Texaco/Havoline Team Scores Another Top-10 Finish with McMurray's Eighth-Place Run in Atlanta
HAMPTON, Ga., (October 31, 2004)
--- Jamie McMurray and the Texaco/Havoline team continued their string of top-10 finishes as McMurray's No. 42 Dodge crossed the finish line in eighth place yesterday in the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. It was McMurray's 10th top-10 finish in the last 11 races and the team's 21st top-10 finish of the season.
"We were just a little too loose all day," McMurray said. "Something happened on that last restart and we fell back a little bit, but all-in-all it was a pretty good day for the Texaco/Havoline team. That's another top-10 finish. When you look back and think at what might have been if we'd qualified for The Chase. Oh well, we've got a good hold on 11th place and we'll see if we can't kick it up a few notches and win one of these last three races."
After qualifying 29th, McMurray radioed the crew in the early laps of the race that his car was extremely loose as he had worked his way up to 18th place by lap 28.
During a caution period on lap 54, McMurray headed for pit road to take four tires and fuel while several chassis adjustments were made to the Texaco/Havoline Dodge. He exited pit road in 12th place.
By lap 100 McMurray was maintaining 12th place as he was fighting a loose in, tight in the middle condition. When the caution flag waved on lap 138, McMurray once again headed for pit road for four fresh Goodyear Eagles and fuel while another round of chassis adjustments were made. A lightning fast stop by the pit crew blasted McMurray out of the pits in 10th place.
By lap 230 McMurray was running in ninth place as his Texaco/Havoline Dodge was loose off the corners. With 50 laps to go in the event, McMurray had advanced into eighth place.
During a caution period on lap 311, McMurray headed for pit road with the leaders and took four tires and fuel. Another quick stop by the Texaco/Havoline crew enabled McMurray to restart in seventh place.
With 10 laps to go, McMurray began his march to the front, but was hindered as he radioed the crew that he had a bad vibration in the right rear. When the checkered flag waved, McMurray's Texaco/Havoline Dodge crossed the finish line in eighth place.
By virtue of the eighth-place finish, McMurray was able to extend his lead over Dale Jarrett for the battle for 11th place in points. McMurray now holds a 221 point advantage over Jarrett with three races remaining.
Next up for the Texaco/Havoline team is Phoenix International Raceway this Sunday for the running of the Checker Auto Parts 500 presented by Havoline.
View the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500
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