2002 Tropicana 400

July 14th, 2002
Chicagoland Speedway
Credit to NBC.

[@noahmciver9609]

as well I liked seeing benny parsons Alan best wick and Wally dallanbach jr as commentators that was the best team that NBC had as a broadcasting team.

[@dot350]

Really great to see the drivers speak there minds, too. Interviews will never again happen like that, because NASCAR is too worried about its "public image" (which ironically being so critical of drivers words hurts its image more than anything a driver could say).

[@jonathan_m_racing]

25:11 C'mon Speed! Speed,Dave! SPEED!!!

[@hengineer]

Well damn Steve Letarte was Gordon's rear tire carrier 1:18:11

[@Ktaurus26]

Yup and kept getting promoted just like chad kanus who was a tire guy on Jeff Gordon’s teams

[@DerrickRG]

That 29 car looked great that year.

[@DaytonaPrototypes]

41:32 I think they're still using Jerry Nadeau's photo for Joe Nemechek in the 25 car.

[@vanillagorilla9790]

Got a awesome hat at a yard sale this year. Has this date and a bad ace Tropicana 400 Logo on it!!

[@jackjohnson9603]

1:30 this honesty ruined the sport. Because of the tightening up on inspection, teams became closer together on speed. Now you would think that would make everyone more competitive, but the lack in speed differential is why it is so hard to pass today. Because the difference is tenths of seconds from 1st to 40th while in those days it was seconds. If NASCAR wants to promote passing, they need to re-open the rule book and let teams experiment more. That would lead to a larger gap between cars and more abilities to gain on competitors with macro instead of micro gains

[@MovieLover1995]

Drivers in the Muppets cars: #7 - Casey Atwood (Rowlf the Dog) #9 - Bill Elliott (Swedish Chef) #10 - Mike Wallace, subbing for Johnny Benson (Fozzie Bear) #18 - Bobby Labonte (Pepe the King Prawn) #19 - Jeremy Mayfield (Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker) #28 - Ricky Rudd (The Great Gonzo) #41 - Jimmy Spencer (Animal) #88 - Dale Jarrett (Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy)

[@gnnascarfan2410]

2:50 Wow, great work Mike Helton. You and your team are why we are stuck with stupid overtime because you could not write down "5 laps to go... or 4 laps to go is a red flag."

[@jaredkinneyjr]

I've been going thru watching every single complete race from the 02' Winston Cup season, (if available) every pre- & post-race & even qualifying & this was the 1st race of the season that wasn't televised by FOX & it is very obvious in the quality of production. FOX was so good & so much better than NBC & TNT back then!

[@NotSteveCook]

Jared Kinney Jr Back then, both networks were light years better than what they give us today.

[@JJA1987]

Wrong both were equal

[@DerrickRG]

@@NotSteveCook Coverage now is absolute garbage.

[@jaydenh922]

2002 Tropicana 400 Location: Joliet, Illinois Track: Chicagoland Speedway Type of race track: Speedway Starting cars: 43 Finishing cars: 33 Laps: 267 Cautions: 7 Pole Winner: Ryan Newman (12) (Rookie) Most laps led: Ryan Newman (12) (Rookie) (87 laps led) Race Winner: Kevin Harvick (29)

[@brimtime8117]

2020 still no clear rules

[@natebellville3621]

Possibly one of the weirdest combos ever in this race: Muppets and NASCAR

[@MovieLover1995]

It was a celebration of the 25th anniversary of The Muppet Show. NASCAR has also used the Looney Tunes and SpongeBob in their races. They should use The Simpsons in a race one of these days. Preferably at Daytona or Talladega.

[@ryansigafoose1303]

seems like BP was having a rough day.

[@artisticgizmo8654]

Kevin Harvick's 3rd Career NASCAR Winston Cup Victory

[@josephsantillano4352]

1:45:46 1:46:26

[@Kyle-pj2vc]

I still have my original 2002 Tropicana 400 hat that got me into nascar. I went to this race with my dad when I was 3 or 4. Rooted for the #24 ever since. Too bad the sport sucks now a days.

[@jonathanfunnell4167]

I MISS KEVIN HARVICK (SAGITTARIUS) (THE BOW AND (ARROW) 🏹

[@williamhamilton1118]

Same fines and tough competition rules today. And Jimmie Johnson doesn't build the cars. But Chad should be ruled a cheater. The rules cheat us the fans. But cheating is like a oversized engine or something of that sort.

[@DerrickRG]

No.

[@Weezy10580]

Chad and Jimmie have always been cheaters, the McGwires and Bonds of nascar. All of Johnson’s wins and titles should be vacated. Obviously, Johnson has done nothing his entire career without Knaus

[@noahmciver9609]

didn't Kevin harvick win the race at this track the year prior to this race?

[@MrMW2nd]

Harvick won 2001 and 2002 chicago, gordon won 2001 and 2002 Kansas

[@jaredkinneyjr]

No wonder DEI didn't renew Pennzoil #1 Steve Park's contract by the June 15th deadline as he came back from injury at Darlington & crashed & has almost destroyed a car every race. I had never seen any1 crash almost every single week. UNREAL! I'm on lap 45 of this race & idk if he wrecks or not tho. Some1 needs to make a "Bad Seasons: Steve Park 2002". I do remember the Pocono Penn 500 2 weeks after this & if u don't know, a MUST watch Steve Park incident! He obviously shld have not been medically cleared as u cld tell he wasn't all there. Forget his slow slurred speech which was bad but the way he wld think & manner of his words was kinda out there & loopy & scattered brained. His head took a catastrophic blow & the results were plain as day & lucky he survived but his safety & 42 others, shld have NVR been allowed back in a NASCAR event EVER!

[@DerrickRG]

That 1 car was totally neglected by Teresa.

[@artisticgizmo8654]

2:28:50 white flag