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With Nextel becoming the sponsor of the Cup Series in 2004, NASCAR introduced a new points system as well.

The top-ten drivers in points after 26 races go on to battle it out for the championship over the last ten races of the season.

MB2 Motorsports drier Joe Nemechek missed the Chase field and was only racing for pride during the last ten races in 2004. The only bright spot in his season was grabbing the pole the week before at Talladega. Along with his own Busch Series team, Nemechek ran double-duty at Kansas.

It looked like Tony Stewart was on his way to victory on Saturday, until Stewart went to block Nemechek for the lead and the No. 81 car ended up in the wall and setting up a green-white-checkered finish.

Nemechek continued on and nipped Greg Biffle at the checkered flag for his first Busch Series win. Could “Front Row” Joe duplicate his success on Sunday?
He got off to a great start by winning the Cup pole for the second straight week.

The lead changed hands 24 times between 12 different drivers in the 2004 Banquet 400. There wasn’t a clear-cut favorite to win the race.

Nemechek got past Elliott Sadler on lap 231 to take the lead. The No. 01 car had to hold on for many restarts toward the end. Ricky Rudd was starting to breathe down his bumper in the closing laps. Rudd pulled next to Nemechek, but both times the No. 21 car broke loose.

Nemechek had enough strength to hold on to get his first Cup win since Richmond in May 2003. The win at Kansas is his last Cup win to date.

2004 Banquet 400 Top Ten
#01 Joe Nemechek
#21 Ricky Rudd
#16 Greg Biffle
#38 Elliott Sadler
#19 Jeremy Mayfield
#97 Kurt Busch
#42 Jamie McMurray
#88 Dale Jarrett
#8 Dale Earnhardt Jr.
#77 Brendan Gaughan