|| *Comments on the 2004 Pop Secret 500:* View the most recent comment <#44> | Post a comment <#post> 1. mark mc posted: 09.06.2004 - 11:06 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Wasn't Bill Elliott in the #98 car instead of the #91? thanks, Mark 2. STbastien posted: 09.08.2004 - 9:57 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I would have enjoyed a lot more an exciting race at Darlington...(with Terry Labonte as the winner ;) ). 3. Jack Lewis posted: 09.18.2004 - 4:53 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) mark mc, Bill was in the #98 car, as he was sponsored by McDonalds, who have Coke on their menu, while Evernham is sponsored by Pepsi/Mt. Dew. Great win by Elliott Sadler. Just wish it was at Darlington instead. 4. Jake posted: 10.02.2004 - 1:44 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Bill Elliott ran his own car as he was listed as car owner on NASCAR.com P.S. Congrats to Elliott Sadler, he did a great job!!! Also, this was Shane Hmiel's NEXTEL Cup debut. 5. Anonymous posted: 10.14.2004 - 2:06 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) They replaced Darlington for this? What a ripoff. Guess we'll be going to more cookie cutters in the future,and throwing away any tracks that actually require driving talent. 6. HomeDepotKid posted: 10.26.2004 - 9:40 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Yeah. I wish it was at Darlington as well(With yours truly in attendance:I was at the 2003 Southern 500) 7. CD posted: 10.31.2004 - 4:20 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kasey's fifth second. Bill Elliott also drove the 98 at Daytona with Coke C2 as sponsor. I miss this due to Hurricane Francis, but I didn't miss much. Darlington or The Rock would have been a better race here. 8. JRandShephard(dont ask why)fan posted: 03.02.2006 - 8:35 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) great run in one of edwards first starts 9. michael posted: 03.25.2006 - 3:47 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) congrats to elliott sadler being in 1st place and kasey kahne 2nd and ryan newman 5th 10. Miller4Prez64 posted: 05.18.2006 - 11:41 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I missed this race because of the hurricane in Florida and i'm glad, California speedway sucks 11. Jeff posted: 06.21.2006 - 7:59 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) I live here in California and didn't care for NASCAR screwing with a 50 year tradition of the Southern 500 on Labor Day weekend at Darlington, but I sure wasn't going to miss this race. I went to that awesome Darlington race in 2003 that was barely won by Craven and no Cali race has ever compared. I wish our track was a short track, but it is what it is and I'll take seeing Cup racing no matter what. I'm not averse to going to other tracks to see races either. I also went to Richmond in 2002(Tony won---yay) and Vegas in 2003(race was kinda a yawner, but a bad day's racing beats a good day working). This was Cali Speedway's 1st "night" race. With a start time at 4:30pm and a sunset at about 7:30pm I wondered how we were gonna get in much "night" racing under the lights. However the track record 11 cautions took care of that dilemma and we had a good chunk of real "night" racing. The racing may not always be the best at Cali Speedway, but ya have to admit that this track looks really kewl all lit up. ;) 12. Jeff posted: 06.21.2006 - 8:02 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) By the way; because Bill Elliott was in the 98 in this race(though the 91 got the owners points) and Derrike Cope was in the (1)98 car; it was Elliott that got to run the 98 and Cope had to change to another # and the Front Row Motorsports team chose the 96 for this race. 13. Rusty posted: 11.02.2006 - 12:55 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) JJ Yeley's nextel cup debut. 14. James W. McLaughlin posted: 12.22.2006 - 1:10 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Welcome back, Herbie! Herbie Fully Loaded was filmed during this race! 15. Anonymous posted: 08.24.2007 - 2:54 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Jeff Fuller's crew must have forgotten the radio-his car "overheated" after 5 laps. 16. SK posted: 09.07.2007 - 3:33 am Rate this comment: (2) (0) A race that will never be forgotten, as fans and historians alike reminisce about the humble beginnings of Shane Hmiel and J.J. Yeley's illustrious Cup careers. Right up there with fall '92 Atlanta and '93 Loudon. 17. SK posted: 12.08.2007 - 9:48 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) And on a more ironic note, though Jeff Fuller has performed a start-and-park in fewer than half of his 13 career Cup starts, he won more money for completing those 5 laps here than in any of those other races. 18. Kit posted: 09.15.2008 - 3:16 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) Hilarious, SK. I bet right now Hmiel is busy chasing the dragon. 