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.

2004 Food City 500
Race details
Race 6 of 36 in the 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series
The 2004 Food City 500 program cover.
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

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The layout of Bristol Motor Speedway, the venue where the race was held.

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

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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 Hermie Sadler SCORE Motorsports Pontiac East Tennessee Trailers
4 Kevin Lepage Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet Food City
5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Kellogg's, Got Milk?
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
09 Joe Ruttman Phoenix Racing Dodge Miccosukee Resort & Gaming
10 Scott Riggs MBV Motorsports Chevrolet Valvoline, Harlem Globetrotters, Eagle One
12 Ryan Newman Penske-Jasper Racing Dodge Alltel
15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet NAPA Auto Parts
16 Greg Biffle Roush Racing Ford Jackson Hewitt, National Guard
17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford DeWalt Power Tools
18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet Wellbutrin XL, 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 Rent-A-Center, Motorcraft
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 Johnny Sauter Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet America Online
31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Cingular Wireless
32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Chevrolet Tide
38 Elliott Sadler Robert Yates Racing Ford Pedigree
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, Betty Crocker
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 Derrike Cope Arnold Motorsports Dodge Arnold Development Companies
72 Kirk Shelmerdine Kirk Shelmerdine Racing Ford Black Wolf Harley-Davidson
77 Brendan Gaughan Penske-Jasper Racing Dodge Kodak Easy Share, The Punisher
80 Andy Hillenburg Hover Motorsports Ford Commercial Truck & Trailer
88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford UPS
89 Morgan Shepherd Shepherd Racing Ventures Dodge Racing With Jesus, Voyles Equipment Co.
94 Stanton Barrett W. W. Motorsports Chevrolet Bojangles, AmericInn
97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford Sharpie, Irwin Industrial Tools
98 Geoff Bodine Mach 1 Motorsports Ford Lucas Oil
99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford Roush Racing
Official entry list

Practice

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First practice

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The 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

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The 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

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The 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

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Qualifying 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

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 12 Ryan Newman Penske-Jasper Racing Dodge 14.954 128.314
2 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 14.957 128.288
3 16 Greg Biffle Roush Racing Ford 14.970 128.176
4 2 Rusty Wallace Penske-Jasper Racing Dodge 14.982 128.074
5 9 Kasey Kahne Evernham Motorsports Dodge 15.007 127.860
6 42 Jamie McMurray Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 15.046 127.529
7 77 Brendan Gaughan Penske-Jasper Racing Dodge 15.064 127.377
8 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 15.108 127.006
9 38 Elliott Sadler Robert Yates Racing Ford 15.116 126.938
10 30 Johnny Sauter Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 15.126 126.854
11 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 15.147 126.679
12 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 15.157 126.595
13 97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford 15.160 126.570
14 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 15.162 126.553
15 21 Ricky Rudd Wood Brothers Racing Ford 15.172 126.470
16 19 Jeremy Mayfield Evernham Motorsports Dodge 15.186 126.353
17 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 15.195 126.278
18 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 15.196 126.270
19 49 Ken Schrader BAM Racing Dodge 15.197 126.262
20 22 Scott Wimmer Bill Davis Racing Dodge 15.204 126.204
21 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 15.208 126.170
22 25 Brian Vickers Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 15.227 126.013
23 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 15.236 125.939
24 41 Casey Mears Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 15.237 125.930
25 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Chevrolet 15.242 125.889
26 01 Joe Nemechek MBV Motorsports Chevrolet 15.285 125.535
27 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 15.291 125.486
28 10 Scott Riggs MBV Motorsports Chevrolet 15.294 125.461
29 43 Jeff Green Petty Enterprises Dodge 15.304 125.379
30 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 15.314 125.297
31 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 15.314 125.297
32 31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 15.315 125.289
33 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 15.348 125.020
34 98 Geoff Bodine Mach 1 Motorsports Ford 15.371 124.832
35 4 Kevin Lepage Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 15.379 124.768
36 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 15.439 124.283
37 50 Derrike Cope Arnold Motorsports Dodge 15.492 123.857
38 94 Stanton Barrett W. W. Motorsports Chevrolet 15.501 123.786
Provisionals
39 0 Ward Burton Haas CNC Racing Chevrolet - -
40 09 Joe Ruttman Phoenix Racing Dodge 15.717 122.084
41 72 Kirk Shelmerdine Kirk Shelmerdine Racing Ford 16.599 115.597
42 02 Hermie Sadler SCORE Motorsports Pontiac 15.622 122.827
43 80 Andy Hillenburg Hover Motorsports Ford 17.313 110.830
Failed to qualify
44 89 Morgan Shepherd Shepherd Racing Ventures Dodge 15.639 122.693
Official qualifying results

Race results

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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

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  1. ^ "Busch Has Winning Touch at Bristol". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-12-03.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ "NASCAR.com - Races - Bristol 1 Practice 1 Results". 2005-02-05. Archived from the original on 5 February 2005. Retrieved 2021-12-03.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ "Jayski's Silly Season Site - Provisional Land Page". 2005-02-05. Archived from the original on 5 February 2005. Retrieved 2021-12-03.
  7. ^ "Newman wins Bristol pole". Deseret News. Associated Press. 2004-03-27. Retrieved 2021-12-03.
  8. ^ 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Food City 500 Bud Pole Qualifying, retrieved 2021-12-03
  9. ^ "2005 New England 300 - The Third Turn". www.thethirdturn.com. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
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2004 Carolina Dodge Dealers 400
NASCAR Nextel Cup Series
2004 season
Next race:
2004 Samsung/Radio Shack 500