@nascarcasm: Best photos from the 2002 season

By @nascarcasm | Published: April 29, 2020 24

Rusty Jarrett | Getty Images

1 of 24

Rusty Jarrett | Getty Images

We will periodically sift through our archives from a particular season and present some of the greatest photos from said year. “Greatest” is subjective, mind you. Without further ado, we give you, the 2002 NASCAR season…

2 of 24

4 Mar 2002: Jeff Green #30 who drives for Richard Childress Racing maneuvers his AOL Chevrolet Monte Carlo at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway during the NASCAR UAW-Daimler Chrysler 400 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mandatory Credit: Robert LaBerge/Getty Images

Robert LaBerge | Getty Images

Nothing screams “2002!” quite like the AOL logo emblazoned on the hood of a race car. There are only two things that signify blazing speed – NASCAR and 56K dial-up.

3 of 24

7 Feb 2002: Bill Elliott, driver of the #9 Evernham Motorsports Dodge Intrepid R/T, answers questions during Media Day for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona, Florida. DIGITAL IMAGE Mandatory Credit: Craig Jones/Getty Images

Craig Jones | Getty Images

“Yeah … you heard me right, my future plans are as follows – run a few more years, retire, enter the NASCAR Hall Of Fame, and finally, become a 62-year-old Xfinity Series rookie. Why is this so hard to understand?”

4 of 24

08 Feb 02: Jimmy Spencer, driver of the #41 Target Ganassi Racing Dodge Intrepid R/T, during practice for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona, Florida. Digital Image Mandatory Credit: Craig Jones/Getty Images

Craig Jones | Getty Images

If anyone dared to challenge Jimmy Spencer on the track, there would be hell toupee.

5 of 24

8 Feb 2002: Ricky Rudd, driver of the #28 Texaco Havoline Ford Taurus, in the garage before practice for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona, Florida. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Craig Jones/Getty Images

Craig Jones | Getty Images

Not to brag, but Ricky Rudd was doing Instagram poses years before Instagram was even a thing.

6 of 24

13 FEB 2002: Team members work on the #99 CITGO Ford of Jeff Burton during Daytona 500 speedweeks in preparation for the NASCAR Winston Cup Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona, Florida. DIGITAL IMAGE - Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

Jonathan Ferrey | Getty Images

It’s confirmed that Jeff Burton’s crew in 2002 was as good as I currently am at wrapping Christmas presents.

7 of 24

23 Feb 2002: Ward Burton driver of the #22 Bill Davis Racing Dodge Intrepid R/T with his brother Jeff Burton driver of the #99 CITGO Ford during the NASCAR Winston Cup Subway 400 at the North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham, North Carolina. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Darrell Ingham/Getty Images

Darrell Ingham | Getty Images

Remember in the “Peanuts” cartoons when the teacher would mumble incoherent sounds and somehow, Charlie Brown could decipher them and respond? That’s exactly what’s happening here.

8 of 24

25 Feb 2002: Pitstop board (lollipop) for the #30 America Online Chevrolet Monte Carlo of Jeff Green during the NASCAR Winston Cup Subway 400 at the North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham, North Carolina. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Darrell Ingham/Getty Images

Darrell Ingham | Getty Images

Jeff Green's team members thought they were being clever with his pit board until they learned every team in the garage received the same pit board in the mail 300 times per year.

9 of 24

8 Mar 2002: Michael Waltrip, driver of the #15 Napa Chevrolet Monte Carlo, prepares for Friday's practice for the Nascar Winston Cup MBNA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia. Digital Image.

Getty Images

Hey, when you’re going to be on a nationally televised dancing show in about 15 years, you need to loosen up.

10 of 24

15 Mar 2002: Ricky Craven, driver of the #32 Tide Ford Taurus, prepares to qualify for the NASCAR Winston Cup Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 in Darlington, South Carolina. Craven qualified on the pole for Sunday's race. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Squire/Getty Images. Digital Image.

Jamie Squire | Getty Images

Ricky Craven with that look that says, “MARK MY WORDS – YOU WON’T GET AWAY WITH IT NEXT TIME, HARRY POTTER.”

11 of 24

16 Mar 2002: Kyle Petty, driver of the #45 Petty Enterprises Dodge Intrepid R/T, prepares to practice for the NASCAR Winston Cup Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 in Darlington, South Carolina. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Squire/Getty Images. Digital Image.

Jamie Squire | Getty Images

When you didn’t mind “A Thousand Miles” by Vanessa Carlton the first 50 times you heard it on the radio, but now it’s just getting ridiculous.

12 of 24

22 Mar 2002:Dale Earnhardt Jr during the NASCAR Winston Cup Food City 500 at the Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

Jonathan Ferrey | Getty Images

An interesting look from Dale Earnhardt Jr. It’s a style I often used, too. This look is known in fashion circles as, “You’re hungover, but you have errands to run.”

