# 2004 Aaron's 499

The 2004 Aaron's 499 was the ninth stock car race of the 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series season and the 35th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, April 25, 2004, before a crowd of 155,000 in Lincoln, Alabama at Talladega Superspeedway, a 2.66 miles (4.28 km) permanent triangle-shaped superspeedway. The race took the scheduled 188 laps to complete. In a controversial end to the race, Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports would win the race under caution over fan favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr. of Dale Earnhardt, Inc., after Brian Vickers caused a caution with 5 to go. The win was Gordon’s 65th career NASCAR Nextel Cup Series win and his first of the season. To fill out the podium, Kevin Harvick of Richard Childress Racing would finish third, after a review of the results of the last scoring loop.
The race is primarily remembered for its controversial finish. With 5 to go, Brian Vickers would spin in Turn 3, making NASCAR throw a caution. At the moment of caution, Jeff Gordon led fan favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the middle of the turn. However, Dale Earnhardt Jr. would pass Gordon coming to the line. This led many to believe that Earnhardt Jr. had taken the lead, and since no green–white–checker rule had been instituted, Earnhardt Jr. had won, to the pleasure of fans. However, the season before, NASCAR had instituted a new rule that eliminated racing back to the line. In its place, now, the field would be frozen at the last scoring loop when the caution came out. As a result, Gordon, who led at the last scoring loop, took the win. This angered many in the audience, as they thought that Earnhardt Jr. had been robbed of a win. During Gordon's burnout, many pelted Gordon's car with beer cans and seat cushions, littering both Gordon's car and the racetrack. In a statement released by NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter, he said that NASCAR did not throw a one lap shootout for safety reasons, stating "Here and at Daytona we're not going to have a one-lap shootout just because of safety. We're just not going to do that." Earnhardt Jr. had stated that NASCAR had made the right call, saying that "As much as it sucks not to win the race and get the trophy, I'm glad one of those calls finally went against me. It's going to shut a lot of people up." Gordon would take the beer can throwing in a light-hearted manner, saying in interviews years after that "[That was] the greatest day of my life… They were going crazy on my ass. Honestly, we had to have a lot of security.”

## Background

Talladega Superspeedway, originally known as Alabama International Motor Superspeedway (AIMS), is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base in the small city of Lincoln. The track is a tri-oval and was constructed in the 1960s by the International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France family. Talladega is most known for its steep banking and the unique location of the start/finish line that's located just past the exit to pit road. The track currently hosts the NASCAR series such as the NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series and the Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series. Talladega is the longest NASCAR oval with a length of 2.66-mile-long (4.28 km) tri-oval like the Daytona International Speedway, which also is a 2.5-mile-long (4 km) tri-oval.

### Entry list

| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 0 | Ward Burton | Haas CNC Racing | Chevrolet | NetZero Hi Speed |
| 00 | Kenny Wallace | Michael Waltrip Racing | Chevrolet | Aaron's 499 |
| 01 | Joe Nemechek | MBV Motorsports | Chevrolet | U. S. Army |
| 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Jasper Racing | Dodge | Miller Lite |
| 02 | Andy Belmont* | SCORE Motorsports | Chevrolet | Continental Fire & Safety |
| 4 | Jimmy Spencer | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | Morgan–McClure Motorsports |
| 04 | Eric McClure | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 77sports / I CAN Learn Education Systems |
| 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Got Milk? / 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 |
| 09 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Phoenix Racing | Dodge | Miccosukee Resort & Gaming |
| 10 | Scott Riggs | MBV Motorsports | Chevrolet | Valvoline |
| 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske-Jasper Racing | Dodge | Alltel |
| 14 | Larry Foyt | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Dodge | A. J. Foyt Enterprises |
| 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | NAPA Auto Parts |
| 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Racing | Ford | National Guard / Subway |
| 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | DeWalt Power Tools |
| 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | Wellbutrin XL |
| 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 |
| 23 | Dave Blaney | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | Whelen |
| 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Pepsi / 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 |
| 33 | Kerry Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats |
| 38 | Elliott Sadler | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | M&M's |
| 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | Coors Light / 130th Kentucky Derby |
| 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 | 2nd Chance Race Parts |
| 77 | Brendan Gaughan | Penske-Jasper Racing | Dodge | Kodak |
| 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. |
| 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | Sharpie / Irwin Industrial Tools |
| 98 | Todd Bodine | Mach 1 Motorsports | Ford | Lucas Oil |
| 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | Roundup |
| Official entry list |||||
*Withdrew.

## Practice
### First practice

The first practice session would take place on Friday, April 23, at 12:00 PM EST, and would last for one hour and 30 minutes. Ricky Rudd of Wood Brothers Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a 50.126 and an average speed of 191.039 miles per hour (307.447 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 21 | Ricky Rudd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 50.126 | 191.039 |
| 2 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 50.256 | 190.544 |
| 3 | 38 | Elliott Sadler | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 50.366 | 190.128 |
| Full first practice results |||||||

### Second practice

The second practice session would occur on Saturday, April 24, at 10:30 AM EST, and would last for 45 minutes. Johnny Sauter of Richard Childress Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a 48.744 and an average speed of 196.455 miles per hour (316.164 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 30 | Johnny Sauter | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 48.744 | 196.455 |
| 2 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Chevrolet | 48.765 | 196.370 |
| 3 | 22 | Scott Wimmer | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 48.804 | 196.213 |
| Full second practice results |||||||

### Third and final practice

The third and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, would occur on Saturday, April 24, at 12:10 AM EST, and would last for 45 minutes. Kevin Harvick of Richard Childress Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a 49.064 and an average speed of 195.174 miles per hour (314.102 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 49.064 | 195.174 |
| 2 | 23 | Dave Blaney | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 49.165 | 194.773 |
| 3 | 25 | Brian Vickers | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 49.182 | 194.705 |
| Full Happy Hour practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Qualifying would take place on Friday, April 23, at 4:10 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. 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.
Ricky Rudd of Wood Brothers Racing would win the pole, setting a time of 50.089 and an average speed of 191.180 miles per hour (307.674 km/h).
Three drivers would fail to qualify: Larry Foyt, Todd Bodine, and Kirk Shelmerdine.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 21 | Ricky Rudd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 50.089 | 191.180 |
| 2 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 50.143 | 190.974 |
| 3 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 50.311 | 190.336 |
| 4 | 01 | Joe Nemechek | MBV Motorsports | Chevrolet | 50.371 | 190.109 |
| 5 | 10 | Scott Riggs | MBV Motorsports | Chevrolet | 50.395 | 190.019 |
| 6 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 50.425 | 189.906 |
| 7 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 50.434 | 189.872 |
| 8 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 50.490 | 189.661 |
| 9 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 50.527 | 189.522 |
| 10 | 0 | Ward Burton | Haas CNC Racing | Chevrolet | 50.558 | 189.406 |
| 11 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 50.561 | 189.395 |
| 12 | 38 | Elliott Sadler | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 50.599 | 189.253 |
| 13 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 50.605 | 189.230 |
| 14 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 50.618 | 189.182 |
| 15 | 43 | Jeff Green | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 50.639 | 189.103 |
| 16 | 41 | Casey Mears | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 50.644 | 189.085 |
| 17 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske-Jasper Racing | Dodge | 50.675 | 188.969 |
| 18 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Racing | Ford | 50.690 | 188.913 |
| 19 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 50.705 | 188.857 |
| 20 | 77 | Brendan Gaughan | Penske-Jasper Racing | Dodge | 50.727 | 188.775 |
| 21 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 50.745 | 188.708 |
| 22 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 50.754 | 188.675 |
| 23 | 4 | Jimmy Spencer | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 50.763 | 188.641 |
| 24 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Chevrolet | 50.778 | 188.586 |
| 25 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 50.781 | 188.574 |
| 26 | 9 | Kasey Kahne | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 50.789 | 188.545 |
| 27 | 00 | Kenny Wallace | Michael Waltrip Racing | Chevrolet | 50.797 | 188.515 |
| 28 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 50.820 | 188.430 |
| 29 | 30 | Johnny Sauter | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 50.855 | 188.300 |
| 30 | 22 | Scott Wimmer | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 50.859 | 188.285 |
| 31 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 50.863 | 188.270 |
| 32 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Jasper Racing | Dodge | 50.863 | 188.270 |
| 33 | 42 | Jamie McMurray | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 50.878 | 188.215 |
| 34 | 09 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Phoenix Racing | Dodge | 50.896 | 188.148 |
| 35 | 04 | Eric McClure | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 50.931 | 188.019 |
| 36 | 33 | Kerry Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 50.956 | 187.927 |
| 37 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 50.960 | 187.912 |
| 38 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 50.980 | 187.838 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 39 | 25 | Brian Vickers | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 51.010 | 187.728 |
| 40 | 49 | Ken Schrader | BAM Racing | Dodge | 51.103 | 187.386 |
