2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
Tony Stewart, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, was declared as the Winston Cup champion.
Bill Elliott won the 2002 NASCAR's Most Popular Driver Award.
Unapproved engine changes during the weekend would be met with a grid penalty.
Before the start of the race, cars that changed engines would be forced to move to the rear of the field before the green flag.
The rule was an effort to reduce costs, and potentially save crews valuable time during the course of a race weekend.
[2] The exhibition Budweiser Shootout race, for drivers that won a pole position in the previous season or previously won the event, was held on February 10 at Daytona International Speedway.
Top ten results Failed to qualify: #41-Jimmy Spencer, #23-Hut Stricklin, #44-Buckshot Jones, #16-Greg Biffle, #90-Rick Mast, #59-Bobby Gerhart, #02-Hermie Sadler, #85-Carl Long, #84-Norm Benning, #80-Kirk Shelmerdine The Subway 400 was held on February 24 at North Carolina Speedway.
85) The UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 was held on March 3 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Todd Bodine won the pole in an unsponsored Travis Carter Motorsports entry; the No.
Top ten results Failed to qualify: none The Food City 500 was held on March 24 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Top ten results Failed to qualify: none The Samsung/Radio Shack 500 was held at Texas Motor Speedway on April 8.
91) The NAPA Auto Parts 500 was held at California Speedway on April 28, 2002.
02) The Pontiac Excitement 400 was scheduled to be run at Richmond International Raceway on Saturday night, but rain ended up stopping the race after 66 laps; the remainder was run on Sunday, May 5, during the daytime.
54) Ryan Newman held off Dale Earnhardt Jr. to win The Winston.
The Coca-Cola Racing Family 600 was held at Lowe's Motor Speedway on May 26, 2002.
Qualifying was rained out, so points leader Sterling Marlin started on the pole.
Top ten results Failed to qualify: none The Sirius 400 was held at Michigan International Speedway on June 16.
Top ten results Failed to qualify: none The Dodge/Save Mart 350 was held at Infineon Raceway on June 23.
Top ten results Failed to qualify: none The Pennsylvania 500 was held at Pocono Raceway on July 28.
The race was shortened to 175 laps due to darkness, because of two lengthy red flags – one for rain and one for fence repairs after Steve Park (who barrel-rolled multiple times) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. wrecked on the first lap.
42) The Pepsi 400 presented by Farmer Jack was held at Michigan International Speedway on August 18.
Qualifying was rained out, so points leader Sterling Marlin started on the pole.
51) The Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400 was held at Richmond International Raceway on September 7.
51) The MBNA All-American Heroes 400 was held at Dover International Speedway on September 22.
Qualifying was rained out, so points leader Jimmie Johnson started on the pole.
Qualifying was rained out, so points leader Tony Stewart started on the pole.
Qualifying was rained out, so points leader Tony Stewart started on the pole.
54) The Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 was held at North Carolina Speedway on November 3.
66) The Checker Auto Parts 500 was held at Phoenix International Raceway on November 10.
Shawna Robinson and Carl Long, the only other racers who declared for the award, did not run enough races to remain eligible.
