2004 Auto Club 500


The 2004 Auto Club 500 was a NASCAR Nextel Cup Series stock car race held on May 2, 2004 at California Speedway in Fontana, California. Contested over 250 laps on the 2-mile asphalt D-shaped oval, it was the tenth race of the 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series season. Rookie Kasey Kahne of Evernham Motorsports won the pole, and Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports won the race.

Background

The track, California Speedway, was a four-turn superspeedway that was long. The track's turns were banked from fourteen degrees, while the front stretch, the location of the finish line, was banked at eleven degrees. Unlike the front stretch, the backstraightaway was banked at three degrees.
#DriverTeamMakeSponsor
0Ward BurtonHaas CNC RacingChevroletNetZero Hi Speed
01Joe NemechekMBV MotorsportsChevroletU. S. Army
02Hermie SadlerSCORE MotorsportsChevroletSCORE Motorsports
2Rusty WallacePenske-Jasper RacingDodgeVote Miller President of Beers
4Jimmy SpencerMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevroletMorgan–McClure Motorsports
5Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevroletKellogg's, Got Milk?
6Mark MartinRoush RacingFordViagra
8Dale Earnhardt, Jr.Dale Earnhardt, Inc.ChevroletBudweiser
9Kasey KahneEvernham MotorsportsDodgeDodge Dealers, UAW
09Joe RuttmanPhoenix RacingDodgeMiccosukee Gaming & Resorts
10Scott RiggsMBV MotorsportsChevroletValvoline
12Ryan NewmanPenske-Jasper RacingDodgeMobil 1 30 Years, Speedpass, Alltel
15Michael WaltripDale Earnhardt, Inc.ChevroletNAPA Auto Parts
16Greg BiffleRoush RacingFordNational Guard, Subway
17Matt KensethRoush RacingFordDeWalt Power Tools
18Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingChevroletInterstate Batteries
19Jeremy MayfieldEvernham MotorsportsDodgeDodge Dealers, UAW
20Tony StewartJoe Gibbs RacingChevroletThe Home Depot
21Ricky RuddWood Brothers RacingFordMotorcraft, U. S. Air Force
22Scott WimmerBill Davis RacingDodgeCaterpillar
24Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevroletDuPont
25Brian VickersHendrick MotorsportsChevroletGMAC Financial Services
29Kevin HarvickRichard Childress RacingChevroletGM Goodwrench
30Johnny SauterRichard Childress RacingChevroletAmerica Online, NASCAR IMAX 3D
31Robby GordonRichard Childress RacingChevroletCingular Wireless
32Ricky CravenPPI MotorsportsChevroletTide
38Elliott SadlerRobert Yates RacingFordPedigree
40Sterling MarlinChip Ganassi RacingDodgeCoors Light
41Casey MearsChip Ganassi RacingDodgeTarget
42Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingDodgeTexaco $1,000,000 Birthday Bash, Havoline
43Jeff GreenPetty EnterprisesDodgeCheerios, Betty Crocker
45Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesDodgeKyle Petty Charity Ride, Brawny
48Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevroletLowe's
49Ken SchraderBAM RacingDodgeSchwan's Home Service
50Derrike CopeArnold MotorsportsDodgeBennett Lane Winery
72Kirk ShelmerdineKirk Shelmerdine RacingFord2nd Chance Race Parts
77Brendan GaughanPenske-Jasper RacingDodgeKodak EasyShare
88Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFordUPS
89Morgan ShepherdShepherd Racing VenturesDodgeRacing With Jesus, Voyles Equipment Co., Carter's Royal Dispos-All
94Stanton BarrettW. W. MotorsportsChevroletAmericInn Lodging Systems
97Kurt BuschRoush RacingFordIrwin Industrial Tools, Sharpie
98Todd BodineMach 1 MotorsportsFordLucas Oil
99Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFordRoundup Act Fast

Qualifying

*Driver would change to Joe Ruttman for the race.