|| *Comments on the 2002 NAPA 500:* View the most recent comment <#18> | Post a comment <#post> Tweet 1. Steve posted: 05.17.2006 - 7:05 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Not only was the race shortened, but qualifying was rained out. 2. Rusty posted: 07.28.2006 - 11:09 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kurt Busch wins a race that he DNQed for in 2001. 3. Steve posted: 08.04.2006 - 5:03 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) A few other drivers have done this, too. Derrike Cope failed to qualify for the 1989 Daytona 500, but he won it in 1990. A few weeks later at Rockingham, Kyle Petty won the GM Goodwrench 500 at Rockingham after failing to qualify for that race in 1989 (the #42 team was new that year and had no owner points). I'm sure other drivers have pulled this off, but I'm not sure who and where. 4. SK posted: 11.22.2009 - 5:11 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Speaking of Cope, this was the first start he made since breaking his shoulder blade and leg in a vicious crash at Richmond almost two months earlier. 5. RaceFanX posted: 01.01.2010 - 1:46 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Jamie McMurray's only top-10 of 2002 other than his huge upset win at Charlotte that came in his previous start 6. Schroeder51 posted: 09.26.2010 - 10:06 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Tony Stewart drove a Peanuts themed paint scheme featuring Linus van Pelt on the hood in this race, paying tribute to the 1966 Peanuts TV special "It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!" 7. Andre posted: 09.28.2010 - 1:06 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) If memory serves me right, there was a caution for rain late in the event. Lo and behold, all the leaders except Kyle Petty pulled down pit road... man, did I ever hope it started pouring. That would have been hilariously awesome, had he won that night! 8. Andre posted: 09.28.2010 - 1:07 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Oops, anyway, the rain stopped, Kyle pitted the next lap, yada yada yada... 9. RaceFanX posted: 05.21.2012 - 11:50 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Sponsors: #18 Bobby Labonte- Interstate Batteries / 3M #30 Jeff Green- America Online 8.0 #10 Johnny Benson Jr.- Valvoline / University of Kentucky Basketball Two of those three paint jobs were part of centennial as the UK Wildcats and 3M were both celebrating their 100th anniversaries with NASCAR deals. 10. needavideo posted: 05.26.2012 - 2:27 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) does anyone have this race to veiw? This was one of the few races i watched when i first started too. 11. Nick24 posted: 10.29.2012 - 12:41 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) One of the few races in his carrer, Jimmie Johnson has been involved in 3 cautions. 12. kidracer posted: 03.30.2014 - 9:26 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Nemechek was haulin' ass until that caution came out. Wish the rain held off for 10 more laps, he would have won. 13. NASCARLover22 posted: 09.06.2015 - 7:27 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Withdrew #72 Kirk Shelmerdine Sponsor: Kirk Shelmerdine Racing Owner: Kirk Shelmerdine Manufacturer: Ford #89 Morgan Shepherd Sponsor: Racing with Jesus Owner: Morgan Shepherd Manufacturer: Ford http://www.jayski.com/next/2002/2002atlanta2.htm 14. RaceFanX posted: 12.30.2016 - 2:56 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kurt Busch's win here marked the first time he won two consecutive Cup races. It was also his first win on a superspeedway, both of his prior wins earlier in the season were on short tracks. This race marked the final time the fall Atlanta race would be the NAPA 500. The auto parts store chain had sponsored this race since 1995. 15. Fish posted: 03.14.2017 - 12:08 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) #7 and #8, Kyle Petty had a chance to win if he stayed out on the last caution, but he didn't. The announcers were confused why he didn't as there was rain in the area. If Petty only knew there would be five laps of green flag racing left before the rain hit, he might have stayed out. Source: https://youtu.be/HWv0oi47sIs?t=4h5m1s 16. Not Sure posted: 09.15.2018 - 4:25 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Stewart's 146 point lead in the standings following this race was the biggest for any driver during the season (Marlin's 143 point lead after Fontana (race number 10) ranks second). Fantastic points race throughout the entire season. It's a shame Brian had to go and eliminate these. 17. SweetRich posted: 02.20.2020 - 5:49 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) The Commentators For The Race Were Allen Bestwick, Wally Dallenbach And Benny Parsons. The Pit Road Reporters Were Dave Burns, Marty Snider, Bill Weber And Matt Yocum. 18. Mile501 posted: 08.24.2020 - 9:51 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) "And he's got a younger brother coming up through the ranks they say is every bit as good." - Allen Bestwick alluded to Kyle Busch as Kurt Busch claimed this win. Also, to clarify #7-8, Kyle Petty stayed out and held the lead during a caution for rain early in the race, but the race was nowhere near halfway at that point. Kyle explained that he stayed out to get 5 bonus points for leading a lap, because he was in a tight points battle, trying to finish in the top 20. There was a caution near the end of the race where it seems like some of the guys toward the back of the lead lap should have stayed out and gambled, but shockingly, no one did. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *Post a comment:* Your comment may not appear immediately - all comments must be approved by the moderator. Name: Comment: