2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series (Start Your Engines!)

Category:Start Your Engines!
The 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series was the 56th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 33rd modern-era Cup series season.
This was the first year for the new series sponsorship. Mobile phone provider Nextel assumed sponsorship of the NASCAR championship series from cigarette brand Winston. Winston was the title sponsor of the Cup Series for 33 seasons, from 1971 to 2003. Nextel would become only the second title sponsor in Cup Series history. This was also the first year for Sunoco as it replaced Unocal 76 Brand as the official fuel of NASCAR. Sunoco would become only the second gas company to be NASCAR's official fuel since Unocal had been the official fuel since the sport's inception in 1948.
The season was also marked by tragedy. On October 24, a charter airplane owned by Hendrick Motorsports crashed at Bull Mountain in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, near Martinsville Speedway. Ten people aboard the plane died, including Randy Dorton, Hendrick's chief engine builder. Ricky Hendrick, son of Rick Hendrick, survived the crash.
2004 was the first season without Pontiac (though a few Pontiacs without factory support ran several early-season races, and Kennedy Racing ran the entire season without factory support). It was also the last season without Clint Bowyer until 2021 and the same time before Denny Hamlin joins NASCAR as a driver (he ran the last 7 races in 2005 before joining full-time in 2006).
As 2004 was a leap year, the season had 44 races instead of the now-standard 43.
==Teams and drivers==
===Complete schedule===
Manufacturer	Team 	No.	Race driver 	Crew chief 	Model
Chevrolet 	Cale Yarborough Motorsports 	98 	Jeremy Mayfield 	 	2004 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 	1 	Steve Park 	Pete Rondeau 	2004 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 	8 	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	Tony Eury Sr. 	2004 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 	17 	Michael Waltrip 	Slugger Labbe 	2004 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 	48 	Jimmie Johnson 	Chad Knaus 	2004 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 	81 	Ron Fellows 	Gil Martin 	2004 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Haas CNC Racing 	0 	Mike Bliss 	Bootie Barker 	2004 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Hendrick Motorsports 	5 	Terry Labonte 	Tim Long 	2004 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Hendrick Motorsports 	25 	Ricky Hendrick (R)	Robbie Loomis 	2004 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Hendrick Motorsports 	35 	Casey Atwood 	 	2004 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Hendrick Motorsports 	50 	Brian Vickers (R) 	Peter Sospenzo 	2004 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Joe Gibbs Racing 	18 	Dale Jarrett 	Brandon Thomas 	2004 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Joe Gibbs Racing 	20 	Tony Stewart 	Greg Zipadelli 	2004 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	MBV Motorsports 	01 	Joe Nemechek 	Ryan Pemberton 	2004 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	MBV Motorsports 	10 	Scott Riggs 	Doug Randolph 	2004 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Morgan-McClure Motorsports 	4 	Kevin Lepage 	Chris Carrier 	2004 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Morgan-McClure Motorsports 	4 	Jimmy Spencer 	Chris Carrier 	2004 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Morgan-McClure Motorsports 	4 	Mike Wallace 	Chris Carrier 	2004 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	PPI Motorsports 	32 	Jerry Nadeau 	Harold Holly 	2004 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Richard Childress Racing 	3 	Kevin Harvick 	Kevin Hamlin 	2004 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Richard Childress Racing 	30 	Johnny Sauter 	 	2004 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Richard Childress Racing 	31 	Robby Gordon 	Todd Berrier 	2004 Monte Carlo
