2004 in NASCAR
Encyclopedia : 2 : 20 : 200 : 2004 in NASCAR
The 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup season began on Saturday, February 7 and ended on Sunday, November 21. Kurt Busch with Roush Racing was the Nextel Cup champion.
This was the first season that NASCAR utilized the Chase for the Nextel Cup format that began with the Sylvania 300 on Sunday, September 19. Under the format rules, the top 10 drivers (and any additional drivers within 400 points of the leader) by the end of the 26th race would be eligible to compete in a final 10-race playoff to determine the NASCAR Nextel Cup champion. Following the 26th race, the eligible drivers would have their points reset to bring the drivers closer together in the standings, with only five points separating each driver. The season would then continue as normal, with the driver with the most points at the end of the season becoming the champion.
This was the first year for the new series sponsorship. Mobile phone provider Nextel assumed sponsorship of the NASCAR championship series from cigarette brand Winston.
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The exhibition Budweiser Shootout was held on February 7 at Daytona International Speedway.
Top Ten Results
The Gatorade Twin 125s qualifying for the Daytona 500 were held on February 12 at Daytona International Speedway.
Race One: Top Ten Results
- Dale Earnhardt Jr.
- Tony Stewart
- Jamie McMurray
- Michael Waltrip
- Jeff Burton
- Bobby Labonte
- Kurt Busch
- Brendan Gaughan
- Ward Burton
- Johnny Sauter
Race Two: Top Ten Results
The Daytona 500 was held on February 15 at Daytona International Speedway. Greg Biffle sat on the pole. Dale Earnhardt Jr. passed Tony Stewart with on lap 181 and held him off in the remaining laps to win his first Daytona 500, just three years after the Daytona 500 that took the life of his father, Dale Earnhardt.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Kirk Shelmerdine (#72), Andy Hillenburg (#90)
The Gatorade Twin 125s qualifying for the Daytona 500 were held on February 12 at Daytona International Speedway.
Race One: Top Ten Results
- Dale Earnhardt Jr.
- Tony Stewart
- Jamie McMurray
- Michael Waltrip
- Jeff Burton
- Bobby Labonte
- Kurt Busch
- Brendan Gaughan
- Ward Burton
- Johnny Sauter
The Daytona 500 was held on February 15 at Daytona International Speedway. Greg Biffle sat on the pole. Dale Earnhardt Jr. passed Tony Stewart with on lap 181 and held him off in the remaining laps to win his first Daytona 500, just three years after the Daytona 500 that took the life of his father, Dale Earnhardt.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Kirk Shelmerdine (#72), Andy Hillenburg (#90)
The Subway 400 was held on February 22 at North Carolina Speedway. This was the final NASCAR race held at Rockingham, which was dropped from the 2005 NASCAR schedule. Ryan Newman sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
- Matt Kenseth
- Kasey Kahne
- Jamie McMurray
- Sterling Marlin
- Dale Earnhardt Jr.
