2002 Busch Series Races/News

EAS/GNC Live Well 300 - Daytona



The second race of the weekend got off to a rather familiar start. Just like the truck race, chaos came within the first couple laps of the race.





This was enough to take out Kenny and Mike Wallace, as well as Scott Riggs, who started in the back of the pack and couldn't avoid the melee, which was started when Tony Raines got tangled up with Casey Mears.  Eight cars in total were out of the race before it even began.

This is how things looked at the end of stage 1:



Stage 1 Points
10 Wimmer
9 Foyt
8 Jo Sauter
7 Earnhardt Jr
6 Spencer
5 Mears
4 Vickers
3 Parker jr
2 Grubb
1 Keller


Kevin Grubb, Shane Hall, and, most surprising of all, Dale Earnhardt Jr. would be forced to come to the garage with mechanical issues within the second stage.  Stage two was mostly a battle between Johnny Sauter, Jeff Green, Michael Waltrip, and Bobby Hamilton Jr.  This is how the stage ended:



Stage 2 Points
10 J Green
9 Jo Sauter
8 Waltrip
7 Mears
6 K Earnhardt
5 Keller
4 Biffle 
3 Hamilton jr
2 Wimmer
1 McGlaughlin


So it would be the rookie, Johnny Sauter, maximizing stage points after sixty laps.  Casey Mears and Scott Wimmer were not too far behind, in that regard.  At this point, Dan Pardus, Shane Hmiel, and Andy Kirby, who had been lapped several times, finally decided to end their days and head to the garage.

About half way through the final stage, Kevin Harvick, who'd been having issues of his own all day, got caught up in a wreck with Ricky Hendrick.



Also leaving the race shortly after would be Stacy Compton, Scott Wimmer, and Bobby Hamilton Jr, all with mechanical/damage issues.

By lap 117, it was down to a drag race between Jeff Green and Michael Waltrip.  Waltrip had Kerry Earnhardt pushing from the bottom, but Randy Lajoie was able to produce enough momentum to keep Green side by side with Waltrip.  The finish came down to two hundredths of a second.



[/a]Waltrip would edge out Jeff Green by a third of a car-length.  Also pictured here is the dominance of Chevrolet in this race, as they would sweep the Top 5.  Kerry Earnhardt would be the top finishing driver points-eligible competitor, but after the addition of stage points, Johnny Sauter would top the initial standings.  The final results look like this:

Official Results

1 Waltrip 99
2 J Green 21
3 K Earnhardt 12
4 Lajoie 7
5 Jo Sauter 2
6 Mears 66
7 Biffle 60
8 Foyt 14
9 McGlaughlin 18
10 McMurray 27
11 Keller 57
12 Kahne 98
13 Sprague 24
14 Parker jr 36
15 Elder 38
16 Amick 26 -1
17 T Bodine 92 -1
18 Spencer 1 -3
19 Lewis 46 -3
20 Vickers 40 -6
21 Hamilton jr 25 - valve L99
22 Wimmer 23 - piston L97
23 Compton 59 - fuel inj L97
24 Hendrick 5 - accident L96
25 Purvis 37 - retired L95
26 Harvick 29 - retired L95
27 Chaffin 16 - retired L91
28 Pardus 32 - piston L64
29 Kirby 77 - valve L63
30 Hmiel 47 - retired L62
31 Hall 63 - tire L49
32 Earnhardt jr 3 - gearbox L44
33 Grubb 54 - clutch L34
34 K Wallace 48 - retired L4
35 Riggs 10 - retired L3
36 T Sauter 19 - accident L2
37 Raines 33 - accident L2
38 M Wallace 4 - accident L2
39 Harmon 44 - retired L2
40 Buford 49 - retired L2
41 Cope 94 - accident L2

1-866RBCTerm.com 200 - Rockingham



As the green flag waves, it's pole sitter Jason Keller who jumps out to the early lead. He takes the first eight laps before Greg Biffle runs him down and makes the pass into turn 3.







Biffle pulls away for the next fifteen laps, but gets run down by Kevin Harvick, who has made his way from 26th all the way up to the lead in just 23 laps. He uses Derrike Cope as a pick to get by Biffle.







On lap 36, just over half way through Stage 1, we get our first caution as Hank Parker Jr. slides up the track out of turn 2 and collects the lapped car of Andy Kirby.







When we return to green, Kevin Harvick continues to pull away from the pack, but now it's Jamie McMurray who makes his way through the field to catch him. Before a battle for the lead can happen, Scott Riggs' car stalls on the exit of turn 2, bringing out our second caution of the day.







While Jamie McMurray would win the race off pit road, it would be newcomer David Reutimann taking the lead away with just six laps left in the stage.







He would hold that lead to take the ten points and a playoff point.



10 Reutimann

9 Harvick

8 Nemechek

7 K Wallace

6 McMurray

5 McLaughlin

4 Raines

3 Compton

2 Waltrip

1 Lajoie







Just ten laps into the second stage, one of the favorites, Kevin Harvick, has to head to the garage with a valve issue. A few laps later, there's more trouble in turn 2, this time between Coy Gibbs and Larry Foyt.







