# 2004 Coca-Cola 600

The 2004 Coca-Cola 600, the 45th running of the race, was a NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race held on May 30, 2004 at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina. Contested at 400 laps on the 1.5 mile (2.4 km) speedway, it was the twelfth race of the 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series season. Jimmie Johnson of Hendrick Motorsports won the race, his second win of the season and also at Charlotte. Michael Waltrip finished second and Matt Kenseth finished third.
Failed to qualify: Steve Park (No. 7), Todd Bodine (No. 37), Carl Long (No. 46), Stanton Barrett (No. 94), Geoffrey Bodine (No. 98), Morgan Shepherd (No. 89), Jeff Fultz (No. 78), Kirk Shelmerdine (No. 72), Andy Hillenburg (No. 80)

## Background

Lowe's Motor Speedway is a motorsports complex located in Concord, North Carolina, United States 13 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. The complex features a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and the Nextel All-Star Challenge, as well as the UAW-GM Quality 500. The speedway was built in 1959 by Bruton Smith and is considered the home track for NASCAR with many race teams located in the Charlotte area. The track is owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports Inc. (SMI) with Humpy Wheeler as track president.

## Entry list

| Car | Driver | Make | Sponsor | Team |
| 0 | Ward Burton | Chevrolet | NetZero Hi Speed | Haas CNC Racing |
| 01 | Joe Nemechek | Chevrolet | U.S. Army | MBV Motorsports |
| 1 | John Andretti | Chevrolet | Snap-On Tools | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. |
| 02 | Hermie Sadler | Chevrolet | Zapf Creations | SCORE Motorsports |
| 2 | Rusty Wallace | Dodge | Miller Lite | Penske Racing |
| 4 | Jimmy Spencer | Chevrolet | Morgan-McClure | Morgan-McClure Motorsports |
| 5 | Terry Labonte | Chevrolet | Kellogg's | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 6 | Mark Martin | Ford | Viagra | Roush Racing |
| 7 | Steve Park | Dodge | Ultra Motorsports | Ultra Motorsports |
| 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Chevrolet | Budweiser | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. |
| 09 | Bobby Hamilton Jr. | Dodge | Miccosukee Gaming & Resorts | Phoenix Racing |
| 9 | Kasey Kahne | Dodge | Dodge Dealers / UAW | Evernham Motorsports |
| 10 | Scott Riggs | Chevrolet | Valvoline | MBV Motorsports |
| 12 | Ryan Newman | Dodge | Alltel | Penske Racing |
| 15 | Michael Waltrip | Chevrolet | NAPA | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. |
| 16 | Greg Biffle | Ford | National Guard / Subway | Roush Racing |
| 17 | Matt Kenseth | Ford | Smirnoff Ice / DeWalt | Roush Racing |
| 18 | Bobby Labonte | Chevrolet | Interstate Batteries / Shrek 2 | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Dodge | Dodge Dealers / UAW | Evernham Motorsports |
| 20 | Tony Stewart | Chevrolet | Home Depot | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 21 | Ricky Rudd | Ford | Motorcraft / U.S. Air Force | Wood Brothers Racing |
| 22 | Scott Wimmer | Dodge | Caterpillar | Bill Davis Racing |
| 23 | Dave Blaney | Dodge | Whelen Engineering | Bill Davis Racing |
| 24 | Jeff Gordon | Chevrolet | DuPont | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 25 | Brian Vickers | Chevrolet | GMAC Financial Services | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 29 | Kevin Harvick | Chevrolet | GM Goodwrench | Richard Childress Racing |
| 30 | Johnny Sauter | Chevrolet | America Online | Richard Childress Racing |
| 31 | Robby Gordon | Chevrolet | Cingular Wireless | Richard Childress Racing |
| 32 | Ricky Craven | Chevrolet | Tide | PPI Motorsports |
| 37 | Todd Bodine | Dodge | Carter's Royal Dispos-all | R&J Racing |
| 38 | Elliott Sadler | Ford | Pedigree | Robert Yates Racing |
| 40 | Sterling Marlin | Dodge | Coors Light / U.S. Marines | Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 41 | Casey Mears | Dodge | Target | Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 42 | Jamie McMurray | Dodge | Texaco / Havoline | PPI Motorsports |
| 43 | Jeff Green | Dodge | Cheerios / Great American Bake Sale | Petty Enterprises |
| 45 | Kyle Petty | Dodge | Krazy Kritters / Georgia-Pacific / Brawny | Petty Enterprises |
| 46 | Carl Long | Dodge | RacingMetal.com | Glenn Racing |
| 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevrolet | Lowe's | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 49 | Ken Schrader | Dodge | Schwan's Home Service | BAM Racing |
| 50 | Derrike Cope | Dodge | Bennett Lane Winery | Arnold Motorsports |
| 51 | Kevin Lepage | Chevrolet | NegotiationsSeminar.com | Competitive Edge Motorsports |
| 72 | Kirk Shelmerdine | Ford | Freddie B's | Kirk Shelmerdine Racing |
| 77 | Brendan Gaughan | Dodge | Kodak Easy Share / Jasper | Penske-Jasper Racing |
| 78 | Jeff Fultz | Ford | | Harrah Racing |
| 80 | Andy Hillenburg | Ford | Commercial Truck & Trailer | Hover Motorsports |
| 84 | Kyle Busch | Chevrolet | Carquest | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 88 | Dale Jarrett | Ford | UPS | Robert Yates Racing |
| 89 | Morgan Shepherd | Dodge | Bojangles | Shepherd Racing Ventures |
| 94 | Stanton Barrett | Chevrolet | Husqvarna | W.W. Motorsports |
| 97 | Kurt Busch | Ford | Irwin Industrial Tools / Sharpie | Roush Racing |
| 98 | Geoffrey Bodine | Ford | Lucas Oil Products | Mach 1 Motorsports |
| 99 | Jeff Burton | Ford | Roundup Fast Act | Roush Racing |

