The 2004 Food City 500 was the sixth stock car race of the 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series season and the 44th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, March 28, 2004, before a crowd of 160,000 in Bristol, Tennessee at Bristol Motor Speedway, a 0.533 miles (0.858 km) permanent oval-shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 500 laps to complete. Kurt Busch of Roush Racing would hold off the field on the final restart with two to go to win his fifth career NASCAR Nextel Cup Series win of his career and his first of the season.[1] To fill out the podium, Rusty Wallace of Penske-Jasper Racing and Kevin Harvick of Richard Childress Racing would finish second and third, respectively.
| Race details | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 6 of 36 in the 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series | |||
 The 2004 Food City 500 program cover. | |||
| Date | March 28, 2004 | ||
| Official name | 44th Annual Food City 500 | ||
| Location | Bristol, Tennessee, Bristol Motor Speedway | ||
| Course |
Permanent racing facility 0.533 mi (0.858 km) | ||
| Distance | 500 laps, 266.5 mi (428.89 km) | ||
| Scheduled Distance | 500 laps, 266.5 mi (428.89 km) | ||
| Average speed | 82.607 miles per hour (132.943 km/h) | ||
| Attendance | 160,000 | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Penske-Jasper Racing | ||
| Time | 14.954 | ||
| Most laps led | |||
| Driver | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | |
| Laps | 119 | ||
| Winner | |||
| No. 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | |
| Television in the United States | |||
| Network | FOX | ||
| Announcers | Mike Joy, Larry McReynolds, Darrell Waltrip | ||
| Radio in the United States | |||
| Radio | Performance Racing Network | ||
Background
edit
The Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway, is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961. Despite its short length, Bristol is among the most popular tracks on the NASCAR schedule because of its distinct features, which include extraordinarily steep banking, an all concrete surface, two pit roads, and stadium-like seating. It has also been named one of the loudest NASCAR tracks.
Entry list
editPractice
editFirst practice
editThe first practice session occurred on Friday, March 26, at 11:20 AM EST and would last for two hours.[2] Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 15.009 and an average speed of 127.843 miles per hour (205.743 km/h).[3]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.009 | 127.843 |
| 2 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 15.040 | 127.580 |
| 3 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Racing | Ford | 15.054 | 127.461 |
| Full first practice results | ||||||
Second practice
editThe second practice session occurred on Saturday, March 27, at 9:30 AM EST and would last for 45 minutes.[2] Dale Earnhardt Jr. of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 15.447 and an average speed of 124.218 miles per hour (199.909 km/h).[4]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 15.447 | 124.218 |
| 2 | 9 | Kasey Kahne | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 15.473 | 124.010 |
| 3 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 15.486 | 123.905 |
| Full second practice results | ||||||
Third and final practice
editThe third and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, occurred on Saturday, March 27, at 11:10 AM EST and would last for 45 minutes.[2] Brian Vickers of Hendrick Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 15.604 and an average speed of 122.968 miles per hour (197.898 km/h).[5]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 25 | Brian Vickers | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.604 | 122.968 |
| 2 | 22 | Scott Wimmer | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 15.607 | 122.945 |
| 3 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 15.608 | 122.937 |
| Full final practice results | ||||||
Qualifying
editQualifying occurred on Friday, March 27, at 3:00 PM EST. Each driver would have two laps to set a fastest time; the fastest of the two would count as their official qualifying lap.[2] Positions 1-38 would be decided on time, while positions 39-43 would be based on provisionals. Four spots are awarded by the use of provisionals based on owner's points. The fifth is awarded to a past champion who has not otherwise qualified for the race. If no past champ needs the provisional, the next team in the owner points will be awarded a provisional.[6]
Ryan Newman of Penske-Jasper Racing would win the pole, setting a time of 14.954 and an average speed of 128.314 miles per hour (206.501 km/h).[7]
Kirk Shelmerdine would crash on his second lap in turn 3, slamming the outside wall. While he had set a lap, he was forced to use a provisional.[8]
Morgan Shepherd would be the only driver to not qualify for the race.
