2004 Chevy Rock & Roll 400

2004 Chevy Rock & Roll 400

Race details
Race 26 of 36 in the 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series
The 2004 Chevy Rock and Roll 400 program cover.
Date	September 11, 2004
Official name	47th Annual Chevy Rock & Roll 400
Location	Richmond, Virginia, Richmond International Raceway
Course	Permanent racing facility
Course length	0.75 miles (1.21 km)
Distance	400 laps, 300 mi (482.803 km)
Scheduled distance	400 laps, 300 mi (482.803 km)
Average speed	98.946 miles per hour (159.238 km/h)
Attendance	110,000
Pole position
Driver	Ryan Newman	Penske-Jasper Racing
Time	20.979
Most laps led
Driver	Jeremy Mayfield	Evernham Motorsports
Laps	151
Winner
No. 19	Jeremy Mayfield	Evernham Motorsports
Television in the United States
Network	TNT
Announcers	Allen Bestwick, Benny Parsons, Wally Dallenbach Jr.
Radio in the United States
Radio	Motor Racing Network

The 2004 Chevy Rock and Roll 400 was the 26th stock car race of the 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series season, the final race of the 2004 NASCAR regular season, and the 47th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, September 11, 2004, before a crowd of 110,000 in Richmond, Virginia, at Richmond International Raceway, a 0.75 miles (1.21 km) D-shaped oval. The race took the scheduled 400 laps to complete. At race's end, Jeremy Mayfield of Evernham Motorsports would pass a fuel-ailing Kurt Busch with 8 to go and take home a clutch win to lock himself into the 2004 Chase for the Nextel Cup. The race was Mayfield's fourth career NASCAR Nextel Cup Series win and his first and only win of the season.^[1] To fill out the podium, Dale Earnhardt Jr. of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. and Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports would finish second and third, respectively.

The ten drivers to make it into the inaugural Chase for the Nextel Cup were Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Stewart, Matt Kenseth, Elliott Sadler, Kurt Busch, Mark Martin, Jeremy Mayfield, and Ryan Newman.^[2]

Richmond International Raceway (RIR) is a 3/4-mile (1.2 km), D-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in Henrico County. It hosts the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series. Known as "America's premier short track", it formerly hosted a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, an IndyCar Series race, and two USAC sprint car races.

*Withdrew.^[3]

The first practice session was held on Friday, September 10, at 11:20 AM EST, and would last for two hours.^[3] Ryan Newman of Penske-Jasper Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 21.024 and an average speed of 128.425 miles per hour (206.680 km/h).^[4]

The second and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Friday, September 10, at 6:00 PM EST, and would last for one hour and 15 minutes.^[3] Kasey Kahne of Evernham Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 21.480 and an average speed of 125.698 miles per hour (202.291 km/h).^[5]

Qualifying was held on Friday, September 10, at 3:10 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.^[3] 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 20.979 and an average speed of 128.700 miles per hour (207.123 km/h).^[7]

Nine drivers would fail to qualify: Johnny Sauter, Tony Raines, Kevin Lepage, Greg Sacks, Hermie Sadler, Brad Teague, Ryan McGlynn, Morgan Shepherd, and Carl Long.