2002 Coca Cola Racing Family 600 At Lowe's Motor Speedway

>>> NASCAR ON FOX WELCOMES YOU TO THE COCA-COLA RACING FAMILY 600 AT LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY NORTH OF CHARLOTTE, THE HUB OF STOCK CAR RACING. THE AIR FORCE IS HERE, AND IN FORCE. 43 GREAT STOCK CAR DRIVERS ARE AT THE READY WITH THEIR CREWS, MOST OF WHOM LIVE JUST MINUTES FROM THIS GREAT MILE AND A HALF SPEEDWAY. IT'S THE LONGEST RACE OF THE YEAR AND AS WE GET SET TO START THIS ENDURANCE TEST, WE GO TO THE STARTING GRID AND STEVE BYRNES. >> THANK YOU, MIKE. JEFF GORDON WON HIS VERY FIRST WINSTON CUP RACE HERE IN 1994. HE'S GONE ON TO WIN 57 MORE RACES. JEFF, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO RACE AND WIN HERE IN CHARLOTTE? >> WELL, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A PLACE THAT IS VERY SPECIAL TO A LOT OF PEOPLE. YOU KNOW, THIS WHOLE WEEKEND IS SPECIAL TO AMERICA. THE CHARLOTTE RACE, JUST THE RACETRACK IN GENERAL IS AN AWESOME RACETRACK BUT THE 600 FOR SOME REASON JUST SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN THE REST OF 'EM. WE ALL WANT TO WIN IT. PLUS, 600 MILES IS TOUGH TO DO NO MATTER WHERE YOU'RE AT BUT 600 MILES AT CHARLOTTE IS EXTREMELY TOUGH. WE HOPE WE'RE THE TOUGHEST TEAM OUT THERE AND CAN COME OUT ON TOP. >> DALE EARNHARDT'S FATHER WON THIS EVENT THREE TIMES. TWO MARRIAGE PROPOSALS ON THE BACK STRETCH, THE STEALTH BOMBER UP AHEAD. HOW JACKED UP ARE YOU TO GET YOUR VICTORY? >> IT'S GOING TO COME ONE DAY. WE GOT A PRETTY GOOD CAR BUT THERE'S A LOT OF GUYS THAT FEEL THE SAME WAY. IT'S A GREAT RACE, IT SURE IS A LONG ONE AND THE FANS REALLY ENJOY IT. I ALWAYS ENJOYED COMING HERE AS A KID. LOOKING FORWARD TO TONIGHT. SHOULD BE INTERESTING. OUR CAR IS PROBABLY GOING TO WORK A LOT BETTER WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN. >> ARE YOU MORE JACKED UP FOR THIS RACE? >> THIS ONE PROBABLY MORE SO THAN MOST. IT'S CLOSE TO HOME, GOT A LOT OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY HERE. IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME AND TEAM THAT WE DO WELL TONIGHT. >> HE ROLLS OFF SIXTH. MIKE? >> MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT HONORING FALLEN HEROS, MEN AND WOMEN WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN PURSUIT OF THE FREEDOMS THAT WE KNOW AND LOVE EVERY DAY AS AMERICANS. IT'S ALSO BEEN ABOUT FAMILIES. IT'S THE FIRST BIG WEEKEND OF SUMMER, COOKOUTS, PARTIES, DAY AT THE BEACH, A DAY ON THE LAKE. TODAY IN A VERY SPECIAL PRERACE CEREMONY, WE HONOR BOTH AMERICA'S FALLEN HEROS AND AMERICA'S FAMILIES. LET'S GO TRACKSIDE. >>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE RISE AND REMOVE YOUR HATS AS OUR NATION'S COLORS ARE PRESENTED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE NORTH CAROLINA AIR NATIONAL GUARD. DELIVERING OUR INVOCATION IS CHAPLAIN JOE YALLE OF THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE. >>> LET US PRAY. DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER WE ACKNOWLEDGE YOU TODAY AS OUR PROTECTOR AND STRENGTH IN DAY'S PAST, PRENTD AND FUTURE. IT IS YOU THAT WE TRUST AND LOOK TO FOR COURAGE, STRENGTH AND WISDOM. YOU ARE THE ONE WHO HAS GIFTED ALL OF THESE TEAMS WITH THE ABILITIES TO COMPETE AT THE GREATEST LEVEL IN THIS SPORT. BE THEIR PROTECTOR TODAY, KEEP THEM SAFE, MAY THEY COMPETE TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITIES. FORGIVE US OUR ERRORS AND USE US FOR YOUR GLORY. IN HIS MOST PRECIOUS AND HOLY NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. >>> ON THIS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, WE HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE AND THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO SERVE AND PROTECT OUR GREAT COUNTRY. PLEASE WELCOME BACK OUR AIR FORCE HONOREES, MRS. VALERIE CHAPMAN REPRESENTING HER LATE HUSBAND JOHN A. CHAPMAN, STAFF SERGEANT GABE BROWN AND KERREY MILLER. THEY ARE PRESENTING THEIR PATCH TOES THE MEMBERS OF THE AIR FORCE STAR UNIFORM TEAM. WHILE THE PIPE BAND PERFORMS "AMAZING GRACE," WE WILL AWARD THREE PATCHES AND WILL RIDE WITH THE DRIVERS IN THE COCA-COLA FAMILY 600. "AMAZING GRACE" WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A 21 GUN SALUTE AND THE PLAYING OF TAPS. [ BAGPIPE MUSICIANS PLAYING "AMAZING GRACE" ] ♪ ♪ [ PLAYING "TAPS" ] [ PLAYING "TAPS" ] [ CHEERS ] [ APPLAUSE ] >>> AND NOW, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, ON THIS BEAUTIFUL MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, PLEASE JOIN COUNTRY MUSIC LEGEND GEORGE JONES AS WE HONOR AMERICA WITH THE SINGING OF OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM. ♪ O SAY, CAN YOU SEE BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT ♪ ♪ WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HAILED AT THE TWILIGHT'S LAST GLEAMING? ♪ ♪ WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BRIGHT STARS THROUGH THE PERILOUS FIGHT ♪ ♪ O'ER THE RAMPARTS WE WATCHED WERE SO GALLANTLY STREAMING? ♪ ♪ AND THE ROCKETS' RED GLARE THE BOMBS BURSTING IN AIR ♪ ♪ GAVE PROOF THROUGH THE NIGHT THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE ♪ ♪ OH, SAY, DOES THAT STAR-SPANGLED BANNER YET WAVE ♪ ♪ O'ER THE LAND OF THE FREE ♪ ♪ AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE? ♪♪ >>> LET'S HEAR IT FOR GEORGE JONES AND THE F-15s FROM SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE. [ CHEERS ] AND NOW, RACE FANS, THE MOMENT HAS ARRIVED THAT YOU'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR, TO TAKE US TO THE COMMAND, PLEASE WELCOME BEATRICE PEREZ FROM COCA-COLA. >>> ON BEHALF OF THE COCA-COLA COMPANY, WE'D LIKE TO WELCOME YOU TONIGHT TO THE COCA-COLA RACING FAMILY 600. TONIGHT IS ABOUT A CELEBRATION OF FAMILY. IT'S ABOUT THE FAMILIES THAT HAVE MADE THEIR MARK IN THE SPORT OF NASCAR HISTORY LIKE THE EARNHARDTS AND THE PETTYS WHICH WE WANT TO HONOR HERE TONIGHT. AND IT'S ALSO ABOUT YOUR FAMILIES. WHEN DARRELL WALTRIP GIVES YOU THE SIGNAL, WE INVITE TO YOU JOIN THE FAMILIES OF NASCAR IN BEING PART OF THE CELEBRATION AND STATING OF THE MOST FAMOUS WORDS IN RACING. NOW HERE'S DARRELL WALTRIP. >> ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY. I WANT YOU TO GET UP ON YOUR FEET. I WANT YOU TO HOLD HANDS WITH YOUR BUDDY THERE BESIDE OF YOU. RACING IS ABOUT MEMORIES. MEMORIES IS ABOUT HAVING FUN. RACING IS ABOUT FAMILY. TONIGHT OUR FAMILY DOWN HERE WANTS TO MAKE YOU A PART OF OUR FAMILY UP THERE. I WANT EVERYBODY TO HELP ME NOW. MY DRISHD GUESTS ARE GOING TO HELP US ALL GET THESE GUYS OFF ON A GOOD, SAFE RACE. ON THREE WE'RE GOING TO GET THESE GUYS GOING. SO IS EVERYBODY READY? [ CHEERS ] COUNT WITH ME. ONE! TWO! THREE! GENTLEMEN START YOUR ENGINES! >>> ON A WEEKEND IN WHICH WE PLAY TRIP UTILITY TO FALLEN HEROS AND BED ROCK OF AMERICA, THE AMERICAN FAMILY. MIKE JOY WITH LARRY McREYNOLDS, WHO WON THIS RACE TEN YEARS AGO. DON'T THINK YOU'RE GOING TO WATCH THE START OF THIS RACE AND THE FINISH AND DO SOMETHING ELSE IN BETWEEN. THIS IS NASCAR'S LONGEST RACE. IT'S 600 MILES. BUT FAST CARS AT THE FIRST 100 ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE FAST AT THE LAST HUNDRED. WHY? >> TWO UNIQUE THINGS. 600 MILES, THE LONGEST WE'VE RUN. THIS RACETRACK AS THIS SUN GOES DOWN AND THE TRACK TEMPERATURE GOES DOWN, IT'S GOING TO GO THROUGH SOME SERIOUS CHANGES. THE RACE TEAM AND DRIVER THAT CAN GIVE THE INPUT TO MAKE THE CHANGES ON THEIR CAR, THEY'RE THE ONE THAT WILL GO TO VICTORY LANE. IT'S PROBABLY THE ONLY RACE WE RUN BECAUSE THE TRACK IS GOING TO GET BETTER, THESE MOTORS ARE GOING TO LIKE THE COOL AIR. THEY'LL BE RUNNING FASTER AT THE END OF RACE THAN THEY WILL AT THE BEGINNING. >> WE'RE GOING TO START IN SUNLIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO END IN DARKNESS. THE TRACK WILL CHANGE, THE HORSEPOWER AND HANDLING WILL CHANGE. WE'LL BE HERE TO TAKE YOU THE WHOLE WAY. ♪ I WEAR MY SUNGLASSES AT NIGHT SO I CAN, SO I CAN WATCH YOU LIVE AND BREATHE ♪ I WEAR MY SUNGLASSES AT NIGHT I WEAR MY SUNGLASSES AT NIGHT HERE ARE THE POINTS STANDINGS. TONIGHT'S BUD POLE WINNER IS JIMMIE JOHNSON. LET'S HAVE A LOOK AT THE ENTIRE WAL-MART STARTING GRID FOR TONIGHT'S RACE. THIS IS JIMMIE JOHNSON, OUR POLE SITTER, HIS THIRD POLE OF THE SEASON. RICKY CRAVEN IN ROW NUMBER TWO WITH LAST YEAR'S POLE WINNER, RYAN NEWMAN. BOTH IN FORDS. BILL ELLIOTT'S BEEN IN 25600s. DALE EARNHARDT, JR., THE 2000 POLE WINNER. JEFF BURTON WITH JERRY NUDE U. TONY STEWART WITH KENNY SCHRADER. MICHAEL WALTRIP AND ROBBY GORDON. MIKE SKINNER WITH DAVE BLANEY AND A BRAND NEW CAR. STACY COMPTON WITH JEFF GORDON. JOE NEMECHEK AND CASEY ATWOOD. RICKY RUDD, THE NEW IREMAN. HE'S RUN THIS RACE NOW FOR 26 YEARS. KEVIN LEPAGE AND MATT KENSETH. BOBBY LABONTE, THE '9 5,600 WINNER AND KURT BUSCH. MARK MARTIN, TEN TOP FIVES IN THE LAST 13 RACES HERE. KEVIN HARVICK, SECOND LAST YEAR. JEREMY MAYFIELD SECOND IN OCTOBER TWO YEARS AGO AND JOHN ANDRETTI ROW 14. A COUPLE OF VETERANS, BOBBY HAMILTON AND JIMMY SPENCER IN THE 15th ROLE. THE 1990 AND 1987 WINNERS, RUSTY WALLACE AND KYLE PETTY. FRANK KIMEL AND TERRY LABONTE, WHO'S RUNNING HIS 24th600. STERLING MARLIN, THE POINT LEADER WHO DOMINATED LAST OCTOBER HERE AND HUT STRICKLIN, BOTH IN DODGES. WARD BURTON, DALE JARRETT HAS THREE WINS HERE. JEFF GREEN, WINNER IN YESTERDAY'S BUSCH RACE AND STEVE GRISSOM. BRETT BODINE, HERMIE SADLER. AND RON HORNADAY. OUR RACE ANALYSIS FOR TONIGHT, 400 LAPS, 600 MILES. >> ALMOST $5 MILLION IN PURSE. >> I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY QUESTION THERE'S KUMP CONCERN, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN AND 700 PLUS MILES ONS THEY ENGINES. NOBODY IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WOULD HAVE RUN OVER HERE WITH ONE ENGINE. >> WE'LL BE PAYING A LOT OF ATTENTION TO THE WEATHER. THE TRACK TEMP, THAT'S THE KEY. THAT'S WHAT THESE CARS ARE GRIPING THAT RACETRACK WITH. THAT WILL PROBABLY DROP 20 TO 30 DEGREE BUSINESS THE END OF THIS RACE. >> TRUST ME, IT'S OT OUT THERE RIGHT NOW. I JUST CAME FROM OUTSIDE AND IT'S HOT. >> I DO THINK THE THEME'S GOING TO BE WHAT YOU GOING TO DO WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN? >> NASCAR HAS A RULE IF YOU CHANGE ENGINES ONCE YOU PRESENTED YOUR CAR FOR INSPECTION ON THURSDAY, YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE REAR OF THE FIELD. WE HAVE FOUR CARS, THERE'S A MANDATORY DRIVER'S MEETING. ROBBY GORDON MISSED THAT DRIVER'S MEETING IN THE 31 CAR. HE'LL HAVE TO GO TO THE REAR OF THE FIELD. PACE CAR IS OFF. >> THERE THEY GO FOLKS, BOOGITY, BOOGITY, BOOGITY, GET UP ON YOUR FEET! >> SADLER IN THE 21 CAR, HE'S ON THE HIGH SIDE. IT WILL BE A DRAG RACE DOWN THE STRETCH. WE'LL SEE TWO, THREE LANES RACING. >> NOW IS WHEN YOU REALLY NEED TO USE PATIENCE. WE HAVE 400 LAPS HERE, NOT LET'S TEAR THE CAR UP ON THE FIRST TWO OR THREE. SADLER, JOHNSON, CRAVEN, NEWMAN. >> EVERY DRIVER IS TIPPY TOWING AROUND THIS RACETRACK BECAUSE HE'S THINKING THE SAME THING I JUST SAID. BUT THESE CARS DON'T ALWAYS DO WHAT YOU THINK THEY'RE GOING TO DO ON THIS SURFACE. >> JIMMIE JOHNSON MAKING A RUN ON THE INSIDE FORT LEAD. >> IN THREE AND FOUR WE'LL SEE A LOT OF GROOVES OF RACING. IT'S A LITTLE HARDER DOWN IN ONE AND TWO. >> RIGHT NOW YOU'RE JUST TAKING WHAT YOUR CAR WILL GIVE YOU, LARRY. IF IT'S TIGHT, YOU WANT TO GET IN THERE EASY. IF IT'S LOOSE YOU WANT TO BE COMFORTABLE WITH NO ONE ON YOUR BACK BUMPER TEMPERATURE. >> EARNHARDT, JR. HAS CLAIMED INTO FIRST. >> HE FELT LIKE HIS CAR WAS GOING TO BE BETTER LATE IN THE EVENING. IT'S COMING ON HERE EARLY IN THE RACE. >> AND CRAVEN FOR SECOND. >> THERE'S SOMETHING NOTHING WRONG WITH MOVING TO THE FRONT RIGHT NOW. PIT STRACH JI AND TRACK POSITION ALL NIGHT LONG, THAT'S WHAT WE'LL TALK ABOUT. >> NEWMAN KICKED BACK TO SIX, ELLIOTT SEVENTH. AND BILL ELLIOTT NOW AHEAD OF NEWMAN, BEHIND NEWMAN TONY STEWART. >> BILL'S CAR LOOKS REALLY, REALLY GOOD. RIGHT AROUND THE BOTTOM GETTING INTO THREE. DRIFTS UP A LITTLE BIT TURNING INTO FOUR. THIS IS A THINKING MAN'S RACE. WE TALKED ABOUT PATIENCE BUT YOU GOT TO THINK ALL NIGHT LONG. >> SINGLE FILE BACK THROUGH THE FIRST EIGHT POSITIONS. >> THAT MAY SOUND A LITTLE DUMB YOU GOT TO THINK ALL NIGHT LONG BUT YOU GOT TO THINK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN ALL NIGHT LONG. >> GORDON LOOKS LOOSE. HE'S REAL LOOSE UP UNDERNEATH THAT 77 CAR. >> GOT TO KEEP GOING BECAUSE THERE'S NOT A HOLE BEHIND YOU. THERE'S NOWHERE YOU CAN GET IN A GAP AND GET BY YOURSELF. THAT CAR LOOKS A LITTLE UNSTABLE. THAT'S A BATTLE FOR NINTH. GORDON STARTED IN 16th. THIS IS THE CAR HE WON HIS LAST RACE IN AT KANSAS, 20 SOMETHING RACES AGO. >> THE LONGEST STREAK FOR JEFF GORDON, LONGEST STREAK WITHOUT A WIN. >> ROBBY GORDON STARTED IN THE BACK BECAUSE HE PISED THE DRIVER'S MEETING. HE CLIMBED TEN POSITIONS. >> HE MISSED THE DRIVER'S MEETING BECAUSE HE RAN AT INDIANAPOLIS TODAY. WHY WOULD NASCAR SAY AND WE'LL LET HIM SLIDE. THEY HAVE THESE RULES ABOUT DRIVER MEETINGS AND YOU HAVE TO MAKE THEM. >> THE REASON IS YOU KNOW WHAT OUR RULES ARE, IF YOU WANT TO GO AGAINST THEM, GO RIGHT AHEAD. >> GORDON'S RUN A LOT OF BAHA 1,000s. HE'S DONE THIS BEFORE. >> AS A DRIVER, RESTLESS ALL AFTERNOON. THE RACE STARTING AT 5:30, WAITING FOR IT TO GET STARTED, WORRYING. I THINK WHAT HE DID PROBABLY IS RELAXING ACTUALLY. >> SCHRADER AND GORDON NOW JOINED BY MICHAEL TRALTTRIP ON THE OUTSIDE. >> MICHAEL'S ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE DRIVER WHO IS WILL START WORKING THAT HIGH SIDE EARLY. >> HE LIKES TO LET THE RIGHT SIDE RUB UP AGAINST THAT RETAINING WALL. I DON'T KNOW WHERE HE LEARNED THAT FROM. WE LIVED WITH THE PETTYS FOR A WHILE. MAYBE THEY TAUGHT HIM THAT. >> THERE'S EARNHARDT WITH SADLER BEHIND HIM TRYING TO RUN DOWN THE LEADERS. POLE SITTER JIMMIE JOHNSON HAS LED SEVEN OF NINE LAPS SO >>> UNDER CAUTION FOR KURT BUSCH'S SPIN IN TURN FOUR. EVERYONE FROM 18th PLACE ON BACK IS IN THE PITS. >> IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOOSE WHEEL, RIGHT THERE IS THE PLACE TO LEAVE IT. >> OH, THAT WHEEL HAS A NUMBER ON IT. IT'S GOT A LOT OF DNA EVIDENCE. >> NOBODY'S GOING TO GO GET IT. >> CAR NUMBER 97, KURT BUSCH. >> HERE HE IS RIGHT HERE. HERE HE COMES. >> HERE'S WHAT HAPPENS, HE GETS PINCHED DOWN, KEEPS GETTING PINCHED DOWN. >> KIND OF ROUGHED UP KIMEL A LITTLE. >> KIMEL JUST DIDN'T GIVE HIM ENOUGH ROOM. >> HE COME CLOSE TO THOSE WATER BARRELS. HE WENT THROUGH THERE WITHOUT HITTING A THING. >> THAT'S THE CLASSIC PUSH LOOSE. OUR LEADER LET HIM PRETTY MUCH GO ACROSS THE START/FINISH LINE AND STAY ON THE LEAD LAP. >> HERE'S ANOTHER LOOK AND LISTEN. >> OH, YEAH. >> CAUTION WILL BE OUT. >> I LOVE THOSE WORDS "THERE'S A SPIN BEHIND YOU." >> THAT'S FROM THE TIRE SLIDING. THAT'S WHAT WE CALL A FLAT SPOT. >> WE'LL SHOW WHAT YOU A FLAT SPOT LOOKS LIKE. WHAT HAPPENS IS THE DRIVER LOCKS UP THE BRAKES AND IS TEARS ALL THE RUBBER OFF THE RACING SURFACE. THAT MAKES THE TIRE RUN OUT OF BALANCE, DRIVER CAN'T RUN VERY WELL THAT WAY. >> I UNDERSTAND HIM PITTING, LARRY, BUT EVERYBODY ELSE? >> I THINK IT'S ONE OF THOSE DEALS IF YOUR CAR'S NOT HANDLING WELL, A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO FIX IT. THEY WOULD NEED ANOTHER EIGHT, NINE LAP RUN AND THE LEADERS WOULD COME IN AND PIT AND THEY'LL BE AT THE FRONT OF THE PACK THEN. >>> GREEN FLAG FOR THE RESTART. RICKY CRAVEN TAKES AWAY THE LEAD. THAT LOOSE WHEEL ON PIT ROAD WAS FROM JERRY NADEAU. >> THE PENALTY FOR A WHEEL GOING OUT ON THE INFIELD UNDER CAUTION YOU IS HAVE TO START AT THE TAIL END OF THE LONGEST LINE. >> JIMMIE JOHNSON NOW IN SECOND. MATT? >> MIKE, HE HAS FADED BACK TO SECOND BUSH HE KNOWS THIS IS A VERY LONG RACE. HIS CAR RUNS EXTREMELY WELL IN TURNS ONE AND TWO. BUT HE HASN'T GONE UP HIGH YET IN TURNS THREE AND FOR. HIS SPOTTER TOLD HIM THE 20 CAR OF TONY STEWART AND THE 8 OF DALE, JR. DID GO UP HIGH FOR ABOUT TWO LAPS AND WENT RIGHT BACK DOWN TO THE BOTTOM. THEY, TOO, FELT LIKE THERE WAS NOT MUCH TO GAIN YET AS WE HAVE A BATTLE FOR THE LEAD. >> AS WE WATCH JIMMIE JOHNSON GO TO THE FRONT, WE SHOULD REPORT ELLIOTT SADLER HAS DROPPED TO THE FOURTH POSITION. HE SAID THE CAR'S PRETTY GOOD BUT IT'S A LITTLE BIT TIGHT FROM THE CENTER OFF. THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT MAKING AN AIR PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT WHEN THEY DO PIT. DICK BERGGREN? >> THE 1990 WINNER, RUSTY WALLACE, HAS PITTED TWICE. HIS PROBLEM, OVERHEATING. WALLACE HAS COME ON THE RADIO AND SAID THE WATER TEMPERATURE IS FINE NOW. >> FASTEST CARS ON THE RACETRACK SADLER. LAST LAP ELLIOTT SADLER, JEFF BURTON, THE DEFENDING CHAMPION OF THIS RACE, DALE EARNHARDT, JR. AMONG THEM AND NEWMAN. >> DALE, ONE REASON THAT CARS WILL HAVE TWO DIFFERENT HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS, WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT TRACK CONDITIONS. RIGHT NOW AS THE SUN IS GOING BEHIND THE FRONT GRANDSTANDS FROM THE MIDDLE OF ONE AND TWO OFF OF TWO DOWN THE BACK STRETCH INTO THE MIDDLE OF THREE AND FOUR IS IN THE SUNLIGHT. AS THEY COME THROUGH TURN FOUR AND INTO ONE, IT'S IN THE SHADE, TRACK TEMPERATURE MUCH COOLER. >> LAYERY, ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT THIS RACETRACK, WHEN YOU DRIVE IN TURN ONE, THERE'S A GREAT BIG HUMP. RIGHT HERE AS YOU DRIVE OFF INTO IT'S A HUM. IF YOU GO INTO THAT HUMP HIGH, IT SHOOTS YOU INTO THE OUTSIDE OF THE RETAINING WALL. NOW, YOU DON'T HAVE THAT PROBLEM INTO TURN THREE. >> THE UNIQUE THING ABOUT THAT HUMP, YOU'RE GOING ACROSS IT STILL WIDE OPEN ON THE THROTTLE. >> JEFF GORDON, 24, UNDERNEATH KENNY SCHRADER. A BATTLE FOR NINTH PLACE. QUITE A CROWD BEHIND THEM, RICKY RUDD. >> SEE RIGHT HERE THESE GUYS ARE ABOUT 5.5 SECONDS BEHIND OUR LEADER RIGHT NOW. >> ON THE OUTSIDE MICHAEL WALTRIP, THREE WIDE. >> YOU DON'T WANT TO BE THREE WIDE. THAT'S JUST DANGEROUS. >> FOLKS, THIS RACETRACK IS LIKE YOUR FOREHEAD. WHEN THE SUN'SON IT, IT GETS KIND OF HOT AND GREASY. TAKE THE SUN AWAY, THINGS FEEL A LOT BETTER TO THAT RACE CAR. >> TURN THREE AND FOUR, THE RACETRACK NARROWS UP THERE AND YOU JUST CAN'T RUN THAT THREE WIDE. >> IT'S A D-SHAPED RACETRACK SO TO SPEAK. JUST RUNS OUT OF ROOM RIGHT THERE. THAT'S WHY COMING OFF THERE HIGH IT GIVES YOU A BETTER ENJI ON TO THAT LITTLE SHORT VIEW THERE. SEE HOW YOU HAVE THIS LITTLE TURN THERE. OFF TURN FOUR YOU MAKE A LITTLE TURN RIGHT HERE, YOU MAKE A LITTLE TURN RIGHT HERE. WHAT HAPPENS HERE IS YOU SWING OUT AND THAT GETS YOU THAT LOW LINE INTO TURN ONE THERE. YOU NEVER LET OUT OF THE THROTTLE UNTIL YOU GET DOWN TO THAT TURN. >> FIFTH PLACE AT STAKE HERE. TONY STEWART LOOKING IN. ELLIOTT'S DODGE. MOVING UP. FROM STEWART THINGS GOT CLOSE THERE BETWEEN STEWART AND SADLER. AT THE EXIT OF TWO. >> BOY, THE 4 CAR GOT OUT OF SHAPE A MOMENT AGO. THIS WHOLE CROWD HERE, I'M SURPRISED THEY DON'T HAVE DAMAGE BECAUSE THEY WERE ALL OVER EACH OTHER. IT'S REALLY WADDED THEM ALL UP THERE TOGETHER. >> STEVE PARK MOVES INSIDE. >> LOOK AT THAT 4 CAR GO ON THE INSIDE. >> WHOA! >> THAT'S JEREMY MAYFIELD, THE 19 CAR. >> THAT CROWD, THEY'VE BEEN WANTING TO WRECK. SOMEBODY IN THAT CAR WANTED TO WRECK. I DON'T KNOW WHO. >> AND SOMEBODY MAY HAVE JUST LOST A CHANCE AT $1 MILLION. MAYFIELD WAS ONE OF THE NO BULL FIVE DRIVERS IN THIS RACE. NOW, THAT'S A BIG BREAK FOR RUSTY WALLACE AND WARD BURTON WHO HAD LOST THE LEAD DRAFT AND FALLEN TO THE TAIL END OF THE LEAD LAP. >> JUST A LITTLE BIT FREE