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Jamie McMurray loses engine a few laps shy of halfway at Dover

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Citizen Solider 400 - Practice

DOVER, DE - SEPTEMBER 30: Jamie McMurray, driver of the #1 Credit One Chevrolet, drives during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Citizen Solider 400 at Dover International Speedway on September 30, 2016 in Dover, Delaware. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images)

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Chip Ganassi Racing’s Chase for the Sprint Cup hopes suffered another blow as Jamie McMurray lost an engine just shy of the halfway point in the Citizen Soldier 400.

McMurray’s No. 1 Chevrolet had been off the pace for many laps before it gave up the ghost on Lap 193.

McMurray, who qualified for his second consecutive Chase, had entered Dover International Speedway 13th on the Chase grid. The top 12 drivers will advance to the second round.

This was the first year owner Chip Ganassi had put both of his cars in the Chase, and it seemed neither will advance from the opening round.

McMurray’s championship aspirations ended while teammate Kyle Larson was running in 32nd, four laps down after a series of miscues and problems.

During a caution for Larson hitting the wall on Lap 183, McMurray told his crew “I have to be down at least two cylinders, maybe three.”

Less than four laps after the restart, McMurray’s car began belching smoke.

“I was really happy with the car; we’ve had good cars for the last two months,” McMurray told NBC Sports. “I’m proud of my team, proud of our guys for all the hard work we put in. It stinks that it’s over this way.”