Jamie McMurray back to EGR? It’s an intriguing idea
Unless circumstances change it appears Jamie McMurray is going to be the odd man out at Roush Fenway Racing.
Per NASCAR’s directive, the team has to reduce its fleet from five cars to four for the 2010 season. Constant rumors said the one to be eliminated, or moved, would be McMurray’s, if for no other reason than his contract expires at the end of this season.
When it was announced that McMurray’s sponsor, Crown Royal, would move to Matt Kenseth’s team for 2010 and that McMurray had been told he was free to explore other options, that pretty much sealed it.
Roush Fenway would like to keep McMurray in the Ford camp. He could join Yates Racing, which is, essentially, a Roush Fenway partner that utilizes the same equipment and technology.
That could happen, but only if proper sponsorship is found, which is far from an easy task these days.
Some have suggested that McMurray consider a return to Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, the team with which he began his career in 2002.
With the departure of Martin Truex Jr. to Michael Waltrip Racing at the end of the season, EGR will have an opening.
Seems odd that any driver would return to a team from which he departed for a decidedly more successful one.
But it is not unprecedented. For example, Terry Labonte ended a nine-year union with owner Billy Hagan after the 1986 season only to return four years later.
In McMurray’s case, a return to EGR makes sense, at least statistically.
With EGR, formerly known as Chip Ganassi Racing, McMurray never finished lower than 13th in points and came very close to making the Chase in 2004, when he was 11th and the Chase field consisted of the top 10 in points.
The highest he has been in points with Roush Fenway is 16th last year. He currently ranks 20th after Pocono.
He posted more top-five and top-10 finishes during his years with EGR than he has with Roush Fenway.
His four-year stint with EGR produced one win, 19 top-five finishes and 48 finishes among the top 10. He hasn’t come close to matching those figures with Roush Fenway.
Sure, a McMurray reunion with EGR might not produce past results.
But for them to restore their past association is, at the least, an intriguing idea. Word is EGR is interested.
We’ll just have to wait and see what happens.
