Talladega II: Jamie McMurray race report

McMurray finishes 26th in first Winston Cup start.

TALLADEGA, Ala. (October 7, 2002) - The No. 40 Coors Light Dodge, driven by replacement driver Jamie McMurray, finished in 26th place in the EA Sports 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. McMurray is replacing Sterling Marlin, who is out for the remainder of the season due to injury.

This was McMurray's first Winston Cup start; the 26-year-old is currently racing in his second full season in the NASCAR Busch Series. McMurray has posted three top-five and 11 top-10 finishes so far during the 2002 Busch Series campaign. McMurray currently sits eighth in the Busch Series points standings.

Qualifying for the EA Sports 500 was cancelled Friday due to rain and the field was set according to owner's points, putting McMurray in the fifth position for the start.

McMurray remained competitive throughout the day, racing as high as third position, until the No. 40 Dodge ran out of gas in Turn 3 of lap 104. McMurray coasted into the pits for fuel and went back out one lap down to the leaders.

"We stayed up front most of the day, and ran out of fuel and got a lap down," McMurray said after the race. "We rode around the rest of the day. It's really a good race team. It seemed like we picked it up on every pit stop. I just wish we could have finished on the lead lap. There's not a better race car or race team out here."

"Of all the races you need friends at, this is definitely one of them. I didn't feel like anyone hung me out to dry. I just tried to stay in line today and Ryan Newman and I worked together. Later in the race, if you have a fast race car, I think they're going to go with you."

Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the EA Sports 500 at Talladega Superspeedway; his third Talladega win in a row. Next on the schedule for the No. 40 Coors Light team is the UAW-GM Quality 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway on October 13, 2002.

-cgr-