Full Throttle

Pop Secret 500, sorry, suffering withdrawal symptoms. The more things change, the more they remain the same the more they change for good.

The lights were a hit as records fell and Elliott Sadler’s stock rose at the inaugural “Finish Under the Lights” Pop Secret 500 at California Speedway.

Driving the No. 38 M&M’s Ford, Sadler treated those in attendance to his second victory of 2004 and third overall, nosing out rookie Kasey Kahne (No. 9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge) to set a California Speedway NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series record for closest margin of victory of 0.263 seconds. Mark Martin (No. 6 Viagra Ford) finished third.

“I am happy to win the first Labor Day race here at California. That means my name will be in the books for a long, long time,” said Sadler, who clinched a spot in the “Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup” by virtue of his victory. Sadler, who is in sixth place with 3,204 points, will have an easy ride this weekend in Richmond as he has already locked up one of the coveted 10 spots in the “Chase.”

With Mark Martin moving into the top ten the Chase may provide him another chance to grab a Championship that, so far, has been the only missing item from an otherwise steller career.

NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series - Pop Secret 500
California Speedway, Fontana, Calif.
Sunday, September 5, 2004

1. (17) Elliott Sadler, Ford, 250, $279,398.
2. (5) Kasey Kahne #, Dodge, 250, $190,315.
3. (11) Mark Martin, Ford, 250, $144,450.
4. (23) Jamie McMurray, Dodge, 250, $124,500.
5. (14) Ryan Newman, Dodge, 250, $154,367.
6. (19) Carl Edwards, Ford, 250, $136,792.
7. (9) Scott Riggs #, Chevrolet, 250, $121,437.
8. (25) Dale Jarrett, Ford, 250, $124,642.
9. (35) Robby Gordon, Chevrolet, 250, $128,612.
10. (26) Rusty Wallace, Dodge, 250, $131,808.
11. (4) Kurt Busch, Ford, 250, $108,425.
12. (10) Joe Nemechek, Chevrolet, 250, $114,700.
13. (1) Brian Vickers #, Chevrolet, 250, $107,625.
14. (16) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 250, $103,800.
15. (34) Jeff Burton, Chevrolet, 250, $96,200.
16. (2) Jeremy Mayfield, Dodge, 250, $110,900.
17. (20) Ricky Rudd, Ford, 250, $111,556.
18. (33) Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 250, $127,978.
19. (15) Terry Labonte, Chevrolet, 250, $110,775.
20. (37) Bobby Labonte, Chevrolet, 250, $127,033.
21. (38) Scott Wimmer #, Dodge, 250, $103,875.
22. (30) Matt Kenseth, Ford, 250, $129,803.
23. (21) Michael Waltrip, Chevrolet, 250, $115,606.
24. (18) Kyle Busch, Chevrolet, 250, $78,250.
25. (3) Bill Elliott, Dodge, 250, $77,925.
26. (31) Sterling Marlin, Dodge, 250, $114,325.
27. (13) Jeff Green, Dodge, 250, $106,935.
28. (27) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 250, $116,238.
29. (6) Casey Mears, Dodge, 249, $90,750.
30. (36) Boris Said, Chevrolet, 249, $77,700.
31. (39) Ward Burton, Chevrolet, 248, $80,150.
32. (41) Jimmy Spencer, Chevrolet, 247, $79,600.
33. (40) Ken Schrader, Dodge, 231, engine failure, $77,050.
34. (12) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 231, accident, $125,103.
35. (28) Kyle Petty, Dodge, 225, engine failure, $85,339.
36. (7) Greg Biffle, Ford, 213, accident, $84,900.
37. (8) Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 209, engine failure, $124,228.
38. (24) Bobby Hamilton Jr., Chevrolet, 207, $84,800.
39. (29) Shane Hmiel, Dodge, 173, transmission, $76,740.
40. (43) Derrike Cope, Ford, 154, accident, $76,690.
41. (32) J.J. Yeley, Chevrolet, 32, accident, $76,640.
42. (22) Brendan Gaughan #, Dodge, 32, accident, $84,585.
43. (42) Jeff Fuller, Dodge, 5, overheating, $75,875.

Average Speed of Race Winner: 128.324 mph.
Time of Race: 3 hours, 53 minutes, 47 seconds.
Margin of Victory: 0.263 Seconds.
Caution Flags: 11 for 51 laps.
Lead Changes: 29 among 13 drivers.

Lap Leaders: B. Vickers # 1-9; J. Mayfield 10-18; B. Vickers # 19-44; K. Busch 45-51; M. Waltrip 52-61; M. Martin 62-73; B. Vickers # 74-79; M. Martin 80-105; E. Sadler 106; K. Schrader 107; J. Spencer 108; E. Sadler 109-121; K. Kahne # 122-124; E. Sadler 125-128; K. Kahne # 129-133; M. Martin 134-157; J. Johnson 158; R. Newman 159-160; S. Hmiel 161-164; K. Kahne # 165-172; E. Sadler 173; R. Gordon 174-176; E. Sadler 177-184; R. Gordon 185-189; E. Sadler 190-193; K. Kahne # 194-216; M. Martin 217-219; E. Sadler 220; B. Vickers # 221-223; E. Sadler 224-250.
Top 10 in Points: J. Johnson - 3,482; J. Gordon - 3,432; D. Earnhardt Jr. - 3,366; T. Stewart - 3,304; M. Kenseth - 3,253; E. Sadler - 3,204; K. Busch - 3,186; R. Newman - 3,078; K. Kahne # - 3,067; M. Martin - 3,058.