NASCAR's annual stop in Southern California for the Napa Auto Parts 500 at California Speedway always makes for a nice way for racing fans to spend a sunny afternoon in Southern California. This year was no exception.

The nature of the track results in cars stringing out to a second or two gap between front runners and not running in the tight packs as found at most other high-speed ovals NASCAR races at. Despite this, the race was filled with excitement with many drivers charging up through the pack from lower starting positions, 24 lead changes, and an exciting ending that had the crowd on their feet wondering who would take the win. On what would have been his late father's 50th birthday Dale Earnhardt Jr. charged through the field from a 38th position starting spot in his backup car, and after falling a lap down, to be in contention for a potential race win at the end of the race.

In that later part of the race Rusty Wallace had pretty much taken charge of the race but was not able to run away and hide from other front runners Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Stewert, Jeremy Mayfield, Ricky Rudd, and others. On the restart after the final caution it looked like Jeff Gordon may have had a little something for Rusty Wallace but it was not to be. Rusty Wallace emerged the victor leaving Gordon and Earnhardt Jr. to fight out second spot.

After taking a cool down lap one of Rusty Wallace's crewmembers brought him a Dale Earnhardt flag to take a second victory lap while waving the flag to remember his late dear friend on what would have been Dale's 50th birthday.

Some quotes from Wallace and Gordon:

"Nowadays, starting a 500-miler 19th is not way back," Wallace said. "It's kind of an OK starting position. We had great pit stops. The pits are big and spacious, and it's easy to make a pit stop. I was picking off one at a time, and it's a long race. By the time I was 30 or 40 laps into it, I was clear up to seventh already and still going."

"I definitely used up everything I had there at the end," Gordon said. "If I could have been in front of him, it would have been a different deal, but that wasn't the case. The only way I was going to get by him if he made a big mistake. He ran a good clean line and didn't make any mistakes. He deserved to win. He had the fastest car there at the end."

"I knew he could make a serious run on me," Wallace said. "I knew my aero was enough that it would make his car push a little bit, so I'd run in low and kind of drift it out off 2. He made some gallant efforts."

Top 20 finishers, NAPA 500:

1) Rusty Wallace, No. 2 Miller Lite Ford, 250 Laps
2) Jeff Gordon, No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet, -.354 sec
3) Dale Earnhardt, Jr, No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet, -3.913
4) Tony Stewart, No. 20 Home Depot Pontiac, -4.216
5) Jeremy Mayfield, No. 12 Mobil 1 Ford, -5.215
6) Ricky Rudd, No. 28 Texaco/Havoline Ford, -5.470
7) Jimmy Spencer, No. 26 Kmart Ford, -5.867
8) Jerry Nadeau, No. 25 UAW/Delphi Chevrolet, -7.548
9) Sterling Marlin, No. 40 Coors Light Dodge, -9.928
10) Robert Pressley, No. 77 Jasper Engines & Transmissions Ford, -10.466
11) Johnny Benson, No. 10 Valvoline Pontiac, -10.915
12) Hut Stricklin, No. 90 Hills Bros Ford, -11.635
13) Kurt Busch, No. 97 Rubbermaid/Sharpie Ford, -13.062
14) Bill Elliott, No. 9 Dodge Dealers Dodge, -13.507
15) Steve Park, No. 1 Pennzoil Chevrolet, -13.781
16) Mike Wallace, No. 7 NationsRent Ford, -14.186
17) Matt Kenseth, No. 17 DeWalt Power Tools Ford, -15.104
18) Jason Leffler, No. 01 Cingular Wireless Dodge, -15.774
19) Andy Houston, No. 96 McDonald's Ford, -16.285
20) Joe Nemechek, No. 33 Oakwood Homes Chevrolet, -16.818