2004 Dodge/Save Mart 350 Explained
The 2004 Dodge/Save Mart 350 was the 16th stock car race of the 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series season and the 16th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, June 27, 2004, in Sonoma, California, at the club layout in Infineon Raceway, a 1.99miles permanent road course layout. The race took the scheduled 110 laps to complete. At race's end, Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports would dominate the race to win his 67th career NASCAR Nextel Cup Series win and his third of the season.[1] To fill out the podium, Jamie McMurray and Scott Pruett of Chip Ganassi Racing would finish second and third, respectively.
Background
Infineon Raceway is one of two road courses to hold NASCAR races, the other being Watkins Glen International. The standard road course at Infineon Raceway is a 12-turn course that is 2.52miles long;[2] the track was modified in 1998, adding the Chute, which bypassed turns 5 and 6, shortening the course to 1.95miles. The Chute was only used for NASCAR events such as this race, and was criticized by many drivers, who preferred the full layout.[3] In 2001, it was replaced with a 70-degree turn, 4A, bringing the track to its current dimensions of 1.99miles.[4]
Entry list
| Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
|---|
| 0 | Ward Burton | Haas CNC Racing | Chevrolet | NetZero Hi Speed |
| 01 | Joe Nemechek | MBV Motorsports | Chevrolet | U. S. Army |
| 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Jasper Racing | Dodge | Miller Lite |
| 02 | Brandon Ash | Ash Motorsports | Ford | Ash Motorsports |
| 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kellogg's |
| 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | Viagra |
| 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | Budweiser |
| 9 | Kasey Kahne | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | Dodge Dealers, UAW |
| 10 | Scott Riggs | MBV Motorsports | Chevrolet | Valvoline |
| 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske-Jasper Racing | Dodge | Alltel |
| 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | NAPA Auto Parts |
| 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Racing | Ford | National Guard, Travelodge |
| 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | DeWalt Power Tools |
| 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | Interstate Batteries |
| 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | Dodge Dealers, UAW |
| 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | The Home Depot |
| 21 | Ricky Rudd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Motorcraft, U. S. Air Force |
| 22 | Scott Wimmer | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | Caterpillar |
| 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | DuPont |
| 25 | Brian Vickers | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | GMAC Financial Services |
| 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | GM Goodwrench |
| 30 | Jim Inglebright | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | America Online |
| 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Cingular Wireless |
| 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Chevrolet | Tide |
| 36 | Boris Said | MB2 Motorsports | Chevrolet | Centrix Financial |
| 38 | Elliott Sadler | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | M&M's |
| 39 | Scott Pruett | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | Target |
| 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | Coors Light |
| 41 | Casey Mears | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | Target |
| 42 | Jamie McMurray | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | Texaco, Havoline |
| 43 | Jeff Green | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories |
| 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | Georgia-Pacific Brawny |
| 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Lowe's |
| 49 | Ken Schrader | BAM Racing | Dodge | Schwan's Home Service |
| 50 | P. J. Jones | Arnold Motorsports | Dodge | Bennett Lane Winery |
| 52 | Carl Long | Rick Ware Racing | Dodge | Rick Ware Racing |
| 59 | Klaus Graf | BAM Racing | Dodge | SEM, Color Horizons |
| 61 | Austin Cameron | Bill McAnally Racing | Chevrolet | McMillin Homes |
| 72 | Tom Hubert | Kirk Shelmerdine Racing | Ford | Kirk Shelmerdine Racing |
| 77 | Brendan Gaughan | Penske-Jasper Racing | Dodge | Kodak |
| 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | UPS |
| 89 | Morgan Shepherd | Shepherd Racing Ventures | Dodge | Racing With Jesus, Red Line Oil |
| 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | Irwin Industrial Tools |
| 98 | Larry Gunselman | Mach 1 Motorsports | Ford | Gibson Products, Lucas Oil |
| 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | Roush Racing |
| Official entry list | |
|---|
*Withdrew.
