2004 Tropicana Twister 300

2004 Tropicana Twister 300 https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/2004_Tropicana_Twister_300/B/ 2004 Tropicana Twister 300 July 10, 2004 April 28, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210428021204/https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/2004_Tropicana_Twister_300/B/ live 19 34 Chicagoland Speedway diagram.svg Map of Speedway 2004 07 10 2004 Tropicana Twister 400 Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois Tri-oval 1.5 2.4 200 300 480 Sunny 126.790 mph km/h on 70,000 Bobby Hamilton Jr. Team Rensi Motorsports 29.410 Kyle Busch Hendrick Motorsports 49 44 Justin Labonte Labonte Motorsports NBC Allen Bestwick, Wally Dallenbach Jr., Benny Parsons The 2004 Tropicana Twister 300 was a NASCAR Busch Series race held on July 10, 2004, at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois. The race was the 4th iteration of the event. The race was the 19th race of the 2004 NASCAR Busch Series. Bobby Hamilton Jr. won the pole while rookie sensation Kyle Busch led the most laps at 49. But the race became most notable for two reasons. One being the most infamous one where a big inflatable Tropicana Orange made its way onto the race track during Todd Szegedy's qualifying run. And the second being one of the biggest upset winners in NASCAR history as Justin Labonte, the son of Terry Labonte and the nephew of Bobby Labonte, won his first and only Busch Series race after he had not scored a top 10 in 31 career Busch Series starts as he beat out the fuel strategy game at the end of the race.https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/sports/2004/07/11/justin-labonte-gets-first-busch/50442731007/ Justin Labonte gets first Busch win July 11, 2004 October 26, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231026195426/https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/sports/2004/07/11/justin-labonte-gets-first-busch/50442731007/ live Background thumb|left|Chicagoland Speedway, the track where the race will be held. Chicagoland Speedway is a 1.5 mi km tri-oval speedway in Joliet, Illinois, southwest of Chicago. The speedway opened in 2001 and currently hosts NASCAR racing. Until 2011, the speedway also hosted the IndyCar Series, recording numerous close finishes including the closest finish in IndyCar history. The speedway is owned and operated by International Speedway Corporation and located adjacent to Route 66 Raceway. Entry list (R) denotes rookie driver #DriverTeamMake 00 Jason Leffler Haas CNC Racing Chevrolet 1 Jamie McMurray Phoenix Racing Dodge 02 Hermie Sadler SCORE Motorsports Chevrolet 2 Ron Hornaday Jr. Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 4 Mike Wallace Biagi Brothers Racing Ford 5 Kyle Busch (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 07 Carl Long Moy Racing Ford 7 Todd Szegedy NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet 8 Martin Truex Jr. Chance 2 Motorsports Chevrolet 9 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 10 Gus Wasson Davis Motorsports Chevrolet 12 Tim Fedewa FitzBradshaw Racing Chevrolet 14 Casey Atwood FitzBradshaw Racing Chevrolet 17 Matt Kenseth Reiser Enterprises Ford 18 J. J. Yeley (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 20 Mike Bliss Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 21 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 22 Jason Keller ppc Racing Ford 23 Kenny Wallace Bill Davis Racing Chevrolet 24 Steve Grissom GIC-Mixon Motorsports Chevrolet 25 Bobby Hamilton Jr. Team Rensi Motorsports Ford 27 Johnny Sauter Brewco Motorsports Chevrolet 29 Ricky Craven Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 31 Todd Bodine Marsh Racing Ford 32 David Stremme Braun Racing Dodge 33 Clint Bowyer (R) Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 35 Kenny Hendrick Gary Keller Racing Chevrolet 36 Travis Geisler DCT Motorsports Chevrolet 37 David Green Brewco Motorsports Chevrolet 38 Kasey Kahne Akins Motorsports Dodge 39 Tina Gordon Jay Robinson Racing Ford 44 Justin Labonte Labonte Motorsports Dodge 46 Ashton Lewis Jr. Lewis Motorsports Chevrolet 47 Robert Pressley ST Motorsports Ford 49 Derrike Cope Jay Robinson Racing Ford 50 Regan Smith Holigan Racing Chevrolet 51 Blake Mallory Ware Racing Enterprises Chevrolet 