## Qualifying

| Pos. | Car | Driver | Manufacturer | Avg. Speed (mph) | Time |
| 1 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevrolet | 187.052 | 28.869 |
| 2 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Dodge | 186.948 | 28.885 |
| 3 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Chevrolet | 186.922 | 28.889 |
| 4 | 38 | Elliott Sadler | Ford | 186.619 | 28.936 |
| 5 | 25 | Brian Vickers | Chevrolet | 186.265 | 28.991 |
| 6 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Chevrolet | 186.111 | 29.015 |
| 7 | 77 | Brendan Gaughan | Dodge | 186.040 | 29.026 |
| 8 | 43 | Jeff Green | Dodge | 185.784 | 29.066 |
| 9 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Chevrolet | 185.612 | 29.093 |
| 10 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt, Jr. | Chevrolet | 185.312 | 29.140 |
| 11 | 23 | Dave Blaney | Dodge | 185.287 | 29.144 |
| 12 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Chevrolet | 185.109 | 29.172 |
| 13 | 01 | Joe Nemechek | Chevrolet | 184.976 | 29.193 |
| 14 | 41 | Casey Mears | Dodge | 184.837 | 29.215 |
| 15 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Dodge | 184.805 | 29.220 |
| 16 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Dodge | 184.679 | 29.240 |
| 17 | 0 | Ward Burton | Chevrolet | 184.477 | 29.272 |
| 18 | 6 | Mark Martin | Ford | 184.464 | 29.274 |
| 19 | 9 | Kasey Kahne | Dodge | 184.445 | 29.277 |
| 20 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Chevrolet | 184.231 | 29.311 |
| 21 | 42 | Jamie McMurray | Dodge | 184.093 | 29.333 |
| 22 | 51 | Kevin Lepage | Chevrolet | 184.080 | 29.335 |
| 23 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Chevrolet | 183.986 | 29.350 |
| 24 | 4 | Jimmy Spencer | Chevrolet | 183.986 | 29.350 |
| 25 | 1 | John Andretti | Chevrolet | 183.943 | 29.357 |
| 26 | 32 | Ricky Craven | Chevrolet | 183.924 | 29.360 |
| 27 | 84 | Kyle Busch | Chevrolet | 183.842 | 29.373 |
| 28 | 10 | Scott Riggs | Chevrolet | 183.792 | 29.381 |
| 29 | 22 | Scott Wimmer | Dodge | 183.755 | 29.387 |
| 30 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Ford | 183.736 | 29.390 |
| 31 | 09 | Bobby Hamilton, Jr. | Dodge | 183.667 | 29.401 |
| 32 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Ford | 183.586 | 29.414 |
| 33 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Ford | 183.580 | 29.415 |
| 34 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Ford | 183.492 | 29.429 |
| 35 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Chevrolet | 183.461 | 29.434 |
| 36 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Dodge | 183.424 | 29.440 |
| 37 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Ford | 183.256 | 29.467 |
| 38 | 50 | Derrike Cope | Dodge | 183.088 | 29.494 |
| Provisionals ||||||
| 39 | 30 | Johnny Sauter | Chevrolet | 182.260 | 29.628 |
| 40 | 21 | Ricky Rudd | Ford | 182.933 | 29.519 |
| 41 | 49 | Ken Schrader | Dodge | 182.692 | 29.558 |
| 42 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Dodge | 180.808 | 29.866 |
| 43 | 02 | Hermie Sadler | Chevrolet | 180.234 | 29.961 |
| Failed to qualify ||||||
| 44 | 7 | Steve Park | Dodge | 182.162 | 29.644 |
| 45 | 37 | Todd Bodine | Dodge | 182.149 | 29.646 |
| 46 | 46 | Carl Long | Dodge | 181.238 | 29.795 |
| 47 | 94 | Stanton Barrett | Chevrolet | 180.048 | 29.992 |
| 48 | 98 | Geoffrey Bodine | Ford | 179.820 | 30.030 |
| 49 | 89 | Morgan Shepherd | Dodge | 179.372 | 30.105 |
| 50 | 78 | Jeff Fultz | Ford | 179.330 | 30.112 |
| 51 | 72 | Kirk Shelmerdine | Ford | 177.212 | 30.472 |
| 52 | 80 | Andy Hillenburg | Ford | 171.141 | 31.553 |
| WD | 33 | Kerry Earnhardt | Chevrolet | 0.000 | 0.000 |

