The 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 54th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 31st modern-era Cup Series season. It began on February 10, 2002, at Daytona International Speedway, and ended on November 17, 2002, at Homestead–Miami Speedway. 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. He would win it for the 16th and final time in his career. He withdrew from the ballot after receiving the award. The NASCAR Manufacturers' Championship was captured by Ford after winning 14 events and gaining 245 points over second-place finisher Chevrolet, who had 10 wins and 211 points.
This was the final season for the non-common template bodies. The following season would require all manufacturers to use the same roofline. The most significant rule change for 2002 was the implementation of the one-engine rule for race weekends. At a race event, cars would now be required to practice, qualify, and race with the same engine. The rule banned separate "qualifying engines" (and "practice engines"). 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.
Teams and drivers Complete schedule ManufacturerTeamDriverCrew chiefChevroletAndy Petree Racing55 Bobby Hamilton Charley Pressley Jimmy Elledge Greg Biffle Ron Hornaday Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc.1 Kenny Wallace Paul Andrews Steve Hmiel Steve Park 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Tony Eury 15 Michael Waltrip Slugger Labbe Hendrick Motorsports 5 Terry Labonte Jim Long 24 Jeff Gordon Robbie Loomis25 Jerry Nadeau Tony Furr Brian Pattie Peter Sospenzo Joe Nemechek 48 Jimmie Johnson (R) Chad Knaus Morgan-McClure Motorsports 4 Mike Skinner Chris Carrier Richard Childress Racing29 Kevin Harvick Gil MartinKenny Wallace 30 Jeff Green Todd Berrier 31 Robby Gordon Kevin HamlinDodge Bill Davis Racing 22 Ward Burton Tommy Baldwin Jr. Frank Stoddard 23 Hut Stricklin Philippe LopezTom Hubert Kenny Wallace Scott Wimmer Geoff Bodine Chip Ganassi Racing40 Sterling Marlin Lee McCallJamie McMurray Mike Bliss 41 Jimmy Spencer Doug Randolph Scott Pruett Evernham Motorsports 9 Bill Elliott Mike Ford 19 Jeremy Mayfield Sammy Johns Petty Enterprises 43 John Andretti Brandon Thomas44Buckshot Jones Gary PutnamSteve Grissom Jerry Nadeau Ted Musgrave Greg Biffle Christian Fittipaldi 45 Kyle Petty Steven Lane Ultra-Evernham Motorsports7 Casey Atwood Kevin Cram Buddy Barnes Tony Furr Ultra MotorsportsJason Leffler Ford Brett Bodine Racing 11 Brett Bodine Jon Wolfe Haas-Carter Motorsports26 Joe Nemechek Donnie Wingo Frank Kimmel Todd Bodine Geoff Bodine Jasper Motorsports 77 Dave Blaney Ryan Pemberton Penske Racing 2 Rusty Wallace Bill Wilburn 12 Ryan Newman (R) Matt Borland PPI Motorsports 32 Ricky Craven Mike Beam Robert Yates Racing 28 Ricky Rudd Michael McSwain Raymond Fox Jr. 88 Dale Jarrett Jimmy Elledge Todd Parrott Roush Racing 6 Mark Martin Ben Leslie 17 Matt Kenseth Robbie Reiser 97 Kurt Busch Jimmy Fennig 99 Jeff Burton Frank Stoddard Paul Andrews Wood Brothers Racing 21 Elliott Sadler Pat TrysonPontiacA. J. Foyt Racing14 Stacy Compton Mike HillmanMike Wallace P. J. Jones Joe Gibbs Racing 18 Bobby Labonte Jimmy Makar Michael McSwain 20 Tony Stewart Greg Zipadelli MB2 Motorsports10 Johnny Benson James InceJoe Nemechek Jerry Nadeau Mike Wallace 36 Ken Schrader Newt Moore
