# 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 (3.23 km) 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 2 miles (3.2 km) 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.
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 |
| 02 | Hermie Sadler | SCORE Motorsports | Chevrolet | SCORE Motorsports |
| 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Jasper Racing | Dodge | Vote Miller President of Beers |
| 4 | Jimmy Spencer | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | Morgan–McClure Motorsports |
| 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kellogg's, Got Milk? |
| 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 | Mobil 1 30 Years, Speedpass, Alltel |
| 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 | 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, NASCAR IMAX 3D |
| 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Cingular Wireless |
| 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Chevrolet | Tide |
| 38 | Elliott Sadler | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Pedigree |
| 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 $1,000,000 Birthday Bash, Havoline |
| 43 | Jeff Green | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | Cheerios, Betty Crocker |
| 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | Kyle Petty Charity Ride, 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 | Bennett Lane Winery |
| 72 | Kirk Shelmerdine | Kirk Shelmerdine Racing | Ford | 2nd Chance Race Parts |
| 77 | Brendan Gaughan | Penske-Jasper Racing | Dodge | Kodak EasyShare |
| 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 | AmericInn Lodging Systems |
| 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | Irwin Industrial Tools, Sharpie |
| 98 | Todd Bodine | Mach 1 Motorsports | Ford | Lucas Oil |
| 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | Roundup Act Fast |

## Qualifying

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 9 | Kasey Kahne | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 38.515 | 186.940 |
| 2 | 01 | Joe Nemechek | MBV Motorsports | Chevrolet | 38.557 | 186.737 |
| 3 | 43 | Jeff Green | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 38.644 | 186.316 |
| 4 | 10 | Scott Riggs | MBV Motorsports | Chevrolet | 38.679 | 186.148 |
| 5 | 77 | Brendan Gaughan | Penske-Jasper Racing | Dodge | 38.742 | 185.845 |
| 6 | 25 | Brian Vickers | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 38.750 | 185.806 |
| 7 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske-Jasper Racing | Dodge | 38.760 | 185.759 |
| 8 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 38.763 | 185.744 |
| 9 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Jasper Racing | Dodge | 38.806 | 185.538 |
| 10 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt, Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 38.808 | 185.529 |
| 11 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 38.886 | 185.157 |
| 12 | 42 | Jamie McMurray | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 38.912 | 185.033 |
| 13 | 41 | Casey Mears | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 38.954 | 184.883 |
| 14 | 38 | Elliott Sadler | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 38.978 | 184.720 |
| 15 | 0 | Ward Burton | Haas CNC Racing | Chevrolet | 39.007 | 184.582 |
| 16 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 39.028 | 184.483 |
| 17 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 39.037 | 184.440 |
| 18 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Racing | Ford | 39.075 | 184.261 |
| 19 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 39.083 | 184.223 |
| 20 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 39.089 | 184.195 |
| 21 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 39.090 | 184.190 |
| 22 | 4 | Jimmy Spencer | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 39.116 | 184.068 |
| 23 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 39.150 | 183.908 |
| 24 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 39.158 | 183.870 |
| 25 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 39.167 | 183.828 |
| 26 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 39.167 | 183.828 |
| 27 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 39.180 | 183.767 |
| 28 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 39.239 | 183.491 |
| 29 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 39.275 | 183.323 |
| 30 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 39.310 | 183.159 |
| 31 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 39.372 | 182.871 |
| 32 | 49 | Ken Schrader | BAM Racing | Dodge | 39.438 | 182.565 |
| 33 | 09 | Johnny Benson Jr.* | Phoenix Racing | Dodge | 39.499 | 182.283 |
| 34 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Chevrolet | 39.505 | 182.255 |
| 35 | 21 | Ricky Rudd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 39.573 | 181.942 |
| 36 | 50 | Derrike Cope | Arnold Motorsports | Dodge | 39.577 | 181.924 |
| 37 | 30 | Johnny Sauter | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 39.672 | 181.488 |
| 38 | 89 | Morgan Shepherd | Shepherd Racing Ventures | Dodge | 39.717 | 181.283 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 39 | 22 | Scott Wimmer | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 40.173 | 179.225 |
| 40 | 02 | Hermie Sadler | SCORE Motorsports | Chevrolet | 40.181 | 179.189 |
| 41 | 98 | Todd Bodine | Mach 1 Motorsports | Ford | 40.421 | 178.094 |
| 42 | 72 | Kirk Shelmerdine | Kirk Shelmerdine Racing | Ford | 41.273 | 174.448 |
| 43 | 94 | Stanton Barrett | W. W. Motorsports | Chevrolet | 41.108 | 175.148 |
*Driver would change to Joe Ruttman for the race.

