MCMURRAY TO 18TH IN TEXAS

Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Media Contacts
Jeff Dowling                 No. 1 McDonald’s Chevrolet

Results (starting pos.) from the AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway
1.    (1) Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Chevrolet
18.  (24) Jamie McMurray, No. 1 McDonald’s Chevrolet
34.  (25) Juan Pablo Montoya, No. 42 HUGGIES® Chevrolet

18th-Place Finish for McDonald’s Team in Lone Star State

FORT WORTH (Nov. 4, 2012) – Texas Motor Speedway played host to the eighth race of the 2012 Chase to the NASCAR Sprint Cup.  The forecast for possible rain showers on race day gave way to a beautiful cloudless sky and excellent racing conditions for the 43- cars that took the green flag in the AAA Texas 500.  The McDonald’s Chevy rolled off from the 24th starting spot and brought home an 18th-place finish.

Following the two practice sessions on Saturday afternoon at Texas Motor Speedway, the No. 1 team felt that they had made progress on the race day set-up for McMurray.  The biggest concern for Sunday’s 335-lap race might have been long green-flag runs similar to the spring race at Texas, where the caution was displayed only twice, including a 234 lap green-flag run to the end.   Such was not the case on Sunday as the race was slowed by caution nine times for 49 laps.  Fortunately, as the racing action heated up the McDonald’s team was able to avoid any mishaps.  The team capitalized on the opportunity to make adjustments to the car under the caution periods and keep McMurray in contention for a lead-lap finish in the closing laps.

”We really worked hard for that 18th-place finish today,” McMurray commented after the race. “The guys on our McDonald’s Chevy made a lot of adjustment during our pit stops today.  We were lucky to get a few cautions to help us out with maintaining position on the lead lap, and keep us in a position for a top-20.  Our car was back and forth on the handling all day both tight and loose at times, but the guys did a great job of adjusting along the way.”

Notes:
• Sunday was McMurray’s 18th start at Texas Motor Speedway, where he has three top-five and six top-10 finishes
• There are only two races remaining in the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season
• McMurray remains 20th in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series point standings

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will continue west to Phoenix International Raceway next weekend for the AdvoCare 500 at Phoenix International Raceway.  The race will air live on ESPN and radio stations affiliated with MRN on Sunday, Nov. 11 at 1:00 p.m. ET.