Limited schedule ManufacturerTeamDriverCrew ChiefRoundsChevroletAndy Petree Racing33 Mike Wallace Kenny WallaceBACE Motorsports 73 Tony Raines 74 Chad Little Tony Raines Joe Varde Team Bristol Motorsports54 Kevin GrubbBH Motorsports Ron Hornaday Jr. David GreenFitzBradshaw Racing83 Kerry EarnhardtBob Temple Ron Hornaday Jr. Haas CNC Racing 60 Jack Sprague Dennis ConnerMarcis Auto Racing71Dave MarcisBob MarcisDick TrickleAndy HillenburgJay SauterJim SauterTim Sauter 72 Dwayne LeikMichael Waltrip Racing00Jerry Nadeau Buckshot Jones 98Kenny Wallace Innovative Motorsports NEMCO Motorsports 87 Ron Fellows Norm Benning Racing 84 Norm Benning (R) Roadrunner Motorsports0Jim Inglebright SCORE Motorsports 02 Hermie Sadler (R) Jeff Buckner DodgeBAM Racing49 Shawna Robinson (R)Scott EgglestonRon Hornaday Jr.Derrike CopeKevin LepageStuart KirbyStacy Compton Bill Davis Racing 27 Scott WimmerEvernham Motorsports91 Dick Trickle Hank Parker Jr. (R) Casey AtwoodChip Ganassi Racing 42Jimmy SpencerMelling Racing92 Robert Pressley Stacy Compton Orleans Racing62 Brendan Gaughan Austin Cameron Price Motorsports 59 Randy Renfrow Jason Small Carl Long (R) SR Racing 79 Carl Long (R) Ultra Motorsports 07 Ted Musgrave Ware Racing Enterprises51 Carl Long Morgan Shepherd Brian Rose Jerry RobertsonMansion Motorsports85Carl Long (R) Ford CLR Racing 57Derrike Cope Ron Hornaday Jr. Stuart KirbyDonlavey Racing90 Rick MastBobby King Hermie Sadler Gary Bradberry Ed Berrier Lance Hooper Jason Hedlesky GIC Motorsports 93 Mike Harmon Haas-Carter Motorsports66 Todd BodineLarry Carter Geoff Bodine Hideo Fukuyama Frank Kimmel Hover Motorsports 80 Kirk Shelmerdine McGlynn Racing Ryan McGlynn Jasper Motorsports 67 Boris Said Mark HarrahKirk Shelmerdine Racing 72Kirk Shelmerdine 27 Phoenix Racing09 Geoff Bodine Marc Reno Otto Motorsports Shane Lewis Quest Motor Racing37 Derrike Cope Kevin Lepage Jeff Jefferson 38 Kevin Lepage Roush Racing 16 Greg Biffle Randy Goss Shepherd Racing Ventures 89 Morgan Shepherd Ash Motorsports46 Brandon Ash Justin Bell PontiacA. J. Foyt Racing 50P. J. Jones Gerhart Racing 59 Bobby Gerhart (R)
Schedule No. Race title Track DateBudweiser ShootoutDaytona International Speedway, Daytona BeachFebruary 10Gatorade 125sFebruary 141Daytona 500February 172Subway 400North Carolina Speedway, RockinghamFebruary 243UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las VegasMarch 34MBNA America 500Atlanta Motor Speedway, HamptonMarch 105Carolina Dodge Dealers 400Darlington Raceway, DarlingtonMarch 176Food City 500Bristol Motor Speedway, BristolMarch 247Samsung/RadioShack 500Texas Motor Speedway, Fort WorthApril 88Virginia 500Martinsville Speedway, RidgewayApril 149Aaron's 499Talladega Superspeedway, TalladegaApril 2110NAPA Auto Parts 500California Speedway, FontanaApril 2811Pontiac Excitement 400Richmond International Raceway, RichmondMay 4–5No Bull SprintLowe's Motor Speedway, ConcordMay 18Winston OpenThe Winston12Coca-Cola Racing Family 600May 2613MBNA Platinum 400Dover International Speedway, DoverJune 214Pocono 500Pocono Raceway, Long PondJune 915Sirius Satellite Radio 400Michigan International Speedway, BrooklynJune 1616Dodge/Save Mart 350Infineon Raceway, SonomaJune 2317Pepsi 400Daytona International Speedway, Daytona BeachJuly 618Tropicana 400Chicagoland Speedway, JolietJuly 1419New England 300New Hampshire International Speedway, LoudonJuly 2120Pennsylvania 500Pocono Raceway, Long PondJuly 2821Brickyard 400Indianapolis Motor Speedway, SpeedwayAugust 422Sirius Satellite Radio at The GlenWatkins Glen International, Watkins GlenAugust 1123Pepsi 400 presented by Farmer JackMichigan International Speedway, BrooklynAugust 1824Sharpie 500Bristol Motor Speedway, BristolAugust 2425Mountain Dew Southern 500Darlington Raceway, DarlingtonSeptember 126Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400Richmond International Raceway, RichmondSeptember 727New Hampshire 300New Hampshire International Speedway, LoudonSeptember 1528MBNA All-American Heroes 400Dover International Speedway, DoverSeptember 2229Protection One 400Kansas Speedway, Kansas CitySeptember 2930EA Sports 500Talladega Superspeedway, TalladegaOctober 631UAW-GM Quality 500Lowe's Motor Speedway, ConcordOctober 1332Old Dominion 500Martinsville Speedway, RidgewayOctober 2033NAPA 500Atlanta Motor Speedway, HamptonOctober 2734Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400North Carolina Speedway, RockinghamNovember 335Checker Auto Parts 500 presented by PennzoilPhoenix International Raceway, PhoenixNovember 1036Ford 400Homestead–Miami Speedway, HomesteadNovember 17