- Ryan Newman
- Rusty Wallace
- Kurt Busch
- Ward Burton
- Jeff Gordon
Failed to qualify: none
The UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 was held on March 7 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Kasey Kahne sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Larry Gunselman (#98)
The Golden Corral 500 was held on March 14 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Ryan Newman sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Morgan Shepherd (#89)
The Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 was held on March 21 at Darlington Raceway. Kasey Kahne won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Stanton Barrett (#94)
The Food City 500 was held on March 28 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Ryan Newman won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Morgan Shepherd (#89)
The Samsung/Radio Shack 500 was held on April 4 at Texas Motor Speedway. Bobby Labonte sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Kyle Busch (#84), Morgan Shepherd (#89), Andy Hillenburg (#80), Andy Belmont (#02)
The Advance Auto Parts 500 was held on April 18 at Martinsville Speedway. Jeff Gordon sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Kirk Shelmerdine (#72)
The Aaron's 499 was held on April 25 at Talladega Superspeedway. Ricky Rudd sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Larry Foyt (#14), Todd Bodine (#98), Kirk Shelmerdine (#72)
The Auto Club 500 was held on May 2 at California Speedway. Kasey Kahne sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
- Jeff Gordon
- Jimmie Johnson
- Ryan Newman
- Matt Kenseth
- Bobby Labonte
- Brendan Gaughan
- Terry Labonte
- Casey Mears
- Kevin Harvick
- Ward Burton
Failed to qualify: none
The Chevy American Revolution 400 was held on May 15 at Richmond International Raceway. Brian Vickers sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Stanton Barrett (#94), Kirk Shelmerdine (#72)
The Coca-Cola 600 was held on May 30 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Jimmie Johnson sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Steve Park (#7), Todd Bodine (#37), Carl Long (#46), Stanton Barrett (#94), Geoffrey Bodine (#98), Morgan Shepherd (#89), Jeff Fultz (#78), Kirk Shelmerdine (#72), Andy Hillenburg (#80)
The MBNA America 400 "A Salute to Heroes" was held on June 6 at Dover International Speedway. Jeremy Mayfield sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Hermie Sadler (#02), Todd Bodine (#37), Larry Gunselman (#98)
The Pocono 500 was held on June 13 at Pocono Raceway. Kasey Kahne sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Stanton Barrett (#94), Andy Hillenburg (#80)
The DHL 400 was held on June 20 at Michigan International Speedway. Jeff Gordon sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Kerry Earnhardt (#33), Carl Long (#00)
The Dodge/Save Mart 350 was held on June 27 at Infineon Raceway. Jeff Gordon sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Morgan Shepherd (#89)
The Pepsi 400 was held on July 3 at Daytona International Speedway. Jeff Gordon sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Chad Blount (#37), Tony Raines (#23), Derrike Cope (#94), Kirk Shelmerdine (#72), Eric McClure (#04), Kenny Wallace (#00)
The Tropicana 400 was held on July 11 at Chicagoland Speedway. Jeff Gordon sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Todd Bodine (#98), Greg Sacks (#13), Kirk Shelmerdine (#72)
The Siemens 300 was held on July 25 at New Hampshire International Speedway. Ryan Newman sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Kevin Lepage (#51), Kyle Busch (#84), Ryan McGlynn (#00)
The Pennsylvania 500 was held on August 1 at Pocono Raceway. Casey Mears sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Kevin Lepage (#51), Andy Hillenburg (#37), A.J. Henriksen (#90)
The Brickyard 400 was held on August 8 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Casey Mears sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Kevin Lepage (#51), Hermie Sadler (#02), Morgan Shepherd (#89), Greg Sacks (#13), Andy Hillenburg (#37), Geoffrey Bodine (#34), Kirk Shelmerdine (#72)
