Mayfield Wins on Fumes
A risky fuel strategy paid off for Jeremy Mayfield at Michigan International Speedway today, as the #19 Dodge driver took his first win of the season and his fifth career NASCAR win
Mayfield ran the final 52 laps on a single tank of fuel, moving up the field as one car after another was forced to pit for fuel - eventually leaving Mayfield in the lead with six laps to go.
"We took a big chance running all the way, and it's pretty cool winning a race like that," said Mayfield, whose win moved him to sixth in the points standing, also solidifying his place in the Chase for the Cup.
"We robbed a bank and got away with it," said Mayfield's crew chief Slugger Labbe. "It was a gamble but it paid off."
Labbe also revealed that Mayfield had suffered from engine problems throughout the race, stating: "Our motor was running 270 (degrees) today. It was cooked, but we made it."
In fact, nearly every car suffered from tyre failures or overheated engines, after strong winds had blown garbage over the cars' fenders and grills, blocking airflow to the radiators.
Among the victims was pole-sitter Joe Nemechek, who fell back after suffering from a flat tyre - but he fought his way back to finish eighth.
Second behind Mayfield was Scott Riggs, recording his highest NASCAR finish, with Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards in third and fourth respective.
Points leader Tony Steward finished fifth, with Greg Biffle in sixth and reigning Cup Champion Kurt Busch seventh.
Pos Driver Make Laps 1. Jeremy Mayfield Dodge 200 2. Scott Riggs Chevrolet 200 3. Matt Kenseth Ford 200 4. Carl Edwards Ford 200 5. Tony Stewart Chevrolet 200 6. Greg Biffle Ford 200 7. Kurt Busch Ford 200 8. Joe Nemechek Chevrolet 200 9. Brian Vickers Chevrolet 200 10. Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 200 11. Bill Elliott Dodge 200 12. Ryan Newman Dodge 200 13. Rusty Wallace Dodge 200 14. Casey Mears Dodge 200 15. Jeff Gordon Chevrolet 200 16. Bobby Labonte Chevrolet 200 17. Mark Martin Ford 200 18. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 200 19. Ricky Rudd Ford 200 20. Jamie McMurray Dodge 200 21. Sterling Marlin Dodge 200 22. Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 200 23. Scott Wimmer Dodge 200 24. Jeff Green Dodge 200 25. Ken Schrader Dodge 200 26. Jeff Burton Chevrolet 200 27. Michael Waltrip Chevrolet 199 28. John Andretti Chevrolet 199 29. Kasey Kahne Dodge 199 30. Robby Gordon Chevrolet 199 31. Tony Raines Dodge 198 32. Dave Blaney Chevrolet 198 33. Kyle Petty Dodge 198 34. Dale Jarrett Ford 198 35. Bobby Hamilton Jr. Chevrolet 197 36. Jimmy Spencer Ford 196 37. Mike Bliss Chevrolet 185 38. Travis Kvapil Dodge 179 39. Elliott Sadler Ford 174 40. Terry Labonte Chevrolet 159 41. Stuart Kirby Chevrolet 140 42. Johnny Benson Chevrolet 127 43. Kyle Busch Chevrolet 81
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