Yes His 2nd win this year and today was great for his team with the tragic that happened a year ago.

 

I'd rather see Osama Bin Ladin win a NASCAR race than Jeffy boy......

 

[sm=imsmilin.gif] Jeffy-poo.

 

Hes gonna zoom right past Dale to be the best race car driver ever . He sure beats any crappy dodge driver or any driver .

 

Booooooooooooooooooo.

 

April 10, 2005
06:20 PM EDT (22:20 GMT)

MARTINSVILLE, Va. (AP) -- Jeff Gordon showed that he might be the new king of short-track racing Sunday, coming from four laps down early on to win his sixth NASCAR Nextel Cup race at Martinsville Speedway.

Fourth on a restart with 46 laps to go, Gordon wasted no time.

He followed Mark Martin past Ryan Newman on the 461st lap, went underneath Martin to move into second place three laps later and passed Sterling Marlin for the lead with 34 laps remaining.

From then on, it was smooth sailing to his 71st career victory and second in six races this year. It was his sixth victory at 0.526-mile Martinsville, the shortest and trickiest track in the premier series. Only Rusty Wallace, with seven, has more among active drivers.

For Gordon and all of Hendrick Motorsports, it was an emotional day. The last time the series was at this track, a plane carrying 10 friends and family of the organization crashed nearby, killing everyone on board.

"There's something special about this place and we lost so many incredible people, part of this organization and racing community and I think it's only fitting for us to get this victory," Gordon said after getting a huge embrace from team owner Rick Hendrick in Victory Lane.


Jeff Gordon celebrates after climbing from his car. Credit: Autostock

"I know how much it means to Rick and his family and all those other families, and it means a lot to this race team," Gordon said.

Hendrick's son, Ricky, was among those killed in the crash.

The only drama for Gordon as he pulled away from the field was getting around defending series champion Kurt Busch, who was running with the leaders with 53 laps remaining until Gordon nudged him into the wall.

Running three laps down, Busch made Gordon work to get around him, even banging into him during side-by-side racing on the front stretch.

Once Gordon got around Busch, though, he was gone, and even the 16th caution flag with less than 10 laps to go didn't hinder him. He pulled away from Kasey Kahne with three laps to go and won by 0.593 seconds.

Gordon's Chevrolet and Kahne's Dodge were followed across the line by Martin's Ford, the Dodge of Newman and Marlin, also in a Dodge.

Early on, Gordon seemed to be out of contention after less than 50 laps. He pitted under a green flag because of a vibration after 47 laps, went three laps down, then lost another lap before beginning to rally.

With the fastest car on the track, Gordon had little trouble beating the leaders to the first turn as the lead lapped car on restarts. By lap 277, he was the "lucky dog," allowing him to go to the tail of the lead lap, where he was already in 18th place and on his way to the front.

The race had a disappointing finish for the Joe Gibbs Racing tandem of Bobby Labonte and Tony Stewart, who led for a combined 279 laps.

Labonte was leading when the race came out of a caution with 105 laps to go, but his car suddenly slowed and he faded quickly to mid-pack.

Stewart, who led four times for 247 of the first 389 laps, was running in the top five with 70 laps to go when his car suddenly slowed in the fourth turn. By the time he got into the first turn, everyone found out why: his right front tire came off his Chevrolet and went bounding down the track.

Busch was next in the barrel. He was racing in the top five with 53 laps to go when Jeff Gordon nudged him in turns three and four, spinning Busch's Ford and sending it rear-end first into the outside wall.

The 16 cautions slowed the pace for 91 laps.

Jimmie Johnson, who finished eighth, remained the series leader by 160 points over Greg Biffle, who was 29th. Elliott Sadler finished ninth and moved up two spots to third in the standings, 182 points back.



Lap 500 -- Jeff Gordon holds off Kasey Kahne, Mark Martin, Ryan Newman and Rusty Wallace to win the Advance Auto Parts 500.

• It is Gordon's sixth career victory at Martinsville and 71st overall. He moves up six positions to sixth in the point standings.

• Jimmie Johnson finishes eighth, his 12th consecutive top-10 finish, and now leads Greg Biffle by 160 points.

Lap 498 -- Green-flag racing resumes with a single-file re-start -- and a green-white-checkers finish.

Lap 491 -- Travis Kvapil blows the engine to bring out the 16th caution. ... Pit road opens on Lap 493, but the leaders remain on the track.

