Rural Missouri - November 2010 - (Page 21)

souri connection teams with Bass Pro Shops to win NASCAR’s biggest races Left: Driving the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet, Jamie battles for position with fellow Missourian Carl Edwards during the Price Chopper 400 at Kansas Speedway in early October. perform, you can move up,” Jim says. “It’s a performance business. You’ve got to perform.” The following year, Jamie moved up again, this time to the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Then in 2002, he burst onto the national scene in the Sprint Cup Series when car owner Chip Ganassi tapped Jamie to substitute for Sterling Marlin, a longtime Cup driver who had been injured in a crash. In just his second career start, Jamie took the checkered ﬂag at Charlotte Motor Speedway. In doing so, he set a new modern-era record for the fewest career starts before a win. But Jamie’s immediate success wasn’t to be duplicated. He wouldn’t ﬁnd victory lane again until 2007, a streak of 166 races that included a change of teams from Ganassi to Roush Fenway Racing. He would win once more for Roush in 2009, but at the end of the season, his team was eliminated to comply with a NASCAR rule limiting the number of teams an owner could ﬁeld. But the end of one chapter offered a new beginning with Chip Ganassi, who had merged his team with Dale Earnhardt Inc. during Jamie’s time with Roush. Chip offered Jamie a chance to drive the Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet. “I remember when Bass Pro ﬁrst came into the sport, and I thought, “wow, it would just be awesome to be the guy that drives that car,’” says Jamie. “When I got the call from Chip, I was just really honored.” While his prowess as a wheelman has taken Jamie to the pinnacle of his sport, going fast on Sunday is just one of his jobs. His work isn’t over when the checkered ﬂag waves. On and off the track, he is the face of the team and a spokesman for the companies who sponsor his race car, including McDonald’s and Coca-Cola. From corporate functions and TV commercial shoots to media interviews and fan interactions, Jamie spends a considerable amount of time promoting those who support his racing efforts. When Jamie is away from the track, he still enjoys many of the pastimes he did as a kid growing up in Joplin. An avid angler, he ﬁshes every opportunity he gets. He still races go-karts, something he and his dad do together. Jamie also supports the work of Autism Speaks, the nation’s largest autism science and advocacy organization, through the Jamie McMurray Foundation. Jamie’s 12-year-old niece, Lauren, has severe autism. The family created the foundation in 2006 to raise awareness and help other families afﬂicted with the disorder. “Jamie takes good care of his family, he takes good care of everybody,” says Jim. “There are givers and there are takers in the world, and I’ll guarantee you Jamie is one of the givers.” Jamie is currently under a one-year contract with Earnhardt Ganassi, but after this year’s performance, a multi-year deal is being negotiated. No doubt, the Bass Pro Shops team will be considered a title contender in 2011. While the professional successes of 2010 have been sweet, Jamie will no doubt remember this year for another milestone — the birth of his ﬁrst child. He and his wife, Christy, are expecting a boy in early December. Jamie says that, when compared to fatherhood, barreling off into a corner at 200 mph doesn’t seem that scary. “There’s so many unknowns,” he says of being a parent. “It’s a huge responsibility to bring someone into the world, so yeah, it’s kind of scary.” Like most NASCAR drivers, Jamie and his family have relocated to the Charlotte, N.C., area where most of the teams are headquartered. With a nearly year-round racing schedule, he admits that he doesn’t get back to Joplin very much. However, Jamie’s hometown holds a special place in his heart. “Wherever you grow up, that’s where you call home and that’s what you base all of your opinions off of,” he says. “I loved living in Joplin. I miss Joplin. Nothing will ever quite be like that.” Read more about Jamie and his foundation online at www.jamiemcmurray.com, or check out his team’s website at www.earnhardtganassi.com. Left: Jamie gives an interview to a radio reporter between practice sessions, just one of his many duties as a driver. Above: Jamie may be behind the wheel, but NASCAR is a team sport. Here, Jamie’s pit crew changes tires and fuels the car during the race. NOVEMBER 2010 21 http://www.jamiemcmurray.com http://www.earnhardtganassi.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Rural Missouri - November 2010

Rural Missouri - November 2010
Contents
Comments
Columns
Mobility's Best Friend
Mail Bag
Rural Issues Explored at AMEC Annual Meeting
Out of the Way Eats
The Missouri Connection
Big Screen Savings
Hearth and Home
News Briefs
Best of Rural Missouri
Lest We Forget
Marketplace
Around Missouri
Neighbors
Just4Kids

Rural Missouri - November 2010