2004 Aaron's 499

February 2025 NASNEX 4.28 The 2004 Aaron's 499 program cover, featuring Dale Earnhardt Jr., winner of the 2003 race. 50.089 Hendrick Motorsports Jeff Gordon 155,000 Mike Joy, Larry McReynolds, Darrell Waltrip Motor Racing Network FOX Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 24 57 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Ricky Rudd 129.396 mph km/h Lincoln, Alabama, Talladega Superspeedway Wood Brothers Racing 804.8 804.8 188 188 500.08 36 9 Aaron's 499 2.66 April 25 2004 500.08 35th Annual Aaron's 499 2004_Aaron's_499_program_cover.jpg 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.Jeff Gordon edges out Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Talladega in 2004 NASCAR https://www.nascar.com/video/franchise/up-to-speed/flashing-back-to-gordons-2004-win-at-talladega-over-dale-jr/ 2021-12-06 Official Site Of NASCAR en-US 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.2005-03-07 Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2004 Talladega 1 Race Info / Rundown Page http://www.jayski.com/next/2004/2004talladega1.htm 2021-12-06 https://web.archive.org/web/20050307214018/http://www.jayski.com/next/2004/2004talladega1.htm 7 March 2005 dead 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–checkered finish 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.BUSCH: Controversial racing back to yellow ends https://us.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/busch-controversial-racing-back-to-yellow-ends/2019922/ 2021-12-06 us.motorsport.com en 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."Harris Mike 2004-05-08 The Daytona Beach News-Journal: SPEED Magazine http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/Speed/Headlines/03SpeedNEXT01042604.htm 2021-12-06 https://web.archive.org/web/20040508204136/http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/Speed/Headlines/03SpeedNEXT01042604.htm 8 May 2004 dead 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."Jeff Gordon wins, controversy brews in Talladega https://us.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/jeff-gordon-wins-controversy-brews-in-talladega/1129938/ 2021-12-06 us.motorsport.com en 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.”Martinelli Michelle R. 2018-12-14 Jeff Gordon said Dale Jr. fans throwing beer at him was the 'greatest day of my life' https://ftw.usatoday.com/2018/12/dale-earnhardt-jr-jeff-gordon-nascar-2004-talladega-aarons-499-finish-controversy-beer-throwing live https://web.archive.org/web/20181215071548/https://ftw.usatoday.com/2018/12/dale-earnhardt-jr-jeff-gordon-nascar-2004-talladega-aarons-499-finish-controversy-beer-throwing 2018-12-15 2021-12-06 For The Win en-US Background thumb|The layout of Talladega Superspeedway, the venue where the race was held. 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.February 2024 Entry list #DriverTeamMake0Ward BurtonHaas CNC RacingChevrolet00Kenny WallaceMichael Waltrip RacingChevrolet01Joe NemechekMBV MotorsportsChevrolet2Rusty WallacePenske-Jasper RacingDodge02Andy Belmont*SCORE MotorsportsChevrolet4Jimmy SpencerMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevrolet04Eric McClureMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevrolet5Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet6Mark MartinRoush RacingFord8Dale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet9Kasey KahneEvernham MotorsportsDodge09Johnny Benson Jr.Phoenix RacingDodge10Scott RiggsMBV MotorsportsChevrolet12Ryan NewmanPenske-Jasper RacingDodge14Larry FoytA. J. Foyt EnterprisesDodge15Michael WaltripDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet16Greg BiffleRoush RacingFord17Matt KensethRoush RacingFord18Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingChevrolet19Jeremy MayfieldEvernham MotorsportsDodge20Tony StewartJoe Gibbs RacingChevrolet21Ricky RuddWood Brothers RacingFord22Scott WimmerBill Davis RacingDodge23Dave BlaneyBill Davis RacingDodge24Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet25Brian VickersHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet29Kevin HarvickRichard Childress RacingChevrolet30Johnny SauterRichard Childress RacingChevrolet31Robby GordonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet32Ricky CravenPPI MotorsportsChevrolet33Kerry EarnhardtRichard Childress RacingChevrolet38Elliott SadlerRobert Yates RacingFord40Sterling MarlinChip Ganassi RacingDodge41Casey MearsChip Ganassi RacingDodge42Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingDodge43Jeff GreenPetty EnterprisesDodge45Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesDodge48Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet49Ken SchraderBAM RacingDodge50Derrike CopeArnold MotorsportsDodge72Kirk ShelmerdineKirk Shelmerdine