TOP-20 FINISH FOR TEAM TARGET AT MARTINSVILLE
Results (starting pos.) from the Tums Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway
1. (1) Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Chevrolet
17. (24) Jamie McMurray, No. 1 McDonald’s Chevrolet
20. (25) Juan Pablo Montoya, No. 42 Target Chevrolet
Top-20 Finish for Team Target at Martinsville Speedway
MARTINSVILLE, Va. (Oct. 28, 2012) – Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates driver Juan Pablo Montoya made his 12th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) career-start this weekend at Martinsville Speedway. The No. 42 Target Chevrolet qualified 25th for the 500-lap race and would ultimately come home with a 20th-place finish.
With only four races left on the NSCS schedule, the Tums Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway marked the final short-track race of the season. Team Target started 25th on the 0.526-mile oval and quickly picked-up positions, moving into the top-10 by lap 91. As the race progressed, temperatures started to drop and the No. 42 Chevrolet was loose as Montoya started to experience a lack of grip before the halfway point. The Target crew worked hard to utilize caution-flag pit stops for adjustments to improve the balance of the car. Team Target continued to battle and would make a strategy call with a late-race caution to improve position and ultimately cross the finish line with a top-20 finish.
“We had a good start to the day, but the Target Chevy lost a lot of traction when the temperature dropped,” Montoya stated following after the race. “The Target guys did a good job making changes, but we just weren't able to get back up to the front in the closing laps.”
Notes:
• Montoya’s best start at Martinsville Speedway came in 2010 when the Target Chevrolet qualified fifth and he scored his best finish of third in 2009.
• Montoya sits 22nd in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points standings.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will head to Texas Motor Speedway next weekend for the AAA Texas 500 which will air live on ESPN and radio stations affiliated with PRN on Sunday, Nov. 4 at 2 p.m. ET.