The 2002 Subway 500

Mark and the No. 6 racing team never could seem to get on Mark at the Rock

track at North Carolina Speedway. Running a special Pfizer paint scheme, the team struggled with the car during all three-practice sessions in preparation for the Subway 400 in Rockingham, N.C. Their struggles carried over into Sunday's race; however, they were still able to bring home a position just shy of the top 20.

Coming off an impressive sixth-place finish in the Daytona 500, Mark hoped to ride that momentum into Rockingham, where he has taken the checkered flag on two previous occasions. However, the No. 6 Roush Racing Ford simply wasn't strong enough on Sunday.

"I felt like we were slow all weekend," said Mark, whose 32 career Winston Cup wins are the fourth most among active drivers.

"The car just didn't run good enough to keep up with the top 15 cars today," continued Mark, who ran in the mid 20s for most of today's 393 laps. "The crew guys did a good job of bringing it home where they did, and I'm very optimistic when we get our stuff rolling that we'll be great in the pits."

Mark started the race in 17th position but with handling problems, he found his car was no match for the race leaders. The team made its first pit stop under yellow conditions on lap 19. Mark brought his Ford Taurus into the pits for a fresh set of tires, air pressure and track bar adjustments to help his tight handling condition. When the race restarted on lap 22, the team sat in 25th position, which is the same position in which they entered.

Mark and Ben

He dropped to 35th position by lap 39 but was able to work back through the pack to sit in 24th by lap 87. Unfortunately for the team, Mark went one lap down on lap 69 when race leader Ricky Craven was running three-tenths faster than most of the field and began lapping cars.

The team made its second pit stop of the day on lap 145 under caution. They made air pressure adjustments while removing a spring rubber from the right rear spring. The team gained four spots in the pits and returned to the race in 26th position.

The next caution came out on lap 155 and the team re-entered the pits for a fresh set of tires. The race resumed on lap 168 and the Roush Racing team held 25th position.

Mark entered the pits again on lap 180 under yellow conditions and took four new tires and air pressure adjustments. The 14.31-second pit stop placed Mark in 23rd position when the race went green on lap 183. Debris on the track brought out the next caution on lap 229, and the team entered the pits on lap 233 for a fresh set of tires, air pressure and track bar adjustments to hopefully tighten his loose handling conditions.

The next pit stop occurred under yellow conditions on lap 258 where they bolted on four new tires and made no other adjustments in 14.80 seconds. When the race when green on lap 265, Mark sat in 22nd position, still one lap down from the leaders.

Mark Martin

The race saw its next caution on lap 287 and the team made a wedge adjustment while changing four tires on Mark's No. 6 Ford Taurus. The adjustment was exactly what Mark needed, and he was able to run laps faster than some of the leaders. The team made its next pit stop under caution on lap 347 where they made more wedge adjustments and took on a new set of tires. Mark returned to the field in 22nd position when the race went green on lap 350.

The final pit stop of the day for the Roush Racing team occurred on lap 366 under caution as Mark was having trouble with his handling when racing in traffic. The team changed four tires and made no other adjustments. He returned to the in 22nd position and was able to gain one more spot to sit in 21st position, one lap down from the leaders, when the race ended. Roush Racing teammate Matt Kenseth took the checkered flag at the Subway 400 at North Carolina Speedway.

"I was really happy with the way the team functioned today and everybody fought and it never looked like we had more than what we gave," Mark said. "That's what we need to keep doing. Just bring home everything you can. They did a good job of helping me do that. We just never managed to get the car going this weekend. I am really excited for Matt (Kenseth) and his team. They did a great job today, and I'm so proud of them."