2004 Dodge/Save Mart 350

The 2004 Dodge/Save Mart 350 was the 16th stock car race of the 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series season and the 16th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, June 27, 2004, in Sonoma, California, at the club layout in Infineon Raceway, a 1.99 miles (3.20 km) permanent road course layout. The race took the scheduled 110 laps to complete. At race's end, Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports would dominate the race to win his 67th career NASCAR Nextel Cup Series win and his third of the season.[1] To fill out the podium, Jamie McMurray and Scott Pruett of Chip Ganassi Racing would finish second and third, respectively.

2004 Dodge/Save Mart 350
Race details
Race 16 of 36 in the 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series
The 2004 Dodge/Save Mart 350 program cover, featuring the cars of Evernham Motorsports.
The 2004 Dodge/Save Mart 350 program cover, featuring the cars of Evernham Motorsports.
Date June 27, 2004
Official name 16th Annual Dodge/Save Mart 350
Location Sonoma, California, Infineon Raceway
Course Permanent racing facility
1.99 mi (3.20 km)
Distance 110 laps, 218.9 mi (352.285 km)
Scheduled Distance 110 laps, 218.9 mi (352.285 km)
Average speed 77.456 miles per hour (124.653 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Hendrick Motorsports
Time 1:15.968
Most laps led
Driver Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports
Laps 92
Winner
No. 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports
Television in the United States
Network FOX
Announcers Mike Joy, Larry McReynolds, Darrell Waltrip
Radio in the United States
Radio Performance Racing Network

Background

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The layout of Infineon Raceway used by NASCAR at the time.

Infineon Raceway is one of two road courses to hold NASCAR races, the other being Watkins Glen International. The standard road course at Infineon Raceway is a 12-turn course that is 2.52 miles (4.06 km) long;[2] the track was modified in 1998, adding the Chute, which bypassed turns 5 and 6, shortening the course to 1.95 miles (3.14 km). The Chute was only used for NASCAR events such as this race, and was criticized by many drivers, who preferred the full layout.[3] In 2001, it was replaced with a 70-degree turn, 4A, bringing the track to its current dimensions of 1.99 miles (3.20 km).[4]

Entry list

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# Driver Team Make Sponsor
0 Ward Burton Haas CNC Racing Chevrolet NetZero Hi Speed
01 Joe Nemechek MBV Motorsports Chevrolet U. S. Army
2 Rusty Wallace Penske-Jasper Racing Dodge Miller Lite
02 Brandon Ash Ash Motorsports Ford Ash Motorsports
5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Kellogg's
6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford Viagra
8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet Budweiser
9 Kasey Kahne Evernham Motorsports Dodge Dodge Dealers, UAW
10 Scott Riggs MBV Motorsports Chevrolet Valvoline
12 Ryan Newman Penske-Jasper Racing Dodge Alltel
15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet NAPA Auto Parts
16 Greg Biffle Roush Racing Ford National Guard, Travelodge
17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford DeWalt Power Tools
18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet Interstate Batteries
19 Jeremy Mayfield Evernham Motorsports Dodge Dodge Dealers, UAW
20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet The Home Depot
21 Ricky Rudd Wood Brothers Racing Ford Motorcraft, U. S. Air Force
22 Scott Wimmer Bill Davis Racing Dodge Caterpillar
24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet DuPont
25 Brian Vickers Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet GMAC Financial Services
29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet GM Goodwrench
30 Jim Inglebright Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet America Online
31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Cingular Wireless
32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Chevrolet Tide
36 Boris Said MB2 Motorsports Chevrolet Centrix Financial
38 Elliott Sadler Robert Yates Racing Ford M&M's
39 Scott Pruett Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge Target
40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge Coors Light
41 Casey Mears Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge Target
42 Jamie McMurray Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge Texaco, Havoline
43 Jeff Green Petty Enterprises Dodge Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories
45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge Georgia-Pacific Brawny
48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Lowe's
49 Ken Schrader BAM Racing Dodge Schwan's Home Service
50 P. J. Jones Arnold Motorsports Dodge Bennett Lane Winery
52 Carl Long* Rick Ware Racing Dodge Rick Ware Racing
59 Klaus Graf BAM Racing Dodge SEM, Color Horizons
61 Austin Cameron Bill McAnally Racing Chevrolet McMillin Homes
72 Tom Hubert Kirk Shelmerdine Racing Ford Kirk Shelmerdine Racing
77 Brendan Gaughan Penske-Jasper Racing Dodge Kodak
88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford UPS
89 Morgan Shepherd Shepherd Racing Ventures Dodge Racing With Jesus, Red Line Oil
97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford Irwin Industrial Tools
98 Larry Gunselman Mach 1 Motorsports Ford Gibson Products, Lucas Oil
99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford Roush Racing
Official entry list

*Withdrew.[5]