The Sirius at The Glen was held on August 15 at Watkins Glen International. Jimmie Johnson sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Scott Pruett (#39), Boris Said (#36), Klaus Graf (#59), Stanton Barrett (#52)
The GFS Marketplace 400 was held on August 22 at Michigan International Speedway. Jimmie Johnson sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Kevin Lepage (#51), Kerry Earnhardt (#33), Kyle Busch (#84), Kenny Wallace (#00), J.J. Yeley (#11), Mike Wallace (#35), Stan Boyd (#79), Stanton Barrett (#37)
The Sharpie 500 was held on August 28 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Jeff Gordon sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Hermie Sadler (#02), Stanton Barrett (#52), Brad Teague (#72), Tony Ave (#80), Ryan McGlynn (#00)
The Pop Secret 500 was held on September 5 at California Speedway. Brian Vickers sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Morgan Shepherd (#89), Kirk Shelmerdine (#72), Hermie Sadler (#02), Kevin Lepage (#37), Mike Wallace (#35)
The Chevy Rock and Roll 400 was held on September 11 at Richmond International Raceway. Ryan Newman sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Johnny Sauter (#33), Tony Raines (#51), Kevin Lepage (#37), Greg Sacks (#13), Hermie Sadler (#02), Brad Teague (#92), Ryan McGlynn (#00), Morgan Shepherd (#89), Carl Long (#80)
The Sylvania 300 was held on September 19 at New Hampshire International Speedway. Jeff Gordon sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Kevin Lepage (#37), Martin Truex, Jr. (#1), Johnny Sauter (#33), Greg Sacks (#13), Ryan McGlynn (#00), Carl Long (#46), Tony Raines (#92), Stan Boyd (#79)
The MBNA America 400 was held on September 26 at Dover International Speedway. Jeremy Mayfield sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Hermie Sadler (#02), Derrike Cope (#80), Greg Sacks (#13), Carl Long (#00), Kenny Hendrick (#35), Stanton Barrett (#92), Mike Garvey (#75)
The EA Sports 500 was held on October 3 at Talladega Superspeedway. Joe Nemechek sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Kevin Lepage (#37), Kirk Shelmerdine (#72), Carl Long (#80)
The Banquet 400 Presented by ConAgra Foods was held on October 10 at Kansas Speedway. Joe Nemechek sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Mike Garvey (#75), Mike Wallace (#35), Carl Long (#00), Morgan Shepherd (#89)
The UAW-GM Quality 500 was held on October 16 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Ryan Newman sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Kenny Wallace (#00), Derrike Cope (#94), Mike Wallace (#35), Carl Long (#00), Kirk Shelmerdine (#72), Larry Foyt (#59), Hermie Sadler (#02), Morgan Shepherd (#89), Geoffrey Bodine (#98)
The Subway 500 was held on October 24 at Martinsville Speedway. Ryan Newman sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Carl Long (#46), Brad Teague (#94), Greg Sacks (#13), Ryan McGlynn (#00), Morgan Shepherd (#89), Mike Garvey (#75), Klaus Graf (#59)
The Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 was held on October 31 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Ryan Newman sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Scott Riggs (#10), Scott Wimmer (#22), Kerry Earnhardt (#33), Johnny Sauter (#09), Hermie Sadler (#02), Mike Wallace (#4), Derrike Cope (#94), Randy LaJoie (#98), Greg Sacks (#13), Larry Foyt (#59), Kirk Shelmerdine (#72), Morgan Shepherd (#89), Andy Belmont (#80), Larry Hollenbeck (#62), Kenny Wallace (#00)
The Checker Auto Parts 500 was held on November 7 at Phoenix International Raceway. Ryan Newman sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Mike Garvey (#75), Tony Raines (#51), Stanton Barrett (#94), Mario Gosselin (#80), Ryan McGlynn (#00), Geoffrey Bodine (#93), Kirk Shelmerdine (#72)
The Mountain Dew Southern 500 was held on November 14 at Darlington Raceway. Kurt Busch sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Kevin Lepage (#37), John Andretti (#14), Derrike Cope (#94), Carl Long (#00), Travis Kvapil (#06)
The Ford 400 was held on November 21 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Kurt Busch sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Kyle Petty (#45), Johnny Sauter (#09), Mike Garvey (#75), Tony Raines (#51), Kevin Lepage (#37), Todd Bodine (#50), Larry Foyt (#70), J.J. Yeley (#11), Randy LaJoie (#98), Morgan Shepherd (#89), Kirk Shelmerdine (#72), Carl Long (#80), Geoffrey Bodine (#93)
