Jamie McMurray Rallies to Fourth-Place Finish in Coca-Cola 600

 

CONCORD, N.C., (May 30, 2004) --- Jamie McMurray has a love affair with
Lowe's Motor Speedway. McMurray rocketed the No. 42 Texaco/Havoline
Dodge to a fourth-place finish tonight in the closing laps of the
Coca-Cola 600. The fourth-place finish marked McMurray's third top-10
finish in four races at Lowe's Motor Speedway. The speedway is also the
site of McMurray's stunning NEXTEL Cup victory in October 2002 in only
his second start. The finish tonight was McMurray's third top-five
finish of the season and his first top-five since Las Vegas back in
early March. McMurray also led 15 laps tonight and raised $1,890 for his
"Drive for a Cure" awareness campaign for the Autism Society of America.

 

"I'm very happy with our finish tonight in the Texaco/Havoline Dodge,"
McMurray said. "We had a top-10 car all night, and there at the end,
Donnie Wingo (crew chief) made a great call to stay out during a caution
period, and that helped us gain track position. We didn't have anything
for the 48 car, but it's always good to finish in the top five and be a
contender."

 

After qualifying 21st, McMurray quickly began his march towards the
front as the Texaco/Havoline Dodge was running in the seventh position
by lap 45.

 

During a caution period on lap 122, McMurray headed to pit road with the
leaders and was fitted with four fresh Goodyear Eagles and fuel as the
Texaco/Havoline crew made several air pressure adjustments to correct a
tight handling condition. McMurray exited pit road in the 12th position.

 

As the race reached the halfway point on lap 200, the Texaco/Havoline
Dodge was running in the sixth position as McMurray and crew chief
Donnie Wingo continued to discuss chassis adjustment strategy for
upcoming pit stops. By lap 292, McMurray found himself running in fourth
place.

 

As the race reached the closing laps, McMurray had blasted into third
place and had his attention focused on race leader Jimmie Johnson. 

 

A caution flag on lap 367 would prove beneficial for McMurray. As the
entire field headed down pit road, the No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge
remained on the speedway and took over the top spot. Crew chief Donnie
Wingo made the call in hopes of gaining track position on the leaders.

 

The gamble paid off as McMurray held the point for the following 15 laps
until eventual race winner Johnson passed him on lap 384.

With 10 laps to go, McMurray was running second when the caution flag
waved on lap 393. The red flag was waved in an effort to the end the
race under green. When the race resumed on lap 397, McMurray found
himself in a heated battle for second place with Michael Waltrip and
Matt Kenseth. 

 

When the caution flag waved again on the final lap for Bobby Labonte's
wreck, the field was frozen with Johnson taking the victory and the
Texaco/Havoline Dodge crossing the finish line in fourth place.

 

Next up for the Texaco/Havoline team is the "Monster Mile," also known
as Dover International Speedway in Dover, Del. for the running of the
MBNA America 400 next Sunday.