Results (starting pos.) from Darlington Raceway
1. (2) Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Chevrolet
24.  (27) Juan Pablo Montoya, No. 42 Target Chevrolet
34.  (11) Jamie McMurray, No. 1 Bass Pro Shops/Allstate Chevrolet

DARLINGTON , SC. (May 12, 2012) – The annual Mother’s Day weekend trek to Darlington for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) proved to be a difficult outcome as the “Lady in Black”, whose reputation, Too Tough to Tame, claimed many victims including the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet.  Jamie McMurray would bring the battered No.1 Chevrolet to the finish line in the 34th-position.

 

After posting a solid 11th-place qualifying effort on Friday, the No.1 team would focus efforts to the always challenging Southern 500.  McMurray and team would work to maintain position on the lead lap during the long green-flag runs that dominated the beginning of the 367-lap race, including the first stretch that went more than 170 laps before the first caution of the night. 

 

McMurray lost a lap in the middle stages of the race but took advantage of pit strategy to get back on the lead lap and worked hard to gain valuable track position.  Unfortunately an on-track altercation later with a competitor would force the Bass Pro Shops team to the garage for lengthy repairs, after returning to action in the closing laps the No. 1 team would bring the damaged race car home with a 34th-place finish.

 

McMurray commented after the race, "Our Bass Pro Shops Chevy started off pretty loose. We made adjustments, but I noticed the car get tighter after I made slight contact with the wall about halfway through the race. Our pit strategy helped us gain our lap back until the accident that sent us to the garage for repairs. I hate that our night ended this way. We were on the lead lap and just wanted to have a solid finish."

 

Notes:
- McMurray broke his streak of four straight weeks of improving positions in the NSCS point standings
- McMurray dropped four spots to 20th in the NSCS driver point standings
- Despite the “tough” reputation, McMurray has completed 96% of all the laps run in his 12 starts at Darlington, only one DNF

 

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will be at Charlotte Motor Speedway next Saturday night for the NASCAR Sprint Showdown and the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race . The races will air live on SPEED and radio stations affiliated with MRN on Saturday May 19 at 7:30 p.m. ET.