NASCAR’s Power Shift
Photo Courtesy NASCAR Media
McMurray’s Indy Win Shows NASCAR’s Shift of Power.
Jamie McMurray’s win Sunday at the Brickyard was a popular one among NASCAR fans and drivers.
Many of McMurray’s on track competitors stopped by at the end of the race to congratulate him. And race fans that would normally be pulling for Dale Earnhardt Jr, or Kyle Busch, or Jeff Gordon were happy to see McMurray win if their driver could not.
That was McMurray’s 2nd big win this year. The first being the Daytona 500.
But beyond that, McMurray’s win signals a fundamental shift in power among NASCAR teams. Hendrick Motorsports is not what it used to be. And neither is Roush Racing.
McMurray gave Roush their last victory, and that was at Talladega last year.
Even the Joe Gibbs Racing hot streak seems to have cooled off.
But McMurray’s team has rallied. Not long ago both Chip Ganassi and Teresa Earnhardt were almost out of business. Instead they merged their two teams to form Earnhardt Ganassi racing. Now they are poised to be the next big thing.
Richard Childress Racing has also seen a resurgence this year. And it doesn’t hurt that Childress has partnered with Ganassi and Earnhardt to form ECR Engines which produces engines for both teams. Judging by the performance of the Earnhardt Ganassi teams and the RCR teams the ECR engine shop produced the most reliable and most powerful engines for Indy.
McMurray wasn’t the only fast car powered by ECR engines. His teammate Juan Pablo Montoya led the most laps. Kevin Harvick finished 2nd with an engine from the same shop. 4 of the top 6 finishers were powered by ECR engines.
And don’t forget that David Reutimann scored a win for Michael Waltrip Racing not long ago at Chicago.
The competition level has evened out lately. The powerhouse teams have fell off – and the guys who used to be underdogs are now contenders. And I am not sure exactly what to attribute it to. What about you?
Jamie McMurray on Letterman
Jamie McMurray on Letterman After Daytona 500 Win
David Letterman and Jamie McMurray discuss the Daytona 500 victory, the pothole, and why Dave shouldn’t have a street legal version of Jamie’s race car.
Jamie McMurray Win Proves Roush Wrong
McMurray Wins in First Try for New Boss
Jack Roush must be feeling a little embarrassed today after letting Jamie McMurray go at the end of last season.
McMurray went on to win the Daytona 500 driving Teresa Earnhardt’s No. 1 Chevrolet allied with his old boss Chip Ganassi.
Roush’s best car finished 3rd.
Martin Truex Jr has to be saying “what if?†as well. Truex left the No. 1 car to go to Michael Waltrip racing this year, where he finished 6th in the Daytona 500.
At the Daytona 500 Champion’s Breakfast this morning McMurray had the best line: “I woke up and 1st thing I was hoping was that Danica wasn’t going to be on the cover of the paper.”
McMurray was being chased down on the last lap by Dale Earnhardt Jr who finished 2nd. Earnhardt is living up to his promise to be ruthless this year.
Earnhardt moved up 17 positions in the closing laps – going from 19th to 2nd.
The win meant a lot for the entire race team. â€I’m just happy for the whole team. I’m happy for all the partners. I’m happy for Felix and Teresa, happy for every single person that’s ever been a part of this team. It’s really important,†said Chip Ganassi.
McMurray thought his chance to win was slipping away when he saw Dale Earnhardt Jr in his rear view mirror. “I looked in my mirror and saw the 88. This guy has won a lot of races here.â€Â But McMurray was fast enough to hold off Earnhardt at the checkered flag.
McMurray tried to describe what it meant to win the Daytona 500.†It’s unbelievable. I can’t really put it into words the way it feels,†said McMurray.
“As a kid growing up, this is what you dream of, of being able to win the Daytona 500.â€
Photo Courtesy NASCAR Media