Final Points Standings
- Kurt Busch - 6506
- Jimmie Johnson - 6498
- Jeff Gordon - 6490
- Mark Martin - 6399
- Dale Earnhardt Jr. - 6368
- Tony Stewart - 6326
- Ryan Newman - 6180
- Matt Kenseth - 6069
- Elliott Sadler - 6024
- Jeremy Mayfield - 6000
Cutoff for the Chase for the Nextel Cup
- Jamie McMurray - 4597
- Bobby Labonte - 4277
- Kasey Kahne - 4274
- Kevin Harvick - 4228
- Dale Jarrett - 4214
- Rusty Wallace - 3960
- Greg Biffle - 3902
- Jeff Burton - 3902
- Joe Nemechek - 3878
- Michael Waltrip - 3878
- Sterling Marlin - 3857
- Casey Mears - 3690
- Robby Gordon - 3646
- Ricky Rudd - 3615
- Brian Vickers - 3521
- Terry Labonte - 2987
- Scott Wimmer - 3308
- Brendan Gaughan - 3341
- Scott Riggs - 3416
- Jeff Green - 3452
- Ken Schrader - 3474
- Ward Burton - 3577
- Kyle Petty - 3695
- Ricky Craven - 4420
- Jimmy Spencer - 4537
- Johnny Sauter - 5076
- Carl Edwards - 5082
- Dave Blaney - 5159
- Bobby Hamilton Jr. - 5235
- Derrike Cope - 5448
- Todd Bodine - 5520
- Morgan Shepherd - 5581
- Kevin Lepage - 5591
Rookie of the Year
The Rookie of the year battle in 2004 marked the first time since 1998 that a rookie driver did not visit victory lane. The winner of the battle was dark horse candidate Kasey Kahne, who went from a 43rd place finish at the season opening Daytona 500, to being narrowly defeated by Matt Kenseth the next week at Rockingham, and he never looked back, grabbing fourteen top ten finishes as well as a couple of pole positions. Pre-season favorites Scott Wimmer and Brian Vickers struggled, although Wimmer placed third in the Daytona 500, but neither made competitive strides during the season. Brendan Gaughan was a pleasent surprise, posting four top tens and finishing runner-up to Kahne for the award, while Scott Riggs only had two-top ten finishes. The only other rookie, Johnny Sauter, was released from his ride mid-season and never made a challenge for the top honor.
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All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.
The UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 was held on March 7 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Kasey Kahne sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results Failed to qualify: Larry Gunselman (#98)
The Golden Corral 500 was held on March 14 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Ryan Newman sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results Failed to qualify: Morgan Shepherd (#89)
The Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 was held on March 21 at Darlington Raceway. Kasey Kahne won the pole.
Top Ten Results Failed to qualify: Stanton Barrett (#94)
The Food City 500 was held on March 28 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Ryan Newman won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Morgan Shepherd (#89)
The Samsung/Radio Shack 500 was held on April 4 at Texas Motor Speedway. Bobby Labonte sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Kyle Busch (#84), Morgan Shepherd (#89), Andy Hillenburg (#80), Andy Belmont (#02)
The Advance Auto Parts 500 was held on April 18 at Martinsville Speedway. Jeff Gordon sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Kirk Shelmerdine (#72)
The Aaron's 499 was held on April 25 at Talladega Superspeedway. Ricky Rudd sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Larry Foyt (#14), Todd Bodine (#98), Kirk Shelmerdine (#72)
The Auto Club 500 was held on May 2 at California Speedway. Kasey Kahne sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
- Jeff Gordon
- Jimmie Johnson
- Ryan Newman
- Matt Kenseth
- Bobby Labonte
- Brendan Gaughan
- Terry Labonte
- Casey Mears
- Kevin Harvick
- Ward Burton
The Chevy American Revolution 400 was held on May 15 at Richmond International Raceway. Brian Vickers sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Stanton Barrett (#94), Kirk Shelmerdine (#72)
The Coca-Cola 600 was held on May 30 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Jimmie Johnson sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Steve Park (#7), Todd Bodine (#37), Carl Long (#46), Stanton Barrett (#94), Geoffrey Bodine (#98), Morgan Shepherd (#89), Jeff Fultz (#78), Kirk Shelmerdine (#72), Andy Hillenburg (#80)
