2004 Nextel All-Star Challenge Explained

2004 Nextel All-Star Challenge
Data7:Open: N/A
All-Star Challenge: 91.889mph
Bodystyle:width: 27em
Label3:Date
Label4:Location
Data4:Concord, North Carolina, Lowe's Motor Speedway
Label5:Course
Data5:Permanent racing facility
1.5 mi (2.4 km)
Label6:Distance
Label12:Winner
Bodyclass:vevent
Label7:Avg Speed
Label8:Weather
Header1:Race details
Header9:Nextel Open
Label10:Pole
Data10:Dave Blaney (Bill Davis Racing)
Label11:Time
Data11:29.180
Data6:Open: 30 laps, 45miles
All-Star Challenge: 90 Laps, 135miles
Segment 1: 40 laps
Segment 2: 30 laps
Segment 3: 20 laps
Data12:Sterling Marlin (Chip Ganassi Racing)
Data18:49
Label19:Winner
Header14:Nextel All-Star Challenge
Label15:Pole
Data15:Rusty Wallace (Penske-Jasper Racing)
Label16:Pole
Data16:2:03.998
Label17:Most laps led
Data17:Ryan Newman (Penske-Jasper Racing)
Label18:Laps led
Label13:Fan Vote winner
Data13:Ken Schrader (BAM Racing)
Data19:Matt Kenseth (Roush Racing)
Header20:Television
Label21:Network
Data21:FX
Label22:Announcers
Data22:Mike Joy, Larry McReynolds, Darrell Waltrip
Head23:Radio
Label24:Network
Data24:Motor Racing Network

The 2004 Nextel All-Star Challenge was the second exhibition stock car race of the 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series and the 20th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, May 22, 2004, in Concord, North Carolina at Lowe's Motor Speedway, a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) permanent quad-oval. The race took the scheduled 90 laps to complete. At race's end, Matt Kenseth, driving for Roush Racing, would complete a late race pass of eventual second-place driver, Penske-Jasper Racing driver Ryan Newman to win his first and only Nextel All-Star Challenge win.[1] To fill out the podium, Tony Stewart of Joe Gibbs Racing finished third.

Background

Lowe's Motor Speedway is a motorsports complex located in Concord, North Carolina, United States 13 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. The complex features a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and the NEXTEL All-Star Challenge, as well as the UAW-GM Quality 500. The speedway was built in 1959 by Bruton Smith and is considered the home track for NASCAR with many race teams located in the Charlotte area. The track is owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports Inc. (SMI) with Marcus G. Smith (son of Bruton Smith) as track president.

Format and eligibility

The 90 laps of the Nextel All-Star Challenge was divided into three segments. Caution laps between segment breaks were not counted. The first segment was 40 laps long. Mandatory 10-minute pit stops/breaks were implemented in between both segment breaks. During the first 10-minute break, a random ping pong ball (each ball would have one NASCAR on Fox announcer or pit reporter on it) picked by Chris Myers would lead Myers to open a giant, promotional Nextel flip phone of the corresponding announcer. Each phone had a number that would decide how many cars would be inverted to start Segment 2, a 30-lap segment. After the second 10-minute break, drivers would race in a 20-lap shootout to decide the winner of the Nextel All-Star Challenge.

Drivers who had won in the previous season and the first 11 eleven races of the current season were automatically eligible to qualify for the Nextel All-Star Challenge. In addition, previous champions and former Nextel All-Star Challenge winners within the last 10 years (1994-2003) were also automatically eligible.

Teams who were not automatically eligible to qualify, but still wanted to have a chance at entering the Nextel All-Star Challenge were made to race in a qualifying race called the Nextel Open, a 30-lap shootout event where the winner of the event would qualify to race in the Nextel All-Star Challenge. Teams who were in the Top 50 in the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series owner's points standings were allowed to race in the Nextel Open. In addition, a televote was made open to the public where the driver who got the most votes from the public would also qualify to move on to the Nextel All-Star Challenge.