RacingFord77Brendan GaughanPenske-Jasper RacingDodge80Andy Hillenburg*Hover MotorsportsFord88Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord89Morgan ShepherdShepherd Racing VenturesDodge97Kurt BuschRoush RacingFord98Todd BodineMach 1 MotorsportsFord99Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFordOfficial 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 mph km/h.2005-03-07 NASCAR.com - Races - 2004 Talladega 1 Practice 1 Results http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2004/9/data/practice1_speeds.html 2021-12-06 https://web.archive.org/web/20050307223408/http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2004/9/data/practice1_speeds.html 7 March 2005 dead Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed121Ricky RuddWood Brothers RacingFord50.126191.03928Dale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet50.256190.544338Elliott SadlerRobert Yates RacingFord50.366190.128Full 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 mph km/h.2005-03-07 NASCAR.com - Races - 2004 Talladega 1 Practice 2 Results http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2004/9/data/practice2_speeds.html 2021-12-06 https://web.archive.org/web/20050307223835/http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2004/9/data/practice2_speeds.html 7 March 2005 dead Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed130Johnny SauterRichard Childress RacingChevrolet48.744196.455232Ricky CravenPPI MotorsportsChevrolet48.765196.370322Scott WimmerBill Davis RacingDodge48.804196.213Full 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 PM 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 mph km/h.2005-03-07 NASCAR.com - Races - 2004 Talladega 1 Practice 3 Results http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2004/9/data/practice3_speeds.html 2021-12-06 https://web.archive.org/web/20050307224054/http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2004/9/data/practice3_speeds.html 7 March 2005 dead Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed129Kevin HarvickRichard Childress RacingChevrolet49.064195.174223Dave BlaneyBill Davis RacingDodge49.165194.773325Brian VickersHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet49.182194.705Full Happy Hour practice results Qualifying Qualifying would take place on Friday, April 23, at 3:10 PM CST. 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.2005-02-05 Jayski's Silly Season Site - Provisional Land Page http://www.jayski.com/stats/2004/2004prov.htm 2021-12-03 https://web.archive.org/web/20050205214731/http://www.jayski.com/stats/2004/2004prov.htm 5 February 2005 dead Ricky Rudd of Wood Brothers Racing would win the pole, setting a time of 50.089 and an average speed of 191.180 mph km/h.2004-04-23 At 'Dega, Rudd gives team first pole in 20 years https://www.espn.com/racing/news/story?id=1788624 2021-12-06 ESPN.com en Three drivers would fail to qualify: Larry Foyt, Todd Bodine, and Kirk Shelmerdine. Full qualifying results Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed121Ricky RuddWood Brothers RacingFord50.089191.180215Michael WaltripDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet50.143190.97438Dale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet50.311190.336401Joe NemechekMBV MotorsportsChevrolet50.371190.109510Scott RiggsMBV MotorsportsChevrolet50.395190.01966Mark MartinRoush RacingFord50.425189.906788Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord50.434189.872848Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet50.490189.661940Sterling MarlinChip Ganassi RacingDodge50.527189.522100Ward BurtonHaas CNC RacingChevrolet50.558189.4061124Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet50.561189.3951238Elliott SadlerRobert Yates RacingFord50.599189.253135Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet50.605189.2301429Kevin HarvickRichard Childress RacingChevrolet50.618189.1821543Jeff GreenPetty EnterprisesDodge50.639189.1031641Casey MearsChip Ganassi RacingDodge50.644189.0851712Ryan NewmanPenske-Jasper RacingDodge50.675188.9691816Greg BiffleRoush RacingFord50.690188.9131918Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingChevrolet50.705188.8572077Brendan GaughanPenske-Jasper RacingDodge50.727188.7752131Robby GordonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet50.745188.7082297Kurt BuschRoush RacingFord50.754188.675234Jimmy SpencerMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevrolet50.763188.6412432Ricky CravenPPI MotorsportsChevrolet50.778188.5862599Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFord50.781188.574269Kasey KahneEvernham MotorsportsDodge50.789188.5452700Kenny WallaceMichael Waltrip RacingChevrolet50.797188.5152845Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesDodge50.820188.4302930Johnny SauterRichard