Havoline.com: Racing: NASCAR Results

17 July 2005

New England 300 Unofficial Finish



 01. Tony Stewart       #20  Chevrolet The Home Depot 
 02. Kurt Busch         #97  Ford IRWIN Industrial Tools  
 03. Bobby Labonte      #18  Chevrolet Interstate Batteries  
 04. Kyle Busch *       #5   Chevrolet Kellogg's 
 05. Greg Biffle        #16  Ford Post-it/National Guard 
 06. Kasey Kahne        #9   Dodge Dodge Dealers/UAW  
 07. Ryan Newman        #12  Dodge ALLTEL  
 08. Rusty Wallace      #2   Dodge Miller Lite  
 09. Dale Earnhardt Jr. #8   Chevrolet Budweiser 
 10. Matt Kenseth       #17  Ford DeWalt Power Tools 

 40. Jamie McMurray     #42  Dodge Texaco Havoline

NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Unofficial Points:


 
 01. Jimmie Johnson         2672
 02. Greg Biffle            2595 
 03. Tony Stewart           2587 
 04. Rusty Wallace          2442 
 05. Kurt Busch             2347
 06. Ryan Newman            2347 
 07. Mark Martin            2320 
 08. Jeremy Mayfield        2285 
 09. Elliott Sadler         2276 
 10. Dale Jarrett           2254 

 11. Jamie McMurray         2233

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.

Photo: Getty Images/Allsport

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