| 41 | 50 | Derrike Cope | Arnold Motorsports | Dodge | 51.197 | 187.042 |
| 42 | 23 | Dave Blaney | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 51.129 | 187.291 |
| 43 | 89 | Morgan Shepherd | Shepherd Racing Ventures | Dodge | 52.312 | 183.055 |
| Failed to qualify or withdrew |||||||
| 44 | 14 | Larry Foyt | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Dodge | 51.470 | 186.050 |
| 45 | 98 | Todd Bodine | Mach 1 Motorsports | Ford | 52.787 | 181.408 |
| 46 | 72 | Kirk Shelmerdine | Kirk Shelmerdine Racing | Ford | — | — |
| WD | 02 | Andy Belmont | SCORE Motorsports | Chevrolet | — | — |
| WD | 80 | Andy Hillenburg | Hover Motorsports | Ford | — | — |
| Official qualifying results |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 11 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 188 | 15 | running | 185 | $320,258 |
| 2 | 3 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 188 | 57 | running | 180 | $241,433 |
| 3 | 14 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 188 | 14 | running | 170 | $185,808 |
| 4 | 8 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 188 | 25 | running | 165 | $139,655 |
| 5 | 21 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 188 | 22 | running | 160 | $139,927 |
| 6 | 6 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 188 | 6 | running | 155 | $108,380 |
| 7 | 25 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 188 | 0 | running | 146 | $126,572 |
| 8 | 16 | 41 | Casey Mears | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 188 | 5 | running | 147 | $108,205 |
| 9 | 33 | 42 | Jamie McMurray | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 188 | 4 | running | 143 | $115,705 |
| 10 | 19 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 188 | 1 | running | 139 | $126,313 |
| 11 | 17 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske-Jasper Racing | Dodge | 188 | 1 | running | 135 | $123,592 |
| 12 | 2 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 188 | 13 | running | 132 | $112,301 |
| 13 | 20 | 77 | Brendan Gaughan | Penske-Jasper Racing | Dodge | 188 | 0 | running | 124 | $89,015 |
| 14 | 29 | 30 | Johnny Sauter | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 188 | 0 | running | 121 | $86,395 |
| 15 | 18 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Racing | Ford | 188 | 1 | running | 123 | $86,480 |
| 16 | 7 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 188 | 3 | running | 120 | $106,957 |
| 17 | 1 | 21 | Ricky Rudd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 188 | 0 | running | 112 | $106,281 |
| 18 | 30 | 22 | Scott Wimmer | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 188 | 2 | running | 114 | $96,885 |
| 19 | 15 | 43 | Jeff Green | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 188 | 0 | running | 106 | $95,845 |
| 20 | 23 | 4 | Jimmy Spencer | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 188 | 2 | running | 108 | $87,335 |
| 21 | 38 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 188 | 0 | running | 100 | $90,095 |
| 22 | 37 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 188 | 6 | running | 102 | $114,353 |
| 23 | 40 | 49 | Ken Schrader | BAM Racing | Dodge | 188 | 0 | running | 94 | $70,265 |
| 24 | 28 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 188 | 0 | running | 91 | $77,949 |
| 25 | 13 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 188 | 1 | running | 93 | $96,930 |
| 26 | 35 | 04 | Eric McClure | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 188 | 1 | running | 90 | $65,175 |
| 27 | 39 | 25 | Brian Vickers | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 188 | 2 | running | 87 | $75,620 |
| 28 | 12 | 38 | Elliott Sadler | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 185 | 1 | running | 84 | $102,903 |
| 29 | 34 | 09 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Phoenix Racing | Dodge | 151 | 0 | suspension | 76 | $63,910 |
| 30 | 26 | 9 | Kasey Kahne | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 150 | 0 | running | 73 | $97,080 |
| 31 | 9 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 146 | 2 | overheating | 75 | $99,050 |
| 32 | 4 | 01 | Joe Nemechek | MBV Motorsports | Chevrolet | 146 | 3 | engine | 72 | $71,500 |
| 33 | 32 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Jasper Racing | Dodge | 144 | 0 | running | 64 | $107,108 |
| 34 | 5 | 10 | Scott Riggs | MBV Motorsports | Chevrolet | 144 | 0 | running | 61 | $89,322 |
| 35 | 36 | 33 | Kerry Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 144 | 0 | running | 58 | $63,005 |
| 36 | 22 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 82 | 1 | crash | 60 | $82,875 |
| 37 | 27 | 00 | Kenny Wallace | Michael Waltrip Racing | Chevrolet | 82 | 0 | crash | 52 | $62,700 |
| 38 | 41 | 50 | Derrike Cope | Arnold Motorsports | Dodge | 82 | 0 | crash | 49 | $62,350 |
| 39 | 42 | 23 | Dave Blaney | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 81 | 0 | crash | 46 | $62,150 |
| 40 | 10 | 0 | Ward Burton | Haas CNC Racing | Chevrolet | 66 | 0 | engine | 43 | $61,900 |
| 41 | 43 | 89 | Morgan Shepherd | Shepherd Racing Ventures | Dodge | 65 | 0 | transmission | 40 | $61,705 |
| 42 | 31 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 59 | 0 | engine | 37 | $112,298 |
| 43 | 24 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Chevrolet | 7 | 0 | engine | 34 | $69,581 |
| Failed to qualify or withdrew |||||||||||
| 44 | | 14 | Larry Foyt | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Dodge | | | | | |
| 45 | | 98 | Todd Bodine | Mach 1 Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| 46 | | 72 | Kirk Shelmerdine | Kirk Shelmerdine Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| WD | | 02 | Andy Belmont | SCORE Motorsports | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| WD | | 80 | Andy Hillenburg | Hover Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||