Lap 490 -- Jeff Gordon continues to work his way through traffic. Kasey Kahne remains second followed by Mark Martin, Ryan Newman, Sterling Marlin, Rusty Wallace, Ricky Rudd, Jimmie Johnson, Elliott Sadler and Joe Nemechek.

Lap 485 -- The top five: Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne, Mark Martin, Ryan Newman and Sterling Marlin.

Lap 476 -- Taking advantage of the beating and banging of Mark Martin and Sterling Marlin, Kasey Kahne takes second, brining Ryan Newman to third.

Lap 475 -- Jeff Gordon opens up a 2.349-second lead as Mark Martin and Sterling Marlin battle for second place.

Lap 466 -- Jeff Gordon -- once three laps down -- passes Sterling Marlin for the lead.

Lap 459 -- Sterling Marlin passes Ryan Newman for the lead.

Lap 455 -- Racing resumes under green with Ryan Newman, Sterling Marlin, Mark Martin, Jeff Gordon and Kasey Kahne in the top five. The rest of the top 10: Rusty Wallace, Ricky Rudd, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Travis Kvapil.

Lap 447 -- Caution No. 15: Kurt Busch, riding on the high side, comes down on a hard-charging Jeff Gordon and is clipped in the left quarterpanel.

Lap 438 -- Green-flag racing resumes. ... Ryan Newman, Sterling Marlin, Elliott Sadler are Nos. 1-3; they did not pit under caution.

Lap 432 -- Tony Stewart has lost the right-front tire -- literally. The center of the wheel broke and the tire bounced around the track. ... Caution is out for the 14th time. ... Roush Racing teammates Kurt Busch and Mark Martin are first off pit road.

Lap 425 -- The top five: Kurt Busch, Mark Martin, Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon and Rusty Wallace. The rest of the top 10: Ricky Rudd, Ryan Newman, Kasey Kahne, Jimmie Johnson and Jason Leffler.

Lap 416 -- Mark Martin leads to the line, then is overtaken by Kurt Busch.

Lap 410 -- Green-flag re-start. ... The top 10: Kurt Busch, Mark Martin, Bobby Labonte, Tony Stewart, Rusty Wallace, Ricky Rudd, Jeff Gordon, Ryan Newman, Jimmie Johnson and Kasey Kahne.

Lap 404 -- Dale Jarrett cuts a tire, spins and comes to rest to the inside of the track. Engine is flooded; car won't crank. ... Caution flies for the 13th time.

Lap 400 -- Kurt Busch passes Bobby Labonte -- who has dropped a cylinder -- for the lead.

Lap 395 -- Green-flag racing resumes.

Lap 389 -- Leaders come to pit road. ... Bobby Labonte is the first driver out, followed by Kurt Busch, Mark Martin, Tony Stewart, Rusty Wallace, Ricky Rudd, Jeff Gordon, Ryan Newman, Jimmie Johnson and Jason Leffler. ... Newman's fast stop was a tick over 47 seconds; Stewart's was 55-plus seconds after a lug nut problem.

Lap 388 -- Caution flies for the 12th time as Kyle Petty cuts a right-rear tire and spins. ... Teammates Tony Stewart and Bobby Labonte -- running 1-2 -- are the only drivers to have been in the top 10 for every lap.

Lap 375 -- Tony Stewart now has led 232 laps.

Lap 353 -- Jeremy Mayfield to the pits under green: flat right-front tire. He falls three laps down.

Lap 350 -- The top 10: Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch, Bobby Labonte, Mark Martin, Ricky Rudd, Jeff Gordon, Jason Leffler, Kasey Kahne, Elliott Sadler and Rusty Wallace.

Lap 328 -- Green-flag racing resumes. ... Jeremy Mayfield is flagged for speeding on pit road, sending him back in the pack. ... Sterling Marlin's crew rolls the dice -- right-side tires only -- and jumps seven spots to eighth off pit road.

Lap 321 -- Jeff Green spins to bring out the 11th caution. ... Jimmie Johnson gets the "Lucky Dog" pass. ... Leaders head to pit road.

Lap 320 -- The three Joe Gibbs Racing cars are again running in the top 10: Tony Stewart (first), Bobby Labonte (fourth) and Jason Leffler (eighth).

Lap 305 -- Rookie Kyle Busch takes his car behind the wall: radiator.

Lap 300 -- The top five: Tony Stewart, Jeremy Mayfield, Kurt Busch, Bobby Labonte, Mark Martin. Nos. 6-10: Ricky Rudd, Kasey Kahne, Mike Bliss, Ryan Newman and Rusty Wallace.

Lap 289 -- Green-flag racing resumes.

