Jamie McMurray
Encyclopedia
James Christopher "Jamie" McMurray (born June 3, 1976) is a professional American
race car driver. McMurray is best known for winning the 2002 UAW-GM Quality 500 as a substitute driver in his second Winston Cup start, and is one of three drivers to win both the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 in the same year. He currently drives the #1 Bass Pro Shops
/McDonald's
Chevrolet Impala in the Sprint Cup Series for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing
with crew chief Kevin Manion
.
. In 2000, he ran 15 Craftsman Truck races and posted one top-five and four top-ten finishes. During 2001 and 2002, he competed full-time in the NASCAR Busch Series, driving the #27 Williams Travel Centers Chevrolet Monte Carlo
for Brewco Motorsports
. The latter year was better for McMurray, as he won two races and finished sixth in the overall points standings.
Before the fall race at Richmond in 2002, Chip Ganassi
announced McMurray would be the driver of a Texaco-Havoline sponsored Dodge in 2003. Ganassi planned to have Jamie drive the #42 Dodge for seven races in 2002.
, who fractured a vertebra at the Winston Cup race at Kansas Speedway
. He made his Cup debut, filling in the #40 Coors Light
Dodge at
Talladega
. One week later, in just his second career NASCAR Winston Cup start, McMurray outraced Bobby Labonte
to win the UAW-GM Quality 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway
in Concord, NC. McMurray had been consistent the entire night, and led 96 of the final 100 laps to score the win. It is considered one of the biggest upsets in NASCAR history, with McMurray making his only start at Talladega Superspeedway, where upsets are common. This win set a modern era record for fewest starts before a win (breaking the record held by Kevin Harvick
(who had won in his 3rd start in 2001), and most recently been tied by Trevor Bayne
in the 2011 Daytona 500
, and it was also the first time a driver won in his or her first start at a 1.5 mile track, the most common type of track used in the sport. McMurray drove a total of six races in the #40.
, despite not winning a race. McMurray had five top-5 finishes for the year and finished 13th overall. He began competing part-time in the Busch Series.
In 2004, McMurray and his team were penalized 25 points after the Food City 500
for an incorrect "x-measurement," a method of comparing the center of the roof with the center of the chassis, which proved costly when later in the year McMurray missed the Chase for the Cup by 15 points. He had 23 top-10s during the season, including 12 in the last 14 races, and finished eleventh in the points standings, which earned him a $1 million bonus. In the same year, he won a Craftsman Truck Series
race, joining 20 other drivers that have won a race in all three of NASCAR's top touring series (Craftsman Truck, Busch, and NEXTEL Cup
).
McMurray left the #42 team after the 2005 season to drive for Roush Fenway Racing. Owner Chip Ganassi was initially adamant that McMurray would be held to his contract, but on November 7, 2005, McMurray was released. McMurray was originally to go to the #6 Ford in 2006, but since Kurt Busch
was leaving for Penske Racing
and Mark Martin
announced he would race for another year, McMurray instead took over for Kurt Busch
in the #97 Ford (which was then renumbered #26).
In April 2006, Jack Roush
moved Jimmy Fennig
from crew chief of the #26 Ford to head Roush's Busch operations. Bob Osbourne
, who had been crew chief for Carl Edwards
, moved to head the crew for McMurray. McMurray's best finish of the 2006 season came at Dover International Speedway
, where he finished second after leading the most laps.
, formerly from Michael Waltrip Racing and Penske Racing
, with sponsorship from Crown Royal
and IRWIN Tools
. On June 22, 2007, he won his third career NASCAR NEXTEL Cup pole, for the 2007 Toyota/Save Mart 350
. On July 7, 2007, McMurray won the Pepsi 400 by .005 of a second over Kyle Busch
for his second career Cup win. The photo finish was the closest in Daytona International Speedway
history and tied for the second closest finish (1993 DieHard 500
) since the advent of electronic scoring in 1993. McMurray finished the year 17th overall in the point standings.
at Lowes Motor Speedway. It was his first top five finish since his victory at Daytona in July of the previous year. McMurray finished the 2008 season with three third-place finishes, and was 16th in the standings.
