Eighth season of third-tier NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
Mike Bliss , shown here in 2009, the 2002 Craftsman Truck Series champion.The 2002 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series was the eighth season of the Craftsman Truck Series , the third highest stock car racing series sanctioned by NASCAR in the United States. Mike Bliss of Xpress Motorsports was crowned the champion at season's end.
2002 teams and drivers
Full-time teams
Part-time teams
Note: If under "team", the owner's name is listed and in italics , that means the name of the race team that fielded the truck is unknown.
Notes
^ a b Mike Leffingwell was scheduled to drive the No. 93 Chevrolet truck in the race at Gateway (race #4) but he crashed in the practice and the team did not have a backup truck. So Aaron Daniel, who failed to qualify his own No. 11 Ford truck, renumbered his own truck as No. 93 for the race.
^ a b Entries were fielded in a collaboration with MacDonald Motorsports .
^ Entry was fielded in a collaboration with Whitmire Motorsports .
Schedule
No.
Race Title
Track
Date
1
Florida Dodge Dealers 250
Daytona International Speedway , Daytona Beach
February 15
2
Craftsman Anniversary 200
Darlington Raceway , Darlington
March 15
3
Advance Auto Parts 250
Martinsville Speedway , Ridgeway
April 13
4
Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers Ram Tough 200
Gateway International Raceway , Madison
May 5
5
Rocky Mountain 200 presented by Dodge
Pikes Peak International Raceway , Fountain
May 19
6
MBNA America 200
Dover Downs International Speedway , Dover
May 31
7
O'Reilly 400K
Texas Motor Speedway , Fort Worth
June 7
8
O'Reilly Auto Parts 200
Memphis Motorsports Park , Millington
June 22
9
GNC Live Well 200
The Milwaukee Mile , West Allis
June 29
10
O'Reilly Auto Parts 250
Kansas Speedway , Kansas City
July 6
11
Kroger 225
Kentucky Speedway , Sparta
July 13
12
New England 200
New Hampshire International Speedway , Loudon
July 20
13
Michigan 200
Michigan International Speedway , Brooklyn
July 27
14
Power Stroke Diesel 200
Indianapolis Raceway Park , Brownsburg
August 2
15
Federated Auto Parts 200
Nashville Superspeedway , Lebanon
August 10
16
Richmond Is For Lovers 200
Richmond International Raceway , Richmond
September 5
17
Silverado 350
Texas Motor Speedway , Fort Worth
September 13
18
John Boy & Billy's Hardee's 250
South Boston Speedway , South Boston
September 21
19
Las Vegas 350
Las Vegas Motor Speedway , Las Vegas
October 13
20
American Racing Wheels 200
California Speedway , Fontana
November 2
21
Chevy Silverado 150
Phoenix International Raceway , Phoenix
November 8
22
Ford 200
Homestead-Miami Speedway , Homestead
November 15
Races
Florida Dodge Dealers 250
The Florida Dodge Dealers 250 was held February 15 at Daytona International Speedway . Ted Musgrave won the pole. Terry Cook suffered a 100-point penalty for a cylinder head infraction found in his truck after the race.
Top ten results
18-Robert Pressley *
1-Ted Musgrave
4-Brian Rose
79-Joe Ruttman
6-Rick Carelli
29-Terry Cook
75-David Starr
43-Carlos Contreras
07-Jason Small
90-Lance Norick This was Pressley's first truck series victory. This race was also Pressley's truck series debut. There was a multiple truck wreck when Travis Kvapil got turned hard into the wall in which Matt Crafton nearly flipped on his roof. Failed to qualify: Mike Swaim Jr. (#56), Jim Inglebright (#02), Trent Owens (#15), Ryan McGlynn (#00), Michael Dokken (#51), Ken Allen (#28), Ron Barfield Jr. (#97), Stan Boyd (#89), Morgan Shepherd (#21), Jerry Hill (#41), Jake Hobgood (#31)
Craftsman Anniversary 200
The Craftsman Anniversary 200 was March 15 at Darlington Raceway . Jason Leffler won the pole.
