April 14, 2002
- Bobby Labonte wins the Vigiania 500 at Martinsville: under a white, yellow, checkered flags. It is Labonte’s 19th career Cup win and first ever short track win. Ten different drivers have won the last 10 Cup races at Martinsville. The top ten finishers:
#18-Labonte (61 laps led)
#17-Kenseth
#20-Stewart (152 laps led)
#88-Jarrett
#8-Earnhardt Jr (41 laps led)
#5-Labonte (11 laps led, monkey off the back, first lap led since Talladega Oct 2000)
#28-Rudd
#6-Martin
#99-Burton (5 laps led)
#97-BuschWhere did #29-Kenny Wallace finish? 32nd, 10 laps down
2002 Points Leader, #40-Marlin finished 12th
2001 Cup Champ, #24-Gordon finished 23rd, 2 laps down, Nadeau stood by to relieve Gordon, but didn’t.
Rookies: #12-Newman is 39th and out; #48-Johnson is 35th
Out of Race/Off Track: #71- Hillenburg(clutch); #43-Andretti(engine); #12-Newman(engine); #26-Kimmel(accident); #25-Nadeau(engine/radiator); #44-Jones (accident); #90-Mast(out); #48-Johnson(out)
Cars on the lead lap: 20
Lap Leaders (13): #24-Gordon(68 laps led); #55-Hamilton(47); #25-Nadeau(42); #20-Stewart(152); #22-Burton(20); #5-Labonte(11); #32-Craven(40); #77-Blaney(1); #8-Earnhardt Jr(41); #14-Compton(1); #18-Labonte(61); #2-Wallace(10); #99-Burton(5);
Cautions: 14 for 104 lapsCaution 14 – Lap 498: #55-Hamilton and #77-Blaney got together and #45-Petty was also involved.
Caution 13 – Lap 485: #44-Jones gets turned around and #10-Benson got into Buckshot, just after the green flag flew.
Caution 12 – Lap 475: #32-Craven and #41-Spencer got together when Craven tried to pass Spencer on the bottom, Kenseth scaped Spencer but used the grass to avoid the #41.
Caution 11 – Lap 442: #14-Compton, #4-Skinner and #10-Benson got together, with Benson looping around, but restarted and drove on. #55-Hamilton and #20-Stewart came in to pit after being 1-2, but none of the other leaders followed them into the pits.
Caution 10 – Lap 405: #41-Spencer spun, as he spun #32-Craven spun into Spencer, both ended up in the turn 4 wall, both drove away. #2-Wallace and #4-Skinner got together on pit road, with Wallace hitting Skinner as they both left at the same time, Skinner is pitting right infront of Wallace.
Caution 9 – Lap 366: #02-Sadler got spun out when #19-Mayfield hit him in the rear.
Caution 8 – Lap 274: #36-Schrader’s car died on the track and is stopped in turn #4.
Caution 7 – Lap 252: #24-Gordon is smoking, may be a steering pump leak, Gordon reports oil pressure is ok.
Caution 6 – Lap 207: #43-Andretti lost an engine, #31-Gordon and #26-Kimmel spun in the oil between turn 3 and 4. Also #41-Spencer and #24-Gordon had contact and quite a bit damage on the #24 cutting the tire down, Spencer and Gordon got together while trying to avoid the cars spinning in front of them.
Caution 5 – Lap 170: #11-Bodine had a tire go down and stopped on the track.
Caution 4 – Lap 101: #41-Spencer spun out and tapped the wall, no contact with any other car.
Caution 3 – Lap 73: #29-Kenny Wallace spun out in turn one after #4-Skinner got into Wallace when he came down from the upper groove and, Wallace drifted down the track, but no other cars were involved. #41-Spencer was held in the pits for 15 seconds after a pit road member came onto pitroad too earlier, #26-Kimmel and #1-Park held for speeding. #55-Hamitlon took 2 tires ob his pit stop.
Caution 2 – Lap 50: #99-Burton and #21-Salder got together after Burton hit Sadler in the rear. #02-Sadler also spun just behind the accident.
Caution 1 – Lap 26: for debris on the track, from #36-Schrader.NOTES: #45-Petty got into #1-Park who got into #4-Skinner who spun around on lap 425, but no yellow and all were able to drive on, but Park had to come in and get new tires as the left front was cut down. Jerry Nadeau is standing by to sub for #24-Jeff Gordon as of lap 390. #12-Newman is in the garage area on lap 265, oil is in the water and is dropping fluid. #12-Newman’s car is smoking and the oil temp is climbing on lap 240. #29-Wallace possibly broke a sway bar which has caused handling problems but him 10 laps behind the leaders. On lap 173 stops, #88-Jarrett was held after pitting outside his pit stall. On lap 145 #21-Salder spun after #97-Busch tapped him, but no yellow thrown. #25-Nadeau drifted up towards the wall after #20-Stewart took the lead but recovered back into 8th on lap 120. The #2-Wallace and #20-Stewart got together but both went on, no yellow. #48-Johnson had some ignition problems around lap 35 and slowed down, but is back up to speed, but had to switch to the 2nd ignition and has to be careful as there is no rev-limiter on the backup/2nd ignition. #36-Ken Schrader had a flat tire after making contact with #45-Petty and lost a few laps trying to get into the pits and damaged the left rear of the car, including a brake fire. #17-Kenseth pushed his grill in when he made contact with #77-Blaney. #71-Hillenburg goes to pits on lap 10 (clutch problem) came out a few times but is now listed as out.