in 2009. Crew Chief Larry Carter moved to Yates Racing to be crew chief for Paul Menard
. McMurray started the 2009 season by dominating the final stages of the Budweiser Shootout
, but finished second when he lost the lead to Kevin Harvick
on the last lap. McMurray had a excellent Speedweeks
, finishing 9th in his Gatorade Duel
. In the Daytona 500
, McMurray ran up front and was a contender, but was eliminated after he was involved in the race's biggest crash. Roush Fenway Racing informed McMurray he would be allowed to leave the team, as they needed to cut their teams down to the NASCAR-mandated four. On November 1, 2009, McMurray won the AMP Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway after leading over 20 laps and passing David Stremme
with 8 laps to go. He then survived a green-white checkered finish
to earn his second restrictor-plate win. Roush Fenway released him and the #26 team at the end of the season due to NASCAR's four team limit and the expiration of Roush Racing's exemption that allowed a 5th team.
in the #1 car, replacing Martin Truex, Jr.. McMurray reunited with Chip Ganassi in the 2010 24 Hours of Daytona
; it was the first time he has been with Ganassi since 2005. On February 14, McMurray won the 2010 Daytona 500. He led for only two laps, the least in Daytona 500 history. McMurray led the final stage of the Aaron's 499 but was passed in a scramble to the finish by Kevin Harvick, who beat him to the line by just .011 sec. McMurray led 27 laps. It was speculated by McMurray's car owner Felix Sabates
that Harvick went below the yellow line when he made the pass but this was denied by NASCAR.
In July, McMurray held off Harvick to win the 2010 Brickyard 400
, making him one of only three drivers to win the Daytona 500 and the Brickyard in the same year. Chip Ganassi became the first owner to win both races and the Indianapolis 500
in the same year, with Dario Franchitti
's victory in that race
. Although he missed the Chase in 2010, he won again in October at the site of his first win, Charlotte Motor Speedway
. McMurray finished 14th in the standings with three wins and nine top 5s.
in the Nationwide #88 car after Kelly Bires
was released due to a lack of sponsorship. In his first race with JR Motorsports, McMurray ran up front and had a top 10 finish. During the next race at Talladega, he was involved in a final lap wreck. On September 4, 2010, McMurray held off Kyle Busch to win at Atlanta.
. He grew up racing go-karts and competed in nearly every form of karting
around the country before moving to late-model stock cars. In 2007, McMurray returned to the karting ranks and still competes in World Karting Association
races on many of his open weekends. He races annually at the World Karting Association's Daytona KartWeek in late December.
Jamie McMurray married Christy Futrell in July 2009. Their first child Carter Scott McMurray was born Thanksgiving morning, November 25, 2010.
Through his trouble-filled 2009, and the contrasting current year, McMurray has found the power of prayer
. Jamie said in the post race interview, that "As those laps were winding down, I was thinking about Daytona and why I cry and the power of prayer. I had a tough year last year. I found out the power of prayer and what that can do for you. When you get to victory lane, and you get to experience this, it just makes you a believer."
*McMurray won the last four Busch Series
races to be run at Rockingham Speedway.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
race car driver. McMurray is best known for winning the 2002 UAW-GM Quality 500 as a substitute driver in his second Winston Cup start, and is one of three drivers to win both the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 in the same year. He currently drives the #1 Bass Pro Shops
Bass Pro Shops
Bass Pro Shops is a privately held retailer of hunting, fishing, camping and related outdoor recreation merchandise. Bass Pro Shops is known for a large selection of hunting, fishing, and other outdoor gear.-History:The owner, John L...
/McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
Chevrolet Impala in the Sprint Cup Series for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing
Earnhardt Ganassi Racing
Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates is a NASCAR team based in Concord, North Carolina, United States, owned by Dale Earnhardt's widow Teresa Earnhardt, Chip Ganassi, and Felix Sabates. This team was formed when Dale Earnhardt, Inc...
with crew chief Kevin Manion
Kevin Manion
Kevin Manion , nicknamed Bono, is the current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series crew chief for the Earnhardt Ganassi Racing #1 Bass Pro Shops/McDonald's Chevrolet Impala driven Jamie McMurray. Manion lead the #1 car to wins in both the 2010 Daytona 500 and the 2010 Brickyard 400.-Early life:Manion was born...
.
Early NASCAR career
In 1999, McMurray made four starts in the Craftsman Truck SeriesCraftsman Truck Series
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is a pickup truck racing series owned and operated by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing...
