The 2004 Checker Auto Parts 500

"It was just one of those days where not a Mark in Phoenix 2004

lot went right,” said Mark moments after running to a 15th-place finish in Sunday’s Checker Auto Parts 500k at Phoenix International Raceway. The race marked the 600th Nextel Cup race of Mark’s storied career.

“It just seemed like we couldn’t get a break,” added Mark. “We had a lot better car than that (15th), but we just couldn’t get over the hump. It seems like that has happened a lot to us during these final 10 races. We are running pretty good, but we just don’t come away with the finish that we should.”

Mark started the race 22nd and wasted little time breaking into the field’s top 20 on the first lap. My lap 38 Mark had powered the Viagra? Ford inside the field’s top 15 and he had moved the car all the way to 11th position when the day’s first caution was issued on lap 75. The team came into the pits for four tires and fuel and returned in 12th place after a 15.45-second stop.

Mark was still running in 12th when light rain started to fall on lap 100. Four laps later caution was issued for the weather. The team pitted for four tires and fuel just moments before the field was red-flagged on lap 110 due to persistent rain. Green flag racing resumed 25 minutes later with the field going green on lap 114.

Mark was running in 13th position when the No. 6 Ford became caught up in a spin on lap 128. Mark’s car slid around a complete 360 degrees, but the veteran was able to avoid contact with several cars around him. Still Mark lost valuable track position. The team came into the pits for four fresh tires and restarted in 24th position when the field went green on lap 132.

Once again Mark began a steady march through the field, moving back inside the top 20 on lap 135. Mark had advanced to 17th position when the day’s fifth caution was issued on lap 142. This time the team opted for right-side tires only and Mark returned the field in 15th place when green-flag racing resumed. Caught up in lapped traffic, Mark fell back to 18th place by lap 151. The team stayed out under caution on lap 157 and Mark moved up to 15th place when the field went green.

Mark struggled with the car on the restart, dropping back to 17th by lap 162. The No. 6 Ford had dropped back to 21st place when the field began green-flag pitting on lap 189. Mark stayed on the track and steadily moved up as the leaders began to pit. Mark was running in 10th place and set to pit in two laps when the day’s seventh caution was called on lap 225. The team pitted and came out in 16th place, but quickly fell back to 19th on the new tires. Still running in 19th position, Mark opted for four fresh tires under caution on lap 239 and he returned to the field in 22nd place when the field went green on lap 243.

Again the No. 6 would struggle on the restart, falling back to 24th by lap 250, before Mark was able to regroup and once again mount a move up the field. By lap 254 he was back inside the top 20 in 19th place. Mark moved into 16th position 20 laps later lap 274. Mark was still in 16th place when the day’s ninth caution was issued on lap 282. Despite light rainfall and looming darkness the No. 6 team opted to come in for four fresh tires and fuel. The gamble paid off when the field resumed racing on lap 293 with Mark running in 18th place. Mark had moved to 17th when the day’s 10th caution was called on lap 298. The team opted to stay out and Mark remained in 17th when green-flag racing resumed with only 10 laps to go on lap 302.

The day’s 11th and final caution was issued on lap 306 forcing a green-white-checkered finish. Mark restarted the three-lap shootout in 15th place and was able to hold position and bring home the top-15 finish, his 24th top-15 finish in 33 races this season.