Target Team Coasts Across the Finish Line at New Hampshire

Results (with starting pos.) New Hampshire Motor Speedway

1. (1) Ryan Newman, No. 39 Chevrolet
30. (8) Juan Pablo Montoya, No. 42 Target Chevrolet
31. (25) Jamie McMurray, No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet

Loudon, N.H. – At the halfway point of the 2011 season, teams headed to the “magic mile” at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The No. 42 Target team started in the eighth position and played with pit/fuel strategy all day in hopes of bringing home a top spot. With two laps remaining that hope would disappear as Montoya radioed in that he was out of fuel. The No. 42 Chevrolet would have to settle for a 30th-place finish.

Juan Pablo Montoya was looking to repeat his strong performances at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and gain some valuable points positions over the weekend. The team appeared to be on the right track as Montoya was second quick in final practice and then followed that up with an eighth-place starting position for Sunday’s race. The crew spent the 301 lap race playing on pit strategy expecting the end to come down to a fuel mileage race. The Target Chevrolet pitted a total of seven times for anything from fuel only to two and four tires and adjustments. The team would run as high as third and as low as 30th during the race. With two laps remaining and running in the 13th position, the Target Chevrolet would run short on fuel and coast back to the finish line. Montoya was credited with a 30th-place finish.

“Disappointing to say the least,” Montoya remarked. “We needed a good run today and fell short. I hate it for the team and for Target. We’ve got a little break now to regroup and get things back on track. I’m confident we can do that and hopefully Indy is where it will all come together.”

Montoya fell four spots in the standings after the 30th-place finish. He now sits in the 17th position, 59 points out of 10th.

NOTES
- Montoya has two poles, two top-five and six top-10 finishes in the first half of the 2011 season
- Montoya fell four positions in the point standings to 17th, 59 out of 10th
- Montoya has completed 5563 out of the possible 5596 laps, 99.4%

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will be off this weekend. Racing will resume on Sunday, July 31st at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Brickyard 400 will air on ESPN and radio stations affiliated with IMS at 1:00 pm ET

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