. In 2000, he ran 15 Craftsman Truck races and posted one top-five and four top-ten finishes. During 2001 and 2002, he competed full-time in the NASCAR Busch Series, driving the #27 Williams Travel Centers Chevrolet Monte Carlo
Chevrolet Monte Carlo
The Chevrolet Monte Carlo was an American-made two-door coupe introduced for model year 1970, and manufactured over six generations through model year 2007. It was marketed as a personal-luxury coupe through most of its history, with the last model version being classified as a full-sized coupe...
for Brewco Motorsports
Brewco Motorsports
Baker Curb Racing, formerly known as Brewco Motorsports, is a racing team that competes in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, it is owned by Gary Baker, former owner of Bristol Motor Speedway and Nashville Superspeedway, and record executive Mike Curb...
. The latter year was better for McMurray, as he won two races and finished sixth in the overall points standings.
Before the fall race at Richmond in 2002, Chip Ganassi
Chip Ganassi
Floyd "Chip" Ganassi, Jr is a former American racecar driver and current racecar owner.He is currently the owner and president of Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates which operates teams on the IndyCar, NASCAR and Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series circuit...
announced McMurray would be the driver of a Texaco-Havoline sponsored Dodge in 2003. Ganassi planned to have Jamie drive the #42 Dodge for seven races in 2002.
2002 win at Lowe's Motor Speedway
McMurray substituted for an injured Sterling MarlinSterling Marlin
Sterling Marlin is a retired NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver. He is the son of late NASCAR driver Coo Coo Marlin. He is married to Paula and has a daughter, Sutherlin, and a son, Steadman, who sometimes races in the Nationwide Series....
, who fractured a vertebra at the Winston Cup race at Kansas Speedway
Kansas Speedway
Kansas Speedway is a tri-oval race track in Kansas City, Kansas. The speedway was built in 2001 and currently hosts two annual NASCAR race weekends. The IndyCar Series also raced at the speedway until 2011...
. He made his Cup debut, filling in the #40 Coors Light
Coors Light
Coors Light is a light beer produced by the Coors Brewing Company. It was first produced in 1978.The beer has a "Cold Certified" label which turns the mountains on the label from white to blue when the beer's temperature is lowered to 4 degrees Celsius .- Promotions :In 2008, Coors Light became...
Dodge at
Talladega
Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama, United States. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base just outside the small city of Lincoln. It was constructed by International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France Family, in...
. One week later, in just his second career NASCAR Winston Cup start, McMurray outraced Bobby Labonte
Bobby Labonte
Robert Alan "Bobby" Labonte is an American race car driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He currently drives the #47 Kroger/Clorox/Kimberly-Clark/Kingsford/Reese Towpower Hitches Toyota Camry for JTG Daugherty Racing. He currently resides in Trinity, North Carolina. He is married to his wife...
to win the UAW-GM Quality 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway
Lowe's Motor Speedway
Charlotte Motor Speedway is a motorsports complex located in Concord, North Carolina, United States 13 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. The complex features a quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and the Sprint All-Star Race...
in Concord, NC. McMurray had been consistent the entire night, and led 96 of the final 100 laps to score the win. It is considered one of the biggest upsets in NASCAR history, with McMurray making his only start at Talladega Superspeedway, where upsets are common. This win set a modern era record for fewest starts before a win (breaking the record held by Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick
Kevin Michael Harvick is an American stock car auto racing race car driver and car owner currently competing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Richard Childress Racing, driving the No. 29 Budweiser/Jimmy John's/Rheem/Okuma/Realtree Outdoors/Bad Boy Buggies Chevrolet Impala...
(who had won in his 3rd start in 2001), and most recently been tied by Trevor Bayne
Trevor Bayne
Trevor Bayne is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series race car driver. He drives the No. 21 Motorcraft/QuickLane Ford Fusion for Wood Brothers Racing in the Sprint Cup Series, and the No. 16 Ford Mustang for Roush Fenway Racing in the Nationwide Series.Bayne began his racing...
in the 2011 Daytona 500
2011 Daytona 500
The 2011 Daytona 500, the 53rd running of the event, was held on February 20, 2011 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida over 200 laps on the 2.5 mile asphalt tri-oval. First race of the 2011 Sprint Cup Series season, it was won by the Wood Brothers...
