2002 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series

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.

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.

Schedule

 * Originally it was supposed to have a race at Chicago Motor Speedway on August 25 but the race was later cancelled.

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


 * 1) 18-Robert Pressley*
 * 2) 1-Ted Musgrave
 * 3) 4-Brian Rose
 * 4) 79-Joe Ruttman
 * 5) 6-Rick Carelli
 * 6) 29-Terry Cook
 * 7) 75-David Starr
 * 8) 43-Carlos Contreras
 * 9) 07-Jason Small
 * 10) 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) 1-Ted Musgrave
 * 2) 18-Robert Pressley
 * 3) 16-Mike Bliss
 * 4) 6-Kevin Harvick
 * 5) 14-Rick Crawford
 * 6) 75-David Starr
 * 7) 60-Travis Kvapil
 * 8) 4-Brian Rose
 * 9) 50-Jon Wood
 * 10) 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


 * 1) 46-Dennis Setzer
 * 2) 16-Mike Bliss
 * 3) 14-Rick Crawford
 * 4) 08-Bobby Dotter
 * 5) 29-Terry Cook
 * 6) 2-Jason Leffler
 * 7) 60-Travis Kvapil
 * 8) 75-David Starr
 * 9) 62-Brendan Gaughan
 * 10) 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


 * 1) 29-Terry Cook*
 * 2) 2-Jason Leffler
 * 3) 16-Mike Bliss
 * 4) 14-Rick Crawford
 * 5) 75-David Starr
 * 6) 46-Dennis Setzer
 * 7) 50-Jon Wood
 * 8) 4-Brian Rose
 * 9) 90-Lance Norick
 * 10) 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.


 * 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


 * 1) 16-Mike Bliss
 * 2) 2-Jason Leffler
 * 3) 60-Travis Kvapil
 * 4) 29-Terry Cook
 * 5) 75-David Starr
 * 6) 14-Rick Crawford
 * 7) 46-Dennis Setzer
 * 8) 39-Steve Portenga
 * 9) 20-Coy Gibbs
 * 10) 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) 1-Ted Musgrave
 * 2) 18-Robert Pressley
 * 3) 14-Rick Crawford
 * 4) 75-David Starr
 * 5) 16-Mike Bliss
 * 6) 20-Coy Gibbs
 * 7) 62-Brendan Gaughan
 * 8) 03-Tom Carey
 * 9) 2-Jason Leffler
 * 10) 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


 * 1) 62-Brendan Gaughan
 * 2) 60-Travis Kvapil
 * 3) 75-David Starr
 * 4) 14-Rick Crawford
 * 5) 1-Ted Musgrave
 * 6) 18-Robert Pressley
 * 7) 88-Matt Crafton
 * 8) 20-Coy Gibbs
 * 9) 50-Jon Wood
 * 10) 90-Lance Norick

Failed to qualify: none

O'Reilly Auto Parts 200
The O'Reilly Auto Parts 200 was held June 22 at Memphis Motorsports Park. Jason Leffler won the pole. Carl Edwards, the 2007 Nationwide 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


 * 1) 60-Travis Kvapil
 * 2) 29-Terry Cook
 * 3) 1-Ted Musgrave
 * 4) 2-Jason Leffler
 * 5) 46-Dennis Setzer
 * 6) 15-Rich Bickle
 * 7) 75-David Starr
 * 8) 20-Coy Gibbs
 * 9) 14-Rick Crawford
 * 10) 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


 * 1) 29-Terry Cook
 * 2) 2-Jason Leffler
 * 3) 20-Coy Gibbs
 * 4) 62-Brendan Gaughan
 * 5) 1-Ted Musgrave
 * 6) 75-David Starr
 * 7) 18-Robert Pressley
 * 8) 16-Mike Bliss
 * 9) 50-Jon Wood
 * 10) 60-Travis Kvapil

Failed to qualify: Loni Richardson (#0), Aaron Daniel (#11)

O'Reilly Auto Parts 250
The O'Reilly Auto Parts 250 was held July 6 at Kansas Speedway. Jason Leffler won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 16-Mike Bliss
 * 2) 46-Dennis Setzer
 * 3) 20-Coy Gibbs
 * 4) 2-Jason Leffler
 * 5) 1-Ted Musgrave
 * 6) 29-Terry Cook
 * 7) 18-Robert Pressley
 * 8) 63-Carl Edwards
 * 9) 50-Jon Wood
 * 10) 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


 * 1) 16-Mike Bliss
 * 2) 46-Dennis Setzer
 * 3) 18-Robert Pressley
 * 4) 14-Rick Crawford
 * 5) 2-Jason Leffler
 * 6) 29-Terry Cook
 * 7) 20-Coy Gibbs
 * 8) 75-David Starr
 * 9) 1-Ted Musgrave
 * 10) 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


 * 1) 29-Terry Cook
 * 2) 46-Dennis Setzer
 * 3) 75-David Starr
 * 4) 1-Ted Musgrave
 * 5) 62-Brendan Gaughan
 * 6) 20-Coy Gibbs
 * 7) 60-Travis Kvapil
 * 8) 6-Kevin Harvick
 * 9) 18-Robert Pressley
 * 10) 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


 * 1) 18-Robert Pressley
 * 2) 2-Jason Leffler
 * 3) 60-Travis Kvapil
 * 4) 16-Mike Bliss
 * 5) 75-David Starr
 * 6) 29-Terry Cook
 * 7) 20-Coy Gibbs
 * 8) 90-Lance Norick
 * 9) 14-Rick Crawford
 * 10) 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


 * 1) 29-Terry Cook
 * 2) 2-Jason Leffler
 * 3) 60-Travis Kvapil
 * 4) 52-Mike Wallace
 * 5) 18-Robert Pressley
 * 6) 17-Darrell Waltrip
 * 7) 90-Lance Norick
 * 8) 50-Jon Wood
 * 9) 08-Bobby Dotter
 * 10) 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


 * 1) 16-Mike Bliss
 * 2) 14-Rick Crawford
 * 3) 1-Ted Musgrave
 * 4) 4-Bobby Hamilton Jr.
 * 5) 46-Dennis Setzer
 * 6) 62-Brendan Gaughan
 * 7) 29-Terry Cook
 * 8) 50-Jon Wood
 * 9) 18-Robert Pressley
 * 10) 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


 * 1) 33-Tony Stewart
 * 2) 6-Kevin Harvick
 * 3) 16-Mike Bliss
 * 4) 14-Rick Crawford
 * 5) 29-Terry Cook
 * 6) 20-Coy Gibbs
 * 7) 1-Ted Musgrave
 * 8) 17-Stacy Compton
 * 9) 08-Bobby Dotter
 * 10) 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


 * 1) 62-Brendan Gaughan
 * 2) 20-Coy Gibbs
 * 3) 75-David Starr
 * 4) 14-Rick Crawford
 * 5) 60-Travis Kvapil
 * 6) 1-Ted Musgrave
 * 7) 18-Robert Pressley
 * 8) 2-Jason Leffler
 * 9) 16-Mike Bliss
 * 10) 46-Dennis Setzer

Failed to qualify: none

John Boy & Billy's Hardee's 250
The John Boy & Billy's Hardee's 250 was held September 21 at South Boston Speedway. Ted Musgrave won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 16-Mike Bliss
 * 2) 46-Dennis Setzer
 * 3) 14-Rick Crawford
 * 4) 20-Coy Gibbs
 * 5) 60-Travis Kvapil
 * 6) 50-Jon Wood
 * 7) 75-David Starr
 * 8) 08-Bobby Dotter
 * 9) 2-Jason Leffler
 * 10) 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


 * 1) 75-David Starr
 * 2) 16-Mike Bliss
 * 3) 46-Dennis Setzer
 * 4) 60-Travis Kvapil
 * 5) 2-Jason Leffler
 * 6) 14-Rick Crawford
 * 7) 18-Robert Pressley
 * 8) 62-Brendan Gaughan
 * 9) 1-Ted Musgrave
 * 10) 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) 1-Ted Musgrave
 * 2) 2-Jason Leffler
 * 3) 62-Brendan Gaughan
 * 4) 60-Travis Kvapil
 * 5) 14-Rick Crawford
 * 6) 20-Coy Gibbs
 * 7) 18-Robert Pressley
 * 8) 46-Dennis Setzer
 * 9) 16-Mike Bliss
 * 10) 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.

Chevy Silverado 150
The Chevy Silverado 150 was held November 8 at Phoenix International Raceway. Rick Crawford won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 6-Kevin Harvick
 * 2) 1-Ted Musgrave
 * 3) 14-Rick Crawford
 * 4) 60-Travis Kvapil
 * 5) 29-Terry Cook
 * 6) 20-Coy Gibbs
 * 7) 52-Ken Schrader
 * 8) 46-Dennis Setzer
 * 9) 88-Matt Crafton
 * 10) 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


 * 1) 11-Ron Hornaday Jr.
 * 2) 1-Ted Musgrave
 * 3) 2-Jason Leffler
 * 4) 18-Robert Pressley
 * 5) 16-Mike Bliss
 * 6) 46-Dennis Setzer
 * 7) 14-Rick Crawford
 * 8) 75-David Starr
 * 9) 88-Matt Crafton
 * 10) 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.

Full Drivers' Championship
(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.