Sunday 21st April 2002

Dale Earnhardt Jr. dominated the Aaron’s 499 – in the wake of a huge pile-up on Lap 164 – to earn his second (of six) Talladega Superspeedway NASCAR Cup Series victory. Following the big accident, Earnhardt Jr. took the lead out of the pits and led the final 24 laps – the last four under green – to earn his first victory of the season. The field jockeyed for position the final four laps, but Earnhardt Jr. proved too strong for the field. Teamwork between Earnhardt Jr. and Michael Waltrip, as it has in the past at restrictor-plate tracks, worked well again at Talladega. Waltrip, who led 14 laps, finished second.