## Results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 16 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 250 | 81 | running | 190 | $318,628 |
| 2 | 19 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 250 | 37 | running | 175 | $194,675 |
| 3 | 7 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske-Jasper Racing | Dodge | 250 | 2 | running | 170 | $191,267 |
| 4 | 25 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 250 | 11 | running | 165 | $172,578 |
| 5 | 27 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 250 | 0 | running | 155 | $150,233 |
| 6 | 5 | 77 | Brendan Gaughan | Penske-Jasper Racing | Dodge | 250 | 1 | running | 155 | $106,125 |
| 7 | 29 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 250 | 0 | running | 146 | $119,625 |
| 8 | 13 | 41 | Casey Mears | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 250 | 0 | running | 142 | $108,375 |
| 9 | 24 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 250 | 3 | running | 143 | $123,203 |
| 10 | 15 | 0 | Ward Burton | Haas CNC Racing | Chevrolet | 250 | 0 | running | 134 | $88,350 |
| 11 | 26 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 250 | 0 | running | 130 | $90,450 |
| 12 | 23 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 250 | 0 | running | 127 | $112,437 |
| 13 | 1 | 9 | Kasey Kahne | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 250 | 77 | running | 129 | $127,250 |
| 14 | 20 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 249 | 1 | running | 126 | $112,437 |
| 15 | 12 | 42 | Jamie McMurray | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 249 | 0 | running | 118 | $87,725 |
| 16 | 11 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 249 | 0 | running | 115 | $120,603 |
| 17 | 35 | 21 | Ricky Rudd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 249 | 0 | running | 112 | $102,981 |
| 18 | 34 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Chevrolet | 249 | 0 | running | 109 | $97,225 |
| 19 | 10 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt, Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 249 | 0 | running | 106 | $119,203 |
| 20 | 32 | 49 | Ken Schrader | BAM Racing | Dodge | 249 | 1 | running | 108 | $74,925 |
| 21 | 37 | 30 | Johnny Sauter | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 249 | 0 | running | 100 | $84,175 |
| 22 | 14 | 38 | Elliott Sadler | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 249 | 0 | running | 97 | $109,058 |
| 23 | 21 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 249 | 0 | running | 94 | $90,550 |
| 24 | 31 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 249 | 0 | running | 91 | $103,217 |
| 25 | 4 | 10 | Scott Riggs | MBV Motorsports | Chevrolet | 249 | 0 | running | 88 | $97,187 |
| 26 | 30 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 249 | 0 | running | 85 | $104,317 |
| 27 | 8 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 249 | 0 | running | 82 | $103,200 |
| 28 | 2 | 01 | Joe Nemechek | MBV Motorsports | Chevrolet | 249 | 2 | running | 84 | $88,100 |
| 29 | 6 | 25 | Brian Vickers | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 248 | 1 | running | 81 | $76,900 |
| 30 | 39 | 22 | Scott Wimmer | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 248 | 0 | running | 73 | $83,039 |
| 31 | 36 | 50 | Derrike Cope | Arnold Motorsports | Dodge | 248 | 0 | running | 70 | $65,975 |
| 32 | 17 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 245 | 0 | running | 67 | $101,831 |
| 33 | 18 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Racing | Ford | 223 | 28 | running | 69 | $74,500 |
| 34 | 41 | 98 | Todd Bodine | Mach 1 Motorsports | Ford | 209 | 1 | engine | 66 | $65,375 |
| 35 | 9 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Jasper Racing | Dodge | 193 | 0 | running | 58 | $109,008 |
| 36 | 38 | 89 | Morgan Shepherd | Shepherd Racing Ventures | Dodge | 163 | 1 | electrical | 60 | $65,025 |
| 37 | 3 | 43 | Jeff Green | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 147 | 0 | engine | 52 | $91,050 |
| 38 | 22 | 4 | Jimmy Spencer | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 127 | 3 | engine | 54 | $64,550 |
| 39 | 28 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 40 | 0 | engine | 46 | $64,430 |
| 40 | 43 | 94 | Stanton Barrett | W. W. Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20 | 0 | crash | 43 | $64,280 |
| 41 | 40 | 02 | Hermie Sadler | SCORE Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20 | 0 | transmission | 40 | $64,155 |
| 42 | 42 | 72 | Kirk Shelmerdine | Kirk Shelmerdine Racing | Ford | 5 | 0 | handling | 37 | $64,050 |
| 43 | 33 | 09 | Joe Ruttman | Phoenix Racing | Dodge | 2 | 0 | vibration | 34 | $64,161 |