When he fell out of the top 35 in the Sprint Cup standings in March, Jamie McMurray went to Martinsville Speedway in Virginia without a guaranteed spot but with a granite pillar of support. Jim McMurray, 60, made a special trip to the track to ensure his son kept his head up and his car in the race. It's a father-son formula that has been working for more than 20 years.
"I could have a horrible day, even when I made it to this level, and he would find something positive to say," say McMurray, 32. "My dad never pressured me. He always found a positive in the worst day."
McMurray started 2008 with five consecutive finishes outside the top 20. However, he enjoyed his best weekend of the year at Martinsville. McMurray started fifth and finished eighth, triggering a steady march upward in the standings. With his dad in attendance at the LifeLock 400, McMurray placed 10th for the second time in three weeks and continued the turnaround. He has climbed 15 spots in 10 races and ranks 21st entering Sunday's Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway.
"We spent virtually every weekend together racing," says the elder McMurray, who is divorced. "But in the last five years, we've probably spent more time together than we did before."
The two live 10 minutes apart in Mooresville, N.C. McMurray's dad keeps his Mondays and Tuesdays open for his son and frequent golfing partner but says he doesn't offer much advice.
"Jamie does his homework about anything he does," his dad says. "If he asks, I say what I think would be best for him. But most of the time we think the same. He's a grown man and needs to make his own decisions."
This is part of why I hate Jr. fans, not Jr. mind you, he is a skilled driver and his integrity far surpasses that of his father making him more admirable in my book. But his fans. Jeez!
They never get tired of tooting their horns. They can't even read each other's blogs and comment on them and have a discussion. No, they all have to toot their own horns.
Jr! Jr! Jr.!
Bring me a barf bag already.
Hell, half of his fans can't even tell you what the COT is.
Even Jr. says he was lucky. His fans won't admit it, but it's true.
Does it take anything away from the win? Hell no.
Fuel mileage is a part of racing and even a bigger part of racing in IRL and F1. So the win is nothing to be ashamed of. Michigan is often a fuel mileage track. That's part of why it is one of my favorites, that and four wide on the front tri-oval. Awesome track!
Look, jon talked enough about it, so comment on his blog.
Hope, sweetie, your welcome here but bring something new when you post, please?
Tyler, your recap is good, so I'll give you a pass. And don't let anyone give you #### regarding cutting and pasting. It is part of the history of blogging that evolved from newsgroups. Stand tall.
Joker. Man, your a good blogger. But this one wasn't necessary.
Rise up Jr,. nation? Please.
Watching from above? Nice sentiment. But there is no theology that indicates that looking down from above is even possible. In fact theology suggests a great gulf that can not be crossed. Dale may be racing with the other lost greats. But he ain't looking down.
Frever? Sunoco fumes through stainless steel lines? Sea of green, hell the sea parted and red and yellow Michigan seat colors were dominating by race end as most peripheral Jr. fans had left the building. But they'll tell all their friends thay stayed till the end and saw him win.
Change the life of Jr.,? I bet he's laughing his #### off at all this stuff. He know he was lucky, that it just worked out for him, and he's taking it all in stride and that's fine. But changing his life? A bit over the top I say.
Sr. passed away several years ago. It's been over five years. When will the opining stop? I miss Tony Roper, but nobody seems to remember him. I miss my dad, but I don't go on and on about it.
Time moves on. Let it go.
Inverted, you get a pass, you added a lot to the discussion with a different angle in your blog. Well done.
Cody gets a pass too. I like to see other drivers get mentions.
Bobdot can have a pass too. His rambles are, well, his rambles.
But bobat? Take the message board posts to a message board.
And what did all of you miss. Well something only us Jamie fans will remember I guess. We damn near stole that one from you. And hell yeah, we would have taken it, luck and all.
On a special Father’s Day afternoon at Michigan International Speedway, Roush Fenway Racing driver Jamie McMurray came close to giving his father, Jim McMurray the ultimate Father’s Day present – a trip to Victory Lane. Late in the race, the No. 26 Crown Royal Cask No. 16 team felt they had enough fuel to run the distance and battle with Dale Earnhardt, Jr. for the win but when the caution flew with just two laps remaining, the No. 26 team was forced to pit for fuel, and settle for a top-10 finish in this afternoon’s Lifelock 400.
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