15 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson (R) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 104 | 0 | rear end | 58 | $47,130 |
| 36 | 35 | 41 | Jimmy Spencer | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 104 | 0 | rear end | 55 | $47,110 |
| 37 | 4 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 103 | 31 | running | 62 | $110,368 |
| 38 | 18 | 36 | Ken Schrader | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 97 | 0 | running | 49 | $55,070 |
| 39 | 6 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 90 | 0 | running | 46 | $65,045 |
| 40 | 11 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 86 | 0 | engine | 43 | $90,010 |
| 41 | 10 | 67 | Boris Said | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 82 | 0 | crash | 40 | $46,975 |
| 42 | 32 | 62 | Austin Cameron | Orleans Racing | Chevrolet | 24 | 0 | clutch | 37 | $46,945 |
| 43 | 36 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 19 | 0 | engine | 34 | $89,475 |
| Failed to qualify | ||||||||||
| 44 | 14 | Stacy Compton | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Pontiac | ||||||
| 45 | 46 | Brandon Ash | Ash Motorsports | Ford | ||||||
| Official race results | ||||||||||
References
- ^ Smithson, Ryan (June 24, 2002). "Rudd wins on the road as Nadeau fades". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on December 2, 2002. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
- ^ "Luck finally turns Ricky Rudd's way". Baxter Bulletin. June 24, 2002. p. 7. Retrieved March 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Sears Point". www.gt-racing.co.uk. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
- ^ "Passing is tough in Chute | chronicle.augusta.com". June 7, 2011. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
- ^ "SEARS POINT BREAKS GROUND ON MODIFIED CHUTE - RacingWest". September 29, 2007. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2002 Sonoma Race Info Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on October 3, 2002. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
- ^ "Winston Cup practice speeds". ThatsRacin. June 21, 2002. Archived from the original on October 3, 2002. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
- ^ "NASCAR.com - Races - 2002 Sonoma Practice 2 Results". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on December 14, 2002. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
- ^ "NASCAR.com - Races - 2002 Sonoma Practice 3 Results". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on December 14, 2002. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
- ^ "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2002 Provisional/Owners Points Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on February 5, 2005. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
- ^ Smithson, Ryan (June 23, 2002). "Stewart blazes to first Bud Pole of the year - June 23, 2002". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on October 15, 2002. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
- ^ "2002 Dodge/Save Mart 350 - The Third Turn". www.thethirdturn.com. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
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