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A Past California Speedway Champ To Become 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Champion

In just a few days the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series will compete in its final event of the 36-race season and crown a champion, the one that is most successful on average in the 10-race "Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup." As it stands today, five drivers have a mathematical shot at the crown. This is the closest race since 1992 when six drivers were separated by 113 points. With one race to go, Davey Allison was the leader followed by Alan Kulwicki (-30), Bill Elliott (-40), Harry Gant (-97), Kyle Petty (-98) and Mark Martin (-113). Kulwicki won the championship by 10 points over Elliott. With the help of the new championship format that debuted this season, there are multiple reasons for California Speedway fans to cheer. Looking back over the speedway's history, the winner of the Cup race at the 2-mile, D-shaped oval has averaged a final championship standing of 7.5 in the same year they won the race. Here's a look at each year's Cup race winner and how they finished in the final points standings: 1997 - Jeff Gordon 1st 1998 - Mark Martin 2nd 1999 - Jeff Gordon 6th 2000 - Jeremy Mayfield 24th (competed in 32 of 34 races that season) 2001 - Rusty Wallace 7th 2002 - Jimmie Johnson 5th 2003 - Kurt Busch 11th 2004 - Jeff Gordon Currently 3rd 2004 - Elliott Sadler Currently 9th Of the top-10 drivers, Tony Stewart is the only competitor to have not won a race or held a pole position in one of NASCAR's top-three series at California Speedway. Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the 1998 Busch Series race here and the pole position in 1999, while Matt Kenseth has won three Busch races at the superspeedway (1999, 2000, 2003). If that wasn't enough, no driver outside the top-10, with the exception of Rusty Wallace (who currently sits 17th in the points) has won a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race at California Speedway. With that said, it is safe to say, that a former California Speedway winner will become the 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Champion. Here's a look at the top-10 and how they've finished at California Speedway: Kurt Busch - 2003 Auto Club 500 winner (NNCS), 4th on laps led with 135 (NNCS), average finishing position of 10th in 5 starts (NNCS), 2000 Motorola 200 winner and pole sitter (NCTS). Jimmie Johnson - 2002 NAPA Auto Parts 500 winner (first NNCS win), tied for 6th on laps led with 102 (NNCS), average finishing position of 10.66 (NNCS). Jeff Gordon - only three time California Speedway NNCS winner (1997 & 1999 California 500 presented by NAPA and 2004 Auto Club 500 winner), 1st on laps led with 412 (NNCS), only NNCS driver to break the $1 million dollar mark (total cup winnings at CS $1,301,231), average finishing position of 9.33 (NNCS). Dale Earnhardt Jr. - 1998 Kenwood Home & Car Audio 300 winner (NBS), 1999 Auto Club 300 pole sitter (NBS), two top 10 NNCS finishes (2001 & 2003). Mark Martin - 1998 California 500 presented by NAPA winner (NNCS), 2nd on laps led with 249 (NNCS), two IROC wins (1997 & 1998). Tony Stewart - 8th on laps led with 101 (NNCS), two 4th place finishes in NNCS (1999 & 2001). Ryan Newman - pole sitter record holder with a speed of 187.432 mph set in 2002 (NNCS), average starting position of 6.5 in four starts (NNCS), two top 5 finishes in NNCS events (both came in 2004). Matt Kenseth - three time California Speedway NBS winner (1999 & 2000 Auto Club 300 and 2003 CaliforniaSpeedway.com 300 winner), two top 5 finishes in NNCS events (Spring 2004 and 2000), 11th on laps led with 88 (NNCS). Elliott Sadler - 2004 Pop Secret 500 winner (NNCS), 14th on laps led with 59 (NNCS). Jeremy Mayfield - 2000 NAPA Auto Parts 500 winner (NNCS), one of 16 drivers to compete in every NNCS race at California Speedway completing 4,340 of 4,500 miles, four top 10 finishes (1998 2001). Interestingly enough, Terry Labonte has finished all but 10 miles (5 laps) of NNCS action at California Speedway, best of any driver. Labonte will be kicking off his final two years on the circuit (running part time) at California Speedway in the 2005 Auto Club 500 - February 27, one week after the season opening Daytona 500. The 2005 Auto Club 500 will mark the 10th NNCS event at California Speedway and its ninth season of racing. Don't miss out on all the action because, if history is any indication, California Speedway will play a prominent role in deciding not only who will be part of the top-10 for the "Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup," but also who may clinch the 2005 championship crown. Tickets are on sale now for the 2005 Auto Club 500.

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