05_subway

Gordon takes the win, Stewart grabs the point lead.

Kroger 200

October 23, 2005

Martinsville, VA - Jeff Gordon sweeps both races this year at Martinsville Speedway by winning today's Subway 500. This is Gordon's seventh victory at Martinsville Speedway tying him with Rusty Wallace for the most wins among active drivers. He’s seventh on the all-time Martinsville win list. Jeff Gordon's 73rd career victory came in a caution-filled event that set a record with 19 yellow flags. Gordon used pit strategy to his advantage by staying on the track during a late race caution period to take the lead he would not relinquish.

"It's been awhile," Gordon stated in victory lane. "What a great feeling. I'm so proud of Steve Letarte. He made the call that won this race. But this one here is for all those who were lost a year ago. They're still a major part of our thoughts and prayers. I know Rick and Linda are back home watching. I hope you're enjoying this one, we certainly are. I'm so proud of this race team."

Gordon was referring to last year's tragic accident when a plane carrying 10 members of the Hendrick Motorsports and racing family crashed near Martinsville. Hendricks Motor Sports founder Rick Hendrick lost his son, brother, two nieces, and several key members of the organization in the crash.

This was the first victory for crew chief Steve Letarte since he took over the roll as crew chief for Gordon six races ago. "The guys never gave up all year. Jeff came here and drove and absolutely perfect race. I can't thank Mr. Hendrick enough for the opportunity. The team we have is so strong. I just can't wait for next year" said Letarte. “I’m so proud of this guy right here (Letarte). I can’t think of a better way for him to get his first win than for him to make the call,” said Gordon.

“The call” was Letarte’s decision to leave Gordon on the track when most of the front runners pitted on lap 343 when Casey Mears’ spin brought out a caution. Gordon assumed the lead and after losing it to Greg Biffle a few laps later, he retook it on lap 360 for the win.

“I told Steve earlier that I drove for 300 and however many laps and I never got the lead,” said Gordon. “He made that call and got us the lead and kept that lead.”

Tony Stewart, who started on the poll, Came into this weekend's Subway 500 tied in the points battle with Jimmy Johnson. Stewart was dominant for most of the race and may have had a chance to catch Gordon towards the end of the race, but was held up by the lapped car of Greg Biffle. After a restart with 52 laps left, Biffle was first in line and trying to get back on the lead lap. He made Gordon and Johnson work to get past him. Stewart was next in line, and Biffle gave him no quarter either, holding off Stewart for several laps.

Stewart finally passed him with 37 laps to go and had three chances to take a shot at the leaders, but needed 26 of those laps to get past Johnson and was finished.

Stewart led 283 of 343 laps, and gained an additional 10 points for leading the most laps.

“The unfortunate thing is I think Greg was a lap down,” said Stewart. “I don’t really understand why he held up Jimmie first and then held me up and kept both of us from having a chance to close in. They name streets after guys like that — one way and dead end," Stewart said. "He's a nice guy, but right now, if he came over, I'm afraid I'd have to strangle him." There was no catching Jeff," Stewart said. "I don't know what makes him so fast at the end of the day like that. He was just too strong to keep up with."

Johnson was no more pleased with Stewart after being bumped aside entering the first turn after Stewart got his nose under Johnson, causing the car to wiggle.

"He dove it in there, I guess got in there far enough to get into me, knock me out of the way," Johnson said. "If I could have got back, I would have repaid the favor."

Biffle, who was third in points to start the day, just 11 points behind, wound up 20th, and fourth-place Ryan Newman, who was 17 points back, ran 10th to grab third place. Newman is now 63 points back, and Biffle fell to fourth, 83 points behind Stewart. Chase contenders Martin, Carl Edwards and Rusty Wallace, who started the day fifth through seventh in the points.

Mark Martin finished 34th in a backup car that he had to go to after he wrecked his primary car during practice, Edwards was 26th, one lap down, and Rusty Wallace was running fifth when he crashed on a restart with 19 laps to go. He finished 19th. Edwards is now fifth, 149 points back. Wallace is 166 back, and Martin is 170 behind.

