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Congratulations, Michael Waltrip, for winning the NASCAR 2003 Daytona 500. |
Mark and the ViagraŽ (sildenafil citrate)
Racing Team got off to a strong
start in 2003 with a top-five finish in the famed Daytona 500. The finish
closed the curtains on what had been an up and down Speedweeks for Mark
and his team, who were forced to use the backup car after getting involved
in a wreck in Thursday's Twin 125's."This was just an awesome team effort," said Mark shortly after NASCAR announced that it would not restart in the rain delayed field. "It wasn't a pretty Speedweeks, but somehow the guys got it done. You just couldn't have asked for a better finish." "The ViagraŽ Racing Team and Ben Leslie were just brilliant today," added Mark. "I don't deserve this finish, but this team does. They worked so hard to get us in that position. This is all about the team, they deserve a top five." Mark would have started the 500 in 28th position, but had to go to the back of the field after being forced to use his backup car after hitting the wall late in Thursday's Twin 125. The veteran driver, starting his 19th Daytona 500, ended up starting 40th, but wasted no time moving up the field. Mark moved inside the top 30 by the end of the first lap. By the fifth lap of the race, Mark had cracked the top 20, running at 19th. Mark had dropped back to 24th when the field began to pit on lap 32. The ViagraŽ Racing Team came in for two tires and a wedge adjustment. After a quick stop of 7.25 seconds, the No. 6 was running in eighth place once the field cycled through on lap 36. 
Mark had moved to sixth place by lap 41, when the day's first caution was
called. The team came into the pits for four tires and further wedge
adjustments. Some teams chose to take only two tires and Mark was running
in 11th place when the field went green on lap 45.Shuffled outside the draft, Mark had fallen to 19th place when the day's second caution was called on lap 57. The team came into the pits for right side tires and returned to the field in 17th place. Moments later, the field was red-flagged for heavy rain after 67 laps. After an hour-long delay, the cars returned to the track. Mark was running in 15th place when the field went green. The No. 6 dropped back to 18th place by lap 74, before Mark began to mount a run that would see the No. 6 ViagraŽ Ford Taurus running 11th by lap 88. Mark had moved back down to 14th when the day's third caution occurred on lap 95. With dark rain clouds on the horizon, Mark the No. 6 Team came into the pits for two tires. 
Once the entire field had cycled through, Mark was running in eighth place
following 99 laps. Once the field had completed 100 laps, rain became a
constant threat to bring a premature end to the race. Mark was running in
fourth place when the day's fourth caution was called on lap 102. Knowing
the race could end at any moment, the team opted to stay out and in fourth
place when the field went green on lap 104.Mark was running in fifth place when the day's fifth and final caution was called on lap 106. Heavy rains returned soon after and the race was red flagged once again on lap 109. It would be the final lap of the race. The finish was Mark's fourth top-five finish at the Daytona 500 and his sixth top-ten finish. It marks the second top-six finish in a row for Mark in the 500 and his 201st career top-five Winston Cup Finish. It is also his 316th career top-ten Winston Cup finish. "It was just a great finish to a great run," said Mark. "Nothing came easy for this team, but we kept digging and I couldn't be happier with this finish." Mark and the No. 6 ViagraŽ Racing Team will take to the track next week in Rockingham. |
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