NASCAR Cup Series: Jamie McMurray retires
By Asher Fair
Jamie McMurray has retired from NASCAR Cup Series competition following the 2019 season opener, the 61st annual Daytona 500.
The 2019 NASCAR Cup Series season is the first season since the 2002 season that has not featured Jamie McMurray as a full-time driver. In fact, he ended the 2018 season having competed in each of the last 580 Cup Series races going all the way back to the end of the 2002 season.
McMurray made his 581st consecutive Cup Series start to open up the 2019 season by driving for Spire Motorsports in the 61st annual Daytona 500, but his streak of consecutive Cup Series starts is set to officially end at 581 with him not competing in this Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
And barring a change in McMurray’s plans, a new streak will not begin.
The 42-year-old Joplin, Missouri native has retired from Cup Series competition following his 22nd place finish in this year’s Daytona 500, and he has joined Fox Sports as an analyst on their NASCAR broadcast team for the 2019 season.
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Over the course of his 18-year Cup Series career, McMurray competed in a total of 583 races. He competed as a full-time driver for 16 of the 18 seasons that he spent in the sport. As a part-time driver in the 2002 season, he drove the #40 Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge in six of the season’s 36 races.
Beginning in the 2003 season, McMurray became a full-time Cup Series driver. He spent the first three seasons of his career as a full-time Cup Series driving the #42 Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge before spending the next four seasons driving the #26 Roush Fenway Racing Ford.
McMurray wrapped up his career as a full-time Cup Series driver by spending nine seasons driving the #1 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet. He made his final start in this year’s Daytona 500 driving the #40 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet after Spire Motorsports partnered with Chip Ganassi Racing for this race.
Earlier this week, McMurray thanked Chip Ganassi Racing team owner Chip Ganassi for everything he did for his Cup Series career.
6,008 days ago I signed my first contract with @GanassiChip. Since then we have celebrated some of the best memories of our lives together. As my boss he has been one of the biggest influences in my life, more importantly, one of my best friends. Thanks for everything Chip! pic.twitter.com/wCwkoxQi89
— Jamie McMurray (@jamiemcmurray) February 18, 2019
In his 583 career Cup Series starts, McMurray earned seven victories, 63 top five finishes, 168 top 10 finishes and 11 pole positions. He led 1,903 of the 164,300 laps that he completed, and he recorded an average starting finish of 18.1 and an average finishing position of 18.2.
McMurray’s most recent victory is his victory in the October race at Talladega Superspeedway in the 2013 season. He also won this race in the 2009 season. His most notable victory is his victory in the 2010 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. He also won the July race at this track in the 2007 season.
McMurray earned his first career Cup Series victory in his second career start, as he won the October race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the 2002 season. He also won this race in the 2010 season. His other victory is his victory in the 2010 Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
In addition to competing in the Cup Series, McMurray also competed in the Xfinity Series and Truck Series. Over the course of 14 seasons in the Xfinity Series, he competed in 190 races and earned eight victories, 32 top five finishes, 70 top 10 finishes and three pole positions. He led 933 of the 32,903 laps that he completed, and he recorded an average starting position of 16.2 and an average finishing position of 17.2.
Over the course of four seasons in the Truck Series, he competed in 25 races and earned one victory, three top five finishes, six top 10 finishes and three pole positions. He led 84 of the 3,801 laps that he completed, and he recorded an average starting position of 15.6 and an average finishing position of 19.4.
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We wish Jamie McMurray the best as he pursues the endeavors that await him following his NASCAR Cup Series career, and we congratulate him on a successful career.