Jeff Owens: Earnhardt Ganassi Racing's Jamie McMurray the sleeper to win Daytona 500
By Jeff Owens
Sunday, February 07, 2010
Jamie believes he got a shot to win Sunday's Daytona 500.
LaDon George
NASCAR ILLUSTRATED
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Jamie McMurray kept saying he felt more comfortable returning to Earnhardt Ganassi Racing than he did in the high-pressure environment of Roush Fenway Racing.
He had no idea just how comfortable he would be until he climbed into his red and black Chevrolet with the big fish on the front.
McMurray was a serious contender in the Budweiser Shootout Saturday night, running in the top five all night and constantly annoying the leader.
When Carl Edwards was out front early in the race, he had McMurray glaring into his right-side window.
When Tony Stewart was darting in and out of traffic, trying to get to the front, McMurray was either knocking on his bumper or leaning on him from the side.
And when Kevin Harvick emerged at the front, winning the race in the end, McMurray was right there, following Harvick and Kasey Kahne to the caution flag that halted the wreck-marred finish.
No matter who was in the front, McMurray was right there, challenging them and making his presence felt.
That’s why McMurray was sporting a big grin after the race, looking more comfortable than he has in five years.
And here’s the thing that really excites McMurray: He was driving his backup car after wrecking his backup backup in practice. His Daytona 500 car should be even better.
That’s why McMurray is a serious contender to win next Sunday’s Daytona 500.
In year’s past, the season-opening Budweiser Shootout didn’t mean much. You could get a hint of who might run well in the 500, but only a hint. Not only do drivers not race their best Daytona cars in the non-points event, but, in year’s past, some of the sport’s biggest stars were always left on the sideline.
The race used to be for pole winners only – with a few exceptions – which left some pretty big guns on the sideline, saving their stuff until the Thursday qualifying races and not showing their hand.
Not anymore.
Thanks to NASCAR’s new rules, all the stars were in Saturday’s season-opening show: Last year’s 12 Chase drivers; former champions; former winners at Daytona; practically anybody who has ever won anything was in the field.
And McMurray was right there challenging all of them.
McMurray is not only comfortable with his new team, he’s in his comfort zone at Daytona and Talladega, where he has two of his three career wins. He won at Daytona in July 2007, and at Talladega last year.
In both races, McMurray raced like he did Saturday night, hanging around near the front, worrying the bejesus out of the leaders and then charging into the lead at the very end.
This year’s new rules package played right into his hands, allowing him to draft high and low and get a run on anyone at any time.
“Honestly, I thought that we had one of the better cars,” he says. “You know, the [Earnhardt Childress] engines run really well. They did a really good job at making the car drive great.
“That's what Daytona is all about. When you can drive in the corner and the car doesn't wash up, you can run wide open on the bottom with guys on your outside, [and] it's really hard to do that. I could run pretty much flat out the whole night. The car was really loose, but you were able to hold it wide open. That's what you work for in practice, to be able to do that.”
That’s why McMurray smiles when asked if he is a serious contender to win the Daytona 500.
“I feel really good about it,” he says. “I mean, every race I finished at Daytona and Talladega, I finished pretty good. Just have to stay out of the trouble ….
“I know our other car has a little more speed in it. I think the aero numbers are better even on downforce, so they tell me that other car is going to drive as good, if not better. Obviously we have a good setup for this track.
“Yeah, I mean, I feel as good about this year as ever.”
That’s why McMurray is starting the 2010 season even more comfortable than expected with his new team.
“It's a wonderful way to start my relationship back with Chip Ganassi and Earnhardt Ganassi Racing,” he says. “It feels great to be back.”
It could lead him back to victory lane, this time in NASCAR’s biggest race.
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19 responses to "Jeff Owens: Earnhardt Ganassi Racing's Jamie McMurray the sleeper to win Daytona 500". Post a Comment.
mbsenlick said:
Feb 7, 2010 at 1:35 PMJamie Mac will do the same thing that Truex in the car squat. Truex has 1 win in 3 or 4 years and Jamie has 3 wins in what 6 years.
The guy to watch for the 500 is the man that is starting on the pole. He is more hungrier to win this race than ever.
HMS_SUCKS said:
Feb 7, 2010 at 2:34 PMhe has a better chance than most. I like to see the earnhardt organization get some wins.
ratrodjunkie said:
Feb 7, 2010 at 2:55 PMyep your right when you say the guy to watch is the guy on the pole. thats because he's wrecking everyone in his way. hamlin in practice, busch and bifle in the shootout.
they should change his sponsors name to go grand-daddy. com. hopefully he gets his eyes checked before the duels next week. i think pearle vision eye center has a special going on this week mark maybe you should check it out.thank god he's starting in the front row otherwise he'd probably take out half of the field.
redbullracing said:
Feb 7, 2010 at 4:28 PMWe know marks gonna run like 10 laps and then he's gonna park it, As long as he doesn't crash out first. I hope he does, just don't take out soreson in the Braun #32 and I'll be happy
jbbigrod said:
Feb 7, 2010 at 4:34 PMDon't worry, Sorenson will take out himself before Mark can lap him.
