2004 Florida 500

The 2004 Florida 500 is known for being Sage VanDerSpin's first race. The winner was Dale Earnhardt Jr with Tony Gaswart second and The King third. The King of course started a low 26th in the race due to bad luck in the 2003 Season, but he later passed some racecars, and finished 3rd, leading to a good place finishes for The King from 2004 to 2005.

This was considered one of the most historic races ever due to a massive crash on lap 54 caused by Chick Hicks pushing Mike Yankee. It involved Yankee, Micheal Cartrip, Ryan Newcar, Terry Carbonte, Billy Oilchanger, Darren Leadfoot, Chuck Armstrong, Slider Petrolski, Johnny Blamer, James Cleanair, Claude Scruggs, and Ruby Oaks. Micheal nearly died when he flew to Lake Loyd. That's just like in the 1973 Nightdona 500 when Bobby Carsac crashed into Lake Lloyd after flipping and landing there, and later on, Cole Speedland in 1987 Easy Idle 400 when he collided with Tom Landis and Alloy Wilson.

Micheal was very badly injured and in an interview 3 days later after the race, he said, "In my 14 years of racing, I have never suffered a crash like that in my life!".

## Transcript

### Micheal Goes into the lake!

Bob: It's lap number 140 and surprisingly we haven't seen anything major. I think I'm going to get coffee.

Darrell: Yeah. It's been a very boring race.

(Suddenly Chick Hicks pushes Mike Yankee)

Bob: Chick has pushed Mike! Mike slides and collects Micheal Cartrip,! Micheal flying off the track! Yankee hits Ryan, Billy, Terry, and Darren!

Darrell: Darren has touched Chuck, Slider look to be involved too!

Bob: The big one at Florida is happening and Slider Petrolski hits Terry Carbonte! OH MY GOD! MICHEAL HAS GONE IN THE AIR!

Darrell: HE BETTER NOT GO WHERE I THINK HE IS GONNA GO!

Bob: THIS COULD BE HISTORY RIGHT HERE! MICHEAL CARTRIP HAS FLOWN AND LANDED IN ***LAKE LLOYD!!!!!***

Darrell: I DON'T BELIEVE THIS! I DON'T BELIEVE THIS!

Bob: HE IS SINKING!!!

Darrell: THIS RACE WENT FROM BORING AS HECK TO HISTORIC!

Bob: I KNOW RIGHT!!!

(Triple Dent Team Radio)

Micheal Cartrip: Guys help! (blub blub) I'm (blub) sinking.

Micheal's Crew Chief: Help will arrive soon!

(Back to Darrell and Bob)

Bob: Wait a second... DALE EARNHARDT JR IS SPEEDING TWORDS THE WRECKAGE!!!!!!! HE IS GOING TO BE KILLED!!!!!!!!!!

Darrell: OH (popeye toot)!!!!!! I CAN'T (seal bark) WATCH!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dale Earnhardt Jr: THIS IS FOR YOU DAD! (jumped onto Darren Leadfoot, bounced off, flew high above the wreckage and landed on his tires!)

Darrell: I DON'T BELIEVE IT! DALE EARNHARDT JR JUST FLEW ABOVE THE WRECKAGE OVER ***19 METERS!!!!!***

Bob: What a spectacular move for Dale Earnhardt Jr! That's even higher than The King who did that at Calledega in 1971. Micheal is gonna miss possibly more than two races with the replacement of his replacement driver Kenny Bakerson.

### Dale Jr's win

Bob: The legacy continues! Dale Earnhardt Jr wins the 46th Florida 500!

(Budwiser Team Radio)

Dale Earnhardt Jr: YES! YESSSSSSS! I WON! YESSSSSS!

Budweiser Crew Chief: Well done Dale Jr!

Dale Earnhardt Jr: That is how it should be now!

## Reseults

1. Dale Earnhardt Jr - 200 laps
2. Tony Gaswart - 200 laps
3. The King - 200 laps
4. Kevin Carvick - 200 laps
5. Gerald Leadfoot - 200 laps
6. Chick Hicks - 200 laps
7. Aiken Axler - 200 laps
8. Jeff Gorvette - 200 laps
9. Matt Carseth - 200 laps
10. Dale Carrett - 200 laps
11. Bobby Carbonte - 200 laps
12. James Cleanair - 200 laps
13. Eugene Carbureski - 200 laps
14. Lee Revkins - 200 laps
15. Misti Motorkrass - 200 laps
16. Haul Inngas - 200 laps
17. Ward Burton - 200 laps
18. Darrel Draggered - 200 laps
19. Claude Scruggs - 200 laps
20. Terry Carbonte - 200 laps(crashed on lap 140)
21. Dirkson D'agostino - 200 laps
22. Chuck Armstrong - 200 laps
23. Kevin Racingtire - 200 laps
24. Todd Marcus - 200 laps
25. Davey Apex - 200 laps
26. Rusty Cornfuel - 200 laps
27. Brush Curber - 200 laps
28. Lightning McQueen - 200 laps
29. Greg Candyman - 200 laps
30. Kevin Shiftright - 200 laps
31. Ruby Oaks - 200 laps
32. Winford Rutherford - 200 laps
33. Sage Vanderspin - 200 laps
34. Slider Petrolski - 140 laps(crash)
35. Darren Leadfoot - 140 laps(crash)
36. Mike Yankee - 140 laps(pushed by Chick Hicks)
37. Micheal Cartrip - 140(fell into Lake Lloyd)
38. Ernie Gearson - 140 laps(crash)
39. Murray Clutchburn - 140 laps(crash)
40. Billy Oilchanger - 140 laps(crash)
41. Johnny Blamer - 140 laps(crash)
42. Ryan Shields - 76 laps(bashed by Chick Hicks)
43. Ralph Carlow - 55 laps(crashed into Greg Candyman who was able to finish the race with no damage)
44. Ken Schrader - 55 laps(crashed into Ralph Carlow)