Entry list

Nextel Open

DriverTeamMakeSponsor
0Ward BurtonHaas CNC RacingChevroletNetZero HiSpeed
02Kevin LepageSCORE MotorsportsChevroletSCORE Motorsports
4Jimmy SpencerMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevroletMorgan–McClure Motorsports
10Scott RiggsMBV MotorsportsChevroletValvoline
19Jeremy MayfieldEvernham MotorsportsDodgeDodge Dealers, UAW
21Ricky RuddWood Brothers RacingFordMotorcraft
22Scott WimmerBill Davis RacingDodgeCaterpillar
23Dave BlaneyBill Davis RacingDodgeFinishLine Dodge
30Johnny SauterRichard Childress RacingChevroletAmerica Online
33Kerry EarnhardtRichard Childress RacingChevroletBass Pro Shops, National Wild Turkey Federation
40Sterling MarlinChip Ganassi RacingDodgeCoors Light
41Casey MearsChip Ganassi RacingDodgeTarget
42Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingDodgeTexaco, Havoline
43Jeff GreenPetty EnterprisesDodgeGreat American Bake Sale
45Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesDodgeDixie Krazy Kritters, Brawny
46Carl LongGlenn RacingDodgeRacingMetal.com "Thank You Fans!"
49Ken SchraderBAM RacingDodgeSchwan's Home Service
50Derrike CopeArnold MotorsportsDodgeGEICO
59Andy BelmontAndy Belmont RacingPontiacDave Despain 4 President
72Kirk ShelmerdineKirk Shelmerdine RacingFordVote for Kirk!
77Brendan GaughanPenske-Jasper RacingDodgeKodak
80Andy HillenburgHover MotorsportsFordCommercial Truck & Trailer, Spitfire Aviation
89Morgan ShepherdShepherd Racing VenturesDodgeCarter's Royal Dispos-all, Racing with Jesus
94Stanton BarrettW.W. MotorsportsChevroletHusqvarna
99Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFordRoundup
Official entry list

Nextel All-Star Challenge

DriverTeamMakeSponsor
01Joe NemechekMBV MotorsportsChevroletU.S. Army
2Rusty WallacePenske-Jasper RacingDodgeVote Miller For President Of Beers
5Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevroletKellogg's
6Mark MartinRoush RacingFordReverse Viagra
8Dale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt, Inc.ChevroletBudweiser
9Kasey KahneEvernham MotorsportsDodgeDodge Dealers, UAW
12Ryan NewmanPenske-Jasper RacingDodgeAlltel
15Michael WaltripDale Earnhardt, Inc.ChevroletNAPA Auto Parts
16Greg BiffleRoush RacingFordNational Guard
17Matt KensethRoush RacingFordDeWalt
18Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingChevroletInterstate Batteries
20Tony StewartJoe Gibbs RacingChevroletThe Home Depot, Shrek 2
24Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevroletDuPont Retro
25Brian VickersHendrick MotorsportsChevroletGMAC Financial Services
29Kevin HarvickRichard Childress RacingChevroletGoodwrench Engines, Snap-on
31Robby GordonRichard Childress RacingChevroletCingular Wireless
32Ricky CravenPPI MotorsportsChevroletTide
38Elliott SadlerRobert Yates RacingFordPedigree
48Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevroletLowe's
88Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFordUPS
97Kurt BuschRoush RacingFordIrwin Industrial Tools
98Geoff BodineMach 1 MotorsportsFordLucas Oil
Official entry list

Practice

Nextel Open first practice

The first Nextel Open practice was held on Friday, May 22, at 11:45 AM EST, and would last for 45 minutes.[2] Casey Mears of Chip Ganassi Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.525 and an average speed of 182.896mph.[3]

Pos.DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed
141Casey MearsChip Ganassi RacingDodge29.525182.896
243Jeff GreenPetty EnterprisesDodge29.775181.360
319Jeremy MayfieldEvernham MotorsportsDodge29.967180.198
Full first Nextel Open practice results

Nextel Open second and final practice

The second and final practice for the Nextel Open, sometimes known as Happy Hour, was held on Friday, May 22, at 1:15 PM EST, and would last for 45 minutes. Jeremy Mayfield of Evernham Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.827 and an average speed of 181.044mph.[4]

Pos.DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed
119Jeremy MayfieldEvernham MotorsportsDodge29.827181.044
20Ward BurtonHaas CNC RacingChevrolet29.951180.294
323Dave BlaneyBill Davis RacingDodge30.037179.778
Full Happy Hour Nextel Open practice results

Nextel All-Star Challenge practice

The only practice session for the Nextel All-Star Challenge was held on Friday, May 22, at 2:15 PM EST, and would last for 45 minutes. Mark Martin of Roush Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.978 and an average speed of 180.132mph.[5]

Pos.DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed
16Mark MartinRoush RacingFord29.978180.132
220Tony StewartJoe Gibbs RacingChevrolet30.029179.826
388Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord30.219178.696
Full Nextel All-Star Challenge practice results

Qualifying

Nextel Open

Qualifying for the Nextel Open was held on Friday, May 21, at 6:05 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.