Full qualifying results
editRace results
edit| Fin[9] | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 500 | 119 | running | 190 | $173,965 |
| 2 | 4 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Jasper Racing | Dodge | 500 | 100 | running | 175 | $141,878 |
| 3 | 14 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 500 | 0 | running | 165 | $131,978 |
| 4 | 17 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 500 | 72 | running | 165 | $135,125 |
| 5 | 23 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 500 | 0 | running | 155 | $136,098 |
| 6 | 19 | 49 | Ken Schrader | BAM Racing | Dodge | 500 | 0 | running | 150 | $77,945 |
| 7 | 1 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske-Jasper Racing | Dodge | 500 | 25 | running | 151 | $124,862 |
| 8 | 6 | 42 | Jamie McMurray | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 500 | 0 | running | 117 | $87,095 |
| 9 | 2 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 0 | running | 138 | $120,168 |
| 10 | 8 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 500 | 0 | running | 134 | $110,796 |
| 11 | 18 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 500 | 91 | running | 110 | $118,748 |
| 12 | 3 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Racing | Ford | 500 | 58 | running | 132 | $84,890 |
| 13 | 20 | 22 | Scott Wimmer | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 500 | 0 | running | 124 | $102,440 |
| 14 | 9 | 38 | Elliott Sadler | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 500 | 0 | running | 121 | $103,273 |
| 15 | 10 | 30 | Johnny Sauter | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 500 | 1 | running | 123 | $83,090 |
| 16 | 11 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 8 | running | 120 | $90,215 |
| 17 | 16 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 500 | 0 | running | 112 | $96,565 |
| 18 | 33 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 0 | running | 109 | $100,065 |
| 19 | 32 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 500 | 1 | running | 111 | $104,792 |
| 20 | 7 | 77 | Brendan Gaughan | Penske-Jasper Racing | Dodge | 500 | 0 | running | 103 | $81,900 |
| 21 | 30 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 500 | 0 | running | 100 | $104,557 |
| 22 | 25 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Chevrolet | 499 | 0 | running | 97 | $93,390 |
| 23 | 21 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 499 | 0 | running | 94 | $81,045 |
| 24 | 12 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 498 | 25 | running | 96 | $115,518 |
| 25 | 36 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 498 | 0 | running | 88 | $82,570 |
| 26 | 37 | 50 | Derrike Cope | Arnold Motorsports | Dodge | 497 | 0 | running | 85 | $68,440 |
| 27 | 26 | 01 | Joe Nemechek | MBV Motorsports | Chevrolet | 496 | 0 | running | 82 | $87,694 |
| 28 | 39 | 0 | Ward Burton | Haas CNC Racing | Chevrolet | 496 | 0 | running | 79 | $71,150 |
| 29 | 29 | 43 | Jeff Green | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 496 | 0 | running | 76 | $94,285 |
| 30 | 35 | 4 | Kevin Lepage | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 495 | 0 | running | 73 | $70,685 |
| 31 | 42 | 02 | Hermie Sadler | SCORE Motorsports | Pontiac | 490 | 0 | running | 70 | $66,890 |
| 32 | 38 | 94 | Stanton Barrett | W. W. Motorsports | Chevrolet | 453 | 0 | crash | 67 | $66,845 |
| 33 | 27 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 428 | 0 | running | 64 | $112,808 |
| 34 | 28 | 10 | Scott Riggs | MBV Motorsports | Chevrolet | 404 | 0 | crash | 61 | $91,922 |
| 35 | 22 | 25 | Brian Vickers | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 377 | 0 | running | 58 | $74,690 |
| 36 | 24 | 41 | Casey Mears | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 331 | 0 | running | 55 | $66,645 |
| 37 | 15 | 21 | Ricky Rudd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 166 | 0 | crash | 52 | $92,666 |
| 38 | 31 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 138 | 0 | too slow | 49 | $99,977 |
| 39 | 34 | 98 | Geoff Bodine | Mach 1 Motorsports | Ford | 59 | 0 | brakes | 46 | $66,505 |
| 40 | 5 | 9 | Kasey Kahne | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 57 | 0 | crash | 43 | $96,315 |
| 41 | 41 | 72 | Kirk Shelmerdine | Kirk Shelmerdine Racing | Ford | 7 | 0 | handling | 40 | $66,390 |
| 42 | 40 | 09 | Joe Ruttman | Phoenix Racing | Dodge | 4 | 0 | rear end | 37 | $66,335 |
| 43 | 43 | 80 | Andy Hillenburg | Hover Motorsports | Ford | 4 | 0 | brakes | 34 | $65,656 |
| Failed to qualify | ||||||||||
| 44 | 89 | Morgan Shepherd | Shepherd Racing Ventures | Dodge | ||||||
| Official race results | ||||||||||
References
edit- ^ "Busch Has Winning Touch at Bristol". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-12-03.
- ^ a b c d "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2004 Bristol 1 Race Info Page". 2005-02-05. Archived from the original on 5 February 2005. Retrieved 2021-12-03.
- ^ "NASCAR.com - Races - Bristol 1 Practice 1 Results". 2005-02-05. Archived from the original on 5 February 2005. Retrieved 2021-12-03.
- ^ "ThatsRacin.com | 03/27/2004 | Earnhardt Jr., Kahne lead way early Saturday". 2005-02-10. Archived from the original on 2005-02-10. Retrieved 2021-12-03.
- ^ "ThatsRacin.com | 03/27/2004 | Rookie Vickers tops final practice chart". 2005-02-10. Archived from the original on 2005-02-10. Retrieved 2021-12-03.
- ^ "Jayski's Silly Season Site - Provisional Land Page". 2005-02-05. Archived from the original on 5 February 2005. Retrieved 2021-12-03.
- ^ "Newman wins Bristol pole". Deseret News. Associated Press. 2004-03-27. Retrieved 2021-12-03.
- ^ 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Food City 500 Bud Pole Qualifying, retrieved 2021-12-03
- ^ "2005 New England 300 - The Third Turn". www.thethirdturn.com. Retrieved 2021-11-13.