Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports[4] won the race from the pole position and also led the most laps.

Former Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Byron Leftwich was the grand marshal for the race; NBA All-Star Tracy McGrady was originally the grand marshal but was replaced by Leftwich due to scheduling conflicts.

[5] Ten laps into the race, Michael Waltrip passed pole-sitter, Jeff Gordon, for the lead.

The victory by Gordon made him the first driver since Cale Yarborough to win the Pepsi 400 from the pole.

[7] A version of the race's waning moments was included in the prologue of the video game NASCAR 06: Total Team Control, which involved Johnson pushing Gordon past Earnhardt.