Sprint Cup Series
Standings
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| Pos. | +/- | Driver | Points | Behind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | -- | Mark Martin | 5,551 | -- |
| 2. | -- | Jimmie Johnson | 5,533 | -18 |
| 3. | -- | Juan Montoya | 5,500 | -51 |
| 4. | +1 | Tony Stewart | 5,484 | -67 |
| 5. | -1 | Kurt Busch | 5,460 | -91 |
| 6. | -- | Denny Hamlin | 5,452 | -99 |
| 7. | +1 | Jeff Gordon | 5,448 | -103 |
| 8. | +1 | Greg Biffle | 5,437 | -114 |
| 9. | -2 | Ryan Newman | 5,387 | -164 |
| 10. | +1 | Carl Edwards | 5,386 | -165 |
| 11. | +1 | Kasey Kahne | 5,361 | -190 |
| 12. | -2 | Brian Vickers | 5,301 | -250 |
CHECKERED FLAG: Tony Stewart wins in Kansas for his fourth victory of the season. Jeff Gordon comes home second with Greg Biffle third. Mark Martin extends his points lead to 18 points.
| 2009 Standings | Behind |
|---|---|
| 1. Mark Martin (5) | - |
| 2. Jimmie Johnson (48) | -18 |
| 3. Juan Pablo Montoya (42) | -51 |
| 4. Tony Stewart (14) | -67 |
| 5. Kurt Busch (2) | -91 |
| 6. Denny Hamlin (11) | -99 |
| 7. Jeff Gordon (24) | -103 |
| 8. Greg Biffle (16) | -114 |
| 9. Ryan Newman (39) | -164 |
| 10. Carl Edwards (99) | -165 |
| 11. Kasey Kahne (9) | -190 |
| 12. Brian Vickers (83) | -250 |
Lap 266 -- WHITE FLAG: Tony Stewart takes the white flag and is 1.5 miles away from victory.
Lap 265 -- Tony Stewart has opened the gap up with two laps to go.
Lap 263 -- Jeff Gordon is running out of time but is giving it all he has.
Lap 262 -- Five to go and Jeff Gordon trails Tony Stewart by 0.4 seconds.
Lap 259 -- Tony Stewart's lead has shrunk to 0.6 seconds. Mark Martin passes David Reutimann for seventh.
Lap 257 -- Ten laps to go and Jeff Gordon trails Tony Stewart by one second.
Lap 254 -- Jeff Gordon passes Greg Biffle for second and has his sights on Tony Stewart with 13 to go.
Lap 251 -- Jeff Gordon closing on Greg Biffle for second.
Lap 250 -- Jimmie Johnson not happy with his car and continues to fall.
Lap 248 -- Mark Martin passes Jimmie Johnson for eighth.
Lap 246 -- Denny Hamlin goes to the apron and passes Kasey Kahne and Juan Montoya for fourth.
Lap 244 -- Kurt Busch gets loose but makes a great save.
Lap 243 -- Jimmie Johnson falls to sixth as he is struggling with the two tires.
Lap 242 -- Greg Biffle with a huge restart and jumps to second. Tony Stewart opens up a big lead.
Lap 241 -- GREEN FLAG: Tony Stewart brings the field to the green on the outside for the first time.
1. Tony Stewart
2. Kasey Kahne
3. Jimmie Johnson
4. Greg Biffle
5. Denny Hamlin
Lap 240 -- Sam Hornish Jr., Elliott Sadler and Bill Elliott the wave-around cars to get back on the lead lap. There are numerous other wave-around cars all multiple laps down.
Lap 239 -- LEAD CHANGE: Tony Stewart wins the race off pit road and takes the lead. The top-three of Stewart, Kasey Kahne and Jimmie Johnson took two tires, everyone else took four. Fuel is no longer an issue.
Lap 238 -- All the leaders hit pit road as strategy comes to play.
• Jeff Gordon with four tires and a track bar adjustment
• Greg Biffle with four tires and fuel
• Denny Hamlin with four tires
• Jimmie Johnson with two tires
• Tony Stewart with two tires
• Kasey Kahne with two tires
Lap 236 -- YELLOW FLAG NO. 6: Fluid from Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s engine brings out the caution. A.J. Allmendinger gets the free pass. Dale Earnhardt Jr. takes his car to the garage.