[5] Practice
First practice
The first practice would occur on Friday, June 25, at 11:20 AM PST, and would last for two hours.[6] Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 1:15.363 and an average speed of 95.06mph.[7]
Second practice
The second practice would occur on Saturday, June 26, at 9:30 AM PST and would last for 45 minutes.[8] Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 1:15.867 and an average speed of 94.428mph.[9]
Third and final practice
The third and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, would occur on Saturday, June 26, at 11:10 AM PST and would last for 45 minutes.[10] Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 1:16.066 and an average speed of 94.181mph.[11]
Qualifying
Qualifying was held on Friday, June 25, at 3:10 PM PST. Drivers would each have one lap to set a lap time.[12] 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.[13]
Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports would win the pole, setting a new track record with a lap of 1:15.968 and an average speed of 94.303mph.[14]
Multiple drivers would suffer incidents that would considerably slow down their lap times or make them not set a lap. Michael Waltrip would report smoke and blow an engine coming into Turn 7 on his lap. Scott Riggs would spin, but still complete his lap. Ricky Craven would spin in Turn 10
Full qualifying results
Race results
| Fin[15] | St | | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
|---|
| 1 | 1 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 110 | 92 | running | 190 | $388,103 |
|---|
| 2 | 11 | 42 | Jamie McMurray | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 110 | 0 | running | 170 | $176,500 |
|---|
| 3 | 6 | 39 | Scott Pruett | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 110 | 1 | running | 170 | $120,100 |
|---|
| 4 | 40 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 110 | 0 | running | 160 | $147,646 |
|---|
| 5 | 34 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 110 | 0 | running | 155 | $112,915 |
|---|
| 6 | 19 | 36 | Boris Said | MB2 Motorsports | Chevrolet | 110 | 0 | running | 150 | $79,165 |
|---|
| 7 | 29 | 41 | Casey Mears | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 110 | 5 | running | 151 | $100,265 |
|---|
| 8 | 4 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 110 | 1 | running | 147 | $89,315 |
|---|
| 9 | 13 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 110 | 0 | running | 138 | $108,482 |
|---|
| 10 | 16 | 38 | Elliott Sadler | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 110 | 0 | running | 134 | $109,943 |
|---|
| 11 | 20 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 110 | 9 | running | 135 | $114,078 |
|---|
| 12 | 8 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 110 | 0 | running | 127 | $105,838 |
|---|
| 13 | 7 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Racing | Ford | 110 | 0 | running | 124 | $76,475 |
|---|
| 14 | 22 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske-Jasper Racing | Dodge | 110 | 0 | running | 121 | $106,742 |
|---|
| 15 | 17 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 110 | 1 | running | 98 | $107,653 |
|---|
| 16 | 42 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Chevrolet | 110 | 0 | running | 115 | $86,150 |
|---|
| 17 | 38 | 59 | Klaus Graf | BAM Racing | Dodge | 110 | 0 | running | 112 | $58,925 |
|---|
| 18 | 23 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 110 | 0 | running | 109 | $93,742 |
|---|
| 19 | 28 | 30 | Jim Inglebright | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 110 | 0 | running | 106 | $70,550 |
|---|
| 20 | 5 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 110 | 0 | running | 103 | $111,603 |
|---|
| 21 | 26 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 110 | 0 | running | 100 | $95,275 |
|---|
| 22 | 39 | 25 | Brian Vickers | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 110 | 0 | running | 97 | $71,550 |
|---|
| 23 | 18 | 49 | Ken Schrader | BAM Racing | Dodge | 110 | 0 | running | 94 | $61,900 |
|---|
| 24 | 14 | 0 | Ward Burton | Haas CNC Racing | Chevrolet | 110 | 0 | running | 91 | $62,630 |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | 22 | Scott Wimmer | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 110 | 0 | running | 88 | $82,970 |
|---|
| 26 | 33 | 77 | Brendan Gaughan | Penske-Jasper Racing | Dodge | 110 | 0 | running | 85 | $69,425 |
|---|
| 27 | 36 | 43 | Jeff Green | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 110 | 0 | running | 82 | $87,520 |
|---|
| 28 | 2 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Jasper Racing | Dodge | 109 | 0 | out of gas | 79 | $102,883 |
|---|
| 29 | 9 | 01 | Joe Nemechek | MBV Motorsports | Chevrolet | 109 | 0 | running | 76 | $79,515 |
|---|
| 30 | 21 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 109 | 0 | running | 73 | $77,849 |
|---|
