McMurray Survives Wreckfest at Talladega, Brings Texaco/Havoline Dodge Home 13th
TALLADEGA, Ala. (Oct. 2, 2005)
--- Jamie McMurray and the Texaco/Havoline team had one of, if not the best car in the UAW 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. After running in the top-five for a majority of the race and leading 38 of 190 laps, McMurray and team were poised to bring home their first win of the 2005 season.
McMurray positioned himself in second place as the race drew to a close, patiently waiting to make his move on the leader. With 15 laps remaining McMurray pulled a text book move on leader Tony Stewart by driving high into the corner and then cranking the steering wheel hard left when Stewart went to make the block. McMurray motored passed him on the low side and went on to pace the field until lap 184.
Matt Kenseth was able to make a run on McMurray and get by him just five laps from the finish, but McMurray was still in position to make a run for the victory when the final caution flag flew on lap 185, setting up a green-white-checker finish. McMurray took the green in fifth place and quickly jumped out of line hoping that other competitors would follow him and propel him back into the lead. Unfortunately, none did and McMurray was dreadfully shuffled back to 13th before taking the checkered flag. More importantly, however, he and the team were able to complete the race without getting caught up in one of the multiple-car accidents.
"We had a really strong car today and my hat's off to the entire Texaco/Havoline team and all of the guys back at the shop," said McMurray. "All three of the Ganassi cars were really strong today, unfortunately a couple of the finishes don't represent that.
"My car was really loose at the end and I just couldn't keep it down on the bottom. (Matt) Kenseth was able to get a run on me down low and I couldn't hold him off. On the last restart I just went for it and it didn't quite work out. My car was really strong up high and I was hoping someone would go with me up there. I think with a push we might have been able to get back into the lead. I didn't have a dancing partner though, and it cost us a lot of positions.
"I feel really bad that we didn't get a better finish, but I'm extremely proud of my team. They prepared an excellent race car and gave me incredible pit stops today."
After taking the initial green flag in 14th, McMurray moved into the lead for the first time on lap 17. He would remain in the top 10 throughout the event, missing multi-car accidents or on laps 19 and 65.
The Texaco/Havoline team's 13th-place finish moved them up one position to 12th in the overall standings. They are just 14 points behind 11th-place and the season ending $1 million bonus heading into the next event at Kansas Speedway on Oct. 9. McMurray's Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates teammates Sterling Marlin and Casey Mears finished seventh and 38th respectively.
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