13 of 24

BRISTOL- March 24: Birdseye view of the track during the NASCAR Winston Cup Food City 500 at the Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol,Tennessee. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Adam Pretty | Getty Images

If the drivers are able to park the massive haulers with such precision, then there’s absolutely no reason you cannot get your car into a parking space at Wal-Mart without putting the wheels on the line. NONE. NONE AT ALL.

14 of 24

28 Apr 2002: Hendrick Motorsports driver Jimmie Johnson makes donuts on the front stretch in his #48 Chevrolet Monte Carlo after winning the NASCAR Winston Cup Series NAPA Auto Parts 500 at the California Speedway in Fontana, California. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Robert Laberge/Getty Images.

Robert Laberge | Getty Images

Oh, it’s that guy who won a grand total of ONE Xfinity Series race before getting his first win in the Cup Series. Good for him, but I don’t know if we should expect that much more out of him. No, you need to keep your eye on that Casey Atwood kid – his star is only rising.

15 of 24

RICHMOND, VIRGINA - MAY 4: Dale Earnhardt Jr. talks to his crew during a rain delay during the NASCAR Winston Cup Series Pontiac Excitement 400 at Richmond Internatinal Raceway in Richmond, Virginia on May 4, 2002. (Photo by: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

Jonathan Ferrey | Getty Images

The in-depth discussion of that week’s episode of “Dawson’s Creek.”

16 of 24

CONCORD,NC - MAY 18: A side view of the Star Wars #43 Petty Enterprises Dodge Intrepid during practice for The Winston NASCAR event at the Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina on May 18, 2002. (Photo by Darrell Ingham/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Darrell Ingham | Getty Images

“YOU MAKE CONTACT WITH ME AND I WILL SLICE YOUR MOTHER----ING TIRE WITH THIS MOTHER----ING LIGHTSABER, MOTHER----ER. TRY ME. TRY ME, MOTHER----ER.”

17 of 24

LONG POND, PA - JUNE 7: Dale Jarrett, Elliott Sadler and Dale Earnhardt Jr. converse during practice for the NASCAR Winston Cup Pocono 500 on June 7, 2002 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo By Jamie Squire/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jamie Squire | Getty Images

If Elliott Sadler wasn’t standing there, this Dale/Dale picture would be like that Spider-Man meme. DANG IT, Elliott. Go back in time and get out of the shot.

18 of 24

LONG POND, PA - JUNE 7:?Terry Labonte jokes with brother Bobby Labonte during practice for the NASCAR Winston Cup Pocono 500 on June 7, 2002 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo By Jamie Squire/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jamie Squire | Getty Images

The kids in the Hall.

19 of 24

LONG POND, PA - JUNE 7:?Dale Earnhardt, Jr. waits during practice for the NASCAR Winston Cup Pocono 500 on June 7, 2002 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo By Jamie Squire/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jamie Squire | Getty Images

The “Prison Mike” episode is my favorite episode of “The Office.”

20 of 24

LONG POND, PA - JUNE 9:?Mark Martin talks with Tony Stewart prior to Sunday's NASCAR Winston Cup Pocono 500 on June 9, 2002 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo By Jamie Squire/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jamie Squire | Getty Images

Two well-known fitness fanatics exchange exercise tips.

21 of 24

LONG POND, PA - JULY 26: Jeff Gordon, driver of the #24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Monte Carlo, signs autographs during qualifying for the NASCAR Winston Cup Series Pennsylavania 500 on July 26, 2002 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jamie Squire | Getty Images

I don’t know about you, but I think the “autograph dog door” needs to make a comeback.

22 of 24

LONG POND, PA - JULY 28: Bill Elliott, driver of the #9 Evernham Motorsports Dodge Intrepid R/T, talks with son Chase during the NASCAR Winston Cup Series Pennsylavania 500 on July 28, 2002 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jamie Squire | Getty Images

“Son … one day, it’s you who will be strapping into this race car. It’s you who will be winning races. It’s you who will be qualifying on the pole at Talladega Superspeedway. Well, several miles per hour slower than I did, mind you, but you’ll still be on the pole.”

23 of 24

DARLINGTON, SC - AUGUST 31: Kenny Wallace, driver of the #23 Bill Davis Racing Dodge Intrepid R/T, during practice for the Mountain Dew Southern 500 on August 31, 2002 at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jamie Squire | Getty Images

“THIS IS HOW KENNY WALLACE MILKS A COW.”

24 of 24

LOUDON, NH - SEPTEMBER 13: Jeff Gordon talks with teammate Jimmie Johnson during practice for the New Hampshire 300, part of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, at the New Hampshire International Speedway on September 13, 2002 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Donald Miralle | Getty Images

Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson were such close teammates that they never let the length of their sideburns ever surpass that of the other.