2004 MBNA America 400 "A Salute to Heroes"

February 2025 NASNEX 36th Annual MBNA America 400 "A Salute to Heroes" Jeremy Mayfield Evernham Motorsports 234 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Mark Martin Roush Racing 6 Mike Joy, Larry McReynolds, Darrell Waltrip FX Motor Racing Network 140,000 97.042 mph km/h June 6 Dover, Delaware, Dover International Speedway 643.737 400 400 643.737 400 1.6 1 36 13 2004 22.288 MBNA America 400 "A Salute to Heroes" 400 The 2004 MBNA America 400 program cover, honoring the 60th anniversary of D-Day. 2004_MBNA_America_400_"A_Salute_to_Heroes"_program_cover.jpg The 2004 MBNA America 400 "A Salute to Heroes" was the 13th stock car race of the 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series season and the 36th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, June 6, 2004, before a crowd of 140,000 in Dover, Delaware at Dover International Speedway, a 1-mile (1.6 km) permanent oval-shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 400 laps to complete. At race's end, Mark Martin of Roush Racing would survive through a wreck-fest to win his 34th career NASCAR Nextel Cup Series win, his first of the season, and would break a 72-race losing streak.Pearce Al 2004-06-13 Last Man Standing: Mark Martin wins MBNA 400 at Dover http://autoweek.com/news/a2087856/last-man-standing-mark-martin-wins-mbna-400-dover/ 2021-12-22 Autoweek en-US To fill out the podium, Tony Stewart of Joe Gibbs Racing finished 2nd, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. finished 3rd. Background thumb|The layout of Dover International Speedway, the venue where the race was held. Dover International Speedway is an oval race track in Dover, Delaware, United States that has held at least two NASCAR races since it opened in 1969. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosted USAC and the NTT IndyCar Series. The track features one layout, a 1-mile (1.6 km) concrete oval, with 24° banking in the turns and 9° banking on the straights. The speedway is owned and operated by Dover Motorsports. The track, nicknamed "The Monster Mile", was built in 1969 by Melvin Joseph of Melvin L. Joseph Construction Company, Inc., with an asphalt surface, but was replaced with concrete in 1995. Six years later in 2001, the track's capacity moved to 135,000 seats, making the track have the largest capacity of sports venue in the mid-Atlantic. In 2002, the name changed to Dover International Speedway from Dover Downs International Speedway after Dover Downs Gaming and Entertainment split, making Dover Motorsports. From 2007 to 2009, the speedway worked on an improvement project called "The Monster Makeover", which expanded facilities at the track and beautified the track. After the 2014 season, the track's capacity was reduced to 95,500 seats. Entry list #DriverTeamMake0Ward BurtonHaas CNC RacingChevrolet00Carl Long*McGlynn RacingChevrolet01Joe NemechekMBV MotorsportsChevrolet2Rusty WallacePenske-Jasper RacingDodge02Hermie SadlerSCORE MotorsportsChevrolet4Jimmy SpencerMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevrolet5Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet6Mark MartinRoush RacingFord7Dave Blaney**Ultra MotorsportsDodge8Dale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet9Kasey KahneEvernham MotorsportsDodge09Tony RainesPhoenix RacingDodge10Scott RiggsMBV MotorsportsChevrolet12Ryan NewmanPenske-Jasper RacingDodge15Michael 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 MotorsportsChevrolet35Kenny Hendrick**Gary Keller RacingChevrolet37Todd BodineR&J RacingDodge38Elliott SadlerRobert Yates RacingFord40Sterling MarlinChip Ganassi RacingDodge41Casey MearsChip Ganassi RacingDodge42Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingDodge43Jeff GreenPetty EnterprisesDodge45Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesDodge48Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet49Ken SchraderBAM RacingDodge50Mike WallaceArnold MotorsportsDodge51Kevin LepageCompetitive Edge MotorsportsChevrolet52Stan Boyd*Rick Ware RacingDodge72Kirk ShelmerdineKirk Shelmerdine RacingFord77Brendan GaughanPenske-Jasper RacingDodge88Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord89Morgan ShepherdShepherd Racing VenturesDodge90Kevin Ray*Donlavey RacingFord94Stanton BarrettW. W. MotorsportsChevrolet97Kurt BuschRoush RacingFord98Larry GunselmanMach 1 MotorsportsFord99Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFordOfficial entry list *Withdrew due to failing inspection.Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2004 Dover 1 Race Info / Rundown Page http://www.jayski.com/next/2004/2004dover1.htm live https://web.archive.org/web/20050307212442/http://www.jayski.com/next/2004/2004dover1.htm 2005-03-07 2021-12-22 Jayski's Silly Season Site **Withdrew for unknown reasons.Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2004 Dover 1 Race Info / Rundown Page http://www.jayski.com/next/2004/2004dover1.htm live https://web.archive.org/web/20050307212442/http://www.jayski.com/next/2004/2004dover1.htm 2005-03-07 2021-12-22 Jayski's Silly Season Site Practice There were three scheduled practices to occur, with one on Friday and two on Saturday. However, the first practice on Saturday would be canceled to rain, so only two practices were held.Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2004 Dover 1 Race Info / Rundown Page http://www.jayski.com/next/2004/2004dover1.htm live https://web.archive.org/web/20050307212442/http://www.jayski.com/next/2004/2004dover1.htm 2005-03-07 2021-12-22 Jayski's Silly Season Site First practice The first practice session would occur on Friday, June 4, at 11:05 AM EST and would last for one hour and 55 minutes.Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2004 Dover 1 Race Info / Rundown Page http://www.jayski.com/next/2004/2004dover1.htm live https://web.archive.org/web/20050307212442/http://www.jayski.com/next/2004/2004dover1.htm 2005-03-07 2021-12-22 Jayski's Silly Season Site Jeremy Mayfield of Evernham Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 22.393 and an average speed of 160.764 mph km/h.2004-06-06 NASCAR.com - Races - 2004 Dover 1 Practice 1 Results http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2004/13/data/practice1_speeds.html live https://web.archive.org/web/20050307200059/http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2004/13/data/practice1_speeds.html 2005-03-07 2021-12-22 NASCAR.com Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed119Jeremy MayfieldEvernham MotorsportsDodge22.393160.764212Ryan NewmanPenske-Jasper RacingDodge22.494160.043325Brian VickersHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet22.578159.447Full first practice results Second and final practice The second and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, would occur on Saturday, July 24, at 11:10 AM EST and would last for 45 minutes.Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2004 Dover 1 Race Info / Rundown Page http://www.jayski.com/next/2004/2004dover1.htm live https://web.archive.org/web/20050307212442/http://www.jayski.com/next/2004/2004dover1.htm 2005-03-07 2021-12-22 Jayski's Silly Season Site Kurt Busch of Roush Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 23.155 and an average speed of 155.474 mph km/h.2004-06-06 NASCAR.com - Races - 2004 Dover 1 Practice 2 Results http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2004/13/data/practice2_speeds.html live https://web.archive.org/web/20050307200428/http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2004/13/data/practice2_speeds.html 2005-03-07 2021-12-22 NASCAR.com Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed197Kurt BuschRoush RacingFord23.155155.474219Jeremy MayfieldEvernham MotorsportsDodge23.198155.186341Casey MearsChip Ganassi RacingDodge23.199155.179Full Happy Hour practice results Qualifying Qualifying would occur on Friday, June 4, at 2:30 PM EST. Each driver would have two laps to set a fastest time; the fastest of the two would count as their official qualifying lap.Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2004 Dover 1 Race Info / Rundown Page http://www.jayski.com/next/2004/2004dover1.htm live https://web.archive.org/web/20050307212442/http://www.jayski.com/next/2004/2004dover1.htm 2005-03-07 2021-12-22 Jayski's Silly Season Site 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 Jeremy Mayfield of Evernham Motorsports would win the pole, setting a time of 28.776 and an average speed of 132.360 mph km/h.Mayfield grabs Dover pole https://www.autosport.com/nascar/news/mayfield-grabs-dover-pole-5010118/5010118/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20211222011523/https://www.autosport.com/nascar/news/mayfield-grabs-dover-pole-5010118/5010118/ 2021-12-22 2021-12-22 Autosport en Two crashes would occur in qualifying. First, Greg Biffle would hit the wall coming out of the second turn on his first lap, causing Biffle to not make a lap and forcing the team to qualify on a provisional.2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series MBNA America 400 Bud Pole Qualifying https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoxSiqQR1RM en 2021-12-22 Then, Michael Waltrip would spin and slam the wall on the second lap, causing Waltrip to go to a backup car and start at the rear for the race.Michael Waltrip Dover Crash https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLSGPv-29Es en 2021-12-22 Three drivers would fail to qualify: Hermie Sadler, Todd Bodine, and Larry Gunselman. Full qualifying results Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed119Jeremy MayfieldEvernham MotorsportsDodge22.288161.522212Ryan NewmanPenske-Jasper RacingDodge22.410160.643325Brian VickersHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet22.427160.52142Rusty WallacePenske-Jasper RacingDodge22.470160.214577Brendan GaughanPenske-Jasper RacingDodge22.522159.844638Elliott SadlerRobert Yates RacingFord22.568159.51876Mark MartinRoush RacingFord22.634159.053815Michael WaltripDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet22.673158.779942Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingDodge22.674158.7721020Tony StewartJoe Gibbs RacingChevrolet22.679158.7371197Kurt BuschRoush RacingFord22.682158.716129Kasey KahneEvernham MotorsportsDodge22.685158.6951324Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet22.688158.6741448Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet22.698158.6041549Ken SchraderBAM RacingDodge22.710158.5201640Sterling MarlinChip Ganassi RacingDodge22.728158.3951741Casey MearsChip Ganassi RacingDodge22.736158.3391818Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingChevrolet22.743158.2901943Jeff GreenPetty EnterprisesDodge22.750158.2422094Stanton BarrettW. W. MotorsportsChevrolet22.811157.8192122Scott WimmerBill Davis RacingDodge22.821157.7492299Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFord22.844157.5912310Scott RiggsMBV MotorsportsChevrolet22.847157.5702431Robby GordonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet22.885157.308250Ward BurtonHaas CNC RacingChevrolet22.888157.288268Dale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet22.935156.9652723Dave BlaneyBill Davis RacingDodge22.946156.8902821Ricky RuddWood Brothers RacingFord22.965156.7602988Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord22.989156.5973045Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesDodge22.997156.5423132Ricky CravenPPI MotorsportsChevrolet23.079155.9863201Joe NemechekMBV MotorsportsChevrolet23.095155.8783329Kevin HarvickRichard Childress RacingChevrolet23.096155.871345Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet23.106155.8043509Tony RainesPhoenix RacingDodge23.115155.7433650Mike WallaceArnold MotorsportsDodge23.119155.7163730Johnny SauterRichard Childress RacingChevrolet23.143155.5553851Kevin LepageCompetitive Edge MotorsportsChevrolet23.158155.454Provisionals3917Matt KensethRoush RacingFord23.360154.1104016Greg BiffleRoush RacingFord——414Jimmy SpencerMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevrolet23.283154.6194289Morgan ShepherdShepherd Racing VenturesDodge23.159155.4474372Kirk ShelmerdineKirk Shelmerdine RacingFord24.925144.433Failed to qualify or withdrew4402Hermie SadlerSCORE MotorsportsChevrolet23.318154.3874537Todd BodineR&J RacingDodge24.308148.0994698Larry GunselmanMach 1 MotorsportsFord——WD00Carl LongMcGlynn RacingChevrolet——WD7Dave BlaneyUltra MotorsportsDodge——WD35Kenny HendrickGary Keller RacingChevrolet——WD52Stan BoydRick Ware RacingDodge——WD90Kevin RayDonlavey RacingFord——Official qualifying results Race Pole sitter Jeremy Mayfield would lead the