2004 UAW-GM Quality 500
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| Race details | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 31 of 36 in the 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series | |||
 The 2004 UAW-GM Quality 500 program cover, with artwork by NASCAR artist Sam Bass. The painting is called "Title Fight!" | |||
| Date | October 16, 2004 | ||
| Official name | 45th Annual UAW-GM Quality 500 | ||
| Location | Concord, North Carolina, Lowe's Motor Speedway | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||
| Course length | 1.5 miles (2.41 km) | ||
| Distance | 334 laps, 501 mi (806.281 km) | ||
| Scheduled distance | 334 laps, 501 mi (806.281 km) | ||
| Average speed | 130.214 miles per hour (209.559 km/h) | ||
| Attendance | 140,000 | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Penske-Jasper Racing | ||
| Time | 28.590 | ||
| Most laps led | |||
| Driver | Kasey Kahne | Evernham Motorsports | |
| Laps | 207 | ||
| Winner | |||
| No. 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | |
| Television in the United States | |||
| Network | NBC | ||
| Announcers | Allen Bestwick, Benny Parsons, Wally Dallenbach Jr. | ||
| Radio in the United States | |||
| Radio | Performance Racing Network | ||
The 2004 UAW-GM Quality 500 was the 31st stock car race of the 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series season, the fifth race of the 2004 Chase for the Nextel Cup, and the 45th iteration of the event. The race was on Saturday, October 16, 2004, before a crowd of 140,000 in Concord, North Carolina, at Lowe's Motor Speedway, a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) permanent quad-oval. The race took the scheduled 334 laps to complete. At the race's end, Jimmie Johnson of Hendrick Motorsports would take advantage of Kasey Kahne's bad luck at the end of the race, holding off the field on the final restart to win his 11th career NASCAR Nextel Cup Series win and his third of the season.[1] To fill out the podium, Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports and Dale Earnhardt Jr. of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. would finish second and third, respectively.
Entry list
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.
*Withdrew.[2]
**Barrett was originally tapped to drive the #94, and Cope to drive the #92. However, the #92 team would withdraw, and Cope would move to the #94.[2]
***Edwards drove in pre-race activities, but would not start the car on Saturday due to a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race he attended on the same day going late. As a result, backup driver Dave Blaney would start for Edwards, and Edwards would get in the car on lap 24. As Blaney had started the race, Blaney was credited with the finish.[2]
Practice
First practice
The first practice session was held on Thursday, October 14, at 2:20 PM EST, and would last for 2 hours.[2] Ryan Newman of Penske-Jasper Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 28.870 and an average speed of 187.045 miles per hour (301.020 km/h).[3]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Penske-Jasper Racing | Dodge | 28.870 | 187.045 |
| 2 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 28.967 | 186.419 |
| 3 | 38 | Elliott Sadler | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 29.037 | 185.970 |
| Full first practice results | ||||||
Second practice
The second practice session was held on Friday, October 15, at 4:30 PM EST, and would last for 45 minutes.[2] Mark Martin of Roush Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.710 and an average speed of 181.757 miles per hour (292.510 km/h).[4]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 29.710 | 181.757 |
| 2 | 9 | Kasey Kahne | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 29.729 | 181.641 |
| 3 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Roush Racing | Ford | 29.732 | 181.622 |
| Full second practice results | ||||||
Third and final practice
The third and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Friday, October 15, at 6:10 PM EST, and would last for 45 minutes.[2] Elliott Sadler of Robert Yates Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.710 and an average speed of 181.757 miles per hour (292.510 km/h).[5]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 38 | Elliott Sadler | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 29.662 | 182.051 |
| 2 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske-Jasper Racing | Dodge | 29.722 | 181.684 |
| 3 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.731 | 181.629 |
| Full Happy Hour practice results | ||||||
Qualifying
Qualifying was held on Thursday, October 14, at 7:10 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.[2] 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.[6]
Ryan Newman of Penske-Jasper Racing would win the pole, setting a time of 28.590 and an average speed of 188.877 miles per hour (303.968 km/h), setting a new track record.[7]
Nine drivers would fail to qualify: Kenny Wallace, Derrike Cope, Mike Wallace, Carl Long, Kirk Shelmerdine, Larry Foyt, Hermie Sadler, Morgan Shepherd, and Geoff Bodine.