IN THE CENTER. PRETTY GOOD, YOU'RE RIGHT THERE WITH HIM. >> ONE POUND OF AIR IN THE RIGHT FRONT. HE WANT TO BUMP THAT RIGHT FRONT UP A LITTLE BIT. IT'S LIKE PUTTING A STIFFER SPRING UP THERE. >> MAYFIELD, THERE YOU SEE HIM POINTED OUT BY FOX TRAX. >> THE TAIL END WAS WANTING TO COME AROUND LOOSER AND LOOSER THE HIGHER HE WENT ON THE RACETRACK. >> THAT'S A PRODUCT OF YOU GOT TO START OFF A LITTLE BIT LOOSE WHEN THE TRACK SUNNY LIKE THIS BECAUSE TONIGHT THAT THING WILL BE PUSHING LIKE A DUMP TRUCK. HE JUST GETS IT -- IT START TO -- HE JUST BOBBLES A LITTLE BIT AND THE BACK END COMES AROUND ON IT. >> HE TRIED TO CATCH IT. >> YOUR FRONT END TAKES OFF. YOU CRANK INTO IT A LITTLE MORE AND THE BACK END COMES AROUND. >> IT'S THE WATER BARRELS THERE. STILL DOES DAMAGE BUT NOT NEAR AS MUCH DAMAGE AS THE CONCRETE WALL WITHOUT THE DARRELLS P. >> I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO HARVICK IN FRONT OF HIM WHO GOT REAL LOOSE AND SLID UP THE HILL AND MAYFIELD -- >> MIKE, THAT WHOLE CROWD, THEY WERE JUST ALL OVER EACH OTHER A LAP BEFORE DOWN THERE. I THINK THEY JUST GOT ALL BOTTLENECKED UP AND STARTED RACING EACH OTHER TOO HARD FOR THIS POINT IN THE RACE. >> LAP 26, EVERYBODY COMES TO PIT ROAD. DICK BERGGREN. >> THEY'RE GOING TO PUT ONE LITTLE PIECE OF TAPE OFT NOSE OF THE CAR. A LITTLE BIT OF WEDGE OUT SO IT WILL TURN BETTER IN THE CORNERS. STEVE? >> RICKY CRAVEN IN. TWO ROUNDS OF WEDGE OUT. >> JIMMIE JOHNSON, HIS CAR, HE WOULD LIKE IT TO BE FREED UP A LITTLE BIT. THEY DECIDED TO PULL A LITTLE PIECE OF TAPE OFF THE FRONT. NO ADJUSTMENTS FOR JIMMIE JOHNSON. >> SPEED LIMIT ON PIT ROAD UP TO THAT LINE THAT GOES ACROSS. THEN EVERYBODY PULLS OUT. AND MICHAEL WALTRIP COMES OUT. 45 MILES AN HOUR ON PIT ROAD. AWAY WE GO. JEREMY MAYFIELD >>> ONE LAP A GO THEY'VE WAVED THE GREEN TO RESTART. FRANK KIMMEL AND RON HORNADAY, WHO DID NOT STOP UNDER THE CAUTION ARE LEADING THE FIELD FROM THE RESTART. ROBBY GORDON GOT GAS ONLY AND RICKY CRAVEN, WHO HAD A GOOD STOP BUT ENDED UP BACK FROM SECOND TO FIFTH BECAUSE OF THE DRIVER WHO IS DID NOT STOP. >> HE TOOK FOUR TIRES BUT, DARRELL, HE IS ON THE MOVE ALONG WITH JIMMIE JOHNSON IN THAT 4 CAR. >> I'D BE PRETTY THRILLED IF I WAS FRANK KIMMEL BECAUSE I'M LEADING THE COCA-COLA 600. >> AND HE'S PUTTING A LITTLE DISTANCE BETWEEN MICHAEL AND HIM. >> KIMMEL IS IN TRAVIS'S CAR, A TEAM THAT ALMOST CLOSED DOWN P BANKRUPTCY. >> FRANK IN THE 26, THEY ONLY HAD TEN LAPS ON THEIR TIRES. THEY PITTED BACK ON THAT FIRST CAUTION AT LAP 11. >> MICHAEL WALTRIP RUNNING THIRD. MATT, HOW ABOUT HIS STOP? >> WELL, ONE OF THE REASONS WHY HE BEAT EVERYBODY OFF PIT ROAD, HE ONLY TOOK ON RIGHT-SIDE TIRES. NO CHASSIS ADJUSTMENTS ON THE 15. TO STEVE. >> MATT, ELLIOTT COMPLAINING HE DOESN'T HAVE MUCH GRIP ON THE FRONT END. THEY TOOK A ROUND OUT. BIT OF A SLOW STOP. THEY'RE 14th ON THE RACETRACK. >> THE CAR THAT PICKED UP A LOT IS STERLING MARLIN. AT THE FRONT, RICKY CRAVEN, FOUR FRESH TIRE, THAT MAKES YOU SUPERMAN AND HE JUST BLASTS PAST FRANK KIMMEL. >> YOU CAN GO TO THE INSIDE, OUTSIDE. >> ANOTHER CAR DOING THE SAME THING, JIMMIE JOHNSON IN THAT LOWE'S 48 CAR. YOU CAN MANEUVER YOUR CAR WITH FOUR TIRES. >> MR. FRIENDLYS, MR. FEEL GOODS, THAT'S WHAT THOSE FOUR FRESH EAGLES ARE. >> WARD BURTON 23492 CAR, HE HAS BEEN ON PIT ROAD FOR A NUMBER OF LAPS. HE WAS RUNNING BEFORE THAT CAUTION DOWN A CYLINDER IN THE ENGINE. >> AND KEVIN LEPAGE WHO WAS IN THE GARAGE IS BACK IN THE RACE. >> JEREMY MAYFIELD IN THE 19 CAR THAT BROUGHT THAT LAST CAUTION OUT, HE IS GOING TO TAKE HIS CAR TO THE GARAGE AREA. I'M SURE THEY'LL DO THEIR BEST TO GET HIM BACK OUT THERE. >> THE LAST FIVE TIMES MAYFIELD HAS BEEN HERE, HE HAS FINISHED IN THE TOP TEN, THAT WON'T HAPPEN TODAY. THE BACK END OF THE CAR ALL TORN UP, RIGHT FRONT CORNER OF THE CAR ALL TORN UP. THIS WILL BE AN EXTENSIVE REPAIR. HE'LL BE DOWN MANY LAPS. >> FOR THE LEAD, JIMMIE JOHNSON, THE ROOKIE FROM CALIFORNIA BACK OUT IN FRONT OF MAINE'S RICKY CRAVEN. >> LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT LINES THESE GUYS ARE RUNNING. >> HOW ABOUT ROBBY GORDON. HAD TO START IN THE BACK BECAUSE HE GOT HERE LATE, DIDN'T MAKE THE DRIVER'S MEETING AND HE IS UP TO THE TOP TEN. >> SEVENTH POSITION. >> PIT STRATEGY PUT HIM UP FRONT. HE'S GOING TO TRY TO HANG INTO THE TOP TEN. >> ROBBY GORDON IS THINKING THESE CARS DRIVE A LOT EASIER THAN I DROVE EARLIER TODAY. OH, OH BOYS. >> HORNADAY DIDN'T STOP SO HE RESTARTED UP FRONT. NOW HORNADAY IN THE 49 IS PAYING THE PRICE. >> YOU BECOME A ROADBLOCK IS WHAT YOU BECOME. >> RIGHT NOW HE'S A ROADBLOCK FOR JEFF GORDON IN THE 24. JEFF'S TRAPPED BEHIND HIM AS ALL THE CARS ARE GOING BY HIM ON THE HIGH SIDE. >> GOT CARS GOING EVERY WHICH WAY AND YOU CAN'T GO VERY FAST. THIS IS GOING TO GET UGLY. >> STERLING MARLIN, THE POINT LEADER. YOU'RE RIDING WITH HIM BEHIND MATT KENSETH, WHO WAS THE PICK OF SOME TO WIN THIS RACE TONIGHT THERE IN THAT NUMBER 17. >> ALMOST 190 MILES AN HOUR IN TURN ONE BECAUSE THE FRONT STRETCH IS A LOT LONGER THAN THE BACK STRETCH. NOW YOU'LL SEE IT CLIMB DOWN THE SHORTER BACK STRETCH, BY 178 MILES PER HOUR. >> OH, BOY. >> THESE GUYS RIGHT HERE, DALE, JR., MICHAEL, ALL OF THEM, THEY WERE ALL OVER THE TOP OF EACH OTHER. >> IT NEVER FAILS. WE GO A FOUR AND A HALF HOUR RACE HERE, 600 MILES AND THEY'RE RACING LIKE IT'S TEN TO GO. >> BUT RIGHT NOW, DARRELL, ESPECIALLY WITH THE TRACK TEMPERATURES UP, FOUR TIRES ARE PREVAILING. JIMMIE JOHNSON, RICKY CRAVEN, DALE EARNHARDT, JR. ALL TOOK ON FOUR TIRES IN THE LAST CAUTION. A LOT BETTER RACE CAR. >> THAT YOUNG GUN OUT FRONT IS PULLING AWAY. ALL THOSE CREW CHIEFS ARE SAYING YOU GOT TO KEEP UP WITH THIS CAT OR WE'LL GO A LAP DOWN EARLY AND YOU CAN'T AFFORD THAT. >> FORGET THE YOUNG GUNS. RICKY RUDD'S ON THE MARCH, ALTHOUGH NOW UNDERNEATH HIM ROBBY GORDON HAS A LOOK. >> THAT 31 CAR RUN AWFULLY WELL HERE THE OTHER NIGHT IN THE WINSTON. STARTED DECENT, QUALIFIED IN THE BACK. HE MIGHT BE SOMEBODY TO CONTEND WITH. >> RUDD STARTED 19th. HE'S ALL THE WAY UP TO SIXTH NOW. >> LOOK WHAT HAPPENED TO BOBBY LABONTE, BACK OF YOUR FRAME THERE, THE 18 CAR. >> WHAMO. >> THERE IT IS IN TURN FOUR. CAN YOU RIDE THREE WIDE IN THE MIDDLE 6 THE CORNER. IT'S HARD TO RUN A GROOVE AND A HALF WIDE. NARROWS DOWN SO MUCH. >> IT'S JUST ONE LATE. WHEN YOU COME TO THE TRI-OVAL, IT'S ONE LANE. YOU GOT TO TURN TO THE INSIDE. >> THAT WAS MARK MARTIN'S FORD THAT PUT THE FENDER ON BOBBY LABONTE. >> THE MORE EXPERIENCED DRIVERS USUALLY REALIZE THAT AND WILL CUT THE DRIVER A LITTLE SLACK. DON'T NEED TO MESS UP THAT RIGHT FRONT FENDER WILL HURT YOUR NIGHT. >> YES, IT WILL. >> A LITTLE DAMAGE. JIMMIE JOHNSON HAS OPENED UP AN 0.8 SECOND LEAD. >>> FOX WELCOMES YOU BACK LIVE. THE COCA-COLA RACING FAMILY 600 ON THIS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, ANOTHER 45 MINUTES AND THE SUN WILL GO DOWN ON THOSE RACING HERE. JIMMIE JOHNSON IN HIS FIRST 600-MILE RACE. ONLY TWO HAVE WON IT IN THEIR FIRST TRY. JEFF HAMMOND, LET'S TALK ABOUT LEADING THIS EARLY. A NUMBER OF DRIVERS TODAY SAY IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER WHAT HAPPENS IN THE FIRST COUPLE HUNDRED MILES HERE. >> IT REALLY DOESN'T. A LOT OF THE DRIVERS WE'VE SEEN HAVE BEEN REALLY, REALLY LOOSE. THEY NEED FOR IT TO COOL OFF IN A HURRY AND THEY NEED TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GET JIMMIE JOHNSON TO SLOW DOWN A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE HE'S SETTING A VERY FAST PACE. >> THE LOWE'S SPEEDWAY, YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN NFL MENTALITY IN A SENSE TO WITH STAND THE DURABILITY. OUR STEVE BYRNES IS WITH SOMEONE WHO PLAYS FOOTBALL. >> JASON, I SAW YOU AT THE DAYTONA 500. WHAT BRINGS YOU BACK TO CHARLOTTE? >> GOING WITH THE THEME OF NASCAR AND SPONSORSHIPS, I DO A LOT OF THINGS WITH DR. SCHOLL'S. IT'S FUN. IT'S ADRENALINE PACKED. >> FAVORITE DRIVER, JASON? >> I WOULD SAY DALE JARRETT. EVERYBODY LOVES THE BROWN TRUCK. >> THANKS FOR SPENDING TIME WITH US. >> MY PLEASURE. >> DRIFTING WAY BACK, OUR WINNER OF THE ALL-STAR RACE LAST SATURDAY NIGHT, THE WINSTON, RYAN NEWMAN HAS NOW DROPPED BACK TO 28th PLACE AND CONTINUES TO FADE. MAURT, WHAT'S THE PROBLEM? >> HE MIGHT AS WELL BE RUNNING ON THE DIRT THE WAY THAT RACE CAR IS HANDLING. EXTREMELY LOOSE. THEY MADE A CHASSIS ADJUSTMENT BECAUSE THE CAR WAS FREE THEN AND IT STILL IS EXTREMELY FREE. THEY'RE ALREADY TALKING ABOUT POSSIBLY A TRACK BAR ADJUSTMENT ON HIS NEXT STOP. RIGHT NOW HE'S TRYING TO HOLD ON TO THAT NEXT STOP. LAST YEAR HE HAD ONE OF THE FASTEST RACE CARS ALL WEEKEND AND CRASHED IT ON LAP 11. HE KNOWS THIS IS GOING TO BE A LONG NIGHT. >> THAT JUST GOES TO SHOW YOU HOW TEMPERAMENTAL AND HOW MUCH THIS TRACK CHANGES. >> HE'S GOING TO GET RUN OVER. HE'S HOLDING THESE CATS UP. HE'S REAL LOOSE. HE'S GOT THAT PENSKE HORSEPOWER DOWN THE STRAIGHTAWAY. BUT WHEN THEY GET TO THE CORNER, THEY'RE UP ON HIS BUMPER. SOMEBODY'S GOOG HIT HIM. >> HOW ABOUT THIS GUY HERE. HE STARTED 35th. HE ONLY HAS ONE TOP TEN START THIS YEAR BUT THIS IS THE CAR. HE'S WON BOTH HIS RACES IN DARLING TON AND LAS VEGAS. >> I WATCHED THIS RACE HERE LAST FALL AND HE WAS IN A LEAGUE OF HIS OWN. >> MARLIN ON THE MOVE. ES THE POINT LEADER. >> MAN, THAT 12 IS GOING TO GET RUN OVER TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE WAY. HE JUST CAN'T GET THROUGH THE CORNER HE'S SO LOOSE AND THESE CATS ARE RUNNING ALL OVER HIM IN THE TURNS. THREE WIDE. I MEAN, I KNOW WHAT THAT'S LIKE. THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO. YOU CAN'T PULL OFF AND LET EVERYBODY GO BY. HERE COMES THE LEADERS OFF -- HE'S AT THE LINE RIGHT NOW AND THEY'RE DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF ONE AND TWO. THEY GOT TO GET GOING HERE AND HE KNOWS IT. >> HE'D LOVE TO COME TO PIT ROAD AND FIX THAT CAR. HE'S HOPING BEFORE THAT LEADER GETS TO HIM TO LAP HIM THEY GET A CAUTION TO STAY ON THE LEAD LAP. >> IF HE HADN'T DRIVEN SO MANY DIRT TRACKS, HE'D ALREADY SPUN THAT THING OUT. HE'S RIDING ON THAT RIGHT REAR, ISN'T HE, JEFF? >> HE IS. HE WAS ONE OF THOSE CARS THAT NEED THE SUN TO GO DOWN IN A HURRY. I'M SURE THEY'RE GOING BACK TO LAST WEEK'S NOTES AND THINKING IF WE CAN JUST LET THE TRACK TEMPERATURE TO COME TO US, WE CAN GET AROUND THESE GUYS ABOUT BUT HE'S ABOUT TO GET IN TROUBLE. >> THE LEADER IS CLOSING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. >> DARRELL, WE WON THIS RACE A LOT OF TIMES TOGETHER. YOU KNOW EARLY ON YOU WANT TO HEAR LAP TIMES EVERY LAP. IF YOU'RE NOT THE LEADER, YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT EVERY LEADER IS DOING. RIGHT NOW JIMMIE JOHNSON HAS REALLY GOT A FAST PACE GOING ON. I BELIEVE RIGHT NOW ONE OF THE GUYS THAT'S ALREADY IN TROUBLE IS GOING TO BE KEVIN HARVICK. HIS CAR'S NOT WORKING RIGHT NOW. >> HE'S ALREADY A LAP DOWN AND WE'VE ONLY RUN 57 LAPS. DICK? >> THE PROBLEM IS -- HARVICK'S PROBLEM IS THE CAR SIN CREDIBLY LOOSE. WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES. LAST YEAR GOING INTO THIS RACE HE HAD ALREADY WON. THIS YEAR LEADING JUST FIVE LAPS. HE US JUST CAN'T SEEM TO HIT IT. HE IS ALREADY BACK IN 40. >> I PREDICT THERE'S GOING TO BE A CHANGE MADE ON THAT TEAM. I JUST DON'T SEE HOW HE CAN CONTINUE TO LET THAT CAR RUN THAT WAY. >> I THINK CHANGES ARE IN THE WORK THERE IS. HERE COMES STERLING MARLIN IN THAT 40 CAR GOING BY TONY STEWART. WHEN YOU DRIVE BY TONY STEWART AT THIS RACETRACK, YOU KNOW YOU GOT A FAST RACE CAR. >> THE CAR IS JUST SO CONSISTENT. THAT CAR HAS BEEN THAT WAY EVER SINCE THE MIDDLE OF LAST YEAR. HASN'T MISSED A BEAT. STARTS IN THE BACK AT DARLINGTON WINS THE RACE. THAT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. STARTED 35th TODAY. HE'S ACOMING. >> HE HAS HIS SIGHTS SET ON THE 15 CAR. MICHAEL ONLY HAS TWO TIRES AND IT'S LATE IN IRAN LIKE THIS WHEN THOSE TWO TIRES WILL START TO DETERIORATE. >> HE'S GOT HIS NOSE DOWN AND TAIL UP. HE'S ON THE PROWL. >> HE'S NOT GOING TO NEED THAT SIGHT. MICHAEL IS THE FIFTH PLACE CAR ABOUT FOUR SECONDS BEHIND RICKY RUDD, THAT'S THE NUMBER 15. AND MARLIN AND STEWART AND HERE GOES STERLING. >> EXCUSE ME. JUST ON MY WAY TO THE FRONT, JUST THOUGHT I'D LET YOU KNOW. >> THAT CHANGES UP OUR FRONT FIVE. JIMMIE JOHNSON WITH A 2.4 SECOND LEAD. DALE EARNHARDT, >>> 65 LAPS, 98 MILES COMPLETE IN THE COCA-COLA RACING FAMILY 600. CARS GETTING LAPPED ARE BEGINNING TO MAKE THEIR APPEARANCES ON PIT ROAD. >> 29'S IN. HE JUST GOT LAPPED. LARRY, THIS RACE TRADITIONALLY YOU'LL HAVE A COUPLE OF EARLY CAUTIONS, REAL QUICK ONES AND THEN THIS BABY GOES GREEN FOR A LONG TIME. >> THAT'S THE THING. PITTING EARLY COULD WORK TO YOUR ADVANTAGE SHOULD WE GO GREEN FOR A LONG TIME AND THE LEADERS HAVE TO MAKE GREEN FLAG STOPS. IT WILL BITE YOU IF YOU COME AND MAKE THAT EARLY STOP AND A CAUTION COMES OUT. THEN YOU'RE GOING TO BE ANOTHER LAP OR TWO DOWN. >> AND WAITING FOR THAT CAUTION LIKE MAYBE RYAN NEWMAN IS WILL GET YOU IN SO MUCH TROUBLE. HE'S ALREADY A LAP DOWN IN DISTANCE AND NOW HE'LL GO ANOTHER LAP DOWN. >> TRAILING THIS PACK IN 18th PLACE DEFENDING WINSTON CUP CHAMPION JEFF GORDON. >> I THINK A WORE A RIGHT REAR TIRE OR SOMETHING. IT'S REALLY BAD LOOSE. >> IT SOUNDS LIKE IF THE CAR WAS WORKING LIKE THIS NOW, IT WOULD BE GOOD LATE IN THE RACE BUT HE WOULD BE IN CONTENTION BY THEN. >> IT'S A CATCH 22 YOU WANT IT GOOD AT THE END OF THE NIGHT BUT YOU JUST CAN'T GET THIS FAR BEHIND AND EXPECT TO GET BACK IN THIS RACE WITH PEOPLE LIKE JIMMIE JOHNSON, TONY STEWART AND STERLING MARLIN WHO ARE SETTING A PRETTY FAST RACE. >> WHEN THE WEEKEND BEGAN, THE HENDRICK ENGINE GUYS SET A MAXIMUM OF 60 LAPS RUN BEFORE THE RACE TO TRY TO SAVE THAT ENGINE. THEY PUSHED IT ONE LAP MORE BECAUSE THEY FELT LIKE THEY WERE OUT TO LUNCH IN THE FINAL PRACTICE SESSION. THE CAR WAS EXTREMELY LOOSE. THAT'S WHY THEY RAN THE SECOND PRACTICE SESSION ON SATURDAY. >> KEVIN LEPAGE HAD BEEN IN THE GARAGE, MADE REPAIRS AND COME BACK OUT. HE'S CRASHED IN THE THIRD CORNER AND WE HAVE OUR THIRD YELLOW FLAG OF THE EVENING. >> IT LOOKED LIKE A LOT OF SMOKE WAS COMING OUT UNDERNEATH THE CAR. >> THAT WAS QUITE A BREAK FOR RON WHO ARE A DAY, JOE NEMECHEK, STACY COMPTON. >> THAT IS A HUGE BREAK FOR EVERYBODY EXCEPT MAYBE RYAN NEWMAN. >> CARS THAT GOT PINNED ONE LAP OR MORE DOWN, GRISSOM, SKINNER, ENOUGHMAN, SADLER, HARVICK AND NADEAU AND BURTON. >> THE GOOD NEWS IS THEY ONLY LOST ONE LAP. IF THEY'D HAD TO PIT ON THE GREEN, THEY'D PROBABLY HAVE LAST ANOTHER WITHIN. YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET BACK IN THIS RACE SINCE THIS CAUTION CAME WHEN IT DID. >> VERMONT'S KEVIN LEPAGE HAS BEEN A JOURNEYMAN WINSTON CUP DRIVER AFTER BEING A BUSCH DRIVER. >> YOU CAN SEE THE THING BLEW UP THERE AND SMOKE AND OIL AND FLUIDS COMING OUT FROM UNDER IT. ALL OF A SUDDEN HE GETS ON THE BACK TIRES THERE -- JUNIOR ALWAYS SAID HYNDE TIRES. WATCH THIS 4 CAR COME SLIDING BY HERE. WHOO! >> THIS CAR IS OWNED BY DERRIKE COPE. >> DICK BERGGREN. >> YOUR CURRENT LEADER IS IN. THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO ADJUST THE CAR SO IT WILL RUN BETTER IN THE CORNERS. THEY'RE CHANGING THE TRACK BAR, WHICH DETERMINES HOW WEIGHT ROLLS AROUND IN THE BACK OF THE CAR. >> RICKY CRAVEN GOT A TRACK BAR ADJUSTMENT, ALSO AN AIR PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT. TO MATT YOCUM. >> THE 48 CAR, JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO ADJUSTMENT. THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT POSSIBLY FREEING UP AS HE BEATS EVERYBODY OFF PIT ROAD WITH A FOUR-TIRE CHANGE. THEY DECIDED TO WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT PIT STOP. THE CLOSE WAS BEING NEUTRAL. >> MATT KENSETH HAD A GREAT STOP. HE CAME OUT SECOND. >> RICKY CRAVEN HAD A CLOSE CALL BETWEEN MATT KENSETH, RICKY CRAVEN AND RICKY RUDD JUST ABOUT TORE THE FRONT END OFF THAT RACE CAR. >> THE 17 CAR MAKES A LOT OF PIT STOP, HE'LL WIN ON PIT ROAD. >>> KEVIN LEPAGE GOING INTO THE WALL AT TURN THREE HAS PUT USIN UNDER THE THIRD CAUTION OF THE AFTERNOON. AND MATT KENSETH, QUITE A RACE WITH RICKY CRAVEN FOR POSITION ON PIT ROAD. HERE'S CRAVEN LEAVING HIS PIT. >> THIS IS A VICTIM OF ABOUT 40 SOMETHING CARS BEING ON PIT ROAD. IT'S ONLY SO WIDE, GUYS. RICKY CRAVEN DECIDED BETTER NOT TO TEAR HIS FRONT END OFF AND GIVE UP A FEW POSITIONS. THE BIG KEY, JIMMIE JOHNSON, 15.3 COMES IN FIRST, LEAVING FIRST. BUT LOOK AT THIS PIT STOP BY MATT KENSETH'S GROUP, 14.8. THE LOSER,STERLING MARLIN. JIMMIE JOHNSON IS LEADING THE RACE, PITTING AT THE END OF PIT ROAD. HE HAS A CLEAR PIT ROAD COMING IN. HE CAN JUST LEAVE. HE JUST HAS TO LEAVE THERE AND CAN LEAVE OFF PIT ROAD. NOBODY TO BLOCK HIM IN, PLUS HE'S LEADING THE RACE. >> AND WE GOT ONE TO GO HERE. THAT 17 CAR, IF THEY CAN WIN IT IN THE PITS AS FAST AS THEY ARE. >> TODAY'S TRACK FACTS BROUGHT TO YOU BY "THE INSIDER PIZZA" AT PIZZA HUT. >> I COULD HAVE HAD THE FIRST CONDO DOWN THERE. I WON THE RACE THAT YEAR IN '85. THEY SAID YOU CAN HAVE YOUR PICK. I SAID $75,000, NOBODY'S GOING TO BUY A CONDO AT THE RACETRACK. >> I THINK THEY LAUGHED WHEN YOU DECIDED TO LIGHT A MILE AND A HALF RACETRACK. LOOK THERE, MIKE. LOOK WHAT THEY WANT. >> THEY WANT TO US CRANK IT UP ON THE RESTART. SO IF YOU HAVE SURROUND SOUND AT HOME, YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO. >> CRANK IT UP! >>> ON THE RESTART RYAN NEWMAN PULLED OUT AHEAD OF JIMMIE JOHNSON. YOU LOOK BACK FROM SIXTH PLACE, DAME, JR. >> I STILL BELIEVE KNOWING HOW GOOD THAT 48 CAR, JIMMIE JOHNSON IS, I'D LIKE TO SEE A CAUTION PRETTY QUICK. I'M GUARANTEED TO GET MY LAP BACK. >> YOU' PROBABLY SAYING HE WENT A LAP BACK, THAT CAR IS TABLE. ALL YOU GOT TO DO IS BRING IT IN MAKE A TRACK BAR ADJUSTMENT, PUT A LITTLE AIR IN. YOU GO FROM TERRIBLE TO BEING THE NEWMAN. >> ANOTHER CAR MOVING UP ALL ALONG, ANDRETTI. HE'S IN NINT BUT HE STARTED BACK IN 28th POSITION IN THAT DODGE. JOHN HAS BEEN MARCHING FORWARD DURING THIS RACE. HE WAS VERY HAPPY WITH HIS CAR IN THAT MORNING PRACTICE YESTERDAY WHEN TRACK CONDITIONS WERE MORE LIKE THEY ARE NOW. >> THINK THAT SILVER BULLET'S FIXING TO GO RIGHT BY HIM. >> STERLING MARLIN, THE WINSTON CUP POINT LEADER. JUST SAILED ON PAST. MARLIN MOVES UP TO NINTH. AND BEGINS TO CLOSE ON TONY STEWART. >> JOE NEMECHEK COASTING SLOWLY INTO THE PITS. IN THE 25 CAR. >> AND MIKE SKINNER, YOU SAW HIM IN THAT FOUR CAR. HERE'S JOE NEMECHEK ON PIT ROAD. THIS IS HIS FIRST POINTS RACE IN THIS POINTS CAR. NADEAU DRIVING IT BEFORE THE WINSTON. KURT BUSCH IN THAT 97 CAR, REMEMBER, HE BROUGHT THAT FIRST CAUTION OUT AND HE'S WORKED HIS WAY BACK UP TO 12th POSITION. MIKE SKINNER IN THE 4 CAR RIGHT NOW, HE'S A LAP DOWN FIGHTING TRYING TO GET HIS LAP BACK. >> MARTIN'S NUMBER SIX, RUDD THE 28. CRAVEN'S BRIGHT ORANGE 32. AND THAT'S A RACE FOR THIRD PLACE. MATT KENSETH, 0.4 OF A SECOND BEHIND JIMMIE JOHNSON AND CLOSING. >> HE STARTED THIS IN 21st, MIKE. HE PICKED UP FOUR SPOTS ON THE LAST ROUND OF PIT STOPS. THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE PIT CREW. HIS CREW CHIEF, BETWEEN KENSETH AND HIS CREW CHIEF, THEY CONSISTENTLY MAKE THE RIGHT ADJUSTMENT WHEN IS HE PITS. THIS MORNING IN THE TRUCK RISER TOLD ME THAT WILL BE THE SECRET TO WINNING THIS RACE TONIGHT IF ALL NIGHT LONG TOGETHER THEY CAN MAKE THE RIGHT ADJUSTMENTS. STEVE BYRNES. >> THAT CAUTION ON LAP 70 COULDN'T HAVE COME AT A BETTER TIME FOR TONY STEWART. HE TOLD HIS CREW IF I DON'T GET A CAUTION, I'M GOING TO BE