McMurray Rockets to Fifth-Place Finish in New Hampshire
LOUDON, N.H., (September 19, 2004)
--- Jamie McMurray and the Texaco/Havoline team made a strong statement today about their plans for the last 10 races of the season. While McMurray barely missed making the Chase for the Championship, the Texaco/Havoline team proved again its power as McMurray scored a fifth-place finish today in the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway. It was McMurray's seventh top-five and 16th top-10 finish of the season. McMurray has now posted five straight top-10 finishes in the last five races.
"We kept adjusting on the car all day," McMurray said. "We left a lug nut off, and I had to go all the way to the back at one point. Donnie put two tires on there at the end and that gave us good track position, but I flat spotted the left front really bad coming in for my green flag stop and we weren't as good there at the end."
"We came from the back twice. We pulled some rubbers out of the right rear and we fought back and passed a lot of cars. We adjusted on the car and got it better, and that's always good when you can do that. I think we feel like we belong in that top 10 chase, but all you can do is try to win races and get ready for next year. All-in-all it was a good day for the Texaco/Havoline team."
After qualifying was rained out on Friday, McMurray rolled off the starting grid from the 11th place as the field was set by current 2004 car owner points.
In the early stages of the race, McMurray fought a loose handling condition on his Texaco/Havoline Dodge as he was running in 22nd place by lap 50.
During a caution period on lap 65, crew chief Donnie Wingo used pit strategy to gain track position. McMurray headed for pit road for gas only while the crew made a chassis adjustment. While most of the leaders took tires, McMurray exited pit road in fourth place.
By lap 80, McMurray moved into third place as he radioed the crew his Texaco/Havoline Dodge was "loose in and tight off."
During a caution period on lap 104, McMurray headed for pit road for four tires and fuel while another chassis adjustment was made. Unfortunately, during the pit stop, a lug nut was left off, forcing McMurray back down pit road. He restarted the race from 32nd place.
Over the next 100 laps, McMurray used patience and skill to work his way back into contention. By lap 200, the No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge was running in eighth place. McMurray's assault on the competition did not let up as he rocketed into the lead on lap 260 during a green-flag pit stop sequence.
With 30 laps to go, McMurray was running in third place as he radioed the crew that he thought he had flat-spotted his left-front tire during the last green-flag pit stop. The team elected to stay out knowing how crucial track position would be.
With 10 to go, McMurray held down the fourth position and when the checkered flag waved, the Texaco/Havoline Dodge crossed the finish line in fifth place.
In four races at New Hampshire International Speedway, McMurray has posted three top-10 finishes.
The Texaco/Havoline team leaves New Hampshire remaining in 11th place in points, but is only eight points ahead of 12th-place pursuer Kasey Kahne.
Next up for the team is the fast, one-mile oval of Dover International Speedway for the running of the MBNA America 400 next Sunday.
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