Photo – John Harrelson/Getty Images
Hendrick Motorsports had a young stable of development drivers for the 2004 season.
Kyle Busch was running the full Busch Series schedule and kicked off his season with a win in the ARCA opener at Daytona. Bobby Gerhart Racing teamed up with Hendrick to run Blake Feese, Kyle Krisiloff, and Boston Reid in the team’s No. 5 car in select ARCA races. The partnership started off with a bang, as Feese grabbed his first career win at Nashville in April.
Feese had some strong runs in the No. 5 car, but found himself in a Hendrick ARCA car for Talladega. The 22-year-old driver never made a start on a restrictor-plate track, and qualified the No. 94 CarQuest car on outside pole. It was the same car that Busch took to victory lane with at Daytona.
Veteran Frank Kimmel led the field to the green and already clinched his sixth ARCA championship in the previous race at Salem. Kimmel led the first 28 laps, with Feese following behind.
Another rookie driver also made his first start at Talladega. It was Chip Ganassi Racing development driver Reed Sorenson. Sorenson showed some muscle as he put the No. 77 car out front for 25 laps on the day.
The highlights of the day were the crashes. The most serious wreck involved Christi Passmore, who made hard contact with both the outside and inside retaining walls early in the race. She was awake and alert and taken to a local hospital overnight for further evaluation.
On lap 55, a multi-car wreck took out pole-sitter Kimmel.
Feese’s teammate Boston Reid was strong, as he found himself in front on lap 70. Feese would then get back by Reid 13 laps later. A lap 96 crash, hindered Reid’s strong run when he and Billy Venturini got together, ending both of their days.
Feese then held off a hard-charging Sorenson to get his second of two ARCA wins in 2004. Joe Gibbs Racing development driver Denny Hamlin came home third.
2004 Food World 300 Top Ten