Fast Facts: Jamie McMurray

Credit: Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR

Jamie McMurray, driver of the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops/McDonald’s Chevrolet in the Sprint Cup Series for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, literally burst onto the Sprint Cup scene in 2002, winning his first Cup race in just his second start. Here are a few facts about McMurray’s career before that amazing win and since.

• James Christopher McMurray was born June 3, 1976 in Joplin, Missouri. He began racing go-karts at the age of eight, winning the World Karting Association Championship in 1991. He worked his way through the ranks of stock cars racing, beginning in 1992 with a stint in NASCAR Late Models; moved into the ARCA Racing Series in 1998.


• In 1999, McMurray entered four Craftsman Truck Series (now Camping World Truck Series) races, followed the next year with 15 starts. In 2001 and 2002, he moved up to the Busch Series (now Nationwide Series), driving for Brewco Motorsports; in 2002, McMurray won twice and finished sixth in points. He caught the eye of Chip Ganassi, who announced late in 2002 that McMurray would be driving the Texaco-Havoline Dodge in 2003.


• McMurray got the first starts of his Cup Series career subbing for injured Sterling Marlin late in 2002. In his second race as a substitute, at Charlotte Motor Speedway in October 2002, McMurray scored his first win in the UAW-GM Quality 500, setting the modern-era record for fewest starts before a win (since matched by Trevor Bayne).


• McMurray won the Rookie of the Year title in the Cup Series in 2003 over Greg Biffle, finishing 13th in points. In 2006, McMurray joined Roush Racing, where he stayed until 2009, when he fell victim to the four-team limit being imposed by NASCAR. He wasn’t out of a ride for long, as he rejoined Ganassi at what was now Earnhardt Ganassi Racing for 2010. In his first race with his “new” team, the Daytona 500, McMurray led just two laps on his way to winning the “Great American Race.” In July of that year, McMurray won the Brickyard 400, making Ganassi the first owner to win the Daytona 500, Brickyard 400 and Indianapolis 500 in the same year (Dario Franchitti won the Indy 500 for Target-Chip Ganassi Racing in May).


• McMurray and his wife, the former Christy Futrell, were married in July 2009; their son Carter Scott McMurray was born November 25, 2010.


• Find out more about Jamie McMurray at http://www.jamiemcmurray.com/.