Mark, driver of the No. 5 CARQUEST/Kellogg's Chevrolet, started
35th and cracked the top 10 within the first 105 laps. By Lap 167, Mark reported to crew chief Alan
Gustafson that his engine was fading. Gustafson instructed Martin to stay out during the following
caution on Lap 171, which was the fourth one called for rain showers. The team hoped Mark would stay
out, take the lead and win, should NASCAR call the race because of the weather.
"We had a great race car tonight," Mark said. "It was fast; faster than the leaders most of the
time. We were really trying to be careful and get up there when it counts. Then, after that caution,
about two laps after, we had a valve break. We tried to play the weather game and it wasn't in our
favor this weekend. And once we restarted, there was just nothing we could do."
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