, and it was also the first time a driver won in his or her first start at a 1.5 mile track, the most common type of track used in the sport. McMurray drove a total of six races in the #40.
2003–2006
In 2003, McMurray became a Winston Cup regular. He won the NASCAR Winston Cup (now Sprint Cup) Rookie of the Year competition by 37 points over Greg BiffleGreg Biffle
Gregory Jack "Greg" Biffle is a NASCAR driver who drives the #16 3M Ford Fusion for Roush Fenway Racing in the Sprint Cup Series. After racing in the NASCAR Winter Heat Series in the mid-90s, he was recommended to Jack Roush by former announcer Benny Parsons...
, despite not winning a race. McMurray had five top-5 finishes for the year and finished 13th overall. He began competing part-time in the Busch Series.
In 2004, McMurray and his team were penalized 25 points after the Food City 500
Food City 500
The Food City 500 is a 500 lap race NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held on the track at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. This is one of two NASCAR races held at Bristol, the other being the Irwin Tools Night Race, and is considered one of NASCAR's best races...
for an incorrect "x-measurement," a method of comparing the center of the roof with the center of the chassis, which proved costly when later in the year McMurray missed the Chase for the Cup by 15 points. He had 23 top-10s during the season, including 12 in the last 14 races, and finished eleventh in the points standings, which earned him a $1 million bonus. In the same year, he won a Craftsman Truck Series
Craftsman Truck Series
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is a pickup truck racing series owned and operated by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing...
race, joining 20 other drivers that have won a race in all three of NASCAR's top touring series (Craftsman Truck, Busch, and NEXTEL Cup
NEXTEL Cup
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is the top racing series of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing . The series was originally known as the Strictly Stock Series and Grand National Series . While leasing its naming rights to R. J...
).
McMurray left the #42 team after the 2005 season to drive for Roush Fenway Racing. Owner Chip Ganassi was initially adamant that McMurray would be held to his contract, but on November 7, 2005, McMurray was released. McMurray was originally to go to the #6 Ford in 2006, but since Kurt Busch
Kurt Busch
Kurt Thomas Busch is an American NASCAR and NHRA driver. He drives the No. 22 Shell Oil Company/Pennzoil Dodge Charger in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and will race on an "opportunity permitting" basis in the Pro Stock division of NHRA...
was leaving for Penske Racing
Penske Racing
Penske Racing is a racing team that competes in the IndyCar Series and NASCAR. They also previously competed in road racing, and Formula One. Penske Racing is a division of Penske Corporation, and is owned and chaired by Roger Penske...
and Mark Martin
Mark Martin (NASCAR)
Mark Anthony Martin is an American stock car driver currently competing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. As of 2012, Martin will drive for Michael Waltrip Racing, moving on from successful organizations such as Hendrick Motorsports and Roush Fenway Racing. He has the second most wins in the NASCAR...
announced he would race for another year, McMurray instead took over for Kurt Busch
Kurt Busch
Kurt Thomas Busch is an American NASCAR and NHRA driver. He drives the No. 22 Shell Oil Company/Pennzoil Dodge Charger in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and will race on an "opportunity permitting" basis in the Pro Stock division of NHRA...
in the #97 Ford (which was then renumbered #26).
In April 2006, Jack Roush
Jack Roush
Jack Roush is the founder, CEO, and co-owner along with John Henry of Roush Fenway Racing, a NASCAR team headquartered in Concord, North Carolina, and is Chairman of the Board of Roush Enterprises....
moved Jimmy Fennig
Jimmy Fennig
Jimmy Fennig is a longtime NASCAR crew chief. He was the crew chief for Kurt Busch's 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series' championship.-Biography:...
from crew chief of the #26 Ford to head Roush's Busch operations. Bob Osbourne
Bob Osbourne
Bob Osborne is the current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series crew chief for the No. 99 Aflac/Scotts Ford Fusion driven by Carl Edwards. He is currently employed at Roush Fenway Racing. He has been a crew chief in NASCAR for 8 years. ]...
, who had been crew chief for Carl Edwards
Carl Edwards
Carl Michael Edwards, II is a NASCAR driver. He currently drives the #99 Fastenal/Aflac Ford Fusion in the Sprint Cup Series and the #60 Ford in the Nationwide Series for Roush Fenway Racing...