The MBNA America 400 "A Salute to Heroes" was held on June 6 at Dover International Speedway. Jeremy Mayfield sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Hermie Sadler (#02), Todd Bodine (#37), Larry Gunselman (#98)
The Pocono 500 was held on June 13 at Pocono Raceway. Kasey Kahne sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Stanton Barrett (#94), Andy Hillenburg (#80)
The DHL 400 was held on June 20 at Michigan International Speedway. Jeff Gordon sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Kerry Earnhardt (#33), Carl Long (#00)
The Dodge/Save Mart 350 was held on June 27 at Infineon Raceway. Jeff Gordon sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Morgan Shepherd (#89)
The Pepsi 400 was held on July 3 at Daytona International Speedway. Jeff Gordon sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Chad Blount (#37), Tony Raines (#23), Derrike Cope (#94), Kirk Shelmerdine (#72), Eric McClure (#04), Kenny Wallace (#00)
The Tropicana 400 was held on July 11 at Chicagoland Speedway. Jeff Gordon sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Todd Bodine (#98), Greg Sacks (#13), Kirk Shelmerdine (#72)
The Siemens 300 was held on July 25 at New Hampshire International Speedway. Ryan Newman sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Kevin Lepage (#51), Kyle Busch (#84), Ryan McGlynn (#00)
The Pennsylvania 500 was held on August 1 at Pocono Raceway. Casey Mears sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Kevin Lepage (#51), Andy Hillenburg (#37), A.J. Henriksen (#90)
The Brickyard 400 was held on August 8 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Casey Mears sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Kevin Lepage (#51), Hermie Sadler (#02), Morgan Shepherd (#89), Greg Sacks (#13), Andy Hillenburg (#37), Geoffrey Bodine (#34), Kirk Shelmerdine (#72)
The Sirius at The Glen was held on August 15 at Watkins Glen International. Jimmie Johnson sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Scott Pruett (#39), Boris Said (#36), Klaus Graf (#59), Stanton Barrett (#52)
The GFS Marketplace 400 was held on August 22 at Michigan International Speedway. Jimmie Johnson sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Kevin Lepage (#51), Kerry Earnhardt (#33), Kyle Busch (#84), Kenny Wallace (#00), J.J. Yeley (#11), Mike Wallace (#35), Stan Boyd (#79), Stanton Barrett (#37)
The Sharpie 500 was held on August 28 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Jeff Gordon sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Hermie Sadler (#02), Stanton Barrett (#52), Brad Teague (#72), Tony Ave (#80), Ryan McGlynn (#00)
The Pop Secret 500 was held on September 5 at California Speedway. Brian Vickers sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Morgan Shepherd (#89), Kirk Shelmerdine (#72), Hermie Sadler (#02), Kevin Lepage (#37), Mike Wallace (#35)
The Chevy Rock and Roll 400 was held on September 11 at Richmond International Raceway. Ryan Newman sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Johnny Sauter (#33), Tony Raines (#51), Kevin Lepage (#37), Greg Sacks (#13), Hermie Sadler (#02), Brad Teague (#92), Ryan McGlynn (#00), Morgan Shepherd (#89), Carl Long (#80)
The Sylvania 300 was held on September 19 at New Hampshire International Speedway. Jeff Gordon sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Kevin Lepage (#37), Martin Truex, Jr. (#1), Johnny Sauter (#33), Greg Sacks (#13), Ryan McGlynn (#00), Carl Long (#46), Tony Raines (#92), Stan Boyd (#79)
The MBNA America 400 was held on September 26 at Dover International Speedway. Jeremy Mayfield sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Hermie Sadler (#02), Derrike Cope (#80), Greg Sacks (#13), Carl Long (#00), Kenny Hendrick (#35), Stanton Barrett (#92), Mike Garvey (#75)
The EA Sports 500 was held on October 3 at Talladega Superspeedway. Joe Nemechek sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Kevin Lepage (#37), Kirk Shelmerdine (#72), Carl Long (#80)
