The 2004 Gatorade 125s were a pair of NASCAR Nextel Cup Series held on Thursday, February 12, 2004, that were the qualifying races for that year's Daytona 500, the premier event of the 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. The pair of 50-lap races was held in Daytona Beach, Florida at Daytona International Speedway, a 2.5 miles (4.0 km) permanent triangular-shaped superspeedway. The first race was won by Dale Earnhardt Jr. of Dale Earnhardt, Inc., who held off the field after passing teammate Michael Waltrip on lap 36.[1] The second race was won by Elliott Sadler of Robert Yates Racing.

2004 Gatorade 125s
DateFebruary 12, 2004 (2004-02-12)
LocationDaytona International Speedway
Daytona Beach, Florida
CoursePermanent racing facility
2.5 mi (4 km)
DistanceRace 1:
50 laps, 125 mi (201.168 km)
Race 2:
50 laps, 125 mi (201.168 km)
Avg SpeedRace 1:
156.087 miles per hour (251.198 km/h)
Race 2:
182.334 miles per hour (293.438 km/h)
Race 1
Pole positionGreg Biffle
Most laps ledGreg Biffle (22)
WinnerDale Earnhardt Jr.
Race 2
Pole positionElliott Sadler
Most laps ledElliott Sadler (26)
WinnerElliott Sadler
Television
NetworkTNT
AnnouncersAllen Bestwick, Benny Parsons, Wally Dallenbach Jr.

Background

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Daytona International Speedway, the race track where the races were held.

Daytona International Speedway is one of six superspeedways to hold NASCAR races; the others are Michigan International Speedway, Auto Club Speedway, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Pocono Raceway and Talladega Superspeedway.[2] Its standard track is a four-turn, 2.5-mile (4.0 km) superspeedway.[3] Daytona's turns are banked at 31 degrees and the front stretch (the location of the finish line) is banked at 18 degrees.

In the early years, qualifying for the Daytona 500 had varying formats: from one timed lap, to the average of two laps, to the better of two laps. The idea of having two individual races to establish the starting lineup of the Daytona 500 dates back to the first race in 1959. The first of the 100-mile (160 km) qualifying races consisted of Convertible division cars and the second of Grand National cars.[4] Between 1960 and 1967, the races were 100 miles (160 km) and were increased to 125 miles (201 km) in 1969.[5] Prior to 1971, the races yielded points to the Drivers' Championship.[6] Large well-established teams approach the races as practice sessions for the Daytona 500 while a successful qualification into the Daytona 500 for smaller less-established teams would allow them to enter future NASCAR events during the season. An unsuccessful qualification meant the team would risk closing down until sponsorship was found.[7] Corporate sponsors purchased naming rights to qualifying races; between 1981 and 1984, Uno cards was the title sponsor for the "Uno Twin 125’s" qualifying events. In 1985 they became known as "7-Eleven Twin 125's";[5] no sponsors funded the 1988, 1989 and 1990 qualifying events and the races were called "Daytona Twin Qualifiers".[6] Gatorade became the sponsor of the dual qualifying events in 1991 and the races were increased to 150 miles (240 km) as it became known as the "Gatorade Duels" in 2005. The races were rebranded as the "Budweiser Duels" in 2013 and became known as the "Can-Am Duels" in 2016.[5]

The Twin 125-Mile Qualifying Races would determine positions 3 through 30. The drivers who posted the odd-number rankings in the qualifying rounds compete in the first race, which will set the inside rows -- positions 3, 5, 7, etc. -- for the Daytona 500. The even-number rankings from the timed qualifying compete in the second 125-mile race and set the outside rows -- positions 4, 6, 8, etc. In the event of cancellation, the top 30 positions would be set from the timed qualifying sessions. Starting positions 31 through 38 are determined by qualifying speeds set in qualifying. The 30 cars in the field are removed from the equation, and the remaining cars with the fastest official qualifying speeds fill the six positions. Starting positions 39 through 42 are provisionals assigned beginning with the car owner ranked highest in the previous Winston Cup championship points standings who did not qualify for positions 1 through 38. Starting position 43 is assigned to any car owner who has a past NASCAR Winston Cup champion driver who participated in the Winston Cup Series last season and did not otherwise qualify. The most recent past champion driver not assigned a position will receive this starting spot. If the 43rd position remains unused, it will be assigned to the next eligible owner based on last seasons final owner points standings.[8]

