McMurray Scores First Top-10 Restrictor Plate Finish

TALLADEGA, Ala., (April 25, 2004) --- Jamie McMurray and the No. 42
Texaco/Havoline team continued their recent string of top-10 finishes
today when McMurray scored ninth-place honors in the Aaron's 499 at
Talladega Superspeedway. The result marked McMurray's first top-10
restrictor plate finish in NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series competition.

 

"That was a lot worse than Martinsville," McMurray said. "I've never
been hit that hard on a superspeedway. It was cool, but the 29 (Kevin
Harvick) and 20 (Tony Stewart) hit me so hard it shoved me up in the
lead a couple of times. I was trying to return the favors, but you've
got to be in the right place at the right time at the end. I wish we
could have had a green flag finish, but it might have been just a
white-checkered and no one would have been able to pass. You've got to
get up to speed before you can do it, so it wouldn't have been that
exciting. All-in-all, it was a good day for the Texaco/Havoline team."

 

After qualifying 33rd, McMurray used patience in the early stages of the
race as he maneuvered through the tightly bunched field. By lap 50, the
Texaco/Havoline Dodge was running in the 15th position.

 

McMurray was able to dodge several big wrecks during the day, including
one that occurred on lap 82. During the caution period, McMurray headed
for pit road and elected only to top off his fuel tank in an effort to
gain track position. The strategy paid off as he was running in the
second position by lap 92.

 

The Texaco/Havoline Dodge shot into the lead on lap 114 as the caution
flag waved for debris on the racetrack. McMurray would be shown as the
leader through lap 115 when he headed for pit road with the leaders to
take four tires and fuel.

 

McMurray would lead again from laps 122-123 as the Texaco/Havoline Dodge
began to flex its muscle. He would remain in the top-10 through the end
of the race.

 

As the race reached the final laps, McMurray was in a spirited battle
for the victory with the lead draft of cars when the caution flag waved
on lap 183. With less than four laps remaining in the race, NASCAR was
unable to get the field restarted and the race ended under caution with
the Texaco/Havoline Dodge crossing the finish line in ninth place.

 

The ninth-place finish continues a string of solid runs for the
Texaco/Havoline team. McMurray has posted two top-five and six top-10
finishes in the first nine races of 2004.

 

McMurray was also able to add to his "Drive for a Cure" fundraising
total for the Autism Society of America. McMurray led four laps today
totaling $168. With the pledge matches from ChevronTexaco and Chip
Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, the total money raised today was
$504. To date, $15,120 has been raised for the Autism Society of
America.

 

Throughout the 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season, McMurray will donate $42
for every lap he leads to the Autism Society of America. In addition,
the Joplin, Mo. native will donate $42 for every pole he wins in 2004.
ChevronTexaco and Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates will be
matching both of McMurray's pledges during the 2004 season.

 

Next up for McMurray and the Texaco/Havoline team is a two-day test on
Tuesday and Wednesday at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. in
preparation for the upcoming race in June.

 

McMurray and the team then set their sites on the California Speedway in
Fontana, Calif. for the running of next Sunday's Auto Club 500.