Races No.RacePole positionMost laps ledWinning driverBudweiser ShootoutKurt BuschTony StewartTony StewartPontiacGatorade 125#1Jimmie JohnsonJeff GordonJeff GordonChevroletGatorade 125#2Kevin HarvickMichael WaltripMichael WaltripChevrolet1Daytona 500Jimmie JohnsonSterling MarlinWard BurtonDodge2Subway 400Ricky CravenMatt KensethMatt KensethFord3UAW-Daimler Chrysler 400Todd BodineTony StewartSterling MarlinDodge4MBNA America 500Bill ElliottTony StewartTony StewartPontiac5Carolina Dodge Dealers 400Ricky CravenJeff GordonSterling MarlinDodge6Food City 500Jeff GordonDale Earnhardt Jr.Kurt BuschFord7Samsung/Radio Shack 500Bill ElliottDale JarrettMatt KensethFord8Virginia 500Jeff GordonTony StewartBobby LabontePontiac9Aaron's 499Jimmie JohnsonDale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt Jr.Chevrolet10NAPA Auto Parts 500Ryan NewmanKurt BuschJimmie JohnsonChevrolet11Pontiac Excitement 400Ward BurtonWard BurtonTony StewartPontiacWinston OpenJeremy MayfieldJeremy MayfieldJeremy MayfieldDodgeNo Bull SprintKen SchraderRyan NewmanRyan NewmanFordThe WinstonMatt KensethJimmie JohnsonRyan NewmanFord12Coca-Cola Racing Family 600Jimmie JohnsonJimmie JohnsonMark MartinFord13MBNA Platinum 400Matt KensethJimmie JohnsonJimmie JohnsonChevrolet14Pocono 500Sterling MarlinRicky RuddDale JarrettFord15Sirius Satellite Radio 400Dale JarrettDale JarrettMatt KensethFord16Dodge/Save Mart 350Tony StewartJeff GordonRicky RuddFord17Pepsi 400Kevin HarvickMichael WaltripMichael WaltripChevrolet18Tropicana 400Ryan NewmanRyan NewmanKevin HarvickChevrolet19New England 300Bill ElliottMatt KensethWard BurtonDodge20Pennsylvania 500Bill ElliottSterling MarlinBill ElliottDodge21Brickyard 400Tony StewartBill ElliottBill ElliottDodge22Sirius Satellite Radio at The GlenRicky RuddTony StewartTony StewartPontiac23Pepsi 400 presented by Farmer JackDale Earnhardt Jr.Kevin HarvickDale JarrettFord24Sharpie 500Jeff GordonJeff GordonJeff GordonChevrolet25Mountain Dew Southern 500Sterling MarlinJeff GordonJeff GordonChevrolet26Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400Jimmie JohnsonRyan NewmanMatt KensethFord27New Hampshire 300Ryan NewmanRyan NewmanRyan NewmanFord28MBNA All-American Heroes 400Rusty WallaceJimmie JohnsonJimmie JohnsonChevrolet29Protection One 400Dale Earnhardt Jr.Jeff GordonJeff GordonChevrolet30EA Sports 500Jimmie JohnsonDale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt Jr.Chevrolet31UAW-GM Quality 500Tony StewartJamie McMurrayJamie McMurrayDodge32Old Dominion 500Ryan NewmanWard BurtonKurt BuschFord33NAPA 500Tony StewartKurt BuschKurt BuschFord34Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400Ryan NewmanMark MartinJohnny BensonPontiac35Checker Auto Parts 500 presented by PennzoilRyan NewmanKurt BuschMatt KensethFord36Ford 400Kurt BuschJoe NemechekKurt BuschFord
Budweiser Shootout 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. Instead of qualifying, the starting lineup was decided by random draw. Kurt Busch started on the pole.
Top ten results #20 - Tony Stewart #8 - Dale Earnhardt Jr. #24 - Jeff Gordon #36 - Ken Schrader #40 - Sterling Marlin #88 - Dale Jarrett #5 - Terry Labonte #18 - Bobby Labonte #1 - Kenny Wallace #66 - Todd Bodine
Gatorade Twin 125s The Gatorade 125s qualifying for the Daytona 500 were held on February 14 at Daytona International Speedway.
Race one: Top ten results #24 - Jeff Gordon #8 - Dale Earnhardt Jr. #36 - Ken Schrader #21 - Ricky Rudd #5 - Terry Labonte #40 - Sterling Marlin #97 - Kurt Busch #33 - Mike Wallace #22 - Ward Burton #88 - Dale Jarrett
Race two: Top ten results #15 - Michael Waltrip #20 - Tony Stewart #25 - Jerry Nadeau #29 - Kevin Harvick #18 - Bobby Labonte #31 - Robby Gordon #71 - Dave Marcis #43 - John Andretti #1 - Kenny Wallace