Earnhardt
Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Media Contacts
Jeff
Dowling
No. 1 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet
Results
(starting pos.) from the FordEcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway
1.
(15)
Jeff Gordon, No. 24 Chevrolet
20.
(14) Jamie McMurray, No. 1 Bass Pro Shops/ Tracker Boats Chevrolet
28.
(21) Juan Pablo Montoya, No. 42 Target Chevrolet
20th-Place
Finish for Bass Pro Shops Team in Season Finale
HOMESTEAD,
Fla. (Nov. 18, 2012)
– The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) teams headed to South Florida to put the
finishing touches on the 2012 season, with the FordEcoBoost 400 at
Homestead-Miami Speedway. The Bass Pro Shops team looked to put an
exclamation on the 36-race season with a strong finish. As pit strategy
would unfold in the closing laps, the No. 1 Chevrolet would be forced into fuel
conservation mode and would cross the finish line in 20th-position.
Jamie
McMurray made his 11th start at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the site
of the NSCS season finale since the 2002 season. McMurray, qualified 14th
for the 267-lap race, and felt he had a competitive car for Sunday’s
race. The Bass Pro Shops team had good pit stops and worked to make
adjustments, however found it difficult to get the balance on the car with the
changing track conditions from daylight to evening.
The
team used an alternate fuel strategy for the final pit stop. Crew chief
Bono Manion told McMurray that he would need to conserve fuel longer than
anticipated to stretch mileage without an additional stop. The need to
conserve did not allow McMurray to race as aggressively and challenge for more
track-position in the closing laps, bringing home a 20th-place
finish.
”We
had a pretty good car today, but I thought we would be even better than that”,
commented McMurray. “We struggled on the handling with the changing
conditions from daylight to dark. On that last run, we saved some fuel
and managed to pick up a couple of positions. I am proud of the effort
from this entire Bass Pro Shops team today and all year. I also want to
thank all of our partners on the No. 1 team this season. We look forward
to enjoying a few days off and then we will be right back to work focusing on
having a strong 2013.”
Notes:
- This marked the final
race of the 2012 season. Brad Keselowski won the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Championship by 39 points over Clint Bowyer. Jimmie Johnson finished third
after a mechanical failure sent him to the garage with 39 laps to go.
- Chevy will unveil the
new SS model on November 29th out in Las Vegas. This will be the
first time the 2013 race car will be displayed to the public.
-
McMurray
finished 21st in the final 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series point
standings.
Daytona
Speedweeks will kick-off the 2013 race season on February 16 with the Bud
Shootout.