Practice

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First practice

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The first practice would occur on Friday, June 25, at 11:20 AM PST, and would last for two hours.[5] Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 1:15.363 and an average speed of 95.060 miles per hour (152.984 km/h).[6]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1:15.363 95.060
2 2 Rusty Wallace Penske-Jasper Racing Dodge 1:15.504 94.882
3 36 Boris Said MB2 Motorsports Chevrolet 1:15.726 94.604
Full first practice results

Second practice

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The second practice would occur on Saturday, June 26, at 9:30 AM PST and would last for 45 minutes.[5] Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 1:15.867 and an average speed of 94.428 miles per hour (151.967 km/h).[7]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1:15.867 94.428
2 97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford 1:16.032 94.224
3 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 1:16.223 93.987
Full second practice results

Third and final practice

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The third and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, would occur on Saturday, June 26, at 11:10 AM PST and would last for 45 minutes.[5] Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 1:16.066 and an average speed of 94.181 miles per hour (151.570 km/h).[8]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1:16.066 94.181
2 2 Rusty Wallace Penske-Jasper Racing Dodge 1:16.210 94.003
3 42 Jamie McMurray Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 1:16.220 93.991
Full Happy Hour practice results

Qualifying

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Qualifying was held on Friday, June 25, at 3:10 PM PST. Drivers would each have one lap to set a lap time.[5] 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.[9]

Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports would win the pole, setting a new track record with a lap of 1:15.968 and an average speed of 94.303 miles per hour (151.766 km/h).[10]

Multiple drivers would suffer incidents that would considerably slow down their lap times or make them not set a lap. Michael Waltrip would report smoke and blow an engine coming into Turn 7 on his lap. Scott Riggs would spin, but still complete his lap. Ricky Craven would spin in Turn 10 [11]

Full qualifying results

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1:15.968 94.303
2 2 Rusty Wallace Penske-Jasper Racing Dodge 1:16.072 94.174
3 97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford 1:16.333 93.852
4 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 1:16.456 93.701
5 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 1:16.570 93.561
6 39 Scott Pruett Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 1:16.658 93.454
7 16 Greg Biffle Roush Racing Ford 1:16.674 93.435
8 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 1:16.748 93.344
9 01 Joe Nemechek MBV Motorsports Chevrolet 1:16.827 93.248
10 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 1:16.873 93.193
11 42 Jamie McMurray Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 1:16.997 93.043
12 21 Ricky Rudd Wood Brothers Racing Ford 1:17.074 92.950
13 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 1:17.178 92.824
14 0 Ward Burton Haas CNC Racing Chevrolet 1:17.271 92.713
15 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1:17.298 92.680
16 38 Elliott Sadler Robert Yates Racing Ford 1:17.415 92.540
17 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 1:17.483 92.459
18 49 Ken Schrader BAM Racing Dodge 1:17.565 92.361
19 36 Boris Said MB2 Motorsports Chevrolet 1:17.595 92.326
20 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 1:17.748 92.144
21 19 Jeremy Mayfield Evernham Motorsports Dodge 1:17.765 92.124
22 12 Ryan Newman Penske-Jasper Racing Dodge 1:17.774 92.113
23 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 1:17.866 92.004
24 31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 1:17.956 91.898
25 22 Scott Wimmer Bill Davis Racing Dodge 1:17.962 91.891
26 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 1:17.967 91.885
27 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 1:18.020 91.823
28 30 Jim Inglebright Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 1:18.029 91.812
29 41 Casey Mears Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 1:18.038 91.801
30 9 Kasey Kahne Evernham Motorsports Dodge 1:18.059 91.777
31 50 P. J. Jones Arnold Motorsports Dodge 1:18.183 91.631
32 61 Austin Cameron Bill McAnally Racing Chevrolet 1:18.501 91.260
33 77 Brendan Gaughan Penske-Jasper Racing Dodge 1:18.514 91.245
34 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1:18.599 91.146
35 72 Tom Hubert Kirk Shelmerdine Racing Ford 1:18.974 90.713
36 43 Jeff Green Petty Enterprises Dodge 1:19.081 90.591
37 02 Brandon Ash Ash Motorsports Ford 1:19.757 89.823
38 59 Klaus Graf BAM Racing Dodge 1:22.691 86.636
Provisionals
39 25 Brian Vickers Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1:25.193 84.091
40 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet
41 10 Scott Riggs MBV Motorsports Chevrolet 1:34.444 75.854
42 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Chevrolet
43 98 Larry Gunselman Mach 1 Motorsports Ford
Failed to qualify or withdrew
44 89 Morgan Shepherd Shepherd Racing Ventures Dodge
WD 52 Carl Long Rick Ware Racing Dodge
Official qualifying results

