Biography


Quick Info

Birthday:June 3, 1976
Birth Place:Joplin, MO
Residence:Mooresville, NC
Height:5'8"
Weight:150 lbs.
Primary Sponsor:Bass Pro Shops
Car:No. 1 Bass Pro Shops / McDonalds Chevrolet
Crew Chief:Kevin Manion
Website:www.jamiemcmurray.com

Jamie McMurray will return to Earnhardt Ganassi Racing for the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) season, driving the No. 1 McDonald’s Chevrolet.  Throughout his career, McMurray has raced in NASCAR’s top three divisions, NSCS, NASCAR Nationwide Series and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.  With a total of 15 wins, 14 poles, 75 top-five finishes and 172 top-10 finishes.  He is one of only three drivers to have won the Daytona 500 and the Brickyard 400 in a single season (2010).

Read Jamie's full bio

McMurray’s racing career began when he started go-kart racing at the age of eight in his hometown of Joplin, MO. He went on to win the World Karting Championship in 1991 which launched him into an impressive motorsports career.  Working his way up the racing ladder, McMurray began racing NASCAR late models in 1992 and competed in the ARCA RE/MAX Challenge series in 1998 and 1999.

McMurray then made the move to the CWTS in 1999 and 2000 where he earned two pole awards, one top-five finish, and three top-ten finishes.   McMurray moved onto the NNS in 2001 and 2002, where he placed sixth in the final 2002 point standings.  In 2002, McMurray made quite the impression on the motorsports world when he filled in for an injured Sterling Marlin of Chip Ganassi Racing, going on to win his first NSCS race, in only his second NSCS start.  With this victory, McMurray set the record for being the quickest driver to win a NSCS race.

McMurray joined Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates in the NSCS in 2003 and remained with the team through the 2005 racing season.  These three seasons are statistically the best seasons of McMurray’s career.  During that time, McMurray secured 18 top-five finishes and 46 top-10 finishes and competed until the end for a spot in the 10-member Chase field every year.  He finished 13th, 11th, and 12th in those seasons. He also earned his first career pole award at Homestead-Miami Speedway and claimed the 2003 Raybestos Rookie of the Year award for Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates.  McMurray’s 23 top-10 finishes in 2004 were tied for second most with Jimmie Johnson and behind only Jeff Gordon in the NSCS.

In 2006 and 2007 McMurray scored  one win at Daytona International Speedway, one pole award at Infineon Raceway, six top-five finishes, and 16 top-10 finishes. The 2008 season saw McMurray earn four top-five and 11 top-10 finishes, placing 16th in the NSCS Championship.  In 2009, McMurray ranked 22nd in the Championship with one win, one top-five, and five top-10 finishes.

The 2010 season was a career best for McMurray.  He started the season by winning the Daytona 500 in his first start back with team owner Chip Ganassi and with a new team in the No. 1 Chevrolet.  McMurray continued his success winning the second-most prestigious race on the NSCS schedule, the Brickyard 400 at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July.  The victory places McMurray as one of only three drivers to have won the Daytona 500 and the Brickyard 400 in a single season.  In October, he went on to capture victory at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the Bank of America 500, the only non-chase driver to win during the 2010 Chase for the Sprint Cup.  McMurray doubled his previous record of three wins, all coming in separate seasons, making 2010 his first multiple-win year.   McMurray also set a career high for pole positions in a single season with four in 2010.  Along with the three wins the team amassed four poles, nine top-five and 12 top-10 finishes this season.  McMurray also led for a career high 346 laps before finishing the season 14th in the points standings.

The 2011 season marked McMurray’s 9th full-time year in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing.  To date, McMurray has 330 career starts in Sprint Cup resulting in six wins, 41 top-fives, and 96 top-10s.  He also grabbed eight pole awards and has led 1,356 laps along the way.

The 2013 season will mark McMurray's 12th year in NSCS racing.  To date, McMurray has 366 career starts in the series resulting in six wins, 41 top-fives and 99 top-10s.  He also grabbed eight pole awards and has led 1,414 laps along the way. 

