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 Manufacturer Team Driver(s) Crew chief Chevrolet Addington Racing 60 Travis Kvapil Rick Ren Green Light Racing 07 Jason Small (R) Mark Blessing 08 Bobby Dotter Doug Howe Joe Gibbs Racing 20 Coy Gibbs Doug Hewitt L&R Racing 90 Lance Norick Gary Showalter MacDonald Motorsports 72 Randy MacDonald Steve Bird Teri MacDonald Aaron Daniel Blake Mallory Morgan-Dollar Motorsports 46 Dennis Setzer John Monsam Danny Gill Portenga Motorsports 39 Steve Portenga George Church SealMaster Racing 88 Matt Crafton Jerry Cook Spears Motorsports 75 David Starr Dave McCarty Team Racing 86 Phil Bonifield Bernie Taft Wayne Edwards Dana White (R) Donnie Neuenberger Lance Hooper Xpress Motorsports 16 Mike Bliss Dave Fuge John Monsam Dodge Bobby Hamilton Racing 4 Brian Rose Danny Rollins Randy Seals Bobby Hamilton Bobby Hamilton Jr. Joe Ruttman Ryan Hemphill Rick Bogart 8 Bill Lester (R) Kip McCord 18 Robert Pressley Danny Gill Danny Rollins Orleans Racing 62 Brendan Gaughan (R) Shane Wilson Petty Enterprises 43 Carlos Contreras Howard Comstock RDS Motorsports 79 Joe Ruttman Ralph Wingfield Sammy Ware Jerry Hill Ultra Motorsports 1 Ted Musgrave Gene Nead 2 Jason Leffler Tim Kohuth Ford Circle Bar Racing 14 Rick Crawford Ray Stonkus Countryman Motorsports 15 Trent Owens Craig Osbourne Rich Bickle Mark Gibson Brian Rose Andy Houston K Automotive Racing 29 Terry Cook Bob Keselowski Roush Racing 50 Jon Wood Dan Binks Chevrolet Ford Troxell Racing 93 Randy Briggs Cliff Button Mike Harmon Jerry Allec Jr. Mike Leffingwell 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. Aaron Daniel Larry Gunselman Randy MacDonald Entries were fielded in a collaboration with MacDonald Motorsports. Teri MacDonald Michael Dokken Norm Benning Jody Lavender Brad Bennett
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. Manufacturer Team Driver(s) Crew chief Rounds Chevrolet Andy Petree Racing 33 Andy Petree ??? Tony Stewart Bob Coffey Sr. 74 Bobby Coffey ??? Cavin Councilor 56 Mike Swaim Jr. Lee Leslie Conely Racing 7 Bryan Reffner John Conely Dennis Sockwell 54 Brian Sockwell Todd Hall Donald Thompson 92 Jeremy Thompson ??? EVI Motorsports 89 Stan Boyd Ed Huckabee FDNY Racing 28 Kenny Allen Bob Rahilly Joe Ruttman L. W. Miller Conrad Burr Fierce Creature Racing 05 Bobby Hillis Jr. Duane Drummand Gerald Miller 32 Jerry Miller Mike Seibert Harvick Motorsports 6 Rick Carelli Ed Berrier Kevin Harvick Hendrick Motorsports 24 Ron Hornaday Jr. ??? Horn Auto Racing 58 Chris Horn Kevin Cram Jody McCormick 77 Jody McCormick Jeremy McCormick Joe Gibbs Racing 48 J. D. Gibbs ??? Keller Motorsports 27 Doug Keller David Bringham Ken Schrader Racing 52 Mike Wallace Donnie Richeson Ken Schrader Maurtco Motorsports 59 Joe Cooksey ??? McGlynn Racing 00 Ryan McGlynn Bob Kocher Midgley Racing 09 Mike Hamby Dick Midgley John Mickel Portenga Motorsports 38 Wayne Edwards ??? ReyBen Racing 40 Brad Bennett ??? Richardson Motorsports 0 Stan Boyd Larry Richardson Jason White Loni Richardson (R) Patrick Lawler Michael Dokken 37 Blake Mallory ??? Roadrunner Motorsports 02 Jim Inglebright Rodney Haygood Ronald Jones 34 Eric Jones Eddie Pearson SealMaster Racing 98 Cory Kruseman ??? Tagsby Racing 73 Loni Richardson (R) Joey Sonntag Frog Hall Team EJP Racing 03 Tom Carey Jr. Tom Pearl Barry Bodine Team Racing 23 Phil Bonifield Tom Mazzuchi