REED FINISHES 26th AT THE MONSTER MILE

Reed Sorenson and the No. 41 Target Dodge team finished 26th after starting 42nd in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at the "Monster Mile.” 

The weekend started Friday with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) first practice and qualifying.  Sorenson earned a 42nd-place starting spot for the event after suffering a cut tire on his qualifying lap. Saturday posed more problems for the Cup Series when severe weather shortened final practice.

Reed battles Ryan Newman at Dover  (Action Sports Inc. Photo)

30s, a multiple-car pileup brought out the first caution of the race on lap 17.  This caution also served as the competition yellow that was scheduled on lap 25.  Sorenson radioed he was loose in and needed more grip in the center.  After the red flag was lifted, the Target Dodge entered pit road for four tires, a track bar adjustment, one round of wedge and fuel.  Sorenson restarted in 26th position. The team continued to work on the handling of the car for the remainder of the race. 

Sunday's race saw five caution periods and only one caution in the last 240 laps of the event resulting in Sorenson, and many other drivers, finishing well off the lead lap. Only the top six cars finished the entire 400-lap distance.

Sorenson’s 26th-place effort marks the No. 41 team 31st in the NSCS Owner point standings, with a total of 1054 points. Teammates Juan Pablo Montoya finished 12th and Target teammate Jeremy Mayfield finished 25th.  Mayfield stepped in the No. 40 Target Dodge for full-time driver Dario Franchitti, who plans to return to Cup racing at Pocono Raceway next weekend.

The next event on the Sprint Cup schedule is the June 8 Pocono 500 at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway. The race begins at 2 p.m. EDT with live coverage on TNT beginning at 12:30 p.m. The race will also be broadcast live on SIRIUS Satellite Radio Channel 128.