Texaco/Havoline Team Rallies to Another Top-10 Finish
CONCORD, N.C., (October 16, 2004)
--- Jamie McMurray and the Texaco/Havoline team rallied to their 19th top-10 finish of the season this past Saturday under the lights at Lowe's Motor Speedway. McMurray's No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge crossed the finish line in eighth place in the UAW-GM Quality 500.
"We had to unload a backup car and only got about 30 minutes of practice in it," McMurray said. "We didn't have a lot of time in it, but the Texaco/Havoline Dodge ran really well. We kept adjusting on it all night, but we just weren't able to get it exactly right. I would be disappointed, but for a backup car I'm pretty happy. It's cool getting all these top-10 finishes. The guys on my team did a lot of work on this car the last couple of days, so this is somewhat rewarding for all of us to come out of here with a top-10 finish."
After qualifying 24th, McMurray would start the race from the rear of the field as he was forced to use his backup car after a crash in a practice session on Friday.
On the first lap of the race, the caution flag waved as a pileup in the middle of the pack sent cars spinning. McMurray was able to avoid the wreck and picked up several positions on the restart.
During a caution period on lap 28, McMurray headed for pit road and was fitted with four Goodyear Eagles and fuel while a round of chassis adjustments was made to the Texaco/Havoline Dodge to fix a tight off condition. McMurray exited pit road in 21st place.
As the laps clicked off, McMurray began to march his way through the field as the No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge was running in 11th place by lap 100.
McMurray began to fight a loose condition and during a caution period on lap 171, he headed for pit road for tires and fuel while the team made another round of chassis adjustments. He re-started in 13th place.
By lap 250, McMurray was maintaining the 12th position as he continued to fight the handling on his Texaco/Havoline Dodge.
McMurray would work his way into the top 10 on lap 272 after a pit stop placed him in 10th place.
Now inside the top 10, McMurray had his sights set on the leaders. The team made its final pit stop during a caution period on lap 313. Quick work by the Texaco/Havoline team shot McMurray into eighth place on the restart.
As the race reached the final stages, McMurray held down eighth place and when the checkered flag fell, the Texaco/Havoline Dodge crossed the finish line in eighth place.
McMurray leaves Charlotte maintaining 11th place in NASCAR NEXTEL Cup points, 74 points ahead of pursuer Dale Jarrett.
Next up for the Texaco/Havoline team is short track at Martinsville Speedway for the running of the Subway 500 this Sunday.
View the UAW-GM Quality 500
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