Dave Blaney of Bill Davis Racing would win the pole, setting a time of 29.180 and an average speed of 185.058mph.[6]

Pos.DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed
123Dave BlaneyBill Davis RacingDodge29.180185.058
241Casey MearsChip Ganassi RacingDodge29.264184.527
342Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingDodge29.319184.181
419Jeremy MayfieldEvernham MotorsportsDodge29.425183.517
50Ward BurtonHaas CNC RacingChevrolet29.460183.299
640Sterling MarlinChip Ganassi RacingDodge29.484183.150
743Jeff GreenPetty EnterprisesDodge29.490183.113
84Jimmy SpencerMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevrolet29.579182.562
922Scott WimmerBill Davis RacingDodge29.608182.383
1077Brendan GaughanPenske-Jasper RacingDodge29.610182.371
1121Ricky RuddWood Brothers RacingFord29.689181.885
1233Kerry EarnhardtRichard Childress RacingChevrolet29.715181.726
1330Johnny SauterRichard Childress RacingChevrolet29.765181.421
1410Scott RiggsMBV MotorsportsChevrolet29.917180.499
1550Derrike CopeArnold MotorsportsDodge29.931180.415
1649Ken SchraderBAM RacingDodge29.953180.282
1799Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFord30.047179.718
1802Kevin LepageSCORE MotorsportsChevrolet30.190178.867
1989Morgan ShepherdShepherd Racing VenturesDodge30.310178.159
2094Stanton BarrettW.W. MotorsportsChevrolet30.443177.381
2145Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesDodge30.445177.369
2272Kirk ShelmerdineKirk Shelmerdine RacingFord30.951174.469
2346Carl LongGlenn RacingDodge30.999174.199
2480Andy HillenburgHover MotorsportsFord31.188173.143
2559Andy BelmontAndy Belmont RacingPontiac33.497161.208
Official qualifying results

Nextel All-Star Challenge

Qualifying for the Nextel All-Star Challenge was held on Friday, May 21, at 7:10 PM EST. Each driver would run 3 laps each, with each driver having to do a mandatory pit stop within those three laps.

Rusty Wallace of Penske-Jasper Racing would win the pole with a time of 2:03.998 and an average speed of 130.647mph.[7]

Pos.DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed
12Rusty WallacePenske-Jasper RacingDodge2:03.998130.647
212Ryan NewmanPenske-Jasper RacingDodge2:04.284130.347
317Matt KensethRoush RacingFord2:04.316130.313
46Mark MartinRoush RacingFord2:04.555130.063
520Tony StewartJoe Gibbs RacingChevrolet2:04.986129.615
629Kevin HarvickRichard Childress RacingChevrolet2:05.080129.517
738Elliott SadlerRobert Yates RacingFord2:05.256129.335
815Michael WaltripDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet2:05.579129.002
918Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingChevrolet2:05.602128.979
1016Greg BiffleRoush RacingFord2:05.750128.827
1148Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet2:06.363128.202
1225Brian VickersHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet2:08.077126.486
135Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet2:13.822121.056
1497Kurt BuschRoush RacingFord2:23.480112.908
158Dale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet2:24.529112.088
169Kasey KahneEvernham MotorsportsDodge2:24.542112.078
1724Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet2:24.942111.769
1888Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord2:25.851111.072
1901Joe NemechekMBV MotorsportsChevrolet2:26.017110.946
2032Ricky CravenPPI MotorsportsChevrolet2:26.522110.564
2131Robby GordonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet2:27.440109.875
2298Geoff BodineMach 1 MotorsportsFord2:27.728109.661
2340Sterling MarlinChip Ganassi RacingDodge
2449Ken SchraderBAM RacingDodge
Official qualifying results

