McMurray's Day in Pocono Ends Early
LONG POND, Pa., (August 1, 2004)
--- Jamie McMurray and the Texaco/Havoline team's day ended early yesterday in the Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway as the result of an engine failure on lap 170. The No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge was credited with a 30th-place finish. McMurray dropped two positions in NASCAR NEXTEL Cup points to 15th place, and now sits 133 points out of the NASCAR Top 10.
"Something happened in the engine on that last restart," crew chief Donnie Wingo said. "We didn't have any warning. I don't know what the deal is. These DNF's are killing us. I think we've had six this year, and you can't do that. I think we've had as many top 10s as anybody almost, but those six DNF's will just kill you. We'll just keep going out to try to win races just like we're doing right now."
After qualifying seventh, McMurray was running in the 13th position by lap 50 as he was fighting a tight condition on his Texaco/Havoline Dodge. During a caution period on lap 51, McMurray headed for pit road for a four-tire stop and fuel while several chassis adjustments were made to the car. Unfortunately, a tire rolled away from the car during the pit stop and McMurray was forced to restart the race from the tail end of the longest line. The Texaco/Havoline Dodge restarted in 27th place.
McMurray patiently worked his way through the field and was running 17th by lap 87.
When the caution flag waved on lap 99, McMurray once again headed for pit road for service. The Texaco/Havoline team serviced McMurray with two tires and fuel while more chassis adjustments were made. As a result of the two-tire pit stop, McMurray exited pit road in seventh place.
By lap 150, the Texaco/Havoline Dodge was running in ninth place as McMurray radioed the crew that his car was the best it had been all day.
Unfortunately, bad luck was just around the corner for the team as McMurray came on the radio on lap 168 and stated that he thought the motor was letting go. McMurray's suspicion was validated on lap 170 when white smoke began to billow from beneath the Texaco/Havoline Dodge. McMurray took the car to the garage, thus ending the day for the Texaco/Havoline team.
Next up for the team is the Brickyard 400 this Sunday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. McMurray finished third in the event last year in his first start at the famed speedway.
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