2002 Dodge/Save Mart 350
# 2002 Dodge/Save Mart 350

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. 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; 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. 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).

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.

| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 0 | Jim Inglebright | Roadrunner Motorsports | Chevrolet | Jelly Belly |
| 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 | Valvoline |
| 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | Hooters |
| 12 | Ryan Newman (R) | 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 | AT&T Broadband |
| 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 |
| 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 | Jerry Nadeau | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | Georgia-Pacific Brawny |
| 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | Sprint, Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America |
| 46 | Brandon Ash | Ash Motorsports | Ford | Ash Motorsports |
| 48 | Jimmie Johnson (R) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Lowe's |
| 55 | Bobby Hamilton | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | Square D |
| 62 | Austin Cameron | Orleans Racing | Chevrolet | NAPA Tools & Equipment |
| 67 | Boris Said | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | Jasper Engines & Transmissions |
| 77 | Dave Blaney | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | Jasper Engines & Transmissions |
| 87 | Ron Fellows | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | Cellular One |
| 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | UPS |
| 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, June 21, at 10:20 AM PST, and would last for two hours. 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).

| 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. 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).

| 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. 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).

| 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. 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.

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).

Two drivers would fail to qualify: Stacy Compton and Brandon Ash.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 1:16.640 | 93.476 |
| 2 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 1:16.880 | 93.184 |
| 3 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 1:16.895 | 93.166 |
| 4 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1:16.916 | 93.141 |
| 5 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 1:16.936 | 93.116 |
| 6 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 1:16.975 | 93.069 |
| 7 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 1:16.994 | 93.046 |
| 8 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing | Ford | 1:17.024 | 93.010 |
| 9 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 1:17.042 | 92.988 |
| 10 | 67 | Boris Said | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 1:17.075 | 92.948 |
| 11 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 1:17.157 | 92.850 |
| 12 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 1:17.205 | 92.792 |
| 13 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 1:17.472 | 92.472 |
| 14 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 1:17.488 | 92.453 |
| 15 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson (R) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1:17.529 | 92.404 |
| 16 | 4 | Mike Skinner | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1:17.536 | 92.396 |
| 17 | 12 | Ryan Newman (R) | Penske Racing | Ford | 1:17.551 | 92.378 |
| 18 | 36 | Ken Schrader | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 1:17.642 | 92.270 |
| 19 | 87 | Ron Fellows | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1:17.849 | 92.024 |
| 20 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 1:17.915 | 91.946 |
| 21 | 77 | Dave Blaney | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 1:17.971 | 91.880 |
| 22 | 44 | Jerry Nadeau | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 1:18.033 | 91.807 |
| 23 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 1:18.053 | 91.784 |
| 24 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 1:18.072 | 91.761 |
| 25 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 1:18.130 | 91.693 |
| 26 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 1:18.228 | 91.578 |
| 27 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 1:18.238 | 91.567 |
| 28 | 25 | Joe Nemechek | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1:18.244 | 91.560 |
| 29 | 26 | Todd Bodine | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 1:18.339 | 91.449 |
| 30 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac | 1:18.391 | 91.388 |
| 31 | 55 | Bobby Hamilton | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 1:18.437 | 91.334 |
| 32 | 62 | Austin Cameron | Orleans Racing | Chevrolet | 1:18.532 | 91.224 |
| 33 | 30 | Jeff Green | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 1:18.566 | 91.185 |
| 34 | 0 | Jim Inglebright | Roadrunner Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1:18.574 | 91.175 |
| 35 | 41 | Jimmy Spencer | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 1:18.620 | 91.122 |
| 36 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 1:18.677 | 91.056 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 37 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | — | — |
| 38 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 1:19.468 | 90.149 |
| 39 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1:19.436 | 90.186 |
| 40 | 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 1:23.223 | 86.082 |
| 41 | 23 | Hut Stricklin | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 1:19.206 | 90.448 |
| 42 | 1 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 1:20.523 | 88.968 |
| 43 | 7 | Casey Atwood | Ultra-Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 1:18.731 | 90.993 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 44 | 14 | Stacy Compton | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Pontiac | 1:20.081 | 89.459 |
| 45 | 46 | Brandon Ash | Ash Motorsports | Ford | 1:19.619 | 89.979 |
| Official qualifying results |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | 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 |||||||||||
