New Hampshire Motor Speedway is one of ten intermediate tracks that hold NASCAR races.[3] The standard track at New Hampshire Motor Speedway is a four-turn oval track, 1 mile (1.6km) long.[4] Its banking in the turns varies from two to seven degrees, while the front stretch, the finish line, and the back stretch are all banked at one degree.[4]
Two practice sessions were held on Friday before the Sunday race—both of which lasted 60 minutes.[7] During the first practice session, Gordon was fastest, placing ahead of Stewart in second and Robby Gordon in third. Newman was scored fourth, and Bobby Labonte placed fifth. Jamie McMurray, Kenseth, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Green and Casey Mears rounded out the top ten fastest drivers in the session.[8] Later that day, Rusty Wallace set the second session's fastest time, ahead of Kyle Busch, brother Kurt Busch and Kasey Kahne in second, third and fourth respectively. Stewart was fifth, while the rest of the top ten consisted of Travis Kvapil, J. J. Yeley, Newman, Martin and Jeff Burton.[9]
Although forty-nine cars attempted to qualify; according to NASCAR's qualifying procedure, only forty-three could race.
Tempers flared during the race day with the tone of the afternoon was set early when Scott Riggs tangled with playoff driver Kurt Busch on lap 3. Busch was sent to the garage for repairs and fell 66 laps down. Busch stormed Riggs' pit box, and had words with crew chief, Rodney Childers.[11][12] On lap 166, Kyle Busch tangled with Kasey Kahne, who was sent hard into the wall. During the caution, Kahne maneuvered his wrecked car in front of Kyle Busch.[13][11] On lap 191, Michael Waltrip and Robby Gordon crashed. The next time by, Gordon attempted ram Waltrip's car with his wrecked machine, then threw his helmet at Waltrip's car.[13][11]Ryan Newman eventually won the race by leading a total of 66 out of the 300 laps. Pole sitter Tony Stewart led 173 before getting passed by Newman on lap 298 of 300. This victory for Newman would jump him up in the Chase standings from 10th to 3rd with just 9 races to go with him finishing 6th at the end of the season.
NASCAR issued the following penalties following the race:
Kasey Kahne was $25,000 and docked him 25 points[13] and was placed on probation for the remainder of the season for the deliberate collision against Kyle Busch.[13]
Robby Gordon was fined a total of $35,000, docked 50 points[13][12] and was also placed on probation for the balance of the season for calling Waltrip a "piece of s**t" on the post-race live interview on TNT and for throwing his helmet at Waltrip's car; the 50-point penalty covered both charges at 25 points each.[13] Waltrip was also fined $10,000 and docked 25 points for using what seemed to be an obscene gesture, but after review of video on appeal, there was no obscene gesture and the penalty was overturned.[13]
Brian Vickers was fined $15,000 and docked 25 points for failing post-race inspection, unrelated to incidents above.[13]
↑"2004 Sylvania 300". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
↑"The Race: Sylvania 300". Jayski's Silly Season Site. ESPN Internet Ventures. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
↑"Practice One Speeds". NASCAR. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on November 20, 2005. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
↑"Practice Two Speeds". NASCAR. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on November 21, 2005. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
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