Entry list

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# Driver Team Make Sponsor
0 Ward Burton (W) Haas CNC Racing Chevrolet NetZero Hi Speed
1 John Andretti Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet Maxwell House, Post
01 Joe Nemechek MBV Motorsports Chevrolet U. S. Army
2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing Dodge Miller Lite
4 Kevin Lepage Morgan-McClure Motorsports Chevrolet YokeTV
5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Kellogg's, Got Milk?
6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford Viagra
7 Jimmy Spencer Ultra Motorsports Dodge Ultra Motorsports
8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet Budweiser Born On Date 12 Feb 2004
9 Kasey Kahne (R) Evernham Motorsports Dodge Dodge Dealers, UAW
09 Johnny Benson Phoenix Racing Dodge Miccosukee Resort & Gaming
10 Scott Riggs (R) MBV Motorsports Chevrolet Valvoline
12 Ryan Newman Penske Racing Dodge Alltel
14 Larry Foyt (R) A. J. Foyt Racing Dodge A. J. Foyt Racing
15 Michael Waltrip (W) Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet NAPA Auto Parts
16 Greg Biffle Roush Racing Ford Jackson Hewitt
17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford DeWalt Power Tools
18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet Interstate Batteries, The Passion of the Christ
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
22 Scott Wimmer (R) Bill Davis Racing Dodge Caterpillar
23 Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing Dodge Whelen Engineering
24 Jeff Gordon (W) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet DuPont
25 Brian Vickers (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet GMAC Financial Services
29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet GM Goodwrench
30 Johnny Sauter (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet America Online
31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Cingular Wireless
32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Chevrolet Tide
33 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Bass Pro Shops, Tracker Boats
38 Elliott Sadler Robert Yates Racing Ford M&M's Black and White
40 Sterling Marlin (W) 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 (W) Arnold Motorsports Dodge Arnold Development Companies
72 Kirk Shelmerdine (R) Kirk Shelmerdine Racing Ford Tucson, Freddie B's
77 Brendan Gaughan (R) Penske-Jasper Racing Dodge Kodak
88 Dale Jarrett (W) Robert Yates Racing Ford UPS
90 Andy Hillenburg Donlavey Racing Ford Donlavey Racing
97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford Sharpie
99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford NBA All-Star Game on TNT
Official entry list

Qualifying

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Daytona 500 qualifying for positions 1-2 and the starting positions for the Duels was held on Sunday, February 8, at 12:00 PM EST.[8]

Greg Biffle of Roush Racing would win the overall pole for the Daytona 500 and the pole for the first duel.[9] Meanwhile, outside polesitter Elliott Sadler would get the first spot for the second duel.