Lap 234 -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. on pit road with the hood up and no power.
Lap 230 -- Mark Martin passes Juan Montoya for seventh.
Lap 227 -- Greg Biffle has clinched the five bonus points for leading the most laps.
Lap 223 -- Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Juan Montoya are three-wide for fifth.
Lap 221 -- Jimmie Johnson and Juan Montoya side-by-side for sixth.
Lap 220 -- Denny Hamlin up to third. Kasey Kahne has climbed to fourth.
Lap 217 -- Greg Biffle leads by 7.8 seconds but will have to make another pit stop. Brian Vickers has taken his No. 83 to the garage.
Lap 213 -- Denny Hamlin passes Jeff Gordon for fourth.
Lap 212 -- Brian Pattie has asked Juan Montoya to try and save a little fuel when he can.
Lap 211 -- The top five after green-flag stops:
1. Greg Biffle
2. Tony Stewart
3. Kasey Kahne
4. Jeff Gordon
5. Denny Hamlin
Lap 209 -- LEAD CHANGE: Greg Biffle out front as the green-flag stops cycle through.
Lap 208 -- Kurt Busch and Casey Mears on pit road. Busch with four tires and the team is saying they can make it to the end of the race.
Lap 207 -- LEAD CHANGE: Denny Hamlin pits giving the lead to Kurt Busch. Kyle Busch also on pit road.
Lap 206 -- LEAD CHANGE: Denny Hamlin leads as Tony Stewart pits. Four tires and no changes for Stewart. Juan Montoya also pits for four tires.
Lap 205 -- Kasey Kahne on pit road for a wedge adjustment and four tires.
Lap 204 -- Mark Martin and Ryan Newman on pit road. Martin with four tires and no adjustments.
Lap 203 -- Jeff Gordon on pit road as is David Reutimann.
Lap 202 -- LEAD CHANGE: Tony Stewart takes the lead as Greg Biffle and Jimmie Johnson pit. Biffle with a wedge adjustment and Johnson with four tires.
Lap 201 -- David Stremme and Brad Keselowski on pit road beginning green-flag stops.
Lap 198 -- Not a lot of passing taking place as the cars are pretty spread out getting ready for a green-flag stop.
Lap 193 -- Greg Biffle out front by 3.5 seconds as teams look at fuel mileage strategies. Green-flag stops coming in the next 10-15 laps.
Lap 187 -- Greg Biffle has opened up a 2.2-second lead on Tony Stewart.
Lap 184 -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. on pit road for his stop.
Lap 183 -- Brian Vickers and Erik Darnell on pit road.
Lap 180 -- Casey Mears down to 10th as Kurt Busch goes around.
Lap 177 -- Kasey Kahne up to sixth. Brian Vickers says he may have an engine problem.
Lap 172 -- Chase drivers make up the top eight and nine of the top 10. Carl Edwards (17th), Ryan Newman (27th) and Brian Vickers (35th) the cars outside the top 10.
Lap 171 -- Jimmie Johnson up to eighth after passing Casey Mears.
Lap 170 -- Since ending their battle for the lead, Greg Biffle and Tony Stewart have opened up a three-second lead on the field.
Lap 169 -- Juan Montoya up to fifth after passing Mark Martin.
Lap 167 -- Casey Mears down to eighth as Kasey Kahne passes him.
Lap 166 -- Jimmie Johnson up to ninth after passing David Reutimann.
Lap 165 -- Juan Montoya passes Casey Mears for sixth.
Lap 163 -- Jimmie Johnson passes Kyle Busch for 10th.
Lap 162 -- Denny Hamlin has closed the gap on Greg Biffle and Tony Stewart as they battle for the lead.
Lap 159 -- Greg Biffle and Tony Stewart side-by-side for the lead.
Lap 157 -- Casey Mears, Juan Montoya and David Reutimann in a three-wide battle for sixth.
Lap 153 -- Jeff Gordon passes Mark Martin for fourth. Kasey Kahne up to 10th after passing Marcos Ambrose.
Lap 152 -- Casey Mears up to seventh. Jimmie Johnson in 11th.
Lap 150 -- GREEN FLAG: Greg Biffle brings the field to the green as the top seven took just two tires.
