A TUMS’ “FIGHTS BACK FAST” MOMENT
(For each of the 36 races during the 2011 Sprint Cup season, TUMS will provide a brief historical recap of a moment when a team fought back to overcome an obstacle, one that can easily be described as a TUMS “Fights Back Fast” Moment. This week, the focus is on Kansas Speedway).
MARK MARTIN AND TEAM “DID WHAT WE HAD TO” FOR A WIN AT KANSAS
The date was Oct. 9, 2005. Mark Martin, driver of the No. 6 Roush Racing Ford, started the 267-lap race at Kansas Speedway from the 19th position. But Martin knew his car was good and felt if he didn’t encounter problems, he would have a good shot to win. NOTE: TUMS is the sponsor of the TUMS Fast Relief 500, the seventh race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, at Martinsville Speedway on October 30.
Martin led three times for 139 laps, first at lap 122 for 57 laps. He lost the lead to Tony Stewart, Carl Edwards and others for five laps but fought back to gain the top spot for 32 more laps. Martin battled back against Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick and Travis Kvapil and led the final 47 laps of the race.
“We had a great car; we took the lead before the halfway point, so it was almost a relief to cross that finish line,” Martin said in victory lane. “I had a lot of laps out front to worry about what could go wrong…I didn’t want to lose and we did what we had to in order to get this win.”
