2004 Subway 400

Ryan Newman, 2003's pole leader with 11, won the pole at Rockingham with a lap speed of {{convert|156.475|mph|km/h}} and a lap time of 23.398 seconds.{{cite web|last=O'Brien|first=Marty|url=https://www.dailypress.com/2004/02/21/newman-familiar-with-pole/|title=Newman Familiar With Pole|newspaper=Daily Press|date=February 21, 2004|access-date=January 26, 2014}} Dodges were the top four fastest, with Newman, Jamie McMurray ({{convert|155.379|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}), Kasey Kahne ({{convert|154.814|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}) and Rusty Wallace ({{convert|154.644|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}). Chevrolet driver Jeff Gordon qualified fifth with a lap speed of {{convert|154.318|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}; Jeremy Mayfield ({{convert|154.195|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}), Dale Earnhardt Jr. ({{convert|154.149|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}), Jeff Green ({{convert|154.117|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}), the previous year's race winner{{cite web|url=http://www.jayski.com/next/2004/2004rock.htm|title=THE RACE: Subway 400|work=Jayski's Silly Season Site|access-date=January 26, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009023841/http://www.jayski.com/next/2004/2004rock.htm|archive-date=October 9, 2012|url-status=dead}} Dale Jarrett ({{convert|154.078|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}) and Greg Biffle ({{convert|154.026|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}) rounded out the top ten. Morgan Shepherd and Andy Belmont failed to qualify{{cite news|last=Hembree|first=Mike|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/motor/nascar/2004-02-20-rockingham-pole_x.htm|title=Newman commands attention|newspaper=USA Today|date=February 20, 2004|access-date=January 26, 2014}} after the two crashed in practice.{{cite web|author=Associated Press|author-link=Associated Press|url=http://onlineathens.com/stories/022104/spo_20040221062.shtml|title=Newman takes another pole position for Subway 400|publisher=Online Athens|date=February 21, 2004|access-date=January 26, 2014}} Ryan McGlynn and Larry Gunselman also withdrew.

The entry list for the race was short, which led to a group of field-fillers entering the race, including Joe Ruttman, starting in his first Cup race since 1995,{{cite news|last=Hanley|first=Jim|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1916&dat=20040228&id=-BEhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=23QFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2295,3357877|title=Joe Ruttman fills up more than race field|newspaper=The Hour|date=February 28, 2004|access-date=January 27, 2014}} Kirk Shelmerdine, who made only two Cup Series starts since 1994, Carl Long, who started twice in 2001, and Andy Hillenburg, who failed to qualify for the 2004 Daytona 500. The four drivers were considerably slower than the 37 full-time teams; in comparison to Newman's qualifying speed, Hillenburg, who started 43rd, had a speed of {{convert|146.859|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}, a {{convert|9.616|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} differential. Hillenburg, who ran just six laps in the two practice sessions prior to the race, expressed interest in running the full race, stating, "I don't want to look like we're trying to capitalize on anything, but this is our window of opportunity. We're not here to go two laps and try to get a check. We're here to do the best we can."{{cite news|last=Fryer|first=Jenna|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/motor/nascar/2004-02-21-rockingham-advance_x.htm|title=Slowpokes bring up rear of Rockingham field|newspaper=USA Today|date=February 21, 2004|access-date=January 27, 2014}} After the race, rumors arose whether NASCAR had requested the field-fillers to appear and complete the 43-car field with the reward of money, possibly to satisfy television contracts, NASCAR vice president Jim Hunter denied the allegations.

