by Colleen Marie Lynch

Brendan Gaughan started the race in the 11th position. On lap 4, Casey Mears passed him moving him back to 12th.

Caution 1 came out on lap 7th when Andy Hillenburg's tires locked and he ran into the back of Todd Bodine then hit the wall. The race was restarted on lap 22.

Johnny Sauter brought out caution number 2 when he went high on the track and cut down his teammate Robby Gordon's tire. Robby tried to pit but couldn't and his car spun out. Hermie Sadler went high and just barely avoided it. The restart came out on lap 32.

On lap 38, Terry Labonte had to pit for a flat, and there was no caution called. Jeff Gordon continued to lead the race until Dale Earnhardt Jr passed him on lap 50.

Brendan stayed in the 12th position until lap 58 when Sterling Marlin passed him. On lap 60, Brendan was pushed back to the 15th position when both Rusty Wallace and Mark Martin passed him. A lap later, Ricky Rudd passed Brendan, moving him to 16th. Todd Bodine also went to the garage during this lap.

Jeff Gordon took over the lead on lap 68. On lap 81, Brendan passed Bobby Labonte, moving him to the 15th position. He moved up another position on lap 87 after passing Casey Mears. Tony Stewart passed Brendan on lap 96.

On lap 103, Brendan passed Ricky Rudd moving him into 14th. Then he continued passing cars on the next two laps moving him into 12th after getting by Kurt Busch and Ward Burton.

Caution number 2 came out on lap 120 after Joe Nemechek cut off Ken Schrader sending him hard into the wall. The race was restarted on lap 128. On lap 139, Casey Mears had a drive train problem, but no caution was called.

Two cars passed Brendan on the 145th lap sending him back to 14th. On lap 152, Jr passed him, and then on lap 155, Dale Jarrett passed him.

Caution 3 took place on lap 162 when Joe Nemechek and Kyle Petty got together. Scott Riggs bumped the slowed cars but held it. Then Micheal Waltrip, who couldn't avoid the slowed cars, bumped Scott sending him spinning.

After pits, Ryan Newman took the lead after taking only two tires. Brendan came out in the 16th position. The restart came out on lap 170.

Scott Wimmer passed Brendan on lap 174. Then on lap 177, Kasey Kahne and Kurt Busch passed Brendan, moving him into the 19th position.

On lap 180, Jimmie Johnson took over the lead from Ryan Newman. Brendan passed Ward on lap 181 and then he passed Kahne on lap 187. Jimmie Johnson gave the lead to teammate Jeff Gordon on lap 195.

The yellow flag flew for the 5th time on lap 216 when Brian Vickers got into the back of Brendan causing Brendan to get loose and fly towards the outside wall. Brendan managed to hold it causing his car to spin harmlessly without making any contact. However, Brendan did loose a lap over it, as did Brian Vickers, placing Brendan in the 26th position. The restart took place on lap 224.

Brendan was passed by Jeff Burton on lap 234. Then on lap 236, Brendan passed Jeff Burton and Scott Riggs moving him into 25th. For the next few laps, Brendan and Riggs battled for position. On lap 255, Mayfield passed him, and then on lap 264, Ricky Craven passed him. Brendan was being marked in the 27th position. Brendan's car was also experiencing overheating problems, and the lower groove was at times undrivable due to chunks on concrete being kicked up.

Jeremy Mayfield's car spun completely around and into the wall on lap 270 bringing out the 6th caution of the day. After Jeremy had to take his car to the garage, the restart took place on lap 276.

Less than 10 laps later, the 6th caution was called out when Ricky Rudd spun Michael Waltrip around. Under caution laps, a huge chunk of congrete came up from the track and hit Jeff Gordon's car causing significant damage to the right front of his car. It also left a big hole in the race track. The red flag came out on lap 291 so track workers could do a quick paving job.

After the hole is paved, the cars get going. Greg Biffle's car can't get going and needs a wrecker. Jeff Gordon and Ward Burton also pit before pit road is open. Jeff goes to the back of the field, but Ward gets a penalty for running the stop sign at the end of pit road. The restart is on lap 302. Brendan is in the 25th position.

On lap 372, caution 8 comes out for Kasey Kahne's flat tire. On the lap 380 restart, Brendan is in the 23rd position. Mark Martin has a fuel line problem. He brings his car to the garage on lap 382, moving Brendan to the 22nd position. Ricky Rudd pits on lap 294 for a flat right tire moving Brendan into the 21st position.

Jimmie Johnson takes the lead from Dale Jr on lap 410. Caution 9 came out on lap 415 when Scott Wimmer's breaks locked up going into the turn sending him slamming into the wall. Brendan is 20th on the lap 423 restart.

Caution number 10 came out on lap 429 when Kevin Harvick cut in front of Matt Kenseth. Matt bumped Harvick causing the 29 to spin. The green flag comes out on lap 440. Rusty Wallace takes the lead from Jimmie Johnson on lap 455.

Lap 456 brought out the 11th caution when Joe Nemechek spun. Ricky Craven's car also got banged up trying to avoid it. Brendan Gaughan got the lucky dog pass and was put back on the lead lap. The final restart was on lap 464.

On lap 471, Brendan moved into the 19th position. On lap 473, he passed Harvick. He passed Kyle Petty on lap 484, marking him in the 17th position.

Rusty Wallace won the Advance Auto Parts 500. Brendan finished in the 17th position.