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Bad Economy Wins Out

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 8, 2009

Updated: 03/08/2009 11:23 pm

HAMPTON, Ga. - Big patches of empty seats under the Atlanta Motor Speedway press box Sunday prompted Jeff Gordon to say he was "a little baffled."

"I know there's a lot of race fans around here," Gordon said. "I've been hearing that they were going to have some empty seats. It's hard to say. It's really hard to say. ... This place should be packed."

Observers estimated the stands were no more than two-thirds filled for the NASCAR event, and total capacity is about 125,000. The listed attendance was 94,400.

There were hopes attendance would be boosted by great weather, but one week after a snowstorm, not even temperatures in the high 70s could fill the seats.

It was more proof of the economic downturn's impact on sports.

"We are far from immune from what's going on in our economy," said Carl Edwards, who finished third.

"It's too bad there aren't more fans in the grandstands, but I feel like my responsibility ... is to go out there and race as hard as we can, deliver for our marketing partners and deliver for our fans, and do the best we can and hope the economy comes back up and those stands get more full. But there's nothing we can do about it. I'm just glad for the fans that are here."

The least expensive ticket for the race was $39.

MORE DISAPPOINTMENT FOR MARTIN: Mark Martin's first pole since 2001 only led to more racing disappointment.

The 50-year-old Martin entered the race only 34th in points after frustrations with blown engines the last two weeks.

He lost his chance for his first win since 2005 when he blew out his right rear tire on Lap 214 and hit the wall, causing major damage to the back of his car.

Martin's crew stripped off the twisted sheet metal and Martin returned to the rear of the field to finish 31st. He led five laps.

Martin won the pole with a lap of 187.045 mph for his 42nd career pole, but first since May 5, 2001, at Richmond.

PAINFUL PASS: The first pass of the race field was completed away from Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Martin Truex was back in his Chevy, starting 23rd, after a bout with kidney stones.

Truex was taken by ambulance to Spalding Regional Medical Center in nearby Griffin on Saturday after experiencing brief bouts of intense pain during practice. After being examined and given fluids, he was released from the hospital and passed the stone at about 10 p.m.

Truex finished 10th.

LUG NUTS: David Ragan, who qualified 39th, started at the back of the field due to an engine change and finished 19th. ... Jimmy Watts, a crew member for the No. 47 Marcos Ambrose team, was suspended for the remainder of the race after he ran onto the infield grass - a prohibited area - to retrieve a loose tire on the third caution of the race. ... Joey Logano, the 18-year-old who finished 30th, had the best finish among rookies.

The Associated Press

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