1.Ryan Newman No.12 ALLTEL Dodge Penske Racing 156.475 mph

2.Jamie McMurray No.42 Texaco Havoline Dodge Chip Ganassi Racing 155.379 mph

3.Kasey Kahne* No.9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge Evernham Motorsports 154.814 mph

4.Rusty Wallace No.2 Miller Lite Dodge Penske Racing 154.644 mph

5.Jeff Gordon No.24 Dupont Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports 154.318 mph

6.Jeremy Mayfield No.19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge Evernham Motorsports 154.195 mph

7.Dale Earnhardt Jr. No.8 Budweiser Chevrolet Dale Earnhardt Incorporated 154.149 mph

8.Jeff Green No.43 STP/Cheerios Dodge Petty Enterprises 154.117 mph

9.Dale Jarrett No.88 UPS Ford Robert Yates Racing 154.078 mph

10.Greg Biffle No.16 Subway/National Guard Ford Roush Racing 154.026 mph

11.Bobby Labonte No.18 Interstate Batteries Chevrolet Joe Gibbs Racing 154.020 mph

12.Joe Nemechek No.01 US Army Chevrolet MB2 Motorsports 153.987 mph

13.Casey Mears No.41 Target Dodge Chip Ganassi Racing 153.942 mph

14.Sterling Marlin No.40 Coors Light Dodge Chip Ganassi Racing 153.942 mph

15.Brendan Gaughan* No.77 Kodak/Jasper Engines Dodge Penske/Jasper Racing 153.748 mph

16.Ward Burton No. 0 Netzero HiSpeed Chevrolet Haas CNC Racing 153,690 mph

17. Ricky Craven No.32 Tide Chevrolet PPI Motorsports 153.619 mph

18.Ken Schrader No.49 Schwan's Home Service Dodge BAM Racing 153.413 mph

19.Scott Riggs* No.10 Valvoline Chevrolet MBV Motorsports 153.297 mph

20.Brian Vickers* No.25 GMAC Financial Services Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports 153.169 mph

21.Mark Martin No. 6 Viagra Ford Roush Racing 153.015 mph

22.Ricky Rudd No.21 Motorcraft Ford Wood Brothers Racing 152.984 mph

23.Matt Kenseth No.17 DeWalt Ford Roush Racing 152.945 mph

24.Tony Stewart No.20 Home Depot Chevrolet Joe Gibbs Racing 152.875 mph

25.Elliott Sadler No.38 M&M's Ford Robert Yates Racing 152.798 mph

26.Kevin Lepage No.4 YokeTV.com Chevrolet Morgan-McClure Racing 152.792 mph

27.Kurt Busch No.97 Sharpie Ford Roush Racing 152.633 mph

28.Jeff Burton No.99 SKF Ford Roush Racing 152.486 mph

29.Jimmie Johnson No.48 Lowe's Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports 152.480 mph

30.Kyle Petty No.45 Georgia Pacific Dodge Petty Enterprises 152.353 mph

31.Scott Wimmer* No.22 Caterpillar Dodge Bill Davis Racing 152.290 mph

32.Kevin Harvick No.29 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet Richard Childress Racing 152.220 mph

33.Michael Waltrip No.15 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet Dale Earnhardt Incorporated 152.119 mph

34.Robby Gordon No.31 Cingular Wireless Chevrolet Richard Childress Racing 152.024 mph

35.Terry Labonte No.5 Kellogg's ChevroletHendrick Motorsports 151.722 mph

36.Johnny Sauter* No. 30 America Online Chevrolet Richard Childress Racing 151.283 mph

37.Derrike Cope No.50 Arnold Development Companies Dodge Derrike Cope 151.283 mph

38.Larry Foyt No.14 AJ Foyt Racing Dodge AJ Foyt Racing 151.221 mph

39.John Andretti No.1 Snap-On/Nilla Chevrolet Dale Earnhardt Incorporated 150.481 mph (provisional)

40.Joe Ruttman No.09 Phoenix Racing Dodge Phoenix Racing 145.142 mph (provisional)

41.Kirk Shelmerdine No.172 Tucson Ford Kirk Shelmerdine 145.661 mph

42.Carl Long No.146 Glenn Underwater Services Dodge Glenn Racing 148.739 mph

43.Andy Hillenburg No.280 Commercial Truck & Trailer Ford Stanton Hover 146.859 mph{{Cite web|date=2004-02-21|title=Qualifying times - Subway 400, North Carolina.|url=https://www.crash.net/nascar/results/88280/1/qualifying-times-subway-400-north-carolina|access-date=2021-06-11|website=Crash|language=en}}

* Rookie of the Year contender.

