The 2006 Diamond Plywood 200 Busch Race

Mark started eighth and ran virtually the entire race inside the top-10 en route to a fourth-place finish in Friday night’s Diamond Hill Plywood 200 Busch Series race at Darlington Raceway. The finish is Mark’s 13th top-five in 27 Busch attempts at the famed 1.366-mile Speedway. Mark broke into the top five on lap 87 for the second time of the day and he would run the remaining 60 laps of the race.

“We didn't mean to set it up that way, but it was really strong on the long run. I was very pleased with my truck team here taking care of the Ameriquest Ford this weekend, and we're having some fun. “

Mark started eighth and wasted little time moving to the front of the field. By lap 10 he had powered his No. 6 Ameriquest Ford Fusion all the way into sixth position, before breaking into the top five on lap 53. By the time Mark passed Tony Stewart on lap 59 for fourth position, he was turning the fastest times on the race track.

The night’s third caution on lap 62 brought the team down pit road for four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment. The team lost four spots in the pits and Mark returned in eighth position when the field went green on lap 66. By lap 87 he had moved his Ford back inside the top five where he would run for the remainder of the race. Mark passed Greg Biffle for fourth place on lap 129 and would pull in on the leaders, but several late cautions would halt his progression.

“We just couldn't quite get it within striking distance,” added Mark. “We kept inching closer and closer, but just couldn't quite contend for it."

Mark will return to Busch racing in two weeks at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, when he makes his first Busch start at Charlotte since 2000. Mark has six Busch wins and 13 top-five finishes in 26 Busch starts at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Mark will run all three series and the Nextel All-Star Challenge at Lowe’s in the next two weeks.