THE CAUTION. THEY MADE A TRACK BAR ADJUSTMENT AND PULLED A SPRING RUBBER OUT OF THE RIGHT REAR SPRINGS. THIS SHOULD HELP STEWART. >> THE BUD WEISER CAR CAME IN THIRD, RESTARTED FROM SIXTH. THE REASON HE LOST THOSE SPOTS ON PIT ROAD, THE REAR AIR GUN HER TROUBLE WITH HIS IMPACT GUN. JUNIOR SAID THE CAR WAS TIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CORNER. THAT'S HIS MAIN CONCERN. THE CAR WAS ALSO LOOSE. JUNIOR FEELS THAT WILL CHANGE WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN. THEY MADE A TRACK BAR ADJUSTMENT ON THE FIRST STOP, MADE A WEDGE ADJUSTMENT ON THE LAST TRYING TO FIX THAT TIGHT IN THE CENTER OF THE CORNER. >> RICKY RUDD HAD SOME COMMENTS IN THE PAPER, UPSET ABOUT ALL THE ATTENTION BEING PAID TO NASCAR'S YOUNG GUNS. WELL, RUDD IS STIRRING THE POT AS HE BATTLES RICKY CRAVEN FOR THIRD PLACE. >> HE HAD A GREAT RUN IN CALIFORNIA, YOU KNOW. WE KNOW RICKY CAN GET THE JOB DONE. LAST YEAR HE WAS A CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENDER. GOT OFF TO A SLOW STAR THIS YEAR. PROBLEM WITH THESE YOUNG GUNS IS THERE'S TEN OF THEM. >> I TALKED TO HIS CREW CHIEF. I SAID WHAT CAR YOU GOT HERE? HE SAID THIS IS THE OLDEST CAR IN THE HOUSE. HE SAID YOU PROBABLY WORKED ON IT. >> KURT BUSCH WAS TWO YEARS OLD WHEN RICKY RUDD CAREER BEGAN. >> BACK THEN THERE WERE NO PROVISIONALS. HERE ARE SOME OF THE NO-SO-YOUNG GUNS. YOU HAVE TO START THE CAR TO BE CLASSED AS THE DRIVER. THAT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY IF YOU'RE HURT. >> THAT 17 CAR KEEPS NIPPING AWAY A LITTLE BIT AT A TIME, RIGHT UP ON THE BACK OF THAT 48 CAR. >> THEY ARE CLOSING IN ON NEWMAN TRYING TO PUT HIM BACK A LAP DOWN IN THE 12 CAR. >> CAR LOOKS 100% BETTER THAN IT IS. HE'S A CONTENDER NOW IF HE CAN STAY ON THE LEAD LAP. >> JIMMIE JOHNSON LOOKED A LITTLE LOOSE IN THREE AND FOUR. >> THIS IS NOT A BATTLE FOR POSITION BUT THIS IS THE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR BATTLE UP THERE AS JOHNSON 26, NEWMAN 24 YEARS OLD. HERE RIGHT BEHIND THEM THE BATTLE FOR THIRD. WHO ARE WE TALKING ABOUT, RUDD, CRAVEN? >> GOT A RACE. >> AND FOR THE LEAD. >> MATT KENSETH GOT SUCH A RUN OFF TURN TWO BECAUSE NEWMAN WAS HOLDING JIMMIE JOHNSON UP. >> AND JOHNSON HAS TO BE CAREFUL. YOU SURE DON'T WANT TO TAKE YOURSELF OUT RACING SOMEBODY THAT'S A LAP DOWN. >> PRETTY IMPRESSED WITH THAT 48 CAR, THOUGH. THAT BAD BOY GETS BETTER AS WE GO ALONG. >> THE LEADERS CLEAR RYAN NEWMAN. >> RUDD KIND OF SETTING THERE HIGH BALLING THIS WHOLE THING. GOT THAT OLD VETERAN LOOK TO HIM. YOU BOYS RACE EACH OTHER. I'M WATCHING. >> JEREMY MAYFIELD HAS TAKEN HIS CAR TO THE GARAGE. ♪ THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE ♪ ♪ THAT'S WHAT I WANT ♪ >>> FOX WELCOMES YOU BACK LIVE TO LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY. SOME OF THE FANS LOOKING ON. PART OF WHAT MAKES THIS HOLIDAY WEEKEND SO SPECIAL, THEY CAN WIN $1 MILLION IF THE DRIVER THEY'RE CONNECTED TO IS PART OF THE NO BULL 5. JEREMY MAYFIELD HAS JUST PARKED IT AFTER GETTING TOO LOOSE. THE NO BULL 4 WE CAN CALL THEM NOW. NONE OF THESE DRIVERS HAVE WON THE MILLION DOLLAR BONUS ONLY ONCE. >> WE STILL GOT SOME GUYS THAT ARE REALLY RUNNING STRONG RIGHT NOW WITH MARK MARTIN AND TONY STEWART, FOR EXAMPLE, ALONG WITH STERLING MARLIN. ALL THESE GUYS STILL HAVE EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITIES TO BRING HOME SOMEONE $1 MILLION TODAY ALONG WITH THEMSELVES. AS JIMMIE JOHNSON HAS LED MOST OF THE LAPS. WE'LL GET AN UPDATE ON JEREMY MAYFIELD BEING OFF THE TRACK. DICK? >> JEREMY HAD IT ALL FIGURED OUT ME ARRIVED AT THE CONCLUSION SINCE TOMORROW IS HIS 33rd BIRTHDAY, HE'D GO AHEAD AND WIN THE RACE. INSPECTION WOULD BE DONE IN TIME FOR MIDNIGHT OR SO. THAT WOULD BE HIS PRESENT. YOU NEED A BETTER PRESENT, MY FRIEND. WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS CAR? >> GOT A LITTLE LOOSE AT THE BEGINNING AND LOST IT AND THOUGHT MAYBE IT'S TOO LOOSE. EFTLY THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE WRONG. WE TIGHTENED IT UP AND DID A LOT OF THINGS TO IT BUT IT'S NOT RESPONDING. WE'LL DO OUR BEST TO GET BACK OUT THERE AND MAKE SOME LAPS. >> HE'S TO THE GIVING UP. >> STERLING MARLIN WORKING TOWARD THE FRONT. WE'VE HAD THREE CAUTIONS. KURT BUSCH, MAYFIELD AND KEVIN LEPAGE BUT JIMMIE JOHNSON, THE POLE SITTER, HAS LED ALL BUT 12 LAPS SO FAR. >> HE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE CHECKING UP A WHOLE LOT, THOUGH THAT 17 CAR IS EATING THAT BACK BUMPER UP RIGHT NOW. >> WE BECAME HOW THE FIVE DRIVERS BECAME ELIGIBLE FOR THE NO BULL. IT'S THE TOP FIVE FINISHERS FROM THIS RACE WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE LAST RACE ON FOX IN JULY AT DAYTONA. >> AND THE WAY THEY PAIRED THOSE DRIVERS WITH THE FANS, THEY HAD A TRACTOR TRAILER SLALOM COURSE SET UP HERE AND THOSE FIVE DRIVERS HAD TO DRIVE AN INTERNATIONAL TRACTOR WITH A FULL 50-FOOT LONG TRAILER. THAT WAS A SITE. >> IF YOU WON DAYTONA, DARLINGTON OR THE WINSTON 500 AT TEAGUE YARKS THAT DRIVER COULD WIN $1 MILLION. IT WAS ONLY ONE DRIVER ELIGIBLE MOST EVERY YEAR. THEY WANTED TO SPREAD THAT AROUND. >> WE HAVE TO WATCH KURT BUSCH. HE WAS BACK AT THE REAR OF THE FIELD AFTER SPINNING OUT ON LAP TEN. HE'S MARCHED HIS WAY BACK UP TO THE 12th POSITION. LIKE EHIS TEAMMATE THERK HAVE A FAST RACE CAR WITH THIS CAR. >> A LOT OF FORDS FINDING THEIR WAY INTO THE TOP TEN. >> JEFF BURTON MADE A PIT STOP UNDER THE GREEN FLAG SO THE DEFENDING CHAMP FINDING HIMSELF TWO LAPS DOWN. >> HE THOUGHT HE HAD A FIRE GOING DOWN. IF THAT CAR GET REAL LOOSE OR REAL TIGHT, SOMETHING IS GOING ON. >> YOU CAN'T WIN IT IF IF YOU WRECK IT. >> WE'RE A QUARTER OF THE WAY DONE, 100 OF 400 LAPS. LET'S GO TO JEFF HAMMOND. >> JEFF BURTON'S SITUATION MAY BE OKAY IF IT GOES FULL CYCLE AND THESE GUYS HAVE TO MAKE GREEN FLAG STOPS. HE COULD FIND HIMSELF BACK ON THE LEAD LAP. THERE WE SEE RYAN NEWMAN. LOOKS LIKE HE MAY HAVE LOST AN ENGINE THERE. >> WE WERE JUST COMMENTING DURING THE LAST BREAK THAT THAT CAR WAS REALLY FLYING DOWN THE STRAIGHTAWAY. WHAT'S THE OLD ADAGE? THEY RUN THEIR BEST WHEN? >> I THINK HE RUN AS LOT OF GEAR IN THAT ENGINE. THAT'S PROBABLY WHAT GOT HIM ALREADY. >> SEE HIM GO DOWN INTO TURN ONE HERE. HE'S PUTTING A LITTLE SMOKE OUT THERE, PARTS ARE STARTING TO RATTLE AROUND IN THERE. AND HE MAKES THAT TURN STRAIGHT TO THE GARAGE AREA. >> THAT'S ABOUT THE FOURTH ENGINE FAILURE THEY'VE HAD. IT WASN'T THAT MANY RACES AGO, SEVEN OR EIGHT RACES, HE WAS IN THE TOP FIVE IN POINTS. >> IT'S OUR FOURTH CAUTION FLAG OF THE DAY. >> YOUNG DRIVERS ARE HARD ON ENGINES. THEY JUST DRIVE THE HECK OUT OF IT. DON'T LET 'EM BREATHE MUCH. >> I'D SAY PIT ROAD WOULD BE VERY BUSY. WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW JIMMIE JOHNSON, MATT KENSETH AND RICKY RUDD. I'M SURE THESE BOYS WILL BE COMING DOWN PIT ROAD FOR ADJUSTMENTS AND FOUR TIRES. ISN'T THAT NEAT. CAN YOU SEE THE CAR NUMBER, THE NAME, WHERE THESE GUYS ARE EXACTLY AT ON THE RACETRACK AND ON PIT ROAD. >> HERE THEY COME. >> DICK BERGGREN. >> MATT KENSETH'S CAR IS A REAL GOOD RACE CAR TODAY. HE HAS CALLED THE ADJUSTMENTS HE WANT IN THIS CAR. THEY'RE GOING TO CHANGE THE AIR PRESSURE BY A HALF A POUND. AND THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO TAKE A HALF A TURN INTO THE LEFT REAR OF THE CAR. SAME DEAL. TO STEVE. >> RICKY RUDD, THE NEW IRON MAN, NO CHASSIS ADJUSTMENTS. HE LIKES THIS FORD JUST THE WAY IT IS. FOUR TIRES. TO MATT YOCUM. >> JIMMIE JOHNSON SAYS AS THE NIGHT GOES ON HIS CAR GETS TIGHTER AND TIGHTER ON ENTRY INTO TURN ONE. THEY PUT ONE POUND OF AIR PRESSURE. HE'S FINAL LIV DOWN AND AWAY. HE ALSO TALKED ABOUT A WEDGE ADJUSTMENT. KENSETH WILL BEAT EVERYBODY OFF PIT ROAD. >> IF THAT 17 CAR WAS PITING IN JOHNSON'S PIT, HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO LAP SOME PEOPLE. HE HAS TO DEAL WITH CARS COMING IN AND GOING OUT. JIM MI JOHNSON, A LITTLE TROUBLE ON THE RIGHT SIDE. >>> FOX WELCOMES YOU BACK TO THE COCA-COLA RACING FAMILY 600. OUR OWN JEFF HAMMOND BEATING THE TRAFFIC AND THE IREMAN RICKY RUDD. KURT BUSCH, JEREMY MAYFIELD LEARNING THINGS WERE TOUGH EARLY. KEVIN LEPAGE LOSING AN ENGINE INTO THE WALL. RYAN NEWMAN ALSO A BLOWN ENGCiN. HE FINISHED LAST IN THIS RACE LAST YEAR, AS WE'RE GETTING READY TO GO FROM THE HOLLYWOOD HOTEL ALONG WITH FORMER CREW CHIEF JEFF HAMMOND. I'M CHRIS MYERS. GLAD TO HAVE YOU WATCHING LONG WITH US. JIMMIE JOHNSON, THE ROOKIE, STARTING ON THE POLE HAS LED MOST OF THE WAY BUT IT VERY EARLY IN THIS LONG, GRUELING RUN. >> AS THE SUN DROPS DOWN, WHAT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING IS THE TRACK TEMPERATURE. EARLY ON DEFINITELY JIMMIE JOHNSON HAS GOT THE CAR TO BEAT. >> PIT STOPS ARE CRITICAL. LET'S CHECK WITH LARRY McREYNOLDS TO GET AN UPDATE ON THAT. >> WE TALK ABOUT RACES BEING WON AND LOST ON PIT ROAD. LOOK AT JIMMIE JOHNSON. WAS LEADING OUR RACE. DOWN -- EVERYBODY HAS TO MAINTAIN 45 MILES AN HOUR. I THINK THAT'S WHY JIMMIE JOHNSON'S PIT STOP IS SO BAD, HE DOESN'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET KNOCKED IN. >> 157 MILES COMPLETE. MATT SEN KET HAS GAINED A TOTAL OF 12 POSITIONS WITH HIS PIT STOP. THAT'S WHAT'S PUT HIM INTO THE LEAD. HERE'S WHERE OUR COKE FAMILY OF DRIVERS IS RUNNING. AT QUARTER DISTANCE. RICKY RUDD FOR SECOND, TONY STEWART. >> THEY'RE ALL DOING A PRETTY GOOD JOB TONIGHT. >> ANDRETTI AND ELLIOTT, STOOEF MARK. >> YOU KNOW, MIKE, THINGS GO BETTER WITH THAT. >> CARS ONE OR MORE LAPS DOWN MADE IT A GREEN -- NOW, THEY'RE TEAMMATE. LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS ON THIS RESTART. >> ONE THING THESE GUYS ALL LEARNED FROM THEIR WIN ON -- FOR MATT KENSETH WITH THAT 17 GETS QUITE A RUN OUTSIDE. >> GOT A GREAT RACE IN THE CORNER, WHICH ALLOWED TO GET HIM BACK INTO -- I'M REAL SURPRISED JEFF BURTON WAS NOT ABLE TO GET ONE OF HIS LAPS BACK. >> HOW ABOUT MARK MART NN THAT 6 CARS, ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE NO BULL 5. >> THAT 99 CAR JUST ISN'T ALL THAT GOOD RIGHT NOW. >> AS A MATTER OF FACT, HE GETTING GOOD. >> NORMALLY YOUR CAR HANDLES SO BADLY YOU THINK ALL YOUR TIRES ARE FLAT. >> IT PUTS JEFF BURTON, THE DEFENDING CHAMPION IN THIS RACE, TWO LAPS DOWN. NOW STERLING MARLIN. DICK BERGGREN? >> HE'S CURRENTLY RUNNING IN SIX SPOT. A FUEL CAN WAS LATE GETTING IN AND THEY DON'T WANT TO TELL ME WHETHER THEY GOT ALL THE FUEL IN. MY SUSPICION IS THEY THEY DIDN'T. STEVE BYRNES? >> RICKY CRAVEN SAID HE CAR WAS TIGHT OFF THE CORNER. THEY THEY TOOK A HALF A POUND OUT OF THE RIGHT REAR TIRE AND TOOK HALF A SPRING LEVER OUT. >> STEVE, THE 15 CAR RESTARTED IN A POSITION POSITION. THE CREW CHIEF TOLD ME THE CAR WAS VERY GOOD AT THE BEGINNING OF THEIR RUN BUT THEN IT WOULD PROGRESSIVELY GO TIGHT. SO THEY MADE AN AIR PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT. HE HAS FADED A LITTLE BIT SINCE THAT RESTART. >> MICHAEL WALTRIP LOOKING IN, LONG WITH ARMY SADLER. ALL YOU END UP DOING IS MAKING THAT MAYOR. >> THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE THE SPRING SEEM STIFFER. >> RICKY RUDD, NOW THE HOLDER OF NASCAR'S IRE MAN RECORD. HE TOOK IT FROM CARRY LABONTE, WHO TOOK IT TRACKING LEADER MATT CONE SETH. >> YOU KNOW, GUYS, GOT A COUPLE OF FELLAS THERE THAT KNOW HOW TO WIN THIS RACE UP THERE BATTLING FOR THE LEAD. THAT 28 AND THAT 6. MARK MARTIN HAD A STRONG CAR OVER HERE UNTIL THE ENJI BLEW UP FOR. >> HE OPENED THE DOOR AND THEY'RE GOING TO KICK MARTINSVILLE. >> APRIL OF 2000, 73 RACES AGO, HE HAS THREE WINS HERE BUT ALL IN THE SOUND RACE. THIS IS HIS 19th TRY TOO WIN THE SPRING CLASSIC. >> MARK IS REALLY, REALLY CONSISTENT. HE TAKES WHAT THE TRACK GIVES HIM, TAKES WHAT THE CAR GIVES HIM, TAKES WHAT THE COMPETITION GIVES HIM UNTIL IT BECOMES TIME TO GO. I THINK HE'S ANXIOUS TO GET TO THE TRONT TONIGHT, THOUGH. THAT LOOKED LIKE SEVERAL YEARS AGO HE DID IN THE BUSCH CAR. GETS THAT CLEAN CAR OUT THERE AND CLEAN NOW RIGHT NOW. >> IF YOUR CAR IS NOT WANTING TO TURN BEHIND ANOTHER CAR, IF YOU CAN GET THAT LEFT FRONT TENDER BEHIND THAT CAR, IT WILL HELP THAT KA TURN DOWN TO THE BOTTOM. >> UFR -- YOU DON'T WANT TO COME UP INTO THAT CORNER WITH AIR. MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIN. >> THIS IS FRONT DOWNFORCE. THERE'S THAT LEFT FRONT FENDER AREA. >> HERER IS ALWAYS A CHALLENGE -- YOU WANT AS MUCH AS CAN YOU ON BOTH ENDS BUT GOTING IT BALANCED. >> LOOK AT THAT LEFT FRONT FENDER. IT'S A BIG OLD FAT UGLY ENDER. BUT IF YOU MAKE THE RIGHT FRONT TOO BIG, IT WILL BE HARD TO GET ONE THAT BIG. MAKE IT LOOSE GETTING INTO THE CORNER. MACK -- MARK MARTIN, SAME WA HE LOST IT IS THE WAY HE GOT IT. WIRE TALKING ABOUT RICKY RUDD, MAUPT DEN SETH PACK ON OUR RESTART IN 108. THEY RAN THEIR PASTEST LAPS ON THIS RACE AROUND LAP 112. THESE GUYS WHO HAVE MADE IT THROUGH THAT EARLY TRANSILGS PERIOD ARE HANGING IN REALLY TIGHT. I FEEL LIKE THESE BOYS UP THE FRONT KNOW HOW TO RUN THESE LONG RACES AND PACE THEMSELVES. AGAIN, MAKING THE RIGHT CHANGES. AS TEMPERATURE STARTS TO COME AROUND, WORKING IN THEIR FAVORITES OPINION RICKY RUDD WON PHYSICAL FIFTH RACE HERE. >> ENGINES DROPPED FROM FIRST TO THIRD. HE COLD HIM COMPANY HE COULD SIMPLY COULD NOT KEEP US WITH THOSE SEASON SPRAZ. >> JEFF GORDON, TLET-TIME COCA-COLA RACING FAMILY 600 WINNER NOW CLIMBED UP TO EIGHTH ON THE PILE ALREADY ONE. >> I'M GOING BEHIND THE GRANDSTAND PB OF. >> THEY ALSO ARE HAVING ICE PACKS RED EP BECAUSE GORDON SAID HE WAS GETTING A LITTLE HOTTER IN THAT RACE CAR. LAST YEAR HOW STOUT IS THIS GENTLEMAN IN LAST YOUR HE MADE A $5,000 NICER FOR A TIRE CHANGER ON THE 25 WHEN HE BROKE HIS FOOL. >> STERLING BATTLED WITH KURT BUSCH QUITE A BIT THERE. BUSCH BEEN ABLE TO GET UNDER HIM. NOT NECESSARILY BEEN ABLE TO PASS HIM. ONE THING I THID WE NEED TO KIND OF PAY ATTENTION TO HAVEN'T SAID A WORD ABOUT HIM. BUT I MAYBE THEY LEARNED A LESSON LAST YEAR, MAG,. LAST YEAR THEY PEAKED TOO EARLY. THIS YEAR THEY'VE GOTTEN OFF TO A SLOW START BUT MAYBE THEY'RE GOING TO COME BY SLOWLY. >> YOU'RE RIGHT, DARRELL. THE IMPORTANT THING IS HE'S ON THE LEAD LAP. WE WANT TO SAY HELLO TO HIS DAD AND NED JARRETT, HAD TO GO IF -- >> TROUBLE TURN ONE, A CAR CUTS DOWN A TIRE AND HITS THE WALL. IT'S WARD BURTON. >> CAUTION IS ON THE SPEEDWAY. >> WARD HAS JUST HAD A MISERABLE NIGHT. HE'S HAD TROUBLE IN THE PITS. NOW HE HITS THE BALL. >> NOBODY'S REALLY GETTING THEIR LAP BACK. RICKY RUDD TAKES THE CAUTION FLAG. >> THAT'S A HARD HIT FOR WARD BURTON. >> WHEN YOU SEE THAT RIGHT FRONT UP UNDER R UNDERTHE FIRE LAL, THAS A HAPPEN -- THAT'S A HARD LICK. >> THERE ARE A LOT OF SPARKS UNDER WARD'S CAR BEFORE IT GOT TO THE WALL, DARRELL. IT LOOKED I WOULD GUESS THE RIGHT FRONT. I'M GUESSING. >> WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AND SEE IF WE CAN SEE WHAT HAPPENED. THAT'S PRETTY INDICATIVE OF A RIGHT FRONT TIRE. PLUS, THE FENDER OVER THERE WAS ALREADY BLOWN UP. SO TIRE COME APART. >> THEY ARE SAYING HE DID BLOW A TIRE. HE WAS 52 LAPS DOWN. HE WAS JUST OUT THERE MAKING LAPS. >> THIS THING IS GOING TO TURN INTO A PIT CREW RACE BEFORE THE NIGHT'S OVER WITH. >> THE BEST TIME OF THE NICE HAVE BEEN KENSETH. >> REMEMBER 48 WILL COME ALL THE WAY TO END PIT ROAD. >> THE CREW FAST ON PIT ROAD. TO STEVE BYRNES. >> RICKY RUDD IN. CREW CHIEF McSWAIN SAID TELL ME ABOUT YOUR CAR. HE SAID JUST SLAP THOSE TIRE ON IT AND GIVE ME A NEW SCREEN. >> JIMMIE JOHNSON WILL TRY TO GET HIM. IT GOING TO BE CLOSE. RICKY RUDD'S GOING TO GET HIM. >> BOY, THE CAR RUNS BETTER. EVERYTHING GOES BETTER. THE PIT CREW DOES A BETTER JOB WHEN YOU RUN UP FRONT. >> THE WHOLE PACKAGE PUP PS EVERYBODY UP. >> HERE AS THE RAS OF -- YOU SAW RUDD BEATING HIM WITH KENSETH COMING OFF PIT ROAD THIRD. RICKY RUDD'S CREW GETS TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF CELEBRATING. >>> WELCOME BACK. WE'RE UNDER CAUTION FOR WARD BURTON'S CRASH IN TURN NUMBER ONE. BURTON HIT THE WALL WITH THE RIGHT FRONT -- >> AND ROS IT. BLEW THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE AND THE RIGHT FRONT IS GONE. >> YOU TORE UP MY BOOGITY, BOOKITY! >> WE'RE GOING TOIN -- GOING TO CONTINUE. >> THE RACE ON PIT ROAD CONTINUES. JIMMIE JOHNSON, THOSE GUYS HAD THE BAD STOP LAST TIME. TONY STEWART A LITTLE BIT QUICKER. MOVES UP TO FIFTH. WE HEAR A LOT OF GUYS MAKING THESE ADJUSTMENTS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE REAR TRACK BAR. >> LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS RIGHT NOW. FIRST WE GOT THE WATCH BOLT THIS P IS THE TRACK DAR. THE GUYS CAN GO UP AND DOWN. >> IT PRETTY SIMPLE TO DO AND PRETTY EFFECTIVE. >> SO TURN IS -- >> I WAS TIRED OF PEOPLE ASKING ME HOW COME WE WENT TO THE TRACK BAR ALL THE TIME. >> MIKE, LET LET THEM HEAR WHAT 35,000 HORSEPOWER SOUNDS LIKE. WHAT DO YOU THINK? >> OKAY. WELLY I "THANK IT UP" BEFORE WE DO. >> GREEN FLAG, GREEN FLAG. >> RICKY RUDD WAS DOWN THE INSIDE. >> I THOUGHT JIMMIE JOHNSON WAS GOING TO BE THE CAKE, THE ROCK BETWEEN TWO HARD PLACES. >> THERE HE GOES! >> THEY STOCK UP BEHIND HIM. EVERYBODY HAS TO CHECKUP AND GET ON THE BRAKES. YOU CAN RUN THREE WIDE THROUGH THREE AND FOUR. BUT THEN COME INTO THAT FUNNEL. IT ONLY ONE -- >> GUYS ARE GETTING A LITTLE MORE GRIP TO IT. YOU TAKE YOUR CAR RIGHT OUT OF THE RACE BEATING IT UP LIKE THAT. >> I THINK THAT SEK ONE -- >> THAT'S RETALIATION. MINOR RETALL YAGS. JUST WATCH THIS HAPPEN. THE GUY ON THE BOTTOMISHED. >> THAT'S WHAT YOU HATE. YOU'RE LEAD BEING THE RACE, YOU GOT A GOOD RACE CAR. YOU GOT A GUY WANTING IT BACK ON THE LEAD LAP. HE'LL TAKE MORE CHANCES THAN YOU REALLY WANT TO. >> TROUBLE. HARVICK CLIMBS THE HILL. NO CRASH BUT, OH, MY GOD. >> THAT'S NOT TROUBLE. HE'S BEEN UP THERE ALL NIGHT LIKE THAT. THAT CAR'S NOT HANDLING AT ALL. >> YOU'RE RIDING WITH TONY STUART AND HERE'S STEVE BYRNES. >> TONY STEWART DESCRIBED HIS CAR AS GETTING VERY FREE OR LOOSE. CHANGED FOUR TIRES AND PUT ONE AND A HALF ROUNDS OF WEDGE IN THE RIGHT REAR. TO MATT YOCUM. >> THE BUDWEISER GUY HIMSELF THEIR FIRST STOP OF THE DAY, A 16-POINT AIRWAVES GENERAL CON -- NOW THERE'S GOOD SETTLED AIR PRESSURE. NOW THEY'RE TRYING TO LEARN WHAT TO DO FOR THIS RACE CAR LATER IN THE NIGHT. TO STEVE BYRNES. >> DICK ALBERT ANYWAY. RUSTY WALLACE LAST WEEKEND A HUGE CRASH, HEAD ON. HE SAID IT WAS THE WORST HEAD-ON ACCIDENT THEY EVER HAD. THEY'RE RUNNING A NEW CAR BUT IT'S OVERHEATING. EVERY TIME IT PITS, THEY HAVE PUNK. >> WELL, HE HAD WORKED HIMSELF INTO ALMOST THE TOP TEN. THE LAST CASE CAME UP, THEY PUT MORE WATER ON IT. >> SKINNER, EVERYBODY'S GOING BY HIM. >> WATCH THE 4 CAR. >> HE'S UP THERE TRYING TO GET THAT LAP BACK. HE CAN GET HIMSELF AND A LOT OF PEOPLE IN TROUBLE IF HE'S NOT CAREFUL. >> WE TALK ABOUT HITTING YOUR MARKS. IF YOU MISS YOUR MARKS JUST A LITTLE BIT, THAT WILL CAR JUST -- THERE'S A LOT OF GLARE OFT CARS. THE SUN'S GETTING LOW IN YOUR SKY. >> WHERE THOSE CARS IN THE THIRD TURN, AS THEY TURN INTO THE TURN YOU SEE THAT SUN OVER THE TOP OF THE GRANDSTAND? FOR THE MEXX NEXT LITTLE BIT THEY'RE GOING. >> SCHRADER AND NADEAU JUST GOT TOGETHER. YOU SEE THAT SUNLIGHT DOWN IN THREE. >> YOU SEE HOW THE SUN IS SHINING ON THE BILL BOARDS? WHEN YOU CALF TURNS, HE'S THE SUN OVER THE TOP OF THE GRANDSTAND BACK THERE. IT BACK UP FRONT. RICKY RUDD. NASCAR'S NEW IRON MAN. ONE SECOND UP ON JIMMIE JOHNSON, DALE EARNHARDT, JR., KURT BUSCH AND MATT KENSETH. >> THE SUN'S GOING DOWN AND WE GOT A FULL MONDAY TONIGHT! >> USUALLY AT RACETRACK AS FULL MOON NIGHT RACE, >>> TARPY LABONTE PASSES THE TORCH TO RICKY RUDD. 21 YEARS WITHOUT MISSING A RACE IN NASCAR WINSTON CUP. HE'S OUR FORD NO BOUNDARIES. HE IS THE RACE LEADER AT 152 LAPS. >> HE'S WAY OUT FRONT. >> SPENCER OFF THE PACE IN THE BACK STRAIGHTAWAY. >> YES, SIR, HE IS. ALSO THERE'S ANOTHER CAR. >> FRANK KIMMEL. >> OR IS IT ELLIOTT SADLER? >> HE WORKED HIS WAY UP TO 13th POSITIONS. THIS IS THE BACKUP CAR HE WANTS. THAT NEW PAINT JOB IS GETTING A JOB DONE. ELLIOTT SADLER MADE A PIT STOP UNDER GREEN. WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM? >> MICHAELOT CAME IN ON LAP 14. I WANTED TO SHAKE HEUER ENJOY. >> A COUPLE OF ROUSH MOTORS LAST WEEK. MARK MARTIN'S GAVE TROUBLE. IF I WAS A MOTOR MAN, I'D BE OVER THERE HIDING IN THE BATHROOM, 700 PLUS MILES ON THESE ENGINES. THAT'S A LOT OF RACING MILES. >> RIDING WITH ROBBY GORDON, BRACING FOR CHILDRESS. HE HAD TO BEGIN AT THE TAIL END OF THE FEEL FOR MISSING THE DRIVER'S MEETING. >> MIKE, HE IS UP TO 13th. HE'S ALSO COMPLAINING HE'S HAD CRAMP DUE TO MORE RIB PAGE. IT WOULD BE COSTLY IF THEY HAD TO DO THAT. >> SECOND SIMPSON HE HAS DONE THE MEMORIAL DAY DOUBLE. 