News and Media Releases

2nd Win for Martin; 4th For Hendrick Motorsports

10/05/2009

Mark Martin took the win in Saturday night's running of the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway scoring his second victory of the 2009 season. Hendrick Motorsports (HMS) teammates Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon scored top-10 finishes as well with Johnson finishing in the runner-up spot and Gordon coming home in the fifth position.

After starting in the 12th position Martin ran solidly in the top-15 for most of the 367-lap event. The Quaker State driver took the lead on lap 322 remaining on the point for the final 46 circuits on the way to his second win of the season. With his first-place finish, Martin moved into the top-12 in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series point standings for the first time of the season. He now sits 11th.

Fellow HMS driver Jimmie Johnson literally had a roller coaster weekend. After wrecking in qualifying, the No. 48 driver had to go to a back-up car and start the 500-mile event from the 42nd position. Crew chief Chad Knaus used pit strategy to gain Johnson the lead, picking up valuable bonus points for leading laps.

Johnson then got caught on pit road with a caution flag putting the Quaker State driver a lap down. The reigning champion was able to regain the lost lap but found trouble again on pit road after being spun out while coming in for service.

Recovering again, Johnson found his way back into the top-10 by lap 320 and worked his way into the runner-up spot for the finish. The three-time Sprint Cup Champion gained two spots in the point standings moving back into the fourth spot.

Four-time Champion Jeff Gordon also had an up-and-down event after starting on the outside pole. Gordon remained in the top-five before a wheel vibration relegated him to the back of the pack. He was able to recover and regain his lap late in the race moving back into the top-10 to finish fifth. Gordon maintained his point lead and sits 29 markers ahead of the second-place driver after 11 events.

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. struggled with handling most of the race running between the 20th and 30th positions for much of the event. NASCAR's Most Popular Driver broke into the top-10 one time before bringing out the final caution on lap 344 with a spin. Junior went on to finish in the 27th position while maintaining the 18th spot in the point standings.

Following Mark Martin and Jimmie Johnson's one-two finish were teammates Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman. Gordon rounded out the top-five giving Hendrick Motorsports three of the top-five finishing positions.
Next up for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is the Sprint All-Star weekend at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Live television coverage of the NASCAR Sprint Showdown begins on Saturday, May 16, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on SPEED.  The event will also be broadcast live on MRN (Motor Racing Network) and Sirius XM Satellite Radio with coverage beginning at 6:45 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). The Sprint All-Star Race will follow with coverage beginning at 8:30 Eastern Daylight Time on both SPEED and MRN, Sirius XM Satellite Radio.