2004 EA Sports 500
# 2004 EA Sports 500

The 2004 EA Sports 500 was a NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race that took place on October 3, 2004, at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama. It was the 29th race of the 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series and the third in the ten-race, season-ending Chase for the Nextel Cup.

## Results

Source: :

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Sponsor | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 10 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Budweiser | Chevy | 188 | 78 | running | 165 |
| 2 | 15 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | GM Goodwrench | Chevy | 188 | 3 | running | 175 |
| 3 | 3 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | UPS | Ford | 188 | 0 | running | 165 |
| 4 | 26 | 77 | Brendan Gaughan | Kodak, Jasper Engines & Transmissions | Dodge | 188 | 7 | running | 165 |
| 5 | 8 | 97 | Kurt Busch | Sharpie, Irwin Industrial Tools | Ford | 188 | 4 | running | 160 |
| 6 | 30 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Home Depot | Chevy | 188 | 4 | running | 155 |
| 7 | 1 | 01 | Joe Nemechek | U.S. Army | Chevy | 188 | 1 | running | 151 |
| 8 | 34 | 41 | Casey Mears | Target | Dodge | 188 | 5 | running | 147 |
| 9 | 36 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Cingular Wireless | Chevy | 188 | 0 | running | 138 |
| 10 | 28 | 0 | Ward Burton | NetZero Hi Speed, Shark Tale | Chevy | 188 | 1 | running | 139 |
| 11 | 4 | 10 | Scott Riggs | Zerex, Valvoline | Chevy | 188 | 1 | running | 135 |
| 12 | 2 | 21 | Ricky Rudd | Motorcraft, Rent-A-Center | Ford | 188 | 0 | running | 127 |
| 13 | 13 | 30 | Jeff Burton | America Online | Chevy | 188 | 6 | running | 129 |
| 14 | 7 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Smirnoff Ice, DeWalt | Ford | 188 | 0 | running | 121 |
| 15 | 17 | 6 | Mark Martin | Viagra | Ford | 188 | 0 | running | 118 |
| 16 | 19 | 12 | Ryan Newman | Alltel | Dodge | 188 | 1 | running | 120 |
| 17 | 24 | 42 | Jamie McMurray | Texaco, Havoline | Dodge | 188 | 0 | running | 112 |
| 18 | 41 | 09 | Mike Wallace | Miccosukee Gaming & Resorts | Dodge | 188 | 4 | running | 114 |
| 19 | 5 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | DuPont | Chevy | 188 | 12 | running | 111 |
| 20 | 37 | 49 | Ken Schrader | Schwan's Home Service | Dodge | 188 | 1 | running | 108 |
| 21 | 38 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Kellogg's, Delphi | Chevy | 188 | 0 | running | 100 |
| 22 | 6 | 38 | Elliott Sadler | M&M's | Ford | 188 | 1 | running | 102 |
| 23 | 11 | 02 | Hermie Sadler | East Tennessee Trailers | Ford | 188 | 1 | running | 99 |
| 24 | 22 | 33 | Kerry Earnhardt | Bass Pro Shops, Tracker Boats | Chevy | 188 | 0 | running | 91 |
| 25 | 14 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | NAPA Auto Parts | Chevy | 188 | 7 | running | 93 |
| 26 | 33 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Miller Lite | Dodge | 188 | 15 | running | 90 |
| 27 | 23 | 9 | Kasey Kahne | Dodge Dealers, UAW | Dodge | 187 | 0 | running | 57 |
| 28 | 12 | 16 | Greg Biffle | National Guard, Subway | Ford | 187 | 0 | running | 54 |
| 29 | 35 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Georgia-Pacific, Brawny | Dodge | 187 | 0 | running | 76 |
| 30 | 20 | 11 | Ricky Craven | Old Spice | Chevy | 187 | 0 | running | 73 |
| 31 | 29 | 22 | Scott Wimmer | Caterpillar | Dodge | 187 | 0 | running | 70 |
| 32 | 43 | 1 | Kenny Wallace | Aaron's | Chevy | 185 | 0 | running | 67 |
| 33 | 42 | 98 | Larry Gunselman | Mach One Inc. | Ford | 183 | 0 | running | 64 |
| 34 | 32 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Coors Light, Rascal Flatts | Dodge | 178 | 0 | crash | 61 |
| 35 | 27 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Interstate Batteries | Chevy | 178 | 0 | crash | 58 |
| 36 | 21 | 25 | Brian Vickers | GMAC Financial Services | Chevy | 164 | 0 | overheating | 55 |
| 37 | 16 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Lowe's | Chevy | 157 | 35 | engine | 57 |
| 38 | 9 | 19 | Jeremy Mayfield | Dodge Dealers, UAW | Dodge | 147 | 0 | crash | 49 |
| 39 | 18 | 43 | Jeff Green | Cheerios, Betty Crocker | Dodge | 142 | 0 | crash | 46 |
| 40 | 40 | 4 | Jimmy Spencer | Lucas Oil | Chevy | 142 | 1 | crash | 48 |
| 41 | 31 | 06 | Chad Blount | Mobil 1 | Dodge | 131 | 0 | engine | 40 |
| 42 | 25 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Roush Racing | Ford | 122 | 0 | engine | 37 |
| 43 | 39 | 32 | Bobby Hamilton Jr. | Tide | Chevy | 120 | 0 | crash | 34 |
| Failed or qualify or driver change ||||||||||
| POS | NAME | NBR | SPONSOR | OWNER | CAR | | | | |
| 44 | Kevin Lepage | 37 | Carter's Royal Dispos-all | John Carter | Dodge | | | | |
| 45 | Kirk Shelmerdine | 72 | Vote for Bush | Kirk Shelmerdine | Ford | | | | |
| 46 | Carl Long | 80 | Commercial Truck & Trailer | Stan Hover | Ford | | | | |
| DC | Dave Blaney | 99 | Roush Racing | Jack Roush | Ford | | | | |

## Profanity controversy

Following the race Earnhardt Jr. generated controversy for using profanity during a television interview following his win. During a question that asked about the importance of his then fifth Talladega Win Earnhardt Jr replied "It don't mean shit right now. Daddy's won here 10 times."

Earnhardt Jr. was fined $10,000 and docked 25 driver points for the violation. Had Earnhardt Jr. not been penalized, he would have still finished 5th in that years championship, finishing only 6 points behind Mark Martin for 4th.

Earlier in the year NASCAR president Mike Helton warned drivers to not use profanity while during radio and television interviews (in light of the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy) and delivered a similar penalty to Johnny Sauter after he used profanity during a radio interview that occurred after a Busch Series race at Las Vegas in March 2004 as well as Ron Hornaday Jr.for comments following a Busch Series race in Dover in June 2004.

