McMurray Scores Top-15 Finish in Fontana - 02 May 2004
FONTANA, Calif., (May 2, 2004)
--- Jamie McMurray drove the No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Birthday Bash Dodge to a 15th-place finish today in the Auto Club 500 at California Speedway.
"We just missed it somewhere today," McMurray said. "We started out the day too tight, and then we got really loose. It seemed like with every change we made during a pit stop, we were chasing the racecar. It's disappointing because I thought we would be really good here."
After qualifying 12th, McMurray quickly radioed the Texaco/Havoline crew that his Dodge was "too tight." During an early pit stop on lap 23, McMurray headed for pit road and was serviced with four tires and fuel as numerous chassis adjustments were made to correct the tight condition.
When the race resumed, McMurray began to fight a loose handling condition on his car and was running in the 17th position by lap 80.
By lap 125 McMurray was running 15th as he continued to fight the handling on his Texaco/Havoline Dodge.
The team would continue to make numerous chassis adjustments during each ensuing pit stop as McMurray was running 18th by lap 200.
As the race reached the closing laps, McMurray continued to struggle with a tight condition, but was able to gain several positions on the white flag lap as a result of several lead cars running out of gas. The Texaco/Havoline Dodge crossed the finish line in 15th place.
McMurray leaves California 12th in NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series points, 50 points out of the NASCAR Top 10.
Next up for the Texaco/Havoline team is a one-day test this Wednesday at Richmond International Raceway in preparation for the May 15th race at the 0.75-mile oval.
The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series has next weekend off in observance of Mother's Day.
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