Childress RacingChevrolet50.855188.3003022Scott WimmerBill Davis RacingDodge50.859188.2853117Matt KensethRoush RacingFord50.863188.270322Rusty WallacePenske-Jasper RacingDodge50.863188.2703342Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingDodge50.878188.2153409Johnny Benson Jr.Phoenix RacingDodge50.896188.1483504Eric McClureMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevrolet50.931188.0193633Kerry EarnhardtRichard Childress RacingChevrolet50.956187.9273720Tony StewartJoe Gibbs RacingChevrolet50.960187.9123819Jeremy MayfieldEvernham MotorsportsDodge50.980187.838Provisionals3925Brian VickersHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet51.010187.7284049Ken SchraderBAM RacingDodge51.103187.3864150Derrike CopeArnold MotorsportsDodge51.197187.0424223Dave BlaneyBill Davis RacingDodge51.129187.2914389Morgan ShepherdShepherd Racing VenturesDodge52.312183.055Failed to qualify or withdrew4414Larry FoytA. J. Foyt EnterprisesDodge51.470186.0504598Todd BodineMach 1 MotorsportsFord52.787181.4084672Kirk ShelmerdineKirk Shelmerdine RacingFord——WD02Andy BelmontSCORE MotorsportsChevrolet——WD80Andy HillenburgHover MotorsportsFord——Official qualifying results Race results Fin2004 Aaron's 499 - The Third Turn https://www.thethirdturn.com/wiki/2004_Aaron%27s_499 2021-12-06 www.thethirdturn.com enSt#DriverTeamMakeLapsLedStatusPtsWinnings11124Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet18815running185$320,258238Dale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet18857running180$241,43331429Kevin HarvickRichard Childress RacingChevrolet18814running170$185,8084848Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet18825running165$139,65552131Robby GordonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet18822running160$139,927666Mark MartinRoush RacingFord1886running155$108,38072599Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFord1880running146$126,57281641Casey MearsChip Ganassi RacingDodge1885running147$108,20593342Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingDodge1884running143$115,705101918Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingChevrolet1881running139$126,313111712Ryan NewmanPenske-Jasper RacingDodge1881running135$123,59212215Michael WaltripDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet18813running132$112,301132077Brendan GaughanPenske-Jasper RacingDodge1880running124$89,015142930Johnny SauterRichard Childress RacingChevrolet1880running121$86,395151816Greg BiffleRoush RacingFord1881running123$86,48016788Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord1883running120$106,95717121Ricky RuddWood Brothers RacingFord1880running112$106,281183022Scott WimmerBill Davis RacingDodge1882running114$96,885191543Jeff GreenPetty EnterprisesDodge1880running106$95,84520234Jimmy SpencerMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevrolet1882running108$87,335213819Jeremy MayfieldEvernham MotorsportsDodge1880running100$90,095223720Tony StewartJoe Gibbs RacingChevrolet1886running102$114,353234049Ken SchraderBAM RacingDodge1880running94$70,265242845Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesDodge1880running91$77,94925135Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet1881running93$96,930263504Eric McClureMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevrolet1881running90$65,175273925Brian VickersHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet1882running87$75,620281238Elliott SadlerRobert Yates RacingFord1851running84$102,903293409Johnny Benson Jr.Phoenix RacingDodge1510suspension76$63,91030269Kasey KahneEvernham MotorsportsDodge1500running73$97,08031940Sterling MarlinChip Ganassi RacingDodge1462overheating75$99,05032401Joe NemechekMBV MotorsportsChevrolet1463engine72$71,50033322Rusty WallacePenske-Jasper RacingDodge1440running64$107,10834510Scott RiggsMBV MotorsportsChevrolet1440running61$89,322353633Kerry EarnhardtRichard Childress RacingChevrolet1440running58$63,005362297Kurt BuschRoush RacingFord821crash60$82,875372700Kenny WallaceMichael Waltrip RacingChevrolet820crash52$62,700384150Derrike CopeArnold MotorsportsDodge820crash49$62,350394223Dave BlaneyBill Davis RacingDodge810crash46$62,15040100Ward BurtonHaas CNC RacingChevrolet660engine43$61,900414389Morgan ShepherdShepherd Racing VenturesDodge650transmission40$61,705423117Matt KensethRoush RacingFord590engine37$112,298432432Ricky CravenPPI MotorsportsChevrolet70engine34$69,581Official race results References 2004 Advance Auto Parts 500 2004 Auto Club 500 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series 2004 Category:2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Category:NASCAR races at Talladega Superspeedway Category:April 2004 sports events in the United States Category:2004 in sports in Alabama Category:NASCAR controversies