Martin keeps momentum going with strong Richmond finish

By SceneDaily Staff
Sunday, May 04, 2008
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Kevin C. Cox
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RICHMOND, Va. – Backing up a fifth-place finish in his last outing at Phoenix, Mark Martin kept the momentum going with a third-place finish in Saturday night’s Crown Royal 400 at Richmond International Raceway.

“We had a great car out there tonight,” said the veteran driver who is sharing time this season with Aric Almirola in the No. 8 car of Dale Earnhardt Inc. “If we can keep running like this, we will see the U.S. Army Chevrolet Impala SS in victory lane. [Crew chief] Tony Gibson and these guys just are doing a great job each and every week and it's an honor to drive this team’s race cars.”

After qualifying second to earn his best starting spot in more than two years, Martin was solid all Saturday night. The Batesville, Ark., native ran as high as second on more than one occasion and stayed among the leaders the entire night.

One of six drivers who elected not to pit for fresh tires when Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin stopped on the track to bring out the race’s 10th caution on lap 392, Martin restarted fourth and moved into third when Hendrick Motorsports’ Dale Earnhardt Jr. spun after colliding with JGR's Kyle Busch as the two battled for the lead.

On the ensuing green-white-checkered restart, Martin was no match for eventual winner Clint Bowyer but nearly chased down Busch for second after moving to his inside on the final lap.

“You know, we were just one little whisker off of being able to get it done tonight,” said Martin, who scored his third top-10 in his last three starts and his fourth top-10 in his last five races. “It was very close. But the car, we got off a little bit the middle of the race and lost some track position and then got the car back something better toward the end; not quite 100 percent, but we got it better. It was tough out there.”

Mentioned Drivers: Mark Martin

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2009 Sprint Cup Race for the Chase Standings

Driver Standings after the AMP Energy 500

1 Jimmie Johnson 6248
2 Mark Martin -184
3 Jeff Gordon -192
4 Juan Pablo Montoya -239
5 Tony Stewart -279
6 Kurt Busch -312
7 Greg Biffle -340
8 Ryan Newman -402
9 Kasey Kahne -414
10 Carl Edwards -437
11 Denny Hamlin -448
12 Brian Vickers -556

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