The 2004 DHL 400 was the 15th stock car race of the 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series season and the 36th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, June 20, 2004, before a crowd of 160,000 in Brooklyn, Michigan, at Michigan International Speedway, a two-mile (3.2 km) moderate-banked D-shaped speedway. The race took the scheduled 200 laps to complete. At race's end, the race would end under caution after P. J. Jones crashed in Turn 2 in the last lap, leaving Ryan Newman of Penske-Jasper Racing winning his 10th career NASCAR Nextel Cup Series win and his first of the season.^[1] To fill out the podium, Kasey Kahne of Evernham Motorsports and Dale Jarrett of Robert Yates Racing would finish second and third, respectively.

The race was held at Michigan International Speedway, a two-mile (3.2 km) moderate-banked D-shaped speedway located in Brooklyn, Michigan. The track is used primarily for NASCAR events. It is known as a "sister track" to Texas World Speedway as MIS's oval design was a direct basis of TWS, with moderate modifications to the banking in the corners, and was used as the basis of Auto Club Speedway. The track is owned by International Speedway Corporation. Michigan International Speedway is recognized as one of motorsports' premier facilities because of its wide racing surface and high banking (by open-wheel standards; the 18-degree banking is modest by stock car standards).

The first practice session would occur on Friday, June 18, at 11:20 AM EST, and would last for two hours.^[2] Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 37.719 and an average speed of 190.885 miles per hour (307.200 km/h).^[3]

The second practice session would occur on Saturday, June 19, at 9:30 AM EST, and would last for 45 minutes.^[2] Jeremy Mayfield of Evernham Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 38.503 and an average speed of 186.998 miles per hour (300.944 km/h).^[4]

The third and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, occurred on Saturday, June 19, at 11:10 AM EST, and would last for 45 minutes.^[2] Elliott Sadler of Robert Yates Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 38.477 and an average speed of 187.125 miles per hour (301.148 km/h).^[5]

Qualifying was held on Friday, June 18, at 3:05 PM EST. Each driver would have two laps to set a fastest time; the fastest of the two would count as their official qualifying lap.^[2] Positions 1-38 would be decided on time, while positions 39-43 would be based on provisionals. Four spots are awarded by the use of provisionals based on owner's points. The fifth is awarded to a past champion who has not otherwise qualified for the race. If no past champ needs the provisional, the next team in the owner points will be awarded a provisional.^[6]

Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports would win the pole, setting a time of 37.723 and an average speed of 190.865 miles per hour (307.167 km/h).^[7]

Dave Blaney of Richard Childress Racing would crash on his first lap, forcing him to use a provisional.^[8]

Two drivers would fail to qualify: Kerry Earnhardt and Carl Long.