Emerson Newton-John Lance Hooper Dana White Wayne Edwards 25 Ronnie Hornaday William Kehrer Michael Dokken Brian Tyler Dana White Barry Bodine Brian Rose Phil Bonifield Team Rensi Motorsports 61 Butch Miller Mark Staples Randy Tolsma ??? Whitmire Motorsports 40 Vince Whitmire Mark Staples Xpress Motorsports 11 Ron Hornaday Jr. ??? Dodge Bobby Wellmon 49 Scott Kuhn ??? Jim Collier 41 Clay Collier ??? HT Motorsports with Melling Racing 17 Darrell Waltrip James Harris Stacy Compton Andy Houston Mansion Motorsports 85 Carl Long Keith Montgomery Petty Enterprises 45 Joe Ruttman ??? Adam Clarke Powers Motorsports 55 Tom Powers Bryan Berry R&J Racing 68 Rodney Sawyers (R) Jerry Sawyers RDS Motorsports 41 Jerry Hill Ralph Wingfield R. D. Smith Ware Racing Enterprises 5 Lance Hooper Dan Kolanda Jason Hedlesky Andy Thurman Scott Kuhn Scott Kirkpatrick Mike Cofer 51 Michael Dokken Ken Glen Michael Ritch Ryan Hemphill Donny Morelock Morgan Shepherd Randy Briggs Blake Mallory Brian Rose Carl Long Ford Brevak Racing 31 Jake Hobgood Curt Coffey Dude Teate Dan Higgs 66 Lonnie Cox Gary Higgs Howard Bixman 30 Jay Sherston ??? James Bailey 70 Jeff Finley ??? Brian Ross Johnny Myers 36 James Stephenson ??? Robby Benton Ken Davis 65 Nathan Wulff ??? Long Brothers Racing 84 Richard Landreth Charlie Long Jamey Caudill MB Motorsports 63 Larry Gunselman Mike Mittler Carl Edwards Regan Smith Neil Chaffin 87 Chad Chaffin ??? Quality Motorsports 04 Mike Cofer ??? Quest Motor Racing 37 Matt Mullins Ted Kennedy RDR Racing 97 Ron Barfield Jr. Ron Barfield Sr. Ricky Sanders Racing 19 Ricky Sanders ??? Roush Racing 99 Tim Fedewa ??? Shepherd Racing 21 Morgan Shepherd Carl Saylor Team Chick Motorsports 11 Aaron Daniel ??? Tom Pistone 59 Tommy Pistone Tom Pistone Dodge Chevrolet Ware Racing Enterprises 81 Donnie Neuenberger Calvin Humphries Jonathon Price Angie Wilson (R) Michael Ritch Jason Thom Morgan Shepherd Jason White
Notes
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
Originally it was supposed to have a race at Chicago Motor Speedway on August 25 but the race was later cancelled.
Races Florida Dodge Dealers 250
The Florida Dodge Dealers 250 was held February 15 at Daytona International Speedway. Ted Musgrave won the pole.
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
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) This was Pressley's first truck series victory. This race was also Pressley's truck series debut. Terry Cook suffered a 100-point penalty for a cylinder head infraction found in his truck after the race.
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 an incident involving Kevin Harvick and Coy Gibbs, in which Harvick spun Gibbs out after previous contact. NASCAR responded by parking Harvick for the rest of the race. In the post-race interview, Harvick claimed that he did not intentionally crash Gibbs despite radio transmissions stating otherwise. This resulted in Harvick being suspended from the cup race the next day, as he was already on probation for a previous run-in with Greg Biffle in the Busch Series.
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.Index This was Cook's first Truck Series victory 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)
O'Reilly 400K
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 This was Gaughan's first career Truck Series victory.
O'Reilly Auto Parts 200