After one lap was completed, Joe Ruttman, who started 40th and did not make any attempts to practice, was ordered to park by NASCAR for not having a pit crew and collected $54,196. NASCAR eventually admonished Phoenix Racing owner James Finch for the incident. Kirk Shelmerdine was lapped after eight minutes and finished 42nd after not reaching the minimum speeds mandated by NASCAR, and was paid $54,895. Carl Long finished 38th after barrel-rolling on the backstretch. Andy Hillenburg managed to finish the race in 34th and 17 laps down, earning $55,425.{{cite web|last=Fryer|first=Jenna|url=https://www.espn.com/racing/news/story?id=1743378|title=NASCAR calls Ruttman run 'a sham'|publisher=ESPN|date=February 24, 2004|access-date=January 25, 2014}}

Pole-sitter Ryan Newman led the first two laps before getting passed by Jamie McMurray, who led until the first caution flag was waved for Ken Schrader's crash in turns one and two. Jeff Gordon took the lead, leading until lap 53 when Kyle Petty crashed. McMurray and Robby Gordon exchanged the lead during the caution period, while Newman, Jeff Gordon, and Matt Kenseth swapped the lead changes during the 71-lap green flag period, with Schrader and Jimmie Johnson's accident on lap 131 bringing out another caution. On lap 134, Kenseth claimed the lead and led for 79 consecutive laps until lap 214, when a debris caution came out. Despite Kevin Harvick briefly taking first, Kenseth regained the lead and led for 87 more laps. During those laps, on lap 265, Long collided with Joe Nemechek,{{cite web|author-link=Nick Bromberg|last=Bromberg|first=Nick|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/blog/from_the_marbles/post/Wreck-Week-Remember-Carl-Long-flipping-at-Rocki?urn=nascar-296436|title=Wreck Week: Remember Carl Long flipping at Rockingham?|publisher=Yahoo! Sports|access-date=February 18, 2014}} flipped down the backstretch, and landed in the turn 3 apron.{{cite web|author=Joe D.|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/34416-catching-up-with-carl-long|title=Catching up with Carl Long|publisher=Bleacher Report|date=July 2, 2008|access-date=February 18, 2014}} With 42 laps left, Robby Gordon crashed, and McMurray eventually passed Kenseth and Kasey Kahne, but NASCAR ruled that Kenseth and Kahne were finishing their pit stops and were leaving pit road, and as the field was frozen, McMurray's pass was voided.{{cite news|last=Diaz|first=George|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2004/02/23/kenseth-holds-off-kahne-for-subway-win/|title=Kenseth holds off Kahne for Subway win|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|date=February 23, 2004|access-date=January 26, 2014}} Kenseth battled Kahne for the win, and on the final lap, defeated Kahne by .01 seconds, while McMurray finished third. McMurray's team owner Chip Ganassi confronted the NASCAR haulers about Kenseth and Kahne's wave around; Ganassi stated, "We just got robbed in front of 100,000 people."{{cite web|last=Aumann|first=Mark|url=http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/articles/2012/04/05/maumann-retro-kkahne-mkenseth-rockingham-2004.html|title=AUMANN: RETURN TO ROCKINGHAM REMINDS KAHNE OF 2004|publisher=NASCAR|date=April 5, 2012|access-date=January 26, 2014}}

