Smoke Screen: McMurray Shines In Big Races, Ganassi Makes History, Mouthy Drivers, And Silly Season Talk
by Patrick Baldwin on Jul.27, 2010, under Smoke Screen
Congratulations once again to Jamie McMurray and the entire Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet team on their big win Sunday at The Brickyard.
McMurray and crew chief Kevin “Bono” Manion gambled with pit strategy late and it paid off. McMurray powered past Kevin Harvick heading off into Turn 1 on the final restart of the race and never looked back. Once McMurray got out in clean air there wasn’t much Harvick could do to catch him. McMurray pulled away in the final laps of the race thus avenging the late-race loss Kevin Harvick handed him this past April at Talladega.
Sunday’s win also put McMurray in quite a unique club.
By winning the 2010 Brickyard 400, McMurray joined Jimmie Johnson and Dale Jarrett as the only drivers to win both the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 in the same year. And in case you forgot, if not for a late-race caution during the Coca-Cola 600 McMurray might have won there as well. Quite impressive for a driver that most people in the off-season thought would be “one and done” at EGR and looking for another ride at the end of 2010.
Perhaps the only other person happier than McMurray Sunday afternoon was team owner Chip Ganassi. McMurray’s win gave Ganassi the “Triple Crown” in terms of big owner wins in a season. Ganassi won the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 with Jamie McMurray and the Indianapolis 500 with Dario Franchitti. The feat puts Ganassi in a class all by himself and easily places him among the racing greats of our time.
Speaking of owners, you have to wonder what’s going through Jack Roush’s mind right now? He pushed McMurray out the door at the end of 2009 and basically told the racing world that McMurray wasn’t good enough to be a Roush Fenway driver. Fast forward to present day and look at where both parties sit. McMurray just kissed the bricks and Roush Fenway Racing continues to struggle to find its way among the giants of the sport. Don’t you just love the world of NASCAR?
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure - When Jack Roush decided to show McMurray the door, Chip Ganassi came calling and gave McMurray new life. For Ganassi, signing McMurray was the easy part. Convincing Johnny Morris and the folks at Bass Pro Shops that McMurray was the right guy for the job was an entirely different animal all together. It’s no secret that Johnny Morris and Bass Pro Shops were leery of McMurray becoming the face of their company. McMurray didn’t quite fit the “outdoorsman” type and Morris let the folks at EGR know he was concerned. After Sunday, I don’t think that’s an issue anymore. Guess if my driver finished 1st in the Daytona 500, 2nd in the Southern 500, 2nd in the Coke 600 and 1st in the Brickyard 400 I’d be pretty thrilled too.
Penny for your thoughts Martin Truex Jr. ? - Watching McMurray have the season of his life has to feel like a kick in the gut to Martin Truex Jr.. That’s his old car, former owner and long-time crew chief kissing the bricks just a few months removed from lifting the Harley J. Earl trophy down in Daytona. I wonder how many times he asked, “where was this last year? And the year before? And the year before that?”
Is the Brickyard 400 becoming JPM’s ‘white wale’ ? - It’s been well documented how hard winning the Daytona 500 was for Dale Earnhardt. Watching Juan Pablo Montoya struggle to seal the deal the last couple years at Indianapolis and you’re starting to get the feeling that a similar thing is taking place for Montoya.
There’s a new sheriff, err engine, in town - The ECR Engine alliance of Richard Childress Racing and Earnhardt Ganassi Racing were far and away the class of the field this past Sunday at Indianapolis. The ECR boys led an impressive 107 of the 160 laps at the Brickyard. With the Chase on the horizon, that’s a good sign for RCR and EGR fans.
NASCAR drops the hammer on mouthy drivers – NASCAR has fined at least two “star” drivers in the wake of critical comments made about the series. This according to the AP and an anonymous source close to NASCAR. The two unnamed drivers were apparently fined for remarks NASCAR felt was disparaging to the sport and those who run it. The sources spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because NASCAR was not publicly identifying the “star” drivers. According to Jenna Fryer of the AP, “NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston confirmed that some action had been taken, but would not discuss details.”
Marcos Ambrose and JTG Daugherty part ways - Marcos Ambrose and JTG Daugherty Racing announced Tuesday that they will no longer be together after the end of the 2010 season. According to the talk in the garage, Ambrose is not happy with where things are going with the 47 team and desperately needs a change of scenery. He is reportedly a strong candidate to replace either Kasey Kahne or Elliott Sadler over at Richard Petty Motorsports. It’s also been reported that he hasn’t ruled out going back and racing in his home country of Australia. Looks like Silly Season is about to crank up again folks.
Did someone say ‘Silly Season?’ - Mark Martin WILL be in the 5 car next season. We in the media shouldn’t think otherwise. Elliott Sadler made it known a few weeks back that he will not be in the 19 next season. Where he stops nobody knows. Kasey Kahne doesn’t know much either apparently. He is still without a ride nor does he have anything in the works for 2011. That has to concern Double K the longer this draws out. And finally, Scott Speed is apparently on the hot seat over at Red Bull Racing. He and the RBR folks are reportedly getting together this week or next to discuss his future. It appears his future with RBR hinges on whether or not Brian Vickers can come back and carry the banner like he did in 2009. Speed’s relationship with Red Bull goes back for years and that might be his saving grace when it comes to keeping his ride. Stay tuned folks. Something tells me it’s about to get crazy once again.
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Now that the smoke has cleared from Jamie McMurray’s historical burnout at the Brickyard, it’s time to hear from you in this week’s edition of Smoke Screen.
