The 2002 Winston

Even though the Viagra team finished 18th in NASCAR's 2002 all-star event, Mark and team see signs of good things to come. The Viagra 6 Car has an early evening

Using JR-83, Mark led 20 of the 52 laps, never ran out of the top-five and was in position to re-take the lead when mechanical problems sent the No. 6 team home early.

Despite the early exit, Mark remained optimistic after the race. "I'm just thankful to be working with the Viagra® Racing team," said Mark, moments after climbing out of his car. "We came here tonight and were racing to win. We really didn't get any breaks and yet we were still there. We were just about ready to get down to business."

Mark started the race fifth, based on qualifying (which consisted of a pit stop and a three-lap run on Friday night.) In fact, the Viagra® Ford Taurus had top-three track times in both practice sessions on Friday, but was slowed in qualifying because of a light rain that began, and ended, just moments before Mark was to take the track.

Once the festivities, fireworks and elaborate introductions ended and the race began, Mark wasted little time moving to second by lap three and passing teammate Matt Kenseth for the lead on lap six. Mark was beginning to distance himself from the field when the first caution of the day broke on that same lap after the No. 1 car spun down across the track.

The Winston consists of three separate segments. After the first segment of 40 laps ends, the field is trimmed down to 20 cars. After the next 30-lap segment, the field is trimmed to 10 cars. The field is then inverted, with the first-place car starting last. The drivers then race it out in a 20-lap shootout for the victory. Each team is required to pit at least once, under green, during each segment.

Once the field went back to green on lap nine, Mark began to pull away from second-place Jeff Gordon. The No. 6 had a three-car lead over the rest of the field when caution came out again on lap 15 after a four-car accident left debris all over the track.

Mark and Matt run side-by-side

The field went green again on lap 26 and Mark pitted on the next lap, taking four tires and fuel in an excellent stop of 14.7 seconds. Mark reentered the race sixth and worked his way to fifth, where he finished the first segment.

Mark wasted little time once the second segment began, gaining two positions to third place on the first lap. By lap 43, the No. 6 Viagra® Ford Taurus was making a run at first place when caution came out. Once the field went green again on lap 49, Mark was making a strong run for first place when mechanical problems ended his run early on lap 52.

Still, Mark liked what he saw on the track Saturday night.

"We were really a contender," said Mark. "The car was really fast, even though it was our third choice to bring here. Our first choice, which is a better car, we'll run next week in the 600 and our second choice we decided to save for Dover in a couple of weeks.

"We were really out there racing to win tonight and that is the reason that I get in a race car," added Mark. "We had problems in the end, but the car was really good and I'm excited about next week."

Mark and the No. 6 Viagra® Racing team will be back in action next week at Lowe's Motor Speedway for the Coca-Cola 600. Mark has won at Lowe's Motor Speedway on three different occasions, the most recent in 1998.

Mark will also be racing for the No Bull million dollar prize, a result of his third place finish earlier this season in Las Vegas. Mark has promised to split the million-dollar bounty among his team should the No. 6 end up in victory lane on Sunday.