55 Robby Gordon Robby Gordon Motorsports Chevrolet 56 Kevin Conway Mac Hill Motorsports Chevrolet 59 Stacy Compton ST Motorsports Ford 60 Greg Biffle Roush Racing Ford 62 Larry Hollenbeck S.W.A.T. Racing Chevrolet 66 Billy Parker (R) Rusty Wallace Inc. Dodge 72 Kevin Lepage MacDonald Motorsports Chevrolet 74 Tony Raines BACE Motorsports Chevrolet 77 Jimmy Kitchens Moy Racing Ford 87 Joe Nemechek NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet 88 Jeff Fuller NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet 91 Stanton Barrett Stanton Barrett Motorsports Chevrolet 99 Michael Waltrip Michael Waltrip Racing ChevroletOfficial Entry list Qualifying Bobby Hamilton Jr. won the pole with a time of 29.410 and a speed of 183.611 mph. But during qualifying, it was a really windy day which led to one of the most infamous and weirdest moments in NASCAR history. Todd Szegedy was about to make his qualifying run attempting to qualify for his 2nd Busch Series race. A big gust of wind came through and it ended up breaking the straps that were holding the big inflatable Tropicana Oranges off and the oranges went loose. One orange got ripped apart and landed on the infield spectator area on someone's RV where four people were covered by the orange. Another orange also made its way onto the race track. Szegedy was on his first lap when he was making his way through turns 3 and 4 when he was shocked and startled to see a big inflatable tropicana orange rolling on the apron of the race track. Szegedy went by it very easily without incident. NASCAR immeadietly stopped qualifying to get the orange off the track. Track crews attempted to use the truck with a powerful blower to blow the orange off the track. Unfortunetly, the orange would rip apart and get stuck on the turn 1 catchfence in which they had to take it down by hand. They would but a storm front made its way onto the track which caused a further delay. Qualifying was stopped for about an hour and a half before the track dried and qualifying got going again. Szegedy was granted a re-run by NASCAR and ended up qualifying 12th. Szegedy even joked about it afterwards saying "I used to like orange juice. Now it almost killed me."https://www.poconorecord.com/story/sports/pro/2004/07/10/inflatable-orange-halts-qualifying/51063420007/ Inflatable orange halts qualifying July 10, 2004 October 26, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231026195423/https://www.poconorecord.com/story/sports/pro/2004/07/10/inflatable-orange-halts-qualifying/51063420007/ live Starting grid Grid No. Car number Driver Team Manufacturer 1 25 Bobby Hamilton Jr. Team Rensi Motorsports Ford 2 5 Kyle Busch (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 3 87 Joe Nemechek NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet 4 17 Matt Kenseth Reiser Enterprises Ford 5 21 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 6 20 Mike Bliss Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 7 38 Kasey Kahne Akins Motorsports Dodge 8 60 Greg Biffle Roush Racing Ford 9 18 J. J. Yeley (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 10 55 Robby Gordon Robby Gordon Motorsports Chevrolet 11 32 David Stremme Braun Racing Dodge 12 7 Todd Szegedy NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet 13 37 David Green* Brewco Motorsports Chevrolet 14 29 Ricky Craven Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 15 31 Todd Bodine Marsh Racing Ford 16 8 Martin Truex Jr. Chance 2 Motorsports Chevrolet 17 9 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 18 12 Tim Fedewa FitzBradshaw Racing Chevrolet 19 23 Kenny Wallace Bill Davis Racing Chevrolet 20 00 Jason Leffler Haas CNC Racing Chevrolet 21 50 Regan Smith Holigan Racing Chevrolet 22 74 Tony Raines* BACE Motorsports Chevrolet 23 22 Jason Keller ppc Racing Ford 24 27 Johnny Sauter* Brewco Motorsports Chevrolet 25 46 Ashton Lewis Lewis Motorsports Chevrolet 26 1 Jamie McMurray Phoenix Racing Dodge 27 99 Michael Waltrip Michael Waltrip Racing Chevrolet 28 66 Billy Parker (R) Rusty Wallace Inc. Dodge 29 2 Ron Hornaday Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 30 14 Casey Atwood FitzBradshaw Racing Chevrolet 31 72 Kevin Lepage MacDonald Motorsports Chevrolet 32 36 Travis Geisler RCT Motorsports Chevrolet 33 59 Stacy Compton* ST