BASS PRO SHOPS TEAM 13TH AT DAYTONA

Results (starting pos.) from Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway
1. (42) Tony Stewart, No. 14 Chevrolet
13.  (30) Jamie McMurray, No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet
28.  (14) Juan Pablo Montoya, No. 42 Target Chevrolet

Bass Pro Shops Team Finishes in 13th-place at Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.  (July 7, 2012) – The Independence Day weekend trip to Daytona Beach for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) provided plenty of fireworks for the fans.  The Saturday night action under the lights was marred by the typical big accidents that seem to be commonplace on the high-banked Superspeedway.  The Bass Pro Shops team was able to battle through the multi-car accidents for a 13th-place finish.

Jamie McMurray, who suffered all weekend with a stomach illness, had a fast Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet as the team would show their muscle with the fastest time of the day in the final practice session on Thursday in drafting practice.  On Friday the team would post the 31st fastest time in qualifying.  The No. 1 team decided that they would opt to try and race toward the front of the pack, rather than hold back and ride near the rear to avoid the “big one”.  McMurray ran among the top-15 for a majority of the race and even suffered minor damage in one of the accidents, still managing to power the wounded Chevrolet home in the 13th-position.

“It was really hard to pass out there tonight”, commented McMurray.  “I like this style of racing better than the tandem style that we had before, but I wish we could make it easier to pass.  I am glad to have a 13th-place finish after the way we saw some of those wrecks tonight.  We had a fast Bass Pro Shops Chevy, just wish we could have finished a little better there in the end.”

Notes:
- McMurray is currently in 19th-place in NSCS point standings
- The Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet ran a special paint scheme to feature the NRA Museum that will open at the main Bass Pro Shops store in Springfield, Mo. in early 2013
- McMurray ran in the top-15 for 77.5% of the 160 lap race

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will travel to New England for next Sunday’s Lenox Industrial Tools 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 15.  TNT and PRN affiliated radio stations will have live coverage at 1:00 p.m. ET.