The Banquet 400 Presented by ConAgra Foods was held on October 10 at Kansas Speedway. Joe Nemechek sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Mike Garvey (#75), Mike Wallace (#35), Carl Long (#00), Morgan Shepherd (#89)
The UAW-GM Quality 500 was held on October 16 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Ryan Newman sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Kenny Wallace (#00), Derrike Cope (#94), Mike Wallace (#35), Carl Long (#00), Kirk Shelmerdine (#72), Larry Foyt (#59), Hermie Sadler (#02), Morgan Shepherd (#89), Geoffrey Bodine (#98)
The Subway 500 was held on October 24 at Martinsville Speedway. Ryan Newman sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Carl Long (#46), Brad Teague (#94), Greg Sacks (#13), Ryan McGlynn (#00), Morgan Shepherd (#89), Mike Garvey (#75), Klaus Graf (#59)
The Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 was held on October 31 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Ryan Newman sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Scott Riggs (#10), Scott Wimmer (#22), Kerry Earnhardt (#33), Johnny Sauter (#09), Hermie Sadler (#02), Mike Wallace (#4), Derrike Cope (#94), Randy LaJoie (#98), Greg Sacks (#13), Larry Foyt (#59), Kirk Shelmerdine (#72), Morgan Shepherd (#89), Andy Belmont (#80), Larry Hollenbeck (#62), Kenny Wallace (#00)
The Checker Auto Parts 500 was held on November 7 at Phoenix International Raceway. Ryan Newman sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Mike Garvey (#75), Tony Raines (#51), Stanton Barrett (#94), Mario Gosselin (#80), Ryan McGlynn (#00), Geoffrey Bodine (#93), Kirk Shelmerdine (#72)
The Mountain Dew Southern 500 was held on November 14 at Darlington Raceway. Kurt Busch sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Kevin Lepage (#37), John Andretti (#14), Derrike Cope (#94), Carl Long (#00), Travis Kvapil (#06)
The Ford 400 was held on November 21 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Kurt Busch sat on the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Kyle Petty (#45), Johnny Sauter (#09), Mike Garvey (#75), Tony Raines (#51), Kevin Lepage (#37), Todd Bodine (#50), Larry Foyt (#70), J.J. Yeley (#11), Randy LaJoie (#98), Morgan Shepherd (#89), Kirk Shelmerdine (#72), Carl Long (#80), Geoffrey Bodine (#93)
Final Points Standings
- Kurt Busch - 6506
- Jimmie Johnson - 6498
- Jeff Gordon - 6490
- Mark Martin - 6399
- Dale Earnhardt Jr. - 6368
- Tony Stewart - 6326
- Ryan Newman - 6180
- Matt Kenseth - 6069
- Elliott Sadler - 6024
- Jeremy Mayfield - 6000
Cutoff for the Chase for the Nextel Cup - Jamie McMurray - 4597
- Bobby Labonte - 4277
- Kasey Kahne - 4274
- Kevin Harvick - 4228
- Dale Jarrett - 4214
- Rusty Wallace - 3960
- Greg Biffle - 3902
- Jeff Burton - 3902
- Joe Nemechek - 3878
- Michael Waltrip - 3878
- Sterling Marlin - 3857
- Casey Mears - 3690
- Robby Gordon - 3646
- Ricky Rudd - 3615
- Brian Vickers - 3521
- Terry Labonte - 2987
- Scott Wimmer - 3308
- Brendan Gaughan - 3341
- Scott Riggs - 3416
- Jeff Green - 3452
- Ken Schrader - 3474
- Ward Burton - 3577
- Kyle Petty - 3695
- Ricky Craven - 4420
- Jimmy Spencer - 4537
- Johnny Sauter - 5076
- Carl Edwards - 5082
- Dave Blaney - 5159
- Bobby Hamilton Jr. - 5235
- Derrike Cope - 5448
- Todd Bodine - 5520
- Morgan Shepherd - 5581
- Kevin Lepage - 5591
Rookie of the Year
The Rookie of the year battle in 2004 marked the first time since 1998 that a rookie driver did not visit victory lane. The winner of the battle was dark horse candidate Kasey Kahne, who went from a 43rd place finish at the season opening Daytona 500, to being narrowly defeated by Matt Kenseth the next week at Rockingham, and he never looked back, grabbing fourteen top ten finishes as well as a couple of pole positions. Pre-season favorites Scott Wimmer and Brian Vickers struggled, although Wimmer placed third in the Daytona 500, but neither made competitive strides during the season. Brendan Gaughan was a pleasent surprise, posting four top tens and finishing runner-up to Kahne for the award, while Scott Riggs only had two-top ten finishes. The only other rookie, Johnny Sauter, was released from his ride mid-season and never made a challenge for the top honor.All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.