McMurray? He's gone

[Schwartz Fan]

McMurray? He's gone at end of this season, is looking around
JIM UTTER
The Charlotte Observer
Sunday, Jun. 01, 2008

DOVER, Del. - The driver dominoes in the Sprint Cup Series are apparently beginning to fall into place.

Jamie McMurray will not return to Roush Fenway Racing next season and has been actively seeking other employment, the Observer and ThatsRacin.com have learned.

In the past week or so, representatives on behalf of McMurray have notified other Cup teams of his availability beginning next season, multiple sources confirmed on Sunday.

McMurray finished 10th in Sunday's Best Buy 400 - just his second top-10 finish of the season. An attempt was made to reach McMurray after the race, but he left the track without comment to the media or the Ford Racing manufacturer's representative.

McMurray's departure could accomplish two important goals for Roush.

The organization has been in discussions with sponsor Crown Royal to pair that sponsorship with driver Greg Biffle beginning next season, although a final decision has not been made, sources said. Officials with Crown Royal could not be reached for comment on Sunday.

It remains unclear whether the sponsor would move to Biffle's No. 16 Ford, or Biffle would move to McMurray's No. 26 next season. Biffle has been in negotiations with Roush for a contract extension for almost a year, but it remains unfinished.

In addition, McMurray's departure could also open the door for Roush Fenway to move from five to four Cup teams by 2009, one year sooner then required by NASCAR's four-car limits on ownership.

NASCAR officials on Sunday said they have had no discussions with Roush regarding the organization's movement to four teams in 2009.

McMurray entered the Cup series driving for Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates with great fanfare in 2002, winning the fall race at Lowe's Motor Speedway while substituting for an injured Sterling Marlin. He went on to spend three more seasons with Ganassi before leaving for Roush in 2006.

McMurray snapped his career-long 166-race winless streak in Cup last season, taking the July race at Daytona Beach, Fla.

He is now 22nd in points, 259 outside the top 12 that will qualify for the Chase for the Sprint Cup.



McMurray? He's gone at end of this season, is looking around

[Schwartz Fan]

Roush voices disappointment with McMurray's productivity
JIM UTTER
The Charlotte Observer
Friday, Jul. 25, 2008

INDIANAPOLIS - Team owner Jack Roush expressed disappointment Friday that driver Jamie McMurray has not been as productive as the other four drivers in Roush Fenway's Sprint Cup series stable.

When talking at Indianapolis Motor Speedway about manufacturer involvement and money used to lure drivers, Roush appeared to slight McMurray in his answer to a question.

"With the line I've drawn across the sand, nobody is going to take Carl Edwards from me, nobody is going to take Matt Kenseth from me, nobody is going to take David Ragan from me, nobody's going to take Greg Biffle from me," Roush said.

Asked later about McMurray, left out in his discussion, Roush seemed down on the driver.

"Jamie is important to me," Roush said. "But today Jamie is not the driver that's been productive to the extent the other four are. I look forward, certainly I expected and expect great things from Jamie, but the productivity has not been there at this point."

The Charlotte Observer and ThatsRacin.com reported in June that McMurray would not return to Roush Fenway Racing in 2008 driving the No. 26 Ford. McMurray subsequently denied the story, but the original sources for the report have continued to maintain its accurracy.

In 2½ seasons with Roush, McMurray has one win, six top-five and 19 top-10 finishes in 91 starts. He has failed to qualify for the Chase for the Sprint Cup in his first two seasons with the team and is 22nd in points this season.

Roush must move from five teams to four by the end of the 2010 season to comply with NASCAR's four-team limit rule.

Roush said he did not know yet which of his teams would leave or possibly move to Yates Racing, with which Roush Fenway has a technical alliance.

"It really has more to do with the sponsor relationship than the driver, but one of the reasons I fostered the relationship I got with (Yates owners) Max (Jones) and with Doug (Yates) is to be able to have a place to put a sponsor," Roush said.

"We do help them sell their sponsorships, we do help them with their marketing programs, we do all the engineering, we do build all the cars, so it's a closely affiliated relationship that maintains the covenants, the barriers that NASCAR wants to put up for competitive considerations."

Roush voices disappointment with McMurray's productivity

That sucks. Since Roush wants to release him, then NASCAR should step in and say "Ok, you're releasing a driver and now would the time to cutdown to 4 drivers just like everybody else."

[Raven]

Oh man, I hope Biffle stays in the 16!

[Schwartz Fan]

Originally Posted by Raven Oh man, I hope Biffle stays in the 16!

Biffle isn't going anywhere....Jayski is saying that McMurray is going to the 4th RCR car next year.....

[Raven]

This from the first article, SF.

"It remains unclear whether the sponsor would move to Biffle's No. 16 Ford, or Biffle would move to McMurray's No. 26 next season. Biffle has been in negotiations with Roush for a contract extension for almost a year, but it remains unfinished."

If not Biffle (I hope) and they keep the 26, I wonder who will drive it.

[Schwartz Fan]

Originally Posted by Raven This from the first article, SF. "It remains unclear whether the sponsor would move to Biffle's No. 16 Ford, or Biffle would move to McMurray's No. 26 next season. Biffle has been in negotiations with Roush for a contract extension for almost a year, but it remains unfinished." If not Biffle (I hope) and they keep the 26, I wonder who will drive it.

The first article has got some age to it....this is from 6-27-2008 on Jayski.....




Greg Biffle announced today that he has signed a three-year extension of his contract with Roush Fenway Racing. Biffle has been with Roush Fenway Racing since 1998. During his 10 years at Roush Fenway Racing, Biffle has accumulated 46 wins, 166 top-five finishes and 250 top-10 finishes in 496 starts. Biffle is looking forward to the continued relationship with Roush Fenway Racing as well as a long-term partnership with 3M. “I’m extremely happy and relieved to have this contract complete,” said Biffle. “I have a team that can contend for the championship this season and for future seasons as well. 3M has been an incredible partner for several years now and having them on board made the decision even easier. All the elements are in place: the resources of Ford and Roush Fenway, the excellent team, the outstanding cars and having a great primary sponsor like 3M for the next few years.” In addition to Biffle’s Cup Series program, he is also running a partial schedule in the #16 CitiFinancial Ford Fusion in the Nationwide Series this season. “I would like to run another partial schedule in the CitiFinancial Ford next season,” Biffle said. “We’re still working out the schedule but I have always had fun racing in the Nationwide Series so I’d say it’s likely you’ll see me there in 2009.”

[Raven]

Thanks SF, looks like he will remain in the 16, I like that cause I like that car.

[jonesi]

On NascarNow Biffle tried to play diplomat, but may have made it worse. He said not to make anything of Roush's omiting McMurray's name, he was surprised he remembered 4 of them, and once Roush even forgot to invite Kenseth to the Christmas party.

[Raven]

Originally Posted by jonesi On NascarNow Biffle tried to play diplomat, but may have made it worse. He said not to make anything of Roush's omiting McMurray's name, he was surprised he remembered 4 of them, and once Roush even forgot to invite Kenseth to the Christmas party.

Uh oh! LOL