class="wikitable" !POS{{Cite web|title=Race Results|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/|access-date=2021-06-11|website=Racing-Reference|language=en-US}} !ST !# !DRIVER !SPONSOR / OWNER !CAR !LAPS !MONEY !STATUS !LED !PTS
1 |23 |17 |  Matt Kenseth |DeWalt Power Tools   (Jack Roush) |Ford |393 |222303 |running |259 |190
2 |3 |9 |  Kasey Kahne |Dodge Dealers / UAW   (Ray Evernham) |Dodge |393 |130125 |running |0 |170
3 |2 |42 |  Jamie McMurray |Texaco / Havoline   (Chip Ganassi) |Dodge |393 |96425 |running |76 |170
4 |13 |40 |  Sterling Marlin |Coors Light   (Chip Ganassi) |Dodge |393 |114900 |running |0 |160
5 |7 |8 |  Dale Earnhardt, Jr. |Budweiser   (Dale Earnhardt, Inc.) |Chevrolet |393 |118303 |running |0 |155
6 |1 |12 |  Ryan Newman |Alltel   (Roger Penske) |Dodge |393 |116152 |running |12 |155
7 |4 |2 |  Rusty Wallace |Miller Lite   (Roger Penske) |Dodge |393 |100643 |running |0 |146
8 |27 |97 |  Kurt Busch |Irwin Tools / Sharpie   (Jack Roush) |Ford |393 |83785 |running |0 |142
9 |16 |0 |  Ward Burton |NetZero Hi Speed   (Gene Haas) |Chevrolet |393 |66035 |running |0 |138
10 |5 |24 |  Jeff Gordon |DuPont   (Rick Hendrick) |Chevrolet |391 |111363 |running |39 |139
11 |6 |19 |  Jeremy Mayfield |Dodge Dealers / UAW   (Ray Evernham) |Dodge |391 |90210 |running |0 |130
12 |21 |6 |  Mark Martin |Pfizer / Viagra   (Jack Roush) |Ford |391 |72960 |running |0 |127
13 |32 |29 |  Kevin Harvick |GM Goodwrench   (Richard Childress) |Chevrolet |391 |100763 |running |2 |129
14 |36 |30 |  Johnny Sauter |America Online   (Richard Childress) |Chevrolet |391 |63560 |running |0 |121
15 |31 |22 |  Scott Wimmer |Caterpillar   (Bill Davis) |Dodge |391 |87560 |running |0 |118
16 |20 |25 |  Brian Vickers |GMAC Financial Services   (Rick Hendrick) |Chevrolet |391 |70760 |running |0 |115
17 |35 |5 |  Terry Labonte |Got Milk? / Kellogg's   (Rick Hendrick) |Chevrolet |391 |89110 |running |0 |112
18 |25 |38 |  Elliott Sadler |M&M's Black & White   (Yates Racing) |Ford |391 |90793 |running |0 |109
19 |22 |21 |  Ricky Rudd |Motorcraft   (Wood Brothers) |Ford |391 |87566 |running |0 |106
20 |15 |77 |  Brendan Gaughan |Kodak Easy Share   (Doug Bawel) |Dodge |391 |70110 |running |0 |103
21 |14 |41 |  Casey Mears |Target   (Chip Ganassi) |Dodge |390 |74810 |running |0 |100
22 |26 |4 |  Kevin Lepage |YokeTV.com   (Larry McClure) |Chevrolet |390 |71010 |running |0 |97
23 |10 |16 |  Greg Biffle |Subway / National Guard   (Jack Roush) |Ford |390 |69185 |running |0 |94
24 |12 |01 |  Joe Nemechek |U.S. Army   (Nelson Bowers) |Chevrolet |390 |75949 |running |0 |91
25 |11 |18 |  Bobby Labonte |Interstate Batteries   (Joe Gibbs) |Chevrolet |389 |102318 |running |0 |88
26 |24 |20 |  Tony Stewart |Home Depot   (Joe Gibbs) |Chevrolet |389 |103403 |running |0 |85
27 |18 |49 |  Ken Schrader |Schwan's Home Service   (Beth Ann Morgenthau) |Dodge |389 |56410 |running |0 |82