Top ten results
1-Ted Musgrave
18-Robert Pressley
16-Mike Bliss
6-Kevin Harvick
14-Rick Crawford
75-David Starr
60-Travis Kvapil
4-Brian Rose
50-Jon Wood
52-Ken Schrader Failed to qualify: Mike Swaim Jr. (#56), Ron Barfield Jr. (#97), Rodney Sawyers (#68), Mike Harmon (#93), Ricky Sanders (#19), Phil Bonifield (#23)
Advance Auto Parts 250
The Advance Auto Parts 250 was held April 13 at Martinsville Speedway . Ted Musgrave won the pole. The race is best known for a caution: Kevin Harvick intentionally turned Coy Gibbs around for previous contact and NASCAR instantly parked him. In the post-race interview Harvick lied that he did not intentionally crash Gibbs even though it was heard on the radio; he was banned from the cup race the next day.
Top ten results
46-Dennis Setzer
16-Mike Bliss
14-Rick Crawford
08-Bobby Dotter
29-Terry Cook
2-Jason Leffler
60-Travis Kvapil
75-David Starr
62-Brendan Gaughan
50-Jon Wood Failed to qualify: Steve Portenga (#39), L. W. Miller (#28), Brian Sockwell (#54), Dana White (#86), Tommy Pistone (#59), Jody McCormick (#77), Jerry Allec Jr. (#93), Vince Whitmire (#40), James Stephenson (#36), Bobby Coffey (#74), R. D. Smith (#41)
Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers Ram Tough 200
The Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers Ram Tough 200 was held May 5 at Gateway International Raceway . Mike Bliss won the pole.
Top ten results
29-Terry Cook *
2-Jason Leffler
16-Mike Bliss
14-Rick Crawford
75-David Starr
46-Dennis Setzer
50-Jon Wood
4-Brian Rose
90-Lance Norick
88-Matt Crafton Failed to qualify: R.D. Smith (#41), Aaron Daniel (#11), Phil Bonifield (#23), Scott Kuhn (#49)
Aaron Daniel replaced Mike Leffingwell in the #93 car in the race, after failing to qualify his #11. Leffingwell wrecked the truck No. 93 Chevrolet in the practice and the team did not have a backup truck, so Daniel drove his No. 11 Ford renumbered as No. 93 in the race.[ 3] This race was Terry Cook 's first truck series win since 1998.
Rocky Mountain 200 presented by Dodge
The Rocky Mountain 200 presented by Dodge was held May 19 at Pikes Peak International Raceway . Jason Leffler won the pole.
Top ten results
16-Mike Bliss
2-Jason Leffler
60-Travis Kvapil
29-Terry Cook
75-David Starr
14-Rick Crawford
46-Dennis Setzer
39-Steve Portenga
20-Coy Gibbs
4-Brian Rose Failed to qualify: Ricky Sanders (#19), Bobby Coffey (#74)
MBNA America 200
The MBNA America 200 was held May 31 at Dover International Speedway . Rick Crawford won the pole.
Top ten results
1-Ted Musgrave
18-Robert Pressley
14-Rick Crawford
75-David Starr
16-Mike Bliss
20-Coy Gibbs
62-Brendan Gaughan
03-Tom Carey
2-Jason Leffler
29-Terry Cook Failed to qualify: Donnie Neuenberger (#86), Phil Bonifield (#23), Loni Richardson (#73), Bobby Coffey (#74)
The O'Reilly 400K was held June 7 at Texas Motor Speedway . Jason Leffler won the pole.
Top ten results
62-Brendan Gaughan
60-Travis Kvapil
75-David Starr
14-Rick Crawford
1-Ted Musgrave
18-Robert Pressley
88-Matt Crafton
20-Coy Gibbs
50-Jon Wood
90-Lance Norick Failed to qualify: none
The O'Reilly Auto Parts 200 was held June 22 at Memphis Motorsports Park . Jason Leffler won the pole. Carl Edwards , the 2007 Xfinity Series champion, makes his first truck series start. Edwards started 16th and finished in the 23rd position, 2 laps down. This was his first of seven truck races he made in the 2002 season.