400 MILES HERE, FOUR AND A HALF HOURS THERE'S CHANGE THERE. YOU JUST CAN'T STAND TO HAVE ANY KIND OF CRAMPS OR ACHES. >> KEVIN HARR VK BACK AT 29th. ABOUT TO GO A LAP DOWN. >> COMING IN HERE, STARTING IN THE BACK, RUNNING UP AT INDY TODAY. >> CHIP GANASSI ALSO HAD CARS IN THE 500 AND 600. AS DID ROGER PENSKE, WHO OWNS THE CARS OF KUSY WALLLESS AND RYAN -- SURE WAS CLOSE ON THAT FINAL CAUTION. >> GOOD THING THEY HAD ASO ON THAT CAUTION LAY -- LAP. >> LOOK AT THAT OTHER CAR THAT'S MOVED INTO POSITION. JEFF GORDON IN THAT 24 CAR IT'S ALMOST AS THAT TRACK COOLS DOWN, CONDITIONS GET A LITTLE BETTER, HE'S GETTING A LITTLE BETTER. THERE YOU SEE OUR FOX TRAX. HE'S ABOUT 7.5 SECONDS BEHIND OUR LEADER. >> HAD GORDON CALL IN EARLIER AND TELL YOU HE WORE OUT THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. >> LAST TIME JEFF GORDON WON A WINSTON CUP RACE, DOROTHY AND TOTO WERE IN VICTORY LANE WITH HIM. IT WAS LAST SEASON. WHO WOULD HAVE EVER THOUGHT THAT GORDON WOULD GO THIS LONG WITHOUT REPEATING A WIN. >> THIS IS THE CAR THAT HE WON THAT RACE WITH. >> VERY UNCHARACTERISTIC FOR HIM. >> SECOND PLACE HEATING UP. JOHNSON THE POLE SITTER. >> I THINK IT JUST BECOMES SO OBVIOUS. CARS THAT WERE FAST EARLY ON ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY'RE KIND OF BACK OUT OF THE TOP FIVE OR SIX AND GUYS BACK THERE IN THE 10, 12, 15 SPOTS STARTED TO MOVE TO THE FRONT. >> THE FELLA THAT ALSO A MOVED THE FURTHEST IS KURT BUSCH, AFTER BRINGING OUT THE THE FIRST CAUTION FLAG. >> HOW ABOUT IT, DICK? >> YOU TALK ABOUT RODNEY GORDON AND BEING TIRED AND HAVING PROBLEM BEHIND THE RACE CAR. PEOPLE TEND TO FOCUS ON THE FACT THEY ARE JUST DRIVING A LOT OF LAPS. THERE IS SO MUCH MORE TO IT. THE INDIANAPOLIS 500 IS SO MANY PEOPLE. HERE, TOO. I WALKED DOWN THAT LONG ROAD TO DRIVER INTRODUCTIONS BESIDE ROBBY GORDON, JUST A TUMULTY OF PEOPLE SLAPPING HIS HAND, SLAPPING HIS BACK. PEOPLE IN THE GARAGE ALL WANTING HIS ATTENTION. IF HE MAKES THIS THING, HE'S SUPER HUMAN. HE'S DOING GREAT JOB SO FAR. >> GORDON HAS COMPLAINED OF RIB AREA CRAMPS. >> STEVE PARK IN THE 1 CAR. CAUTION IS OUT FOR THE SIXTH TIME. AT LAP 12 FOR STEVE PARK. >> LOOKS LIKE HE JUST GOT LOOSE AND BACKED IT UP INTO THE FENCE. >> HARVICK TRIED TO GET ONE OF HIS LAPS BACK. I DON'T THINK HE MADE IT. >> NO, I DON'T THINK HE MADE IT. >> A LOT OF RUMORS GOING AROUND ABOUT PARK AND THAT 1 CAR. WHETHER HE'LL CONTINUE TO BE IN IT. >> HAD A BAD CRASH LAST YEAR IN DARLINGTON. HE'S BEEN ON THE COMEBACK TRAIL. HASN'T PROGRESSED ALONG AS QUICKLY AS HE WOULD LIKE OR AS THE TEAM WOULD LIKE. >> IT TAKES A LOT OF COURAGE -- IT TAKES MORE COURAGE, I BELIEVE TO STAY OUT OF THE CAR AND GET WELL THAN IT DOES TO GET BACK IN THE CAR BEFORE YOU'RE READY. >> J JOHNNY BENSON WHO HAS CRACKED RIBS AT RICHMOND AND IS SITTING OUT UNTIL DOVER. >> LAST TIME HE WENT TO THE OUTSIDE AND JUST BARELY MADE IT. THAT TIME HE WENT TO THE BOTTOM AND JUST BARELY MADE IT. >> RICKY RUDD IN THAT 28 CAR, JIMMIE JOHNSON IN THE 48, MATT KENSETH IN THE 17 AND OUR FOX TRAX. KENSETH WILL PULL OFF FIRST. >> MATT KENSETH REMINISCENT OF TEXAS WHERE HE WON. THE ADJUSTMENTS THEY'RE MAKING ARE INCREDIBLY MINOR. LAST PIT STOP AND THIS STOP THEY TOOK A HALF A ROUND OUT. >> NO CHANGES FOR RICKY RUDD. >> JIMMIE JOHNSON'S CREW MADE A WEDGE ADJUSTMENT. HE SAID IT DIDN'T RESPOND WELL. THIS TIME THEY MADE A WEDGE AND TRACK BAR ADJUSTMENT. HE'S LOOSE ON ENTRY AND TIGHT IN THE CENTER. >> THE RACE ON PIT ROAD'S GOT ME ABOUT AS EXCITED AS THE RACE ON THE RACETRACK. >> THE GUYS AT THE END, THEY GOT TIRED OF THE 17 BEATING THEM OUT. THEY GOT ON THE DRIVER, YOU GOT TO GET IN QUICKER AND GET OUT QUICKER. >>> LET'S HAVE A LOOK AT HOW THEY CAME OFF PIT ROAD. >> WE'RE GOING TO SHOW YOU WHY RICKY RUDD. LOOK HERE FROM FIRST TO 11th. THE REASON FATBACK WAS UNHAPPY, THEY COULDN'T GET THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. LOOK AT MATT KENSETH. LOOK AT THE PIT STOP. FOUR TIRES AND FUEL, 14.3 SECONDS. AND REMEMBER, THESE TIRES HAVE FIVE LUG NUTS. THEY'RE NOT LIKE THE INDY CARS WITH ONE LUG NUT. >> WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THESE GUYS, THEY'VE BEEN DOING THIS ALL NIGHT LONG AND ALL YEAR LONG. >> IT'S JIMMIE JOHNSON, DALE EARNHARDT, JR., MATT KENSETH, TONY STEWART, MARK MARTIN. 29 CARS ON THE LEAD LAP AS WE GO BACK TO GREEN. >> MORE AND MORE CARS ON THAT INSIDE LINE TRYING TO GET THOSE LAPS BACK AS THIS RACE GOES FURTHER AND FURTHER. >> JEFF BURTON IN THE 99 CAR, HE'S ONE OF THOSE CARS A LAP DOWN SANDWICHED BETWEEN JOHNSON AND, JR. >> I DON'T THINK HE CAN SAY THERE ALL THAT LONG. >> DO YOU LIKE HAVING A LAPPED CAR BEHIND YOU AS THE LEADER OR IS THAT UNNERVING. >> I DON'T LIKE IT BECAUSE HE MIGHT DO SOMETHING FOOLISH. HE'S TRYING -- HE'S GAMBLING. YOU MAY CHECKUP AND HE RUNS OVER YOU. >> HE'S NOT GOING THERE FOR LONG. DALE EARNHARDT, JR. TRYING TO GET BACK UP THERE AND FIGHT JIMMIE JOHNSON FOR THIS LEAD. >> BURTON HASN'T BEEN GOOD ENOUGH SO FAR TO GET THAT LAP BACK. >> I THINK HE'LL FADE BACK PRETTY QUICKLY BUT HE'S KIND OF A NUISANCE UNTIL HE DOES. >> ROBBIE GORDON HAS CRAMPING IN HIS RIB CAGE AREA. HE AND THE CREW TALKED OVER WHAT THEY MIGHT DO TO HELP ROBBY GORDON. >> ROBBY WE GOT YOU A SPORTS DRINK MIXED WITH GATORADE, POWERADE AND GOODIES MIXED WITH ORANGE JUICE. IT OUGHT TO BE GOOD AND FOUR TIRES. >> JUST LET ME HURT. THAT DON'T SOUND TO GOOD TO ME. >> THAT WILL MAKE ME SICK. >> IT'S GOOD, MAN. >> THERE'S A METHOD TO THE MADNESS. >> LET'S SEE, IS HE GOING TO DRINK IT? >> THERE IT IS. A NICE BIG DRINK. >> I THINK THE METHOD TO THE MADNESS WAS YOU DRINK SOMETHING TASTES THAT BAD, YOU'LL FORGET ABOUT YOUR CRAMPS. >> STEVE BYRNES. >> GUYS, THEY TALKED ABOUT ADDING PADDING TO THE SEAT. THIS IS WHAT PART OF IT IS. THEY DID NOT PUT IT IN THE SEAT ON THIS STOP. ALSO YOU SHOULD KNOW KEVIN LEPAGE IS HERE IN THE PITS STANDING BY SHOULD ROBBY NEED TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. LET'S CHECK IN NOW WITH JEFF HAMMOND. >> ONE OF THE THINGS THEY KEEP TALKING ABOUT WITH ROBBY'S CAR. HE'S ALREADY RUN 500 MILES AT INDY TODAY. HE'S PROBABLY PHYSICALLY WORE OUT. THE SEAT IS DESIGNED TO HELP YOU GET IN THERE. RIGHT NOW HE'S HAVING TO USE A LOT OF ENERGY TO HOLD HIMSELF UP. THEY MIGHT TAKE THIS PIECE OF PADDING, COME IN, HE'LL PARTICULAR IT OVER HERE BESIDE HIMSELF. THAT WILL HELP SUPPORT HIM. AGAIN, LET THE SEAT DO THE WORK AND SAVE HIM THE TROUBLE OF EXPENDING ALL THAT ENERGY. THIS HAS KIND OF WAR ME OUT. I THINK I'LL GET ME A SPORTS DRINK RIGHT NOW OR A DRINK OF WATER AND GET RIGHT BACK UP TO THE BOOTH. >> THAT TELLS ME ROBBY GORDON IS VERY, VERY TIRED. YOU HOLD YOURSELF IN THE CAR WITH YOUR LEGS, YOU HOLD YOURSELF IN YOUR CAR WITH YOUR ARMS AND YOUR HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL. HAD YOU GET TIRED, YOU START TO LAY OVER TO THE RIGHT SIDE. THE MORE TIRED YOU GET, THE HARDER YOU PUSH ON THE RIGHT SIDE. >> SOMETHING I DON'T THINK WE TALK ABOUT ENOUGH IS 600 MILES, 400 LAPS BUT THE G-FORCES THESE DRIVERS WILL TAKE NOT TWICE A LAP BUT THIS QUAD OVAL FRONT STRETCH YOU HAVE A LOT OF G-FORCES SLINGING YOU TO THE RIGHT. >> PLUS, THE TRACK IS NOT VERY SMOOTH. WHEN YOU GO DOWN THAT BACK STRAIGHTAWAY, IT JUSTLES YOU. WATCH THEM, BAM, BAM, BAM BEING BAM. >> ROB WEBY GORDON IS THE NINTH PLACE CAR. RIGHT BEHIND HIM, JEFF GORDON, NO RELATION, ALSO HAD HIS TROUBLES ON THAT STOP. MATT? >> D.W., IT IS ALSO ONE OF THE HOTTEST DAYS OF THE YEAR. JEFF GORDON ON THAT STOP NO, CHASSIS ADJUSTMENT, JUST DRIVER ADJUSTMENTS. TWO BAGS OF ICE AND A WATER BOTTLE. THEY CAME IN SEVENTH, WENT OUT 11th. NO PROBLEMS, JUST SLOW. 16 AND CHANGE. >> HOW LONG IS THAT ICE GOING TO BE ICE. >> THE PROBLEM IS YOU CAN'T PUT IT WHERE YOU WANT IT. YOU CAN'T PUT IT IN YOUR BACK. CAN'T PUT IT ON THE RIGHT SIDE ABOUT ALL YOU CAN DO IS DUMP IT DOWN THE FRONT OF YOUR UNIFORM AND LET IT TRICKLE DOWN WHERE IT WANTS TO GO. >> JIMMIE JOHNSON, DALE EARNHARDT, JR., MATT KENSETH, 1.7 SECONDS BACK. TONY STEWART, RICKY CRAVEN, IN EIGHTH PLACE JOHN ANDRETTI. >> STARTED BACK IN 28th. HE'S WORKED HIS WAY UP TO EIGHTH. IT'S ALMOST LIKE HIS CAR IS GETTING A LITTLE BETTER AS THE NIGHT GOES ON. DICK BERGGREN? >> IT'S MARIO ANDRETTI'S NEPHEW. HIS CREW CHIEF IS GREG STEADMAN. THE CAR LOOKS GOOD TONIGHT. >> IT'S BEEN PRETTY GOOD MOST OF THE NIGHT. WE HAVEN'T DONE MANY CHANGES. PUT A COUPLE ROUNDS OF WEDGE IN AT THE FIRST STOP. WE'LL SEE WHAT THE WEATHER DOES NOW THAT IT'S COOLED OFF. >> THAT'S WHAT EVERYBODY IS WORRIED ABOUT IS THE WEATHER. AS WE GET COOLER, ADJUSTING THESE CARS ON THE PIT STOP. THAT'S A BIG, BIG TRICK TO GOING FAST AND FINISHING WELL HERE TONIGHT. >> IT SOUNDS LIKE EVERYBODY'S BEEN PRETTY LOOSE IN THE FIRST PART OF THIS RACE. THEY TALK ABOUT GREG STEADMAN PUTTING WEDGE IN THE CAR. GOOD CHANCE THEY'LL TAKE THOSE TWO ROUNDS OUT AND MAYBE TWO MORE AS THIS RACE TIGHTENS UP AND THIS TRACK TEMPERATURE COOLS DOWN. >> BIDE YOUR TIME. THAT'S THE THING THAT CREW CHIEF NEEDS TO BE TELLING ROBBY GORDON. I SAY IT EVERY WEEK BUT IT'S SO TRUE. YOU GOT TO ENCOURAGE THAT DRIVER. IF YOU JUST HANG IN THERE, BUDDY WE'LL FIX IT FOR YOU. >> A LOT OF EXPERIENCE, KYLE PETTY, BOBBY HAMILTON IN THE 55. THAT'S THAT BIG FRONT BUMPER BEHIND DALE JARRETT AND BILL ELLIOTT IN THAT GROUP. >> TONY STEWART JUST TOOK A HIGH LINE OFF -- THERE MUST BE FLUID DOWN THERE IN TURN TWO. 259 CAR TOOK OFF UP THE HILL AS WELL. >> DALE JARRETT IS IN THE 18th POSITION. YOU TALKED ABOUT IT EARLIER. IT'S LIKE THEY'RE ALMOST KEEPING HIM POSTED WHERE THE LEADER IS. HE STARTED IN 38th POSITION AND JUST KIND OF KEEPS COMING, SLOWLY BUT SURELY. >> THAT'S THE MATURITY OF A VETERAN. THEY HANG AROUND AND AT THE END OF THE NIGHT YOU LOOK AROUND AND SAY WHERE DID HE COME UP? A LOT LIKE WHAT RICKY RUDD DID TO US IN CALIFORNIA. AT THE END OF THE DAY WE SAID WHERE DID HE COME FROM? >> CAME ALL THE WAY UP TO THIRD. >> HE FINISHED THIRD. WHERE DID HE COME FROM? >> WHERE'S THE LEADER? JIMMIE JOHNSON AT 181 LAPS. 0.7 SECONDS UP ON DALE EARNHARDT, JR. MATT KENSETH, RICKY CRAVEN AND MARK MARTIN. >>> AT THE LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY 187 LAPS COMPLETE. WE'RE 13 LAPS FROM HALFWAY IN STOCK CAR RACING'S LONGEST DAY. COCA-COLA RACING FAMILY 600. HOLE SITTER JIMMIE JOHNSON HAS GONE BACK TO THE LEAD. HE'S PRETTY MUCH DOMINATED, LED 114 LAPS. RICKY RUDD HAS LED 49 LAPS AND FIVE OTHER LAPS HAVE LED BRIEFLY. WE'VE HAD SIX CAUTION FLAGS. >> A CAR THAT IS IN TROUBLE, ROBBY GORDON. HE WAS IN THE TOP TEN, HE JUST GOT PASSED BY KYLE PETTY FOR 16th. WE'RE HEARING HE THINKS HE HAS A FLAT TIRE. THAT'S FOR THE 17th POSITION. HE'S JUST HANGING OUT THERE HOPING TO GET A CAUTION. RIGHT NOW HE'S ABOUT HALF A LAP BEHIND THE LEADER. >> LARRY, HE DOESN'T HAVE A FLAT TIRE. WHEN YOU GET REALLY TIRED AND YOU'RE EXHAUSTED, THE CAR DOESN'T HANDLE GOOD, YOU CAN'T STAY ON TOP OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CAR DOESN'T FEEL GOOD TO YOU. BUT IT'S NOT THE CAR'S FAULT. IT'S PROBABLY THE DRIVER'S FAULT. THEY NEED TO MAKE A DRIVER CHANGE. >> RICKY RUDD FINDING HIS WAY BACK TOWARD THE FRONT, GOES PAST JEFF GORDON. THAT IS FOR EIGHTH PLACE. STEVE BYRNES? >> HE'S TRYING TO FIGHT HIS WAY BACK UP. WHEN HE PITTED ON LAP 163, THEY HAD A LUG NUT HANG ON THE RIGHT FRONT. GOT CROSS-THREADED. HE'S BACK UP NOW IN THE EIGHTH POSITION. >> THE WAY THIS SPORT HAS GONE, YOU NEED A PERFECT NIGHT TO WIN. LITTLE THINGS, LITTLE SMALL MISTAKES CAN ROB YOU OF A CHANCE TO BE IN CONTENTION FOR VICTORY. >> YOU RUN EVERYTHING RIGHT TO THE LIMIT. WHEN YOU GET BEHIND YOU TAKE IT OVER THE LIMIT. SO YOU DRIVE A LITTLE HARDER TO CATCH BACK UP. YOU USE EQUIPMENT JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE AND YOU GOT THESE THINGS RIGHT ON THE VERGE -- YOU DON'T HAVE THEM ON KILL BUT YOU GOT THEM REAL CLOSE TO IT. >> THE SUN GETS LOW IN THE SKY, NASCAR HAS JUST APPROVED AN EIGHTH MAN OVER THE WALL. NORMALLY ONLY SEVEN ARE ALLOWED TO SERVICE THE DRIVER AND CLEAN THE WINDSHIELD. >> THEY TRY TO WAIT IF THERE'S A FEW CAR THAT'S A LAP DOWN, WHERE IN THE BEGINNING WHEN EVERYBODY PITS, YOU WON'T HAVE 43 EXTRA GUYS ON PIT ROAD. YOU THINK ABOUT EVERYTHING GOING ON IN A PIT STOP. 20 LUG NUTS OFF, 20 LUG NUTS ON, DUMPING ALMOST 22 GALLONS OF FUEL, A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENING ON PIT ROAD ON A PIT STOP. >> DAVE BLANEY RUNNING 13th. ONE OF HIS TEAM'S FABRICATEORS WON THE ARCA RACE HERE. >> I LIKE HIS FLAMES A LOT. I LOVE THOSE FLAMES. IT'S ONE THING TO PAINT THEM ON YOUR CAR. IT'S SOMETHING ELSE WHEN THEY COME OUT THE PIPES LIKE THAT. >> HE'S BEEN FAST FOR A WEEK AND A HALF HERE. HE WAS VERY FAST AT PRACTICE ON THURSDAY. HE JUST DIDN'T GET THAT QUALIFYING RUN THAT HE WANTED, STARTED BACK IN 14th. BUT HE'S BEEN HANGING RIGHT THERE IN THE TOP 15 >> EVER SINCE CALIFORNIA, THEY'VE COME TOGETHER AS A TEAM HIM AND HIS CREW CHIEF HAVE STARTED TO COMMUNICATE REALLY WELL, GOT TO RUNNING BETTER AND BETTER AND BETTER. >> BOBBY LABONTE PULLING DOWN ON DAVE BLANEY. TERRY'S YOUNGER BROTHER BOBBY BOTH PAST WINSTON CUP CHAMPIONS. EARLIER IN THIS RACE BOBBY LABONTE HAS A GET TO THE WITH MARK MARTIN, BENDING THE RIGHT FRONT OF BOBBY LABONTE'S CAR. >> BUT HE CAME TO PIT ROAD, SEVERAL TIMES. JIMMY MAYCAR AND THAT GROUP, KEPT WORKING ON IT, DIDN'T PANIC. NOW HE'S WORKED HIS WAY UP TO THE 15th POSITION. >> BOBBY'S FATHER-IN-LAW PASSED AWAY UNEXPECTEDLY THIS MORNING LEAVING HIS WIFE OF 50 YEARS AND THREE CHILDREN, DONNA, RODNEY AND RUSTY. OUR CONDOLENCES TO THE ENTIRE FAMILY. BOBBY LABONTE RACING HERE TONIGHT WITH A HEAVY HEART. HERE'S A DRIVER WHO HAS SHOWN A LOT OF PATIENCE IN THIS RACE, MICHAEL WALTRIP, WHO PRESENTLY IS SIXTH. >> A LOT OF CONFIDENCE COMING IN. HE THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO QUALIFY BETTER THAN HE DID. HE REALLY FELT GOOD ABOUT THIS WHOLE WEEKEND. I THINK RUNNING THAT BUSCH RACE YESTERDAY HAS REALLY HELPED HIM TONIGHT. THAT CAR IS VERY CONSISTENT. HE'S BEEN IN THE TOP TEN I EVER SINCE THE RACE STARTED. CURRENTLY RUNNING IN SIXTH PLACE. MIKE SELL DOING A GOOD JOB TONIGHT. I'M PROUD OF HIM. >> TONY STEWART LOCKED NEW A BATTLE WITH KURT BUSCH AND JEFF GORDON. ALL THREE OF THEM ARE ABOUT 12 SECONDS OFF OF THE LEAD. JIMMIE JOHNSON AT 196 LAPS, FOUR LAPS FROM HALFWAY AND HE'S LED 123 OF THEM, THE ROOKIE >>> 202 LAPS COMPLETE. WE ARE JUST PAST HALFWAY IN NASCAR'S LONGEST RACE. HERE'S OUR COORS LIGHT RACE RECAP AT HALFWAY. RICKY RUDD LEADS FOR 49 LAPS AND THREE QUARTERS OF THE FIELD ARE STILL ON THE LEAD LAP. JIMMIE JOHNSON JUST LED THE LAST 39 LAPS IN A ROW. >> LOOK AT THAT. THE 49 CAR JUST RAN DALE, JR. RIGHT UP INTO THE OUTSIDE WALL. >> THAT'S RON HORNADAY. >> HE'S JUST GOING BY HIM ON THE OUTSIDE, HE'S MAKING A CLEAN PASS. >> I SEE WHAT HAPPENED. THE 49 GOT LOOSE. PROBABLY TRIED TO GET DOWN OUT OF HIS WAY, PROBABLY CUT IT TO THE BOTTOM AND IT CUT OUT FROM UNDER HIM. >> AFTER IT BOUNCES OFF THE WALL WHAT IS JUNIOR CONCERNED ABOUT? >> EVERYTHING. WHEN YOU HIT THE WALL, YOU TOE THE RIGHT FRONT IN. YOU MIGHT HEAR IS HIS STEERING WHEEL STRAIGHT? IF IT'S TOWED IN -- I CAN SEE -- LET'S SEE WHERE THE STEERING WHEEL IS. IT LOOKS FINE. A DRIVER LIKES TO SEE THAT STEERING WHEEL ABOUT THAT ANGLE RIGHT THERE. >> WHAT'S THE FIRST THING YOU ASK A DRIVER AFTER HE BOUNCES OFF A WALL? >> I'M GOING TO ASK HIM WHAT IT'S DRIVING LIKE AND I'M GOING TO ASK HIM WHAT DARRELL SAID, IS THE STEERING WHEEL CENTERED? >> THE CAR CHIEF ON THE 8 TOLD HIM THAT DALE, JR. TOLD HIM THE CAR IS TOWED OUT. IT IS PUSHING A LITTLE BIT. THE CAR IS TOWED OUT. >> LARRY, WHEN IT'S TOED OUT, WHAT'S IT GOING TO DO ABOUT THE TIRES? >> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE MEASURED FROM THE FRONT OF THE FRONT TIRES VERSUS THE REAR OF THE FRONT TIRES. THAT GIVES STABILITY FOR THE CAR GETTING IN THE CORNERS. IF IT KNOCKS IT WAY IN, IT WILL MAKE THE CAR NOT TURN. I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU THE ANIMATION. SEE HOW MUCH THAT WHEEL IS TOED OUT RIGHT THERE? IT'S ADJUSTED WITH A TIE ROD RIGHT HERE. YOU'LL LOOSEN TWO BOLTS AND ADJUST IT. AND YOU'LL TURN THAT THING AND YOU'LL HAVE STRINGS ON IT TO GET YOU BACK AS CLOSE AS YOU CAN TO GET THAT CAR TO DRIVE P. >> IF IT'S TOED OUT, THAT'S THE BEST THING THAT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU. IF IT'S TOED IN, IT WILL EAT THE TIRE OFF THE FRONT. IT TAKES HIM A FEW LAPS TO GET ADJUSTED TO WHAT THE CAR'S DOING AND HE'LL DRIVE THE LINE. >> AND WHEN YOU HIT THE LINE, WILL YOU KNOCK THE TOE-IN IN MORE. >> JIMMIE JOHNSON IS OUR LEADER. >> HOW HARD ARE YOU DRIVING RIGHT NOW, BUD? >> I'M TRYING. I'M NOT -- I GOT A GOOD PACE GOING. >> TEN-FOUR. I WASN'T TRYING TO PUSH YOU. I WAS JUST WORKING ON SOME FUEL MILEAGE NUMBERS. >> I MAKE HIM NERVOUS WHEN I START TALKING ABOUT FUEL MILEAGE. DARRELL, YOU TALKED ABOUT IT IN THE BEGINNING, THE MIDDLE OF THE RACE, EVERYBODY SETTLES DOWN. WHAT CHAD'S TRYING TO FIGURE OUT CAN HE MAKE IT ON TWO MORE STOPS OR IS IT GOING TO TAKE THREE MORE STOPS? BY MY CALCULATIONS, IT LOOKS LIKE THREE MORE PIT STOPS. >> LARRY, YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT. AT LEAST AT THE PACE I'M SEEING THEY'RE KEEPING UP, THEY'RE STILL RUNNING PRETTY QUICK. I THINK IT WAS PRETTY SAVVY FOR CHAD TO BE THAT HEADS UP ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON. HE'S STARTING TO DO HIS STRAT SCRI ON THE FUTURE PART OF THIS RACE. WE TALKED ABOUT IT EARLIER THAT YOU WANT TO PACE YOURSELF, NOT USE UP TOO MUCH, HAVE A LITTLE EXTRA KICK FOR THE END. >> IT CAN CATCH YOU OFF GUARD AS A CREW CHIEF. FASTER SPEEDS MEAN YOU'RE RUNNING FASTER, YOU'RE USING MORE FUEL. IF A CAR STARTS PUSHING IT'S BOUND UP AND YOU'LL USE MORE FUEL. >> WHAT I HEARD IN JIMMIE JOHNSON'S VOICE AS A DRIVER, VERY CALM, NOT EXCITED AND LIKE HE WAS ON A REALLY SMOOT RIDE RIGHT NOW. WHAT DO YOU HAVE, MATT? >> D.W., YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT. CHAD DOES KNOW HOW THIS RACE USUALLY PLAYS OUT. HE HAS TWO VICTORIES HERE IN THIS EVENT WITH JEFF GORDON. HE USED TO BE A RAINBOW WARRIOR. IN A FINAL PRACTICE SESSION SATURDAY, THEY TRIED A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS, THEY THEN THEY WENT BACK TO THEIR SETUP IN THE MORNING SESSION. THEY DO KNOW HOW TO ADJUST THIS CAR THROUGH THE NIGHT. JIMMIE IS SAYING THE CAR IS LOOSE ON ENTRY, LOOSE IN THE CENTER AND LOOSE UP FOR. THEY'RE PROBABLY GOING TO PIT IN AROUND 18 TO 20 MORE LAPS. >> LET'S LOOK BACK FOR THE SECOND PLACE CAR. THAT IS THE JACK ROUSH FORD, NUMBER 6, BATESVILLE ARKANSAS'S MARK MARTIN. