More than a Chase: fans will remember 2004 for the new points system, but the journey—as much as the finish—made the season special

Sporting News, The, Dec 13, 2004 by Matt Crossman

You've got to love a season in which Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon all had the inside track to the championship--and that was just in a span of five minutes in the final race of the season. Also atop the leaderboard in 2004 were Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Matt Kenseth. Elliott Sadler spent the entire season in the top 10 after having never finished higher than 20th in a season. Mark Martin and Jeremy Mayfield reminded the stock car world they still know how to wheel racecars.

But the season was exciting for more reasons than the merry-go-round that was the leaderboard. Nextel's inaugural season as the title sponsor for NASCAR's elite series was full of pathos, drama, humor, strangeness, weirdness and thrilling racing. The closest points race in NASCAR history didn't end until the last lap of the last race of the season. There was a new tire, a new gas and a new schedule. Oh, and wasn't there something different about the points system?

Most shocking gray hair: On Jeff Gordon's sideburns. But he didn't drive like a silvertop. He won five races and seven poles. Had his crew not dropped his car on an air hose in the second-to-last race, he likely would have won his fifth title. As it is, he'll be atop many preseason lists in 2005.

At least he didn't say "Wassuuuup!!!": President George W. Bush called Dale Earnhardt Jr. after Junior won the Daytona 500. Every time you hear a story about Junior "growing up" or "getting serious," remember that he told the Leader of the Free World to "take it easy." After the conversation, Junior checked the phone's number display--in case he wanted to call back the prez.

Most dominating performance, race: Jimmie Johnson at the Coca-Cola 600. He led 334 of 400 laps.

Most dominating performance, season: Jimmie Johnson. He won a series-best eight times, including four of the last six races. His 20 top fives were the most on the circuit.

Most bizarre way to raise money for a good cause: Kevin Harvick and Matt Kenseth bumped and spun each other several times at Pocono. The next week at Michigan, Harvick, sporting his best Eddie Haskell grin, walked around wearing a Kenseth T-shirt. It's easy to imagine Harvick standing in Kenseth's face, his index finger a quarter-inch from Kenseth's eye, saying, "I'm not touching you, I'm not touching you." Days later, Harvick put the shirt up for auction on his website. But Harvick became worried that the highest bidder was a Kenseth fan, so he chipped in some cash to make sure a Harvick fan got the shirt. The money raised by the sale of the shirt--which Harvick doubled--was given to the Victory Junction Gang Camp, a charity for children with life-threatening illnesses.

What the first Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup taught us about how to win this newfangled championship, Part I: It's still all about consistency. Jimmie Johnson won four of the 10 Chase races, and he still finished second. Kurt Busch had nine top 10s and won it all.

What the first Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup taught us about how to win this newfangled championship, Part II: From now on, drivers win focus less on the first 26 races and more on the final 10, especially those who easily will qualify for the Chase. Drivers will save their tests so they can peak at the end, following the template established this season by Kurt Busch. In particular, Dale Earnhardt Jr. says he will take a more laid-back approach to the first part of the season.

Most bizarre moment: In the middle of the final race of the season, with Kurt Busch running as the points leader, his right front tire started shaking and eventually came off.

Best pothole: At the Martinsville spring race. It was so big the race paused so a crew could fix it. Just like the Department of Transportation where you live, no?

Best "that's not what I meant, but I'll take it" moment: Elliott Sadler's day ended in a spectacular barrel roll at the fall Talladega race in 2003. So going into that race this season, his goal was modest: End the event on all four tires. On the last lap, coming out of the last turn, his car slid. went airborne, tambourined off its hood--and landed on all four tires, right at the start-finish line. He finished 22nd.

Most disappointing performance: Kevin Harvick had zero wins and was without a top five finish between the fall and spring races at Talladega. He was the best driver not to qualify for the Chase--and that's not meant as a compliment.

Best rally from irrelevance: Jeremy Mayfield stormed into the Chase by winning the final pre-Chase race at Richmond. The win more than saved his season; it rejuvenated his career, guaranteeing his first top 10 finish in points since 1998.

Most heartwarming moment: Jimmie Johnson's win at Atlanta, coming just one week after 10 people died when a Hendrick Motorsports plane crashed on the way to the race at Martinsville--which Johnson also won, unaware of the tragedy.

One-lap wonder: Call him Rocketman. Call him Mr. Friday. Just don't call him late for qualifying. Ryan Newman is the best qualifier on the circuit. You could make the case statistically that he's the best ever. But that ends this season. Next season, there will be no practice after qualifying. Teams won't make a distinction between race trim and qualifying trim, and that will end Newman's strong advantage.