The 2002 Sharpie 500 at Bristol

"It was a good try by the Viagra® (sildenafil citrate) Racing Team, it just Mark mixes it up with Jimmie Johnson

wasn't our night," said Mark moments after Saturday night's Sharpie 500 in Bristol. Mark and the No. 6 team struggled for much of the night, first with a 'tight' handling car and then after getting caught up in accident on lap 378 of the 500-lap race.

Mark had problems with the car's handling early in the race, as the No. 6 Viagra® Ford Taurus handled tight from the green flag, with Mark dropping 24th place by lap seven. The car's nature surprised Mark and crew chief Ben Leslie, as the car had been 'loose' for most of the weekend, including Friday night's final practice.

Running in 22nd place, the team came in for adjustments on lap 58, after the fourth caution of the race - taking on four tires and making track bar adjustments to loosen the car up. Despite a quick 14-second stop, the adjustments failed to free up the car. The team tried again on lap 152 after the races sixth caution, making track bar adjustments to the right rear, as well as air pressure adjustments and taking on four fresh tires.

Mark mixes it up with Jimmie Johnson

Once again the adjustments failed to correct the car's handling, and Mark found himself down a lap by the 241st lap of the race. After two more pit stops to help loosen up the car, the No. 6 Ford had finally started to settle in moving up to 18th place and was close to regaining position on the lead lap by the time the race's 13th caution was issued on lap 369.

However once the race went green again on lap 378, the No. 31 car caused the No. 48 car of Jimmy Johnson to spin out of control and down the track. Mark was unable to avoid the out of control car of Johnson, causing substantial damage to the front end of the No. 6. The team was forced to pit several times under caution and when the race finally went green again on lap 384, Mark was two laps down and in 25th position.

The team continued to fight for the next 116 laps of the race, battling for key position in the points race, and moving on to a tough fought 23rd place finish. In the end, despite the severe damage, Mark was beginning to run times as fast or faster than several of the race's leaders. Jeff Gordon went on to win the race.

Looks like Talladega!!

"The car just started out really tight and the adjustments we made at first just didn't seem to help," said crew chief Ben Leslie. "We could not free the car up for Mark and we lost a lap. After that we got caught up in that accident and it was just a matter of getting what we could get of the weekend."

"I'm proud of the guys for not giving up and hanging in there," added Mark. "It was just simply not our weekend, but that will happen sometimes in racing. We struggled with the car and we lost a lap. Then I just got caught up in that senseless accident; but there was no missing it.

"That's about the fourth time this season that we have gotten caught up in dumb wrecks that didn't have to happen, and that just kills you. But, we'll just have to come back next week with a solid performance in Darlington, keep working and moving forward."

With the finish Mark remains in second place in the point's standings 95 points out of first place and 16 ahead of third. Mark and the No. 6 team return to action next weekend in Darlington for the Southern 500 at Darlington International Raceway.