McMurray Experiences Roller Coaster of Emotions in Richmond
RICHMOND, Va., (September 11, 2004)
--- Jamie McMurray and the Texaco/Havoline team experienced the gamut of emotions Saturday night at Richmond International Raceway. While McMurray's No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge finished the Rock & Roll 400 in ninth place, the team missed making it into the Chase for the Championship by a mere 15 points. McMurray leaves Richmond sitting 11th place in NASCAR NEXTEL Cup points.
"I'm very disappointed," McMurray said. "I really thought we were going to make it into the top 10, but the motor began to let go with about 20 laps to go, and it finally blew up on the last lap. It's very frustrating because we're a top-10 team, but all we can do now is go out and win races and try to finish 11th in points when the season is over."
After qualifying 36th, McMurray radioed the Texaco/Havoline crew early in the race that his car was "loose in and tight off." By lap 100, McMurray was running in 26th place.
As McMurray continued to fight the handling on his Texaco/Havoline Dodge, he was passed by the leader and went a lap down on lap 140. Lady Luck, however, was on his side as the caution flag waved the next lap. McMurray was the recipient of the "Lucky Dog" award and was able to get his lap back.
Now back on the lead lap, McMurray headed for pit road during the caution period and was fitted with four tires and fuel while numerous track bar adjustments were made to the car. He restarted the race in 24th place.
By the midpoint of the race, the Texaco/Havoline Dodge was running in 18th place as McMurray continued to fight a loose handling race car. Once again, McMurray went one lap down to the leaders on lap 239.
Luck, however, was again with the team as the caution flag waved in the middle of a green-flag pit stop sequence by the leaders. Since McMurray had not made a green-flag pit stop yet, he was scored back on the lead lap. When the race restarted, McMurray was running in 13th place.
In the final 100 laps of the race, it became a roller coaster of emotions for the Texaco/Havoline team as McMurray teetered with being in the cutoff for the Chase for the Championship. With each position gained, McMurray inched closer to making the 10-race playoff series.
By lap 330, the Texaco/Havoline Dodge had moved up to seventh place and appeared to be in the Top 10 in points. As the laps clicked off, the tension built up as McMurray wavered positions inside the top 10.
With 20 laps to go, McMurray was running in eighth place and was sitting just outside the top 10 in points.
On lap 387 McMurray's bid for the Chase for the Championship looked bleak as he came on the radio and said his motor was letting go.
In the final 10 laps, McMurray ran on seven cylinders as he tried to maintain his running position. When the checkered flag waved, the Texaco/Havoline Dodge crossed the finish line in ninth place. On the cool down lap, McMurray's engine final let go as the crew pushed the car back to the garage. The Texaco/Havoline team missed making the Top 10 and the Chase for the Championship by 15 points.
The team heads into this weekend's Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway sitting 11th in points.
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