Top ten results
60-Travis Kvapil
29-Terry Cook
1-Ted Musgrave
2-Jason Leffler
46-Dennis Setzer
15-Rich Bickle
75-David Starr
20-Coy Gibbs
14-Rick Crawford
4-Brian Rose Failed to qualify: Aaron Daniel (#11), Joe Cooksey (#59), Jody McCormick (#77), Eric Jones (#34), Nathan Wulff (#65), Loni Richardson (#0), Bobby Coffey (#74), David Hall (#73), James Stephenson (#36), Blake Mallory (#37)
GNC Live Well 200
The GNC Live Well 200 was held June 29 at The Milwaukee Mile . Terry Cook won the pole.
Top ten results
29-Terry Cook
2-Jason Leffler
20-Coy Gibbs
62-Brendan Gaughan
1-Ted Musgrave
75-David Starr
18-Robert Pressley
16-Mike Bliss
50-Jon Wood
60-Travis Kvapil Failed to qualify: Loni Richardson (#0), Aaron Daniel (#11)
The O'Reilly Auto Parts 250 was held July 6 at Kansas Speedway . Jason Leffler won the pole.
Top ten results
16-Mike Bliss
46-Dennis Setzer
20-Coy Gibbs
2-Jason Leffler
1-Ted Musgrave
29-Terry Cook
18-Robert Pressley
63-Carl Edwards
50-Jon Wood
88-Matt Crafton Failed to qualify: Lonnie Cox (#66), Loni Richardson (#0), David Hall (#73)
Kroger 225
The Kroger 225 was held July 13 at Kentucky Speedway . Jason Leffler won the pole.
Top ten results
16-Mike Bliss
46-Dennis Setzer
18-Robert Pressley
14-Rick Crawford
2-Jason Leffler
29-Terry Cook
20-Coy Gibbs
75-David Starr
1-Ted Musgrave
39-Steve Portenga Failed to qualify: Morgan Shepherd (#21), Rodney Sawyers (#68), Vince Whitmire (#40), Dana White (#86), Lonnie Cox (#66), Ricky Sanders (#19), Tom Powers (#55), David Hall (#73), Loni Richardson (#0)
New England 200
The New England 200 was held July 20 at New Hampshire International Speedway . Jason Leffler won the pole.
Top ten results
29-Terry Cook
46-Dennis Setzer
75-David Starr
1-Ted Musgrave
62-Brendan Gaughan
20-Coy Gibbs
60-Travis Kvapil
6-Kevin Harvick
18-Robert Pressley
16-Mike Bliss Failed to qualify: none
Michigan 200
The Michigan 200 was held July 27 at Michigan International Speedway . Ted Musgrave won the pole.
Top ten results
18-Robert Pressley
2-Jason Leffler
60-Travis Kvapil
16-Mike Bliss
75-David Starr
29-Terry Cook
20-Coy Gibbs
90-Lance Norick
14-Rick Crawford
50-Jon Wood Failed to qualify: none
Power Stroke Diesel 200
The Power Stroke Diesel 200 was held August 2 at Indianapolis Raceway Park . Terry Cook won the pole.
Top ten results
29-Terry Cook
2-Jason Leffler
60-Travis Kvapil
52-Mike Wallace
18-Robert Pressley
17-Darrell Waltrip
90-Lance Norick
50-Jon Wood
08-Bobby Dotter
88-Matt Crafton Failed to qualify: Dude Teate (#31), Clay Collier (#41), Jay Sherston (#30), Bobby Coffey (#74), Tom Powers (#55)
Federated Auto Parts 200
The Federated Auto Parts 200 was held August 10 at Nashville Superspeedway . Mike Bliss won the pole.
Top ten results
16-Mike Bliss
14-Rick Crawford
1-Ted Musgrave
4-Bobby Hamilton Jr.
46-Dennis Setzer
62-Brendan Gaughan
29-Terry Cook
50-Jon Wood
18-Robert Pressley
2-Mike Wallace Failed to qualify: Tom Powers (#55), Phil Bonifield (#23)
Richmond Is For Lovers 200
The Richmond Is For Lovers 200 was held September 5 at Richmond International Raceway . Jason Leffler won the pole. Bobby Hamilton sustained injuries in this race that caused him to miss several races of the 2002 Winston Cup season.