, moved to head the crew for McMurray. McMurray's best finish of the 2006 season came at Dover International Speedway
Dover International Speedway
Dover International Speedway is a NASCAR-sanctioned race track located in Dover, Delaware, owned by, and serving as the corporate headquarters of, Dover Motorsports, Inc. It is co-located with a harness racing track, Dover Downs, and shares the complex with Dover Downs Hotel & Casino...
, where he finished second after leading the most laps.
2007
McMurray began the 2007 season with crew chief Larry CarterLarry Carter
Larry Gene Carter was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played for the San Francisco Giants in 1992.-External links:...
, formerly from Michael Waltrip Racing and Penske Racing
Penske Racing
Penske Racing is a racing team that competes in the IndyCar Series and NASCAR. They also previously competed in road racing, and Formula One. Penske Racing is a division of Penske Corporation, and is owned and chaired by Roger Penske...
, with sponsorship from Crown Royal
Crown Royal
Crown Royal is a blended Canadian whisky, 40% alcohol by volume, 80 proof. The brand is currently owned by Diageo, who purchased it when the Seagram portfolio was dissolved in the year 2000. It is the top-selling Canadian whisky in the United States....
and IRWIN Tools
Irwin Industrial Tools
Irwin Industrial Tools is an American manufacturer and distributor of hand tools and power tool accessories. It is a subsidiary of Newell Rubbermaid. It is most well known for producing Vise-Grip locking pliers...
. On June 22, 2007, he won his third career NASCAR NEXTEL Cup pole, for the 2007 Toyota/Save Mart 350
2007 Toyota/Save Mart 350
The 2007 Toyota/Save Mart 350 was the 16th race of the 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season. It took place on June 24, 2007, at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California, about 25 miles north of San Francisco....
. On July 7, 2007, McMurray won the Pepsi 400 by .005 of a second over Kyle Busch
Kyle Busch
Kyle Thomas Busch, is an American NASCAR driver and team owner. He currently drives the No. 18 Mars/Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Sprint Cup Series, the No. 18 Z-Line Designs/NOS Energy Drink Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs in the Nationwide Series, and the No...
for his second career Cup win. The photo finish was the closest in Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, one of the most prestigious races in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, Grand-Am and Motocross...
history and tied for the second closest finish (1993 DieHard 500
Aaron's 499
The Aaron's 499 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car auto race held at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama. The race has always been held in late April or early May. The Aaron's 499 is also one of four races currently run with restrictor plates, the others being the AMP Energy 500,...
) since the advent of electronic scoring in 1993. McMurray finished the year 17th overall in the point standings.
2008
In the beginning of the 2008 season, McMurray encountered a string of poor finishes that relegated him to 36th in points and thus not guaranteed a spot in the field when NASCAR reached the spring Martinsville race. When the current points went into effect to determine the people who were locked in the race, McMurray was required to qualify for the race based on his time around the track. He qualified 5th, locking himself into the field as the fastest of the teams not locked into the race. He earned an 8th place finish in the race, securing himself a spot in the top 35 in points and thus a guaranteed starting position for the next race. Throughout the remainder of the season, he steadily climbed in the standings and reached the top 20 in points. On October 11, 2008, McMurray rallied to finish fifth in the Bank of America 500Bank of America 500
The Bank of America 500 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race that is hosted annually at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, United States. The race is usually held in the month of October, as part of the Chase for the Sprint Cup and is 500 miles long...
at Lowes Motor Speedway. It was his first top five finish since his victory at Daytona in July of the previous year. McMurray finished the 2008 season with three third-place finishes, and was 16th in the standings.
2009
McMurray re-united with former crew chief Donnie WingoDonnie Wingo
Donnie Wingo is currently the crew chief for Trevor Bayne and the #21 Motorcraft car at Wood Brothers Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He was formerly the crew chief for Jamie McMurray and Juan Pablo Montoya at Chip Ganassi Racing and Roush Fenway Racing, as well as David Ragan at Roush...
in 2009. Crew Chief Larry Carter moved to Yates Racing to be crew chief for Paul Menard
Paul Menard
Paul Menard is a NASCAR driver. He currently drives the #27 Menards Chevrolet in the Sprint Cup Series for Richard Childress Racing and runs part-time for Kevin Harvick Inc. in the Nationwide Series. He is the son of Menards founder John Menard, Jr., whose company is his sponsor...