1. Greg Biffle
2. Tony Stewart
3. Mark Martin
4. Denny Hamlin
5. Jeff Gordon
Lap 149 -- LEAD CHANGE: Greg Biffle won the race off pit road and retakes the lead. Dale Earnhardt Jr., Erik Darnell and Robby Gordon are the wave-around cars but remain at least one lap down.
Lap 148 -- LEAD CHANGE: Juan Montoya takes the lead on pit road as all the leaders pit.
• Jeff Gordon with two tires
• Jimmie Johnson with four tires
• Juan Montoya with an air pressure adjustment and four tires
• Greg Biffle with two tires
• Tony Stewart with two tires
Lap 147 -- YELLOW FLAG NO. 5: Elliott Sadler spins but makes a great save avoiding contact with other cars in Turn 2. Carl Edwards gets the free pass and is back on the lead lap.
Lap 144 -- Good runs for A.J. Allmendinger and Marcos Ambrose. Allmendinger is currently 13th and Ambrose is 15th.
Lap 141 -- Juan Montoya passes Greg Biffle for second as Jimmie Johnson has opened up a 4.4-second lead.
Lap 137 -- Mark Martin down to 10th. Kyle Busch up to seventh. Matt Kenseth is in the garage.
Lap 136 -- Matt Kenseth on pit road saying he thinks his engine is going to give.
Lap 135 -- Clint Bowyer, Kurt Busch, Joey Logano and Brian Vickers go four-wide on the track.
Lap 132 -- Quietly Denny Hamlin has worked his way up to sixth after starting 22nd.
Lap 131 -- LEAD CHANGE: Jimmie Johnson passes Greg Biffle in Turn 3 to retake the lead.
Lap 130 -- GREEN FLAG: Greg Biffle brings the field to the green.
1. Greg Biffle
2. Jimmie Johnson
3. Juan Montoya
4. Jeff Gordon
5. Tony Stewart
Lap 128 -- LEAD CHANGE: Greg Biffle leads as he pitted and stayed on the lead lap when the caution came out. Matt Kenseth, Brad Keselowski, Kurt Busch and Martin Truex Jr. the wave-around cars to get back on the lead lap.
Lap 127 -- LEAD CHANGE: Tony Stewart passes Jimmie Johnson on pit road as the rest of the field pits.
• Jeff Gordon with a chassis adjustment and four tires
• Jimmie Johnson with minor adjustments and four tires
• Tony Stewart with a wedge adjustment
• Juan Montoya with a track bar adjustment
Lap 126 -- YELLOW FLAG NO. 4: Brian Vickers spins bringing out the caution. Kevin Harvick gets the free pass.
Lap 125 -- Kurt Busch, Greg Biffle, Jamie McMurray on pit road.
Lap 124 -- Ryan Newman and Matt Kenseth pit. Newman with four tires and a chassis adjustment.
Lap 123 -- Brad Keselowski on pit road for four tires and an air pressure adjustment.
Lap 122 -- Joey Logano on pit road for his stop.
Lap 120 -- Kevin Harvick goes a lap down as green-flag stops approach.
Lap 119 -- Juan Montoya is up to fourth. Matt Kenseth passes Brad Keselowski for fifth.
Lap 118 -- Joey Logano goes a lap down. Kevin Harvick is next.
Lap 115 -- The wave-around cars have pitted the last couple laps.
Lap 112 -- Robby Gordon and Scott Speed go a lap down.
Lap 110 -- Good runs going for Casey Mears, David Stremme and Sam Hornish Jr. Mears is 15th, Stremme is 17th and Hornish is 18th.
Lap 104 -- Two tires starting to fail of for Martin Truex Jr. as he is down to eighth after Matt Kenseth passes him. Kurt Busch down to 14th on two tires.
Lap 102 -- LEAD CHANGE: Greg Biffle gets held up by Max Papis and Jimmie Johnson passes him for the lead. Papis goes a lap down.
Lap 100 -- Greg Biffle and Jimmie Johnson continue to battle for the lead as they close on the tail end of the field.
Lap 98 -- Juan Montoya passes Martin Truex Jr. for fifth.
Lap 97 -- Jeff Gordon up to eighth. Juan Montoya currently sixth.