first lap of the race. The first caution flew on lap 12 of the race when Casey Mears crashed on the frontstretch. The race restarted on lap 19 with Mayfield leading but was soon passed by Brian Vickers. Mayfield would take the lead back on lap 26. On lap 31, the second caution flew for it being the competition caution. Tony Stewart won the race off of pit road but a majority of cars stayed out including Jeff Burton who led them back to green on lap 38. But on the same lap in turn 2, Elliott Sadler got turned by Kurt Busch and Sadler took out Brendan Gaughan in the process bringing out the third caution. The race restarted on lap 45. On lap 49, Tony Stewart took the lead from Jeff Burton. On lap 108, the fourth caution flew for debris. Stewart won the race off of pit road and led the field to the restart on lap 115. On lap 119, Jeremy Mayfield took the lead from Stewart. Stewart would eventually take the lead back 32 laps later. On lap 158, the 5th caution flew when Joe Nemechek crashed on the frontstretch after he got turned by Terry Labonte. Stewart won the race off of pit road again and would lead the field to the restart on lap 165. The 6th caution would fly on lap 222 when Jeff Gordon blew a right front tire and hit the wall in turn 2. Stewart won the race off of pit road again and led the field to the restart on lap 231. The 7th caution would fly on lap 233 for debris. The race got back underway on lap 238. Green flag pitstops began on lap 314. Stewart gave up the lead after holding onto it for 154 laps to pit and gave it to Jimmie Johnson. Johnson would pit and gave the lead to Ryan Newman. On lap 320, Newman attempted to come down pit road but came in too fast and ended up spinning out and hitting the tire barriers which brought out the 8th caution of the race. The caution period went on for another 25 laps while crews were making repairs to the barrier. The race restarted on lap 346 with Jeremy Mayfield as the leader. Mayfield would be quickly be passed by his teammate Kasey Kahne.Savvy Mark Martin avoids Dover melee to win The 45-year-old breaks a 73-race winless streak amid crash after crash. https://www.mcall.com/2004/06/07/savvy-mark-martin-avoids-dover-melee-to-win-the-45-year-old-breaks-a-73-race-winless-streak-amid-crash-after-crash/ Final laps On the restart in turn 3, the big one struck taking out 19 cars. It started when Dave Blaney came up in front of Michael Waltrip and got turned by Waltrip and spun in turn 3. This would cause a massive chain reaction crash to occur which also collected Ward Burton, Rusty Wallace, Mark Martin, Scott Riggs, Ryan Newman, Greg Biffle, Jeremy Mayfield, Ricky Rudd, Kevin Harvick, Sterling Marlin, Casey Mears, Jamie McMurray, Jeff Green, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Jarrett, Kurt Busch, and Jeff Burton. The race was red flagged to clean up the mess. The race would eventually restart with 46 laps to go with Kahne leading. With 27 laps to go, the 10th caution flew when Rusty Wallace blew a right front tire and hit the wall. Kahne, looking for his first win in his 13th start, led the field to the restart with 20 laps to go. But during the restart, Casey Mears' car began to lay fluid all on the racetrack. However, no caution was thrown. With 19 laps to go, Kasey Kahne went into turn three with the lead with Mark Martin and Tony Stewart following behind him when Kahne's car snapped around on him when his car got into the oil and the car hit the outside wall. Robby Gordon, Matt Kenseth, and Brian Vickers also crashed behind Kahne which brought out the 11th and final caution of the race. In a very heartbreaking way to lose the race, Kasey Kahne's day was all over. Kahne said in his interview that it felt like there was something on the racetrack. The race was red flagged again to clean up the oil. The race restarted with 9 laps to go and Mark Martin held onto the lead and won the race. The race would be Martin's first win since the 2002 Coca-Cola Racing Family 600 which snapped a 73-race winless streak. Only 5 cars finished on the lead lap in the race. Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jeff Burton and Scott Riggs rounded out the top 5 while Michael Waltrip, Terry Labonte, Jeremy Mayfield, Scott Wimmer, and Kevin Harvick rounded out the top 10. In an interview 16 years later on the NASCAR Weekly Podcast on YouTube with YouTubers Eric Estepp, Jaret Lundberg (The Iceberg), Darian Gilliam (Black Flags Matter), Matthew Henson (S1apSh0es), and Daniel Baldwin (DannyBTalks), Mark Martin talked about the race when he mentioned Kahne's spin saying that he "never felt nor saw" any oil on the racetrack.Estepp Eric July 1, 2020 NASCAR Weekly Podcast LIVE featuring Mark Martin & S1apSh0es https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rB9PslbKwE Race results Fin2004 MBNA America 400 "A Salute to Heroes" - The Third Turn https://www.thethirdturn.com/wiki/2004_MBNA_America_400_%22A_Salute_to_Heroes%22 2021-12-21 www.thethirdturn.com enSt#DriverTeamMakeLapsLedStatusPtsWinnings176Mark MartinRoush RacingFord40019running185$271,90021020Tony StewartJoe Gibbs RacingChevrolet400234running180$227,9783268Dale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet4000running165$186,82842299Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFord40015running165$149,17252310Scott RiggsMBV MotorsportsChevrolet4000running155$126,4876815Michael WaltripDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet3990running150$123,6117345Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet3990running146$118,3358119Jeremy MayfieldEvernham MotorsportsDodge39978running147$116,06592122Scott WimmerBill Davis RacingDodge3980running138$104,110103329Kevin HarvickRichard Childress RacingChevrolet3980running134$116,538112988Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord3980running130$107,967121197Kurt BuschRoush RacingFord3980running127$91,5351342Rusty WallacePenske-Jasper RacingDodge3980running124$114,578142431Robby GordonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet3980running121$106,02215942Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingDodge3970running118$82,510163132Ricky CravenPPI MotorsportsChevrolet3950running115$93,31017414Jimmy SpencerMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevrolet3920running112$82,12518638Elliott SadlerRobert Yates RacingFord3910running109$106,24319250Ward BurtonHaas CNC RacingChevrolet3910running106$70,285203730Johnny SauterRichard Childress RacingChevrolet3860running103$79,58521129Kasey KahneEvernham MotorsportsDodge38136crash105$103,960223917Matt KensethRoush RacingFord3810crash97$115,91323325Brian VickersHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet3807crash99$76,81024212Ryan NewmanPenske-Jasper RacingDodge3749running96$111,297251818Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingChevrolet3700running88$108,938264016Greg BiffleRoush RacingFord3700running85$74,00527577Brendan GaughanPenske-Jasper RacingDodge3610running82$73,335281741Casey MearsChip Ganassi RacingDodge3560running79$73,194291640Sterling MarlinChip Ganassi RacingDodge3521crash81$97,155302821Ricky RuddWood Brothers RacingFord3510crash73$88,061311943Jeff GreenPetty EnterprisesDodge3490crash70$87,605321448Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet3451crash72$80,995332723Dave BlaneyBill Davis RacingDodge3440crash0$61,045341549Ken SchraderBAM RacingDodge3370running61$60,860353650Mike WallaceArnold MotorsportsDodge2390wheel bearing58$61,570361324Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet2210crash55$107,908373045Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesDodge2170handling52$60,375383201Joe NemechekMBV MotorsportsChevrolet1560crash49$68,265394372Kirk ShelmerdineKirk Shelmerdine RacingFord530handling46$60,155403509Tony RainesPhoenix RacingDodge500handling43$60,025413851Kevin LepageCompetitive Edge MotorsportsChevrolet380transmission40$59,895424289Morgan ShepherdShepherd Racing VenturesDodge90handling37$59,800432094Stanton BarrettW. W. MotorsportsChevrolet20rear end34$59,684Official race results References 2004 Coca-Cola 600 2004 2004 Pocono 500 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Category:2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Category:NASCAR races at Dover Motor Speedway Category:June 2004 sports events in the United States Category:2004 in sports in Delaware Category:Articles with quotation marks in the title Category:Heroes