Would You Sign Jamie McMurray?

Jamie McMurray is gone from Roush Fenway Racing after 2008, ThatsRacin.com reported Sunday.

It's not a huge shock to me to see McMurray headed out the door -- the FanHouse talked about this in April -- thanks to a few factors. The most significant, though, is that McMurray has never been able to be a consistent front runner in the Sprint Cup Series in RFR's race cars.

That being said, what is the real likelihood that McMurray even finds a Sprint Cup ride for 2009?

I'd say there are quite a few factors running against him in that pursuit -- the least of which has been his driving statistics over the past few years. Those stats -- one win at Daytona, 6 Top-5s, and 18 Top-10s since signing with Roush -- don't help much, though.

The Sprint Cup Series is entering a pretty busy "silly season" period that will definitely see some moving and shaking for 2009. Among those candidates eligible for moving to different seats are Tony Stewart, Martin Truex Jr., Bobby Labonte, Reed Sorenson, and possibly more.

McMurray, if he is indeed out the door at Roush and seeking new employment, is vacating a seat that won't be filled. His sponsor Crown Royal is expected to move in with teammate Greg Biffle and Roush could use the chance to measure his team down to four cars as NASCAR has mandated for 2010.

All those factors aside, though, if you're a car owner are you hiring McMurray?

Sure, the guy has two wins in his career and the argument could be made that he drove for Roush during two of the team's "off" years in Sprint Cup competition, and the crew chief carousel on top of the No. 26 box hasn't helped either.

McMurray seems to be one of the stand up guys in the garage area as he stays out of trouble and doesn't get into many controversies with drivers on track. He's mostly a clean racer and gets an A+ for out-of-the-car sponsor representation.

But is that enough for you? Do you think McMurray deserves another shot at the Sprint Cup level? Can he be a consistent top finisher or just another flash in the pan?

I like McMurray a lot -- what's there to hate? -- but when you look at the numbers, he just hasn't come through. Slow cars at Chip Ganassi Racing was his crutch when Jack Roush signed him for what was reported to be $20 million a year in 2005, but the performance in the Fords at Roush hasn't done much for that.

I'd imagine McMurray will find a home in Sprint Cup next season, and it wouldn't surprise me to see him at Dale Earnhardt Inc. or another run-of-the-mill team. It won't be long, though, before McMurray finds an exit from Sprint Cup if he doesn't start putting together a string of good finishes.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

6-03-2008 @ 12:52AM

Don Emerson said...

I agree with you on this one Geof. Truth be told, Jamie is one of the nicest guys around, and that may have been his undoing. He kind of rolls with the punches, doesn't make waves, and sadly, fails to produce results on the track. As far as a ride goes, I wouldn't hire him, and neither will any of the top rides. One of the reasons it's so hard for new blood to come into Nascar Sprint Cup, is that you have this pool of drivers made up of aging drivers and drivers with past experience but little skills who shuffle from team to team just to draw a paycheck. They will work cheap and bring some small amount of name recognition to a team looking for sponsors. But in the long run I feel the teams would be better served to go with a new face and perhaps undiscovered talent. Who knows how many Pettys, Earnhardts, or Allisons are out there waiting to be discovered if only given a chance. Take care Jamie...and best of luck. Works for me....

6-03-2008 @ 9:47AM

CJ said...

Well, im a fan of McMurray and he's the only Ford driver i pull for, and part of me isnt happy if this is true, and part of me isnt, cause i hate McMurray is getting the short end of the stick, yet he'd be leaving a team ran by an obnoxious jerk. I know he said last year that there had been other teams wondering when his contract was up with Roush so they could talk to him about his future, so i have no doubt he'll be back. But i have absolutely no clue where he'll go. I'd love to see him in the 5 Hendrick car, and Hendrick hired a driver that had accomplished a whole lot less than what McMurray has in hiring Mears, so it'd definitely be a step up going from McMurray to Mears, but i understand that's a long shot. I'd also pull for him to replace Stewart if Tony leaves for a better opportunity, but again, that probably is a long shot as well, especially with Logano waiting in the wings. I really would put my money on him possibly ending up at Penske replacing Newman. I had predicted that Penske would hire him to replace Rusty Wallace, and i think Dodge might miss him a little bit. Ill admit, it isnt as great of an organization as Roush, but it's a whole lot better option than DEI and the crap he had at Ganassi, as they have now. I still dont believe though that Roush is getting rid of that car, i think he's moving it to the Yates organization eventually. And i had predicted one driver would be gone to make room for Newman, which i think is going to be in the Roush organization next year. He still has this season and next season before he has to get rid of a team, and also, David Ragan doesnt have a sponsor for next year, AAA is leaving after this year, so he'll have to look for sponsors still even if he moves the Crown Royal to Biffle. Plus, i dont care how much he's improved, i think David Ragan should be getting the ax at Roush. He hasnt won anything in Nascar, no Cup, Nationwide, or Truck races and i havent seen him in the running for a win at the end of any of these races, whereas McMurray won last year and even Erik Darnell in the truck series has won a Truck race, so the 6 number needs to be moved to another driver, and fire David or it could be Kenseth next year, as his contract is up after next year, Roush has made it clear Kenseth wont get Robbie Reiser back as crew chief, and he hasnt won a race or even in the Chase right now, i think Matt will have better options offered to him next year that he might want to take.

