Martin Awarded Race Victory After Inspection Of Jarrett’s Car

Mark Martin, easily outrun in the Detroit Gasket 200 at Brooklyn, Mich., was given the victory nearly 2 hours after the race Saturday when NASCAR relegated Dale Jarrett to the rear of the field for an unapproved engine part.

“The intake manifold had been modified externally on the carburetor mounting flange,” said NASCAR spokesman Andy Hall. “It was a part that did not conform to NASCAR rules.”

The placement of Jarrett to 42nd position following a post-race inspection of his Ford Thunderbird marked the second time in Busch Grand National history that a victory was taken away from a driver.

With the placement of Jarrett at the end of the field, each car was moved up one position.

The anticipated battle of front-row starters in the race wound up as a rout for Jarrett, who made history at Michigan International Speedway.

In beating Martin by nearly 7 seconds, Jarrett ran the fastest NASCAR Busch Grand National race in series history, averaging 169.571 mph.

Johnny Benson finished sixth, increasing his lead over Chad Little in the series points standings to 30 points. Little, who started 32nd, finished 22nd in a bid for his eighth win of the season.

Rookie Indy-car driver Andre Ribeiro of Brazil broke the New Hampshire International Speedway lap record and won his first pole for today’s New England 200 at Loudon, N.H. with a top speed of 177.435.

Spokane’s Mark Groskreutz, Kevin Richards and Rick Schultz finished in sixth, seventh and 18th in the NASCAR REB-CO Northwest Tour Valvoline/Pyroil 125 at Portland.