. McMurray started the 2009 season by dominating the final stages of the Budweiser Shootout
2009 Budweiser Shootout
The 2009 Budweiser Shootout was a special non-points race that officially openend the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season on Saturday night, February 7 of that year at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. The race was btelecast by Fox, with radio broadcasting being done...
, but finished second when he lost the lead to Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick
Kevin Michael Harvick is an American stock car auto racing race car driver and car owner currently competing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Richard Childress Racing, driving the No. 29 Budweiser/Jimmy John's/Rheem/Okuma/Realtree Outdoors/Bad Boy Buggies Chevrolet Impala...
on the last lap. McMurray had a excellent Speedweeks
Speedweeks
Hershey's Milk & Milkshake Speedweeks is a name given to a three-week series of auto races held at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States of America in early February...
, finishing 9th in his Gatorade Duel
Gatorade Duel
The Gatorade Duel is NASCAR Sprint Cup Series preliminary event to the Daytona 500 held annually in February at Daytona International Speedway. It consists of two races, and serves as a qualifying race for the Daytona 500...
. In the Daytona 500
2009 Daytona 500
The 2009 Daytona 500, the fifty-first running of Daytona 500, was the first points-paying race to open the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. The race was won by Matt Kenseth making a car numbered 17 winning the Daytona 500 for the first time in 20 years since Darrell Waltrip's win back in 1989 and the...
, McMurray ran up front and was a contender, but was eliminated after he was involved in the race's biggest crash. Roush Fenway Racing informed McMurray he would be allowed to leave the team, as they needed to cut their teams down to the NASCAR-mandated four. On November 1, 2009, McMurray won the AMP Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway after leading over 20 laps and passing David Stremme
David Stremme
David Andrew Stremme is an American stock car driver. He is most notable as the 2003 NASCAR Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year, winning the award while running a part time for several different teams. He currently drives the #30 Chevrolet Impala for Inception Motorsports.-Early life:Stremme was...
with 8 laps to go. He then survived a green-white checkered finish
Green-white-checker finish
The green-white-checker finish is a rule implemented into many levels of automobile racing in the United States. When the race would otherwise end during a yellow-flag caution condition , this rule gives the field an attempt to finish the race under a green-flag, racing condition...
to earn his second restrictor-plate win. Roush Fenway released him and the #26 team at the end of the season due to NASCAR's four team limit and the expiration of Roush Racing's exemption that allowed a 5th team.
2010
In 2010, McMurray began to drive for Earnhardt Ganassi RacingEarnhardt Ganassi Racing
Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates is a NASCAR team based in Concord, North Carolina, United States, owned by Dale Earnhardt's widow Teresa Earnhardt, Chip Ganassi, and Felix Sabates. This team was formed when Dale Earnhardt, Inc...
in the #1 car, replacing Martin Truex, Jr.. McMurray reunited with Chip Ganassi in the 2010 24 Hours of Daytona
2010 24 Hours of Daytona
The 2010 Rolex 24 at Daytona was the 48th running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona and was the first round of the 2010 Rolex Sports Car Series season. It took place between January 30–31, 2010.-Rule changes:...
; it was the first time he has been with Ganassi since 2005. On February 14, McMurray won the 2010 Daytona 500. He led for only two laps, the least in Daytona 500 history. McMurray led the final stage of the Aaron's 499 but was passed in a scramble to the finish by Kevin Harvick, who beat him to the line by just .011 sec. McMurray led 27 laps. It was speculated by McMurray's car owner Felix Sabates
Felix Sabates
Felix Sabates is an entrepreneur and philanthropist living in the United States. He is currently a minority shareholder in Chip Ganassi Racing, which fields teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series , GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series and the IZOD IndyCar Series...
that Harvick went below the yellow line when he made the pass but this was denied by NASCAR.
In July, McMurray held off Harvick to win the 2010 Brickyard 400
2010 Brickyard 400
The 2010 Brickyard 400 was a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held on July 25, 2010 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana. Contested over 160 laps, it was the twentieth race of the 2010 Sprint Cup Series season. The race was won by Jamie McMurray, for the Earnhardt...