19. JamieMcmurrayFan posted: 05.04.2010 - 3:25 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) This race showed marked the starts of two talented underachievers. JJ Yeley- i liked the dude, but frankly, he probably only got the ride because he was friends with Smoke and he was hispanic (not being racist, but seriously) Shane Hmiel- the chosen one, but he did not care. threw his career out the window (also his finger out the window) 20. Talon64 posted: 12.03.2010 - 7:12 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Elliott Sadler most recent Cup win as of now. Could be his last since he's not racing in Cup in 2011. 21. NASCAR 24/7 posted: 01.15.2011 - 2:29 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) A few facts about #84 Kyle Busch in this race: His best finish in 04, 24th 24th is one position better than Jimmie Johnson's best finish in 2001, when he ran his first 3 races His first win was in this race one year later in the #5 22. I Love Japan posted: 03.20.2011 - 3:54 pm Rate this comment: (0) (6) Last win in Sadler's first of 2 fluky years. Thankfully, he's out of Cup. Sadly he'll be on TV a lot more now and we'll have to listen to that ridiculous accent of his. 23. TaterRacing posted: 01.03.2012 - 8:41 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) If I remember right, this was the race where Brendan Gaughan lashed out during an interview about J.J. Yeley wrecking him. It was Yeley's debut and it was Gaughan's 6th straight DNF. 24. Daniel posted: 05.24.2012 - 12:51 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) In using fastest 43: #37 Kevin Lepage Out using fastest 43: #98 Derrike Cope 25. CBASS posted: 01.18.2013 - 2:15 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Sponsor updates #17 Smirnoff Ice #12 Sony WEGA/ Handycam #36 Team Centrix #21 Genuine Ford Parts & Service #45 Brawny #25 ditech.com/ GMAC #16 National Guard "Urban Camo" #30 AOL #97 IRWIN Industrial Tools #15 NAPA Auto Parts http://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/photos/main-gallery/?y=2004&s=5&dl=a&r=1372 26. Anonymous posted: 03.10.2013 - 7:43 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) "A race that will never be forgotten, as fans and historians alike reminisce about the humble beginnings of Shane Hmiel and J.J. Yeley's illustrious Cup careers. Right up there with fall '92 Atlanta and '93 Loudon." I'm so sorry, I just can't stop giggling at this. 27. Nascar24NBC posted: 07.17.2013 - 10:53 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Sweet Sweet Candy Victory :D Yea Ha! 28. JeffGordon#24 posted: 07.18.2013 - 11:33 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) He did it 2 wins Texas and Fontana 29. 83andJoe posted: 09.16.2013 - 12:42 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) #98 owner: Bill Elliott 30. Nascar Lead Lap Points posted: 07.31.2014 - 10:35 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Withdrew (A Bunch) #09 Joe Ruttman Miccosukee Gaming & Resorts Dodge James Finch #62 Damon Lusk SWAT Fitness Club Chevrolet Larry Hollenbeck #92 Tony Raines Broadway Motors Ford Bob Jenkins #93 Steve Grissom Global Industrial Contractors Chevrolet Pat Whitener Crew Chief #09 Marc Reno https://web.archive.org/web/20040901004939/http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2004/25/data/entry_list.html 31. NASCARLover22 posted: 08.24.2015 - 6:59 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Sponsor updates: #98 McDonald's "I'm Lovin' It" #36 Team Centrix #12 Sony WEGA/Handycam #45 Brawny/GP.com #16 National Guard "Urban Camo" #97 Irwin Industrial Tools #84 Carquest/Kellogg's #96 Mach I Racing #18 Wellbutrin XL/Interstate Batteries #10 Valvoline/Eagle One 32. Big Mac Fan posted: 11.11.2015 - 10:22 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Can someone explain to me how Harvick dropped from 8th to FIFTEENTH in points in one race with no penalties? That surprises me. 33. 88&4Fan posted: 11.11.2015 - 10:55 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Because the points were just that close. A few races later of course would be the famous Jeremy Meth... er Mayfield (sorry just had to lol) win to get in the chase which ended up one of the best championship battles ever. Those were the days... 34. Anonymous posted: 12.08.2015 - 9:10 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Elliott Sadler's last cup win. 35. Anthony posted: 09.05.2016 - 8:10 pm Rate this comment: (0) (3) Quite literally one of the most pointless races ever. The experiment only lasted 3 years before NASCAR returned to the Southeast area with Atlanta and another 6 years after that to return the race to a place it never should have left. NASCAR wants us to forget their choice to "enter new markets". 36. Football Fan posted: 09.05.2016 - 9:03 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Will never know why NASCAR decided to put this crap heap race on labor day weekend. Glad that Darlington got its date back last year 37. Maverick posted: 09.05.2016 - 9:13 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) I'm glad they moved it. Because Darlington would never have been this special if it wasn't moved in the first place. 