DavyJones said:
Feb 7, 2010 at 5:51 PMThe difficulty with handicapping the Daytona 500 is the same as with any race on a super speedway: Anyone can beat anyone on any given day.
I admit that Jamie McMurray looked good last night in the Budweiser Shootout . . . he did run in the top five most of the night and he did hound the leader for more than a lap or two . . . but he didn't win it.
It's nice that he's 'comfortable' in the BASS whatever Chevrolet, but 'comfort' doesn't win races.
I'm not saying Jamie isn't capable of winning the Daytona 500 . . . he is and I'm not saying that Earnhard-Ganassi Racing isn't capable of fielding a Daytona 500 winning car . . . they are.
But he didn't win last night.
The business about the 'backup car' sounds interesting, but it doesn't really mean anything. Who's to say that a 'backup car' isn't as capable of winning as a primary car?
In fact, you're in conflict with your own argument, Jeff, when you say that Jamie ran so well last night but he ran in a 'backup car' . . . I mean, what ARE you saying about the backup car?
Even if we accept your convoluted premise and Jamie's primary car is so much better than the 'backup car' he raced last night, you can't ignore the fact that there is an age old adage that applies to super speedways: "He who can drafteth from the front to the back and then falleth back can then drafteth again to the front . . . again and again to winneth the race."
That adage wins out over comfort and good feelings anytime, every time.
Thanks for listening,
Davy Jones
amalycke said:
Feb 7, 2010 at 7:56 PMI love Jamie McMurray. He will do great in the 500, like he did during Talladega last year and the 07' PepC 400, Lowe's too.
jbbigrod said:
Feb 7, 2010 at 10:54 PMYES, anyone can win a restrictor plate race. But that isn't taking anything away from Jamie. He is like Junior a very good restrictor plate racer. . . So unless he gets into an accident or something, I expect him to do well next Sunday.
I will be glad for the Daytona stuff to be done with so we can see some REAL racing starting at California. THAT is when we will see WHO to watch for this year.
DavyJones said:
Feb 7, 2010 at 11:05 PMHey, JBBIGROD;
What I don't like about California is the same thing I don't like about Michigan . . . sometimes they get strung out and run single file and go round and round - without doing much passing, if any - until it's time to go home.
Hope this year's race is different.
What do you think?
Thanks for listening,
Davy Jones
Phoenix987 said:
Feb 7, 2010 at 11:38 PMJamie being listed as a sleeper to win seems rather wrong doesn't it? I mean, of his wins, aren't they at Daytona, Talladega, and Charlotte? They're all huge, fast tracks and he's won at both restrictor plate tracks. I'd say anyone that's done that shouldn't be listed as a sleeper to win the 500.
You want a true sleeper? Pick someone like Paul Menard who couldn't race his way out of a paper bag.
mbsenlick said:
Feb 7, 2010 at 11:54 PMMark Martin wrecked 1 car and that is my least fav. driver Ku. Busch. Mark did not wreck Denny, Denny wrecked Mark. I hope Mark does park it after 10 laps. Mark has the best chance ever to win the Great American Race.
knchevy41 said:
Feb 8, 2010 at 10:47 AMI dislike any comments against Reed Sorenson, I dont care if he is just part time, Reed will always be one of my favorites. #10 right on, who needs older Busch, Go Kyle!
knchevy41 said:
Feb 8, 2010 at 10:49 AMDavy I know you werent talking to me but It will be different this year with the spoiler coming, I dunno if it will be ready for Cali, but it should be for Michigan, Texas, Charlotte, and other tracks like that, not Las Vegas though.
knchevy41 said:
Feb 8, 2010 at 10:52 AMI agree JBBIGROD, any one can win a restrictor plate race, which is why I am glad that Jimmie's odds of winning are 43 or atleast 40 to one, because of the start and park teams. Go Reed, hey like you said anyone can win a plate race, and go Kasey, AJ, and Elliott, hope the four of them hook up together and take it too the rest of the field, so happy to see someone in the 1 car that is comfortable there, MWR is more to Truex's liking expect the 56 team to role in to VL at least once this year.
SBeau said:
Feb 8, 2010 at 3:01 PMNot that I'm a huge McMurray fan, but he's got a shot just like anyone else. He's been a lot more prominent in the plate races lately...
Werner said:
Feb 8, 2010 at 5:46 PMhow many drivers were just out for a ride Saturday night...some had wrecked a few cars already...it was a good test session for some...
knchevy41 said:
Feb 9, 2010 at 10:09 PMI am glad he is back with Ganassi, another fine exampe of Jack Roush's Geniusness. Lets McMurray go, to a team that better suits him to add to that, and keeps David Ragan, in Chevy he will be better with Ganassi as Chevy, their Dodge program sucked. Go McMurray put Bass Pro in Victory Lane again, wish Ganassi had another sponsor so they could put get Sorenson back in the 41. Besides Kasey Kahne, Reed is the only driver I would want to see in my favorite #.
STP43FAN said:
Feb 10, 2010 at 10:59 AMMcMurray surprised a lot of people with his muscle in the Shootout; if he can carry that over to the 500 he's got as good a shot as anyone.
knchevy41 said:
Feb 11, 2010 at 12:03 PMagreed.