, making him one of only three drivers to win the Daytona 500 and the Brickyard in the same year. Chip Ganassi became the first owner to win both races and the Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, also known as the Indianapolis 500, the 500 Miles at Indianapolis, the Indy 500 or The 500, is an American automobile race, held annually, typically on the last weekend in May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana...
in the same year, with Dario Franchitti
Dario Franchitti
George Dario Marino Franchitti is a Scottish racing driver. He formerly competed in the CART series before switching to the IndyCar Series where he was 2007 champion, and won the rain-shortened 2007 Indianapolis 500. Franchitti is also a former NASCAR driver for Chip Ganassi Racing, competing...
's victory in that race
2010 Indianapolis 500
The 94th Indianapolis 500 was held on Sunday, May 30, 2010, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It was the 15th Indy 500 sanctioned by the Indy Racing League, and was the premier event of the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series season. The race was won by Dario Franchitti, ahead of Dan Wheldon and Marco...
. Although he missed the Chase in 2010, he won again in October at the site of his first win, Charlotte Motor Speedway
Charlotte Motor Speedway
Charlotte Motor Speedway is a motorsports complex located in Concord, North Carolina, United States 13 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. The complex features a quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and the Sprint All-Star Race...
. McMurray finished 14th in the standings with three wins and nine top 5s.
2011
On January 19, 2011, McMurray signed a multi-year extension with Earnhardt Ganassi Racing to continue driving the 1 McDonalds / Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet. As of September 4th, 2011, he has 2 front-row starts, including 1 pole position; 4 top-10 finishes, including 2 top-5 finishes; 3 DNFs, two of them engine-related; and was outside of the top 25 in the points standings.JR Motorsports
McMurray will drive nine races for JR MotorsportsJR Motorsports
JR Motorsports is a NASCAR team based in Mooresville, North Carolina, co-owned by NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Dale Earnhardt, Jr., his sister Kelley Earnhardt Miller, cousin and former crew chief Tony Eury, Jr., and the owner of his Cup ride Rick Hendrick. It currently fields the No...
in the Nationwide #88 car after Kelly Bires
Kelly Bires
Kelly Bires is an American stock car driver. He currently drives the #25 Ford Mustang for Team Rensi Motorsports and the #18 International Comfort Products Corporation Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Nationwide Series.-Early career:Bires began karting at Sugar River Raceway in Brodhead,...
was released due to a lack of sponsorship. In his first race with JR Motorsports, McMurray ran up front and had a top 10 finish. During the next race at Talladega, he was involved in a final lap wreck. On September 4, 2010, McMurray held off Kyle Busch to win at Atlanta.
Personal life
McMurray was born in Joplin, MissouriJoplin, Missouri
Joplin is a city in southern Jasper County and northern Newton County in the southwestern corner of the US state of Missouri. Joplin is the largest city in Jasper County, though it is not the county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 50,150...
. He grew up racing go-karts and competed in nearly every form of karting
Kart racing
Kart racing or karting is a variant of open-wheel motorsport with small, open, four-wheeled vehicles called karts, go-karts, or gearbox/shifter karts depending on the design. They are usually raced on scaled-down circuits...
around the country before moving to late-model stock cars. In 2007, McMurray returned to the karting ranks and still competes in World Karting Association
World Karting Association
The World Karting Association, or WKA, is the largest sanctioning body for kart racing racing in North America. The WKA was founded in 1971 and is located directly behind Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. The WKA is believed to currently have approximately 5,000 members...
races on many of his open weekends. He races annually at the World Karting Association's Daytona KartWeek in late December.
Jamie McMurray married Christy Futrell in July 2009. Their first child Carter Scott McMurray was born Thanksgiving morning, November 25, 2010.
Through his trouble-filled 2009, and the contrasting current year, McMurray has found the power of prayer
Prayer
Prayer is a form of religious practice that seeks to activate a volitional rapport to a deity through deliberate practice. Prayer may be either individual or communal and take place in public or in private. It may involve the use of words or song. When language is used, prayer may take the form of...
. Jamie said in the post race interview, that "As those laps were winding down, I was thinking about Daytona and why I cry and the power of prayer. I had a tough year last year. I found out the power of prayer and what that can do for you. When you get to victory lane, and you get to experience this, it just makes you a believer."