David Reutimann had been holding onto the lead through the first twenty laps of the stage, but on the restart, Jamie McMurray and several others would overtake him.







An unexpected debris caution would come with just five laps left in the stage, creating a green-white-checkered scenario as Kenny Wallace won the race off pit road. The potential was there for an exciting stage finish, but trouble would unfold just behind the leaders as they came to take the white flag.







It would be Kenny Wallace holding on to take the stage win.



10 K Wallace

9 McMurray

8 Reutimann

7 Compton

6 Raines

5 Lajoie

4 Jo Sauter

3 Keller

2 Earnhardt

1 Grubb







Only a few laps into the final stage, a terrifying wreck would take out several contenders, but most notably, Greg Biffle, who had just worked so hard to stay on the lead lap at the end of the last stage.







For the next fifteen laps, David Reutimann held the lead until cup series regulars, Kenny Wallace and Stacy Compton, made their way past and battled for the lead amongst themselves.







Just a couple laps later, Todd Bodine, Michael Waltrip, and Jack Sprague would tangle up in that troublesome turn 2 exit.







Reutimann would jump back into the lead with fifty to go, but a scary wreck involving Chad Chaffin and Christian Elder would bring out the caution on lap 184.







Jamie McMurray and Tony Raines would stay off pit road to lead this crucial restart. However, it would be in vain as David Reutimann would make short work of them both.







With just ten laps remaining, Jason Keller, the pole winner, tried to make up the distance after making his way through the rest of the field. He would come up just short. David Reutimann wins his first career Busch Series race and most likely locks himself into the playoffs!







Official Results:



1 Reutimann 88

2 Keller 57

3 Lajoie 7

4 Wimmer 23

5 Compton 59

6 Jo Sauter 2

7 Purvis 37

8 Bodine 92

9 Mears 66

10 Lewis 46

11 M Wallace 4

12 McMurray 27

13 K Wallace 48

14 Raines 33

15 Nemechek 87 -1

16 Hmiel 47 -1

17 Vickers 40 -1

18 Waltrip 99 -1

19 McLaughlin 18 -2

20 K Earnhardt 12 -2

21 Grubb 54 -2

22 Hall 63 -3

23 Pardus 32 -3

24 Elder 38 -3

25 Amick 26 -4

26 Gibbs 20 -5

27 Harmon 44 -6

28 Hendrick 5 - accident L182

29 Sauter 19 - accident L180

30 Chaffin 16 - accident L178

31 Sprague 24 - retired L145

32 Cope 94 - retired L130

33 Buford 49 - retired L129

34 Biffle 60 - accident L127

35 Spencer 1 - accident L127

36 Hamilton jr 25 - accident L127

37 Foyt 14 - retired L119

38 Riggs 10 - retired L119

39 Harvick 21 - valve L72

40 Parker jr 36 - retired L34

41 Kirby 77 - accident L32



We may see some interesting scenarios now, as David Reutimann was only really scheduled to run a limited schedule. Since he at least made an attempt to qualify at Daytona, he is still eligible for the playoffs. Either way, great scouting by Joe Nemechek! We'll see what he's able to pull together to keep his driver eligible.

Sam's Town 300 - Las Vegas - Race #3

The race begins with Michael Waltrip getting the jump on pole sitter, Scott Wimmer, to take the lead at the start of the race.  It's Mike McLaughlin who gives chase.  Back in third, a four man battle takes place between Biffle, Wimmer, McMurray, and Reutimann.




The first caution comes out on lap 27 as Joe Buford suffers an ignition failure.  A mistake on pit road sends Wimmer all the way back to 24th.  Meanwhile, Derrike Cope, Andy Kirby, and Martin Truex Jr. all stay out to take the top three spots.




The field gets bunched up behind the three slower cars during the restart, but eventually, they are shuffled to the back once again.  Just as Waltrip and McLaughlin begin to pull away again, another caution comes out, this time because of a wreck involving Tony Raines, Todd Bodine, and Kevin Grubb, with Casey Mears as a catalyst.





As the green flag comes out, Waltrip gets caught napping and it's McLaughlin, Biffle, and Riggs who begin to pull away.  They stay in that order until near the end of the stage.  Just when it looked like Scott Riggs would get something going, a blown header would send him to the garage with two to go in the stage.





In the end, it would be Mike McLaughlin taking home the playoff point.  Let's see how the rest of the field shook out in Stage 1.

Stage 1

10 McLaughlin

9 Biffle

8 Waltrip

7 Nemechek

6 Lewis

5 Harvick

4 McMurray

3 LaJoie

2 K Wallace

1 Amick 





Joe Nemechek picks up three spots on pit road to lead the field to green at the start of Stage 2.  Harvick and Biffle fight their way around McLaughlin for 2nd and 3rd respectively, which creates a sizeable gap for Front Row Joe.  While Biffle would falter on green flag pit stops, falling out of the top ten, Harvick would continue his pursuit of the lead.  Nemechek would keep the lead during the pit cycle, but Harvick would run him down with three to go in the stage.




