Race recap
During the first segment of the race they ran the first 40 laps. On the 14th lap, Sterling Marlin, Dale Jarrett, Rusty Wallace and Bobby Hamilton were all caught up in a four car crash as the wreck happened in turn two. Jeff Burton had to make a mandatory pit stop and with the strategy of crew chief Frank Stoddard, he made the pit stop on the last lap and their stall was just near the start/finish line and finished 2nd. Jimmie Johnson won the first segment, while the 27-car field would be cut to 20 cars under the first of two eliminations in this format. In addition to the four eliminated in the Lap 14 crash, Mike Wallace, Steve Park and Ward Burton were eliminated on track.
Ryan Newman was the last driver to transfer in segment two, but during that segment, he spun out Elliott Sadler and sent him towards the wall. After the accident, Sadler throw his helmet towards Newman's car, then later apologized to his sponsor about his behavior during an interview with Dick Berggren. Later, Jeff Burton also was withdrawn with a clutch problem in this segment.
Johnson would win the second segment. The format called for elimination of ten cars at the end of this segment, leaving Jeremy Mayfield, Bobby, Terry Labonte, Mark Martin, Ricky Rudd, Jeff Gordon and Michael Waltrip eliminated in segment two on the track.
In the last segment, only ten cars were left and late in the segment, Kurt Busch spun out Robby Gordon, driving for RCR's #31 chevy. Robby Gordon would finish in 7th place, but was visibly furious with Kurt who later admitted that he intentionally spun Gordon to make the race "more competitive." Busch was later fined $25,000 for his actions.
The caution led to a final 5 lap shootout, and Ryan Newman held off a hard fought Dale Earnhardt Jr. and wins the Winston of 2002 and wins a total of $750,000 and the second driver (Michael Waltrip in 1996) to win The Winston after coming from the Opener and the only driver from the No Bull 5 Sprint.