Lap 283 -- With a tire going down, Dale Earnhardt Jr. spins between Turns 1 and 2. Caution flies for the 10th time; Junior manages to remain on the lead lap. ... Travis Kvapil gets the "Lucky Dog" pass.

Lap 282 -- Green-flag racing resumes.

Lap 276 -- After being bumped by Elliott Sadler, Sterling Marlin spins in Turn 4 to bring out the ninth caution. ... Jeff Gordon benefits from the "Lucky Dog" pass.

Lap 270 -- The top 10: Tony Stewart, Jeremy Mayfield, Kurt Busch, Bobby Labonte, Mark Martin, Ricky Rudd, Kasey Kahne, Mike Bliss, Ryan Newman and Rusty Wallace.

Lap 263 -- Kevin Harvick takes his car to the garage: clutch.

Lap 262 -- Green-flag racing resumes. The race off pit road: Tony Stewart, Jeremy Mayfield, Kurt Busch, Bobby Labonte and Mark Martin. ... Kevin Harvick cannot get his car started; Dave Blaney eventually gives teammate Harvick a push ... but to no avail. Harvick still in the pits.

Lap 256 -- Joe Nemechek blows a right-front tire and brushed the wall to bring out the eighth caution of the day. ... Kyle Petty picks up the "Lucky Dog" pass.

Lap 250 -- Halfway mark. ... Where the top five in points are running: 1. Jimmie Johnson (27th), 2. Greg Biffle (31st), 3. Tony Stewart (first), 4. Carl Edwards (40th and off the track), 5. Elliott Sadler (14th).

Lap 225 -- Tony Stewart takes the lead from Jeremy Mayfield. Kurt Busch is third, followed by Bobby Labonte and Mark Martin.

Lap 208 -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. has a smoking left-front tire -- but has not pitted under green.

Lap 204 -- Jeremy Mayfield passes Tony Stewart for the lead.

Lap 200 -- The top 10: Tony Stewart, Jeremy Mayfield, Kurt Busch, Bobby Labonte, Mark Martin, Ricky Rudd, Kasey Kahne, Jason Leffler, Sterling Marlin and Mike Bliss.

Lap 181 -- Green-flag racing resumes. The sprint off pit road was won by race leader Tony Stewart, followed by Jeremy Mayfield, Kurt Busch, Bobby Labonte and Mark Martin. ... Rusty Wallace, who came out of the pits fourth, was penalized for speeding on pit road.

Lap 181 -- Greg Biffle and Brian Vickers get together to force the seventh caution. Biffle bounces off the wall in Turn 4 and clips Vickers.

Lap 180 -- Lap leaders: Tony Stewart (59), Rusty Wallace (47), Jeremy Mayfield (47), Bobby Labonte (22) and Robby Gordon (4).

Lap 175 -- Making his way through traffic, Tony Stewart still shows the way. Rusty Wallace, Jeremy Mayfield, Bobby Labonte and Ricky Rudd round out the rest of the top 10.

• Off the track: Bobby Hamilton Jr., Carl Edwards, Johnny Sauter, Randy LaJoie and Mike Garvey.

Lap 160 -- Tony Stewart continues to lead, with Rusty Wallace, Jeremy Mayfield, Bobby Labonte and Kurt Busch rounding out the top five. The rest of the top 10: Ricky Rudd, Mark Martin, Mike Bliss, Kasey Kahne and Sterling Marlin.

Lap 150 -- Joe Gibbs Racing has three cars in the top 15 -- leader Tony Stewart, second-place Bobby Labonte and Jason Leffler (13th).

Lap 134 -- Robby Gordon, who did not pit, leads the field to green for the re-start -- and is immediately passed by Tony Stewart and Bobby Labonte.

Lap 129 -- Leaders make pit stops. Tony Stewart, Bobby Labonte and Rusty Wallace are the first ones in and out. ... However, Kevin Harvick falls from sixth to 13th after a slow stop.

Lap 126 -- Dave Blaney has a flat tire for the sixth caution. He rolls past the pit entrance and stops to bring out the yellow flag. ... Jimmie Johnson gets the "Lucky Dog" pass.

Lap 125 -- The top 10: Tony Stewart, Bobby Labonte, Rusty Wallace, Jeremy Mayfield, Kurt Busch, Kevin Harvick, Mark Martin, Ricky Rudd, Mike Bliss and Sterling Marlin.

Lap 116 -- Tony Stewart takes the lead from Bobby Labonte to become the fourth leader of the race.

