Mark Martin exited his Dale Earnhardt Inc. No. 8 U.S. Army Chevrolet visibly dejected following Saturday night’s Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway.

“We just about pulled it off,” the veteran driver explained.

Martin had a strong car all night and was leading when crew chief Tony Gibson called him to pit road for two tires and a splash of fuel on lap 302 of 312. Martin – who had said earlier on the day he felt he had a car capable of winning – was left to come home a disappointing 5th, as he watched Jimmie Johnson coast to the win.

As the race came to a close, fuel mileage became the main concern for those hunting for the lead. The consensus up and down pit road was that all of the leaders were going to have to pit for fuel. Martin – who took the lead from Dale Earnhardt Jr. on lap 273 – had just over a second lead over a hard charging Jimmie Johnson when cars began hitting pit road.

"I thought we were trying to go [all the way], so we went real, real, real slow. I was just putting around out there," a disapointed Martin explained. "We were just sort of saving the gas and trying to be there, and I guess there was some confusion on the figuring and they said we were going to have to come. They gave me a great car tonight, clearly one of the better cars out there on the racetrack if not the best at the end,” Martin went on to say. “We kind of spent the whole race getting ready for the end, and we had a good run there at the end."

Martin started the day from the 4th spot and was strong for much of the evening. The veteran had led the final practice session Friday night and was very confident heading into the Saturday night shootout.

Always the team player, Martin explained, “I'm just really proud of the team, and I want them to keep their chin up, because I want to win some of these races, and they can do it.”