“It’s tough to explain racing to the media, to the fans, to people on the outside — how important the crews and the cars and the chemistry are and having all of them at one time, how great that is,” (Jamie) McMurray said. "You get an offer from a team that has ... a winning thing going for it, and you take it." McMurray did, and in 2006, he began driving Roush Fords.
Last year, he finished 17th, got just one victory — in July at Daytona — and people began wondering. McMurray didn’t wonder, because he understands how racing goes. But that doesn’t mean he has been satisfied.
“When I got over here,” he said, “I thought that everything you need is here and I thought it (success) would just happen. But, racing’s hard.”
The current season has been another challenging one for McMurray. There have been lots of freakish happenings and lots of rumors about his future with Roush.
“There’s always pressure,” McMurray said, “but none more so than what I put on myself.”
Geoff Smith, president of Roush Fenway, said his team remains patient with McMurray.
“We have not soured on Jamie by any means,” Smith said.
Making things even tougher on McMurray this season is the quick start of his four teammates. Two are in the top 10 in points and the other two are in the top 18. McMurray, meanwhile, is 25th. Yet there was no hint of frustration in his voice as he talked about his season last weekend at Texas Motor Speedway.
“It’s always tough being on a multi-car team,” Smith said, “when a couple of your teammates are clicking and you’re not. I’ve seen some drivers prone to big mood swings. Jamie has the good outlook. He’s determined to make it better.”
McMurray was asked if he thinks the corner has been turned. He took a deep breath.
“We have all the tools,” he said. “We just have to use them.”
36th to 25th in the last two weeks is "Jeff Gordon awesome." Let's see what he can do at the flat track in Phoenix. It should drive a lot like Martinsvile and may be to his liking. Getting in the top 20 would be "Cool".
Last edited by 14Falcons on April 10th at 2:29 PM.
I think Jamie Mac is going to be very strong at Phoenix and continue the momentum he began building up at Martinsville. A top 10 finish isn't out of the question.
I'm a fan of Jamie Mac and it seems to me much of troubles come from between his ears. Seems like it's all about confidence with him. Not sure how confidence can make a car go faster, but apparently it can.
This kid is such a sweet kid. I would love to see him get things clicking for him at Roush or some other good team. It just seems to me that there is something missing with him.
Not sure if it is the chemistry with the teams that he has been with or something within him. But I sure hope that he can turn his career around.
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