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Martin Takes Lead On Final Lap To Win

14/06/2009

Johnson Leads the Most Laps but Runs out of Fuel with One Lap Remaining

Mark Martin took the win in a dramatic finish to the LifeLock 400 at Michigan International Speedway after several of the leaders ran out fuel on the final lap of the 400-mile event. Jeff Gordon moved up from the fifth position to finish in the runner-up spot with Jimmie Johnson falling out of the lead after running out of fuel right before taking the white flag. Fellow Hendrick Motorsports teammate Dale Earnhardt, Jr. scored a top-15 finish finishing 14th.

After starting in the 32nd position Martin steadily worked his way to the front breaking into the top ten right before the half-way point of the race. Martin was running in the third spot when the leaders ran out of fuel and was in position to take the lead on the final lap. The win marked the veteran's third victory of the season and moved him back into the top-12 in the championship point standings.

Jeff Gordon was also in position to take advantage of the fuel issues of the leaders taking over the runner-up spot on the final laps. After starting in the 43rd position because of an engine change, the four-time champion worked his way into the top-10 by lap 110. With just five laps remaining, Gordon broke into the top-five before finishing second.

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. ran mid-pack for most of the 200-lap event breaking into the top-10 in the first half of the race. Handling issues dropped him back out of the top-10 but Junior was able to hold on to a top-15 finish.

Three-time and defending champion Jimmie Johnson dominated the LifeLock 400 by leading 146 of the 200 laps. Johnson dropped to the third spot after a pit sequence but battled back for the lead in the closing laps taking over the top spot with five laps remaining. When he was coming to the white flag Johnson ran out of fuel dropping to the rear of the lead lap cars and finishing 22nd.

Gordon moved to within 42 points of the point leader Tony Stewart with Jimmie Johnson remaining in third. Martin's win vaulted him up five positions in the point standing moving him back into the top-12 in the eighth position. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. also moved up gaining two spots and now sits in the 18th spot.

Following Martin and Gordon were Denny Hamlin and Carl Edwards. Greg Biffle rounded out the top-five.

Next up for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is the running of the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California. Live television coverage begins on Sunday, June 21, 2009 at 4:30 p.m. (ET) on TNT.  The event will also be broadcast live on PRN (Performance Racing Network) and Sirius Satellite Radio with coverage beginning at 4:00 p.m. (ET).