Dodge 	AK Racing 	7 	Alan Kulwicki 	 	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	BAM Racing 	49 	Ken Schrader 	David Hyder 	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Bill Davis Racing 	22 	Jeff Gordon 	Tommy Baldwin Jr.	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Bill Davis Racing 	23 	Bobby Labonte 	 	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Bill Davis Racing 	24 	Ward Burton 	Frank Stoddard 	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Chip Ganassi Racing 	40 	Sterling Marlin 	Tony Glover 	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Chip Ganassi Racing 	41 	Kenny Irwin Jr. 	Jimmy Elledge 	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Chip Ganassi Racing 	42 	Jamie McMurray 	Donnie Wingo 	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Evernham Motorsports 	9 	Kasey Kahne (R) 	 	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Evernham Motorsports 	19 	Casey Elliott 	Ernie Elliott 	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Kelman Racing 	86 	Ryan Kelman 	Scott Searle 	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	McDuffie Racing 	170	Crissy Hillsworth 	 	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Moroso-Rudd Racing 	82 	Rob Moroso 	 	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Moroso-Rudd Racing 	83 	Ricky Rudd 	 	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Moroso-Rudd Racing 	84 	Shawna Robinson 	 	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Pacific Coast Racing 	60 	Chloe Johnson 	Jed Luke 	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Pacific Coast Racing 	69 	Jenny Smith 	Barry Baker 	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Pacific Coast Racing 	80 	Tim Johnson 	Charlie Davis 	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Pacific Coast Racing 	85 	Belle Armstrong 	Scott Smith 	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Penske-Jasper Racing 	2 	Rusty Wallace 	Larry Carter 	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Penske-Jasper Racing 	12 	Tim Richmond 	Matt Borland 	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Penske-Jasper Racing 	39 	Ryan Newman 	 	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Penske-Jasper Racing 	77 	Blaise Alexander 	Shane Wilson 	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Petty Enterprises 	43 	John Andretti 	Greg Steadman 	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Petty Enterprises 	44 	Kyle Petty 	 	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Petty Enterprises 	45 	Adam Petty 	Bill Henderson 	2004 Stratus
Ford 	Kirk Shelmerdine Racing 	72 	Kirk Shelmerdine 	Phil Harris 	2004 Taurus
Ford 	Kirk Shelmerdine Racing 	72 	Tom Hubert 	Phil Harris 	2004 Taurus
Ford 	Kirk Shelmerdine Racing 	72 	Ted Christopher 	Phil Harris 	2004 Taurus
Ford 	Kirk Shelmerdine Racing 	72 	Brad Teague 	Phil Harris 	2004 Taurus
Ford 	Orr Motorsports 	37 	Rodney Orr 	 	2004 Taurus
Ford 	Robert Yates Racing 	28 	Clifford Allison 	 	2004 Taurus
Ford 	Robert Yates Racing 	38 	Elliott Sadler 	Todd Parrott 	2004 Taurus
Ford 	Robert Yates Racing 	88 	Ernie Irvan 	Mike Ford 	2004 Taurus
Ford 	Roush Racing 	06 	Greg Biffle 	Doug Richert 	2004 Taurus
Ford 	Roush Racing 	6 	Mark Martin 	Pat Tryson 	2004 Taurus
Ford 	Roush Racing 	66 	Matt Kenseth 	Robbie Reiser 	2004 Taurus
Ford 	Roush Racing 	97 	Kurt Busch 	Jimmy Fennig 	2004 Taurus
Ford 	Roush Racing 	99 	Jeff Burton 	Bob Osbourne 	2004 Taurus
Ford 	Steele Racing with Brett Favre	15 	Tim Steele 	 	2004 Taurus
Ford 	Steele Racing with Brett Favre	90 	Davey Allison 	 	2004 Taurus
Ford 	Wood Brothers Racing 	21 	Bill Elliott 	Michael McSwain 	2004 Taurus
Pontiac 	Kennedy Racing 	03 	Melvin Kennedy 	Mark Cutter 	2004 Grand Prix
Pontiac 	Kennedy Racing 	04 	Willy T. Ribbs 	 	2004 Grand Prix
=== Limted schedule ===
Manufacturer	Team 	No.	Race driver 	Crew chief 	Model
Chevrolet 	Bill McAnally Racing 	61 	Austin Cameron 	Doug George 	2003 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Brewco Motorsports 	27 	David Green 	 	2004 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Competitive Edge Motorsports	51 	Kevin Lepage 	 	2004 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Competitive Edge Motorsports	51 	Tony Raines 	 	2004 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Conley Racing 	79 	Stan Boyd 	 	2003 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Gary Keller Racing 	135	Mike Wallace 	 	2003 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Gary Keller Racing 	135	Kenny Hendrick 	 	2003 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	GIC-Mixon Motorsports 	93 	Geoff Bodine 	 	2004 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Haas CNC Racing 	160	Jason Leffler 	 	2004 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Hendrick Motorsports 	184	Kyle Busch 	Gary DeHart 	2004 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Hollenbeck Motorsports 	62 	Larry Hollenbeck 	 	2003 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Joe Gibbs Racing 	11 	J.J. Yeley 	Doug Hewiit 	2004 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Joe Gibbs Racing 	11 	Ricky Craven 	Doug Hewiit 	2004 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Joe Gibbs Racing 	180	Mike Bliss 	Doug Hewiit 	2004 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	MB2 Motorsports 	36 	Boris Said 	 	2004 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	Michael Waltrip Racing 	00 	Kenny Wallace 	 	2004 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	McGlynn Racing 	00 	Ryan McGlynn 	 	2003 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	McGlynn Racing 	00 	Carl Long 	 	2003 Monte Carlo
Chevrolet 	McGlynn Racing 	08 	Ryan McGlynn 	 	
Chevrolet 	McGlynn Racing 	08 	Carl Long 	 	
Chevrolet 	Morgan-McClure Motorsports 	04 	Eric McClure 	 	2004 Monte Carlo
Dodge 	Arnold Motorsports 	150	Derrike Cope 	Mike Hillman 	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	Arnold Motorsports 	150	Mike Wallace 	Mike Hillman 	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	Arnold Motorsports 	150	P.J. Jones 	Mike Hillman 	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	Arnold Motorsports 	150	Todd Bodine 	Mike Hillman 	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	Arnold Motorsports 	150	Jeff Fuller 	Mike Hillman 	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	BAM Racing 	59 	Klaus Graf 	 	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	BAM Racing 	59 	Larry Foyt 	 	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	BAM Racing 	170	Larry Foyt 	 	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Chip Ganassi Racing 	139	Scott Pruett 	 	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Donlavey Racing 	90 	Andy Hillenburg 	Junie Donlavey 	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Donlavey Racing 	90 	Kevin Ray 	Junie Donlavey 	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Donlavey Racing 	90 	A.J. Henriksen 	Junie Donlavey 	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Evernham Motorsports 	91 	Bill Elliott 	Sammy Johns 	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Gary Trout Autosports 	34 	Geoff Bodine 	 	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	Glenn Racing 	46 	Carl Long 	 	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Haefele Racing 	75 	Mike Garvey 	 	2003 Intrepid
