Photo – Matt Sayles/AP
2004 was a season of major change in NASCAR’s top division.
The R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company ended its tenure as sponsor with the Cup Series as Nextel took over the sponsorship. Along with the new sponsor was a brand-new playoff system called the Chase for the Nextel Cup. The top ten drivers in points after the first 26 races would decide the championships for themselves in the last ten races.
The inaugural season for the Nextel Cup Series also saw a big shake-up in the schedule.
North Carolina Speedway went from two to one race and California Speedway would have two races. The traditional Labor Day race at Darlington was moved to November, as California’s second race would take their slot. The Pop Secret 500 would have a similar format to the Coca-Cola 600. The race would start in the daytime and finish in the nighttime.
Hendrick Motorsports rookie Brian Vickers won the pole for the race. His teammate, Jeff Gordon, won the other race at California earlier in May. Gordon started eighth, but was never a factor in his quest for the sweep. Vickers led 44 laps on the day and finished a respectable 13th.
The race for the lead changed hands between Mark Martin, Elliott Sadler, and rookie Kasey Kahne.
Sadler was having a stellar season with his No. 38 Robert Yates Racing team and looking for more. On the other hand, Kahne was looking for his first win, after finishing runner-up four times up to then.
On a restart with 27 laps to go, Sadler made a bold move in lapped traffic to go from third to first. Two more cautions would come out, but he held off the challenges of Kahne and Martin to get closer to clinching a spot in the inaugural Chase for the Nextel Cup.
All Sadler had to do next week at Richmond was to start the race and the No. 38 team would be part of the first-ever Chase.
2004 Pop Secret 500 Top Ten
#38 Elliott Sadler (two wins in 2004)
#9 Kasey Kahne (fifth runner-up finish of the season)
#6 Mark Martin (led the most laps with 65)
#42 Jamie McMurray
#12 Ryan Newman
#99 Carl Edwards
#10 Scott Riggs
#88 Dale Jarrett
#31 Robby Gordon
#2 Rusty Wallace