Lap 95 -- Greg Biffle and Jimmie Johnson are out front by five seconds.
Lap 94 -- LEAD CHANGE: Greg Biffle gets back to the front and leads.
Lap 93 -- LEAD CHANGE: Still side-by-side, Jimmie Johnson inches ahead of Greg Biffle.
Lap 92 -- LEAD CHANGE: This lap goes to Greg Biffle who leads by a nose.
Lap 91 -- LEAD CHANGE: Jimmie Johnson beats Greg Biffle to the line and leads that lap. Tony Stewart passes Martin Truex Jr. for third.
Lap 89 -- Greg Biffle and Jimmie Johnson side-by-side for the lead.
Lap 85 -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. has caught Carl Edwards as the two battle to be the first car a lap down.
Lap 82 -- Jimmie Johnson up to second and closing on leader Greg Biffle.
Lap 76 -- Juan Montoya passes Matt Kenseth for seventh. Kurt Busch and Brad Keselowski battling for fourth.
Lap 74 -- GREEN FLAG: Greg Biffle brings the field to the green.
1. Greg Biffle
2. Martin Truex Jr.
3. Kurt Busch
4. Brad Keselowski
5. Tony Stewart
Lap 73 -- Ryan Newman too fast exiting and will restart at the rear.
Lap 72 -- LEAD CHANGE: Greg Biffle wins the race off pit road and leads for the first time today. Brian Vickers, John Andretti, Max Papis and Robby Gordon are the wave-around cars and all return to the lead lap. David Ragan and Paul Menard also wave-around cars but are multiple laps down.
Lap 71 -- LEAD CHANGE: Tony Stewart leads the lap after passing Jimmie Johnson on pit road as all the leaders pit.
• Brad Keselowski with an air pressure adjustment and four tires
• Jimmie Johnson with four tires
• Tony Stewart with four tires
• Mark Martin with no changes and four tires
• Greg Biffle with two tires
• Kurt Busch with two tires
Lap 69 -- YELLOW FLAG NO. 3: Reed Sorenson into the Turn 2 wall bringing out the caution. Elliott Sadler gets the free pass.
Lap 65 -- Brian Vickers goes a lap down in 29th place. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is 32nd and Carl Edwards is 33rd after their penalties.
Lap 64 -- The top five after green-flag stops:
1. Jimmie Johnson
2. Brad Keselowski
3. Tony Stewart
4. Kasey Kahne
5. Mark Martin
Lap 62 -- LEAD CHANGE: Jimmie Johnson passes Brad Keselowski and leads for the first time today.
Lap 61 -- LEAD CHANGE: Brad Keselowski gets the lead as John Andretti pits ending this round of green-flag stops.
Lap 60 -- LEAD CHANGE: Elliott Sadler pits giving the lead to John Andretti, who is the final car yet to make a pit stop.
Lap 58 -- LEAD CHANGE: Elliott Sadler out front as he has yet to pit.
Lap 57 -- Martin Truex Jr. pits. Carl Edwards too fast exiting and will serve a pass through.
Lap 56 -- LEAD CHANGE: Martin Truex Jr. gets five bonus points as Carl Edwards pits.
Lap 55 -- LEAD CHANGE: Carl Edwards leads as Matt Kenseth, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch pit. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is black-flagged for missing a lug nut.
Lap 54 -- LEAD CHANGE: Matt Kenseth leads as Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Juan Montoya, Kurt Busch and Mark Martin all pit.
Lap 53 -- LEAD CHANGE: Tony Stewart leads as Dale Earnhardt Jr. pits. Jimmie Johnson and Ryan Newman also on pit road.
Lap 52 -- Brad Keselowski gives up second and pits. Air pressure adjustment and four tires.
Lap 51 -- David Reutimann goes to the outside on the backstretch and passes Mark Martin for fifth.
Lap 48 -- Matt Kenseth passes Juan Montoya for eighth. Greg Biffle up to 17th after starting 31st.
Lap 47 -- Jeff Gordon has dropped to 12th as he continues to struggle with the handling.
Lap 45 -- David Reutimann has worked his way up to sixth.
Lap 40 -- Tony Stewart up to fourth and Mark Martin is fifth as they both pass Jamie McMurray.
