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Montoya’s Run Cut Short in the Closing Laps at New Hampshire Motor Speedway

June 28, 2010

Montoya’s Run Cut Short in the Closing Laps at New Hampshire Motor Speedway

Results from New Hampshire Motor Speedway
1.     Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Chevrolet
2.     Tony Stewart, No. 14 Chevrolet
3.     Kurt Busch, No. 2 Dodge
18.  Jamie McMurray, No. 1 Suave Chevrolet
34.  Juan Pablo Montoya, No. 42 Target Chevrolet


Loudon, NH. (June 28, 2010) – Juan Pablo Montoya placed the No. 42 Target Chevrolet on the front row for the start of the Lenox Industrial Tools 301, led 36 laps and was on his way to a top-five finish when disaster struck in the closing laps. Damage to the front splitter on a restart and then a collision with the No. 83 would end the day for Montoya on lap 280. The Target team would settle for a 34th-place finish.

Montoya and the Target team led the first practice session at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and then went on to win their first pole of the 2010 season. The Coor’s Pole award marks the third career pole for Montoya and Earnhardt Ganassi Racing’s third of the season which ties them with Joe Gibbs Racing for the most pole awards in 2010.

Sunday afternoon Montoya and the Target team would lead a total of 36 laps and be credited with the Goodyear Gatorback Fastest Lap award for his quick speed on lap 4. The No. 42 Chevrolet would spend the majority of the day in the top-five and visited pit road four times for handling adjustments, fresh tires and fuel. Montoya’s final restart of the day would quickly change the outcome of the race. As the cars bunched up on the restart, contact was made and the No. 42 sustained significant damage to the front splitter. The handling went away and Montoya slid back in the field. While running in the 14th position, things went from bad to worse. The No. 83 slid up the track and made hard contact with Montoya. The No. 42 collided with the wall causing significant damage and forcing the Target Chevrolet back to the garage.

“It is a shame because everybody was a lap down and I am running around the outside. I’m not bumping”, Montoya remarked. “I’m not making the racing tight and he just slid up into me. It was just one of those deals and seems to be the story of our season. I hate it for these guys (Target team). We just can’t catch a break”

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns to the high banks of Daytona International Speedway this weekend to start the second half of the 2010 season. The Coke Zero 400 powered by Coca-Cola will air live on TNT on Saturday, July 3 at 7:30 pm (ET).