Martin Is a Winner in His Lucky No. 7

The big decals on Mark Martin’s Roush Racing Ford proclaim it as No. 6. After winning the Miller Lite 400 at Michigan Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich., the driver was calling it “Lucky 7.”

Three times this season, Martin has started seventh in the same car, and in each of those races he has won.

“This car hit the jackpot out in Las Vegas and that started it off,” said Martin, who later won with the same Taurus at Texas. “I wish we could run this car every week, but I think we’re going to save it for Indy [in August].”

For three-quarters of Sunday’s race, it didn’t look like the magic car was going to work.

Jeff Gordon, the defending Winston Cup champion, appeared to have everyone in the 43-car field covered on the two-mile, high-banked oval.

Gordon led 132 of the first 149 laps before Martin and fellow Ford driver Dale Jarrett came on to challenge his Chevrolet.

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Frank Pedregon won the Funny Car competition at the Pontiac Excitement Nationals at Kirkersville, Ohio.

Pedregon defeated Dean Skuza.

Kenny Bernstein, Frank Pedregon, Jeg Coughlin and Matt Hines also posted victories.

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Chris MacClugage won in two classes, the Pro Runabout 785 and the Pro Runabout 1200, and Rick Roy won the Pro Freestyle after his inverted 360-degree flip earned him a perfect score at the International Jet Sports Boating Assn. California Nationals at Ventura. It was the first time an inverted 360-degree flip has been performed in competition.