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT TODAY, MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND BEING A WEEKEND TO CELEBRATE THE AMERICAN FAMILY. DICK ALBERT HAS A GREAT STORY ON THIS FRONT. >> LAST YEAR WE TOLD YOU THE STORY OF TARA PARKER, CAR CHIEF FOR KURT BUSCH. DESPITE HER YOUTH, LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME TIME, TARA NEEDED A HEART TRANSPLANT. SHE'S GOTTEN THE HEART TRANSPLANT. SHE'S BROUGHT HER PHYSICIAN. HOW FORTUNATE ARE YOU TO BE HERE? >> I AM VERY, VERY FORTUNATE TO BE HERE TODAY, THANKS TO THE LORD ABOVE AND MY GOOD DOCTOR HERE. IT'S THE MAIN REASON I AM HERE TODAY. HE DIAGNOSED AND DECIDED THAT I NEEDED A TRANSPLANT AND THANK GOODNESS THAT HE DID BECAUSE I WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY IF IT WEREN'T FOR THIS GUY RIGHT HERE. >> THE SMILE SAYS IT ALL. >> HE WAS ON MARK MARTIN'S TEAM LAST YEAR. OVER THE WINTER THEY SWITCHED CREWS COMPLETELY, MARK MARTIN AND TEAMMATE KURT BUSCH. KURT BUSCH WHO RESTARTED 16th AT LAP 168 AFTER A BAD PIT STOP. THERE YOU SEE 16th. HE HAS CLIMBED UP ON TO THE LEADER BOARD. >> HE'S BEEN TO THE BACK TWICE. HE STARTED THERE AND SPUN OUT. HE'S BACK THERE AGAIN. IF HE CAN EVER GET THERE, DARRELL, I THINK HE'LL BE ANOTHER CONTEND ARE FOR THE NIGHT. >>> FOX WELCOMES YOU BACK AS THE SUN SETS AT THE LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY. RIGHT AFTER TODAY'S RACE ON FOX, SPECIAL EXTENDED POSTRACE COVERAGE FOR YOU ON THE SPEED CHANNEL. YOU CAN SWITCH OVER TO THE SPEEDCHANNEL AFTER WE GO OFF THE AIR FOR GREAT INTERVIEWS. CALL 1-888-22-SPEED, EXTENDED POSTRACE COVERAGE ALWAYS ON THE SPEED CHANNEL. CHRIS MYERS BACK IN THE HOLLYWOOD HOTEL. ROBBY GORDON AFTER FINISHING EIGHTH AT INDY GOING A LAP DOWN HERE. JIMMIE JOHNSON HAS LED MOST OF THE LAPS. BY THE WAY, DRIVER WHO IS HAVE LED THE MOST LAPS HAVE FAILED TO WIN 11 OF THE LAST 14 RACES. LET'S TALK ABOUT JACK ROUSH RACING BECAUSE HE HAS TWO DRIVERS MOCK THE TOP THREE AND MARK MARTIN AND MATT KENSETH. ROUSH RACING HAVE WON FOUR OF THE LAST SEVEN RACES. >> THEY SEEM LIKE THEY'VE GOT A REALLY GOOD COMBINATION. ONE THING I WANTED TO BRING UP IS I TALKED TO JACK ROUSH MYSELF THIS PAST WEEK. HE SAID I WILL SEE YOU AT DOVER NEXT WEEK IF THE DOCTOR APPROVES IT. HE WAS TELLING ME HIS LEG IS REALLY GETTING BETTER EVERY DAY, HE'S FEELING BETTER AND HIS SPIRITS ARE UP BUT HE WANT TO GET A LITTLE STRONGER. YOU SEE THE 7 CAR OF CASEY ATWOOD ON PIT ROAD. >> JACK ROUSH HAVING THE PLANE CRASH. LOOKS LIKE THE 48 CAR IS SPLIPING A BIT. >> STEVE PARK COMES BACK ON THE TRACK AFTER TIME IN THE GARAGE. JEFF BURTON, THE DEFENDING CHAMPION OF THIS RACE, HAS TAKEN HIS CAR BEHIND THE WALL WHERE THEY'RE WORKING ON IT WITH THE HOOD UP. DICK BERGGREN IS THERE. >> FRANK, WHAT'S GOING ON? >> WE BROKE THE MOTOR. SOMETHING IN THE MOTOR BROKE. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A VALVE SPRING OR PUSH ROD. WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND DEADEN THAT CYLINDER. IT'S A SHAME. THE CAR WAS RUNNING ACTUALLY PRETTY GOOD. WE GOT A LAP DOWN THERE WITH THE TIRE PROBLEM. GOT THAT FIX ND AND WE'RE RUNNING ON THE RACETRACK IN THIRD. IT'S ALL FOR NOT. IT'S A SHAME. THE GUYS WORKED HARD ON THE MOTORS. >> THEY'RE STILL WORKING HARD ON THE MOTORS. THEY HAD 157 LAPS ON THE ENGINE BEFORE THE START TODAY. >> THE 31 OF ROBBY GORDON IN. THEY'RE GOING TO PUT A ROUND OF WEDGE IN. THE EXTRA MAN OVER THE WALL GIVING ROBBY A DRINK. THEY'LL GET A CHASSIS ADJUSTMENT AND A DRINK FOR ROBBY GORDON. >> AND DALE EARNHARDT, JR. TRYING TO WIN HIS FIRST 600-MILER HERE IN CHARLOTTE. REAR HE HAD THAT TOE-OUT PROBLEM. LOOK FOR TONY YURI, JR. ON THE FRONT TO TRY TO PULL OUT THAT RIGHT FRONT FENDARY LITTLE BIT. YOU SEE A CREW MEMBER PULL THAT OUT AS HE'S GOING TO WORK ON THE LEFT FRONT. A LITTLE SLOW ON THE LEFT FRONT. HE'S DOWN AND AWAY. >> MATT KENSETH IS IN THE PITS AS WELL. HIS CAR WAS PERFECT, THEN IT WENT LOOSE. THEY WANTED TO WORK ON SPRING RUBBERS BUT DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT UNDER A GREEN FLAG. TAKES TOO LONG. TO MATT. >> JIMMIE JOHNSON WAS LOOSE IN THE MIDDLE. THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT ADJUSTMENTS IN THE MIDDLE. MORE THAN LIKELY. HE'S GOT TO BACK UP THE CAR. THIS IS GOING TO BE COSTLY FOR JIMMIE JOHNSON. THE FIRST MISTAKE OF THE DAY FOR JIMMIE JOHNSON. HE'D BEEN WORKING ON HIS ENTRY IN THE PITS. THEY'D GOTTEN A LOT BETTER. THIS WILL BE VERY COSTLY. NO CHASSIS ADJUSTMENTS. HIS FIRST MISTAKE OF THE DAY FOR THE ROOKIE. HE'S NOW FINALLY DOWN AND AWAY. >> STERLING MARLIN IN AND OUT. MICHAEL WALTRIP. >> MARK MARTIN, THEY'RE GOING TO PUT THREE ROUNDS IN THE LEFT REAR. HE IS LOOKING FOR HIS FIRST WIN IN WELL OVER A YEAR. THIS COULD BE A GOOD RACETRACK FOR HIM TO WIN IT IN. >> RIGHT SIDE TIRES ON THE NUMBER 32 OF RICKY CRAVEN. JUST AN AIR PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT. RICKY CRAVEN IS AWAY. >> JEFF GORDON, RICKY RUDD, TONY STEWART ARE IN. MATT? >> LEFT SIDE TIRES GOING ON THE 24 CAR OF JEFF GORDON. HE WAS TIGHT IN THE MIDDLE. THEY HAD AIR PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT TO FIX THE TIGHT IN THE MIDDLE AND APRESSURE ADJUSTMENT TO FIX THE LOOSE OFF. >> KYLE PETTY COMES ON TO PIT ROAD AND BOBBY LABONTE HAS COME TO THE FRONT. >> SADLER IS IN. >> JIMMIE JOHNSON, HE'S GOT TO BE CAREFUL NOW NOT TO GET FRUSTRATED AND NOT TO OVERDRIVE THE CAR AND TRY TO MAKE ALL THAT TIME UP AT ONCE. HE'S STILL GOT THE BEST CAR ON THE TRACK. >> LABONTE PITS, KENNY SLAYER -- SCHRADER. >> I PREACH ALL THE TIME. DON'T BEAT YOURSELF. YOU GOT ENOUGH COMPETITION OUT THERE. DON'T BEAT YOURSELF. >> THE ONLY THING HE HAS GOING FOR HIM IS HE HAD ABOUT A FIVE-SECOND LEAD. I'VE BEEN WATCHING THE CARS THAT HAD PITTED. RIGHT NOW WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE, HE'S GOING TO BE ABOUT THREE SECONDS BEHIND MATT KENSETH, WHO SHOULD BE LEADING THE RACE ONCE WE CYCLE THROUGH THE PIT STOPS. >> HERE'S YOUR NEW LEADER, DAVE BLANEY. HE'S GOING TO COME IN THIS TIME AND MAKE THIS PIT STOP. >> EVERY TIME THESE GUYS LEAD A LAP ARE EVEN IF IT'S ONE LAP, IT'S FIVE WINSTON CUP BOIN US POINTS. -- BONUS POINTS. >> AND THOSE BONUS POINTS WILL REALLY PLAY BIG AT THE END OF THE YEAR, TOO. >> KENSETH WILL BE THE LEADER AS WE FINISH THE CYCLE OF PIT STOPS. NOW, LET'S SHOW YOU ROOKIE MISTAKE THERE BY JIMMIE JOHNSON? >> I THINK SO. HE WAS NOT GETTING IN HIS PIT BOX HARD ENOUGH. AND I THINK CHAD MUST HAVE GOTTEN ON HIM. THE LAST COUPLE TIMES IN, HE HAD REALLY BEEN AGGRESSIVE COMING TO HIS BOX. >> YOU HAVE TO PIT IN THAT BOX. THE ONLY THING YOU CAN HAVE HANGING OUT IS POSSIBLY THE RIGHT REAR. >> THEY WATCHED THE 17'S PIT STOPS ON TV LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE DOES. >> LOOK AT OUR GRAPHIC NOW. THIS THE FIRST TIME WE HAD A GREEN FLAG STOP. LOOK AT THE LAP PIT TIME. THAT'S TWO LAPS FROM START/FINISH LINE TO START/FINISH LINE. TWO TIMES HE'S WON 1:54 BUT LOOK AT KENSETH, 1:46. >> WHAT SAVED JIMMIE JOHNSON WAS HE BACKED UP THE CAR BEFORE THEY STARTED WORKING ON IT. IF THEY HAD JACKED THAT CAR UP WITH THE CAR OVER THE LINE, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A PENALTY. THE NASCAR OFFICIAL WAS THERE GOING BACK UP OR ELSE PENALTY. >> AND HERE'S SOMETHING TO CONSIDER. WE ARE NOW IN THAT TRANSITION PERIOD FROM DAYLIGHT TO DARK. THIS IS THE TOUGHEST PART OF THE NIGHT WHEN THE SUN'S GOING DOWN. >> THIS IS WHEN I'M PICKING YOUR BRAIN, TELL ME WHAT THAT >>> RIDING WITH BILL ELLIOTT AT LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY AS DAYLIGHT TURNS TO DARKNESS. MATT KENSETH, MARK MARTIN IN FORDS, POLE SITTER JIMMIE JOHNSON CHEVROLET, RICKY RUDD IN A FORD, STERLING MARL IN'S DODGE ARE THE TOP FIVE. >> THIS CAT RIGHT HERE, JIMMIE JOHNSON, HE MAY HAVE HAD A BAD PIT STOP BUT IT AIN'T GOING TO SLOW THAT CAR DOWN. HE'S BACK IN SECOND PLACE, CLOSING ON THE LEAD. I THINK THEY JUST UNLEASHED HIM A LITTLE BIT. >> CHAD, KIND OF DISSECT THAT PIT STOP. YOU LOST A LOT OF TIME. >> WE WERE COMING DOWN PIT ROAD AND THE 14 CAR HAD JUST FINISHED UP IN HIS STOP AND WE'RE GOING TO GO AROUND HIM TO GET INTO OUR PIT BOX, HE TRY TO GET OUT OF HIS. JIMMIE HAD TO CHECKUP A LITTLE, LOST HIS RHYTHM, RAN OVER THE YELLOW LINE. GUYS DID A GREAT JOB PUSHING HIM BACK. JIMMIE'S DOING A GREAT JOB, THE CAR'S RUNNING TERRIFIC. WE NEED TO HAVE NO MISTAKES AND WE'LL PUT THIS CAR IN VICTORY LANE TONIGHT. >> HIS CURRENT OWNER WASN'T AS LUCKY LAST YEAR. JIMMIE JOHNSON A LITTLE LUCKIER TONIGHT, STEVE BYRNES. >> MATT, THE CREW CHIEF ON THE 28, MIKE, AS IT GETS COOLER HOW IS YOUR RACE CAR ADAPTING. >> WE MADE SOME CHANGES FOR THE HOT WEATHER, ANTICIPATING THE COLD. WE PUT ALL THOSE BACK NOW. THE CAR'S STILL PRETTY GOOD. >> RUDD IS 7.5 SECONDS OFF THE LEAD IN FOURTH PLACE. >> YOU KNOW, THAT MISTAKE OF JIMMIE JOHNSON ABOUT A FIVE SECOND MISTAKE. THAT EQUATES OUT TO 900 FEET ON THE RACETRACK. IT DON'T SOUND LIKE MUCH BUT IT'S A LOT. >> IT MAY HAVE BUT LOOK WHERE HE IS. >> HE'S RIGHT THERE LURKING TO TAKE THE LEAD BACK, KNOCKING ON THE DOOR. >> KEVIN HARVICK HAS TATATATATA. >> I THINK THEY NEED TO MAKE CHASSIS ADJUSTMENTS, MAKE THIS A TEST STUDY. >> FOR THE LEAD RIGHT HERE. >> DRIVES THAT THING RIGHT TO THE BOTTOM OF THE RACETRACK AND COMPLETED THE PASS IN ONE CORNER. >> A GOOD RACE CAR SEEMS TO HANDLE GOOD IN THE SUNSHINE, WHETHER IT'S 85, 89 DEGREES, GOOD AT NIGHT 65 DEGREES. >> TWILIGHT TIME JUST NORTH OF CHARLOTTE. >>> 250 LAPS COMPLETED AT LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY. LOG ON TO SPOCKSSPORTS.COM, KEY WORD LEADER. RIGHT NOW JIMMIE JOHNSON OUT IN FRONT OF MATT KENSETH BY A SECOND AND A HALF. MARK MARTIN IN THIRD, RICKY RUDD FOURTH, TEN SECONDS BACK. RICKY CRAVEN FIFTH. JEFF GORDON, KURT BUSCH, STERLING MARLIN, TONY STEWART, MICHAEL WALTRIP ARE THE TOP TEN. >> 250 DOWN, 150 LAPS TO GO. >> IS THAT ALL? >> 225 MILES LEFT TO RACE. >> YOU'RE NOT GETTING TIRED, ARE YOU? >> ABSOLUTELY NOT. BUT A GUY WE HAVE TO KEEP MENTIONING AND TALKING ABOUT, BOBBY LABONTE. HE'S BACK IN THE 11th POSITION IN THAT 18 CAR. HE HAD THE PROBLEM ON THE RACETRACK FROM MARK MARTIN CAVED THAT RIGHT FRONT FENDER IN. CAME TO PIT ROAD. HE'S ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF A LAP BEHIND THE LEADER. RIGHT NOW JUST WATCHING THE LAP TIMES, HE'S RUNNING ABOUT THE SAME SPEED AT LEADER. THAT'S WHAT HIS CREW CHIEF WILL KEEP HIM POSTED, HOW FAR BEHIND HE IS FROM THE LEADER BUT HOW YOU RELATE TO THE LEADER. >> YOU'RE GOING TO BE SO SURPRISED WHEN WE GET DOWN TO THE LAST 50 LAPS WHO WILL BE IN THE TOP FIVE OR SIX. >> IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME AROUND FOR JIMMIE JOHNSON. BEST FINISH HERE WAS 16th LAST MAY. IT'S NOT LIKE JIMMIE JOHNSON UP UNTIL LAST SATURDAY NIGHT IN THE ALL-STAR RACE WHEN HE WON TWO OF THREE SEGMENTS, THAT HE WOULD BE A FELLA YOU'D PICK TO DOMINATE THIS RACE AND HE'S LED 163 LAPS, DARRELL. >> WE SAID A FEW TIMES EARLIER THESE ARE JEFF GORDON CARS. THOSE AREN'T JEFF GORDON CARS ANYMORE. THOSE ARE CHAD'S CAR AND JIMMIE IS GIVING CHAD THE INFORMATION. THOSE ARE CHAD CARS NOW. >> I LOVE THE WAY HE SOUNDED. CALM LIKE HE WAS ON A SUNDAY DRIVE. >> WELL, ACTUALLY HE IS. >> HE'S WORKING ON CASEY ATWOOD. WE HAVE 18 CARS ON THE LEAD LAP. >> DAVE BLANEY WAS OUR LEADER AS WE PSYCH LD THROUGH PIT STOPS. HE'S HAD TO COME BACK IN UNEXPECTEDLY. STEVE? >> WE CAN SHOW YOU WHY. HE CAME BACK IN ON LAP 249. HE FELT A VIBRATION. THIS IS WHERE THE LUG NUT GOES. YOU CAN SEE IT'S NATURALED UP THERE. THE TEAM WROTE JUNK ON IT AND DREW AN ARROW. IT'S JUNK. >> JUST ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE THINGS WE TALK ABOUT. SOMETIMES YOU JUST DON'T GET THOSE LUGS TIGHT ENOUGH. >> I HAD A PRETTY GOOD IDEA WHEN YOU COME DOWN PIT ROAD, TIRES DON'T VIBRATE BUT WHEEL DOES WHEN THEY'RE LOOSE. >> WE'LL TALK ABOUT THIS POWER OF PRIDE AND WHAT THAT'S ABOUT. IT'S THE WORLD'S BIGGEST THANK YOU CARD FOR THOSE FIGHTING FOR OUR FREEDOM. THE CARD IS 14 STORIES CALL, 48 FEET WIDE AND HAS 23,000 FAN SIGNATURES ON IT THANKING THE PEOPLE OF OUR ARMED FORCES. >> TROUBLE DOWN HERE, LARRY. TROUBLE TURN FOUR. >> BOY. >> BILL ELLIOTT. >> MAN, YOU WON'T BELIEVE HOW CLOSE JARRETT KAMD TO GETTING WIPED OUT IN THAT DEAL. >> JEREMY MAYFIELD LIMPS AROUND TO THE CAUTION FLAG. >> I HATE TO INTERRUPT YOU, LARRY BUT GOLLY. >> TWO GOT THEIR LAP BACK. >> I THOUGHT JARRETT WAS DEFINITELY GOING TO GET TAKEN OUT IN THE MESS. >> MAYFIELD'S CAR HAD BEEN DAMAGED FROM A CRASH MUCH EARLIER. >> WATCH THIS, LARRY. THIS IS HOW CLOSE THIS CAT COMES TO GETTING WIPED OUT RIGHT THERE. >> WE'RE RIDING WITH JARRETT RIGHT HERE. OH, MY GOSH! >> WASN'T A WHOLE LOT THE SPOTTER COULD DO FOR HIM. >> IF DALE JARRETT HADN'T DRAWN UP, HE WOULDN'T HAVE MADE IT. >> JEREMY WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT EARLIER IN THE RACE. HE'S OUT THERE 62 LAPS DOWN. ONCE AGAIN AS WE TALK JUST TRYING TO MAKE LAPS, ACCUMULATE POINTS AND GAIN POSITIONS. >> WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING JIMMIE JOHNSON, MATT KENSETH AND RICKY RUDD ON PIT STOPS. WE'LL TAKE THAT SAME ORDER AGAIN AS THEY COME DOWN PIT ROAD AT LAP 258. WE'LL SEE IF THE PITS ARE OPEN. >> THERE'S OUR FOX TRAX. MATT KENSETH IN THE 17th WILL PULL OFF FIRST. >> MATT KENSETH'S TEAM WILL NOT PULL THE RUBBER OUT OF THE SPRINGS. BUT STILL TAKES TOO MUCH TIME. TO STEVE. >> RICKY RUDD ON PIT ROAD, THEY TALKED ABOUT RAISING THE TRACK BAR. RICKY SAID, NO, LET'S NOT GO CRAZY, LET'S PUT FOUR TIRES ON IT, MINOR AIR PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT. MATT YOCUM. >> JIMMIE JOHNSON SAID HIS CAR WAS REALLY, REALLY TIGHT. JIMMIE DUE TO HIS GREAT STOP BY HIS CREW AND HIS PIT STALL WILL TAKE THEM OUT. >> BOBBY LABONTE BACKING UP TO HIS PIT. >> I BET HE'S GOT A WHEEL LOOSE. I BET HE'S GOT A WHEEL LOOSE AND HE'S GETTING BACK TO GET IT TIGHTENED UP. >> WHAT'S WRONG WERE DALE, JR.'S CAR? >> THE LEFT REAR TIRE JUST CAME OFF. >> OH, NO. >> THAT'S A GREAT CASH. >> AND HE'S NOT IN HIS PIT IS THE PROBLEM AS WELL. SO AWAY HE GOES. >> STILL, I MEAN, WHEN THEY STARTED HOLLERING AT HIM, IF HE'D HAVE GONE AROUND THE TRACK, HE'D HAVE PROBABLY STALLED ON THE BACK STRAIGHTAWAY. >> HE ALMOST MADE IT BACK TO HIS PITS. IT'S ALMOST LIKE WHEN HE STOPPED IS WHEN IT CAME OFF. >> NO REAL DAMAGE. THAT'S NOT GOING TO HURT ANYTHING RIGHT THERE. >> WHAT OUR PIT GUYS ARE SAY SGT AIR WRENCH BROKE, JACK MAY HAVE DROPPED THE JACKS BUT THE LUG NUTS ARE NOT TIGHT. >> DO YOU HAVE A CLEAR SIGNAL IF THE TIRE CHANGER HAS A PROBLEM? >> I HAVE TOLD MY GUYS YOU HAVE A RADIO, USE THAT RADIO. >> HERE'S WHAT HAPPENS. WHAT THEY USUALLY SAY IS WHOA, WHOA, WHOA AND THE DRIVER CAN'T PICK UP THE DIFFERENCE FROM GO, GO, GO. SO IT TAKES A STOP. >> OR LIKE WE USE, TROUBLE, TROUBLE, TROUBLE. >> YEAH. >> TROUBLE FOR JEREMY MAYFIELD. HE'S TAKING HIS CAR TO THE GARAGE AFTER BRINGING OUT ♪ THE NIGHT TRAIN ♪ ♪ ATLANTA, GEORGIA RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA ♪ OH, YEAH NIGHT TRAIN ♪ NIGHT TRAIN NIGHT TRAIN ♪ >> THEY GOT ALL THOSE OTHER NEW GROUPS ON THAT FOX "CRANK IT UP" CD BUT NOTHING CAN DO IT LIKE JAMES BROWN. >> WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE TRACK CONDITIONS. WHEN THIS RACE STARTED IT WAS ABOUT 125 DEGREES. NOW IT'S 90 DEGREES. THE SIGNIFICANCE, IT'S THE SAME ALL THE WAY AROUND THIS RACETRACK BECAUSE THE SUN IS HISTORY. AT LEAST THE CONDITIONS ALL THE WAY AROUND ARE CONSISTENT. STERLING MARLIN, FASTEST PIT STOP. JIMMIE JOHNSON, 15.9. MATT KENSETH, 15.3. THESE GUYS HELD THEIR OWN. BECAUSE THEY HAD THAT 14.3, LOOK THERE, EIGHTH TO FIFTH. >> LET'S GO TO PIT ROAD AND MATT. >> RIGHT NOW, MIKE, TO DALE EARNHARDT, JR. IS TALKING TO TONY. ARE YOU GOING TO COME IN FOR A FIFTH TIME, TONY? >> WE MIGHT COME IN AND TOP IT OFF AND GET A LITTLE EXTRA FUEL. HE KNOCKED THE TOE OFF QUITE A BIT. WE TOED IT IN. WE'LL SEE WHAT THE CAR'S GOT. >> THEY STRUNG IT UP FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES AND BROUGHT IT IN ONE ROUND. >> WHEN THEY GO TO REVERSE, THEY HIT THIS PIN. WHEN THEY DID, THE ASSEMBLY CAME OUT AND IT BROKE IN HALF. >> KURT BUSCH HAS HAD AN EVENTFUL00 RACE. HE LOST THE OIL PUMP. THEY HAD TO CHANGE THE ENGINE. THAT CAUSED HIM TO START IN THE BACK OF THE PACK. EARLY IN THE RACE HE SPUN, THEN HE GOT A CUT TIRE. GUESS, WHAT HE'S IN SIXTH. >> HE'S HAD QUITE AN AFTERNOON. IT'S A LONG WAY FROM BEING OVER. 136 LAPS TO GO. >> TO HIM AS A YOUNG KID, THERE IS AN ADVENTURE. I GUESS THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS IN A 600 MILE RACE BECAUSE HE DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH EXPERIENCE TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE. >> YESTERDAY JEFF GREEN WON THE NASCAR BUSCH SERIES HERE AS OLD SPICE PRESENTS THE NASCAR BUSCH SERIES RESULTS. >>> JACK SPRAGUE UNABLE TO CAPITALIZE AS HE HIT THE WALL AND CUT DOWN A TIRE WITH JUST A COUPLE OF LAPS TO GO. SEARS PRESENTS THE NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES STANDINGS WHERE MIKE BLISS HAS JUST A ONE-POINT LEAD OVER DAVID STARR. >> WE SAW BOBBY LABONE HAVE TO PIT OUT OF HIS BOX. HE WILL BE PENALIZED A LAP BECAUSE OF PITTING OUT OF THE BOX. THAT'S THE PENALTY WHEN YOU DON'T MAKE YOUR PIT STOP IN YOUR PIT BOX. >> THAT'S TOO BAD. YOU CAUGHT IT BUT COULDN'T GET BACK IN HIS OWN PIT BOX. THAT'S TOO BAD. >> SEVEN TIMES THE POLE WINNER HAS WON THE 600. >>> I KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS. RADIO SHACK TRIVIA. TRO DRIVERS WON THE 600 THE SAME YEAR THEY RACED IN THE INDY 500. >> ALLISON AND YARBOROUGH. >> BE SPECIFIC. >> I CAN'T DO THAT. I KNOW THAT'S WHO IT IS, THOUGH. >> WOULD IT BE DONNIE ALLISON? HOW ABOUT THAT? >> LEEROY YARBOROUGH, DONNIE ALE SON. >> I KNEW THOSE WERE THE TWO NAMES. I JUST COULDN'T REMEMBER THE FIRST NAME. >> LET'S GO DOWNSTAIRS TO THE HOLLYWOOD HOTEL. >> WE'RE COMING UP ON LAP 266. WHEN WE GET TO THE 300 LAP, WE'RE GETTING AND 500 MILES. THAT'S WHEN YOU GO BEYOND WHAT THEY DON'T DO NORMALLY. >> THAT'S WHEN I'D START WATCHING, LAP 244 WILL BE 500 MILES. FROM THAT POINT ON IS WHEN THE 600 MIME ATTRITION AS FAR AS THE ENGINE, THE DRIVER, ANYTHING ELSE ON THIS RACE CAR, I WOULD CONTRIBUTE THE EXTRA 100 MILES WE HAVE TO RUN HERE, THAT'S WHEN YOU HAVE TO SEPARATE THE MEN FROM THE BOYS. >> AND THE IREMAN. RICKY RUDD CURRENTLY RUNNING FOURTH, KENSETH AND MARTIN BEHIND THE CURRENT LEADER JIMMIE JOHNSON. LET'S GO BACK UPSTAIRS. >> WE'VE HAD SEVEN CAUTION FLAGS. WE ARE NOW AT EXACTLY TWO-THIRDS OF 600 MILES. >> WE HAD SOME OF OUR LEADERS WHO CAME IN AND TOPPED OFF ON FUEL. THIS SHOULD GET THOSE GUYS PARTICULAR WHERE THEY CAN MAKE THIS RACE ON ONE MORE STOP SHOULD IT STAY GREEN. >> WE TALK ABOUT KURT BUSCH AND ALL THE ADVENTURES HE HAD. THE GUYS THAT KNOW THIS RACE, MARK MARTIN, RICKY RUDD, STERLING MARLIN AND IN 11th PLACE, DALE JARRETT. >> 400 MILES DOWN, 200 TO GO. >> 18 CARS ON THE LEAD LAP. >> BOY, IT'S ALWAYS EXCITING ON THE RYE START. >> THEY DRIVE YOU CRAZY. YOU GOT A GOOD CAR BUT YOU GOT TO CONTEND WITH LAP CARS, GET THREE WIDE IN PLACES YOU DON'T WANT TO. >> OH, MAN. >> JEFF GREEN IN THE 30 CAR, THEY'RE STACKING UP BEHIND HIM IN THREE AND