6-03-2008 @ 10:23AM

Kim said...

In one word, NOPE. I wouldn't hire him if I was a team owner. That being said, I agree with Don. Jamie does seem like a very nice young man and it doesn't hurt that he is very easy on the eyes for us girls either, but the talent, the drive, the ambition, the skills, just don't seem to be there for this kid. I think it would be best for Jamie to return to the NW series full-time and try to gain more experience. If he succeeds there, then certainly try to bring him back. But like Don says, there are many undiscovered young talents out there just chomping at the bit to be a part of NASCAR. There is no place for consistently underperforming drivers like Jamie.

And CJ:

Gotta disagree with you on the David Reagan comments. He is actually much improved this year and has had several top ten finishes and I believe one top five or top three place thus far this season. Rousch isn't going to let him go nor should he when he is much improved and showing he can consistently run and place well with the big boys of the sport. Jamie has been consistently bad for more than two years now, finishing in the middle to back of the pack if at all every single race. He is barely hanging on in Driver Points as well as Owner Points. It would be in Roush's best interest to let Jamie go. Sorry, JMO.

Kim

6-03-2008 @ 8:56PM

26Spurs said...

Fox Sports reports Jamie and Roush Fenway deny the rumors printed by The Charlotte Observer and That's Racin'.

Even if McMurray leaves Roush, the odds are he goes to Yates, who has a working relationship with Roush.

In his first year at Roush Jamie had to adjust to the Roush organization, in the second the part time COT and in the third, the full time COT, so he has had a lot on his plate.

6-03-2008 @ 4:58PM

Peaches said...

I agree, I think he should go back to Nation Wide and gain more Experience.Maybe he could get a ride over there with one of the newer teams like JMS OR Braun Racing until he gets better.But would not hire him either,he's just another pretty boy who can not hang with the Big Boys yet.DAvid Ragan is doing better than Jamie right now.I AGREE WITH KIM,ONCE AGAIN....JMO

6-04-2008 @ 9:15AM

Here's my list of top ten driver's "supposedly" available to get:
1.Tony Stewart, 2.Greg Biffle, 3.Bobby Labonte, 4.Martin Truex Jr, 5.Reed Sorenson, 6.Jamie McMurray 7.Ryan Newman, 8.David Stremme, 9.Juan Montoya, and number 10 and last would be David Ragan.

Newman is a good qualifier, but that's all he has going for him, Montoya is only a real threat for road courses, Ragan and Stremme still havent won in any of the top three Nascar series, but the other top six id definitely hire in a heartbeat.

6-04-2008 @ 10:11AM

Mike said...

If I was an owner I would sign Jamie ASAP. He is a lot better than people give him credit for. In the 42 car with a crew chief that he got along with and liked he was right in the mix to make the chase every year. When Jack signed him he would not have given him as much money as he did if he did not see the talent. As for where I see J-Mac going I can see him driving the 5 car next year. He is a lot better than Mears. If not there I can see him in a 4th RCR car or the 10 car.

6-04-2008 @ 6:00PM

Daniel Schulz said...

I thought McMurray would do better @ Roush. I think he has talent but what is it going to take to transfer that to the track. He has been w/two good teams w/little success. I don't know maybe he isn't good enough. He reminds me a little of Michael Waltrip.

6-08-2008 @ 10:42PM

Scott said...

I had the pleasure of meeting Jamie in 2006 when he was making an appearance at a Phoenix Nextel (then) store meeting children and families living with autism. He has a niece with autism.

I admit great disappointment in Jamie's performance. I hope he can continue to drive..he truly is one of the good guys of NASCAR. It's very tough to watch him struggle each and every week without a better result.