# 2004 Carolina Dodge Dealers 400

The 2004 Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 was the 5th stock car race of the 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series season and the 49th iteration of the event. The race was held before a crowd of 56,000 on March 21, 2004 at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina. Jimmie Johnson of Hendrick Motorsports would win the race, leading 69 laps. Bobby Labonte of Joe Gibbs Racing and Ryan Newman of Penske-Jasper Racing would take 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
The race would be the last spring Darlington race until 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic forced NASCAR to race at Darlington in the spring, as the Ferko lawsuit would move the second race that Darlington originally had, the Southern 500, to Texas Motor Speedway for a promised second date to Texas. The Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 would therefore move to the fall and be lengthened to 500 miles, making the race the new Southern 500. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic would make NASCAR race once again at Darlington in the spring, and in 2021 after rekindled fan interest, would announce that Darlington would once again get its spring 400-mile race, this time called the Goodyear 400.

## Background

Entry list :
| # | 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 | Andy Belmont | SCORE Motorsports | Pontiac | Continental Fire & Safety |
| 4 | Kevin Lepage | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | Morgan–McClure Motorsports |
| 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 | Joe Ruttman | Phoenix Racing | Dodge | Miccosukee Gaming & Resorts |
| 10 | Scott Riggs | MBV Motorsports | Chevrolet | Valvoline |
| 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske-Jasper Racing | Dodge | Alltel |
| 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | NAPA Auto Parts |
| 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Racing | Ford | National Guard, Travelodge |
| 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | DeWalt Power Tools |
| 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 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 | Motorcraft, U. S. Air Force |
| 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 | M&M's |
| 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, Chex |
| 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 | Tucson |
| 77 | Brendan Gaughan | Penske-Jasper Racing | Dodge | Kodak EasyShare |
| 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., Carter's Royal Dispos-All |
| 94 | Stanton Barrett | W. W. Motorsports | Chevrolet | Bojangles, AmericInn |
| 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | Sharpie |
| 98 | Todd Bodine | Mach 1 Motorsports | Ford | Lucas Oil |
| 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | Hot Wheels, SKF |

## Qualifying

Qualifying took place on March 19, 2004. Kasey Kahne would win the pole with a 28.638 second lap, with an average speed of 171.716 miles per hour (276.350 km/h). Meanwhile, Michael Waltrip, driver of the #15 Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet would not set a time, due to Waltrip scrubbing the wall in Turn 2. Instead of completing a lap, Waltrip would take a provisional and qualify 39th.
Stanton Barrett of W. W. Motorsports would be the only driver not to qualify due to the provisional system set in place by NASCAR at the time.
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 9 | Kasey Kahne | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 28.638 | 171.716 |
| 2 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt, Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 28.732 | 171.154 |
| 3 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Racing | Ford | 28.744 | 171.083 |
| 4 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 28.254 | 171.023 |
| 5 | 50 | Derrike Cope | Arnold Motorsports | Dodge | 28.773 | 170.910 |
| 6 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske-Jasper Racing | Dodge | 28.793 | 170.792 |
| 7 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Jasper Racing | Dodge | 28.868 | 170.348 |
| 8 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 28.911 | 170.094 |
| 9 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 28.913 | 170.083 |
| 10 | 38 | Elliott Sadler | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 28.918 | 170.053 |
| 11 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 28.924 | 170.018 |
| 12 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 28.945 | 169.895 |
| 13 | 0 | Ward Burton | Haas CNC Racing | Chevrolet | 28.949 | 169.871 |
| 14 | 22 | Scott Wimmer | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 28.980 | 169.689 |
| 15 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 28.995 | 169.602 |
| 16 | 49 | Ken Schrader | BAM Racing | Dodge | 28.998 | 169.584 |
| 17 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 29.030 | 169.397 |
| 18 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 29.040 | 169.339 |
| 19 | 41 | Casey Mears | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 29.084 | 169.083 |
| 20 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 29.099 | 168.995 |
| 21 | 42 | Jamie McMurray | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 29.122 | 168.862 |
| 22 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 29.128 | 168.827 |
| 23 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 29.151 | 168.694 |
| 24 | 30 | Johnny Sauter | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 29.156 | 168.665 |
| 25 | 21 | Ricky Rudd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 29.181 | 168.521 |
| 26 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.232 | 168.227 |
| 27 | 10 | Scott Riggs | MBV Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.235 | 168.209 |
| 28 | 25 | Brian Vickers | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.236 | 168.204 |
| 29 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 29.298 | 167.848 |
| 30 | 43 | Jeff Green | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 29.305 | 167.808 |
| 31 | 4 | Kevin Lepage | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.306 | 167.802 |
| 32 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 29.342 | 167.596 |
| 33 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 29.391 | 167.315 |
| 34 | 01 | Joe Nemechek | MBV Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.412 | 167.197 |
| 35 | 98 | Todd Bodine | Mach 1 Motorsports | Ford | 29.455 | 166.953 |
| 36 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.465 | 166.896 |
| 37 | 77 | Brendan Gaughan | Penske-Jasper Racing | Dodge | 29.527 | 166.546 |
| 38 | 89 | Morgan Shepherd | Shepherd Racing Ventures | Dodge | 29.930 | 164.303 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 39 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| 40 | 09 | Joe Ruttman | Phoenix Racing | Dodge | 30.659 | 160.397 |
| 41 | 72 | Kirk Shelmerdine | Kirk Shelmerdine Racing | Ford | 32.197 | 152.735 |
| 42 | 02 | Andy Belmont | SCORE Motorsports | Pontiac | 31.428 | 156.472 |
| 43 | 80 | Andy Hillenburg | Hover Motorsports | Ford | 32.503 | 151.297 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 44 | 94 | Stanton Barrett | W. W. Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.050 | 163.647 |

## Race
### Pre-race ceremonies

Pre-race ceremonies would start with Darlington Raceway chaplain Harold King giving out the invocation. The contemporary Christian music group NewSong would sing the national anthem, with the 108th Squadron of the United States Navy Strike Force from Virginia Beach, Virginia performing the flyover. Five members of the Carolina Dodge Dealers Association would give the starting command.

