The 2005 Checker Auto Parts 500

Mark and the Viagra® (sildenafil citrate) Racing team ran to a 14th-place finish in the Checker Auto Parts 500 at Mark in Phoenix 2005 with retro color scheme

Mark in Phoenix 2005 with retro color scheme

Phoenix International Raceway on Sunday. The finish kept Mark in fifth-place in the Nextel Cup point standings. Mark dropped to 162 points behind leader Tony Stewart with only one race remaining, thus mathematically eliminating the No. 6 team from championship contention, but Mark moved 45 points in front of sixth, thus solidifying his bid for a top-five finish on the season.

“The team really did a great job today,” said Mark after the race. “We really ran a lot better than that finish shows. We passed a whole lot of cars and we had a good car. It just got tight there on that last run and I guess that was the wrong run to get too tight to pass people. It was a good day for the Viagra® Team, I just wish we could have gotten a better finish that was a little more in line with the effort.”

The Viagra® Racing over-the-wall crew once again enjoyed one of its finest days in the pits, posting numerous stops in the 12-second range and gaining Mark valuable position in the pits on several occasions. Running a special Retro-‘81 paint scheme, Mark struggled on race’s first run dropping back to 31st position, as he fought with a loose car that struggled to turn in the corners. He had moved back to 28th position when the day’s first caution was issued on lap 26. Mark came down pit road for four tires, fuel and a wedge adjustment and the crew did its job with a 12.37-second stop that moved Mark up to 26th when green-flag racing resumed.

The car’s handling settled in and Mark began picking off cars one-by-one. By lap 72 he had moved inside the field’s top-20 and was turning the fastest times on the track. Mark was up to 19th when caution number two was called on lap 82. Mark again came into the pits for four tires, fuel and an additional wedge adjustment and the team again responded, this time with a 12.66-second stop that put Mark out in 18th when the field went green on lap 88.

Mark passed his way up the field, breaking into 14th position just before the day’s third caution was issued on lap 114. This time the team had a problem with a lug nut on the stop and Mark lost valuable position, dropping back to 22 nd position when the green flag fell on lap 117. Again the veteran wasted little time moving through the field, moving back into 15th position by lap 148.

Mark had advanced all the way to 13th when caution number four was called on lap 166. That time the team fired off a 12.9- second stop that moved Mark inside the top 10 for the first time of the day on lap 168. Several cars took two-tires only under caution on 197, while the No. 6 car opted for four. Still the team was on the mark again with a 12.4-second stop that put Mark back out in fourth and drew praise from team owner Jack Roush.

Mark had moved all the way to eighth position when caution number seven was waved on lap 229. The team again came in for four tires, while several teams stayed out or took two only. Mark restarted in 19th position and would have a difficult time regaining the positions. He had moved up to 15th when caution number eight was called on lap 254. The team again took four tires, and after another fast stop they were able to maintain their position. However, for Mark the final run would prove not as strong as the previous runs. He was able to take over 14th with only eight laps remaining and would hold on to the 14th-place finish.

The team returns to action next week at Homestead for the final event of the 2005 “Salute To You” Season. Mark will run in the Craftsman Truck, Busch and Nextel Cup Series races at Homestead where he has three top-five finishes in six starts.

“We have one more and we are going to go there and try to get us one more trophy before this thing is over,” said Mark.