Lap 37 -- Jimmie Johnson passes Jamie McMurray for third.
Lap 35 -- Tony Stewart passes Mark Martin for fifth.
Lap 31 -- Jimmie Johnson up to fourth after passing Mark Martin.
Lap 30 -- Dave Blaney takes the No. 66 to the garage.
Lap 28 -- Jimmie Johnson passes Tony Stewart for fifth. Mike Bliss takes his No. 09 to the garage.
Lap 27 -- Joe Nemechek takes the No. 87 to the garage.
Lap 25 -- Jamie McMurray gets around Mark Martin for third.
Lap 23 -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. has opened up a 1.9-second lead on Brad Keselowski.
Lap 21 -- Jimmie Johnson passes Kasey Kahne for sixth. Juan Montoya passes Jeff Gordon for eighth.
Lap 20 -- Juan Montoya flying on the track up to 10th in just three laps.
Lap 19 -- Jimmie Johnson passes Jeff Gordon for seventh.
Lap 18 -- Denny Hamlin is up to 11th after starting 22nd. Kurt Busch has worked his way to 23rd after starting 39th.
Lap 17 -- Carl Edwards and Juan Montoya side-by-side for 13th.
Lap 15 -- Jimmie Johnson passes David Reutimann for eighth.
Lap 13 -- Smoke is coming off of David Ragan's car and he is back on pit road.
Lap 12 -- LEAD CHANGE: Dale Earnhardt Jr. passes Mark Martin on the outside in Turn 4 to take the lead. Brad Keselowski follows behind for second.
Lap 11 -- GREEN FLAG: Mark Martin brings the field to the green on the inside.
1. Mark Martin
2. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
3. Brad Keselowski
4. Jamie McMurray
5. Tony Stewart
Lap 10 -- Bobby Labonte and Michael Waltrip are the only two to take their cars to the garage after the crash.
Lap 9 -- Elliott Sadler was too fast entering pit road and will start at the tail end of the longest line.
Lap 8 -- Brian Vickers, Martin Truex Jr., David Stremme, Joey Logano and Kyle Busch among the dozen cars to pit.
Lap 7 -- YELLOW FLAG NO. 2: Paul Menard spin in Turn 2 collecting David Ragan, Bobby Labonte and Michael Waltrip. No free pass is given.
Lap 6 -- Jamie McMurray has a good start and challenges Dale Earnhardt Jr. for second. Tony Stewart makes it three-wide in Turn 4.
Lap 5 -- GREEN FLAG: Mark Martin brings the field to the green.
1. Mark Martin
2. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
3. Jamie McMurray
4. Kasey Kahne
5. Tony Stewart
Lap 3 -- Sam Hornish Jr., Robby Gordon and John Andretti the only cars to pit.
Lap 2 -- YELLOW FLAG NO. 1: Joey Logano spins in Turn 2 bringing out the caution. Logano doesn't hit anything and continues. No free pass is given.
Lap 1 -- Mark Martin leads the first lap. Brad Keselowski falls to sixth.
2:19 p.m. -- GREEN FLAG: Mark Martin gets the field up to speed and the Price Chopper 400 is under way.
2:12 p.m. -- The cars are rolling off pit road for three warmup laps.
2:08 p.m. -- Grand marshal Kent Blair gives the command: "Gentlemen, start your engines!"
2:01 p.m. -- Blaine Larsen performs the national anthem.
2 p.m. -- Pastor Jimmy Ybarra delivers the Invocation.
1 p.m. -- NASCAR Countdown is under way on ABC.
12:50 p.m. ET -- It's a gorgeous day for racing at Kansas Speedway. It's currently 56 degrees under sunny skies with temperatures reaching the mid-60s during the race. The wind that has been around all weekend has tapered off as well. Mark Martin brings the field to the green at 2:16 p.m. ET.
Pit Moves
Pit Move: Tony...
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Pit Move: Kasey Kahne
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Pit Move: Week 17 Winner
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Pit Move: Greg Biffle
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Pit Move: Jimmie...
Pit Move: Jimmie Johnson
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Pit Move: Week 15 Winner
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Pit Move: Bobby Labonte
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Pit Move: Greg Biffle
Pit Move: Week 14...
