News and Media Releases

Dominating Performance At Bristol

22/08/2009

Quaker State Driver Mark Martin Finished Second after Starting from the Pole.

Mark Martin dominated Saturday night's running of the Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway by leading 240 of the 500 laps before finishing in the runner-up spot. HMS teammates Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. both scored top-10 runs with Jeff Gordon struggling to finish 23rd one lap down to the leaders.

Martin started from the pole, his fifth of the season, and led five different times for the most laps after running in the top-five for the entire event. The veteran driver put on a great battle in the closing laps trying to take away the top-spot but had to settle for the second position as he marked his 1000th NASCAR National Series start.

"I wanted to get him, but there wasn't any use in, you know; we were racing hard for it," commented Martin on his late-race battle for the lead. "I got in under him. He gave me plenty of room and it was a good thing because I got sideways and slid right up and it was a good thing that he didn't crowd me or we'd have both wrecked. I tried to get him. But I'm real proud of Pop Tarts and CARQUEST and everybody. I'd like to have won it, but we finally got a decent finish with a great race car and no matter how this thing falls, I'm proud of this race team. I'm proud to drive their car and I'm having the time of my life."

Three-time Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson had a strong car for most of the evening leading 107 laps but a pit road mishap late in the race caused the Quaker State driver to lose valuable track position. Making several stops for fresh tires, the California native was able to power his way back into the top-10 and finish eighth.

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. backed up a solid run from a week ago with another strong finish coming home in the ninth position.  The HMS driver ran mid-pack for the first half of the race before moving into the top 10 in the final 100 laps.

Jeff Gordon started in the rear of the field but quickly made his way toward the front breaking into the top-10 by lap 200. The handling on the No. 24 Chevrolet went away about half-way through the event causing the four-time champion to lose a lap and finish 23rd.

Gordon and Johnson swapped points positions again with Johnson taking the second spot back.  Martin improved his points position moving up two spots to the 10th position. Earnhardt remains 21st with just two races left before the start of the Chase.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will take a weekend off before returning to action on Sunday, September 6 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Live Television coverage begins at 7:00 p.m. (ET) on ESPN with radio coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m. (ET) on the Performance Racing Network (PRN) and Sirius/XM Satellite radio.