38. RaceFanX posted: 09.05.2016 - 9:18 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Will never know why NASCAR decided to put this crap heap race on labor day weekend. Glad that Darlington got its date back last year" NASCAR was expanding and it was thought LA was a market big enough to support two races. Simple as that. 39. joey2448 posted: 09.06.2016 - 7:28 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) "The experiment only lasted 3 years before NASCAR returned to the Southeast area with Atlanta" Actually, NASCAR ran at California on Labor Day weekend from 2004 to 2008, before returning to the southeast (Atlanta) in 2009, so that makes it five years that the "experiment" was on the west coast. 40. John posted: 03.21.2018 - 6:09 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @37 Interesting take. 41. Anonymous posted: 04.01.2020 - 7:02 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Yes it was Kyle Busch's best finish of 2004 but also his very 1st Cup Lead Lap finish. 42. rm posted: 04.07.2020 - 12:15 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) From the broadcast: 4 crew chief - Tim Brewer 36 crew chief - Gary Putnam 45 crew chief - Bill Henderson I don't know how it would officially be listed, or if it's even worth the effort since he already qualified 43rd, but Derrike Cope was pushed back to the garage before the green and missed the start with some mechanical issue. He was also shown getting the wave as the free pass under the first caution. With a pit road fire (which left noticeable burn marks on the quarter panel) and his crash later in the race leaving him 40th, he might have been better off staying back in the garage. Cope limped out of the car but was in good enough shape to run the next event at Richmond. While nobody will mistake the wide, sweeping turns at Fontana for the claustrophobic corners of Darlington, you couldn't tell the drivers in the field that this race was less tough than any given Southern 500. Though the start time was later in the day than high noon, the temperature was 99 degrees when the green flag waved and much higher than that inside the cars. At the time of the third caution, just before the 100-mile mark, it was still 96 degrees. The track didn't fall under mostly shade until around 100 laps were left, but even then the air temperature was still 92 degrees. It's hard to fault Brendan Gaughan for being upset with his sixth straight DNF, especially with how it occurred, but a driver with the yellow stripes still on the back of his car doesn't have a lot of room to talk about who should or shouldn't be allowed on the track. Gaughan pit when the pits were closed (one of a handful of guys who were caught on that) and was stuck well back in the pack on the subsequent restart, running about 10 spots behind JJ Yeley when Yeley spun in turn 2. The field went low to miss Yeley while Gaughan was already committed to go high and when Yeley turned back up the track - having escaped major damage to this point - Gaughan clobbered poor Yeley. High speed wreck avoidance in NASCAR is a theory almost as much as it is a skill, and my decade-and-a-half-late armchair-spotter senses tell me that even if Yeley hadn't turned back up towards the wall, Gaughan wouldn't have cleared the #11 car by very much. (For a similar scenario with even more disastrous results, see: Chad McCumbee, Michigan, 2004) NASCAR has been long derided for throwing debris cautions for hot dog wrappers, and those detractors would have been absolutely correct regarding the fifth caution. The caution was indeed thrown for a hot dog wrapper - or, rather, about 100 of them floating around the frontstretch, sticking to grilles left and right and causing overheating problems on nearly every driver the cameras could find. After laps of complaints from drivers and spotters, NASCAR finally threw the yellow so they could blow off the frontstretch and clear the track. The only driver that listed "overheating" as their DNF reason was Jeff Fuller's 5 lap start-and-park, because of course that's what happened. The blown engines didn't start to come until very late in the race. Ken Schrader's blown engine and resulting fiery crash with Dale Earnhardt Jr. was particularly frightening, and unfortunately collected an innocent victim in Earnhardt that was just trying to limp to the finish of a rough night. 43. Jimmie4life posted: 04.20.2020 - 10:33 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) I enjoyed this race... but god, 99 degrees? I don't know why you'd race in temperatures where you could sweat just by sitting down at... I know it turned to a night race, but still, it was probably 85 or so degrees still. 44. SweetRich posted: 06.29.2020 - 10:57 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) The commentators were Allen Bestwick, Benny Parsons and Wally Dallenbach. The pit road reporters were Bill Weber, Matt Yocum, Marty Snider and Dave Burns. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *Post a comment:* Your comment may not appear immediately - all comments must be approved by the moderator. Name: Comment: