 | | Jimmie Johnson (left) and Jeff Gordon embrace after JJ's win at Atlanta. Credit: Autostock |
Compiled by Mark Spoor, NASCAR.COM
December 25, 2004
07:50 AM EST (12:50 GMT)
This is the second of our top 10 lists for 2004. Sunday: Pictures. Celebrations are almost as much a part of NASCAR as racing itself. They're so much a part of the sport that Nextel centered its year-end ad campaign around them. This season, the post-race party even had a direct effect on the sport itself. Here's our list of the top 10 celebrations of 2004: 10. Hamilton wins the Truck Series title • What: Ford 200
• Where: Homestead-Miami Speedway
• When: Nov. 19  |  | VIDEO | |
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Bobby Hamilton had to deal with sponsors leaving during the season, but stayed focused on the job at hand, giving Dodge its first championship since Richard Petty won the NASCAR championship in 1975. --- 9. Truex Jr. wins the Busch Series title • What: BI-LO 200
• Where: Darlington Raceway
• When: Nov. 13 | | VIDEO | |
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Driving the Wrangler colors made famous by the late Dale Earnhardt, Martin Truex Jr. celebrated with first-time car owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Teresa Earnhardt after finishing fourth at Darlington behind race winner Jamie McMurray. --- 8. Stewart fights stomach cramps, field to win at The Glen • What: Sirius at the Glen
• Where: Watkins Glen International
• When: Aug. 15 | | VIDEO | |
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When Tony Stewart won the Sirius at the Glen in August, he made a quick exit from his car, not waiting for the normal cue to begin his Victory Lane celebration. He was in the bathroom nursing bad stomach cramps. While his crew tried to make him feel better during the day, Stewart said their efforts didn't help much. They did, however, help his car cross the finish line first despite the fact that its driver was begging for a bathroom break. --- 7. Mayfield wins at Richmond to get into the Chase • What: Chevy Rock and Roll 400
• Where: Richmond International Raceway
• When: Sept. 11 | | VIDEO | |
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As the 26th race of the first Nextel Cup Series season approached, Jeremy Mayfield knew that if he was going to get into the chase, he was going to have to do something he hadn't done in four years -- visit victory Lane. Mission accomplished. Mayfield won the Chevy Rock and Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway after leader Kurt Busch ran out of gas eight laps from the finish. "We had no choice but to try to win the race and lead the most laps," Mayfield said. "We really put it all together because we had to win. We focused all week on that." --- 6. Earnhardt Jr. wins the Daytona 500 • What: Daytona 500
• Where: Daytona International Speedway
• When: Feb. 15 | | VIDEO | |
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This celebration actually started in the infield at Daytona and most likely lasted all week long. After all, he had won in just five tries the race it took his legendary father 20 times to win. In fact, NBC's Bill Weber asked Earnhardt Jr. how long the celebration was going to last. His answer: "Man, I don't know." --- 5. Gordon doesn't visit Victory Lane after win at Indy • What: Brickyard 400
• Where: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
• When: Aug. 8 | | VIDEO | |
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Gordon, upon winning the Brickyard 400 in August, stopped his car on the start/finish line and climbed onto his window sill to salute the roaring crowd. He then jumped to the track, where his crew mobbed him in celebration. NBC Sports, with a narrow window for its post-race coverage, went onto the racetrack to interview Gordon before the network had to go off the air. Viewers never saw Gordon in Victory Lane -- a fact NASCAR wasn't thrilled with. "I can't adequately describe how emotional Sunday was," Gordon said. "When I got out of the car, it was my intention to get back in and drive to Victory Lane after waving to everyone in the stands." --- 4. Johnson wins at Pocono -- and triggers bottlegate • What: Pennsylvania 500
• Where: Pocono Raceway
• When: Aug. 1 | | VIDEO | |
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After Johnson got out of his car to celebrate in Victory Lane following his win in the Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono, he placed a large Lowe's sign in front of some plastic Powerade bottles. That's a no-no, NASCAR said. The sanctioning body fined him $10,000 for "following the directive of a NASCAR official as well as actions detrimental to stock car racing," in violation of Sections 12-2 and 12-4-A, respectively, of the Nextel Cup rule book. --- 3. Busch wins the inaugural Nextel Cup • What: Ford 400
• Where: Homestead-Miami Speedway
• When: Nov. 21 | | VIDEO | |
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There had been such buildup leading to the inaugural Chase for the Nextel Cup. First, we all wondered who would make the Chase. Then, we wondered what someone would have to do to come out on top of this new-fangled competition. When Busch held the Cup at Homestead after winning the closest championship battle in NASCAR history, the latter question was answered. Busch won the chase opener in Loudon, then held off his challengers all the way to Homestead with unmatched consistency -- and a little luck. When it was all over, it's likely that not only Busch, but the other nine chase drivers, let out a huge sigh of relief. --- 2. Junior's R-rated celebration at Talladega • What: EA Sports 500
• Where: Talladega Superspeedway
• When: Nov. 19 | | VIDEO | |
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NASCAR president Mike Helton had been warning drivers all season long to watch their language whenever they were on the air. Earnhardt Jr. tested that theory after getting his fifth Talladega victory in the EA Sports 500 in October. Asked by NASCAR broadcaster Matt Yocum about the significance of his fifth victory at Talladega, Earnhardt said, "It don't mean s--- right now. Daddy's won here 10 times." While the victory had given Earnhardt Jr. the points lead, the ensuing 25-point penalty -- the second he had suffered during the season -- gave the lead to Kurt Busch, who went on to win the championship. --- 1. Johnson wins at Atlanta • What: Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500
• Where: Atlanta Motor Speedway
• When: Oct. 31 | | VIDEO | |
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Never has a victory seemed more appropriate. Johnson held off Mark Martin's dominating car to win the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, easing some of the pain after the tragedy that struck Hendrick Motorsports the previous weekend when one of its planes crashed, killing 10 members of the Hendrick organization. "The No. 6 car was coming, but I had 10 angels riding along," Johnson said after the race. "I feel bad for Mark. He had the dominant car. But things happen for a reason." → Click here for other Top 10 Lists. | 
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