McMurray to EGR

UPDATE #3 This rumor is upgraded to 'fact' today. Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates announced that they will add Jamie McMurray as a teammate of #42-Juan Pablo Montoya, to drive the #1 Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats Chevy for the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. McMurray will return to Ganassi whom he raced for from 2002-2005. Bass Pro Shops will once again return for their fifth season as one of the primary partners on the #1 Chevy. The Jamie McMurray Foundation (JMF), created in 2006, was formed to promote awareness of, and raise funding for, research, education and support for individuals and families affected by autism. The JMF is dedicated to bringing the financial backing and support of the NASCAR community, together with the passion and commitment of the autism community to promote better understanding of this challenging disability. Bass Pro Shops of Springfield, Missouri, will enter their fifth season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series as one of the primary sponsors of the #1 Chevy. Earnhardt Ganassi

11/17/09 Apparently, a one-year deal was inked last Wednesday between Jamie McMurray and Earnhardt Ganassi Racing and is expected to be announced sometime on Tuesday. Kevin "Bono" Manion is expected to continue on as the crew chief. FoxSports

11/15/09 Earnhardt Ganassi Racing has agreed to terms with a driver to replace Martin Truex Jr., and Kevin Manion will remain as the crew chief for the No. 1 NASCAR Sprint Cup car, team president Steve Lauletta said Sunday at Phoenix International Raceway.

Jamie McMurray

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Lauletta wouldn’t name the driver, but sources indicated it would be Jamie McMurray, whose Roush Fenway Racing team is being phased out so the organization can go from five to four teams. McMurray started his Cup career driving for team co-owner Chip Ganassi.

McMurray has been considered the frontrunner for the ride for the last three months. Bobby Labonte emerged as a possible candidate last month but announced Saturday he will drive for TRG Motorsports in 2010.

“We’ve got a full agreement," Lauletta said. “I really hope it will be [announced] this week."

As far as the crew chief for the car, Lauletta said Manion would remain as crew chief of the No. 1 team. Manion was Truex’s crew chief for his two titles in what is now the Nationwide Series and then went on to Cup with Truex in 2006. Truex is leaving the team after the season to drive for Michael Waltrip Racing in 2010.

“Hopefully his team will remain intact and we’ll be ready for next year," Lauletta said. “[Manion] brings a lot of good leadership qualities. Him and [fellow crew chief] Brian [Pattie] get along really well. Obviously, it’s been a difficult year bringing the two organizations together, and he’s really been a big part of bringing the two groups together and having them work together.

“We think with the new driver we’re going to bring in, he’ll have a great relationship with him and we’ll win some races." Scenedaily.com

11/09/09 Jamie McMurray, fresh off his first Sprint Cup Series win in two years, now appears to have a full-time job for the 2010 season, the Observer and ThatsRacin.com have learned.

McMurray is set to drive Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing's No. 1 Chevrolet starting next season, reuniting the 33-year-old driver from Joplin, Mo., with his first team owner in Cup, Chip Ganassi, multiple sources said Sunday.

A formal announcement of McMurray's move to the Earnhardt-Ganassi team is expected by the Nov. 22 race at Homestead, Fla., sources said. ThatsRacin.com