FOUR. >> HE MAY HAVE A FLAT TIRE BUT THAT CAR HASN'T BEEN HANDLING ALL THAT GREAT. >> FRANK KIMMEL IN THE 26 HAD TO GO ALMOST ALL THE WAY TO THE GRASS. >> THE 30 CAR IS TRYING TO GET DOWN. >> OH, JEFF BURTON, WHO HAD COME BACK FROM THE GARAGE, REMEMBER THEY HAD ENGINE TROUBLES EARLIER? THEY GOT TROUBLES NOW. >> ANYBODY GOING TO GET A LAP BACK HERE? >> I DON'T THINK SO. >> GOOD CHANCE. NOBODY CAN MAKE IT. BLANEY AND HUT STRICKLIN TRIED TO GET THEIR LAP BACK. >> THAT 48 CAR IS TOO FAST. >> AND THE KAGS CAME BACK WITH THE LEADER TOO CLOSE TO THE START/FINISH LINE. >> 30 CAR ON PIT ROAD. >> THAT CAUTION FLAG COMES OUT, EVERYBODY'S, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE START CHECKING UP. THAT WAS CAUSED BY THAT 30 CAR. YOU RUN UP ON THE BACK OF HIM, HE'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE. THAT'S YOUR SPOTTER'S JOB TO LET YOU KNOW THAT GUY'S IN TROUBLE. >> JEFF GREEN GETS HIS TIRE FIXED, JEFF BURTON GOES TO THE GARAGE FOR THE SECOND TIME TONIGHT. >> I BET OLD SCOOBY WAS DRAWING UP THERE. >> WE ONLY HAVE ONE CAR IN THE GARAGE MAKING REPAIRS. JEREMY MAYFIELD. STILL A LOT OF OUR RACE CARS STILL OUT THERE ALMOST 500 MILES INTO THIS RACE. >> HE'LL BE SAYING RUT-ROH. >> 18 CARS STILL O >>> FOX WELCOMES YOU BACK TO LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY. 129 LAPS TO GO. YOU SEE THE TRACK IN THE BACKGROUND. EARLIER TODAY AT THE FOX SOUVENIR TRAILER, LOOK WHO WAS ON HAND. JEFF HAMMOND SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS. THERE'S LARRY MAC, D.W.. YOU CAN PICK UP HATS, T-SHIRTS. I THINK THERE'S EVEN BOOGITY, BOOGITY, BOOGITY ON SOMETHING, RIGHT? >> YEAH. >> AND YOU CAN PICK UP A CD. FOX SPORTS PRESENTING "CRANK IT UP." SLAYER, AND A LOT MORE. CRANK IT UP, THE CD. THIS IS A COLLECTION AND REMIXES OF ORIGINALS THAT YOU CAN'T GET ANYWHERE ELSE, THOUGH YOU HEAR IT HERE OCCASIONALLY. IT'S IN STORES NOW. LET'S CHECK OUT PIT ROAD, SEE WHAT'S GOING ON AND GO BACK TO MATT YOCUM. MATT? DICK BERGGREN, I'M SORRY. >> MATT KENSETH HAS RUN NEAR THE FRONT ALL NIGHT TONIGHT. WE'RE GETTING DOWN TO IT, ROBBIE. WHAT'S THE STRATEGY FROM HERE TO THE CHECKER? >> I DON'T KNOW. I TRIED TO GET AN ANSWER OUT OF YOU, DICK, TO HELP ME. PROBABLY WE'LL RUN ONE MORE STOP. >> CAN YOU DO IT IN ONE MORE STOP? >> I THINK WE CAN. WE'LL HAVE TO STRETCH IT IN THE MIDDLE. IT'S A LITTLE BIT TIGHT, NO QUESTION ABOUT IT BUT I'VE BEEN GETTING GREAT MILEAGE WITH THIS CAR ALL YEAR LONG. WE'LL HAVE TO STRETCH IT AGAIN. >> IT'S A FAST, FAST RACE CAR. >> MATT? >> YOU LOST OUT TWICE ON THE FUEL MILEAGE GAPABLE. >> CAUTION FLAGS ARE KILLING US. WE WAS HOPING TO GO TO GREEN AND STAY GREEN. THE NAPA CHEVROLET IS RUNNING GOOD. >> HIS BEST FINISH, MICHAEL WALTRIP'S HERE AT CHARLOTTE, THIRD TWICE. MEANWHILE, THEIR TEAMMATE DALE EARNHARDT, JR. CAME IN AND TOPPED OFF. >> I WENT DOWN TO ROBBY GORDON'S PITS TO SEE HOW HE'S DOING. HE CAME IN, THEY TOPPED HIM OFF ON GAS AND HE GOT A BANANA. TRYING TO GET SOME POTASSIUM INTO ROBBY GORDON. >> THE OLD BROWN TRUCK, VERY DEPENDABLE. >> 127 LAPS, ABOUT 200 MILES LEFT TO GO. >> WE'VE HAD THREE LEAD LAP CARS COME IN AND TOP OFF. KYLE PETTY AND KYLE PETTY. SOME GUYS WANT TO SEE MORE CAUTION LAPS BECAUSE YOU USELESS FUEL. IT'S ALMOST LIKE TWO CAUTION LAPS EQUALS ONE GREEN LAP. IF YOU'RE LIKE THE 15 CAR, YOU >>> COUNTDOWN HAS BEGUN. WE'RE JUST SIX DAYS AWAY FROM THE RETURN OF MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ON FOX. TUNE IN SATURDAY TO SEE ONE OF BASEBALL'S GREATEST RIVALRIES RENEWED AS THE BOSTON RED SOX TAKE ON THE YANKEES OR THE DIAMONDBACKS UP AGAINST THE DODGERS. PLUS, OTHER REGIONAL ACTION. IT ALL BEGINS THIS SATURDAY, 12:30 EASTERN AND PACIFIC RIGHT HERE ON FOX. UNDER A CAUTION, JIMMIE JOHNSON STILL YOUR LEADER, ABOUT 125 LAPS TO GO. SITTING FIFTH, STERLING MARLIN, OUR POINTS LEADER. PART OF THE OLDER CROWD IN THIS. AND JEFF GORDON, WHO HAS YET TO WIN THIS YEAR IS SITTING EIGHTH. >> I LOOK IT AT IT LIKE THIS, CHRIS. YOU GOT A POINT LEADER, STERLING MARLIN, STARTED BACK IN 36th. GOT HIMSELF IN A VERY SOLID POSITION TO MAKE A RUN AT THESE GUYS AND A MAN WHO KNOWS HOW TO WIN THIS RACE, JEFF GORDON, KEEPS HANGING IT IN THERE AND KEEPING IT CLOSE TO HIS TEAMMATE. >> DALE JARRETT HAS HUNG IN THERE. LET'S CHECK IN WITH MATT YOCUM. DICK BERGGREN IS THERE. >> DALE JARRETT'S CAR WASN'T VERY GOOD WHEN THEY UNLOADED IT, IT WASN'T VERY GOOD DURING PRACTICE OR WHEN THE RACE STARTED. BUT IT'S PRETTY GOOD RIGHT NOW RUNNING IN 11th. TODD, HOW MUCH HAVE YOU DONE TO GET THAT CAR THIS GOOD? >> WE'VE MADE ABOUT FIVE RUBBER SPRING CHANGES, AIR PRESSURE, SIX OR SEVEN ROUNDS OF BITE IN, OUT. EVERY TIME THERE'S BEEN A CAUTION, STARTING IN THE BACK LIKE WE DID, WE HAD NOTHING TO LOSE. TEN OR 12-LAP RUNS, WE COME IN AND ADJUSTED ON THE CAR. WE GOT IT BETTER. IT'S NOT LIKE IT NEEDS TO BE. WHO KNOWS, THE DRIVER MAY HAVE A LITTLE BIT LEFT IN HIM. WHO KNOWS, WE MIGHT GET THIS IN THE TOP FIVE. >> THAT'S THE ADVANTAGE OF A LONG RACE. THEY CAN ADJUST ALL NIGHT LONG. >> WE'VE BEEN RACING FOR THREE HOURS, 11 MINUTES. WE STILL HAVE 124 LAPS, 188 MILES TO GO WITH ROOKIE JIMMIE JOHNSON WHO HAS CLINCHED THE BONUS FOR LEADING THE MOST LAPS OUT FRONT. >> THE CAUTIONS HAVE FALLEN WHERE GUYS CAN GET IN AND WORK ON THEIR CARS WITHOUT GOING A LAP DOWN. JARRETT WAS CLOSE TO GOING A LAP DOWN SEVERAL TIMES EARLY IN THE RACE. HE'S COME IN AND GOT THAT CAR BETTER AND BETTER. THERE ARE SEVERAL GUYS IN THAT SAME BOAT. NOW THEY'RE IN CONTENTION. >> LET'S LOOK AT THE FOX TRAX. THE PACE CAR BRINGS THEM DOWN AT 5 MILES AN HOUR. WATCH HOW FAS JIMMIE JOHNSON GOES. HE'S BEEN GREAT ON RESTARTS. LOOK HOW FAST HE'S ACCELERATING THERE. WELL OVER 100 MILES AN HOUR BEFORE THEY EVEN GET TO THE START/FINISH LINE. RIGHT HERE THROUGH ONE AND TWO, THEY ALMOST WILL RUN WIDE OPEN. 157 MILES AN HOUR, STILL CLIMBING OFF THE CORNER. >> YOU SEE HOW HE CAN PULL AWAY SO QUICKLY FROM EVERYBODY ELSE. IT'S AN INCREDIBLY GOOD HANDLING CAR. >> HE GETS SUCH GREAT RESTARTS. >> THAT JUST MAKES YOU FEEL SO GOOD WHEN YOU'VE GOT A LITTLE CUSHION BETWEEN YOU AND EVERYBODY BEHIND YOU. >> DAVE BLANEY TRIED TO GET BACK ON THE LEAD LAP, WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL. MARK MARTIN HAS MOVED TO SECOND, KENSETH THIRD, RUDD FOURTH, MARLIN FIFTH. >> THAT'S THE OTHER GOOD THING ABOUT GOOD RESTARTS. YOU DON'T HAVE TO RACE THAT LAP CAR DOWN IN THE CORNER. IT'S A LITTLE INSURANCE, GET OUT FRONT, CHECK TO THE INSIDE, AND OUT. ADIOS. >> HOW IS THIS RACETRACK DIFFERENT FROM WHEN WE STARTED? >> IT HAS MUCH MORE GRIP, THE MOTORS LIKE THIS KERL AIR. THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE MORE POWER. IF YOUR CAR WAS LOOSE, NOW IT WILL START TO TIGHTEN UP. YOU'LL ACTUALLY HAVE TO START FREEING UP YOUR CAR NOW. LOOK AT THE TEMPERATURE RIGHT HERE. THE AIR TEMPERATURE HAS NOT DROPPED THAT MUCH BUT LOOK AT THE TRACK TEMPERATURE, OVER 30 DEGREES DIFFERENCE, A LOT MORE GRIP. >> HOW DOES THIS PLACE LOOK DIFFERENT TO THE DRIVER FROM DAYTIME? >> THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS TO THE DRIVER. IT'S OKAY NOW, WE ARE UNDER FULL LIGHTS. BUT WHEN IT WENT THROUGH THAT TRANSITION, THE TRACK TAKES ON A WHOLE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME UNTIL WE GET THE LIGHTS UP FULL LIKE THIS. JEFF? >> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW THE RACETRACK IS GETTING FASTER. JIMMIE JOHNSON RAN THE FASTEST LAP OF HIS RACE TONIGHT AT LAP 280. SO IT JUST SHOWS THE RACETRACK'S COOLING DOWN, EVERYTHING YOU SAID IS COMING TO PASS RIGHT NOW AND THESE CARS ARE GOING TO GO FASTER AND FASTER THE LATER WE GET IN THE RACE. >> FOUR OF OUR TOP FIVE GUYS, THEY ALL JUST RAN THE FASTEST LAP. THEY'RE DOWN IN THE MID 30 SECONDS. IT WASN'T THAT LONG AGO ALL YOU COULD RUN WAS IN THE MID 301s, A SECOND FASTER. >> THAT'S ALL BECAUSE OF THE RACETRACK. THE DRIVERS AREN'T FRESHER AND NEITHER ARE THE CARS SO THE CONDITIONS HAVE GOT TO BE HELPING THIS COME ABOUT. >> AND ADJUSTMENTS MADE ON THE CAR GOING THROUGH THE EARLY GOING HAS THE CAR WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE. THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT. THE THING YOU GOT TO BE CAREFUL OF, GUYS, THIS RACE ISN'T OVER YET. WE STILL GOT OVER 100 MILES TO GO. >> MATT KENSETH, OUR THIRD PLACE CAR, HE JUST RAN HIS QUICKEST LAP. >> LOOK AT THIS PACK RIGHT HERE. LOOK AT STEWART AND GORDON. >> STEWART AND GORDON ARE GOING AT EACH OTHER. >> SOMEONE FORGOT TO TELL THESE GUYS IT'S A 600 MILE RACE. >> JIMMIE JOHNSON'S THE PROBLEM. LOOK HOW FAR OUT IN FRONT THAT CAT IS. >> LEFT SIDE OF YOUR SCREEN. THERE'S JOHNSON. WAY UP HERE. >> LOOK AT HIM WAY UP HERE BY HIMSELF. >> THAT'S JUST IN THREE LAPS. THERE YOU HAVE TEAMMATES, MARK MARTIN IN THE 6, MATT KENSETH IN THE 17. MARK MARTIN HAS A MILLION REASONS TO WIN THIS RACE, THE $1 MILLION NO BULL BONUS PLUS $1 MILLION FOR A FAN. >> 18 CARS ON THE LEAD LAP. 9 OF THEM HAVE JUST TURNED THEIR FASTEST LEAD OF THE RACE. >> THE FRONT FIVE, JOHNSON, MARTIN, KENSETH, RUDD AND BUSCH. MICHAEL WALTRIP, JEFF GOURD OORN DALE JARRETT, RUSTY WALLACE AS THE PASS OCCURS FOR SECOND PLACE KENSETH TAKING SECOND. THOSE CARS JUST RAN THEIR FASTEST LAP OF THE NIGHT IN THIS SEGMENT. >> NOW YOU'RE GOING TO GET A CHANCE TO SEE WHAT WE TALK ABOUT THIS TRACK. WATCH THE CARS IN TURN ONE, SPARKS FLY OUT FROM UNDER THEM. THAT'S WHAT WE TALK ABOUT LET THE ROUGH SIDE DRAG. WE'RE WINDING THIS THING DOWN. IT'S TIME TO GET UP ON THE WHEEL. >> THEY'RE RUNNING FASTER, TRAVELING MORE. THAT'S WHY THEY START BOTTOMING OUT MORE. >> IT'S GETTING REAL CLOSE TO THE TIME TO STOP WORKING YOUR MOUTH AND START WORKING YOUR HANDS. >> KURT BUSCH JUST TOOK FOURTH FROM RICKY RUDD. BUSCH WHO HAS COME FROM THE BACK TO THE FRONT TWICE TONIGHT ALREADY IS ON THAT MARCH ONCE AGAIN. HE'S 3.1 SECONDS OFF THE LEAD. >> THOSE ARE SOME OF THOSE SPARKS. MORE AND MORE CARS WILL START TO DO THAT. >> YOU'LL SEE THEM BACK AROUND. THAT'S WHERE THE TUNNEL IS. THAT'S PROBABLY ABOUT THE ROUGHEST PLACE OF THE RACETRACK. >> AND AGAIN, LARRY, LIKE YOU SAID THE SPEEDS ARE FASTER, THERE'S MORE GRIP. THAT CAR GOES IN THERE AND IT SINKS MORE THAN IT HAS ALL NIGHT LONG. >> JACK ROUSH HAS FOUR CARS IN THIS RACE. JEFF BURTON BEHIND THE WALL BUT THE OTHER ROUSH CARS ARE RIGHT THERE, SECOND, THIRD AND FOURTH. >> THAT'S BEEN PRETTY COMMON A LOT THIS YEAR, CONTRARY TO A YEAR AGO. >>ICKY RUDD IS RIGHT THERE AS WELL. >> THE NEW IRON MAN, MOST CONSECUTIVE STARTS. >> THE BIG QUESTION ON RICKY RUDD, HOW LONG WILL HE RACE? THERE ARE RUMORS OF RETIREMENT. RUDD SAYS HE'S DONE WITH MULTI-YEAR CONTRACT, HE WANT TO TAKE IT ONE SERIES AT A TIME. HE SAYS HE'LL RUN AS LONG AS HE FEELS HE CAN BE COMPETITIVE. THE WAY HE'S RUNNING RIGHT NOW, I'LL BET ON HIM ON ANOTHER FIVE, TEN YEARS. >> I'D RUN THAT PAINT JOB OUT THERE. >> HE'S HAD A GOOD CAR ALL NIGHT LONG. ABOUT THE MIDDLE PART OF THE RACE, THEY HAD A BAD PIT STOP. >> THAT'S BOILER PLATE ALL OVER THE SIDE OF THAT THINGS, LOOKS PRETTY NIGHT. UM ON THAT HOOD, BACK ON THOSE GRAY FINGERS. THAT WOULD LOOK REALLY NICE. >> RUDD IS IN FIFTH. LET'S GO BACK TO THE NINTH PLACE CAR. THAT WOULD BE TONY STEWART BACK THERE JUST AHEAD OF JEFF GORDON. HERE'S STEVE BYRNES. >> TONY STEWART'S BEEN IN THE TOP TEN ALL NIGHT. HE'S EXHIBIT A FOR GUY WHO IS HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING ALL NIGHT. EARLY IN THE NIGHT HE WAS LOOSE. THEN IT GOT TO THE POINT WHERE THEY WERE INCONSISTENT. HE SAID HE'D BE LOOSE ONE LAP, TIGHT THE NEXT. NOW HE'S JUST TIGHT. HE'S BEEN STRUGGLING ALL NIGHT TO STAY INSIDE THE TOP TEN. >> LARRY, YOU SAID EARLIER THIS WEEKEND P RACE WOULD GO TO THE CAR AND THE TEAM WITH THE BEST ADJUSTABILITY AS GORDON PASSES STEWART FOR NINTH. >> THAT'S THE THING. THIS RACETRACK GOES THROUGH A LOT OF TRANSITIONS. THE TWO MAJOR TRANSITIONS FROM WHEN IT STARTED TO WHEN THE SUN WENT DOWN. NOW IT COMPLETELY DARK. YOU HAVE TO MAKE SOMETIMES MAJOR ADJUSTMENTS AND THOSE SPRING RUBBERS ARE MAJOR ADJUSTMENTS. >> JIMMIE JOHNSON HAS LED 199 LAPS TONIGHT. IN 1967, JIM >>> 104 LAPS LEFT TO GO. 160 MILES LEFT TO RACE. JIMMIE JOHNSON CONTINUES TO LEAD HERE. HE'S LED 207 OF THE 297 LAPS. HE HAS ALMOST THREE SECONDS ON MATT KENSETH AND KURT BUSCH. >> NOW IS WHEN YOU REALLY START TO FEEL THE DISTANCE, HOW LONG THIS RACE REALLY IS. THESE GUYS HAVE BEEN RUNNING PRETTY HARD ALL NIGHT LONG, PARTICULARLY JIMMIE JOHNSON, SOME OF THE GUYS AT THE FRONT. START TO GET A LITTLE ARM WEARY, STARTS TO GET TIRED, NECK STARTS TO HURT, BACK GETS A LITTLE KINK IN IT. >> AND WHAT KIND OF MISTAKES DO YOU START MAKING WHEN THAT HAPPENS? >> ANY TIME YOU LOSE YOUR FOCUS AND START THINKING ABOUT THINGS INSIDE THE CAR INSTEAD OF THINGS OUTSIDE THE CAR, YOU'RE GOING TO GET IN TROUBLE. >> KURT BUSCH, HE'S COME FROM THE BACK TWICE. HAD TO START BACK THERE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE RACE BECAUSE OF ENGINE CHANGE. BROUGHT A CAUTION ON LAP TEN. HE'S FIGHTING HIS TEAMMATE FOR SECOND. I KNOW AS A CREW CHIEF THE LAST HUNDRED LAPS HERE, WE WON THIS THING IN 1991 WITH DAVY ALLISON. THINGS GET QUIET ON THE RADIO. I'M SITTING THERE WONDERING WHEN HE'S GOING TO COME ON THE RADIO AND SAY, BOY, SHE JUST BLEW UP. >> WHEN IT GETS QUIET, THE DRIVER IS SHOWING HE'S TIRED. HE DOESN'T WANT TO TAKE THE TIME AND ENERGY TO SEND A MESSAGE TO YOU. WHEN I GET QUIET ON THE RADIO, JEFF WOULD TELL YOU THAT MEANT I WAS PROBABLY GETTING TIRED AND HE WOULD HAVE TO GET ON THE RADIO AND PUMP ME UP. >> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT. I THINK THAT'S ONE REASON WHY YOU AND I WERE PRETTY SUCCESSFUL. I'D HAVE A FEEL FOR THAT APPROXIMATELY. YOU HAVE TO LET THE DRIVER KNOW HE'S NOT BY HIMSELF, ENCOURAGE HIM, BE THAT CHEER LEADER. THESE LAST HUNDRED MILES ARE SO IMPORTANT TO NOT ONLY YOU BUT TO HIM. >> JEFF, ANOTHER GROUP WE HAVE TO PUMP UP. THEY'VE ALREADY MADE ABOUT EIGHT OR NINE PIT STOPS, THEY'RE GETTING TIRED. THAT PIT CREW. YOU HAVE TO PUMP 'EM UP. IT HAS THAT GREEN FLAG LOOK. WE KNOW WE ALL HAVE TO MAKE WITHIN MORE STOP. THIS STOP CAN MAKE THE MOST IMPORTANT MOVE RIGHT HERE. >> THE THING ABOUT THE DRIVER, CAN YOU TELL IN A DRIVER'S VOICE AND YOU'VE WORKED TOGETHER FOR A ALONG TIME WITH A CREW CHIEF, CAN YOU TELL SO MUCH ABOUT THE CAR, THE CONDITIONS, HOW THE DRIVER'S DOING JUST BY LISTENING TO HIS VOICE BECAUSE YOU'VE HEARD IT TIME AND TIME AGAIN. >> WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER THOSE CAUTION FLAGS JUST A WHILE BACK WERE PROBABLY LIKE BREATH OF FRESH AIR FOR EVERYBODY, GAVE THEM A CHANCE TO COLLECT THEIR THOUGHTS AS WE SEE THE CREW RIGHT THERE LOOSENING UP A LITTLE BIT. EVERYBODY'S STARTING TO TIGHTEN UP A LITTLE BIT. BEATING THE KINKS OUT. >> I'M USED TO SEE HAMMOND DO THAT TO HIS HEAD BUT NOT TO HIS BACK. >> HAMMOND'S NOT BIG ENOUGH, DARRELL. >> JIMMIE JOHNSON LEADING THE RACE. HIS MENTOR AND CO-CAR OWNER, JEFF GORDON, HAS CLIMBED UP TO EIGHTH SPOT, MATT. >> HE'S QUIETLY MOVED UP. ROBBIE LOOMIS, WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE YOUR LAST STOP? >> THE NEXT STOP WILL PROBABLY BE ABOUT 25, 30 LAPS. WE'VE HAD TO LOOSEN THE CAR UP A LOT. TO GET HIM BACK UP FRONT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TIGHTEN THE CAR UP. >> WE'VE HEARD JEFF'S AEROPACKAGE WORKS BEST WHEN HE'S UP FRONT IN CLEAN AIR. >> MATT, THE CREW CHIEF ON THE 32, 100 TO GO, WHAT'S YOUR STRATEGY, MIKE? >> I REALLY DENT KNOW RIGHT YET. WE TIGHTENED THE CAR UP, LOOSENED IT UP. IT'S PRETTY BALANCED RIGHT NOW. BUT WE'RE FALLING BEHIND. WE'RE GOING TO TRY AND JUST ROLL THE DICE HERE UNTIL WE FREE IT UP. WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE SOME AIR PRESSURE HERE AND SEE WHAT WE GOT. >> THE LEADER IS NO LONGER THE FASTEST CAR ON THE RACETRACK. SECOND PLACE MATT KENSETH IS RIGHT NOW. HE'S ABOUT 0.2 SECONDS QUICKER THAN THE LAP SPEED PUT DOWN BY LEADER JIMMIE JOHNSON. >> THE GUY WHO HAS A FAST CAR, RICKY CRAVEN, HE'S RIGHT THERE WITH SOME OF THE FASTEST CARS AS WELL. THIS IS MATT KENSETH, OUR SECOND PLACE. YOU SEE THE MILES PER HOUR. THAT WAS DOWN THE MIDDLE OF TURN ONE AND TWO, DOWN THE BACK STRETCH. HE'S ABOUT TWO AND A QUARTER SECONDS BEHIND OUR LEADER RIGHT NOW, JIMMIE JOHNSON. >> KURT BUSCH GET AS RUN. >> I BELIEVE KENSETH LET HIM GO. I THINK KENSETH KNOWS BUSCH IS A LITTLE QUICKER. PLUS, TRYING TO GET TO THAT FUEL WINDOW, LARRY. >> WE KNOW THE SPEEDS ARE FASTER. THE FASTER YOU RUN, THE MORE FUEL YOU'RE GOING TO USE. IT MAKES IT HARD TO BASE IT ON FUEL MILEAGE YOU WERE GETTING IN THE BEGINNING WHEN SPEEDS WERE SLOWER. >> YOU'RE GOING TO START BURNING MORE FUEL. >> LET'S GO ALL THE WAY BACK TO LAP 11 WHEN KURT BUSCH BROUGHT OUT THE FIRST CAUTION OF THE DAY AFTER 11 LAPS HAD BEEN COMPLETED. HERE IT IS. >> IT WAS IN THE DAYLIGHT THEN. ALMOST HIT THOSE WATER BARRELS AND THAT RETAINING WALL. RIGHT HERE HE GOT IT FIRED BACK UP. HERE HE IS IN SECOND PLACE. >> JEFF WHAURKS GOT, BUD? >> I'M WATCHING THAT 17 CAR AND WATCHING HIS LAP TIMES. THERE'S SOMETHING GOING WRONG WITH THAT 17 CAR. HE'S DROPPED WAY OFT PACE. DICK ALBERT, I THINK YOU GOT SOME INFORMATION. >> UNFORTUNATELY, I DO. MATT KENSETH'S PROBLEM IS HE HAS A VIBRATION IN THAT AUTOMOBILE. THE CREW IS ON THE WALL, GETTING READY TO BRING HIM IN. THEY'LL ADJUST THE CHASSIS WITH A ROUND. IT IS THE VIBRATION THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT. >> WE KNOW IF HE'S PITTING HERE, NO MATTER IF HE PITS HERE, HE'LL HAVE TO MAKE AN EXTRA STOP WHEN EVERYBODY ELSE STAYS GREEN. >> NMS HE CATCHES A CAUTION. >> KENSETH ON PIT ROAD RIGHT NOW. ABOUT THE ONLY THING THEY CAN DO TO TRY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM CONVENIENTLY ON A PIT STOP IS CHANGE FOUR TIRES AND HOPE SOMETHING HAD GONE WRONG WITH ONE OF THOSE FOUR TIRESS CAUSING THE VIBRATION. KENSETH IS NOW OUT AND BACK ON THE RACETRACK. >> MEANWHILE, BATTLE FOR THIRD PLACE. MARK MARTIN, RICKY CRAVEN. CRAVEN TAKES OVER THIRD. >> CRAVEN HAD BEEN WEARING MARTIN OUT. MARTIN HAD BEEN HOLDING HIM UP AND HE LET HIM GO, I BELIEVE. CRAVEN'S ON A TEAR RIGHT NOW. >> JIMMIE JOHNSON WON BOTH SEGMENTS OF THE WINSTON, STARTED IN 20th OR TENTH PLACE IN THE SHOOT-OUT, GOT BACK TO FIFTH, HAD THE FASTEST CAR, COMES OVER, WINS THE POLE, SETS THE TRACK RECORD, DOMINATES THE RACE. DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS. >> AND HE'S A ROOKIE. >> IS HE REALLY? ARE YOU SURE? I THINK WE NEED TO GO FIND OUT. >> JIMMIE, LET'S JUST TRY TO BE EASY ON THE FUEL, BUDDY. >> IF YOU CAN BELIEVE IT, I'VE BEEN LETTING OFF REALLY EARLY. >> WELL, IF HE'S EASING THAT CAR THAT'S BAD NEWS. >> I WONDER IF HIS COMPETITION WAS MONITORING THAT. >> WELL, WE DID SEE HIS LAP TIMES DROP OFF A BIT. THAT WAS PROBABLY THE REASON WHY. >> THE WAY YOU CONSERVE FUEL, THE BACK OFF THE THROTTLE GETTING IN THE CORNER, LET THE CAR ROLL A LITTLE AND YOU PICK UP THE GAS A LITTLE LATER. MATT YOCUM. >> YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT. JIMMIE JOHNSON MAY HAVE ANOTHER HEART BREAKER HERE TONIGHT. CHAD KNAUS TOLD ME THEY WERE ABOUT EIGHT TO TEN LAPS SHY ON MAKING IT ON ONE MORE STOP. THEIR ENGINE PACKAGE A LITTLE MORE AGGRESSIVE, WHICH MEANS IT GETS A LITTLE LESS FUEL ECONOMY. THAT'S WHY HE'S ON THE BOTTOM, IT'S THE SHORTES WAY AROUND THIS RACETRACK. TRYING TO SAVE FUEL AND PICK UP HIS FIRST 600 MILE VICTORY. >> THE CREW FROM THAT KENSETH TIRE IS PORING OVER IT. THERE IS A TIRE WITH A PROBLEM. SOME OF THE TREAD IS