McMurray Clinches $1 Million Bonus with Fourth-Place Finish in Darlington
DARLINGTON, S.C., (November 14, 2004)
--- Jamie McMurray and the Texaco/Havoline team have 1 million reasons to smile as the team's fourth-place finish in the Mountain Dew Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway clinched 11th place in the 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. As a result, McMurray will walk across the stage next month in New York City to pick up a check for $1 million. The fourth-place finish was McMurray's ninth top-five and 22nd top-10 finish of the season. He has posted 11 top-10 finishes in the last 13 races.
"We had a fourth-place car tonight and we finished fourth," McMurray said. "It's kind of sad to run the last Southern 500. It would have been cool to win it. I love this racetrack. I think this has become my Rockingham. It's a race you've read about for years. It's certainly going to be missed. We clinched 11th place today in points, and that's cool for everyone on this Texaco/Havoline team. Hopefully we'll be competing for first place this time next season."
After qualifying was rained out, the field was set according to points, placing McMurray's No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge 11th on the starting grid.
In the opening laps of the race, McMurray blasted through the field and was running in second place by lap 36 as he radioed that his car was a little loose.
During a caution period on lap 83, McMurray headed for pit road for four tires and fuel while a wedge adjustment was made to the Texaco/Havoline Dodge. He exited pit road in fifth place.
By lap 118, McMurray had vaulted into the lead, and would hold the top spot until lap 120 when the caution flag waved again. During the caution period, McMurray made a stop on pit road for four tires and fuel. He exited the pits in fourth place.
By lap 200, the Texaco/Havoline Dodge was back up to third place as McMurray was fighting a tight condition on his Dodge. With 100 laps to go in the race, McMurray found himself in fourth place.
As the sun set and the lights came on around Darlington Raceway, crew chief Donnie Wingo and McMurray took a gamble during a caution period on lap 344. While the leaders headed for pit road, McMurray elected to stay out, and as a result, grabbed the lead on lap 347.
On the restart, McMurray was able to pull away from the field as the laps clicked off. On lap 358, however, McMurray was overtaken by eventual winner Jimmie Johnson. As the leaders began to catch McMurray with fresher tires, the Joplin, Mo. native fought to maintain his position. When the checkered flag waved, the Texaco/Havoline Dodge crossed the finish line in fourth place.
Next up for the Texaco/Havoline team is the season finale this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
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