Random Recap: The 2004 Samsung Radio Shack 400
Welcome to Random Recaps, our new weekly feature at From The Marbles. In this space, we’ll recap a race from the past at the track the where Sprint Cup Series is racing next.
This week’s race is the 2004 Samsung Radio Shack 500. Need to know how Random Recap works? Click here.
Johnny Sauter almost became Elliott Sadler’s No. 1 enemy.
Sadler was busy holding off a furious charge from Kasey Kahne over the final laps of the Samsung Radio Shack 500 when Sauter’s lapped car ended up right in front of him on the final lap.
With Kahne on Sadler’s bumper and looking to the outside, the two closed quickly on Sauter. But instead of pulling over on the backstretch or way high in turns three and four, Sauter maintained race pace.
As Kahne pulled to the outside of Sadler’s car off turn four, Sadler quickly closed the door. Though he couldn’t keep his car in front for long as Kahne had more momentum. To prevent a possible spin-to-win situation, Sadler moved down a lane above Sauter and held off Kahne by half a car.
Had Sauter been the tiniest bit slower in turns three and four, he could have affected the outcome of the race. He didn’t, as he stayed ahead of the two leaders – just barely – but if he had bobbled at any point as the leaders were barreling down on him, the race might have been Kahne’s first win rather than Sadler’s second.
Sadler led the final 27 laps of the race, taking the lead from Jeff Gordon following a restart for oil on the track. Kahne had the day’s fastest car and led 148 laps. With another lap of the race he might have led 149.
Gordon finished third, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was fourth and Rusty Wallace was fifth. Kurt Busch finished sixth and leads the points standings by 19 over teammate Matt Kenseth.
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Nick Bromberg is the editor of From The Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!
