The 2002 Sirius Satellite Radio 400

Mark gained four positions in the final two laps of Sunday's 200 lap Mark leads the way

Sirius Satellite Radio 400, to run to a ninth-place finish. Mark was running in 13th place with one lap to go, but was able to move up the field for his 10th top-10 finish of 2002.

Mark was in 13th place with just five laps to go, when the day's fourth caution came out with just four laps to go. The field was red-flagged and the Viagraā Racing Team opted to come into the pits and take two tires.

Excellent work in the pits by the No. 6 crew, sent Mark back out in ninth place when the field went green with only three laps to go. Mark got caught up in the pack and was shuffled back to 13th place on lap 198, before moving back up to 11th with one to go on lap 199. Mark made the most of the day's final lap, breaking into the top 10 and into the ninth place finish on lap 200.

"We struggled all weekend, turned one good lap in qualifying and got a decent finish in the end," said Mark, who has now posted ten top-10 finishes in 15 races this season. "We fought hard all day and it paid off in the end."

The team struggled with the car's setup for most of the weekend and all throughout Sunday's race. However, they were able to pull off a strong qualifying lap on Friday and started the race ninth position on Sunday.

A Great Pit Stop

We really didn't run very good," added Mark. "But I'm really happy with the finish. We'll just have to come back and try to do better next time."

The car started out extremely 'tight' and Mark dropped back to 16th place by lap 39. Green flag pitting began soon after and Mark came in on lap 47 to attempt to free the car up. After a pit stop of 14.50 seconds to take on four fresh tires, make air pressure adjustments and adjust the rear of the car, the team returned to the field in 14th place when the field cycled through on lap 50.

Mark patiently worked his way up the field, breaking into the top-10 on lap 93, but the car began to 'push' and Mark was having problems with the handling. The field started to green-flag pit soon after and when caution came out on lap 97, the majority of the field was caught a lap down. The Viagra® Racing team pitted on lap 98 to make rear-end adjustments, make air pressure adjustments and pulled a spring rubber. The team had trouble getting the spring rubber out and after a stop of 18 seconds, returned to the field in 11th place.

The car was still running tight when caution came out on lap 115, with Mark was running in ninth place. Still trying to work with the car's setup, the team came in to pull another spring rubber and to make track bar adjustments. The adjustments failed to work and the car was still running tight on lap 126, but clinging to ninth place.

Team mates

The day's third caution on lap 137 gave the team another opportunity to loosen up the car, and running in ninth place, Mark entered the pits to pull spring rubbers from both rear ends and make wedge adjustments. The No. 6 Viagra® Ford Taurus returned to the field running in 10th place when the field went green on lap 143.

Mark moved up to ninth just five laps later, but started to fall off, dropping back to 12th by lap 182. The field started to green flag pit soon after and Mark came into the pits to make more adjustments and take on two fresh tires. Mark had dropped back to 13th when the team's had cycled through on lap 190, before the day's final caution came out and the field was red flagged on lap 195; setting up Mark's run to the top-ten finish. Teammate Matt Kenseth went on to win the race.

With the finish Mark remains in fourth place in the point standings, but only 64 points out of second place and 175 points behind leader Sterling Marlin.

Mark and the Viagra® Racing Team travel to Sears Point next weekend for the season's first road course race.