Motorsports Ford 34 44 Justin Labonte Labonte Motorsports Dodge 35 4 Mike Wallace Biagi Brothers Racing Ford 36 49 Derrike Cope Jay Robinson Racing Ford 37 35 Kenny Hendrick Gary Keller Racing Chevrolet 38 02 Hermie Sadler SCORE Motorsports Chevrolet 39 47 Robert Pressley ST Motorsports Ford 40 33 Clint Bowyer (R) Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 41 10 Gus Wasson Davis Motorsports Chevrolet 42 39 Tina Gordon Jay Robinson Racing Ford 43 24 Steve Grissom GIC-Mixon Motorsports ChevroletFailed to Qualify, withdrew, or driver changes 44 88 Jeff Fuller NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet 45 51 Blake Mallory Ware Racing Enterprises Chevrolet 46 91 Stanton Barrett Stanton Barrett Motorsports Chevrolet 47 77 Jimmy Kitchens Moy Racing Ford 48 07 Carl Long Moy Racing Ford 49 62 Larry Hollenbeck S.W.A.T. Racing Chevrolet 50 56 Kevin Conway Mac Hill Motorsports ChevroletOfficial Starting grid * - Johnny Sauter, David Green, Stacy Compton, and Tony Raines all had to start at the rear of the field due to an engine change. Race Pole sitter Bobby Hamilton Jr. led the first lap of the race. The first caution did not take long as it came out on lap 2 when rookie Billy Parker crashed in turn 1. The race would restart on lap 6. On the restart, Kyle Busch took the lead from Hamilton Jr. Unfortunetly for Bobby Hamilton Jr., his engine would give out on lap 9 of the race which would end his chances of winning. On lap 40, Kyle Busch handed the lead to Matt Kenseth as he came in to pit. On lap 44, the second caution would fly for debris in turn 1. Robby Gordon won the race off of pit road and he led the field to the restart on lap 49. On lap 55, Matt Kenseth challenged Robby Gordon for the lead and led that lap but could not pass him. The third caution flew on lap 56 for debris. On lap 61, Matt Kenseth took the lead. On lap 63, the fourth caution flew when Todd Szegedy crashed in turn 2. The race would restart on lap 68. On lap 91, Matt Kenseth decided to pit early and handed the lead to Mike Bliss. On lap 115 during green flag pitstops, the 5th caution flew when Robert Pressley spun in turn 3. Michael Waltrip won the race off of pit road and he led the field to the restart on lap 124. On lap 125, Mike Bliss would retake the lead. On lap 129, the 6th caution flew for debris. Justin Labonte was the new leader and he led the field to the restart on lap 134. On lap 139, the 6th caution would fly when Regan Smith spun down the frontstretch. Final laps Kyle Busch would be the new leader and he led the field to the restart on lap 144. With 46 laps to go, J. J. Yeley took the lead from Busch. With 23 to go, Greg Biffle challenged Yeley for the lead and led that lap but couldn't pass Yeley. But with 21 to go, Biffle's waterline broke and his car got into his own water in turns 1 and 2 and slid up the track into the outside wall bringing out the 8th and final caution of the day. Many drivers pitted while some others stayed out including Mike Wallace, Justin Labonte, Robby Gordon, Jason Keller, Ashton Lewis, and Jeff Burton. Wallace led the field to the restart with 15 to go. Wallace got a sizeable lead over Labonte. Wallace was saving fuel as much as he could in order for him to win the race. Wallace was looking for his 2nd win in a row after he won last week at Daytona. If Wallace saves enough fuel he will win the race. Labonte was racing side by side with the lapped car in Tim Fedewa and was trying to get past him for a few laps. Eventually, Labonte would pass him and Labonte would start to close in on Wallace with around 10 to go. Wallace started slowing down a lot to save fuel until he saw Labonte in his review mirror and decided to push it with around 5 to go. Labonte stayed behind Wallace hoping Wallace would either slip up or run out of gas. One of which would eventually happen. Mike Wallace saved as much fuel as he could, but did not save enough. As soon as they took the white flag when they crossed the start-finish line, Wallace's car started to slow down. Mike Wallace's car ran out of fuel after 70 laps since he last got it full giving the lead to Justin Labonte. Behind Labonte about a second back was Jason Keller. Labonte had plenty of fuel left and Justin Labonte would score his first ever victory in the Busch