Dodge 	Pacific Coast Racing 	02 	Dennis Malone 	 	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Pacific Coast Racing 	70 	Ace Johnson 	 	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Penske-Jasper Racing 	106	Chad Blount 	Roy McCauley 	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Penske-Jasper Racing 	106	Travis Kvapil 	Roy McCauley 	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Phoenix Racing 	09 	Johnny Benson 	Jerry Pitts 	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Phoenix Racing 	09 	Joe Ruttman 	Jerry Pitts 	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Phoenix Racing 	09 	Bobby Hamilton Jr.	Jerry Pitts 	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Phoenix Racing 	09 	Tony Raines 	Jerry Pitts 	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Phoenix Racing 	09 	Scott Pruett 	Jerry Pitts 	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Phoenix Racing 	09 	Mike Wallace 	Jerry Pitts 	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Phoenix Racing 	09 	Johnny Sauter 	Jerry Pitts 	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	R&J Racing 	137	Todd Bodine 	Billy Poindexter	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	R&J Racing 	137	Chad Blount 	Billy Poindexter	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	R&J Racing 	137	Kevin Lepage 	Billy Poindexter	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	R&J Racing 	137	Andy Hillenburg 	Billy Poindexter	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	R&J Racing 	137	Stanton Barrett 	Billy Poindexter	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Sacks Motorsports 	13 	Greg Sacks 	 	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Shepherd Racing Ventures 	89 	Morgan Shepherd 	Troy Kelly
Darin Kummrow
Terry Allen	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Ultra Motorsports 	107	Jimmy Spencer 	Bob Temple 	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Ultra Motorsports 	107	Dave Blaney 	Bob Temple 	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	Ware Racing Enterprises 	52 	Stanton Barrett 	 	2004 Stratus
Dodge 	A.J. Foyt Enterprises 	14 	Larry Foyt 	Keith Koppenal
Dave Charpentier	2004 Stratus
Ford 	ppc Racing 	14 	John Andretti 	Keith Koppenal
Dave Charpentier	2003 Taurus
Ford 	Front Row Motorsports 	92 	Brad Teague 	 	2004 Taurus
Ford 	Front Row Motorsports 	92 	Tony Raines 	 	2004 Taurus
Ford 	Front Row Motorsports 	92 	Stanton Barrett 	 	2004 Taurus
Ford 	Harrah Racing 	78 	Jeff Fultz 	 	2004 Taurus
Ford 	Hover Motorsports 	180	Andy Hillenburg 	Stan Hover 	2003 Taurus
Ford 	Hover Motorsports 	180	Randy LaJoie 	Stan Hover 	2003 Taurus
Ford 	Hover Motorsports 	180	Carl Long 	Stan Hover 	2003 Taurus
Ford 	Hover Motorsports 	180	Tony Ave 	Stan Hover 	2003 Taurus
Ford 	Hover Motorsports 	180	Ted Christopher 	Stan Hover 	2003 Taurus
Ford 	Hover Motorsports 	180	Derrike Cope 	Stan Hover 	2003 Taurus
Ford 	Hover Motorsports 	180	Mario Gosselin 	Stan Hover 	2003 Taurus
Ford 	Hover Motorsports 	180	Andy Belmont 	Stan Hover 	2003 Taurus
Pontiac 	Andy Belmont Racing 	59 	Andy Belmont 	 	2003 Grand Prix
Dodge
Chevrolet	Mach 1 Motorsports 	96 	Larry Gunselman 	Mike Steurer 	2003 Monte Carlo
2003 Intrepid
Dodge
Chevrolet	Mach 1 Motorsports 	96 	Derrike Cope 	Mike Steurer 	2003 Monte Carlo
2003 Intrepid
Dodge
Chevrolet	Mach 1 Motorsports 	96 	Randy LaJoie 	Mike Steurer 	2003 Monte Carlo
2003 Intrepid
Dodge
Chevrolet	Mach 1 Motorsports 	198	Larry Gunselman 	Mike Steurer
Sammy Johns	2003 Monte Carlo
2003 Intrepid
Dodge
Chevrolet	Mach 1 Motorsports 	198	Todd Bodine 	Mike Steurer
Sammy Johns	2003 Monte Carlo
2003 Intrepid
Dodge
Chevrolet	Mach 1 Motorsports 	198	Geoff Bodine 	Mike Steurer
Sammy Johns	2003 Monte Carlo
2003 Intrepid
Dodge
Chevrolet	Mach 1 Motorsports 	198	Bill Elliott 	Mike Steurer
Sammy Johns	2003 Monte Carlo
