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Watch a condensed version of the Pop Secret 500!

Victory Lane
Elliott Sadler celebrates his second win of 2004

Second...Again
Kasey Khane on his 2nd place finish at California
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Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished 34th on Sunday, 19 laps down. Credit:
AutostockNotebook: Junior's night goes from bad to worseAlready in the Chase,
Earnhardt Jr. happy to leave FontanaBy Mark Aumann, NASCAR.COM
September 6, 2004
03:14 AM EDT (07:14 GMT)
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FONTANA, Calif. -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. won't look back on the inaugural Pop
Secret 500 with much fondness.

"I'm glad we're clinched because it was a nightmare," Earnhardt said. "It was
just a real frustrating night."
Earnhardt Jr. has already earned a spot in the Chase for the Nextel Cup. Credit:
Autostock
Starting 12th, Earnhardt immediately began losing spots, dropping back to 29th
by Lap 40. He got into the top 10 for the first time by Lap 200 but 18 laps
later, he spun out in Turn 4, starting a series of events that turned his night
from bad to worse.

"We pretty good at one point but the left rear tire went flat and I spun out on
it," Earnhardt said.

Earnhardt was then assessed a time penalty when NASCAR ruled he passed several
cars on his way into pit road. Then he had nowhere to go when Ken Schrader's
engine dumped oil and water on the track directly in front of Earnhardt on Lap
233, leaving Junior with a wrecked car and a 34th-place finish.

"I got back there behind Kenny when he blew up and got in some oil and tore the
car up," Earnhardt said. "It's not a real good finish for us, but I was really
kind of pleased with the way the guys were working and how the car was getting
better all night."
Fun in the California sun

Carl Edwards had tire problems on Lap 45 but battled back to finish sixth in the
No. 99 Ford.
Carl Edwards finished sixth Sunday night. Credit: Autostock
"We didn't panic," Edwards said. "I was hoping they'd throw the yellow and they
did. We got really fortunate there and that saved us. That was big."

Edwards was battling with Ryan Newman during the final 10 laps of green-flag
racing.

"Ryan Newman didn't want me to work him over too hard because he's racing for
that tenth spot in points, but I wasn't gonna cut him any slack," Edwards said.
"I could see how nervous he was.

"He kept holding his finger out like, 'Yeah, we're cool, we're cool.' I was
thinking, 'Man, I'm gonna try my hardest to pass you, but yeah, we're cool.'
That was fun."
Talking trash?

Food wrappers and newspapers were a constant problem early in the running, with
several cars overheating with trash stuck in their grilles. One of those was
Dale Jarrett, who wound up eighth.
VIDEO
Victory Lane
Elliott Sadler celebrates his second win of 2004 in the Pop Secret 500Final Laps
In a Texas flashback, Kahne chases Sadler to the checkersDale Jr. Done
Dale Jr. wrecks after sliding on Ken Schrader's oilTrouble at the Top
Jeff Gordon's engine expires and Dale Jr. spins on Lap 219Getting Loose
Kurt Busch gets aero-loose and spins but avoids hitting trafficTwo in the Grass
As Biffle dodges a loose Spencer, he spins Shane HmielBiffle Blows a Tire
Biffle blows a tire, damaging his car as well as the Nos. 24, 17 and 88Early
Trouble
J.J. Yeley spins, collects Brendan Gaughan on Lap 33• Unofficial Results•
Unofficial Standings• "Bubble" Standings• "Clinch" Standings

Workers picked up many of the papers by hand along the frontstretch during one
caution period.

"I guess a lot of fans were eating a lot of stuff," he said. "We'd prefer that
they throw their wrappers in a trash bag next time. I got a piece on my grille
and made the car run a little hot one time, but that's just part of the game."
Getting out the check-up book

The track temperature at the start of Sunday's race was 125 degrees and it was
30 degrees cooler by Lap 200, something Ryan Newman said contributed to some
wild racing.

"It was definitely hairy running three-wide there at the start of the race
because the track was so greasy," Newman said. "There at the end it was hairy
again and the track was stickier. Guys were running a lot harder and there was
less give and take.

"I know I had to check up a few times and a few times people had to check up for
me."
Hotter when the sun goes down

Jamie McMurray obviously is a night owl. With 75 laps to go, he was 18th and
advanced to fourth at the checkered flag.

"We had to make huge adjustments (after the sun went down)," McMurray said. "Our
first run, we were great. The next run was pretty good and then I couldn't
believe how tight the car got. We made huge changes."
Barely able to Cope

Derrike Cope had to have known that his night was doomed from the very
beginning.

Cope's No. 96 Ford failed to take the green flag because the crew was trying to
solve an electrical gremlin, finally getting on the track 12 laps later.

Cope's car then briefly caught fire on pit road during a stop. The night ended
on Lap 169 when Cope slammed into the Turn 1 wall.

He was evaluated and released from the infield medical center.



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