Series and Keller would finish in 2nd. Justin Labonte had no top 10 finishes in his first 30 starts in his Busch Series career from 1999-July 2004 and goes out and wins in his 31st start. Labonte's father Terry was there to celebrate with his son. Terry was proud with his son's first win calling it awesome. Justin Labonte would race full time in 2005 but only scored 2 top 10's and making 1 more start for Hendrick Motorsports in 2006 before deciding not to race in NASCAR again as he failed to make it to the Cup Series. Labonte's upset is still considered by some as one of the best upset victories in NASCAR history. Jeff Burton, Kasey Kahne, and Ashton Lewis rounded out the top 5 while Robby Gordon, Jason Leffler, David Green, J. J. Yeley, and Ron Hornaday would round out the top 10.https://www.espn.co.uk/racing/news/story?id=1837657 Justin Labonte's first win thrills father July 11, 2004 October 26, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231026195429/https://www.espn.co.uk/racing/news/story?id=1837657 live Race results Pos Car Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Run Laps Led Status Points 1 44 Justin Labonte Labonte Motorsports Dodge 200 1 running 185 2 22 Jason Keller ppc Racing Ford 200 0 running 170 3 9 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 200 0 running 165 4 38 Kasey Kahne Akins Motorsports Dodge 200 0 running 160 5 46 Ashton Lewis Lewis Motorsports Chevrolet 200 0 running 155 6 55 Robby Gordon Robby Gordon Motorsports Chevrolet 200 14 running 155 7 00 Jason Leffler Haas CNC Racing Chevrolet 200 0 running 146 8 37 David Green Brewco Motorsports Chevrolet 200 0 running 142 9 18 J. J. Yeley (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 200 25 running 143 10 2 Ron Hornaday Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 200 0 running 134 11 29 Ricky Craven Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 200 0 running 130 12 5 Kyle Busch (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 200 49 running 137 13 14 Casey Atwood FitzBradshaw Racing Chevrolet 200 0 running 124 14 8 Martin Truex Jr. Chance 2 Motorsports Chevrolet 200 0 running 121 15 4 Mike Wallace Biagi Brothers Racing Ford 200 18 running 123 16 17 Matt Kenseth Reiser Enterprises Ford 200 36 running 120 17 12 Tim Fedewa FitzBradshaw Racing Chevrolet 199 0 running 112 18 99 Michael Waltrip Michael Waltrip Racing Chevrolet 199 6 running 114 19 27 Johnny Sauter Brewco Motorsports Chevrolet 199 0 running 106 20 74 Tony Raines BACE Motorsports Chevrolet 198 0 running 103 21 59 Stacy Compton ST Motorsprots Ford 198 0 running 100 22 72 Kevin Lepage MacDonald Motorsports Chevrolet 198 0 running 97 23 36 Travis Geisler DCT Motorsports Chevrolet 198 0 running 94 24 31 Todd Bodine Marsh Racing Ford 197 0 running 91 25 02 Hermie Sadler SCORE Motorsports Chevrolet 196 0 running 88 26 50 Regan Smith Holigan Racing Chevrolet 196 0 running 85 27 1 Jamie McMurray Phoenix Racing Dodge 196 0 running 82 28 24 Steve Grissom GIC-Mixon Racing Chevrolet 195 0 running 79 29 10 Gus Wasson Davis Motorsports Chevrolet 194 0 running 76 30 39 Tina Gordon Jay Robinson Racing Ford 192 0 running 73 31 87 Joe Nemechek NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet 188 0 engine 70 32 60 Greg Biffle Roush Racing Ford 184 3 overheating 72 33 20 Mike Bliss Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 140 32 engine 69 34 32 David Stremme Braun Racing Dodge 125 0 vibration 61 35 47 Robert Pressley ST Motorsports Ford 123 0 engine 58 36 23 Kenny Wallace Bill Davis Racing Chevrolet 91 0 engine 55 37 66 Billy Parker (R) Rusty Wallace Inc. Dodge 64 0 crash 52 38 49 Derrike Cope Jay Robinson Racing Ford 60 0 engine 49 39 7 Todd Szegedy NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet 60 0 crash 46 40 35 Kenny Hendrick Gary Keller Racing Chevrolet 25 0 transmission 43 41 21 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 22 0 vibration 40 42 33 Clint Bowyer (R) Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 17 0 rear end 37 43 25 Bobby Hamilton Jr. Team Rensi Motorsports Ford 8 5 engine 39Official Race results References 2004 Winn-Dixie 250 2004 Siemens 200 NASCAR Busch Series 2004 Category:2004 in sports in Illinois Category:NASCAR races at Chicagoland Speedway Category:July 2004 sports events in the United States