2003 Intrepid
Dodge
Chevrolet	Mach 1 Motorsports 	198	Derrike Cope 	Mike Steurer
Sammy Johns	2003 Monte Carlo
2003 Intrepid
Dodge
Chevrolet	Mach 1 Motorsports 	198	Chad Chaffin 	Mike Steurer
Sammy Johns	2003 Monte Carlo
2003 Intrepid
Dodge
Chevrolet	Mach 1 Motorsports 	198	Randy LaJoie 	Mike Steurer
Sammy Johns	2003 Monte Carlo
2003 Intrepid
Chevrolet
Ford
Pontiac	SCORE Motorsports 	102	Carl Long 	Ernie Cope
Ed Ash
Jeff Buckner	2003 Monte Carlo
2003 Taurus
2003 Grand Prix
Chevrolet
Ford
Pontiac	SCORE Motorsports 	102	Andy Belmont 	Ernie Cope
Ed Ash
Jeff Buckner	2003 Monte Carlo
2003 Taurus
2003 Grand Prix
Chevrolet
Ford
Pontiac	SCORE Motorsports 	102	Hermie Sadler 	Ernie Cope
Ed Ash
Jeff Buckner	2003 Monte Carlo
2003 Taurus
2003 Grand Prix
Chevrolet
Ford
Pontiac	SCORE Motorsports 	102	Derrike Cope 	Ernie Cope
Ed Ash
Jeff Buckner	2003 Monte Carlo
2003 Taurus
2003 Grand Prix
Chevrolet
Ford
Pontiac	SCORE Motorsports 	102	Brandon Ash 	Ernie Cope
Ed Ash
Jeff Buckner	2003 Monte Carlo
2003 Taurus
2003 Grand Prix
Chevrolet
Ford
Pontiac	SCORE Motorsports 	102	Jason Jarrett 	Ernie Cope
Ed Ash
Jeff Buckner	2003 Monte Carlo
2003 Taurus
2003 Grand Prix
Chevrolet
Dodge
Ford	W.W. Motorsports 	94 	Stanton Barrett 	Terry Allen 	2004 Monte Carlo
2004 Taurus
2004 Stratus
Chevrolet
Dodge
Ford	W.W. Motorsports 	94 	Derrike Cope 	Terry Allen 	2004 Monte Carlo
2004 Taurus
2004 Stratus
Chevrolet
Dodge
Ford	W.W. Motorsports 	94 	Brad Teague 	Terry Allen 	2004 Monte Carlo
2004 Taurus
2004 Stratus
== Schedule ==
No.	Race title 	Track 	Date 	TV
1 	Dodge/Save Mart 350 	Infineon Raceway, Sonoma 	January 25 	Fox
 	Budweiser Shootout 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	February 7 	CBS
 	Gatorade Duels 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	February 12 	CBS
2 	Daytona 500 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	February 15 	CBS
3 	Subway 400 	North Carolina Speedway, Rockingham 	February 22 	Fox
4 	San Jose 500 	San Jose Motorplex, Gilroy 	February 29 	Fox
5 	UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 	Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas 	March 7 	Fox
6 	Golden Corral 500 	Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton 	March 14 	Fox
7 	Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 	Darlington Raceway, Darlington 	March 21 	Fox
8 	Food City 500 	Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol 	March 28 	Fox
9 	Texas 400 	Texas World Speedway, College Station 	April 4 	Fox
10 	Advanced Auto Parts 500 	Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway 	April 11 	Fox
11 	Aaron's 499 	Talladega Superspeedway, Lincoln 	April 18 	Fox
12 	Auto Club 500 	California Speedway, Fontana 	April 25 	Fox
13 	Chevy American Revolution 400 	Richmond International Speedway, Richmond 	May 1 	FX
14 	Diet Coke 500 	Coca-Cola Superspeedway, Denver 	May 9 	Fox
15 	Coors 400 	Pikes Peak International Speedway, Fountain 	May 15 	FX
 	Nextel Open 	Lowe's Motor Speedway, Concord 	May 22 	FX
 	Nextel All-Star Challenge 	Lowe's Motor Speedway, Concord 	May 22 	FX
16 	Coca-Cola 600 	Lowe's Motor Speedway, Concord 	May 30 	CBS
17 	MBNA America 400 "A Salute to Heroes" 	Dover International Speedway, Dover 	June 6 	FX
18 	Pabst Blue Ribbon 400 	The Milwaukee Mile, West Allis 	June 13 	CBS
19 	Dodge Stratus 400 	Nazareth Speedway, Nazareth 	June 20 	CBS
20 	Budweiser 400 	Riverside International Speedway, Riverside 	June 27 	CBS
21 	Pepsi 400 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	July 3 	CBS
22 	Tropicana 400 presented by Meijer 	Chicago Motor Speedway, Cicero 	July 11 	CBS
23 	Music City USA 420 	Music City Motorplex, Nashville 	July 18 	CBS
24 	Siemens 300 	New Hampshire International Speedway, Loudon 	July 25 	CBS
25 	Pennsylvania 500 	Pocono Raceway, Long Pond 	August 1 	CBS
