News and Media Releases

Strong Runs and Trouble Late In The Race

17/05/2009

Johnson And Gordon Both Have Strong Runs In All-Star Event But Find Trouble Late In The Race. Martin and Earnhardt, Jr. Score Top-10 Finishes in Million Dollar Event.

Hendrick Motorsports (HMS) drivers Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon both took turns leading Saturday night's Sprint All-Star race before finding trouble in the final 10-lap segment after spinning as a result of contact with other cars. Johnson was able to continue but Gordon's night was ended early. Fellow HMS teammates Mark Martin and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. both brought home top-10 finishes in the million dollar event.

Jimmie Johnson started the 100-lap event from the pole and went on to lead entire 50-lap first segment. After a set of pit stops between the first and second segments Johnson took the green flag in the fifth spot. The three-time champion remained in the top-five running positions throughout the next two segments. In was in the final 10-lap shootout that he found trouble getting turned on the first lap bringing out the caution.

After a trip to pit road Johnson had to restart the race in the rear of the field but made his way back into the top-15 to finish 13th.
Four-time Champion Jeff Gordon also had a strong car in the All-Star event starting from the sixth position. The Quaker State driver raced in the top-five for most of the 100-lap event leading 10 of the 20 laps in the third segment. In the final 10-lap shootout Gordon got spun while battling for the lead and ended up nose first in the outside retaining wall. Gordon's night was cut short with just three laps remaining and he was credited with a 19th-place finish.

Mark Martin also had a stout car racing in the top-five for much of the night. Running as high as the third position, Martin settled in for the final 10 laps taking the checkered flag in the sixth position. Fellow HMS teammate Dale Earnhardt, Jr. fought handling for much of the race before crossing the start-finish line in the 10th position.

Tony Stewart took home the million dollar trophy with his first All-Star win followed by Matt Kenseth and Kurt Busch. Denny Hamlin and Carl Edwards rounded out the top-five.

Next up for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday, May 24, 2009 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Live television coverage begins at 5:00 p.m. (ET) on FOX with radio coverage beginning at 4:30 p.m. on PRN (Performance Racing Network) and Sirius XM Satellite radio.