Pocono II: Jamie McMurray preview

HAVOLINE TEAM FACTS:

Chassis: The Havoline team will race chassis #307. This is a brand new car the team tested with last week at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

McMurray is making his second NASCAR Winston Cup Series start at Pocono Raceway this weekend. McMurray started 28th and finished 32nd in his first visit to the track back in June of this year.

McMurray enters the Pennsylvania 500 23rd in NASCAR Winston Cup Series points and currently sits second in the Raybestos Rookie-of-the-Year standings.

McMurray has scored two top-five, four top-10 and seven top-15 finishes in the first 19 races of the 2003 Winston Cup season.

McMurray has scored more top-10 finishes (four) than any other Raybestos Rookie contender so far in 2003.

McMurray has led more miles than any other Raybestos Rookie entering Sunday's race at Pocono: eight times in three races for 97.25 miles (52 laps).

JAMIE MCMURRAY QUOTES:

"We didn't run very well at Pocono the last race. Actually, we ran horrible but Sterling (Marlin) ran the whole race pretty much and had a dominate car so we're going to put his setup in and when we get there, go back out and put our car in race trim and let me run a lot of laps. I think that's certainly where having a teammate and cars that are a lot alike comes in and helps us out."

"I think the thing is when you know that you have a really good setup and a really good car, then you just find a line. I think I have been really good, I feel like, at a lot of races this year at being able to search around and find a groove, something different than what other guys have run. Knowing that you have a good setup in the car, you just find a groove. I'm positive the Havoline Dodge will be better this time around at Pocono."

"Everybody told me that you had to get off the final turn to go down that long straightaway and when I was really good there I was really slow (smiles). You have to be good everywhere. I think, bottom line, is that you have to have a really well balanced car at Pocono."