Dale Earnhardt, Jr. enjoyed his most successful NASCAR Sprint Cup season to date in 2004, winning six races and making the inaugural Chase. Obviously the big victory for Dale that season was in the Daytona 500; he followed up with wins at Atlanta and added a short track victory to his resume when he won the Chevy American Revolution 400 on a recently repaved Richmond International Raceway.

Brian Vickers looked to have the car to beat, qualifying on the pole at a speed of 129.983 mph, a track record that stands today. Ryan Newman started on the outside of the front row with Jeff Green and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. in row two. Jimmie Johnson and Robby Gordon filled out row three.

A caution with 56 laps remaining was a pivotal moment in the 400-lap race. Junior and future Hendrick teammates Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon stayed out to gain track position as Tony Stewart and most of the leaders made their last pit stop of the evening. Earnhardt was called to pit road where crew chief Tony Eury, Jr. and the No. 8 team were standing ready with four fresh tires.

“Tony told me to pit, but I didn’t hear him,” Junior said after the race.

When the field returned to green Dale Earnhardt, Jr. never looked back and claimed his third win of the 2004 season as 115,000 fans looked on. Jimmie Johnson finished second.

“Junior just took off, he flat out was on it and drove away from us," said Johnson.

Bobby Labonte finished third followed by Tony Stewart, Matt Kenseth and Jeff Gordon.

Dale, Jr. went on to win Bristol, Talladega and Phoenix and finish fifth in the 2004 Sprint Cup point standings.

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