Race Facts: Mountain Dew Southern 500

WHAT:

Mountain Dew Southern 500

NASCAR Winston Cup Series Race No. 25 of 36

WHERE:

Darlington Raceway, Darlington, South Carolina

1.366-Mile Banked Asphalt Oval

WHEN:

Sunday, Sept. 1, 2002

1 p.m. ET

DISTANCE:

500 Miles / 367 Laps

POSTED AWARDS:

$4,074,660

FIELD:

Field consists of the fastest 36 cars through time trials. Also, seven provisional starting positions based on 2002 owner points, for maximum 43-car field. The 43rd position is reserved for a past Winston Cup Series champion, if needed. If unused, it will go to the next eligible owner.

SANCTION:

National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR)

PROMOTER:

South Carolina International Speedway Corporation

TV:

TNT (Live)

Pre-Race Show: 12:30 p.m. ET

Pre-Race Host: Bill Weber

Race Coverage: 1 p.m. ET

Announcers: Allen Bestwick, Benny Parsons and Wally Dallenbach

Pit Reporters: Bill Weber, Dave Burns, Marty Snider and Matt Yocum

RADIO:

MRN Radio (Live)

Airtime: 12:30 p.m. ET

Booth Announcers: Barney Hall and Joe Moore

Turn Announcers: Dave Moody and Mike Bagley

Pit Announcers: Jim Phillips, Winston Kelley and Tony Rizzuti

RECORDS:

Qualifying: 173.797 mph, 28.295 seconds, Ward Burton, Pontiac, March 22, 1996

Race: 139.958 mph, Dale Earnhardt, Chevrolet, March 28, 1993

THE RACE TRACK:

Darlington Raceway is a 1.366-mile banked paved oval with 25-degree banking in Turns 1 and 2 and 23-degree banking in Turns 3 and 4. The length of the front and backstraights, which are banked six degrees, is 1,229 feet.