News and Media Releases

51st-Annual Daytona 500

17/02/2009

Hendrick Motorsports Teams Have Strong Showing In Opening Laps. A Late-Race Pit Call put Gordon and Martin Behind While Earnhardt, Jr. and Johnson Experience Problems.

Persistent rain forced NASCAR officials to call the 51st running of the Daytona 500 with just 152 laps of the 200-lap event complete. The Hendrick Motorsports (HMS) stable of cars had a strong showing in the early laps of the race with several teams taking turns leading but unfortunately for the Quaker State drivers circumstances caused problems relegating the teams to lesser finishes.

The newest member of the HMS team, Mark Martin, had a very successful outing in his first event for the team.  Martin claimed the outside pole one week ago during qualifying and led the field to the green along-side pole sitter Martin Truex, Jr. Martin raced in the top-10 for much of the first half of the race until coming down pit road under the caution before the rain delay that eventually ended the race. 

Martin and his teammate Jeff Gordon both gambled thinking the race would continue and took on fresh tires during that last stop.  Martin ended up 16th for the day.

Fellow Quaker State driver Jeff Gordon had a strong car leading laps after starting in the third position.  His team also gambled taking on tires under the final yellow and finished 13th. 

Three-time Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson raced toward the front of the field early before falling back because of handling issues.  Johnson got caught by a caution flag after pitting under the green costing the team to go a lap down. 

The Quaker State driver was unable to make his lap back up and finished 31st.

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (Junior) led early as well but a pit road penalty cost the team a lap followed by an on-track incident that caused a 10-car accident.  Junior avoided any major damage to his Chevrolet and was able to get his lap back but was only able to get to the 27th position before the race was called.

Matt Kenseth was declared the winner of the race with Kevin Harvick finishing second. A.J. Allmendinger, Clint Bowyer and Elliott Sadler rounded out the top five.

Next up for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is the running of the Auto Club 500 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California.  Live television coverage begins on Sunday, February 22, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on FOX.  The event will also be broadcast live on MRN and Sirius Satellite Radio with coverage beginning at 5:15 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST).