NASHVILLE, TN - The #20 Spectrum Controls / Rockwell Automation team headed to Nashville Super Speedway to participate in the first stand along race of the 2004 season. Although several Nextel Cup drivers raced in the Pepsi 300, the Busch Series regulars put on a spectacular show while Mike Bliss wheeled home the 320 car in the 8th position.

After securing the 9th position in qualifying and struggling in the final practice, crew chief Steve Addington decided to throw the book at the car. Race day morning was busy as the #20 team made numerous changes under the car. With a little luck, the #20 car would be in for a good day.

Racing started out furious as the fans saw 56 laps of green flag racing until the first caution. Bliss was fighting a loose condition but still stayed in the top 10. When the car of Mike Wallace spun into the wall, Bliss's evasion took him through the path of the debris left by the #4 car. This resulted in a cut right rear tire. As Bliss tried to keep up with the pace car, he was unable to maintain the minimum 55 mph speed without the flat tire damaging his machine. By the time Bliss followed the leaders on pit road for service, he was at the tail-end of the lead lap in the 18th position.

"I wanted to be careful not to blow the tire and damage the rest of the race car," commented Bliss. "Although we were a little loose all around the track, the car was still running pretty good lap times. I figured it was better to go to the back and head to the front, than going behind the wall. Although the tire finally let go, it did not tear up the rear quarter panel at all."

After the restart, Bliss did not remain in 18th long. He quickly started picking off positions as he quickly moved into the top 15. The #20 machine was handling much better and the times showed on the scoring monitor. As the long green flag run continued, Bliss abandoned the 7 th position for a regularly scheduled pit on lap 137. Unfortunately, the caution flag would fly on lap 141 pinning Bliss one lap down to the leaders.

"I didn't have a choice on the green flag pit stop," said Addington. "We knew how much wear we could get out of the tires and it wasn't worth risking it by staying out. We knew we had a top-ten car; we just had to keep it in one piece for the end of the race. After changing the four tires, we saw one tire had already worn down to the cords (radials)."

Bliss, with four fresh tires, was determined to race back on the lead lap. He pulled to the bumper of the leader when the caution flag flew on lap 214. Being the first car one lap down Bliss received the "Lucky Dog" and was awarded his lap back. With the new rule, Bliss was forced to start at the tail end of the lead lap and with less than 10 laps to go that meant the back of the single file restart. As the race resumed, Bliss continued to drive to the front. As the four cars leading the race wrecked on the backstretch Bliss moved into the fourth position. He was later put back in the 8th position due to NASCAR determining the field was frozen.