News and Media Releases

Struggle In Rain-Shortened Coca-Cola 600

25/05/2009

Johnson and Gordon Finish in the Top-15 with Martin Finishing 17th; Earnhardt, Jr. Finished 40th

The Hendrick Motorsports teams were anxious to get the 50th running of the Coca-Cola 600 started after heavy rains postponed the event on Sunday moving it to Monday. Weather remained a factor during Monday's event with the HMS cars struggling with handling.

Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon earned top-15 finishes in the rain-shortened race with Mark Martin finishing close behind in 17th. Fellow HMS teammate Dale Earnhardt, Jr. dealt with extreme handling issues finishing 40th.

With cars set up to run at night and the track conditions changing after rains washed the rubber off the surface, the teams knew that handling would be an issue at least in the opening laps of the race.

Jimmie Johnson spent most of his day running in the top-10 only falling out late in the rain-shortened race. Johnson led one time for a total of six laps before settling into the 13th position when the final caution flag waved on lap 220.

Fellow Quaker State driver Jeff Gordon fought an extremely tight race car but his crew was able to make adjustments helping their driver earn a 14th-place finish.

Mark Martin ran in the top-five in the opening laps of the race before falling back into the top-25. The Quaker State driver rallied back into the top-15 before slipping into the 17th position right before the final caution and red flag waved.

Fellow HMS driver Dale Earnhardt, Jr. struggled the entire race after starting in the 27th position. Handling issues plagued NASCAR's "Most Popular Driver" throughout the 227 completed laps relegating him to a 40th-place finish.

The event was interrupted by rain three different times before weather ended the 400-lap race early.

Gordon remains the points leader after 12 starts with Jimmie Johnson maintaining his fourth-place position. Mark Martin remains in the top-12 in the final Chase position with Dale Earnhardt, Jr. slipping a spot to the 19th position.

David Reutimann scored his first NASCAR Sprint Cup win followed by Ryan Newman and Robby Gordon. Carl Edwards and Brian Vickers rounded out the top-five.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads next to the Dover International Speedway on Sunday, May 31, 2009.

Live television coverage of the Autism Speaks 400, presented by Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips & Cheese begins at 1:30 p.m. (ET) on FOX with radio coverage beginning at 1:15 p.m. on PRN (Performance Racing Network) and Sirius XM Satellite radio.