McMurray to race in Daytona 500 with Spire Motorsports (Update)

Jamie McMurray's Daytona 500 livery

UPDATE Ganassi Team Release:

Spire Motorsports, through a partnership with Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR), announced today that 2010 Daytona 500 Champion Jamie McMurray will drive the No. 40 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for the 2019 Daytona 500. McMurray will be making his 17th start in the “Great American Race", when the Daytona 500 kicks-off the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) regular season on Feb. 17.

McMurray’s Daytona 500 race car will carry sponsorship from several companies that have been integral to his NASCAR career. The No. 40 Chevrolet will feature branding from Bass Pro Shops, McDonald’s and Cessna to recognize the long-standing partnerships that the companies have had with McMurray over the years. Bass Pro Shops and McDonald’s have been on McMurray’s cars since 2010, while Cessna has been with him since 2013. Bass Pro Shops was the primary sponsor on McMurray’s car for all three races that he won in 2010 (Daytona, Indianapolis and Charlotte)

NOTES OF INTEREST:

• Daytona Success: McMurray’s Daytona racing career began as a young teenager, first competing at the World Center of Racing in go-karts. Since then, he has experienced winning in nearly every type of event that he has competed in at Daytona including go-karts, Sports Cars and NASCAR. McMurray is one of only four drivers to have ever won the Daytona 500 and Rolex 24 At Daytona, joining a list of racing legends that includes Mario Andretti, AJ Foyt and Jeff Gordon.

• Marquee Man: During his MENCS racing career, McMurray has had a knack for winning some of the biggest events in the sport. Having won in just his second series start at Charlotte Motor Speedway (2002), he has marquee wins in the Daytona 500, Brickyard 400 and the NASCAR All-Star race. He is also one of only three drivers that have won the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 in the same season (Dale Jarrett [1996], Jimmie Johnson [2006], and McMurray [2010].

• In The Numbers: McMurray began his MENCS career driving the No. 40 for car owner Chip Ganassi in 2002 and quickly made a name for himself when won in just his second series start, setting the record for the fewest starts before a first win. McMurray made six starts in 2002 in the No. 40 car, subbing for the injured Sterling Marlin, before moving to full-time competition in 2003 for CGR. In total, he has made 438 of his 582 career starts racing for CGR, including five of his seven MENCS victories.

QUOTEBOARD:

• Jamie McMurray, Driver, No. 40 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1: “The Daytona 500 is the one race that every NASCAR driver would want to win. For the rest of your life you get to be introduced or recognized as a Daytona 500 Champion. I’m excited to have the opportunity to potentially be a two-time winner of the race and it would mean so much to celebrate one more win with all of the great partners that have been with me for so many years".

01/18/19 Spire Motorsports announced Friday that 2010 Daytona 500 winner Jamie McMurray will drive the No. 40 car in this year’s Daytona 500.

The Chevrolet Camaro will have branding from Bass Pro Shops, McDonald’s and Cessna, which have all had an affiliation with McMurray. The effort will be done in partnership with Chip Ganassi Racing.

“The Daytona 500 is the one race that every NASCAR driver would want to win," McMurray said in a statement from the team. “For the rest of your life you get to be introduced or recognized as a Daytona 500 champion. I’m excited to have the opportunity to potentially be a two-time winner of the race and it would mean so much to celebrate one more win with all of the great partners that have been with me for so many years."