Not much has gone right for Jamie McMurray since winning at Daytona International Speedway last July. He’s had only five top-10 finishes in the 35 races since 2007’s Pepsi 400, but there’s something about being a defending champion of a race that can raise your spirits. McMurray edged Kyle Busch by inches at Daytona last year in the final restrictor-plate race for NASCAR’s old Cup car. The win was the second of McMurray's career and snapped a six-year winless streak.
McMurray’s No. 26 Roush Fenway Racing Ford will sport a special Irwin Industrial Tools paint scheme in this weekend’s Coke Zero 400 at Daytona, a scheme similar to the one used last year.
McMurray hasn’t been close to victory lane this year, with a best finish of eighth at Martinsville earlier this season. He was 18th at Infineon Raceway and 41st last weekend at New Hampshire after being in a crash with Dale Earnhardt Jr.
There will not be just one IRWIN Industrial Tools driver at Martinsville Speedway this weekend, but two. Roush Fenway Racing driver, Jamie McMurray, who will pilot the No. 26 IRWIN Industrial Tools Ford Fusion at Martinsville this weekend, will be joined by his Australian counterpart, Marcus Marshall. Marshall drives the No. 26 IRWIN Industrial Tools Ford Falcon in the V8 Supercars Series in Australia.
The two IRWIN Industrial Tools drivers have a lot more in common than what they may think. The pair are both sponsored by IRWIN Industrial Tools, both pilot the No. 26, both drive for Ford Racing, and both won Rookie of the Year in their respective series in 2003. Marshall won 2003 Rookie of the Year in the Australian Carrera Cup Championship, while McMurray was honored with the 2003 Sprint Cup Series award. This weekend, the two will get a chance to compare notes.
Both McMurray and Marshall will help promote IRWIN Industrial Tools “Ultimate Tradesman Challenge” which has gone international in 2008. This year, participants from the United States, as well as Australia and New Zealand will compete for a chance to win $1.26 million dollars and a Roush Performance Ford F-150 truck. More information on the challenge can be found at www.irwinchallenge.com.
Ken Schrader knew Mansfield Motorsports Park was his type of race track the moment he laid eyes on it Friday morning. He consistently proved that during the rain drenched weekend. Schrader unloaded as the fastest truck in practice and qualified the No. 18 Fastenal Dodge in the 14th position. Once the race began he didn't stay there long. By lap 79 of the Ohio 250 lap the short track guru cracked the top 10 and never looked back. After two red flags for thunderstorms, 13 caution flags and 250 laps of bumper to bumper action Schrader drove the No. 18 Fastenal Dodge home in third place. It was the team's best finish of the season. The top-five finish moved the team up four spots into 13th place in the NCTS Owner Points.
"This is a team building day," said Schrader after the event. "We have been getting better and better each week. This week it really paid off for us. This was big for this team. They really needed a boost of confidence and I think today we did that. I love driving this truck and I am really looking forward to what is ahead for all of us."
Dennis Setzer won the The Ohio 250 before an estimated crowd of 15,000. Jack Sprague, Schrader, Mike Skinner and Johnny Benson rounded out the top five finishers. The next event for the NCTS will be at Dover International Speedway on June 1, 2007 with Schrader driving the Fastenal Dodge.
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