26 	Brickyard 400 	Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway 	August 8 	NBC
27 	Sirius at The Glen 	Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen 	August 15 	TBS
28 	GFS Marketplace 400 	Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn 	August 22 	TBS
29 	Sharpie 500 	Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol 	August 28 	TBS
30 	Mountain Dew Southern 500 	Darlington Raceway, Darlington 	September 5 	NBC
31 	Chevy Rock & Roll 400 	Richmond International Raceway, Richmond 	September 11	TBS
32 	Tyson Holly Farms 400 	North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro 	September 19	TBS
33 	MBNA America 400 	Dover International Speedway, Dover 	September 26	TBS
34 	EA Sports 500 	Talladega Superspeedway, Lincoln 	October 3 	NBC
35 	Banquet 400 Presented by ConAgra Foods	Kansas Speedway, Kansas City 	October 10 	NBC
36 	UAW-GM Quality 500 	Lowe's Motor Speedway, Concord 	October 17 	NBC
37 	Subway 500 	Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway 	October 24 	NBC
38 	Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 	Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton 	October 31 	NBC
39 	Checker Auto Parts 500 	Phoenix International Speedway, Avondale 	November 7 	NBC
40 	Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 	North Carolina Speedway, Rockingham 	November 14 	NBC
41 	Ford 400 	Homestead-Miami Speedway, Homestead 	November 21 	NBC
42 	Apple iPod 500 	San Jose Motorplex, Gilroy 	November 28 	NBC
43 	Sprite 500 	Coca-Cola Superspeedway, Denver 	December 5 	TBS
44 	Los Angeles Times 500 	Ontario Motor Speedway, Ontario 	October 12 	NBC
==Technical changes==
For 2004, Dodge wanted to run the newly-reintroduced Charger. However, the car wouldn't begin production until April 2005, and therefore wouldn't be eligible under NASCAR's homologation rules. Dodge instead chose to run a different nose on the existing Intrepid body, mainly taking inspiration from the noses Penske ran in 2003. To this day, the exact identity of this car is still being hotly debated.
For one, Dodge didn't give it a specific model name, using the vague term "Dodge R/T". Dodge dealerships and NASCAR, meanwhile, referred to it as the Dodge Intrepid. Tim Johnson, driver of the #80 at Pacific Coast Racing, took one look at the car, and identified it as a Dodge Stratus. For 2004, Pacific Coast Racing ran the cars with Stratus lettering; by the Coca-Cola 600, Penske and Evernham had also begun putting Stratus lettering on their cars, and even Dodge's Nazareth race, which in recent years had been used to promote Dodge vehicles, was called the Dodge Stratus 400. By the end of 2004, Dodge vernacular was referring to the 2004 car as the Dodge Stratus.
Pontiac pulled factory support after 2003, due to General Motors desiring to focus 100% on Chevrolet. Despite this, Kennedy Racing, which had been using Pontiac since its inception in 1988, continued running Pontiacs full-time, and would do so without factory support until 2012. They did so with "homebrew" Pontiacs, building cars around the SAFER Car chassis with sheetmetal off of actual Pontiac Grand Prixs and then printing headlight decals. As the sheetmetal came directly from stock Pontiacs, NASCAR approved their use, and the Kennedy cars quickly gained a reputation for being "truly stock".
Aside from Dodge, Chevy and Ford made no changes to the Monte Carlo and Taurus, respectively.
== Cars Used in 2004 ==
File:2003 chevrolet monte carlo.png|Chevrolet Monte Carlo
File:2004 ford fusion.png|Ford Taurus
File:2004 dodge stratus.png|Dodge Stratus (NEW; identity disputed)
File:2003 dodge intrepid.png|2003 Dodge Intrepid (no factory support)
File:2004 pontiac grand prix.png|Pontiac Grand Prix (only used by Kennedy Racing; no factory support)
File:2003 pontiac grand prix.png|2003 Pontiac Grand Prix (no factory support)