A broken valve spring forced Harvick's team to change its engine. Credit: Chris Stanford/Getty Images

Notes: Harvick to start Sonoma race from rear

Team makes engine change well after final practice

SONOMA, Calif. -- Kevin Harvick's Richard Childress Racing team has decided to forfeit its 21st starting position for Sunday's Dodge/Save Mart 350 by making an engine change.

Danny Lawrence, the head of RCR's engine department, supervised the swap Saturday well after Happy Hour had concluded at Infineon Raceway.

"We broke a valve spring and we just couldn't take the chance we had damaged the engine," Lawrence said. "We were just getting ready to change from the practice springs to the race springs when we found it.

"When it breaks a spring, it lets the valve slap up and down. Kevin didn't feel like he did anything to cause it -- sometimes it just happens. (Starting) 20th, 40th, (going to the back) doesn't really matter."

McMurray on stage

Jamie McMurray's No. 42 Dodge was in the top 20 in both Saturday practices and McMurray said he was feeling confident about getting a result similar to the runner-up finish he earned in last season's race.

	Jamie McMurray will start 17th on Sunday at Sonoma. Credit: Autostock
	Lineup Dodge/Save Mart 350 Pos. Driver Make 1. Jeff Gordon Chevrolet 2. Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 3. Mark Martin Ford 4. Boris Said Chevrolet 5. Robby Gordon Chevrolet Complete lineup, click here

He said it was a good thing since he was going to be under some scrutiny.

"Well, we're going to have a lot of guests here, and we need to have a good race," McMurray said. "I think we've got about 350 guests from Chevron/Havoline, so we need to put on a good show for 'em.

"The road courses are some of my favorite tracks. If your car is good you can have a lot of fun here. I had a lot of fun in last year's race and hopefully we can improve a little bit and have even more fun here this year."

Wallace sporting new colors

Rusty Wallace is another driver who feels he'll contend for a win Sunday.

"This is one I always feel like when I come here I've got a little extra step in me," Wallace, a two-time Infineon winner, said. "I feel like I'm real competitive here (and) every time I come here I feel like I've got a shot to win it.

"I'm coming (into Sunday) with that same attitude."

Martin still eyeing the Chase

Mark Martin stepped up to eighth in Saturday's Happy Hour practice but said he was most pleased to be starting third Sunday behind Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson.

Martin said that this weekend and next weekend's Pepsi 400 at Daytona were two of the biggest obstacles he sees to making the Chase for the Nextel Cup.

"Certainly I was nervous [before qualifying] because if you slip off the racetrack as my friend Biffle did qualifying, it makes your Sunday very, very difficult.

"We've got our eye on the target here and that is to make the Chase -- and this was one of the bullets we needed to dodge (in qualifying).

"Then, we need to come out of here Sunday with a great run and then go onto Daytona and get through that without being caught up in one of those big wrecks. If we can do that, then we'll be on our way."

Jones replaces Wallace at Morgan-McClure

Mike Wallace got a voice mail message Saturday morning telling him he'd been replaced by road racer and former Indy car driver P.J. Jones for Sunday's race. Jones ran both Saturday practices in the No. 4 Lucas Chevrolet -- but was only 40th and 37th best.

Wallace had run the first 15 races of the season and the car was 35th this weekend in Nextel Cup owner points -- the last locked-in position.

"I don't understand any of it -- it caught me pretty much off guard," Wallace said. "We race hard to get ourselves inside the top 35 and we're in the 35th spot. I guess management feels that P.J. can do a better job than me here."

Jones put his head together with Wallace between the first and second practices Saturday and actually told Wallace "if you were driving the car, you would find it's a lot better than it was."

The team released a statement that said, "This one race decision is no reflection whatsoever of Morgan-McClure and Lucas Oil's commitment to Mike Wallace as the driver of the No. 4 Lucas Oil Chevy. The team is looking forward to having Wallace back in the car next week in Daytona."

For his part, Wallace -- the winner of last year's Busch Series race at Daytona -- said he looked forward to being back in Morgan-McClure's car there, in addition to driving a Busch Series Dodge for Evernham Motorsports.

"I always look forward to racing," Wallace said. "My picture is all over the tickets for the (Daytona) Busch race (so) hopefully I have a chance at two victories."