Mark Martin stretched his fuel long enough and then benefited from Brad Keselowski’s last-lap mishap to win Saturday’s Sam’s Town 300, which extended his record of career victories in the Nationwide Series to 49.
Martin, who made his first start in NASCAR’s second-tier series in nearly two years, gambled on fuel in the late stages of the 300-mile race. He grabbed the lead from Keselowski on the final lap when Keselowski cut a tire and then hit the wall.
It was the fourth time Martin has won at Las Vegas. His last victory in Nationwide came at this track in 2008. MiamiHerald.com
“I just decided I wasn’t going to run out of gas, and then with two to go, I went ahead and stepped on it (because) I figured I was close enough to the finish,” Martin said. “Golly, that’s a storybook ending for me.”
Just Allgaier finished second to give Turner Motorsports, a Nationwide Series team competing against Sprint Cup teams every weekend, a 1-2 finish. Keselowski wound up third.
Patrick placed fourth, the best finish for a woman in a national NASCAR race since Sara Christian was fifth at Pittsburgh in 1949.
“We just had a good car, that’s all I can say. That’s what makes a difference in these things,” said Patrick. “I know I haven’t had the best results, especially in NASCAR, but we’re getting them now.”
Trevor Bayne was fifth and Edwards settled for sixth after leading 68 laps. Denny Hamlin was seventh, while Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Jason Leffler and Kenny Wallace rounded out the top 10. Las Vegas Sun
FIN CAR DRIVER MAKE 1 32 Mark Martin Chevrolet 2 31 Justin Allgaier Chevrolet 3 22 Brad Keselowski Dodge 4 7 Danica Patrick Chevrolet 5 16 Trevor Bayne Ford 6 60 Carl Edwards Ford 7 20 Denny Hamlin Toyota 8 6 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Ford 9 38 Jason Leffler Chevrolet 10 9 Kenny Wallace Toyota 11 30 Reed Sorenson Chevrolet 12 2 Elliott Sadler Chevrolet 13 62 Michael Annett Toyota 14 11 Brian Scott Toyota 15 88 Aric Almirola Chevrolet 16 66 Steve Wallace Toyota 17 19 Mike Bliss Chevrolet 18 89 Morgan Shepherd Chevrolet 19 99 Ryan Truex * Toyota 20 14 Eric McClure Chevrolet 21 1 Mike Wallace Chevrolet 22 23 Robert Richardson Jr. Dodge 23 97 Joe Nemechek Chevrolet 24 15 Timmy Hill * Ford 25 28 Derrike Cope Chevrolet 26 81 Donnie Neuenberger Dodge 27 51 Jeremy Clements Chevrolet 28 33 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 29 70 Shelby Howard Chevrolet 30 18 Kyle Busch Toyota 31 79 Jennifer Jo Cobb * Ford 32 141 Carl Long Ford 33 40 Scott Wimmer Chevrolet 34 27 J.J. Yeley Ford 35 25 Kelly Bires Ford 36 55 Brett Rowe Chevrolet 37 24 Kevin Lepage Ford 38 39 Josh Wise Ford 39 52 Daryl Harr Chevrolet 40 103 Charles Lewandoski * Dodge 41 168 Tim Andrews Ford 42 44 Jeff Green Chevrolet 43 87 Kevin Conway Chevrolet
| 
|