Lap 110 -- Bobby Labonte, Tony Stewart and Rusty Wallace continue to pace the field. The rest of the top 10: Jeremy Mayfield, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch, Mark Martin, Scott Riggs, Ricky Rudd and Greg Biffle.

• Off the track: Carl Edwards, Hermie Sadler, Johnny Sauter, Randy LaJoie and Mike Garvey.

Lap 100 -- Bobby Labonte, Tony Stewart, Rusty Wallace, Jeremy Mayfield and Kevin Harvick make up the top five.
Lap 95 -- Rusty Wallace tied Jeremy Mayfield for the most laps lead in the race (47) -- but teammates Bobby Labonte and Tony Stewart pass Wallace, who drops to third.

Lap 94 -- Rusty Wallace leads the field to the green flag on the re-start.

Lap 88 -- Michael Waltrip -- after being nudged by Jeff Green from behind -- spins and backs into the Turn 1 wall to bring out the fifth caution. ... Ryan Newman gets the "Lucky Dog" pass.

Lap 85 -- Rusty Wallace leads with Bobby Labonte second and Jeremy Mayfield third. Tony Stewart and Kevin Harvick round out the top five.

Lap 78 -- Racing resumes under green with Rusty Wallace, Bobby Labonte, Jeremy Mayfield, Kevin Harvick and Tony Stewart in the top five. The rest of the top 10: Kurt Busch, Greg Biffle, Joe Nemechek, Mark Martin and Scott Riggs.

Lap 68 -- Fourth caution: Carl Edwards and Hermie Sadler tangle in Turn 2 as Edwards' steering locked up. He goes behind the wall to change the radiator.

Lap 67 -- Green-flag racing resumes. ... The race off pit road was won by Rusty Wallace (51.99 seconds), followed by Bobby Labonte, Jeremy Mayfield, Kevin Harvick and Tony Stewart. ... Scott Riggs had a 54-second pit stop and falls to 10th. ... Michael Waltrip, the 33rd car on the lead lap, received the "Lucky Dog" pass.

Lap 57 -- Third caution of the day as Carl Edwards spins and cuts down a right-front tire.

Lap 55 -- Running in heavy traffic, Rusty Wallace, Jeremy Mayfield, Kevin Harvick, Bobby Labonte and Tony Stewart make up the top five.

Lap 48 -- Rusty Wallace out-maneuvers Jeremy Mayfield in traffic for the lead.

Lap 46 -- Jeff Gordon is in for an unscheduled pit stop under green (loose front wheel). He falls two laps off the pace.

Lap 45 -- Two cars remain off the track -- Randy LaJoie and Mike Garvey. Jeremy Mayfield is still holding off the charge of Rusty Wallace, with Kevin Harvick, Bobby Labonte and Scott Riggs rounding out the top five.

Lap 35 -- Jeremy Mayfield leads with Rusty Wallace a close second. Nos. 3-5 are Kevin Harvick, Scott Riggs and Bobby Labonte.

Lap 25 -- Jeremy Mayfield continues to pace the field; he has lead every lap.

Lap 17 -- Jeremy Mayfield again leads the field to the green flag on the re-start, followed by Rusty Wallace, Kevin Harvick, Scott Riggs and Greg Biffle. ... Ryan Newman pitted during the caution and fell a lap down.

Lap 11 -- Jeff Green gets loose and spins out in Turn 4 to bring out the second caution. Ryan Newman benefits from the "Lucky Dog" pass. Green falls from 11th to 20th -- but does not get hit by another car -- before righting the No. 43 Dodge.

Lap 8 -- Jeremy Mayfield leads the field to the green flag on the re-start, followed by Rusty Wallace, Kevin Harvick, Scott Riggs and Greg Biffle.

Lap 1 -- Pole-sitter Scott Riggs and Ryan Newman make contact in Turn 4. ... On Lap 2, Newman stops at the top of Turn 2 with a flat tire to bring out the caution. He rolls onto pit road -- and is penalized one lap for stopping on the track.

1:29 p.m. -- At last, the green flag flies to start the Advance Auto Parts 500 at Martinsville Speedway.

1:19 p.m. -- Via satellite, the 386th Combat Engineer group in Iraq makes the call for the drivers to start their engines.

12:46 p.m. -- In case you missed it: Dale Jarrett clipped Bobby Labonte in FOX's "Sexiest Driver" poll. DJ garnered 52 percent of the fans' votes. ... Wonder for whom Shane Hmiel voted?

 

Way to go Dodge. 4 out of the top 6. I wish Ryan would have kept first place though.


