McMurray's Day Cut Short by Unsportsmanlike Bump from Kenseth
Loudon, N.H. (July 17, 2005)
--- The opening laps of the New England 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway showed a lot of promise for Jamie McMurray and the No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge Team. After starting 17th, McMurray quickly began picking off competitors as he was making his way to the front. That is until he reached Matt Kenseth.
McMurray mounted a serious charge on the No. 17 car driven by Kenseth and after about 10 laps of clean side by side racing on McMurray's part, he was able to make the pass. Going into the next corner, however, Kenseth forgot to use his brakes and tagged the No. 42, sending it hard into the outside retaining wall on lap 25, and then into the garage for major repairs.
The Texaco/Havoline Team worked feverishly to mend what they could, and after some impressive repair work McMurray returned to the track on lap 99 to pick up as many positions and points as possible. Fortieth was the highest the team was able to reach until there was nothing left to gain. Rather than risk a cut tire or getting caught up in someone else's mess, crew chief Donnie Wingo decided to call it a day on lap 225.
"I'm not sure what the problem is with Matt (Kenseth)," McMurray said in the garage as he watched the crew make repairs. "He wasn't that good and was letting everyone go until I got to him. He raced me like it was the last lap for about 10 laps and then once I got by him he just parked me going into the corner. That's not a safe place to wreck some one. That was a hard hit and it basically destroyed our car."
"We took a pretty big hit in the points today and we owe all of that to Kenseth. It's behind us now and all we can do is go to Pocono next week and try to regain what was lost here today."
McMurray and the Texaco/Havoline Team dropped three positions to 11th in the overall championship standings at the conclusion of the race. They are now 21 points out of 10th and 114 out of fifth heading into the 20th race of the season at Pocono Raceway on July 24.
McMurray's Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Teammates Casey Mears and Sterling Marlin finished 33rd and 34th respectively.
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Media Relations Contact Information
Heather Kincel
Chip Ganassi Racing
with Felix Sabates
8500 Westmoreland Drive
Concord, NC 28027
Ph: (704) 662-9642
Fax: (704) 662-9643
Email: Heather Kincel
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