NO. 1 BASS PRO SHOPS TEAM POSTS TOP-20 FINISH AT MONSTER MILE

Results (with starting pos.) from Dover International Speedway
1. (24) Matt Kenseth, No. 17 Ford
20.  (31) Jamie McMurray, No. 1 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet
32.  (19) Juan Pablo Montoya, No. 42 Target Chevrolet

Dover, Del. (May 15, 2011) – Jamie McMurray started the FedEx 400 Benefiting Autism Speaks from the 31st spot on Sunday at Dover International Speedway.  Despite having to make an unscheduled pit stop for a flat tire just before the halfway mark of the 400 lap race, the Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats team was able to bring home a 20th-place finish.

Rain was the looming topic for the weekend at Dover.  The starting field for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) teams was determined for Sunday’s race by virtue of practice times from Friday afternoon, as rain canceled the scheduled qualifying on Saturday.  When the FedEx 400 began under cloudy skies there was concern throughout pit lane as to whether the rain would stay away.

After a long green flag run in the early stages of the race, the No. 1 team got a lap down; however on lap 163 the caution flag waved for a brief rain shower giving McMurray the lucky dog and position back on the lead lap.  Then just before the halfway mark of the event, McMurray reported that he felt they had a tire going down and was forced to make an unscheduled green flag pit stop that left him two-laps down.  The No. 1 team worked hard to make changes on the car the rest of the day and eventually battled back to finish in the 20th-position.

“Seems like some days you just can’t catch a break, as we actually had a pretty good car.”  McMurray continued, “We were able to catch one and get back on the lead lap after that caution for the rain.  We were really hoping that the changes we made were going to give us the chance to make up some spots on the other lead lap cars.  Then only a few laps later we had a tire go down.  We worked hard all day to bring home a 20th-place finish.”

NOTES
- McMurray is currently 22nd -position in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series point standings
- McMurray tied race winner Matt Kenseth for 14th most green flag passes with 53 at Dover
- McMurray ranked 13th among of all cars that posted the fastest green flag lap during the event

Next weekend the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will move to the Charlotte Motor Speedway for the NASCAR Sprint Showdown and the NASCAR Sprint All Star Race, Saturday May 21st at 7:30 p.m. (ET), the event will be covered live on SPEED and MRN radio affiliated stations.