MISSING. THEY DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT. >> RICKY RUDD JUST RADIOED HIS CREW AND SAID THIS IS THE TIGHTEST MY RACE CAR HAS BEEN ALL NIGHT, I CAN'T GET THE FRONT END TO POINT DOWNHILL. >> WOULD YOU EXPECT THAT AT THIS STAGE IN THE RACE? >> ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE BEING TIGHT? >> YES. >> YES, I WOULD. AND ALSO WHAT HAPPENS IS WHEN IT GETS TIGHT, IT ABUSES THE RIGHT FRONT. THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED TO KENSETH'S CAR. YOU'RE GOING DOWN THERE, DRIVING HARD, PIC UP ABOUT A SECOND, YOU'RE WORKING ON THAT RIGHT FRONT NOW. IF YOU'RE CAR IS TOO TIGHT, YOU'RE GOING TO USE IT UP. >> AND IF THE CAR IS TIGHT, THE CAR IS BOUND UP, YOU'RE ON THE THROTTLE, IT'S USING MORE FUEL. THE TIGHTER YOU ARE, THE MORE FUEL YOU'RE GOING TO USE AS WELL. >> MATT KENSETH, EVEN THOUGH HE WAS NOT THAT FAR BEHIND JIMMIE JOHNSON MAKING THAT FOUR-TIRE GREEN FLAG STOP, HE LOST A LAP AND A HALF. >> HE'S COMING BACK UM AROUND THE FIELD. JUST CAME AROUND STERLING MARLIN RIGHT THERE. >> BUT HE HAS THOSE FOUR FRESH TIRES. >> SO NOW ONLY 17 CARS ARE LEFT ON THE LEAD LAP AT LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY. >>> 80 LAPS, 120 MILES LEFT TO GO HERE AT LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY. CREWS AND FANS LOOKING ON ON THE BIG SCREEN, SEEING WHAT YOU'RE SEEING. SEEING JIMMIE JOHNSON, NOW THE 230 OF THE 320 LAPS. KURT BUSCH, 1.3 SECONDS BACK. EVERYBODY ELSE, IT'S A WAYS. RICKY CRAVEN, EIGHT SECRETARIES BACK, MARK MARTIN NINE SECONDS. LOOK AT JOHNSON. SET THE TRACK RECORD, BROKE EARNHARDT, JR.'S TWO-YEAR-OLD RECORD. AND HAS HE DOMINATED THIS RACE. >> 231 LAPS. >> FIVE DRIVERS GOING FOR THAT MILLION DOLLAR NO BULL BONUS AND FIVE FANS PAIRED WITH THEM. HERE'S HOW THEY FARE. MARTIN, STEWART AND MARLIN STILL IN TO WIN IT. >> MAYFIELD STILL OUT THERE. RYAN NEWMAN LOSING AN ENGINE EARLIER. HIS TRUCK HAS ALREADY LEFT THE RACETRACK. >> JEREMY MAYFIELD'S COME BACK ON THE TRACK AFTER REPAIRS, BUT HE'S GETTING THE BLACK FLAG. >> IT'S GETTING LATE IN THE RACE. EVERYBODY'S TIRED. YOU DON'T NEED A GUY OUT THERE WHO CAN'T RUN UP TO SPEED. >> MATT KENSETH TRYING TO GET BACK ON THE LEAD LAP. >> TO WIN ONE OF THESE THINGS, YOU HAVE TO BE GOOD AND EVERYTHING HAS TO WORK YOUR WAY. KENSETH'S PROBLEM, A FLAT TIRE. THE REASON FOR THE FLAT TIRE, A SMALL PIECE OF METAL CUT ONE OF THE BELTS. JUST PLAIN BAD LUCK. >> SOMETIMES YOU GOT TO BE LUCKY. TONIGHT HE JUST WASN'T LUCKY BECAUSE HE WAS GOOD ENOUGH TO WIN THIS RACE. HE CERTAINLY WAS HANGING IN THERE. >> AND HE'S KIND OF IN A CATCH 22 SITUATION. IF THIS THING STAYS GREEN, HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE AN EXTRA STOP. IF A CAUTION COMES OUT, HE'S GOING TO BE A LAP DOWN. >> IF THEY START MAKING GREEN FLAG PIT STOPS, THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE A CHANCE FOR A CAUTION. GUYS WILL BE ON NEW TIRESS AND OLD TIRES, DIFFERENT PIT STRATEGIES. >> THREE BET RANS ON THE LEAD LAPS. OOH, I SAID VETERANS. LET'S TALK ABOUT RUSTY WALLACE. HE'S ONE OF THE MOST EXPERIENCED DRIVERS HERE. HE'S IN 11th PLACE WITH TERRY LABONTE 12th AND BILL ELLIOTT 13th. 11, 12, 13. STILL IN CONTENTION. >> YOU CAN SEE BY OUR FOX TRAX ABOUT 20 SECONDS BACK. LAP TIME HERE AROUND THE 30, 31 SECOND BRACKET. THE THING I'M IMPRESSED ABOUT THE 2 CAR IS THE FACT THEY WERE PUTTING WATER IN THAT CAR TRYING TO COOL IT DOWN IN LAP 50. DICK BERGGREN. >> IT'S JUST BEEN A STRANGE, STRANGE NIGHT, ALL KINDS OF BIZARRE THINGS ARE HAPPENING. FUEL IS GOING TO BE AN ISSUE, NO QUESTION ABOUT IT, AS THIS RACE WEARS ON. >> I'M KIDDING ABOUT RUSTY. HE SAID HE DIDN'T WANT TO BE CALLED A VETERAN DRIVER. BUT ON THIS WEEKEND BEING CALLED A VETERAN DRIVER IS A BADGE OF HONOR. >> WHEN YOU'RE A VETERAN OF YOUR SPORT, THAT IS A COMPLIMENT. >> TALK ABOUT VETERANS OF LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY, JEFF GOURD NOON THAT 24 CAR, BATTLING RICKY RUDD IN THE 28. THIS IS A BATTLE FOR FIFTH. WE ALMOST KNEW THIS WAS ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE GUYS WHEN IT GOT PAST 300, HE WOULD SHOW UP IN THAT TOP FIVE. >> ELLIOTT SADLER STARTED ON THE OUTSIDE POLE BUT HAS HAD PROBLEMS. >> GORDON'S CAR CAN'T BE ALL THAT DIFFERENT THAN THE 48 CAR IS. I THINK IT JUST A MATTER OF GORDON GETTING AFTER IT RIGHT HERE AT THE END. >> HASN'T WON SINCE KANSAS LAST FALL. WENT ON TO WIN THE WINSTON CUP CHAMPIONSHIP DESPITE NOT POSTING ANOTHER VICTORY. WINLESS THIS YEAR. A STRANGE START TO THIS SEASON FOR JEFF GORDON. >> I THINK IT'S HOW MUCH THE HEAT'S BEEN TURNED UP, GUYS. THESE YOUNG GUYS COME IN HERE, ALL AGGRESSIVE, ALL YOUNG, ALL UP ONçó THE WHEEL. THEY HAVEN'T MADE $41 MILLION. >> I LOVE YOUR PHRASE, THIS ISN'T FUNNY NO MORE. >> PEOPLE WERE LAUGHING AT JIMMIE JOHNSON FOR A WHILE. BUT NOW THEY DON'T LAUGH SO MUCH. >> DARRELL, WHEN YOU WERE A YOUNG GUN AND THE NAMES ON TOP WITH ALLISON, PETTY, YARBOROUGH, PEARSON, THERE WEREN'T SO MANY YOUNG GUNS RUN SO LONG WELL. >> WE CAME IN ONE AT A TIME, IT WASN'T SO OBVIOUS. WHAT MAKES IT SO OBVIOUS NOW, THERE'S SO MANY OF THEM. TERRY LABONTE SMACKED THE FENCE A COUPLE LAPS AGO. HE'S ON PIT ROAD. >> WE'RING CLOSE TO GREEN FLAG STOPS. A KID THAT'S HAVING A GREAT RUN, CASEY ATWOOD. HE'S UP TO 13th POSITION. I THINK WHAT HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE HERE IS TONY COMING ON BOARD AS CREW CHIEF. >> YOU GOT THAT RIGHT. THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB. THAT TEAM'S DUE FOR SOME GOOD LUCK. >> HE'S ON TRACK TO HAVE HIS BEST FINISH. >> HERE COMES THE 32 CAR. ONE OF THE FRONT-RUNNERS. >> IS THAT 32? >> YES. >> CRAVEN WILL GIVE UP THIRD PLACE WITH THIS PIT STOP. >> HERE COMES TONY STEWART IN THE 20 CAR. >> LARRY, MAC, THIS COULD BE THEIR LAST STOP OF THE NIGHT. THEY HAVE TO HAVE A PERFECT STOP. NO CHASSIS ADJUSTMENT TO THE 32. TAKE A TEAR-OFF OFT WINDSHIELD. LEFT SIDE TIRES GOING ON. NO OTHER ADJUSTMENTS FOR RICKY CRAVEN. COULD BE HIS LAST STOP OF THE NIGHT. >> TONY STEWART IS IN, COMPLETING HIS STOP WITH LEFT-SIDE TIRES. FULL TANK OF FUEL AND THE LEADER JIMMIE JOHNSON AND MARK MARTIN ARE COMING IN. MATT? >> JIMMIE JOHNSON, THEY ARE GOING TO MAKE A WEDGE ADJUSTMENT. JIMMIE WAS SAYING THE CAR WAS TIGHT IN AND TIGHT THROUGH THE CENTER. FOUR-TIRE CHANGE. GOOD LOOKING STOP SO FAR AND HE'S DOWN AND AWAY. >> MICHAEL WALTRIP'S IN, STERLING MARLIN, DARRELL JARRETT. >> HERE COMES JEFF GORDON ON PIT ROAD. >> IT'S LIKE SOMEBODY GOT ON THE SAME FREQUENCY, LET'S ALL PIT. >> GORDON AND RUDD ARE IN. LARRY, IF ONE OF THE LEADERS PITS AND GETS FOUR OF THOSE FRESH TIRES, CAN YOU AFFORD TO STAY OUT THERE? >> HERE'S OUR LEADER, KURT BUSCH 97, IF YOU NEED TO GO WHERE YOU CAN MAKE THE DISTANCE, IF YOU CAN GO THE DISTANCE, YOU NEED TO RUN THAT LAP. THE DOWN SIDE IS ON FRESH TIRES THEY'LL RUN FASTER THAN YOU. HOW ABOUT RICKY RUDD? >> RICKY SAID ON HIS WAY OFF PIT ROAD DON'T LOOSEN ME UP TOO MUCH. >> KURT BUSCH SAILS THROUGH HIS PIT! DICK BERGGREN. >> THE REASON KURT BUSCH SAILED THROUGH HIS PIT IS BECAUSE RUSTY WALLACE WAS PULLING OUT. NOW HIS CREW HAS TO PUSH HIM BACK. THE ENGINE IS NOT RUNNING ON ALL EIGHT CYLINDERS AT THE MOMENT. THEY THINK THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THEY DROPPED ONE. >> LOOK AT THAT PIT STOP. 26, 27 SECONDS. THIS IS TWICE THE LENGTH THAT A PIT STOP SHOULD TAKE. HE'S GOING TO LOSE ALMOST TWO LAPS, PLUS HE'S GOT TO BE CAREFUL MAINTAIN 45 MILES AN HOUR LEAVING PIT ROAD. >> I USED TO FUSS WITH JEFF ABOUT, DO NOT BRING ME IN THE PIT UNDER GREEN HAD SOMEBODY IS IN THE PIT BOX IN FRONT OF US OR BEHIND US. >> NOW DALE EARNHARDT, JR. IN THE 8 CAR, HE'S LEADING THE RACE. BILL ELLIOTT SECOND. THIS IS A CAR THAT TOPPED OFF AFTER ALL THE OTHER CARS SO THEY CAN RUN A LITTLE BIT FURTHER BUT WE KNOW THEY CAN MAKE IT ON ONE MORE START. >> EARNHARDT, JR. RESTARTED 16th AT LAP 278 AND HE NOW IS THE LEADER. BILL ELLIOTT SECOND. >> BUT THE PROBLEM IS, DARRELL, HE'S RUNNING 32:80'S. THESE GUYS THAT PITTED, THEY'RE RUNNING 41:40'S. >> BUT HE NEEDS TO GET TO HIS FUEL WINDOW. >> ROBBY GORDON HAS MADE A PIT STOP. SO HAS JEFF GREEN. CASEY ATWOOD NOW THIRD. RIDING WITH CASEY. AND THE BLACK FLAG IS OUT FOR KURT BUSCH. >> HIS TROUBLES CONTINUE. >> WHEN THAT HAPPENED, GOING THROUGH THE PIT, HIS CREW WAS OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF PIT ROAD, THEY WERE SCATTERED EVERYWHERE. RUINED HIS WHOLE NIGHT. STEVE? >> BILL ELLIOTT INTO THE ATTENTION OF HIS CREW. RIGHT-SIDE TIRES GOING ON. CLEANING THE WINDSHIELD FOR BILL ELLIOTT. MAKE SURE HE CAN SEE. NO OTHER CHASSIS ADJUSTMENTS. LEFT-SIDE TIRES ON THE 9 CAR FOR BILL ELLIOTT. HIS SERVICE IS COMPLETE. LET'S GO TO MATT YOCUM. >> THE BUDWEISER, DALE EARNHARDT, JR. WILL MAKE WHAT WILL BE MORE THAN LIKELY HIS LAST STOP, UNLESS WE GET ANOTHER CAUTION. HE CAN GO THE DISTANCE. THEY CAME IN AND TOPPED OFF ON LAP 272. >> JUNIOR SAYS THE CAR IS GOOD ON ENTRY BUT TIGHT IN THE CENTER LIKE MOST EVERYONE ELSE TONIGHT. LET'S SEE IF JEFF CLARK MAKES A WEDGE ADJUSTMENT. HE PUTS THE SECOND CAN OF GAS IN. TONY, JR.IER, HITS IT AND HE IS GOOD TO GO. >> KURT BUSCH NOW HAS TO DO A DRIVE THROUGH DOWN PIT ROAD. >> CASEY ATWOOD, HE STALLED HIS CAR AND COULDN'T GET IT STARTED. HE'S SLOW OFF PIT ROAD. >> THAT'S THE PASS-THROUGH, 45 MILES AN HOUR. YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU DON'T SPEED AGAIN. CASEY ATWOOD, BILL ELLIOTT, DALE EARNHARDT, JR., THEY ALL MADE THEIR STOPS. JIM MIFF JOHNSON IN THAT 48 CAR AS HE PUTS DALE JARRETT DOWN A LAP, HE'S BACK IN THE LEAD. >> HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED TO KURT BUSCH FOR THE ORIGINAL INFRACTION. >> THERE IT GOES. >> THERE GOES THE TIRE. ONE OF THE OFFICIALS CATCHES IT. BUT IT'S OUT OF THE PIT BOX AND THAT'S IT. >> COSTLY MISTAKE. >> WENT FROM LEADING THE RACE TO HE'S GOING TO BE ABOUT THREE LAPS DOWN NOW. >> JIMMIE JOHNSON IS BACK TO THE FRONT. 90 >>> FOX WELCOMES YOU BACK. HOPE YOU'RE ENJOYING YOUR MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND. CRAZY THINGS HAPPEN WHEN A FULL MOON IS OUT. THAT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR ON THE "CRANK IT UP" CD. JIMMIE JOHNSON HAS BEEN CRANKING IT UP. HE HAS REALLY DOMINATED, LEADING THE MOST LAPS. WE'VE HAD 11 LEADERS, 20 LEAD CHANGES, EIGHT CAUTIONS FOR 44 LAPS. THE AVERAGE GREEN SPEED, 170 MILES PER HOUR. JEFF HAMMOND, THE 344 LAP MARK WAS THE 500 MILE OF THIS RACE. THIS BEING THE LONGEST RACE, THE DRIVER LEAD IT, AT THE 500 MARK HAS FAILED TO WIN THE LAST FOUR RACES HERE BUT JIMMIE JOHNSON IS TRYING TO CHANGE THAT. >> I KNOW HE'S TRYING TO CHANGE IT BUT I THINK HE MAY BE IN TROUBLE BECAUSE OF JUST FUEL MILEAGE ALONE. A LOT OF CREW CHIEFS RIGHT NOW JUST TAKING A REAL DEEP BREATH. THEY'RE GOING TO BE HOLDING IT OVER THE NEXT HUNDRED MILES, TRYING TO MAKE SURE THEIR CAR MAKES IT THE LAST HUNDRED MILES. >> CHAD KNAUS CONTINUES TO CRUNCH THE NUMBERS ON THE CALCULATOR. THEY'VE NOW TOLD JIMMIE YOU NEED TO START BACKING OFF, YOU NEED TO START BACKING OFF AND CONSERVE FUEL. >> THE WEAR AND TEAR, THEY'VE HAD THREE ENGINE FAILURES. THE MOST ENGINE FAILURE IN RACES THIS SEASON FIVE AT ROCKINGHAM, ATLANTA AND CALIFORNIA. I THINK THE 97 CAR JUST BLEW UP. >> HE SAID HE HAD TROUBLE WHEN HE CAME IN. HE'S STARTING TO SHOW A LITTLE BIT OF SMOKE RIGHT THERE. HE SAID HE HAD A VIBRATION, THOUGHT HE WAS LOSING A CYLINDER. THIS IS WHERE YOU'LL START TO SEE IT, THE FINAL 100 MILES THAT USUALLY GET THE GUYS IN TROUBLE. PLUS, HE MAY HAVE BEEN A LITTLE EXCITED COMING OUT OF THE PITS THAT LAST TIME. >> AFTER COMING FROM THE BACK OF THE PACK TWICE, HE WAS ALMOST AS READY TO MAKE AS GREAT A COMEBACK AS THE LAKERS DID. >> IT'S VERY DISHEARTENING BECAUSE HE HAD A GREAT RACE. IT LOOKED LIKE HE COULD POSSIBLY CHALLENGE JIMMIE JOHNSON TONIGHT. THAT WAS REALLY GOING TO BE SPECTACULAR IF HE COULD COME FROM THE BACK TWICE AND PUT A CHALLENGE ON TO WIN. >> STILL FOUR OF THE TOP FIVE ARE FORDS BUT THE LEADER IS IN A CHEVY. >> THE 97 CAR IS DOWN ON A CYLINDER. HE'S STILL GETTING THROUGH THE TURNS ALL RIGHT BUT HE'S LOST A CYLINDER FOR SURE. >> IT STARTED HAPPENING BEFORE THAT SEQUENCE OF PIT STOPS. HE MAY NOT HAVE HELPED IT BY NO MEANS BY TURNING A LOT OF RPMs BUT IT WAS STARTING TO TURN ON THE STRAIGHTAWAY. >> SHE WAS WOUNDED AND HE JUST WENT ON AND PUT HER OUT OF HER MISERY. >> JIMMIE JOHNSON MADE A PIT STOP WITH 104 MILES TO GO. IS THAT WITHIN RANGE? >> THAT'S CLOSE. THAT'S 6 LAPS. BUT WHAT I LIKE ABOUT WHERE HE'S SITTING, WE HAVE 50 LAPS TO GO. AS MARK MARKETIN JUST PASSED MATT KENSETH FOR SECOND. WE KNOW MATT KENSETH HAS TO STOP AGAIN. JIMMIE JOHNSON HAS A SIX SECOND LEAD ON MARTIN. YOU SLOW HIM DOWN, KEEP HIM POSTED WHERE THE SECOND PLACE CAR IS. >> I WOULD NORMALLY -- IT DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH -- HOW SHORT THEY'RE GOING TO COME UP. IF IT'S TEN OR 12 LAPS, YOU JUST GOT TO GO ON, GET AS FAR AHEAD AS YOU CAN, MAKE AS GOOD A STOP AS YOU CAN. BUT IF IT'S GOING TO BE CLOSE, YOU SLOW HIM DOWN, YOU CAN GET TWO OR THREE LAPS. >> THESE CARS HOLD 22 GALLONS OF FUEL. IF THEY GET AN AVERAGE OF 4.5 MILES PER GALLON, HE'S FIVE MILES SHORT. HE'S GOT TO BE GETTING THAN 4.5 TO MAKE IT. >> THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS YOU ALWAYS LIKE TO DO IS TO KNOW YOU HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE IN THAT TANK THAN YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE. THAT'S JUST BY WEAR AND TEAR OF A 600 MILE RACE TONIGHT, I ALWAYS LIKE TO -- I CALL JEFF, YOU GET IT FULL? NO, WE JUST GOT TWO CANS IN IT. >> MICHAEL WALTRIP IN THE 15, I TELL YOU, MICHAEL, HE'S BEEN HANGING OUT IN THAT TOP TEN ALL NIGHT LONG. >> IN THE BACK STRAIGHTAWAY, THINK THAT'S STACY COMPTON VERY SLOW. IS HE GOING TO MAKE IT TO PIT ROAD? >> HE JUST COME OUT OF THE PITS. >> FOLLOWING UP ON MICHAEL, HE TOLD ME HE WAS GOING TO RUN GOOD TONIGHT. HE'S TOLD ME THAT BEFORE. HE PASSED GORDON, HE'S BEEN UP THERE IN THE TOP TEN ALL NIGHT. I'M PROUD OF HIM TONIGHT. >> STACY COMPTON WILL MAKE IT TO PIT ROAD. WE'LL STAY GREEN WITH NO PROBLEM. >> WHOA, BUDDY, WHOA! NOW THAT'S LOOSE RIGHT THERE. THAT'S PUSH LOOSE. HAD THE WHEELS CUT TO THE LEFT IN THE THROTTLE, BACK END COMES AROUND. SNAPS AROUND. >> THAT'S WHERE GORDON WENT BY BIHIM. THEN HE REPASSED JEFF GORDON. THAT'S WHY SIXTH AND SEVENTH PLACE HAS BEEN CHANGING HANDS. >>> CAUSE IS OUT. RIDE WITH JIMMIE JOHNSON AND SEE WHY. >> YOU GOT THE 23 CAR THERE IN FRONT OF HIM, HUT STRICKLIN. GET UP INTO THE THIRD TURN HERE. WHOA! >> STAY UP THERE, STAY UP THERE, STAY UP THERE! RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU. COME ON, BABY, COME ON. AWESOME JOB, JIMMIE. AWESOME JOB. >> WHAT A GREAT JOB BY THAT STARTER. >> CAME UP IN FRONT OF JOHNSON. I TELL YOU, NORMALLY THIS CAR WOULD HAVE GONE UP, HIT THAT OUTSIDE RETAINING WALL RIGHT IN FRONT OF JIMMIE JOHNSON. >> BOTH THOSE GUYS NOWHERE TO GO. >> AND STRICKLIN WAS THE 15th PLACE CAR. HE WAS HAVING A GOOD RUN. >> HE WAS TRYING TO STAY ON THE LEAD LAP. >> WHAT YOU SEE RIGHT HERE IS STRATEGY IS OVER WITH. EVERYBODY TO PIT ROAD, EVERYBODY WILL TAKE FOUR TIRES. >> AND JIMMIE JOHNSON NEEDED THAT CAUTION BADLY. IT WILL BE A FOUR TIRE CHANGE FOR A RUN TO THE END. TO STEVE. >> RICKY CRAVEN NEEDED THIS, TOO. THEY GET A TRACK BAR ADJUSTMENT FOR HIM. HE HAD GOTTEN LOOSE. FOUR TIRES FOR RICKY CRAVEN. >> JIMMIE JOHNSON NEEDED TO BACK UP ABOUT A FOOT AND A HALF IN HIS PIT STALL. CHRIS ANDERSON, SEVENTH GRADE SCHOOL TEACHER. THEY MADE AN AIR PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT. LOSE AS LOT OF POSITION. MADE AN AIR PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT. HE FELT LIKE HE NEEDED A LITTLE MORE HELP 37. >> I KNOW HE'S GOT A FAST RACE CAR. HE WENT FROM ABOUT FIRST TO TENTH. THERE'S THE MAN THAT WON THE BATTLE OFF THE ROAD. THOSE BOYS CAME THROUGH WHEN THEY NEEDED TO. >> DID JIMMIE JUST OVERSHOOT HIS PIT? >> JUST BARELY. >> THAT'S BEEN A PROBLEM DOWN THERE ALL NIGHT FOR HIM. SEEMS LIKE HE WANTS TO GET IN THERE. CARRYING A LITTLE SPEED IN THERE TRYING TO MAKE UP TIME. HURT HIM THAT TIME. >> SO JIMMIE JOHNSON, WHO HAS DOMINATED THIS RACE JUST PUT HIMSELF IN A HOLE ONCE AGAIN. - YOU LOOK GOOD. - THANK YOU. WHAT DO YOU GOT THERE ? IT'S A SUBWAY SWEET ONION CHICKEN TERIYAKI. - OOH. NEVER HEARD OF THAT ONE. - WHAT-- ARE YOU OFF THE DIET ? - NO ! - I THINK IT'S JARED. - OH, LOOK ! JARED'S OFF HIS DIET ! >>> JIMMIE JOHNSON GOES INTO THIS CORNER AT 183 MILES AN HOUR. WATCH HIS SPEED DECELERATE AS HUT STRICKLIN GOES SIDE WAYS. >> ALL THE WAY DOWN TO ABOUT 50 MILES AN HOUR. SEE THE CAR IS OUT OF THE WAY, PICKS IT BACK UP. BUT THE CAUTION IS OUT. >> HE USED UP ALL HIS LUCK RIGHT THERE. NOW HE'S ON A RESTART IN NINTH PLACE. GUYS, LET ME TELL YOU, WITH 38 LAPS TO GO HERE, IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH TO GET BACK TO THE FRONT. >> HE'S GOING TO RESTART NINTH BUT BECAUSE OF THE LAP CARS, IT LIKE RESTARTING IN 18th POSITION OUTSIDE NINTH ROW. THAT'S WHERE HE HAD TO RESTART THAT WINSTON, TOO. >> BUT HE ONLY CAME BACK TO FIFTH. >> THAT'S ABOUT AS GOOD AS HE'S GOING TO DO TONIGHT. THAT 6 CAR MAY JUST CHECK OUT ON ALL OF THEM RIGHT HERE. >> LOOK HOW FAR BACK JOHNSON IS ON THE RESTART BECAUSE HE OVERSHOT HIS PIT. >> BILL ELLIOTT SPUN THE TIRES. JIMMIE WILL GET BY HIM REAL EASY. >> BILL ELLIOTT JUMPED SIDEWAYS ON THAT RESTART. >> JOHNSON HAS A LONG WAY TO GO AND JUST 57 MILES TO TO GET THERE. >> HE HAS LAP CARS TO DEAL WITH, ALONG WITH LEAD LAP CARS. >> MARK MARTIN REALLY DIDN'T NEED TO SEE THAT YELLOW FLAG COME OUT. HE'S ONE OF THE DRIVERS WHO HAD ENOUGH FUEL TO GO ALL THE WAY TO THE END OF THIS RACE. MARTIN HAS WON A DOZEN TIMES. TONIGHT ON TOP OF THE BOX, HIS CREW CHIEF HAS NEVER WON ANYWHERE AS A CREW CHIEF. HE HAS JUST TOLD HIS DRIVER CINCH 'EM UP, YOU ARE THE BEST THEY ARE ON A SHORT RUN LIKE THIS. TO STEVE BYRNES. >> RICKY RUDD, THE NEW IRE MAN, THEY CAME IN, HAD A TREMENDOUS PIT STOP, FOUR TIRES, HE IS RUNNING SECOND. >> ON HIS PREVIOUS STOP, JEFF GORDON A THREE-TIME COKE 600 WINNER, HIS CREW MADE AN AIR PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT, ONE POUND IN THE RIGHT REAR. HE WAS TIGHT. ON THIS LAST STOP DOWN ON THE TRACK BAR. GORDON SAYS HIS CAR LOOSE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE RUN BUT IT GET BETTER AND BETTER. WILL IT BE GOOD ENOUGH TO GET HIM HIS FOURTH 600 VICTORY? >> YOU WANT TO SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN THE BEGINNING OF THE RACE AND NEAR THE END OF THE RACE, WATCH THAT 17 CAR WHEN ARE HE STICKS IT UNDER THAT 28 CAR AND MAKES THE PASS. >> THE RACE CAR HAS LOTS OF GRIP. MATT KENSETH WAS ON PIT ROAD LAP 307 WITH A TIRE PROBLEM. WENT A LAP AND A HALF DOWN. HE NEEDED THAT CAUTION FLAG AND HE'S UP HERE IN SECOND. >> HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE SEEN THAT 24 GET BACK IN TRAFFIC AND HE CAN'T GO ANYWHERE. JIMMIE JOHNSON'S BACK IN SECOND. HE CAN'T GO ANYWHERE. >> HE'S ONLY MOVED UP ONE POSITION. THAT WAS ON THE RESTART. >> THOSE CARS SEEM TO BE FAST IN CLEAN AIR BUT STRUGGLE IN TRAFFIC. >> HERE'S WHERE JOHNSON CAN DO SOME CATCHING UP BECAUSE HE CAN GET CLEAN AIR OVER THAT NOSE AND AERODYNAMICALLY THAT WILL HELP THE CAR STICK. IF HE'S BEHIND ANOTHER CAR, THE CAR WILL NOT GET THE DOWN FORCE. >> HE'S HOPING ON -- SITTING ON A HOT STOVE. >> 33 LAPS TO GO. THIRD PLACE BATTLE. CRAVEN AND RUDD. >> THEY'RE ABOUT A TENTH SLOWER THAN OUR LEADER