By: Zach Catanzareti, Staff Writer
Each week, Kickin’ The Tires will highlight the 20th-place finisher from the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Standing as the middleman in weekends with 40-car fields, there is sure to be a story behind each one.
For the first time in six weeks, we have a new 20-place finisher in 2018. It’s not a category you necessarily want to be involved in but somebody has to finish 20th every week, right?
This weekend at Pocono Raceway, it was Jamie McMurray who added his name in the group, finishing 20th in Sunday’s Gander Outdoors 400. And though it wasn’t a run worth much, unfortunately, it was a continuation of a slow season for the No. 1 Chip Ganassi Racing team.
And it wasn’t looking that way after Saturday’s wacky qualifying session, where McMurray jumped to fifth spot after top qualifiers were brought to the rear due to post-qualifying inspection.
The starting spot was his best since Sonoma in June and his third straight top-five start at Pocono.
The finishes, however, have not been as sincere for the 42-year-old in Pennsylvania. Entering Sunday, he hadn’t scored a Pocono top 10 since 2015, finishing no better than 15th since.
That streak continued Sunday when he drove to 20th place. An early pit road penalty sent the No. 1 off their feet and — outside finishing eighth in Stage 2 — never recovered back near the front.
Teammate Kyle Larson also struggled more than usual, finishing 23rd in his No. 42 Chevy.
Runs like Sunday have been usual work from McMurray, who has but three top 10s through 21 races. This has put the No. 1 in a must-win situation to make the playoffs, a cut he’s made the last three seasons.
The Cup Series heads next to Watkins Glen International, where McMurray finished 14th in 2017.
List of 20th-Place Finishers So Far in 2018
Daytona: Gray Gaulding
Atlanta: Alex Bowman
Las Vegas: Trevor Bayne
ISM: Trevor Bayne (2)
Auto Club: Darrell Wallace Jr.
Martinsville: William Byron
Texas: Gray Gaulding(2)
Bristol: Landon Cassill
Richmond: Ty Dillon
Talladega: DJ Kennington
Dover: Chris Buescher
Kansas: Michael McDowell
Charlotte: Kasey Kahne
Pocono: Clint Bowyer
Michigan: Jimmie Johnson
Sonoma: Kasey Kahne(2)
Chicagoland: William Byron(2)
Daytona: Trevor Bayne(3)
Kentucky: William Byron(3)
New Hampshire: Chris Buescher(2)
Pocono: Jamie McMurray
Mid-Pack With Zach: Jamie McMurray, Chip Ganassi Racing
By: Zach Catanzareti, Staff Writer
Each week, Kickin’ The Tires will highlight the 20th-place finisher from the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Standing as the middleman in weekends with 40-car fields, there is sure to be a story behind each one.
For the first time in six weeks, we have a new 20-place finisher in 2018. It’s not a category you necessarily want to be involved in but somebody has to finish 20th every week, right?
This weekend at Pocono Raceway, it was Jamie McMurray who added his name in the group, finishing 20th in Sunday’s Gander Outdoors 400. And though it wasn’t a run worth much, unfortunately, it was a continuation of a slow season for the No. 1 Chip Ganassi Racing team.
And it wasn’t looking that way after Saturday’s wacky qualifying session, where McMurray jumped to fifth spot after top qualifiers were brought to the rear due to post-qualifying inspection.
The starting spot was his best since Sonoma in June and his third straight top-five start at Pocono.
The finishes, however, have not been as sincere for the 42-year-old in Pennsylvania. Entering Sunday, he hadn’t scored a Pocono top 10 since 2015, finishing no better than 15th since.
That streak continued Sunday when he drove to 20th place. An early pit road penalty sent the No. 1 off their feet and — outside finishing eighth in Stage 2 — never recovered back near the front.
Teammate Kyle Larson also struggled more than usual, finishing 23rd in his No. 42 Chevy.
Runs like Sunday have been usual work from McMurray, who has but three top 10s through 21 races. This has put the No. 1 in a must-win situation to make the playoffs, a cut he’s made the last three seasons.
The Cup Series heads next to Watkins Glen International, where McMurray finished 14th in 2017.
List of 20th-Place Finishers So Far in 2018
Daytona: Gray Gaulding
Atlanta: Alex Bowman
Las Vegas: Trevor Bayne
ISM: Trevor Bayne (2)
Auto Club: Darrell Wallace Jr.
Martinsville: William Byron
Texas: Gray Gaulding(2)
Bristol: Landon Cassill
Richmond: Ty Dillon
Talladega: DJ Kennington
Dover: Chris Buescher
Kansas: Michael McDowell
Charlotte: Kasey Kahne
Pocono: Clint Bowyer
Michigan: Jimmie Johnson
Sonoma: Kasey Kahne(2)
Chicagoland: William Byron(2)
Daytona: Trevor Bayne(3)
Kentucky: William Byron(3)
New Hampshire: Chris Buescher(2)
Pocono: Jamie McMurray