Sprint Cup (6 career wins)
| Win No. | Date | Race Name | Track |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | October 13, 2002 | UAW-GM Quality 500 |  Charlotte Motor SpeedwayCharlotte Motor Speedway Charlotte Motor Speedway is a motorsports complex located in Concord, North Carolina, United States 13 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. The complex features a quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and the Sprint All-Star Race... at Concord, NC |
| 2 | July 7, 2007 | Pepsi 400 |  Daytona International SpeedwayDaytona International Speedway Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, one of the most prestigious races in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, Grand-Am and Motocross... at Daytona Beach, FL |
| 3 | November 1, 2009 | AMP Energy 500 |  Talladega SuperspeedwayTalladega Superspeedway Talladega Superspeedway is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama, United States. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base just outside the small city of Lincoln. It was constructed by International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France Family, in... at Talladega, AL |
| 4 | February 14, 2010 | Daytona 500 | Daytona International Speedway Daytona International Speedway Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, one of the most prestigious races in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, Grand-Am and Motocross... at Daytona Beach, FL |
| 5 | July 25, 2010 | Brickyard 400 |  Indianapolis Motor SpeedwayIndianapolis Motor Speedway The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in Speedway, Indiana in the United States, is the home of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race and the Brickyard 400.... at Speedway, IN |
| 6 | October 16, 2010 | Bank of America 500 | Charlotte Motor Speedway Charlotte Motor Speedway Charlotte Motor Speedway is a motorsports complex located in Concord, North Carolina, United States 13 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. The complex features a quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and the Sprint All-Star Race... at Concord, NC |
Nationwide Series (8 career wins)
| Win No. | Date | Race Name | Track |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | October 26, 2002 | Aaron's 312 |  Atlanta Motor SpeedwayAtlanta Motor Speedway Atlanta Motor Speedway is a track just outside Hampton, Georgia, twenty miles south of Atlanta. It is a quad-oval track with a seating capacity of over 125,000. It opened in 1960 as a standard oval. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track... at Hampton, GA |
| 2 | November 2, 2002 | Sam's Club 200 | Rockingham Speedway at Rockingham, NC |
| 3 | February 24, 2003 | Rockingham 200 | Rockingham Speedway at Rockingham, NC |
| 4 | November 8, 2003 | Sam's Club 200 | Rockingham Speedway at Rockingham, NC |
| 5 | February 21, 2004 | Goody's Headache Powder 200 | Rockingham Speedway at Rockingham, NC |
| 6 | November 6, 2004 | Bashas' Supermarkets 200 |  Phoenix International RacewayPhoenix International Raceway Phoenix International Raceway, also known as PIR, is a one-mile, low-banked tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona. The track opened in 1964 and currently hosts two NASCAR race weekends annually. PIR has also hosted the Indycar Series, CART, USAC and the Rolex Sports Car Series... at Avondale, AZ |
| 7 | November 13, 2004 | BI-LO 200 |  Darlington RacewayDarlington Raceway Darlington Raceway is a race track built for NASCAR racing located near Darlington, South Carolina. It is nicknamed the "Lady in Black" and "The Track Too Tough to Tame" by many NASCAR fans and drivers and advertised as "A NASCAR Tradition"... at Darlington, SC |
| 8 | September 4, 2010 | Great Clips 300 | Atlanta Motor Speedway Atlanta Motor Speedway Atlanta Motor Speedway is a track just outside Hampton, Georgia, twenty miles south of Atlanta. It is a quad-oval track with a seating capacity of over 125,000. It opened in 1960 as a standard oval. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track... at Hampton, GA |
*McMurray won the last four Busch Series
Busch Series
The NASCAR Nationwide Series is a stock car racing series owned and operated by the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. It is promoted as NASCAR's "minor league" circuit, and is a proving ground for drivers who wish to step up to the organization's "big leagues"; the Sprint Cup circuit...
races to be run at Rockingham Speedway.
Craftsman Truck Series (1 career win)
| Win No. | Date | Race Name | Track |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | October 23, 2004 | Kroger 200 |  Martinsville SpeedwayMartinsville Speedway Martinsville Speedway is an International Speedway Corporation-owned NASCAR stock car racing track located in Henry County, near Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved... at Martinsville, VA |