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Make | Sponsor | Team | Laps | Led | Status | Pts |
| 1 | 1 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevrolet | Lowe's | Hendrick Motorsports | 400 | 334 | running | 190 |
| 2 | 12 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Chevrolet | NAPA Auto Parts | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | 400 | 0 | running | 170 |
| 3 | 37 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Ford | Smirnoff Ice, DeWalt | Roush Racing | 400 | 1 | running | 170 |
| 4 | 21 | 42 | Jamie McMurray | Dodge | Texaco, Havoline | Chip Ganassi Racing | 400 | 15 | running | 165 |
| 5 | 4 | 38 | Elliott Sadler | Ford | Pedigree | Robert Yates Racing | 400 | 41 | running | 160 |
| 6 | 10 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt, Jr. | Chevrolet | Budweiser | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | 400 | 2 | running | 155 |
| 7 | 14 | 41 | Casey Mears | Dodge | Target | Chip Ganassi Racing | 400 | 2 | running | 151 |
| 8 | 15 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Dodge | Dodge Dealers, UAW | Evernham Motorsports | 400 | 0 | running | 142 |
| 9 | 6 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Chevrolet | Home Depot | Joe Gibbs Racing | 400 | 0 | running | 138 |
| 10 | 16 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Dodge | Vote Miller President of Beers | Penske Racing | 400 | 0 | running | 134 |
| 11 | 32 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Ford | Irwin Industrial Tools, Sharpie | Roush Racing | 400 | 0 | running | 130 |
| 12 | 19 | 9 | Kasey Kahne | Dodge | Dodge Dealers, UAW | Evernham Motorsports | 400 | 5 | running | 132 |
| 13 | 9 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Chevrolet | Interstate Batteries, Shrek 2 | Joe Gibbs Racing | 400 | 0 | running | 124 |
| 14 | 13 | 01 | Joe Nemechek | Chevrolet | U.S. Army | MBV Motorsports | 398 | 0 | running | 121 |
| 15 | 5 | 25 | Brian Vickers | Chevrolet | GMAC Financial Services | Hendrick Motorsports | 398 | 0 | running | 118 |
| 16 | 17 | 0 | Ward Burton | Chevrolet | NetZero Hi Speed | Haas CNC Racing | 398 | 0 | running | 115 |
| 17 | 11 | 23 | Dave Blaney | Dodge | Whelen Engineering | Bill Davis Racing | 398 | 0 | running | 112 |
| 18 | 33 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Ford | UPS | Robert Yates Racing | 398 | 0 | running | 109 |
| 19 | 25 | 1 | John Andretti | Chevrolet | Snap-On Tools | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | 398 | 0 | running | 106 |
| 20 | 20 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Chevrolet | Cingular Wireless | Richard Childress Racing | 397 | 0 | running | 103 |
| 21 | 30 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Ford | National Guard, Subway | Roush Racing | 397 | 0 | running | 100 |
| 22 | 34 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Ford | Roundup Fast Act | Roush Racing | 397 | 0 | running | 97 |
| 23 | 23 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Chevrolet | GM Goodwrench | Richard Childress Racing | 396 | 0 | running | 94 |
| 24 | 26 | 32 | Ricky Craven | Chevrolet | Tide | PPI Motorsports | 396 | 0 | running | 91 |
| 25 | 28 | 10 | Scott Riggs | Chevrolet | Valvoline | MBV Motorsports | 395 | 0 | running | 88 |
| 26 | 40 | 21 | Ricky Rudd | Ford | Motorcraft, U.S. Air Force | Wood Brothers Racing | 395 | 0 | running | 85 |