Full qualifying results

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Speed Time Grid position in Duel
1 16 Greg Biffle Roush Racing Ford 188.387 47.774 1st in Duel 1
2 38 Elliott Sadler Robert Yates Racing Ford 188.355 47.782 1st in Duel 2
3 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 188.210 47.819 2nd in Duel 1
4 21 Ricky Rudd Wood Brothers Racing Ford 188.163 47.831 2nd in Duel 2
5 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 187.884 47.902 3rd in Duel 1
6 4 Kevin Lepage Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 187.876 47.904 3rd in Duel 2
7 9 Kasey Kahne Evernham Motorsports Dodge 187.766 47.932 4th in Duel 1
8 01 Joe Nemechek MBV Motorsports Chevrolet 187.750 47.936 4th in Duel 2
9 41 Casey Mears Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 187.672 47.956 5th in Duel 1
10 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 187.602 47.974 5th in Duel 2
11 42 Jamie McMurray Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 187.602 47.974 6th in Duel 1
12 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 187.477 48.006 6th in Duel 2
13 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 187.274 48.058 7th in Duel 1
14 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 187.223 48.071 7th in Duel 2
15 0 Ward Burton Haas CNC Racing Chevrolet 187.200 48.077 8th in Duel 1
16 2 Rusty Wallace Penske-Jasper Racing Dodge 187.176 48.083 8th in Duel 2
17 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 187.165 48.086 9th in Duel 1
18 19 Jeremy Mayfield Evernham Motorsports Dodge 187.095 48.104 9th in Duel 2
19 77 Brendan Gaughan Penske-Jasper Racing Dodge 187.071 48.110 10th in Duel 1
20 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 186.986 48.132 10th in Duel 2
21 1 John Andretti Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 186.939 48.144 11th in Duel 1
22 31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 186.652 48.218 11th in Duel 2
23 97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford 186.648 48.219 12th in Duel 1
24 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 186.598 48.232 12th in Duel 2
25 43 Jeff Green Petty Enterprises Dodge 186.525 48.251 13th in Duel 1
26 25 Brian Vickers Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 186.505 48.256 13th in Duel 2
27 30 Johnny Sauter Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 186.478 48.263 14th in Duel 1
28 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 186.474 48.264 14th in Duel 2
29 10 Scott Riggs MBV Motorsports Chevrolet 186.397 48.284 15th in Duel 1
30 49 Ken Schrader BAM Racing Dodge 186.274 48.316 15th in Duel 2
31 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 186.193 48.337 16th in Duel 1
32 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Chevrolet 186.127 48.354 16th in Duel 2
33 23 Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing Dodge 185.981 48.392 17th in Duel 1
34 22 Scott Wimmer Bill Davis Racing Dodge 185.575 48.498 17th in Duel 2
35 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 185.536 48.508 18th in Duel 1
36 33 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 185.456 48.529 18th in Duel 2
37 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 185.219 48.591 19th in Duel 1
38 7 Jimmy Spencer Ultra Motorsports Dodge 184.911 48.672 19th in Duel 2
39 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 184.721 48.722 20th in Duel 1
40 09 Johnny Benson Jr. Phoenix Racing Dodge 184.676 48.734 20th in Duel 2
41 50 Derrike Cope Arnold Motorsports Dodge 184.158 48.871 21st in Duel 1
42 12 Ryan Newman Penske-Jasper Racing Dodge 184.057 48.898 21st in Duel 2
43 14 Larry Foyt A. J. Foyt Enterprises Dodge 182.567 49.297 22nd in Duel 1
44 72 Kirk Shelmerdine Kirk Shelmerdine Racing Ford 180.523 49.855 22nd in Duel 2
45 90 Andy Hillenburg Donlavey Racing Ford 177.515 50.700 23rd in Duel 1
Official Duel 1 lineup
Official Duel 2 lineup