Fin Str Car Driver Team Laps Pts Bns Total Award Status Times Laps

Leader

NASCAR Race Number 32

Unofficial Race Results for the Subway 500 - Sunday, October 23, 2005

Martinsville Speedway - Martinsville, Va. - 0.526 Mile Paved

Total Race Length - 500 Laps - 263 Miles Purse: $4,705,474

1 15 24 Jeff Gordon DuPont Chevrolet 500 185 5 $184,926 Running 2 151

2 1 20 Tony Stewart The Home Depot Chevrolet 500 180 10 $179,651 Running 7 283

3 6 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe’s Chevrolet 500 165 $136,441 Running

4 10 18 Bobby Labonte Interstate Batteries Chevrolet 500 160 $125,075 Running

5 21 31 Jeff Burton Cingular Wireless Chevrolet 500 155 $107,795 Running

6 14 97 Kurt Busch IRWIN Industrial Tools Ford 500 150 $124,050 Running

7 30 42 Jamie McMurray Havoline-Texaco Dodge 500 146 $90,775 Running

8 5 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Freight Chevrolet 500 142 $75,150 Running

9 23 5 # Kyle Busch Kellogg’s Chevrolet 500 138 $83,650 Running

10 4 12 Ryan Newman Alltel Dodge 500 134 $120,391 Running

11 2 21 Ricky Rudd Motorcraft Genuine Parts Ford 500 135 5 $103,064 Running 1 2

12 25 17 Matt Kenseth DeWalt Power Tools Ford 500 132 5 $116,461 Running 1 19

13 24 49 Ken Schrader Schwan’s Home Service Dodge 500 129 5 $71,525 Running 1 17

14 13 45 Kyle Petty Georgia-Pacific/Brawny Dodge 500 121 $90,858 Running

15 29 29 Kevin Harvick GM Goodwrench Chevrolet 500 118 $115,986 Running

16 19 07 Dave Blaney Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet 500 120 5 $78,600 Running 1 10

17 34 9 Kasey Kahne Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge 500 112 $103,975 Running

18 20 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Budweiser Chevrolet 500 109 $113,483 Running

19 3 2 Rusty Wallace Miller Lite Dodge 500 106 $101,083 Running

20 22 16 Greg Biffle National Guard/Subway Ford 500 108 5 $85,275 Running 1 6

21 12 77 # Travis Kvapil Kodak/Jasper Eng. & Trans. Dodge 500 100 $76,525 Running

22 16 41 Casey Mears Target Dodge 499 97 $92,433 Running

23 8 01 Joe Nemechek U.S. Army Chevrolet 499 94 $91,133 Running

24 26 10 Scott Riggs Valvoline/Herbie Fully Loaded Chevrolet 499 91 $87,433 Running

25 36 22 Scott Wimmer Caterpillar Dodge 499 88 $85,047 Running

26 18 99 Carl Edwards Office Depot Ford 499 85 $82,650 Running

27 39 15 Michael Waltrip NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet 498 87 5 $94,299 Running 2 12

28 7 19 Jeremy Mayfield Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge 497 79 $93,280 Running

29 9 38 Elliott Sadler M&M’s Ford 497 76 $103,791 Running

30 43 32 Bobby Hamilton Jr. Tide Chevrolet 494 73 $66,725 Running

31 28 88 Dale Jarrett UPS Ford 492 70 $97,783 Running

32 41 66 Hermie Sadler Kilgore for Governor Ford 489 67 $63,550 Running

33 38 08 Derrike Cope Royal Admin. Svcs/EPH Chevrolet 488 64 $64,375 Running

34 35 6 Mark Martin Viagra Ford 468 61 $81,375 Running

35 27 4 Mike Wallace Lucas Oil Chevrolet 448 58 $63,325 Running

36 17 25 Brian Vickers GMAC/ditech.com Chevrolet 425 55 $71,275 Running

37 11 43 Jeff Green Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge 409 52 $92,161 Engine

38 32 40 Sterling Marlin Coors Light Dodge 370 49 $91,083 Accident

39 37 09 Bobby Hamilton Miccosukee Resort Dodge 339 46 $63,115 Oil Leak

40 40 37 Jimmy Spencer BoSPOKER.net Dodge 235 43 $63,065 Electrical

41 31 0 Mike Bliss Haas Automation/Best Buy Chevrolet 172 40 $63,015 Accident

42 33 7 Robby Gordon Menard’s Chevrolet 115 37 $62,960 Engine

43 42 95 Stanton Barrett TBA Chevrolet 110 34 $62,008 Engine

Race Comments: Before an estimated crowd of 72,000, Jeff Gordon won the Subway 500, posting his 73rd NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series

victory. Prior to the green flag, the following drivers, under penalty, dropped to the rear of the field for the reasons indicated: #6

Martin (backup car); #95 Barrett (engine change).