Nextel Open results

Fin[8] StDriverTeamMakeLapsLedStatusWinnings
1640Sterling MarlinChip Ganassi RacingDodge305running$55,999
2419Jeremy MayfieldEvernham MotorsportsDodge300running$45,999
3342Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingDodge3020running$41,999
4743Jeff GreenPetty EnterprisesDodge300running$39,899
5922Scott WimmerBill Davis RacingDodge300running$38,899
61330Johnny SauterRichard Childress RacingChevrolet300running$36,899
750Ward BurtonHaas CNC RacingChevrolet300running$35,899
8123Dave BlaneyBill Davis RacingDodge305running$35,299
91649Ken SchraderBAM RacingDodge300running$34,799
101550Derrike CopeArnold MotorsportsDodge300running$34,549
111989Morgan ShepherdShepherd Racing VenturesDodge300running$34,299
122145Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesDodge300running$34,049
131802Kevin LepageSCORE MotorsportsChevrolet300running$33,799
142346Carl LongGlenn RacingDodge300running$33,699
152480Andy HillenburgHover MotorsportsFord300running$33,599
162559Andy BelmontAndy Belmont RacingPontiac300running$33,499
172094Stanton BarrettW.W. MotorsportsChevrolet300running$33,399
1884Jimmy SpencerMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevrolet270running$33,299
192272Kirk ShelmerdineKirk Shelmerdine RacingFord240accident$33,174
201233Kerry EarnhardtRichard Childress RacingChevrolet230accident$33,074
21241Casey MearsChip Ganassi RacingDodge00accident$32,974
221121Ricky RuddWood Brothers RacingFord00accident$32,874
231077Brendan GaughanPenske-Jasper RacingDodge00accident$32,774
241410Scott RiggsMBV MotorsportsChevrolet00accident$32,674
251799Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFord00accident$32,574
Official race results

Nextel All-Star Challenge results

Fin[9] StDriverTeamMakeLapsLedStatusWinnings
1317Matt KensethRoush RacingFord905running$1,044,000
2212Ryan NewmanPenske-Jasper RacingDodge9049running$306,400
3520Tony StewartJoe Gibbs RacingChevrolet9016running$216,200
4815Michael WaltripDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet900running$90,400
5188Dale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet904running$86,400
61724Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet900running$82,400
7169Kasey KahneEvernham MotorsportsDodge900running$78,400
8738Elliott SadlerRobert Yates RacingFord900running$77,400
912Rusty WallacePenske-Jasper RacingDodge909running$126,400
1046Mark MartinRoush RacingFord900running$85,400
111888Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord900running$74,400
121225Brian VickersHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet900running$73,400
132449Ken SchraderBAM RacingDodge900running$107,199
14135Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet907running$71,900
15918Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingChevrolet900running$71,400
162298Geoff BodineMach 1 MotorsportsFord890running$71,300
171148Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet540accident$71,200
182340Sterling MarlinChip Ganassi RacingDodge110accident$127,099
191016Greg BiffleRoush RacingFord100accident$71,000
201497Kurt BuschRoush RacingFord100accident$70,900
212131Robby GordonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet100accident$70,800
22629Kevin HarvickRichard Childress RacingChevrolet100accident$70,700
231901Joe NemechekMBV MotorsportsChevrolet100accident$70,600
242032Ricky CravenPPI MotorsportsChevrolet40accident$70,500
Official race results

Notes and References

  1. News: Bernstein. Viv. 2004-05-23. AUTO RACING; In a Race of All-Stars, Kenseth Shines the Brightest. en-US. The New York Times. 2022-02-20. 0362-4331.
  2. Web site: Jayski's Silly Season Site - The 2004 NASCAR Nextel All-Star Challenge. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20050204111307/http://www.jayski.com/stats/2004/winston2004.htm. 2005-02-04. 2022-02-21. Jayski's Silly Season Site.
  3. Web site: NASCAR.com - Races - 2004 Nextel Open Practice 1 Results. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20041206085008/http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2004/103/data/practice1_speeds.html. 2004-12-06. 2022-02-21. NASCAR.com.
  4. Web site: NASCAR.com - Races - 2004 Nextel Open Practice 2 Results. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20050307215721/http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2004/103/data/practice2_speeds.html. 2005-03-07. 2022-02-21. NASCAR.com.
  5. Web site: NASCAR.com - Races - 2004 Nextel All-Star Challenge Practice Results. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20050307215901/http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2004/105/data/practice1_speeds.html. 2005-03-07. 2022-02-21. NASCAR.com.
  6. Web site: Dave Blaney, Rusty Wallace on Open, All-Star poles. 2022-02-21. us.motorsport.com. en.
  7. News: Wallace Claims the Pole for All-Star Challenge. en-US. Washington Post. 2022-02-21. 0190-8286.
  8. Web site: 2004 Nextel Open - The Third Turn. 2022-02-20. www.thethirdturn.com. en.
  9. Web site: 2004 Nextel All-Star Challenge - The Third Turn. 2022-02-19. www.thethirdturn.com. en.