Top ten results
33-Tony Stewart
6-Kevin Harvick
16-Mike Bliss
14-Rick Crawford
29-Terry Cook
20-Coy Gibbs
1-Ted Musgrave
17-Stacy Compton
08-Bobby Dotter
52-Ken Schrader Failed to qualify: Stan Boyd (#89), Brad Bennett (#40), Dana White (#23), Clay Collier (#41), Loni Richardson (#73), Tommy Pistone (#59), James Stephenson (#36), Jody McCormick (#77), Bobby Coffey (#74), Conrad Burr (#28)
Silverado 350
The Silverado 350 was held September 13 at Texas Motor Speedway . Mike Bliss won the pole.
Top ten results
62-Brendan Gaughan
20-Coy Gibbs
75-David Starr
14-Rick Crawford
60-Travis Kvapil
1-Ted Musgrave
18-Robert Pressley
2-Jason Leffler
16-Mike Bliss
46-Dennis Setzer Failed to qualify: none
The John Boy & Billy's Hardee's 250 was held September 21 at South Boston Speedway . Ted Musgrave won the pole.
Top ten results
16-Mike Bliss
46-Dennis Setzer
14-Rick Crawford
20-Coy Gibbs
60-Travis Kvapil
50-Jon Wood
75-David Starr
08-Bobby Dotter
2-Jason Leffler
4-Ryan Hemphill Failed to qualify: Jeremy Thompson (#92), Dude Teate (#31), Jay Sherston (#30), Bobby Coffey (#74), James Stephenson (#36)
Las Vegas 350
The Las Vegas 350 was held October 13 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway . David Starr won the pole.
Top ten results
75-David Starr
16-Mike Bliss
46-Dennis Setzer
60-Travis Kvapil
2-Jason Leffler
14-Rick Crawford
18-Robert Pressley
62-Brendan Gaughan
1-Ted Musgrave
07-Jason Small Failed to qualify: Jerry Allec Jr. (#93), Tom Powers (#55)
American Racing Wheels 200
The American Racing Wheels 200 was held November 2 at California Speedway . David Starr won the pole.
Top ten results
1-Ted Musgrave
2-Jason Leffler
62-Brendan Gaughan
60-Travis Kvapil
14-Rick Crawford
20-Coy Gibbs
18-Robert Pressley
46-Dennis Setzer
16-Mike Bliss
29-Terry Cook Failed to qualify: Bobby Hillis Jr. (#05)
Ryan Hemphill wrecked his No. 4 truck in practice and was transported to the nearby hospital and wasn't cleared to race. He was replaced in the race by Rick Bogart.[ 4]
Chevy Silverado 150
The Chevy Silverado 150 was held November 8 at Phoenix International Raceway . Rick Crawford won the pole.
Top ten results
6-Kevin Harvick
1-Ted Musgrave
14-Rick Crawford
60-Travis Kvapil
29-Terry Cook
20-Coy Gibbs
52-Ken Schrader
46-Dennis Setzer
88-Matt Crafton
16-Mike Bliss Failed to qualify: Clay Collier (#41), Lonnie Cox (#66), Ricky Sanders (#19), Loni Richardson (#0), John Mickel (#09), Bobby Hillis Jr. (#05)
Ford 200
The Ford 200 was held November 15 at Homestead-Miami Speedway . Mike Bliss won the pole.
Top ten results
11-Ron Hornaday Jr.
1-Ted Musgrave
2-Jason Leffler
18-Robert Pressley
16-Mike Bliss
46-Dennis Setzer
14-Rick Crawford
75-David Starr
88-Matt Crafton
29-Terry Cook Failed to qualify: Robby Benton (#36), Adam Clarke (#45), Cory Kruseman (#98), Phil Bonifield (#25), Loni Richardson (#0), John Mickel (#09), Dana White (#23)
This was the last NASCAR race broadcast on ESPN in any of NASCAR's top three series until 2007.
(key ) Bold – Pole position awarded by time. Italics – Pole position set by owner's points. * – Most laps led.
Rookie of the Year
Brendan Gaughan captured two wins and the Rookie of the Year title in 2002, driving for his family-owned Orleans Racing team. Bill Lester came in second followed by Jason Small . Loni Richardson also declared for the award, but did not compete in enough races to be eligible for rookie points.
See also
References
External links
