2004 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion Bobby Hamilton broke the track record at Daytona International Speedway when he started dead last in the Florida Dodge Dealers 250 and brought his No. 04 Lufkin Pro Series Dodge home to victory lane.

"I just love this racetrack," Hamilton said in victory lane.  "There are a lot of good memories here. This is the first race I've won here, but I've come close in others.  When it comes to spectacular Daytona finishes there are so many things you can talk about like Richard Petty or the memories from when we lost Dale Earnhardt Sr.  This track is history for NASCAR and I'm glad to notch my name on the grid."

The spectacular finish Hamilton is referring to came down to a controversial call over a last lap pass before the caution.  Hamilton, who rode around in the back of the pack most of the race to take care of his equipment and miss the "big one," took the white flag door-to-door with Jimmy Spencer's No. 2 Dodge.  Just as the two were going into turn one, Hamilton edged forward on Spencer taking the lead.  Then a multi-truck pile up on the front stretch behind the leaders brought out the caution and as the lights came on at NASCAR's first scoring loop, Hamilton was the leader.

NASCAR originally announced Spencer as the leader and sent him to victory lane, but held him in his truck.  At the same time Hamilton parked his truck on pit road got out and respectfully asked NASCAR to see the tape.  "NASCAR has footage of when the lights came on and they are supposed to use it," Hamilton said.  "I don't know when the flag fell, but the light should've come on with the flag, and I was ahead of him when the light came on.  I looked in the mirror and I had seen smoke.  I was right at the end of pit road when the light came on and I was one-half a truck ahead of him.  That's where the timing light is and so they are going to have to show me that he won."

There was no need to show Hamilton the tape as the footage from the Speed Channel clearly showed him the victor.  So Hamilton climbed back in his Lufkin Pro Series Dodge and drove to victory lane as Spencer backed his Dodge out the other side. 
"It's good for business," Hamilton said of the debate.  "I've put my owner hat on, and the controversy is good for business.  I think the fans enjoyed a finish like that and enjoyed all of the passing during the race.  The trucks put a great show on.  I'm just enjoying what I do.  We just have a great little race team.  With all of the new sponsors coming on this year like Lufkin Pro Series, Bailey's, and Clifty Farms, we are set for a good year."

The worst-to-first finish showed many critics that the champion did not rest on his laurels over the winter.  Hamilton came into Daytona Beach and practiced for only two laps.  Then he qualified for two more laps and parked his Lufkin Pro Series Dodge until the race.  So many didn't really know what to expect from the champion, but Hamilton proved his skills when he radioed saying, "Tell me when it is 20 laps to go, then I'll go to work."  Not only did his work pay off as he took the lead in the final turn to capture his first NCTS victory this season, but it also showed as he finished third in the IROC race earlier that same night.

Following Hamilton to the finish were Jimmy Spencer, Todd Bodine, Ricky Craven and Ted Musgrave rounding out the top five.