17TH PLACE FINISH FOR MCDONALDS TEAM IN PHOENIX

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Results (starting pos.) from Phoenix International Raceway
1.     (10) Kasey Kahne  No.4 Toyota
15.  (26) Juan Pablo Montoya, No. 42 Target Chevrolet
17.  (6) Jamie McMurray, No. 1 McDonald’s Chevrolet

17th PLACE FINISH FOR McDONALD’S TEAM IN PHOENIX

Avondale, Ariz. (November 13, 2011) – The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series moves closer to the end of the 2011 season with the next to last race at the newly reconfigured Phoenix International Raceway.  After posting the sixth fastest time in qualifying on Saturday, Jamie McMurray would race amongst the top-10 until a pit road speeding penalty on lap 160 would drop the team to the back of the field and eventually bring the McDonald’s Chevrolet home in the 17th-position.

The No. 1 McDonald’s team was uncertain what the new racing surface would provide.  Having tested at the track on the new racing surface in October and two extended practice sessions on Friday afternoon the team adapted quite well.  McMurray was the sixth fastest car in the final practice session and backed that up with the sixth fastest time in qualifying. 

When the green flag dropped on the Kobalt Tools 500, the No. 1 quickly fell to mid-pack, as McMurray reported, “tire pressures seem to be too low”.  With the competition caution on lap 40 the crew made the necessary adjustments to the car and McMurray swiftly drove from 19th up into the top-10, where he would race until lap 160, getting as high as fifth on the board.  The team would struggle to regain the lost track position and would finish the day in 17th-position.

McMurray commented following the race, “I really didn’t know what to expect with the track today, after the rain washed the rubber off from Saturday, but our McDonald’s Chevrolet was really fast on the long runs.  The pit road speeding penalty really set us back and hurt our chances of a solid finish.  I really wanted to have a good run today as we were all thinking of Chip Ganassi and his family after  his mother passed away this weekend.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to their family”

Notes:
- McMurray has one pole, two top-five and four top-10 finishes this season
- McMurray is currently 27th in the point standings

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will head to Homestead-Miami Speedway for the Ford 400, the final race of the 2011 season, on Sunday Nov 20 at 3:00 p.m.  ET.  ESPN and MRN radio affiliated stations will have live coverage.