News and Media Releases

Martin And Gordon Both Earn Top-10s

02/08/2009

Mechanical Problems Drop Johnson out of Contention

Both Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon has solid performances in Monday's running of the Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway finishing in the top-10. Fellow Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson was strong in the early stages of the race but mechanical issues dropped him out of contention and put him several laps down. The No. 48 team fought back and returned to the lead lap late in the race to finish 13th.

With qualifying cancelled because of rain, both Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon had solid starting positions for Monday's Sprint Cup race in Pocono. Starting from the front of the field Johnson took the lead and stayed on the point for the first 22 laps of the 200-lap event.

It was at the half-way point of the race that the three-time champion began to have mechanical problems that dropped him in the field. After many trips down the pit lane and loosing several laps, the Chad Knaus led team figured out the problem and got Johnson's car back to full power. With the help of several caution flags, Johnson was able to gain a spot back on the lead lap late in the race and finish in the 13th position.

"I don't know yet but I assume it was a spark plug issue," Johnson commented about the mechanical issue. "That's the last thing we started changing. The car started running better so it's just crazy how sometimes a little part like that can go wrong. I know our guys will look closely at it to make sure that something like that doesn't happen again. I'm just so proud of the fight this race team has. For us to come back from three laps down and get back on the lead lap and salvage a 13th-place finish means a lot to me. I think we are going in the right direction and it shows to me what my team is capable of and I know what I'm capable of going into the Chase."

Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon both had solid runs with Martin taking the lead at one point for 10 laps before finishing seventh. Gordon also stayed up front for much of the race before settling for an eighth-place finish.

Fellow HMS driver Dale Earnhardt, Jr. struggled throughout the event but was able to break into the top-10 late in the race before falling off and finishing in the 28th spot.

Johnson remains second in the point standings with Gordon right behind him in the third spot. Martin dropped to the 10th position with Dale Earnhardt, Jr. also losing a position falling to the 23rd spot.

Denny Hamlin took the checkered flag for the win and was followed by Juan Pablo Montoya and Clint Bowyer. Sam Hornish, Jr. and Kasey Kahne rounded out the top-five.

Next up for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is the running of the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at the Glen at the 2.45-mile road course of Watkins Glen International in Watkins Glen, New York. Coverage of live racing action will begin on Sunday, August 9, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. (ET) on ESPN with radio coverage on MRN/XM-Sirius Satellite radio at 1:15 p.m.