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September 19, 2003
2:42 PM EDT (1842 GMT)
We scored another top-10 finish in the Havoline Dodge this past weekend at Loudon, and for the most part, we were pretty pleased with our performance. We didn't have the best car out there, but we kept making changes throughout the race and by the end, we had a pretty good car.
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| Jamie McMurray finished 10th last weekend at Loudon. Credit: Autostock |
We had a great qualifying run on Friday and started the race from the third position, and I think that was key to us having a good run on Sunday. Track position is very important at Loudon because it's so hard to pass there. Our car wasn't that good at the start of the race, and if we had started further back, we might have lost a lap.
That's our fourth top-10 finish in the last seven races and I really feel like this Havoline team is on the verge of winning a race. All we have to do is stay focused and keep running in the top five and top 10 and I feel like a win for us is just around the corner.
It looks like it could be an interesting weekend up in Dover. With Hurricane Isabel projected to make landfall on Thursday, NASCAR has already cancelled all plans at the track on Friday, which means our Havoline Dodge will start Sunday's race in the 18th position.
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We're taking a car that we've run six different times already this year, including at Dover back in May. It's one of the best cars that we have and we've made some improvements to it as we've learned some new things in the last few months. There's not going to be much practice time this weekend, so we're going to have to use every minute of practice to get our car dialed in. Obviously with qualifying being cancelled, we can focus completely on race setup.
It's been a pretty slow week for me. On Tuesday I participated in a Video News Release and media teleconference with Liz Allison for Talladega Superspeedway for the special Davey Allison Tribute Car that we're running next week. As that race gets closer, I think I'm getting more excited and honored to get to drive that car that has so much meaning to so many people.
We leave for Dover on Friday afternoon, so hopefully Mother Nature will cooperate with us and we'll get the race in this weekend.
Now on to some questions...
How much of an influence was your dad in getting you to where you are today?
--Janet Gaither, Exeter, Mo
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| Credit: Autostock |
Janet, that's a great question. My dad has been a huge influence in my racing career. Without his support and the support of my mom and sister, I probably wouldn't be in Winston Cup. My dad was a local racer when I was a kid, and as I got older and expressed a desire to race, he was, and still is, my biggest supporter. My family made quite a few sacrifices to allow me to live out my dream, and I'm very grateful for that. It's neat now because my dad drives my motorcoach and gets to come to every race, so in a way I feel like this is my way of paying my dad back for all the sacrifices he made for me. My dad always wanted to be a professional racecar driver, and I think he's getting to live out his dream through me.
With the Havoline star returning to the hood of the Havoline car, has there been any talk of bringing back the No. 28? I know a lot of fans would love to see that number back on the Havoline car?
--Craig Purcell, Colonial Heights, Virginia
Craig, I'm not really the person to ask about that because I don't make those decisions, but my personal thought is that I don't expect the number to change back to 28. Havoline and everyone at Chip Ganassi Racing are excited about beginning a new history with the No. 42 Havoline Dodge. The No. 28 has a lot of memories attached to it, and hopefully years from now when people see and think of the No. 42 Havoline Dodge, there'll be new and meaningful memories associated with it as well.
What is the craziest thing a fan has done to you or for you?
--Courtney Harris, Iowa City, Iowa
I don't know that there's been one thing that stands out to me. I just continue to be amazed and overwhelmed with all the support that my fans have shown me. Hopefully it'll never stop and continue to grow. I realize that without the fan's support, I would not be able to do what I love to do for a living.
Jamie McMurray drives the No. 42 Texaco Havoline Dodge for Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates. His diary appears weekly on SI.com.
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