Ford 400 - Homestead-Miami Speedway

Busch Wins Season Finale, Stewart Wins 2002 Championship

Kurt Busch

Ford Championship Weekend wrapped up on Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway with the crowning of Tony Stewart as the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion. Kurt Busch took the victory in the Ford 400 as he passed Ryan Newman on Lap 256 and held onto the lead in the 267-lap season finale. Stewart finished 18th, which was good enough to secure his first NASCAR Winston Cup championship. He struggled with the handling on his car throughout the afternoon and was even a lap down at one point. Stewart enjoyed celebrating his first championship with the entire Joe Gibbs Racing team and his crew chief Greg Zipadelli. Mark Martin, who began the day 89 points out of the points lead, finished fourth. He'll have to settle for second behind Stewart in the points standings, 38 back. Newman, who lost the lead because he opted not to pit for fresh tires, was the highest rookie finisher coming home in the sixth position. Following the Ford 400, Newman was named the Raybestos Rookie of the Year. Joe Nemechek, Jeff Burton, Martin and Jeff Gordon rounded out the top five.

Busch on Homestead Pole
Kurt Busch saved the best for last as he captured his first Bud Pole Award of this season on Friday during NASCAR Winston Cup qualifying for the Sunday's Ford 400. Busch, driving the No. 97 Sharpie/Rubbermaid Ford for Roush Racing, turned a fast lap of 154.365 mph around the 1.5-mile South Florida facility to capture the Bud Pole for Sunday's Ford 400 and qualify for next year's Budweiser Shootout At Daytona. It's the second career Bud Pole for Busch, who earned his first Bud Pole at Darlington in September 2001, 46 races ago. Rounding out the top five was Dale Earnhardt Jr. (153.881), Jimmy Spencer (152.862), Joe Nemechek (152.780) and Greg Biffle (152.607). The surprise of qualifying came from four-time NASCAR Winston Cup champion Jeff Gordon, who had to take a provisional for the first time in his career. Gordon, driver of the No. 24 DuPont Automotive Finishes Chevrolet, posted a speed of 150.079 mph in qualifying.