| 31 | 30 | 9 | Kasey Kahne | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 109 | 0 | running | 70 | $90,250 |
|---|
| 32 | 27 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 109 | 0 | running | 67 | $57,800 |
|---|
| 33 | 10 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 104 | 0 | running | 64 | $103,773 |
|---|
| 34 | 24 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 100 | 0 | running | 61 | $92,917 |
|---|
| 35 | 12 | 21 | Ricky Rudd | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 97 | 0 | running | 58 | $83,751 |
|---|
| 36 | 3 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 94 | 1 | running | 60 | $78,160 |
|---|
| 37 | 43 | 98 | Larry Gunselman | Mach 1 Motorsports | Ford | 87 | 0 | out of gas | 52 | $57,625 |
|---|
| 38 | 32 | 61 | Austin Cameron | Bill McAnally Racing | Chevrolet | 78 | 0 | running | 49 | $57,590 |
|---|
| 39 | 31 | 50 | P. J. Jones | Arnold Motorsports | Dodge | 71 | 0 | rear end | 46 | $57,550 |
|---|
| 40 | 15 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 67 | 0 | engine | 43 | $84,250 |
|---|
| 41 | 37 | 02 | Brandon Ash | Ash Motorsports | Ford | 63 | 0 | rear end | 40 | $57,450 |
|---|
| 42 | 41 | 10 | Scott Riggs | MBV Motorsports | Chevrolet | 51 | 0 | crash | 37 | $82,597 |
|---|
| 43 | 35 | 72 | Tom Hubert | Kirk Shelmerdine Racing | Ford | 5 | 0 | too slow | 34 | $57,615 |
|---|
| Failed to qualify or withdrew |
|---|
| 44 | | 89 | Morgan Shepherd | Shepherd Racing Ventures | Dodge | |
|---|
| WD | 52 | Carl Long | Rick Ware Racing | Dodge |
|---|
| Official race results | |
|---|
Notes and References
- Web site: Utter. Jim. 2004-06-27. Gordon dominates, gets win at twisty Infineon Raceway. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20040701165018/http://www.thatsracin.com/mld/thatsracin/9027194.htm. 2004-07-01. 2021-12-18. ThatsRacin.
- Web site: Sears Point. 2021-11-13. www.gt-racing.co.uk.
- Web site: 2011-06-07. Passing is tough in Chute chronicle.augusta.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20110607182441/http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/1998/06/28/oth_232051.shtml. 2011-06-07. 2021-11-13.
- Web site: 2007-09-29. SEARS POINT BREAKS GROUND ON MODIFIED CHUTE - RacingWest. https://web.archive.org/web/20070929002246/http://www.racingwest.com/news/story.php3/2094/index.htm. 2007-09-29. 2021-11-13.
- Web site: Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2004 Sonoma Race Info / Rundown Page. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20050205225351/http://www.jayski.com/next/2004/2004sonoma.htm. 2005-02-05. 2021-12-19. Jayski's Silly Season Site.
- Web site: Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2004 Sonoma Race Info / Rundown Page. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20050205225351/http://www.jayski.com/next/2004/2004sonoma.htm. 2005-02-05. 2021-12-19. Jayski's Silly Season Site.
- Web site: 2004-06-27. NASCAR.com - Races - 2004 Sonoma Practice 1 Results. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20050306143009/http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2004/16/data/practice1_speeds.html. 2005-03-06. 2021-12-19. NASCAR.com.
- Web site: Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2004 Sonoma Race Info / Rundown Page. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20050205225351/http://www.jayski.com/next/2004/2004sonoma.htm. 2005-02-05. 2021-12-19. Jayski's Silly Season Site.
- Web site: 2004-06-27. NASCAR.com - Races - 2004 Sonoma Practice 2 Results. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20050306143248/http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2004/16/data/practice2_speeds.html. 2005-03-06. 2021-12-19. NASCAR.com.
- Web site: Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2004 Sonoma Race Info / Rundown Page. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20050205225351/http://www.jayski.com/next/2004/2004sonoma.htm. 2005-02-05. 2021-12-19. Jayski's Silly Season Site.
- Web site: 2004-06-27. NASCAR.com - Races - 2004 Sonoma Practice 3 Results. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20050306143834/http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2004/16/data/practice3_speeds.html. 2005-03-06. 2021-12-19. NASCAR.com.
- Web site: Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2004 Sonoma Race Info / Rundown Page. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20050205225351/http://www.jayski.com/next/2004/2004sonoma.htm. 2005-02-05. 2021-12-19. Jayski's Silly Season Site.
- Web site: 2005-02-05 . Jayski's Silly Season Site - Provisional Land Page . 2021-12-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20050205214731/http://www.jayski.com/stats/2004/2004prov.htm . 5 February 2005 . dead.
- Web site: Jeff Gordon snatches pole in Sonoma. 2021-12-19. us.motorsport.com. en.
- Web site: 2004 Dodge/Save Mart 350 - The Third Turn. 2021-12-19. www.thethirdturn.com. en.
