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."
Dale Earnhardt Jr.has scheduled an 11 a.m. ET news conference at his JR Motorsports shop in Mooresville, N.C., during which he will announce his plans for next season, according to a team spokesman. Sources have indicated to NASCAR.COM that those plans center on Hendrick Motorsports, the most successful organization in Nextel Cup this season, with 10 race victories in 14 starts. Hendrick, with six total championships on NASCAR's premier series, would fit with Earnhardt's desires to drive for a contender and to continue to pilot Chevrolets. The Hendrick team also had ties to Earnhardt's late father, who shook down the first car the organization ever built, and was behind the wheel when team owner Rick Hendrick recorded his first NASCAR victory in a Busch race at Charlotte in 1983. Earnhardt Jr.'s car sponsor, Budweiser, also appeared on Hendrick cars in the mid-1990s.
Mike Davis, communications director for JR Motorsports, would confirm only that Wednesday's announcement concerned Earnhardt's plans for 2008 and beyond. A spokesman for Hendrick Motorsports declined to comment. Earnhardt and his manager, sister Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, have spoken with a number of unspecified team owners since the driver's impending departure from DEI was announced May 10. Three Chevy teams -- Hendrick, Richard Childress Racing, and Joe Gibbs Racing -- emerged as frontrunners, with Ginn Racing lurking as a dark horse. The contract of Hendrick driver Kyle Busch expires after the 2008 season, and The Associated Press reported Tuesday that Busch may have asked to be let out of his deal.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. officially will say goodbye to Dale Earnhardt Inc. on Thursday morning, Yahoo! Sports has learned. A highly placed source within DEI as well as additional sources familiar with the situation told Yahoo! Sports on Wednesday afternoon that both Junior and teammate Martin Truex Jr. will announce Thursday morning that they are leaving the DEI camp at the end of this season and will drive for Earnhardt's heretofore Busch Series operation, JR Motorsports. Sirius Radio also reported late Wednesday afternoon that the Earnhardt/Truex split with DEI was a done deal and that the new Cup team entry will field Chevrolet chassis built by Hendrick Motorsports and will use Hendrick engines as well.
Sources tell Yahoo! Sports that Earnhardt Jr.'s primary sponsor, Budweiser, will follow Junior to JR Motorsports. Budweiser's contract with DEI is due to expire at the end of 2008, but Yahoo! Sports sources believe there are provisions within the contract for an early exit if Earnhardt Jr. does not drive the No. 8 Chevrolet for DEI. The press conference, which is expected to be televised nationally, will take place at JR Motorsports headquarters in Mooresville, N.C., at 11 a.m. ET on Thursday.
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Jan. 22, 2007) -- Ginn Racing announced today that Panasonic Broadcast will be a primary sponsor on Sterling Marlin's No. 14 Chevrolet for 12 races during the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup season.
Woohoo! That's real money for one third of the season folks.
The agreement also calls for Panasonic to be a major associate sponsor on the No. 14 for the other 24 point races that will comprise the 36-event Nextel Cup schedule.
That means we may be doing alright.
Panasonic joins Waste Management as a 12-race primary sponsor on Marlin's Chevrolet.
WM has committed to 12 races too? This just gets better as I read along. This is a better commitment than we had this time last year. Things are looking up.
Woohoo! The No. 14 Waste Management Panasonic Ginn Clubs and Resorts Chevrolet. That took awhile to get out. Not as bad as Indy cars though. But I'm still thinkin' we probably only have Ginn Clubs committed for about six races and could use one more secondary sponsor to fill out our dance card.
"To finalize a sponsorship package is always an accomplishment, but to finalize it with an outstanding and high-profiled company such as Panasonic makes it even better," said team owner Bobby Ginn. "As part of the Ginn Racing commitment, we not only want to lead on the track, but we also want to be a leader with our sponsors and make sure they are getting a valuable return on their investment. We look forward to our new partnership with Panasonic and welcome them to the Ginn family of sponsors." "We are thrilled to be associated with the Ginn organization and with Ginn Racing in particular. Like Panasonic, they place great value in quality," said John Baisley, president of Panasonic Broadcast.
"Marlin, a two-time Daytona 500 winner and a veteran of more than 700 career Cup starts, is in his second season with Ginn Racing. He is only one of three drivers to have scored back-to-back Daytona 500 victories (1994 & 1995). The other two were Richard Petty and Cale Yarborough. Marlin has 10 career Cup wins, 215 top 10s and prize money of more than $40 million. "It's always a great feeling to have a new sponsor come on board," said Marlin, a native of Franklin, TN. "And when it's a first-class company such as Panasonic it adds to the excitement.
Marlin's No. 14 Chevrolet is one of three full-time Nextel Cup cars that Ginn Racing will field in 2007. The other two are: the No. 01 U.S. Army Chevrolet to be co-driven by Mark Martin and Regan Smith and the No. 13 Chevrolet, driven by Joe Nemechek.
You gotta love the 13. I never won a damn thing until I put a 13 on my back in baseball in high school. Made a couple of allstar rosters then. And I owe that all to Jerry Royster. Yes, Jerry Royster, Atlanta Braves, third base, back in the losing years.
"But all this must be suffered by those who profess the stern order of chivalry" Most Interesting Blog, June 16, 2008 and six other occasions. Lisa awarded him Best "breaking news" blogger March 31, 2008. Blog of The Day, Christmas Day, 2007. edhardiman wrote, "Falco's tribute to Rocket Richard reminds us all the stars of today stand on the shoulders of giants..." October 23, 2007. Three Golden Swirrly p00p Awards (Hockey, NASCAR and Use of Graphics), FlyingPig, July 18, 2007. 2007 Memorial Day Weekend Trifecta sponsored by williamwilman . Featured on WFORacingFans April, 2007. "Stylin'" award, Dusty, February 07. "One of ten new bloggers to watch" Dudski, January 2007.