Race results

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Duel 1 Duel 2
Fin.[10] St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Winnings Fin.[11] St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Winnings
1 2 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 50 14 running $55,612 1 1 38 Elliott Sadler Robert Yates Racing Ford 50 26 running $56,689
2 19 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 50 0 running $40,612 2 6 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 50 1 running $41,689
3 6 42 Jamie McMurray Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 50 1 running $35,612 3 7 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 50 0 running $36,689
4 7 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 50 12 running $30,612 4 10 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 50 0 running $31,689
5 9 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 50 0 running $28,612 5 5 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 50 0 running $29,689
6 18 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 50 0 running $26,212 6 14 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 50 0 running $27,289
7 12 97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford 50 0 running $25,112 7 4 01 Joe Nemechek MBV Motorsports Chevrolet 50 0 running $26,189
8 10 77 Brendan Gaughan Penske-Jasper Racing Dodge 50 0 running $24,112 8 2 21 Ricky Rudd Wood Brothers Racing Ford 50 21 running $25,189
9 8 0 Ward Burton Haas CNC Racing Chevrolet 50 0 running $24,087 9 8 2 Rusty Wallace Penske-Jasper Racing Dodge 50 0 running $25,164
10 14 30 Johnny Sauter Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 50 0 running $24,062 10 21 12 Ryan Newman Penske-Jasper Racing Dodge 50 0 running $25,139
11 17 23 Dave Blaney Bill Davis Racing Dodge 50 0 running $24,037 11 9 19 Jeremy Mayfield Evernham Motorsports Dodge 50 2 running $25,114
12 5 41 Casey Mears Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 50 0 running $24,012 12 20 09 Johnny Benson Jr. Phoenix Racing Dodge 50 0 running $25,089
13 4 9 Kasey Kahne Evernham Motorsports Dodge 50 0 running $23,987 13 17 22 Scott Wimmer Bill Davis Racing Dodge 50 0 running $25,064
14 1 16 Greg Biffle Roush Racing Ford 50 22 running $23,962 14 16 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Chevrolet 50 0 running $25,039
15 11 1 John Andretti Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 50 0 running $23,937 15 11 31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 50 0 running $25,014
16 21 50 Derrike Cope Arnold Motorsports Dodge 50 0 running $23,912 16 18 33 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 50 0 running $24,989
17 3 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 50 0 running $23,887 17 12 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 50 0 running $24,964
18 16 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 50 0 running $23,837 18 15 49 Ken Schrader BAM Racing Dodge 50 0 running $24,914
19 22 14 Larry Foyt A. J. Foyt Enterprises Dodge 50 0 running $23,812 19 19 7 Jimmy Spencer Ultra Motorsports Dodge 50 0 running $24,889
20 13 43 Jeff Green Petty Enterprises Dodge 50 0 running $23,787 20 13 25 Brian Vickers Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 50 0 running $24,864
21 20 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 49 0 running $23,762 21 22 72 Kirk Shelmerdine Kirk Shelmerdine Racing Ford 49 0 running $24,839
22 23 90 Andy Hillenburg Donlavey Racing Ford 31 1 handling $23,737 22 3 4 Kevin Lepage Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 7 0 engine $24,814
23 15 10 Scott Riggs MBV Motorsports Chevrolet 24 0 accident $23,687
Official Duel 1 results Official Duel 2 results

References

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  1. ^ "Daytona Twin races report". us.motorsport.com. Retrieved 2022-01-11.
  2. ^ "NASCAR Race Tracks". NASCAR. Turner Sports Interactive. Archived from the original on January 1, 2013. Retrieved December 20, 2011.
  3. ^ ESPN SportsTravel (June 27, 2011). "Daytona International Speedway". ESPN. Archived from the original on January 20, 2012. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
  4. ^ Phillips, Benny (March 11, 2008). "Daytona 500 Anniversary – The 50th Run". Stock Car Racing. Source Interlink Media. Archived from the original on October 17, 2013. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
  5. ^ a b c Willis, Ken (September 19, 2015). "Daytona 500's 'twin' qualifiers will now be the Can-Am Duel". The Daytona Beach News-Journal. New Media Investment Group. Archived from the original on December 5, 2015. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
  6. ^ a b "Daytona 500 Qualifying Races". Racing-Reference. USA Today Sports Media Group. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
  7. ^ Robb, Chad (February 21, 2012). "NASCAR at Daytona: 10 Bold Predictions for the Gatorade Duels". Bleacher Report. Turner Broadcasting System. Archived from the original on February 25, 2012. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
  8. ^ a b "Jayski's® Silly Season Site - 2004 Daytona 1 Race Info Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on 2005-02-04. Retrieved 2022-01-11.
  9. ^ "Biffle gets Daytona 500 pole after long wait". The Blade. Retrieved 2022-01-11.
  10. ^ "2004 Gatorade 125 Race 1 - The Third Turn". www.thethirdturn.com. Retrieved 2022-01-11.
  11. ^ "2004 Gatorade 125 Race 2 - The Third Turn". www.thethirdturn.com. Retrieved 2022-01-11.