For results see ThatsRacin.com or NASCAR.com.(4-14-2002) - Childress Statement: Statement from Richard Childress regarding NASCAR’s “Parking” of Kevin Harvick: “NASCAR had to do something in response to Kevin’s actions during the Truck race yesterday, but I think their response was completely wrong. I have not seen the clip of Kevin’s actions during the Truck race so I can’t comment on what he did. He has had problems in the Busch and Truck Series and had been on probation for his actions, but the decision to ‘park’ him during the Winston Cup race is wrong. NASCAR should keep the actions and punishments separate to each series. This should be Kevin’s punishment only, but what NASCAR is doing is punishing the tens of thousands of race fans who probably didn’t know until they got to the track this morning that Kevin won’t be allowed to race today. NASCAR is also punishing the entire No. 29 team and all of Richard Childress Racing for one person’s actions. NASCAR is also punishing GM Goodwrench Service, who has been nothing but loyal to RCR and the sport for many years. This is only my opinion. I will sit down with Kevin Monday morning to discuss what happened and how we will proceed from here.”(RCR PR)(4-14-2002)
- Harvick Parked for Martinsville, Kenny Wallace in the #29 for the race: Winston Cup driver #29-Kevin Harvick has been “parked” by NASCAR officials and will not be allowed to drive in Sunday’s Virginia 500 at Martinsville Speedway, NASCAR officials confirmed Sunday morning. A formal announcement of the action is expected at the track Sunday morning. Kenny Wallace will drive Harvick’s #29 GM Goodwrench Chevy Sunday. He would have to start at the rear of the field since he did not qualify the car. Harvick’s “parking” – defined in the NASCAR rulebook as an emergency action that is “final, non-appealable and non-reviewable” – comes in response to NASCAR officials’ demand he park his truck after spinning Coy Gibbs in Saturday’s CTS race at Martinsville. Harvick and Gibbs tangled on the track several times over the course of several laps. Gibbs spun Harvick one time exiting Turn 4. Following a caution on Lap 188, Harvick rammed Gibbs’ rear bumper entering Turn 1 and finally spun him exiting Turn 2. NASCAR had enough, black-flagged Harvick and parked him for the day. Harvick parked his #6 Chevy in front of the Truck series hauler near pit road. He was told to report to the NASCAR hauler and met with series officials for nearly 90 minutes following the race. Harvick was already under probation from his post-race incident with Greg Biffle at the BGN race at Bristol last month. Harvick was fined $15,000 and placed on probation until Aug. 28. After Sunday’s race, Harvick may receive a more traditional suspension, which could be appealed under NASCAR rules, sources said.(ThatsRacin.com), also see NASCAR.com: The Buzz: Harvick suspension imminent? and Harvick ordered to meet with NASCAR after incident. AND from the Kenny Wallace site: An emergency call sends Kenny Wallace to Martinsville. NASCAR and Richard Childress called DEI to release Wallace for the Martinsville race. Wallace drove to Martinsville and is staying with bother Rusty for the night.AND RacingOne.com reports that a press conference with #29 car owner Richard Childress was scheduled for 9:00am/et at Martinsville Speedway, while Harvick was to address the media at 10:00am/et.AND NASCAR.com announces: Harvick not allowed to drive in Virginia 500: NASCAR’s statement: “NASCAR officials have announced they have “parked” NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver Kevin Harvick until the conclusion of the Virginia 500 NASCAR Winston Cup event at Martinsville Speedway. Harvick, on probation following an incident at Bristol Motor Speedway March 23 for actions during a NASCAR Busch Series event, was parked during Saturday’s Advance Auto Parts 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event. That time has been extended, preventing him, but not the No. 29 RCR Winston Cup team, from participating through the completion of the event at Martinsville.”(4-14-2002)
- Teams Warned Against the use of Traction Control: NASCAR President Mike Helton offered a stern warning to Winston Cup drivers and crew chiefs during their prerace meeting Sunday about use of traction-control devices. Helton held up two such devices used to prevent cars from spinning their rear wheels exiting turns as examples of what are available for purchase. Helton said, however, NASCAR will not tolerate their use. “Everybody, I think, understands our rules and regulations in regards to traction control. In an effort to police that, we have spent a lot of time and money buying parts and pieces you’ve been offered so we can figure out what to look for,” he said. “There’s not much we can do to the people who manufacture these things to try to get around the rules. It’s the crew chiefs and drivers we will react to when we find these or if we ever find these in a car.”(ThatsRacin.com)(4-14-2002)
- Kimmel back at Talladega, but not California: Frank Kimmel was interviewed on FSN’s NASCAR This Morning by Winston Kelly and said he will drive the #26 Haas Carter Motorsports Ford at Talladega, but will NOT drive the car the following week at California Speedway as he has a commitment to the ARCA series in Salem, IN.(4-14-2002)
- DW to race more Truck races? a few reports mention Darrell Waltip saying he is consdiering running CTS races at Richmond and Indianapolis Raceway Park.(4-14-2002)
- DW and Petree have tough luck in CTS race at Martinsville: #17-Darrell Waltrip finished 34th with a broken rear end and #33-Andy Petree finished 31st after an accident took him out.(4-14-2002)
- Setzer comes from the back to win at Martinsville: #46-Dennis Setzer beat #16-Mike Bliss by .422 seconds to win the Advance Auto Parts 250 at Martinsville Speedway – and now holds the record for coming from the farthest back in the field to win a series race (he started 33rd). It was Setzer’s seventh series win and first since winning at Memphis last June. He also became the fourth driver in series history to win at least one race for five-consecutive seasons. #14-Rick Crawford was third, #08-Bobby Dotter was fourth and #29-Terry Cook rounded out the top five. #18-Robert Pressley took over the series points lead, holding a 20-point edge over #1-Ted Musgrave. Setzer originally was going to start from the fourth position, but his qualifying speed was disallowed after a left-front spring exceeding maximum height was found on his #46 Chevy. He had to take a provisional and started 33rd.(ThatsRacin.com)(4-14-2002)
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