Race results

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Fin[12] St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 1 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 110 92 running 190 $388,103
2 11 42 Jamie McMurray Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 110 0 running 170 $176,500
3 6 39 Scott Pruett Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 110 1 running 170 $120,100
4 40 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 110 0 running 160 $147,646
5 34 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 110 0 running 155 $112,915
6 19 36 Boris Said MB2 Motorsports Chevrolet 110 0 running 150 $79,165
7 29 41 Casey Mears Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 110 5 running 151 $100,265
8 4 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 110 1 running 147 $89,315
9 13 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 110 0 running 138 $108,482
10 16 38 Elliott Sadler Robert Yates Racing Ford 110 0 running 134 $109,943
11 20 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 110 9 running 135 $114,078
12 8 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 110 0 running 127 $105,838
13 7 16 Greg Biffle Roush Racing Ford 110 0 running 124 $76,475
14 22 12 Ryan Newman Penske-Jasper Racing Dodge 110 0 running 121 $106,742
15 17 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 110 1 running 98 $107,653
16 42 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Chevrolet 110 0 running 115 $86,150
17 38 59 Klaus Graf BAM Racing Dodge 110 0 running 112 $58,925
18 23 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 110 0 running 109 $93,742
19 28 30 Jim Inglebright Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 110 0 running 106 $70,550
20 5 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 110 0 running 103 $111,603
21 26 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 110 0 running 100 $95,275
22 39 25 Brian Vickers Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 110 0 running 97 $71,550
23 18 49 Ken Schrader BAM Racing Dodge 110 0 running 94 $61,900
24 14 0 Ward Burton Haas CNC Racing Chevrolet 110 0 running 91 $62,630
25 25 22 Scott Wimmer Bill Davis Racing Dodge 110 0 running 88 $82,970
26 33 77 Brendan Gaughan Penske-Jasper Racing Dodge 110 0 running 85 $69,425
27 36 43 Jeff Green Petty Enterprises Dodge 110 0 running 82 $87,520
28 2 2 Rusty Wallace Penske-Jasper Racing Dodge 109 0 out of gas 79 $102,883
29 9 01 Joe Nemechek MBV Motorsports Chevrolet 109 0 running 76 $79,515
30 21 19 Jeremy Mayfield Evernham Motorsports Dodge 109 0 running 73 $77,849
31 30 9 Kasey Kahne Evernham Motorsports Dodge 109 0 running 70 $90,250
32 27 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 109 0 running 67 $57,800
33 10 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 104 0 running 64 $103,773
34 24 31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 100 0 running 61 $92,917
35 12 21 Ricky Rudd Wood Brothers Racing Ford 97 0 running 58 $83,751
36 3 97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford 94 1 running 60 $78,160
37 43 98 Larry Gunselman Mach 1 Motorsports Ford 87 0 out of gas 52 $57,625
38 32 61 Austin Cameron Bill McAnally Racing Chevrolet 78 0 running 49 $57,590
39 31 50 P. J. Jones Arnold Motorsports Dodge 71 0 rear end 46 $57,550
40 15 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 67 0 engine 43 $84,250
41 37 02 Brandon Ash Ash Motorsports Ford 63 0 rear end 40 $57,450
42 41 10 Scott Riggs MBV Motorsports Chevrolet 51 0 crash 37 $82,597
43 35 72 Tom Hubert Kirk Shelmerdine Racing Ford 5 0 too slow 34 $57,615
Failed to qualify or withdrew
44 89 Morgan Shepherd Shepherd Racing Ventures Dodge
WD 52 Carl Long Rick Ware Racing Dodge
Official race results

References

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  1. ^ Utter, Jim (2004-06-27). "Gordon dominates, gets win at twisty Infineon Raceway". ThatsRacin. Archived from the original on 2004-07-01. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  2. ^ "Sears Point". www.gt-racing.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  3. ^ "Passing is tough in Chute | chronicle.augusta.com". 2011-06-07. Archived from the original on 2011-06-07. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  4. ^ "SEARS POINT BREAKS GROUND ON MODIFIED CHUTE - RacingWest". 2007-09-29. Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2004 Sonoma Race Info / Rundown Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on 2005-02-05. Retrieved 2021-12-19.
  6. ^ "NASCAR.com - Races - 2004 Sonoma Practice 1 Results". NASCAR.com. 2004-06-27. Archived from the original on 2005-03-06. Retrieved 2021-12-19.
  7. ^ "NASCAR.com - Races - 2004 Sonoma Practice 2 Results". NASCAR.com. 2004-06-27. Archived from the original on 2005-03-06. Retrieved 2021-12-19.
  8. ^ "NASCAR.com - Races - 2004 Sonoma Practice 3 Results". NASCAR.com. 2004-06-27. Archived from the original on 2005-03-06. Retrieved 2021-12-19.
  9. ^ "Jayski's Silly Season Site - Provisional Land Page". 2005-02-05. Archived from the original on 5 February 2005. Retrieved 2021-12-03.
  10. ^ "Jeff Gordon snatches pole in Sonoma". us.motorsport.com. Retrieved 2021-12-19.
  11. ^ 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Dodge / Save Mart 350 Bud Pole Qualifying, retrieved 2021-12-19
  12. ^ "2004 Dodge/Save Mart 350 - The Third Turn". www.thethirdturn.com. Retrieved 2021-12-19.
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