Uncle Joe Benson at work & play at the California Speedway May 2004 NASCAR races.
Since its opening in 1997, Joe Benson has been the voice of the California Speedway. In that role, he handles the master of ceremonies duties for race day, as well as play-by-play announcing.
April 30 - May 2, 2004: This year's NASCAR Nextel Cup Automobile Club 500 at the California Speedway was hailed as the hottest ever at the Speedway. On-track temperatures on Sunday were over 145 degrees!! Saturday's NASCAR Busch Series Stator Bros. 300 saw Greg Biffle in Gatorade Victory Lane. Sunday's Cup race ended with Jeff Gordon's unprecedented third win at the track! Will Jeff score a four-peat Labor Day weekend at the Pop Secret 500? Stay tuned as the saga unfolds!
(Photos by 'Digital' Bill McDermott and Jan Benson.)
The U.S. Marines present the colors,
the fighter jets flyover and it's time to go racing!
Interviewing Kenny Schrader after he won
Saturday's NASCAR West Series King Taco 200.
Greg Biffle's winning pit stop in
Saturday's NASCAR Busch Series Stater Bros. 300,
followed by his trophy presentation and interview.
The crowd begins to filter in at 8am on race day.
The Uncle Joe's Racing Nissan 300ZX was on display
at the Arrow 93 booth.
Old friend Brendan Gaughan stopped by
to chat with Joe and Jim.
Too bad he missed the Miller Lite girls!
Unc introduces the drivers,
including Robby Gordon,
Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon
and Dale Earnhardt Jr..
The U.S. Navy Leapfrogs parachute in with the flag
and then it's time for the anthem to be sung.
The Auto Club's Tom McKernan and Rick Lalor with
J.B. and Jim Mueller.
The NASCAR Nextel Cup cars are ready to race.
Jeff Gordon enters Victory Lane,
and leaps from his car.
Afterward, 120,000 exhausted fans begin the trek home.
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