HOMESTEAD, Fla., 23 November 2004 — Roush Racing’s Kurt Busch overcame a broken wheel and pit road confusion to capture his first NASCAR Nextel Cup championship with a fifth-place finish in Sunday’s Ford 400 at the Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Busch beat Jimmie Johnson by the smallest of margins — eight points (6,506-6,498). Previously, the closest finish ever in Nextel Cup racing was Alan Kulwicki’s 10-point win over Bill Elliott in 1992.
It was Ford and Roush Racing’s second consecutive series title following Matt Kenseth’s 2003 championship season. Busch is the third-youngest driver to win the title at 26 years, three months and 17 days. Only Bill Rexford (23 years, eight months) and Jeff Gordon (24 years, three months) were younger champions.
Meanwhile, Busch’s teammate Greg Biffle took the checkered flag 0.342 seconds ahead of Johnson. It was Biffle’s second win of the season and third of his “Cup” career.
The No. 97 Ford started on the pole and led the first four laps before giving way to teammate Biffle. He was still running second when he began to feel a bad vibration in the front of the car. Moments later, on lap 93, the right-front wheel broke into two pieces. Busch managed to guide his car down pit lane, barely missing the inside wall, while half the wheel bounced down the front stretch. The wheel rolling down the track was a lucky break as it brought out a caution and Busch remained on the lead lap. Still, he was all the way back in 28th place and had dropped to third place in the championship chase behind Johnson and Jeff Gordon.
