Jammie McMurry Wins Daytona 500
February 14th, 2010 | 
Author: What another great race from Daytona International Speedway. Close racing just about all night with tons of lead changes. But Jammie McMurry driver of the #1 Tracker Boats Chevy Impala prevailed and took the checkered flag winning the 52nd running of the Daytona 500.
The adrenaline rush of the final two laps, the second attempt at a green-white-checkered-flag finish under rules implemented by NASCAR before Thursday’s Gatorade Duels, all but erased the frustration of almost 2½ hours of stoppages as track workers at Daytona International Speedway repaired potholes in the asphalt between Turns 1 and 2.
You couldn’t have asked for a more story book finish. When other teams wrote him off and even Jammie wasn’t sure where he would be for the 2010 season, owner Chip Ganassi gave McMurry the chance to come back and drive for Earnhardt Ganassi racing.
“Oh, my God!” McMurray screamed after taking the checkered flag. “I can’t freaking believe it right now. Thank you so much. I can’t believe we just won the Daytona 500.”
Later, in Victory Lane, McMurray fought back tears. Though he won one race last season at Roush Fenway Racing, he struggled in his final year there and was the odd man out from his team’s NASCAR-mandated reduction from five teams to four.
“It’s a dream — it really is,” he said. “To be where I was last year, and for Johnny Morris owner of sponsor Bass Pro Shops, Chip and co-owner Felix Sabates to take a chance on me and let me come back what a way to pay them back.”
With the new areo package and restrictor plate size, cars were not able to come up through the field like years past. There wasn’t a lot of drivers sitting out back waiting to avoid the big wreck.
The Roush Fenway Ford Fusions look to be strong all night. Greg Biffle in the #16 3M car finished third, Matt Kenseth in the #17 Crown Royal car finished 8th and soon to be father Carl Edwards finished a respectable 9th place.
Clint Bowyer, who led 37 laps, finished fourth, followed by David Reutimann. Martin Truex Jr. and Kevin Harvick the 2009 Daytona 500 winner.
Under the new NASCAR rules the race leader must take the white flag and start the final lap under green before the race can end, unless three attempts at a green-white-checkered-flag finish are exhausted.
The field failed to make it to the white flag under green on a restart on Lap 203, because NASCAR called a caution for a wreck off Turn 2 involving Kasey Kahne, Tony Stewart, Robert Richardson and Jeff Gordon. By then, McMurray had rocketed to second position behind Harvick and restarted next to Harvick on Lap 207.
The push from Biffle gave McMurry the lead he need to win the race.
Coming into turn three on the last lap McMurry look in his mirror only to see the #88 Chevy National Guard car driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr, McMurray said, “No!” but there wasn’t enough time for Jr to make a move for the win.
Nascar .com contributed to this report.
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Posted in Jammie Mac Wins Daytona 500 | 
Tags: Carl Edwards, Dale Earnhardt, Daytona 500, Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, NASCAR, Roush Fenway Racing, Tony Stewart
The tears in his eyes said it all. Did you hear him say after the race that now that he won the Daytona 500 he was going to McDonalds and getting a big mac? McMurry will be standing tall now. Great job Jammie keep it up. How about Jr. pouring it on at the end? Not a Jr. fan but he was hooking it up. Glad after hearing his interview he did not win.
I like JR, but there wasn’t much to root for till the last lap. But, nonetheless, didn’t mind seeing McMurray win either. Good to see a guy not so used to winning that it seems taken for granted.
One of the best Daytona races ever! Congrats to Jamie McMurray. And where did Earnhardt, Jr. find all that speed at the end? It certainly looked like Harvick had the car to beat from the re-start following the 2nd red flag stop, but drafting, restrictor plates, helping or hindering certain opposing drivers gave us a surprise ending. Maybe NASCAR has finally got the green, white, yellow thing figured out. Now, let’s go on to California and see what happens without the restrictor plates.
It humors me to see all the “NASCAR haters” saying that this racing series is hillbilly sport that just go straight and turn left. How many drivers leave NASCAR to go drive in another series. Max Papis, Sam Hornish Jr., Tony Stewart, Danica Patrick, Juan Pablo Montoya, these are just a few of the names from accomplished drivers in other racing series to come into NASCAR…and besides Smoke who has succeeded. NASCAR pinnacle of racing fast cars, the smell of racing fuel, and HUNDREDS of thousands of fans who live eat and breath this sport. All you haters out think about that next time you see or hear about someone from you beloved open wheel series thinking about coming to NASCAR. Besides the INDY 500, Indy car has nothing on NASCAR…..
Truex ran a great race all day. Had to hurt a little to see the seat he gave up win. Congrats to McMurray and Bono.
It was great to see Jammie win. Sometimes nice guys do finish first.