NAPA Auto Parts 500

Mark lost his power steering halfway through the race and had to wrestle his car throughout the day. Martin led for seven laps and was ahead with 25 laps to go.

"Mark had a real hard race and had to drive without power steering," said team owner Jack Roush. "Of course, he likes to drive it sideways and you can't hold it sideways with no power steering."

Martin looked whipped after the race but managed to finish 14th.

"We didn't run as bad as I thought we were going to, especially when the power steering went out, I really thought we were going to go to junk," Martin said. "But 14th was a great finish running that far without it. It was pretty hard, nice job to score some points. That was the best we could do. It's hard to drive them like you need to drive them without it.

"I'm a little bit worn out. We couldn't race them because we didn't have power steering, so we just went for track position." After struggling in practice on Friday morning, NAPA Auto Parts 500

Mark qualified fifth in the Eagle One/Cummins Taurus with a speed of 185.486 mph. He took the lead on lap seven, but the car was very loose at the start of the race. Since many of the competitors were also loose, Mark was able to remain in the top 10 until the first caution on lap 42. The team used the opportunity to pit for adjustments which tightened up the car. Mark gained five positions in the pits and was third when the race resumed.

Most teams were still loose, as was Mark, but he also developed a push in the center of the turns. The crew made more adjustments during a caution on lap 78 and once again the Valvoline/Cummins team helped Mark gain a position in the pits. Mark ran in the top 10 much of the day, and by the halfway point the car’s handling was finally neutral. Mark was pleased with the car and settled into ninth place while his Roush Racing teammate Matt Kenseth had a strong lead over the field.

Mark’s day turned sour on lap 186 when he radioed to the team that he was losing power steering. He began to gradually drop back in the field. A 15.01-second pit stop on lap 202 helped him move forward, and then Mark assumed the lead on lap 221 when the leaders pitted under caution, but he stayed out to help his track position with only 25 laps to go when the race resumed.

Unfortunately, Mark did not lead for long as Jeremy Mayfield passed him during the first lap of green. Mark used all of his upper body strength to manually steer the car to the finish. Mayfield went on to win his first race of the season, while Mark finished 14th.

"We had a pretty good car," Mark said. "We finally got the handling just right and then we lost the power steering. It was really disappointing to finish 14th when we had such a good shot at a strong finish. The team did a great job for me in the pits today and staying out at the end was the right call. Tires would have never helped us without power steering. Although I am disappointed, I’m also pretty glad to walk away with 14th place."

Mark is now second in the Winston Cup points, trailing Bobby Labonte by 20 points. Next weekend the Winston Cup and Busch teams have their first scheduled race under the lights this season. Mark will compete both Friday and Saturday nights under the lights at Richmond International Raceway.


Congratulations, Jeremy Mayfield, for the win at the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup NAPA Auto Parts 500 in California.