The 2005 Gatorade Duel 150's

For Mark and the No. 6 Viagra® Racing Team, Thursday’s Gatorade Duel offered Mark before Have-A-Wreck crashes Johnson

the full gamut of emotion. In just 35 short laps Mark and the team experienced a problem with the car on the green flag. They overcame that and used a solid effort that featured a lightning fast car, Mark’s expertise in the draft and solid pit work, all to have it come to a crashing end on just lap 35 of the 60-lap scheduled race.

“I believe I could win the Daytona 500 with that car, but I don't know if they can fix that," said a disgruntled Mark moments after climbing out of the car. "It's wrecked."

Mark’s car struggled at the start of the race, as the engine choked up when Mark pressed the gas. The problem dropped Mark to the back of the field. He was all the way back to 21st when he caught a break as the first caution was issued on just lap three.

The caution allowed the team to come down pit road and take a look under the hood. Although they were unable to find the culprit, the problem cleared up and Mark mounted a strong march to the front after the green flag dropped on lap six. By lap 11 Mark had raced his way back to 11th place as he moved in and out of three-wide racing.

Mark raced his way back into the top 10 on lap 23 and was running in seventh place when the team came down pit road for four tires and fuel on lap 30. The No. 6 Viagra® was ready for the challenge, coming through with an excellent 13.73-second stop that sent Mark back out in third position and with a solid chance at the win.

However, just three laps later it all came to an end when the No. 29 car of Kevin Harvick (who was running in second position), made contact with the leader Jimmie Johnson. The contact sent Johnson’s No. 48 car spinning and caused a multi-car accident that would eventually claim six of the 28 cars in the field. Mark's car sustained severe damage and his run at the Gatorade Duel was over.

However Mark and the team made the decision to repair the car and the team worked feverishly into the night to repair the damage.

“I don't know what happened,” added Mark. “Pat says he's going fix that car. If we want to win and they can fix it right, we can certainly win from the back with that thing. But we don't have another car here or any other car that we could borrow I think I can win in. That's the one."

Mark will start Sunday’s race from 32nd position. However if history is any indication, the starting place should not inhibit Mark’s shot at a solid finish. Two years ago Mark started the great American Race 28th and finished fifth. In 2002, Mark started the race 39th and ran to a sixth-place finish.