### Post-race driver comments
## Race results

| Pos. | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 11 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 293 | 69 | running | 185 | $151,150 |
| 2 | 12 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 293 | 18 | running | 175 | $136,183 |
| 3 | 6 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske-Jasper Racing | Dodge | 293 | 39 | running | 170 | $120,912 |
| 4 | 29 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 293 | 0 | running | 160 | $119,117 |
| 5 | 10 | 38 | Elliott Sadler | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 293 | 0 | running | 155 | $120,233 |
| 6 | 4 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 293 | 76 | running | 160 | $86,275 |
| 7 | 20 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 293 | 0 | running | 146 | $72,345 |
| 8 | 23 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 293 | 0 | running | 142 | $98,743 |
| 9 | 18 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 293 | 0 | running | 138 | $88,635 |
| 10 | 2 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt, Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 293 | 18 | running | 139 | $106,983 |
| 11 | 33 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 293 | 0 | running | 130 | $95,092 |
| 12 | 3 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Racing | Ford | 293 | 3 | running | 132 | $67,945 |
| 13 | 1 | 9 | Kasey Kahne | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 293 | 24 | running | 129 | $103,590 |
| 14 | 17 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 293 | 1 | running | 126 | $92,110 |
| 15 | 19 | 41 | Casey Mears | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 293 | 0 | running | 118 | $75,130 |
| 16 | 14 | 22 | Scott Wimmer | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 293 | 0 | running | 115 | $79,285 |
| 17 | 8 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 293 | 1 | running | 117 | $101,118 |
| 18 | 13 | 0 | Ward Burton | Haas CNC Racing | Chevrolet | 293 | 0 | running | 109 | $57,720 |
| 19 | 26 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 293 | 0 | running | 106 | $84,140 |
| 20 | 34 | 01 | Joe Nemechek | MBV Motorsports | Chevrolet | 292 | 0 | running | 103 | $77,470 |
| 21 | 21 | 42 | Jamie McMurray | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 292 | 40 | running | 105 | $74,705 |
| 22 | 16 | 49 | Ken Schrader | BAM Racing | Dodge | 292 | 0 | running | 97 | $56,390 |
| 23 | 28 | 25 | Brian Vickers | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 292 | 0 | running | 94 | $65,000 |
| 24 | 30 | 43 | Jeff Green | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 292 | 0 | running | 91 | $79,010 |
| 25 | 5 | 50 | Derrike Cope | Arnold Motorsports | Dodge | 292 | 0 | running | 88 | $52,920 |
| 26 | 24 | 30 | Johnny Sauter | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 292 | 0 | running | 85 | $63,310 |
| 27 | 37 | 77 | Brendan Gaughan | Penske-Jasper Racing | Dodge | 291 | 0 | running | 82 | $63,110 |
| 28 | 31 | 4 | Kevin Lepage | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 291 | 0 | running | 79 | $62,844 |
| 29 | 7 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Jasper Racing | Dodge | 290 | 0 | running | 76 | $85,588 |
| 30 | 27 | 10 | Scott Riggs | MBV Motorsports | Chevrolet | 290 | 0 | running | 73 | $77,372 |
| 31 | 15 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 289 | 0 | running | 70 | $102,358 |
| 32 | 22 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 279 | 0 | running | 67 | $82,442 |
| 33 | 25 | 21 | Ricky Rudd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 275 | 0 | running | 64 | $77,481 |
| 34 | 32 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 245 | 0 | engine | 61 | $51,365 |
| 35 | 39 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 181 | 0 | crash | 58 | $88,291 |
| 36 | 36 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Chevrolet | 159 | 0 | crash | 55 | $59,265 |
| 37 | 42 | 02 | Andy Belmont | SCORE Motorsports | Pontiac | 69 | 0 | brakes | 52 | $51,225 |
| 38 | 38 | 89 | Morgan Shepherd | Shepherd Racing Ventures | Dodge | 65 | 2 | brakes | 54 | $51,175 |
| 39 | 41 | 72 | Kirk Shelmerdine | Kirk Shelmerdine Racing | Ford | 49 | 0 | too slow | 46 | $51,115 |
| 40 | 35 | 98 | Todd Bodine | Mach 1 Motorsports | Ford | 33 | 2 | rear end | 48 | $51,015 |
| 41 | 9 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 27 | 0 | crash | 40 | $98,328 |
| 42 | 43 | 80 | Andy Hillenburg | Hover Motorsports | Ford | 26 | 0 | crash | 37 | $50,890 |
| 43 | 40 | 09 | Joe Ruttman | Phoenix Racing | Dodge | 22 | 0 | vibration | 34 | $50,214 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 44 | | 94 | Stanton Barrett | W. W. Motorsports | Chevrolet | | | | | |