The 2005 UAW GM Quality 500

Mark and the Viagra® (sildenafil citrate) Racing Team survived a wild night at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, escaping the Mark racing Casey Mears at Charlotte

1.5-mile track with a fifth place finish that moved Mark up two places to fifth and back into serious contention for the 2005 Nextel Cup. In a night that saw numerous cars fall victim to blown tires, Mark and the No. 6 team finessed their way to the top-five finish and moved Mark to within 51 points of the lead.

“We actually had a car that was good enough to contend for the win,” said Mark. “But we had a few minor set backs. We almost had a wreck on pit road and some other minor stuff that kept putting us back to 10 th place or so and it was just hard coming back through the field. Still, we did what we had to do and we’ll take this and move on to the next one. Pat (Tryson) and the team did a great job tonight and I’m really proud of the effort of this Viagra® Race team.”

The race saw 15 cautions, with the majority being tied to tire problems. Mark, crew chief Pat Tryson and tire specialist Jim Davis worked feverishly through the evening, closely monitoring each tire that came off the car to ensure Mark would not suffer the same fate as several cars that went to the garage after blowing tires. While a few of Mark’s tires would show blister wear, the team was able to avoid any serious trouble, ensuring Mark the chance at the solid victory.

Mark started sixth and ran inside the field’s top 10 for the majority of the race’s 334 laps. He broke into the top five for the first time of the evening on lap 49 and ran there until the day’s third caution was issued on lap 61 when the No. 8 car of Dale Earnhardt Jr. blew a tire and collided with the wall. The team came into the pits for four tires and fuel, but Mark almost collided with the No. 19 car of Jeremy Mayfield who was entering pit road just as Mark was exiting. Tryson was able to stop Mark just in time, but the No. 6 team lost valuable time and dropped back to 11 th when the field went green on lap 67.

Mark broke back into the top 10 on lap 94 just before the No. 32 blew a tire and sent out the caution flag for the fourth time of the night. The team again came in for four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment and Mark went back out 10 th when green-flag racing resumed. Mark had moved to sixth place by lap 124 when Sterling Marlin’s No 40 car blew a tire and caused the fifth caution of the race. The team again came down pit road for four tires and fuel and a 13.70-second stop sent Mark back out in sixth.

Mark was running in eighth on lap 172 when the No. 29 car blew a right-front tire for caution number seven. This time Tryson opted to put right-side Mark At Charlotte October Race

tires only on the No. 6 Ford. The move worked and Mark gained valuable track position up to third when racing resumed on lap 179. Preserving the tires, Mark dropped back to fifth place where he was running when the night’s biggest caution came out on lap 216 when points leader Tony Stewart cut a tire and went spinning into the outer wall. The accident would eventually allow the field to cut into Stewart’s lofty points lead and send out the caution flag for the ninth time of the race.

Having taken four tires under caution on lap 201, Tryson again opted for right-side tires only when the team pitted for the eighth time after Stewart’s spin on lap 217. Several cars stayed out and Mark found himself in 10th place when the field went green on lap 221. The No. 39 car would lose a tire 22 laps later and Mark would again come in under caution on lap 245 for four tires and fuel. Mark restarted in sixth, but built up little momentum as caution was called just two laps later when leader Elliot Sadler ran over debris that caused his No. 38 Ford to lose a tire and spin uncontrollably into the outer wall. The field was red-flagged for over 20 minutes and Mark restarted in fifth place when the race resumed on lap 259.

Mark was up to second when caution number 14 was brought out when race leader Kasey Kahne lost a tire on his No. 9 car on lap 306. Mark and Tryson opted for four tires in what would be their last stop of the night, while several teams took two only. Mark restarted ninth and would have his work cut out for him with only 23 laps remaining once the field went green. Mark had powered his way to sixth when the night’s 15th and final caution was issued on lap 330 when Rusty Wallace spun out while trying to pass the No. 25. The caution set up a green-white-checkered finish in which Mark would be able to pass the No. 11 car of Denny Hamlin for fifth place and a spot in the top-five.

Mark, who entered the race in seventh place and 118 points out of first place, moved up to fifth and to within 51 points of first place, which is currently shared by Stewart and eventual race winner Jimmie Johnson. He is 34 points of fourth and 40 points behind third.

“It was a great car and a great effort, and I'm really proud of this race team,” added Mark. “They're giving me a shot at it."

The team will return to action next weekend at Marksville Speedway where he finished third in the spring. Mark boasts two wins, 11 top-fives, 21 top-10 and three poles in 39 starts at Marksville.