Mark Martin: "I want to go down slugging as hard as I can." Credit: Autostock

Martin won't lose sleep over lug nut debate

Runner-up finish comes at crucial time of season

BROOKLYN, Mich. -- Mark Martin has no desire to be dragged into the debate over whether or not a NASCAR ruling cost him victory Sunday at Michigan International Speedway.

All he cares to discuss is how thrilling it is to drive fast racecars again.

GFS MARKETPLACE 400 Victory Lane Biffle earns his second career win after leading 73 laps at Michigan Runner Up Mark Martin overcomes a pit penalty to finish second at MIS Early Caution Junior, Johnson and Kahne are involved in the first caution Engine Troubles Jimmie Johnson and Rusty Wallace see their days end early Spin Cycle Both Wimmer and Busch spin off Turn 2, avoid hitting anything Pit Miscue? The No. 6 team is penalized for a loose lugnut •   Results •   Standings •   "Bubble" Standings •   "Clinch" Standings

"Don't get me in it. I don't know, didn't ask, don't have time to worry about it," Martin said regarding a NASCAR ruling on Lap 132 of the GFS Marketplace 400 that forced him to re-pit and tighten loose lug nuts on the left rear wheel of his Ford.

"It wasn't my deal to sort out for them. What I had to do was my job, which was come from the back of the pack and try to win the race. That's what a team does.

"I know everybody wants to know (about the lug nut), but leave me out of it. I focused on the job at hand.

"We had an incredible car today, just had a small problem in the pits, had to come back in and didn't have any cautions to catch us back up."

The NASCAR rulebook states the following: "When pit stops are made for tire changes, all lug nuts must be installed before the car leaves the assigned pit box. When a NASCAR official detects a violation, the car must return to its assigned pit box for inspection."

Some, including crew chief Pat Tryson, felt the penalty call was incorrect and cost Martin a trip to Victory Lane.

"I think we should have won," Tryson said. "But hey, Greg won and that's great, and we finished second."

Tryson felt TNT's video footage showed conclusively that the lug nut was on the wheel.

NASCAR spokesman Mike Zizzo said otherwise.

Greg Biffle led a dominating performance by Roush at MIS. The 1-2 sweep was Roush's first in a Cup event in over a year. Credit: Autostock

"It was clearly evident after reviewing the videotape, when they came in the second time to properly attach the lug nut that the tire changer made the necessary movements to attach a lug nut. The official made the correct call."

After pitting again, Martin dropped deep in the field. He fell as low as 28th before rebounding to finish second to teammate Greg Biffle. In doing so, Martin continued his recent charge towards qualification for the Chase for the Nextel Cup.

With three qualification races remaining, Martin stands 33 points outside the top 10. One month ago he was 89 points outside the top 10. But don't go getting overly optimistic on him.

"You know I can't stand over-optimistic people," Martin said, laughing. "Don't make me hate myself. If you start that and we start babbling all that stuff and I don't make the cut, then I'm only left with a broken heart.

"Right now I'm planning on not being broken hearted if that happens, but go down with a fight. That's my style. That's the way I want to do this thing. I want to go down slugging as hard as I can."

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He certainly did Sunday. Martin and Tryson chose to take two tires on the final pit stop, knowing it was the only shot at victory.

"We were going to run second if we came in and got four at the end - no chance of catching Greg because he was eight seconds ahead of us," Martin said. "It's about an eight-second savings to leave the left sides off, so we chose to do that.

"We knew we would come out neck-and-neck with him and we're praying for a miracle. One caution, we'd have had a shot to race. Just didn't get it.

"We had cautions every five laps all day long, then when we needed one we didn't get it. But that's okay. We had a rocket ship for a car, and Greg Biffle won and he ran good. He deserved to win today."

Sunday was a stellar day for the entire Roush Racing stable, as all five teams finished in the top 10.

That includes young Carl Edwards, who finished 10th in his first Nextel Cup Series start in the No. 99 Ford. Kurt Busch was sixth and Matt Kenseth finished eighth.