No one would catch Harvick, as he'd take Stage 2 decisively.

Stage 2

10 Harvick

9 Hamilton Jr.

8 McLaughlin

7 Nemechek

6 Waltrip

5 Sprague

4 Keller

3 Compton

2 Lewis

1 Biffle






About twenty laps into the final stage, two top contenders would take one another out as Jack Sprague would push Mike McLaughlin loose and send both of them into the wall, effectively ending all hopes of a good finish.




Kevin Harvick would dominate the remaining laps, despite Jason Keller, for a second week in a row, giving chase, but just falling short for a runner up finish.




This win gives Harvick some momentum heading into the Cup race tomorrow.

In the pits, Mike McLaughlin and Jack Sprague would exchange some heated words, but it looks like it's not gonna come to blows.  Sprague claims that McLaughlin brake checked him.

Here's the final results:

1 Harvick 21

2 Keller 57

3 Reutimann 87

4 Biffle 60

5 K Wallace 48

6 Waltrip 99

7 Nemechek 87

8 Wimmer 23

9 Amick 26

10 Lewis 46

11 Hamilton Jr. 25

12 Compton 59

13 Hmiel 47

14 McMurray 27

15 T Sauter 19

16 J Sauter 2

17 Parker Jr. 36

18 Little 74

19 Purvis 37

20 LaJoie 7

21 Foyt 14

22 Vickers 40

23 Spencer 1

24 Hall 63

25 Hendrick 5 -1

26 Elder 38 -1

27 Pardus 32 -1

28 Chaffin 16 -1

29 Kirby 77 -2

30 McLaughlin 18 -2

31 Truex jr 56 -4

32 Cope 94 -5

33 T Bodine 92 -7

34 Mears 66 - Clutch L186

35 Sprague 24 - Retired L145

36 Harmon 44 - Valve L118

37 Earnhardt 12 - Piston L63

38 Riggs 10 - Header L60

39 Raines 33 - Valve L39

40 Grubb 54 - Header L38

41 Buford 49 - Ignition L25

Darlingtonraceway.com 200 - Darlington

Kevin Harvick jumps out to the lead early before the first wreck a couple laps in. The wreck involves Larry Foyt, Hank Parker Jr., and Dave Blaney.



After a shuffle for position on the restart, David Reutimann takes the lead and holds it until the end of the stage on lap 40.

Stage 1
10 Reutimann
9 J Green
8 McLaughlin
7 J Burton
6 Biffle
5 Harvick
4 Hamilton jr
3 Sprague
2 Waltrip
1 Keller



The second stage is rather uneventful as well. Jeff Green takes the lead on lap 42 and pulls away until the end of the stage on lap 80.

Stage 2
10 J Green
9 Biffle
8 Burton
7 Hamilton jr
6 Reutimann
5 Waltrip
4 McLaughlin
3 Keller
2 Lewis
1 Wimmer



Green looks as if he will dominate the remainder of the race, but then pit stops cycle through and Ashton Lewis ends up with the lead! He just has to hold it for fifteen more laps and he has just enough fuel to make it! Unfortunately for Lewis, a wreck occurs on lap 141, collecting Brian Vickers, Tim Sauter, Jimmy Spencer, and Tony Raines.



So, it comes down to a green-white-checkered, but Lewis runs out of gas out of turn two! Bobby Hamilton Jr. takes the lead with Scott Wimmer in pursuit! Hamilton holds off the charge by Wimmer and wins his first Busch Series race in dramatic fashion!



1 Hamilton jr 25
2 Wimmer 23
3 Keller 57
4 Reutimann 88
5 Harvick 29
6 Biffle 60
7 J Sauter 2
8 Waltrip 99
9 Riggs 10
10 Sprague 24
11 T Bodine 92
12 Hmiel 47
13 Earnhardt 12
14 Lewis 46 -1
15 J Burton 9 -1
16 Hendrick 5 -1
17 McLaughlin 18 -1
18 Lajoie 7 -1
19 K Wallace 48 -1
20 Elder 38 -1
21 Spencer 1 -1
22 Grubb 54 -1
23 Mears 66 -1
24 J Green -2
25 Pardus 32 -2
26 Compton 59 -2
27 Cope 94 -3
28 Buford 49 -3
29 Kirby 77 -4
30 Hall 63 -4
31 Raines 33 - Accident L142
32 Amick 26 - Accident L142
33 T Sauter 19 - Accident L142
34 Vickers 40 - Retired L141
35 McMurray 27 - Retired L140
36 Chaffin 16 -9
37 Harmon 44 - Gearbox L58
38 Purvis 37 - Piston L22
39 Blaney 31 - Retired L3
40 Foyt 14 - Accident L2
41 Parker jr 36 - Retired L2