MARK MARTIN. >> MARK WAS RUNNING REALLY GOOD ALL NIGHT, HAS BEEN ALL NIGHT LONG. HE GETS OUT FRONT WITH CLEAN AIR I THINK THEY GOT TROUBLE. JIMMIE JOHNSON WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CATCH HIM WITHOUT A CAUTION. >> STACY COMPTON AND RON HORNADAY HAVE TAKEN THEIR CARS TO THE GARAGE. THIS IS THE NINTH TIME THAT MARK MARTIN HAS BEEN IN CONTENTION FOR THE MILLION DOLLAR BONUS. HE HAS NEVER WON IT, NOT YET. >> AND HE HAD WON A RACE FOR A WHILE. I KNOW HE WANTS IT BAD. HE'S BEEN GETTING BETTER EVERY WEEK. HIS TEAM, THEY MADE THOSE ADJUSTMENTS ON THE TEAM FROM LAST YEAR. TIME TO SHOW WHAT YOU GOT. >> THAT WAS MARK MARTIN'S FAN THERE PULLING FOR HER MAN RIGHT THERE. IF HE CAN WIN THIS RACE HE WINS A MILLION, SHE WINS $1 MILLION FROM WINSTON. RIGHT NOW MATT KENSETH IN SECOND PLACE. HIS TEAMMATE LAST TWO LAPS, HE'S BEEN ABOUT A TENTH QUICKER. HE IS COMING. >> A LOT WAS MADE IN FORMULA I RACE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO WHEN THE LEADER HAD TO PULL OVER JUST BEFORE THE FINISH LINE AND LET HIS TEAMMATE GET THE WIN AND THE POINTS. NO SUCH TEAM ORDERS IN NASCAR, EVEN THOUGH MARK MARTIN AND MATT KENSETH ARE TEAMMATES. IT'S EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF. >> THE THING ABOUT THSH HE'S GOT A LOT OF FANS, MARK DOES. HIS WHOLE PIT CREW IS PULLING FOR HIM BECAUSE HE'S GOING TO SHARE THE WEALTH. HE SAID IF HE WON THE WINSTON MILLION, HE WOULD SHARE IT WITH THE CREW. THAT'S THE KIND OF GUY MARK MARTIN IS. >> KENSETH NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE MILLION DOLLAR BONUS ON THIS RACE. >> JIMMIE JOHNSON TRYING TO GET AROUND THE CAR THAT WAS IN FRONT OF HIM A WHILE AGO. HUT STRICKLIN IN THE 23. HE'S BOTTLED UP BEHIND ALL THESE LAP CARS. >> A LITTLE SMOKE OUT OF EARNHARDT, JR. IN THE BACK STRAHTAWAY. >> WE'RE STANDING ON THE GAS RIGHT NOW. NOW IS WHEN THE ENGINES ARE REALLY TAKING A POUNDING. >> HE WAS RUNNING IN NINTH POSITION. >> ALL THE BELTS ARE GONE. >> OIL PUMP DRIVE BELT, POWER STEERING, THE WHOLE SHOOTING MATCH SHOT OFT FRONT OF HER. >> NO OIL PRESSURE. >> HE CAME ON THE RADIO AND SAID ALL THE BELTS ARE GONE, THE POWER STEERING BELT. JEFF CLARK SAID IT BLEW UP ON THE BACK STRAIGHTAWAY. JEFF CLARK AND TONY YURI, JR. LOOKS LIKE HIS CHANCES FOR HIS FIRST 600 WIN ARE GONE TONIGHT. DICK? >> WELL, PROBLEMS WITH THE LEADER AND SECOND PLACE SIMULTANEOUSLY. MOMENTS AGO MARK MARTIN CAME ON THE RADIO AND SAID IT'S PUSHING AGAIN. KENSETH IN SECOND SPOT JUST TALKED TO HIS CREW CHIEF. THE MOTOR'S STUMBLING. FIRST AND SECOND HAVING PROBLEMS MIKE. >> THEY MAY BE, DICK, BUT THEY ARE RUNNING PACE EQUAL TO THE START OF THIS RACE, 30.9 SECONDS PER LAP. >> I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THOSE "JUST KIDDING." >> THEY ARE THE FASTES TWO CARS BUT THAT GUY IN THAT 24 CAR, THE FLAMES, HE'S PRETTY QUICK, TOO. >> BOY, HE IS. HE'S CLOSING IN ON THAT GROUP RIGHT THERE. >> BUT THEY ARE THREE SECONDS BEHIND THE LEADER WITH ONLY 26 LAPS TO GO. MARK MARTIN IS OUR LEADER. WE'RE GOING AWAY. WE'LL BE BACK FOR THE RUN TO THE CHECKERED FLAG. >>> OH, WHAT A NIGHT IT'S BEEN. THIS KIND OF THING KEEPS HAPPENING. >> BOY, THAT WAS CLOSE. >> DOWN KEN SCHRADER, DOWN! >> ROBBY GORDON IS 22 LAPS AWAY FROM RUNNING A MILE AND A HALF SHY OF 1,100 MILES TODAY. 500 AT INDY AND 600 MINUS A MILE AND A HALF, ONE LAP DOWN HERE AT LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY. >> HE DID IT IN '97, AGAIN IN 2000, THOSE P.J. JONES STARTED THE CAR HERE IN CHARLOTTE AT 2000 SO GORDON WASN'TxD CREDITED WITH THE START. >> HE HAS GOT TO BE ONE BEATEN YOUNG MAN IN THERE. THAT'S A HARD DAY'S WORK. >> HE'S IN 17th POSITION RIGHT NOW. >> JEFF GORDON. >> TELL HIM HE CAN DO IT. YOU GOT TO TELL HIM HE CAN DO IT. >> DALE EARNHARDT, JR.'S CAR'S BEEN TAKEN TO THE GARAGE, OUT OF THE RACE. >> GUESS WHAT, GUYS? THAT 17 CAR, LARRY, WITH THOSE FLAMES ON THE HOOD, HE'S INCHING IN ON THAT 6 CAR. >> LAST COUPLE LAPS HE'S BEEN ABOUT A TENTH QUICKER THAN HIS TEAMMATE AND LEADER, MARK MARTIN. THEY'RE GOING TO CATCH SOME MORE LAP CARS BEFORE THIS THING IS OVER. THE MORE LAP TRAFFIC HE HAS TO FIGHT, THE MORE HE HAS TO PUSH. >> WELL, 26-YEAR-OLD JIMMIE JOHNSON DOMINATED THIS RACE. 43-YEAR-OLD MARK MARTIN STARTED 25th TONIGHT. NO 600 MILE WINNER AT CHARLOTTE HAS EVER STARTED THAT FAR BACK. >> GOT TO GIVE A CALL TO OUR DRIVERS, OUR VETERAN DRIVERS. THEY'RE ALL RIGHT UP THERE IN THE TOP TEN OR 12 TONIGHT. THAT'S A PRODUCT OF THIS RACE, KNOWING THE TRACK, GOING THROUGH THE TRANSITIONS IT GOES THROUGH. >> THERE YOU SEE OUR FOX TRAX, RICKY CRAVEN IN RICKY RUDD AND JEFF GORDON. THEY'RE ABOUT 4.5 SECONDS BEHIND OUR LEADERS RIGHT NOW. THEY'RE ABOUT 0.2 OF A LAP SLOWER THAN OUR LEADER. >> THE ONLY DRIVER WHO LEGITIMATELY HAS A SHOT AT MARTIN IS HIS ROUSH RACING TEAMMATE, MATT KENSETH. >> THAT LAP HE WAS 0.2 LAPS QUICKER THAN HIS TEAMMATE. HE'S ABOUT THREE CAR LENGTHS AWAY BUT THERE'S LAP CARS UP IN FRONT OF HIM. >> MARK MARTIN CAN MAKE AN EXTRA MILLION IF HE WINS THIS RACE. THE WINSTON NO BULL 5. AND SO CAN THE FAN THAT IS PAIRED WITH HIM. >> RIGHT THERE, THAT'S WHERE MATT IS SO MUCH STRONGER. HE'S ABLE TO DRIVE THAT INTO TURN THING, BRING IT TO THE BOTTOM. HE PICKED UP ABOUT TWO CAR LENGTHS RIGHT THERE. >> I THINK HE'S FLOATING IT DOWN THERE IN THERE BUT WHEN HE GETS THERE, HE NAILS IT. YOU NAIL 800 HORSEPOWER. >> DISAPPOINTS NIGHT FOR DALE EARNHARDT, JR. WHAT HAPPENED, DALE? >> I HAD SOME PULLEY AS COME OUT OF THE MOTOR. IT THREW ALL THE BELTS OFF AND BURNED THE CAR UP. BUT IT'S A TOUGH NIGHT. WE WAS RUNNING PRETTY GOOD, FELT LIKE WE WAS IN A GOOD POSITION TO RUN WELL. GOT IN THE WALL TRYING TO GET AROUND A LAP CAR AND WE GOT A CHANCE TO FIX THE CAR, GET IT BACK DECENT AND THAT'S WHAT WE WAS SHOOTING FOR, JUST TO GET A GOOD FINISH. MOTOR BLEW UP. >> THANKS. >> CAN YOU TELL HE'S HOT, HE'S TIRED. THIS IS A HOT RACE. WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT ROBBY GORDON. THIS IS QUITE A FEAT THIS BOY, HE HAS 500 MORE MILES UNDER HIS BELT. >> PLUS FROM INDIANAPOLIS FLYING DOWN HERE, GETTING ON A HELICOPTER AND RUNNING A RACE. I DON'T CARE, ANYBODY THAT CAN DO THAT, MY HAT'S OFF TO HIM. >> WHAT I THINK HAS HAPPENED WITH MATT KENSETH, HE CAUGHT MARK. HIS CAR WAS PUSHING AND NOT TURNING EITHER. NOW HE'S LOSING GROUND BECAUSE HIS CAR'S NOT TURNING. >> LARRY, LET'S DO THE MATH. WHO CAN WIN THE MOST MONEY HERE TONIGHT? >> I WOULD SAY THE 6 CAR. >> I WOULD SAY IF I WAS DRIVING IN THAT 17 CAR, I'D BE PULLING FOR HIM TO WIN EVERY BIT OF IT. >> WELL, KENSETH HAS WON TWICE THIS YEAR. APRIL OF 2000 IN MARTINSVILLE WAS MARK'S LAST WIN. THERE'S NO QUESTION WHO WANTS IT MORE. JANET HOGAN OF STERLING, VIRGINIA IS MARK MARTIN'S BIGGEST FAN. IF HE WINS, SHE WINS THE NO BULL 5 $1 MILLION AS WELL. >> PROBABLY HERE ON MATT KENSETH'S RADIO, MATT, GO TO CHANNEL 2. >> WE GOT ABOUT 13 LAPS TO GO. >> BUT SEE, THE REASON THIS CAN HAPPEN LIKE IT DOES IN FORMULA IS MARK'S SPONSORS NEED FOR HIM TO WIN. YOU JUST CAN'T AFFORD TO PLAY TEAM POLITICS WHEN THERE'S THIS MUCH MONEY AND THIS MUCH AT STAKE. >> YOU GOT TO REMEMBER SOMETHING THOSE CARS ARE OWNED BY THE SAME GUY. WHEN NEAL AND I DROVE FOR JUNIOR WE'D DO THINGS TO HELP EACH OTHER AND WHAT MADE THE MOST SENSE. WE'LL SEE HOW THIS WORKS OUT. ACTUALLY, I WON A RACE AT NASHVILLE, NEAL TOOK THE SECOND FLAG, JUNIOR PROFESSIONAL TESTED THE RACE BECAUSE I SHOULD HAVE WON THE RACE. HE OWNED BOTH CARS. >> WE TALK ABOUT OWNER, MARK MARTIN OWNS A PIECE OF THAT 17 CAR. HE'S PARTLY RESPONSIBLE WHILE MATT KENSETH IS DRIVING THAT 17 CAR. >> THAT MAY EVEN BE MORE INFLUENCE ON MATT. >> MAYBE MARK MARTIN SAID -- >> FOLKS, CHANNEL 2 IS KIND OF LIKE YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL WHERE YOU DISCUSS THINGS YOU DON'T WANT NOBODY TO HEAR. >> THE DIFFERENCE IS 0.2 SECONDS. 11 LAPS TO GO. >> HE KEEPS MAKING A RUN UP TO MARK'S REAR BUMPER AND THEN HE BACKS OFF AND RUNS ABOUT 0.2 SLOWER. THIS IS MILES PER HOUR. LEADER, MARK MARTIN. MATT KENSETH IN SECOND. THERE YOU SEE THE INTERVAL. >> JIMMIE JOHNSON IS THE FASTEST CAR ON THE RACETRACK BUT HE HAS ONLY MOVED UP AS FAR AS EIGHTH PLACE. >> HE RESTARTED IN NINTH. ACTUALLY IN TENTH, HE HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD. THAT'S A SHAME, HAVE A CAR THAT GOOD. >> DOMINATE THE RACE, ONE LITTLE MISTAKE. STOPPED TOO FAR FORWARD OVER THE PIT BOX, HAD TO BACK UP. NOW HE'S AN EIGHTH PLACE CAR. >> HE'S BEEN THERE. THE ONLY PASS HE'S MADE WAS ON BILL ELLIOTT ON THE RACE CAR. >> LEADERS IN RACE TRAFFIC, MARK MARTIN OPENS UP A LITTLE BIT OF AN ADVANTAGE. GOES UNDERNEATH JERRY NADEAU. JOHNNY BENSON EXPECTED BACK IN THAT 10 CAR FOR POCONO IN TWO WEEKS. NURSING BROKEN RIBS. >> NOW THEY PULL UP ON STEVE PARK. >> HERE COMES KENSETH RIGHT UM ON THE BACK OF HIM. >> EIGHT LAPS TO GO THIS TIME. >> I THINK THAT 17 IS QUITE CONTENT. >> SECOND IN THE POINTS, THIS WOULD BE A GOOD POINTS RUN FOR HIM AS WELL SINCE STERLING MARL SEASON BACK IN 11th. >> STERLING'S CAR HASN'T HANDLED THAT WELL TONIGHT. >> JEFF GORDON IS IN FIRST PLACE. >> NOT FOR LONG. >> RUNNING OFF RICKY RUDD. >> GOT A PRETTY GOOD RUN OFF RICKY HERE. LET'S SEE WHO WINS THE RACE INTO THREE. RICKY CARRIES IT IN HIGH. JEFF IS QUICKER THROUGH THE CENTER OF THE QUARTER. >> OH, THAT WAS CLOSE. >> WHEN THE SUN WAS OUT, GORDON WAS AGAINST THE WALL. NOW IT'S TIME TIME AND HE'S HUGING THAT WHITE LINE. RICKY CRAVEN LIKES WHAT THESE GUYS ARE DOING BECAUSE HE'S SITTING UP THERE IN THIRD. HE RAN A HALF A SECOND QUICKER THAN THOSE GUYS RUNNING SIDE BY SIDE. >> A GREAT NIGHT FOR RICKY CRAVEN AND THAT TEAM. >> CRAVEN ON TRACK FOR A THIRD PLACE FINISH. HERE ARE THE LEADERS. >> YES, SIR. MARK SITTING THERE SAYING KISS ME SOME MONEY, BABY. I'M GOING TO VICTORY CIRCLE. >> ALL RIGHT, DARRELL. WE KNOW THESE DRIVERS MAKE A LOT OF MONEY, HAVE BIG HOMES, SEVERAL OF THEM THEY HAVE THE MILLION DOLLAR MOTOR COACH. HOW MUCH IS AN EXTRA MILLION DOLLARS REALLY WORTH -- >> MAN, THERE WERE SPARKS OFF OF SOMEBODY'S CAR. I LOOKED UP, SAW THOSE SPARKS. YOU KNOW, I GOT TO TELL YOU, I THINK I'M CORRECT WHEN I SAY THIS. I KNOW IN MY GENERATION, IT WASN'T ABOUT THE MONEY. IT WAS ABOUT WINNING THE COCA-COLA 600. IT'S ABOUT WINNING ONE OF THE TOUGHEST RACES THERE IS TO WIN, PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU'RE MARK MARTIN AND HAVEN'T WON A RACE IN OVER A YEAR. >> BUT HOW ABOUT THAT FAN DOWN THERE? >> THAT FAN, -- >> NOW THAT'S WHERE $1 MILLION IS WORTH SOMETHING. >> THAT FAN IS LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS RACE. THEY'RE CATCHING MORE LAP TRAFFIC. >> ROUSH RACING LOOKING FOR THEIR FOURTH STRAIGHT 600 MILE WIN HERE AT CHARLOTTE. >> WITH THREE DIFFERENT DRIVERS, JEFF BURTON, MATT KENSETH. >> MAN, YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN THE 24, THEY'RE GETTING AFTER IT, THE 24 AND THE 28 ARE. >> YOU'D THINK THIS IS NOR A MILLION DOLLARS. >> GOT A CAR SPINNING OFF THE CORNER DOWN HERE. >> MIKE SKINNER. EVERYBODY COMING THROUGH THE CLOUD OF SMOKE. NO CAUTION. >> NO CAUTION! HE'S GOING TO GET THE CAR BACK ON THE RACETRACK. >> COME ON, COME ON! >> AND DURING ALL THAT MARK MARTIN PULLED AWAY FROM MATT KENSETH. THAT WAS THREE LAPS TO GO AT THAT TIME. >> A LOT OF TRAFFIC, THOUGH. >> MARTIN SPLITS TRAFFIC. >> HE'S DEFINITELY FORCING THE ISSUE NOW. HE WANTS TO GET AWAY FROM KENSETH. >> LOOK AT KENSETH WRESTLING THAT THING. HE KNOW THERE'S TWO LEFT TO GO NEXT TIME BY. >> MARK MARTIN THREADED THAT NEEDING THROUGH TRAFFIC. >> MORE TROUBLE. OOH, BABY! >> HE'S ON A MISSION! >> MARK IS NOT CHECKING UP FOR ANYBODY! >> MARK MARTIN'S DRIVING THAT THING LIKE IT'S WORTH A MILLION DOLLARS. >> AND MORE. THAT'S JUST THE BONUS THAT'S THE MILLION DOLLARS. >> YEAH, THAT'S NOT COUNTING THE PURSE MONEY, WHICH IS SEVERAL HUNDRED,000. I HAVEN'T SEEN MARK DRIVE LIKE THIS IN A YEAR. >> HE HAS ONLY LED 42 LAPS. RICKY RUDD LED 49 LAPS. >> HE'S CATCHING THE CAR IN EXACTLY THE RIGHT PLACES. HE GETS HIS NOSE DOWN UNDER. >> HE AND KENSETH ONE TO GO, BABY >> WHITE FLAG! >> MARK, YOU ARE THE MAN TONIGHT! >> MARK MARTIN HAS NEVER WON THE NO BULL MILLION DOLLAR BONUS. THIS IS HIS NINTH TRIAD IT. HE HASN'T WON SINCE APRIL 2000. TWO AGONIZING YEARS. >> HE'S GOT JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE TRAFFIC HERE. >> A LITTLE BIT? HE'S GOT A LOT OF TRAFFIC. >> KENSETH IS IN WORSE SHAPE. HE'S HUNG UP SELL. >> MARK MARTIN HAS NEVER WON THE 600 AT CHARLOTTE. NOW HE HAS. MARK MARTIN WINS THE COCA-COLA FAMILY 600. >> HERE COME JEFF GORDON -- A BATTLE FOR FIFTH. >> JIMMIE JOHNSON ENDS UP IN SEVENTH. LOOK AT THIS GROUP. BOY, THAT IS A HAPPY BUNCH. >> THEY SPLIT THE BONUS WITH MARK AND THE REST OF THAT TEAM. ON MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, A REAL RACING VETERAN WINS THE COKE 600. >> YOU'VE GOT IT. >> IT'S HIS FOURTH WIN HERE AT CHARLOTTE IN 35 STARTS. 19 YEARS OF TRYING, MARK MARTIN HAS FINALLY WON THE 600. >> UH-OH WHERE'S HE GOING HERE, GUYS? WHERE IS HE GOING? THERE'S A MARK MARTIN WE HAVEN'T SEEN IN A LONG TIME. >> HE'S GOING ANYWHERE HE WANTS. >> HOW ABOUT THAT. LOOK AT HIM TEAR UP THIS INFIELD. >> THESE FANS ARE LOVING IT. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANYBODY HERE WHO DIDN'T WANT TO SEE MARK MARTIN WIN THIS RACE. >> IT'S HIS 33rd CAREER VICTORY, HIS 22nd SUPER SPEEDWAY WIN AND THE FOURTH STRAIGHT FORD WIN IN NASCAR'S LONGEST RACE. >> REMEMBER, THE CREW SWAP. BOTH THESE RACE TEAMS ARE VETERANS. LISTEN TO THEM. >>>LSO A MILLION DOLLARS RICHER IS THIS WOMAN RIGHT HERE. JANET HOGAN OF STERLING, VIRGINIA. >> LOOK, DID YOU SEE THAT FACE? >> DICK BERGGREN. >> NEVER WON WON OF THESE THINGS AS A CREW CHIEF. HOW GUT WRENCHING WERE THOSE LAST FIVE OR TEN LAPS? >> IT'S TERRIBLE, ESPECIALLY TO BE UP AGAINST MATT KENSETH, WHO I FORTUNATELY WAS ASSOCIATED WITH WHEN HE WON THE 600. MATT ACTUALLY WAS A LITTLE BIT FASTER. I'D LIKE TO TAKE THIS SECOND TO DEDICATE THIS RACE TO A REAL GOOD FRIEND OF MINE WHO DIED ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, BIG JIM CALLEDFIELD. >> TO MATT. >> MATT KENSETH ALMOST PULLED OFF HIS SECOND VICTORY. LAP CARS IN THE WAY? >> A LITTLE BIT. WE HAD AN UPHILL BATTLE ALL DAY. I THINK WE BROKE A VALVE SPRING OR SOMETHING RIGHT AT THE END. I THOUGHT LIKE WE HAD A LITTLE BIT BETTER CAR THAN MARK. I'M HAPPY TO SEE HIM WIN. MAYBE IT WILL PUT HIM IN A BETTER MOOD. >> YOU MIGHT SEE A SMILE FROM MARK. CERTAINLY ROUSH RACING HAD A GREAT NIGHT TONIGHT. THE GENERAL MUST BE SMILING. >> IT WAS. WE RAN REALLY GOOD. WE WERE A THREAT TO WIN IT. THE 6 WAS THERE ALL NIGHT. WE WERE THERE ALL NIGHT. I FEEL REALLY GOOD. THE CREW DID A GOOD JOB. >> MATT KENSETH. SECOND TOP FIVE. >> MATT THINKS HE HE BROKE A VALVE SPRING, DARRELL THINKS HE BROKE HIS MONEY CLIP. >> I LIKE WHAT HE SAID, MABE' MARK WILL BE IN A LITTLE BIT BETTER MOOD NOW. >> SHOW ME THE MONEY! FOLLOWING THE MONEY TRAIL TO VICTORY LANE. >> I'M HAPPY FOR THE FAN. THINK ABOUT IT. >> KENSETH SECOND AS WE'VE SEEN RICKY CRAVEN FINISH HIS THIRD. RICKY RUDD IS FOURTH, JEFF GORDON FIFTH, TONY STEWART, JIMMIE JOHNSON, MICHAEL WALTRIP, BILL ELLIOTT, RUSTY WALLACE ARE THE TOP TEN. DICK BERGGREN IS WITH THE THIRD PLACE FINISHER. >> RICKY CRAVEN HAS SAT ON THE ROOF OF HIS RACE CAR, NOT FEELING WELL. HOW ROUGH IS THAT? >> IT'S GREAT WHEN YOU'RE DISAPPOINTED WITH THIRD. I CIRCLED THIS RACE BACK IN JANUARY. THIS IS THE ONE I WANTED BUT WE CAME UP SHORT. I'M GOING TO HAVE TO GIVE MIKE HIS SEVEN 500. WE'RE IN THE NO BULL RACE AT DAYTONA. ANYBODY CAN USE A LITTLE EXTRA CASH. WINSTON'S BEEN QUITE GENEROUS. IT WAS A GREAT NIGHT, A GREAT EFFORT. I'M SO PROUD OF THESE GUYS. WE'RE RUNNING IN-HOUSE CHASSISS. YATES HAS GIVEN US AWESOME POWER AND THEY MAKE IT PRETTY EASY ON ME. >> YOU'RE WONDERING HOW DEMANDING THIS IS. TAKE A LOOK AT THIS MAN'S FACE. >> JEFF GORDON, WHAT A NIGHT OF ADJUSTABILITY FOR YOU AND THIS TEAM. >> IT'S A GREAT EFFORT. I THINK THIS SHOW AS LOT ABOUT THE STRENGTH OF THIS TEAM. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE UP. A TOP FIVE RIGHT NOW MEAN AS WHOLE LOT TO US. I THINK I SHOWED HOW MUCH IT MEANT TO ME WHEN I WAS BATTLING STEWART RIGHT THERE ON THE LAST LAP. THAT WAS A GREAT BATTLE. HI TO RUN HIM DOWN, THOUGH. YOU WHEN YOU GOT A NO BULL MILLION ON THE LINE AT DAYTONA, YOU CAN'T GIVE UP THOSE TOP FIVES. THE GUYS JUST DID A GREAT JOB ADJUSTING THE DUPONT CHEVROLET. I JUST CAN'T THANK THEM ENOUGH. >> WHAT ABOUT A WILD RUN TO THE FINISH? >> YOU KNOW, THESE DAYS YOU GOT TO BATTLE HARD FOR EVERY POSITION. I JUST THANK GOD THAT IT WAS A SAFE RACE AND ME AND STEWART WERE BUMPING. I LOVE RACING HIM. WHEN HE COOLS DOWN HE'LL KNOW WHY WE HAD TO RACE LIKE THAT. I JUST CAN'T THANK DUPONT, QUAKER STATE, LOWE'S. I THOUGHT JIMMIE WAS GOING TO WIN THAT THING TONIGHT. THAT WAS A GREAT PIT STOP, GOT US UP IN THE TOP FIVE. IF I COULD HAVE JUST GOT A LITTLE BIT BETTER TRACK POSITION WE'D HAVE BEEN STYLING. >> JEFF GORDON EARNS HIS TENTH. >> WELCOME TO OUR COCA-COLA RACING FAMILY 600 POSTRACE SHOW WHERE MARK MARTIN AND A LUCKY FAN ARE EACH GOING TO GET $1 MILLION BONUS. FOR WINNING THE 600 HERE AT CHARLOTTE HERE TONIGHT. VICTORY LANE HAS BEEN MOVED FROM ITS TRADITIONAL POSITION BEHIND PIT ROAD OUT TO THE FRONT STRAIGHTAWAY SO ALL THE FANS CAN ENJOY IT. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN TWO YEARS, MARK MARTIN IS GOING TO CLIMB OUT IN OUR CIRCUIT CITY WINNER'S CIRCLE! >> TERRIFIC, MAN. TERRIFIC! >> ALL RIGHT, MARK MARTIN CELEBRATING WITH HIS SON MATT. >> MARK, YOU GOT A MILLION DOLLAR BONUS. BUT PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANTLY, LAST YEAR PEOPLE WROTE YOU OFF, THEY QUESTIONED YOUR WILL TO WIN. >> SHE'S A MILLIONAIRE. SHE'S A MILLIONAIRE. I'M GIVING MOST ALL MINE AWAY TO THESE GUYS. I TOLD 'EM THEY CAN WIN THAT RACE, THEY CAN HAVE MOST OF MY PART OF THAT MONEY, A BIG PART OF IT. I MIGHT KEEP JUST A LITTLE BIT BUT I CAN'T WIN IN A SLOW CAR AND THIS VIAGRA TEAM, THEY BUCKLED DOWN AND THEY PUT ME IN A RACE CAR THAT COULD WIN, THEY GAVE ME THE LEAD WITH FOUR TIRES AND EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT. >> LET'S TALK TO THE NEWEST MILLIONAIRE. HOW EXCITED ARE YOU? >> I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO SAY. 'S HARD TO BELIEVE. I'VE BEEN SAYING IT ALL WEEK. I SAID MARK MART SEASON GOING TO WIN. >> YOU SAID EARLIER THIS SEASON YOU THOUGHT A WIN WAS AROUND THE CORNER BUT WINS ARE NOT GUARANTEED. WILL YOU SAVOR THIS ONE? IT'S BEEN SO LONG. >> I DON'T KNOW IF I'LL EVER WIN ANOTHER ONE. CAN YOU BELIEVE I'M GOING TO PARTY ALL NIGHT. I DON'T EVEN DRINK. WE'LL HAVE LOTS OF GATORADE. I WANT TO THANK MAXWELL HOUSE AND CRAFT BRAND AND GOODYEAR FOR SUCH A GREAT TIRE AND FORD TAURUS, THIS TEAM GAVE ME THE LEAD, THOUGH. THEY'RE THE ONES THAT WON THIS RACE. >> MARK, PERSONALLY, IS IT VINDICATING FOR YOU AFTER YOU WERE WRITTEN OFF? >> NO, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE GOT OVER. WE HAVE TO START STUDYING TONIGHT. >> MARK MARTIN IN OUR CIRCUIT CITY WINNER'S CIRCLE. BOY, THAT CLOCK TURNS BACK TO ZERO PRETTY QUICKLY. >> IT'S A TYPICAL DRIVER. YOU CAN'T ENJOY THIS ONE BECAUSE YOU GOT TO THINK ABOUT THE NEXT ONE.

Channel: Michael McIntyre

Views: 22,671

Keywords: Auto, Racing, NASCAR, Winston, NEXTEL, Sprint, Cup, Series, 2002, Coca Cola, Family, 600, Lowe's, Charlotte, Motor, Speedway, North Carolina

Id: 54E6KN0YfNw

Length: 217min 37sec (13057 seconds)

Published: Wed Nov 16 2016