28 |8 |43 |  Jeff Green |STP / Cheerios   (Petty Enterprises) |Dodge |389 |82510 |running |0 |79
29 |39 |1 |  John Andretti |Snap-On Tools   (Dale Earnhardt, Inc.) |Chevrolet |388 |64000 |running |0 |76
30 |37 |50 |  Derrike Cope |Matrix Systems / Arnold Development Co.   (Don Arnold) |Dodge |386 |56375 |running |0 |73
31 |19 |10 |  Scott Riggs |Valvoline   (James Rocco) |Chevrolet |383 |80937 |running |0 |70
32 |38 |14 |  Larry Foyt |Foyt Racing   (A.J. Foyt) |Dodge |380 |55675 |running |0 |67
33 |33 |15 |  Michael Waltrip |NAPA   (Dale Earnhardt, Inc.) |Chevrolet |379 |92481 |running |0 |64
34 |43 |80 |  Andy Hillenburg |Commercial Truck & Trailer   (Stan Hover) |Ford |376 |55425 |running |0 |61
35 |17 |32 |  Ricky Craven |Tide   (Cal Wells) |Chevrolet |365 |63275 |running |0 |58
36 |34 |31 |  Robby Gordon |Cingular Wireless   (Richard Childress) |Chevrolet |350 |90412 |crash |5 |60
37 |28 |99 |  Jeff Burton |SKF   (Jack Roush) |Ford |344 |88592 |engine |0 |52
38 |42 |46 |  Carl Long |Al Smith Dodge / IPG   (Rick Glenn) |Dodge |255 |55135 |crash |0 |49
39 |30 |45 |  Kyle Petty |Georgia-Pacific / Brawny   (Petty Enterprises) |Dodge |221 |55070 |engine |0 |46
40 |9 |88 |  Dale Jarrett |UPS   (Yates Racing) |Ford |210 |85907 |engine |0 |43
41 |29 |48 |  Jimmie Johnson |Lowe's   (Rick Hendrick) |Chevrolet |128 |74750 |crash |0 |40
42 |41 |72 |  Kirk Shelmerdine |Tucson   (Kirk Shelmerdine) |Ford |19 |54895 |rear end |0 |37
43 |40 |09 |  Joe Ruttman |Phoenix Racing   (James Finch) |Dodge |1 |54196 |parked |0 |34
colspan="11" |Failed to qualify, withdrew, or driver changes:
WD | |00 |Ryan McGlynn |Buyer's Choice Auto Warranties |Chevrolet ! colspan="5" rowspan="5" |
WD | |39 |Larry Gunselman |Jay Robinson Inc. |Chevrolet
WD | |59 |Andy Belmont |Continental Fire & Safety |Pontiac
WD | |89 |Morgan Shepherd |Victory In Jesus |Ford
WD | |90 |Andy Hillenburg |Donlavey Racing |Ford

File:Daleearnhardtjr.jpg led the points standings after the race.]]

class="sortable wikitable " style="font-size: 95%;"
Pos ! Driver ! Points
1 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | style="text-align:center;"| 340
2 | Matt Kenseth | style="text-align:center;"| 333
3 | Kevin Harvick | style="text-align:center;"| 294
4 | Scott Wimmer | style="text-align:center;"| 288
5 | Jeff Gordon | style="text-align:center;"| 286
6 | Tony Stewart | style="text-align:center;"| 265
7 | Kurt Busch | style="text-align:center;"| 257
8 | Elliott Sadler | style="text-align:center;"| 255
9 | Ward Burton | style="text-align:center;"| 250
10 | Joe Nemechek | style="text-align:center;"| 241

{{Reflist}}

{{NASCAR next race

| Series = Nextel Cup Series

| Season = 2004

| Previous_race = 2004 Daytona 500

| Next_race = 2004 UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400

}}

{{2004 Nextel Cup}}

Subway 400

Subway 400

Category:NASCAR races at Rockingham Speedway