Advance Auto Parts 500 | Martinsville Speedway

April 10, 2005 | Race 6 of 36

Fin St Car Driver Make Sponsor Pts/Bonus Laps Status
1 16 #24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet DuPont 185/5 500 Running
2 35 #9 Kasey Kahne Dodge Dodge Dealers/UAW 170/0 500 Running
3 22 #6 Mark Martin Ford Viagra 170/5 500 Running
4 2 #12 Ryan Newman Dodge ALLTEL 165/5 500 Running
5 4 #2 Rusty Wallace Dodge Miller Lite 160/5 500 Running
6 20 #40 Sterling Marlin Dodge Coors Light 155/5 500 Running
7 13 #21 Ricky Rudd Ford Motorcraft Genuine Parts 146/0 500 Running
8 37 #48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet Lowe's 142/0 500 Running
9 25 #38 Elliott Sadler Ford M&M's 138/0 500 Running
10 10 #01 Joe Nemechek Chevrolet U.S. Army 134/0 500 Running
11 18 #17 Matt Kenseth Ford DeWalt Power Tools 135/5 500 Running
12 12 #11 Jason Leffler Chevrolet FedEx Express 127/0 500 Running
13 26 #8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet Budweiser 124/0 500 Running
14 32 #88 Dale Jarrett Ford UPS 121/0 500 Running
15 3 #19 Jeremy Mayfield Dodge Dodge Dealers/UAW 123/5 499 Running
16 30 #31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet Cingular Wireless 115/0 499 Running
17 24 #41 Casey Mears Dodge Target 112/0 499 Running
18 19 #45 Kyle Petty Dodge Georgia-Pacific/Brawny 109/0 498 Running
19 9 #97 Kurt Busch Ford Crown Royal 111/5 498 Running
20 43 #7 Robby Gordon Chevrolet Harrah's 108/5 498 Running
21 1 #10 Scott Riggs Chevrolet Valvoline 100/0 498 Running
22 14 #43 Jeff Green Dodge Cheerios/Betty Crocker 97/0 497 Running
23 23 #4 Mike Wallace Chevrolet Lucas Oil Products 94/0 497 Running
24 11 #49 Ken Schrader Dodge Schwan's Home Service 91/0 496 Running
25 29 #42 Jamie McMurray Dodge Texaco/Havoline 88/0 496 Running
26 7 #20 Tony Stewart Chevrolet The Home Depot 95/10 493 Running
27 17 #77 Travis Kvapil * Dodge Kodak/Jasper Engines 82/0 490 Out of Race
28 41 #37 Kevin Lepage Dodge Carter's Royal Dispos-all 79/0 489 Running
29 8 #16 Greg Biffle Ford Jackson Hewitt 76/0 487 Running
30 31 #15 Michael Waltrip Chevrolet NAPA Auto Parts 73/0 477 Running
31 33 #22 Scott Wimmer Dodge Caterpillar 70/0 466 Running
32 5 #29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet GM Goodwrench 67/0 436 Running
33 6 #18 Bobby Labonte Chevrolet Interstate Batteries 69/5 435 Out of Race
34 42 #07 Dave Blaney Chevrolet SKF/Jack Daniel's 61/0 416 Running
35 27 #25 Brian Vickers Chevrolet GMAC/ditech.com 58/0 412 Running
36 15 #0 Mike Bliss Chevrolet NetZero Best Buy 55/0 410 Out of Race
37 38 #66 Hermie Sadler Ford Peak Fitness 52/0 340 Out of Race
38 36 #99 Carl Edwards Ford Scotts 49/0 321 Running
39 21 #5 Kyle Busch * Chevrolet Kellogg's 46/0 304 Out of Race
40 28 #32 Bobby Hamilton Jr. Chevrolet Tide 43/0 151 Out of Race
41 40 #09 Johnny Sauter Dodge Miccosukee Gaming & Resorts 40/0 55 Out of Race
42 39 #34 Randy LaJoie Chevrolet Mach One Inc. 37/0 27 Out of Race
43 34 #175 Mike Garvey Dodge Jani-King/Rinaldi Air Conditioning 34/0 18 Out of Race


* Denotes Rookie

 

We all know that wasn't going to happen . OOOOO jeffy, the guy that had to be taught how to do a burnout by Kevin Harvick...when he was a ROOKIE

 

ugh..kevin harvick....you know who else would have won if put in Sr's cars and crew?

Anyone!

and lots of other people wouldnt eradically wreck other guys in the process of finishing poorly so often.