| 27 | 8 | 43 | Jeff Green | Dodge | Cheerios, Great American Bake Sale | Petty Enterprises | 395 | 0 | running | 82 |
| 28 | 29 | 22 | Scott Wimmer | Dodge | Caterpillar | Bill Davis Racing | 394 | 0 | running | 79 |
| 29 | 24 | 4 | Jimmy Spencer | Chevrolet | Morgan-McClure Motorsports | Morgan-McClure Motorsports | 394 | 0 | running | 76 |
| 30 | 3 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Chevrolet | DuPont | Hendrick Motorsports | 393 | 0 | running | 73 |
| 31 | 41 | 49 | Ken Schrader | Dodge | Schwan's Home Service | BAM Racing | 393 | 0 | running | 70 |
| 32 | 27 | 84 | Kyle Busch | Chevrolet | CARQUEST Auto Parts | Hendrick Motorsports | 393 | 0 | running | 67 |
| 33 | 7 | 77 | Brendan Gaughan | Dodge | Kodak Easy Share, Jasper Engines & Transmissions | Penske-Jasper Racing | 392 | 0 | running | 64 |
| 34 | 38 | 50 | Derrike Cope | Dodge | Bennett Lane Winery | Arnold Motorsports | 391 | 0 | running | 61 |
| 35 | 2 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Dodge | Alltel | Penske Racing | 390 | 0 | engine | 58 |
| 36 | 18 | 6 | Mark Martin | Ford | Viagra | Roush Racing | 387 | 0 | running | 55 |
| 37 | 35 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Chevrolet | Kellogg's | Hendrick Motorsports | 385 | 0 | running | 52 |
| 38 | 42 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Dodge | Krazy Kritters, Georgia-Pacific, Brawny | Petty Enterprises | 384 | 0 | running | 49 |
| 39 | 36 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Dodge | Coors Light, US Marines | Chip Ganassi Racing | 331 | 0 | rear end | 46 |
| 40 | 39 | 30 | Johnny Sauter | Chevrolet | America Online | Richard Childress Racing | 203 | 0 | crash | 43 |
| 41 | 43 | 02 | Hermie Sadler | Chevrolet | Zapf Creations | SCORE Motorsports | 137 | 0 | engine | 40 |
| 42 | 31 | 09 | Bobby Hamilton, Jr. | Dodge | Miccosukee Gaming & Resorts | Phoenix Racing | 73 | 0 | handling | 37 |
| 43 | 22 | 51 | Kevin Lepage | Chevrolet | NegotiationsSeminar.com | Competitive Edge Motorsports | 56 | 0 | overheating | 0 |
| Failed to qualify | Failed to qualify | Failed to qualify | Failed to qualify | Failed to qualify | Failed to qualify | Failed to qualify | Failed to qualify | Failed to qualify | Failed to qualify | Failed to qualify |
| 44 | | 7 | Steve Park | Dodge | Ultra Motorsports | Ultra Motorsports | | | | |
| 45 | | 37 | Todd Bodine | Dodge | Carter's Royal Dispos-all | R&J Racing | | | | |
| 46 | | 46 | Carl Long | Dodge | RacingMetal.com | Glenn Racing | | | | |
| 47 | | 94 | Stanton Barrett | Chevrolet | Husqvarna | W.W. Motorsports | | | | |
| 48 | | 98 | Geoffrey Bodine | Ford | Lucas Oil Products | Mach 1 Motorsports | | | | |
| 49 | | 89 | Morgan Shepherd | Dodge | Bojangles | Shepherd Racing Ventures | | | | |
| 50 | | 78 | Jeff Fultz | Ford | | Harrah Racing | | | | |
| 51 | | 72 | Kirk Shelmerdine | Ford | Freddie B's | Kirk Shelmerdine Racing | | | | |
| 52 | | 80 | Andy Hillenburg | Ford | Commercial Truck & Trailer | Hover Motorsports | | | | |
| WD | | 33 | Kerry Earnhardt | Chevrolet | Bass Pro Shops / Tracker | Richard Childress Racing | | | | |

## Race statistics

* Time of race: 4:12:10
* Average Speed: 142.763 miles per hour (229.755 km/h)
* Pole Speed: 187.052
* Cautions: 7 for 37 laps
* Margin of Victory: under caution
* Lead changes: 16
* Percent of race run under caution: 9.2%
* Average green flag run: 51.9 laps