Away from the track, McMurray enjoys fishing - a sport he has enjoyed since he began fishing as child. Even when not racing in the NSCS, McMurray competes in go-kart races, keeping up his competitive drive and physical stamina.

 


Career Highlights

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2011 Finished 27th in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver points collecting one pole, two top-five and four top-10 finishes.  Finished 2nd in the Rolex 24 At Daytona.    

2010 Jamie McMurray and the No. 1 Team wrapped up an historic 2010 season which began with a victory in the season opening Daytona 500.  The team went on to capture victory in the second-most prestigious race on the NSCS schedule, winning the Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July.  These two victories made McMurray one of only three drivers to have ever won both the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 in the same season.  McMurray also claimed victory at Charlotte Motor Speedway, winning the Bank of America 500 in October.  The victory at Charlotte made McMurray the only non-chase driver to win during the 2010 Chase for the Sprint Cup.  In 2010, McMurray matched his career wins mark (all coming in separate seasons), with three, making 2010 his first multiple-win year.  Along with the three wins the team amassed four poles (one more than McMurray’s total career poles, prior to 2010), nine top-five and 12 top-10 finishes this season.  McMurray also led for a career best 346 laps before finishing the season 14th in the points standings.
 
2009 In 2009, McMurray ranked 22nd in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) point’s standings with one win, one top-five, and five top-10 finishes. McMurray led the final 32 laps of the AMP Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway to come away with his third career NSCS win.
 
2008 McMurray finished up with a solid NSCS season, earning four top-five and 11 top-10 finishes - placing him 16th in the final point standings. He finished the year strong earning three consecutive third-place finishes in the series’ last three races. He also secured five top-10 finishes in the final six races of the year, four of which he placed in the top five.
 
2007 In July of 2007, McMurray recorded the second closest finish in NASCAR history after battling Kyle Busch on the final lap of the Firecracker 400 at Daytona, crossing the finish line just  .005 seconds ahead of Busch. McMurray also claimed the Pole Award at Infineon Raceway, posting a time of 77.521 seconds on the 1.99 mile road course. He scored three top-five and nine top-10 finishes, ending the season 17th in the point’s standings.
 
2006 The 2006 season saw McMurray lead 95 of the closing laps at Dover International Speedway only to finish second to his teammate Matt Kenseth. He also finished a solid third at Watkins Glen. He went on to score three top-five and seven top-10 finishes.
 
2005 Returning to Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates for the third consecutive season, McMurray grabbed four top-five and 10 top-10 finishes, placing 12th in the final point standings.
 
2004 In his second year driving for Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, McMurray earned nine top-five and 23 top-10 finishes.  This marked the second highest number of top-10 finishes for the 2004 NSCS season, behind only Jeff Gordon.  McMurray was most impressive during the second half of his season with 12 top-10 finishes in the last 14 races. He also scored the second most points during the ten race Chase for the Championship. He finished 11th in the points earning a $1 million dollar bonus. McMurray also won three Nationwide Series (NNS) races – one with Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates after qualifying third at Phoenix.
 
2003 McMurray began driving the No. 42 Dodge for Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates in 2003. He grabbed his first career pole at Homestead-Miami Speedway and earned the 2003 Raybestos Rookie of the Year Award. He had five top-five and 13 top-10 finishes, placing 13th in the final points.
 
2002 In 2002, McMurray shocked the racing world when he won his first NSCS race in only his second start. Filling in for an injured Sterling Marlin, McMurray’s win at Lowes Motor Speedway set a new record as it took McMurray the shortest amount of time to win an NSCS race. He also raced a full season in the NNS earning two wins at Atlanta and Rockingham, six top-five, and 14 top-10 finishes – earning him 6th place in the 2002 NNS standings.
 
2001 In McMurray’s rookie year in the NNS, McMurray earned three top-10 finishes and finished 16th in the final point standings.
 
2000 McMurray competed in 15 of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) races. His season saw him earn two Pole Awards, one top-five, and three top-10 finishes.


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