Pit Move: Week 14 Winner
Pit Move: Ryan Newman
Pit Move: Ryan Newman
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Pit Move: Reed Sorenson
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Pit Move: Week 13 Winner
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Pit Move: Kyle Busch
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Pit Move: Matt Kenseth
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Pit Move: All-Star winner
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Pit Move: Week 12 Winner
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Pit Move: Dale Earnhadt Jr.
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Pit Move: Week 11 Winner
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Pit Move: Jeff Burton
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Sunoco Pit Move...
Sunoco Pit Move: Clint Bowyer
Sunoco Pit Move...
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Sunoco Pit Move...
Sunoco Pit Move: Jimmie Johnson
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Sunoco Pit Move...
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Sunoco Pit Move...
Sunoco Pit Move: Greg Biffle
Sunoco Pit Move...
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Sunoco Pit Move: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Sunoco Pit Move...
Sunoco Pit Move: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Martin edged teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. to capture his series-leading seventh pole of the season on Friday at Kansas. The No. 5 team is one of the hottest teams in the Sprint Cup Series right now and veteran Martin will factor in the win on Sunday at Kansas Speedway.
The No. 42 team continues to race well at the end of this season. Montoya collected his third straight Top-5 finish in Sunday's Price Chopper 400. As a result the Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing star is still thick in the hunt for this season's championship. Montoya sits third overall at 51 points behind leader Mark Martin after Kansas.
It was another strong intermediate oval effort by the No. 24 team. Gordon stayed in the Top 10 for much of the race and gave Tony Stewart a good challenge for the win late. He held on for the brilliant runner-up finish and had a great day in the points. Gordon climbs to seventh-place overall, and now at 103 points behind leader Mark Martin has some slim championship hopes still alive.
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NASCAR’s 50-year-old wonder kid looked as if his dog ran away. His face washed with gloom, his eyes going to and from a nearby television, his ears unable to escape Tony Stewart’s joy from winning Sunday at Kansas Speedway.
Mark Martin slumped in his chair, a seventh-place finish his worst in six weeks.
It all set up another surly postrace evaluation from Martin, who’s everybody’s sentimental pick to win his first Sprint Cup championship. Except then he said this:
“I’m proud of this race team.”
The words kept coming like this, as Martin extended his points lead over Jimmie Johnson from 10 to 18.
There is an important distinction in Martin’s evaluation. He’s not necessarily proud of a seventh-place finish, but he will take it considering he was driving what he considered a car that was off by more than it’s been in a while.
“I’ve been, at times, off this much and been in 25th place,” Martin said. “If we miss it a little bit and battle and fight and scratch and come up in seventh place, I’m very proud.”
Juan Pablo Montoya is among the drivers who say that Martin’s consistency — this makes six consecutive top-seven finishes and 16 overall — is frustrating to compete against because it’s so difficult to make up ground.
Martin’s extra eight points of lead aside, the standings actually tightened a bit. Stewart and Denny Hamlin joined Jimmie Johnson, Montoya and Kurt Busch within 100 points of Martin.
“You can look at anything any way you want,” Martin said. “I did and I didn’t (extend the lead). I did on (Johnson), but I didn’t on several guys. So, look at it however you want. It’s a race. Every race, that’s how you score points.
“There’s, what, seven more to go? We shouldn’t be getting all hyped up about the tally right now. We have a lot more racing to go. The races are actually what determines it.”
It sets up a dramatic finish in the last seven races of the Chase, one that will continue to generate even more buzz as fans and drivers alike pull for Martin to shed the Buffalo Bills tint to an otherwise standout career that includes four runner-up and four third-place finishes.
Martin actually stepped away from full-time racing three years ago. He’s back and rejuvenated, but still careful to talk about his title pursuit in hushed tones. He’s been close before. He knows not to tempt fate with letting his thoughts drift too far into the future.
“We just lacked a little bit in getting up there and being able to contend for the win,” Martin said. “But we pretty well peaked at the end. Our car was probably the strongest at that last run.”
Martin was speaking about Sunday’s race, of course, but there’s a hoped-for metaphor in there about his own career possibly peaking toward the end, so long as his season peaks toward the end.
The eyes of the NASCAR world will be watching whether he can complete the sport’s feel-good story.
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