Jamie McMurray is probably one of the happier guys in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series this week. Here's why:1) He finished third at Texas Motor Speedway last weekend and could have very easily won the event.
2) He proposed to his longtime girlfriend Christy Futrell. (FanHouse supposes she said yes)
3) He's getting to team up with his longtime friend and former crew chief from the Chip Ganassi Racing days, Donnie Wingo.
There's no official indication on which aspect he's the happiest about, however. Grin.
Regardless, it's been more than a good week for McMurray, who has had one of the most disappointing performances in his brief career at Roush Fenway Racing that a guy could in that situation. In the past few weeks, McMurray has notched finishes of 5th, 7th and 3rd with one exception of a 38th-place finish at Martinsville thanks to mechanical troubles.
He's been so good, in fact, that ABC's commentators have wondered plenty about why Jack Roush is wanting to move Larry Carter off of the pit box for the No. 26 when it seems that McMurray has finally started to see the light at the powerhouse Ford team.
McMurray, though, isn't questioning that decision and instead is very pleased to know that Wingo will be leading the No. 26 come Daytona in February.
McMurray made his remarks to ESPN's Marty Smith:
"I am all for the crew chief change because I've worked with the crew chief in the past," McMurray said of bringing in veteran Donnie Wingo. "He's like my best friend, and ever since I left Ganassi, I have remained very good friends with Donnie.Best year ever? That's a pretty bold statement, but not impossible.
"The whole time I was at Ganassi, I can remember seeing crew chiefs that had an engineering background and thinking in my head, 'Damn, I really wish I had a crew chief with that background, because I think that would take me to that next level. Instead of running sixth to 12th, we'll maybe contend for wins.'
"But I didn't realize how great I had it. I've missed Donnie ever since. Larry's done a great job, but you kind of get used to working with someone, and I feel like everyone I've had since [Wingo], I've compared to my times with Donnie. And those were probably some of the best races for me. Next year, I think, should be my best year ever."
McMurray came very close to making the Chase during his tenure at Ganassi, and one would have figured like Jack Roush did that making the Chase would be a natural fit when the driver from Joplin, Mo. made his way to the Ford camp.
That didn't happen, and McMurray's reputation has taken quite a hit since then -- enough, even, to lead a whole parade of rumors about the driver getting canned from Roush-Fenway at the end of this season. Of course, that doesn't seem to be the case now.
McMurray's a talented driver and he desperately needs to find consistency and winning ways in 2009, or he will be out the Roush door at season's end. For now though, he's got one more shot.