Failed to Qualify: (6) Chad Chaffin, #92; Joey McCarthy, #34; Carl Long, #00; Mike Garvey, #75; Morgan Shepherd, #89; Wayne Anderson, #61.

Time of Race: 3 hours, 46 minutes, 25 seconds Average Speed: 69.695 mph Margin of Victory: 0.235 Seconds

Caution Flags: 19 for 113 laps: Laps 47-51 (#4,9 accident turn 1); 85-90 (#4,9,15 accident turn 4); 96-99 (Debris); 123-132 (Oil on track);

175-181 (#0,21,40 frontstretch); 198-204 (#15 accident turn 2); 210-214 (#07,43,10 accident turn 3);

240-246 (#8,38 accident turn 2); 286-295 (#43 accident turn 2); 297-300 (#66 stalled on track); 311-316 (#38 spun frontstretch);

322-326 (#43 accident frontstretch); 343-347 (#41 spun turn two); 349-352 (#21 spun turn two);

366-370 (#15 accident turn four); 437-448 (Debris); 477-481 (#17,5 accident turn 4); 483-485 (#2,31 accident backstretch);

495-497 (#16,77 accident turn 2).

Lead Changes: 15 among 8 drivers: T. Stewart 1; R. Rudd 2-3; T. Stewart 4-47; M. Waltrip 48-53; T. Stewart 54-86; M. Kenseth 87-105; T.

Stewart 106-124; K. Schrader 125-141; T. Stewart 142-176; M. Waltrip 177-182; T. Stewart 183-240; D. Blaney 241-250; T.

Stewart 251-343; J. Gordon 344-353; G. Biffle 354-359; J. Gordon 360-500.

Top 10 Driver Points: (1) T. Stewart 5,957; (2) J. Johnson 5,942; (3) R. Newman 5,894; (4) G. Biffle 5,874; (5) C. Edwards 5,808; (6) R. Wallace 5,791; (7) M. Martin 5,787; (8) K. Busch 5,785; (9) M. Kenseth 5,785; (10) J. Mayfield 5,741.

Top 5 Rookie Points: (1) Kyle Busch 303; (2) Travis Kvapil 226.

Bud Pole Award: Tony Stewart (98.083 mph) Sunoco Diamond Performance Award: Jeff Gordon, #24

Commit to Win Award: Tony Stewart, #20 Raybestos Rookie of the Race: Kyle Busch #, #5

WIX Lap-Leader Award: Tony Stewart, #20 (283 Laps) Goodyear Gatorback Fastest Lap Award: Tony Stewart, #20 (95.444 mph, Lap 5)

MBNA Mid-Race Leader Award: Tony Stewart, #20 Mobil Oil Command Performance Driver of the Race: Ryan Newman, #12

EA Sports Move of the Race Award: Jeff Gordon, #24 USG Improving the Finish Award: Jamie McMurray, #42 (23 Places)

Next Race: Oct. 30, 2005 - Atlanta Motor Speedway

The Top Ten in the Chase standings as the series heads for next Saturday's race at Atlanta Motor Speedway: Tony Stewart (5,957 points), Jimmie Johnson (15 points back), Ryan Newman (63 back), Greg Biffle (830 back), Carl Edwards (149 back), Rusty Wallace (166 back), Mark Martin (170 back), defending champion Kurt Busch (172 back), Matt Kenseth (172 back) and Jeremy Mayfield (216 back).

Jeff Gordon taking the victory with Tony Stewart close behind for second place and first in the point battle.

John M. Lesko Virginia Beach Review

Jeff Gordon Celebrates in victory lane following his win at Martinsville Speedway in the Subway 500

John M. Lesko Virginia Beach Review

John M. Lesko Photo

Gordon is mobbed by the media as he climbs from his car.

Tony Stewart leaves Martinsville with a second place finish and the lead in points with only four more races.

John M. Lesko Photo

John M. Lesko Virginia Beach Review

Rusty Wallace had a strong run going until he was involved in a wreck on lap 483 which dropped him to sixth in points.

Jeff Gordon on his way to a record tying seventh win at Martinsville speedway

Mark Martin had to start from the rear in his backup car after he wrecked his primary car in practice on Saturday.