McMurray told by Roush he is free to shop for new ride-UPDATE
7 Comments Quote selected text Published July 27th, 2009 in NASCAR News
UPDATE: McMurray reportedly has been contacted by Earnhardt Ganassi Racing as a candidate to fill the spot being vacated by Martin Truex Jr. in the No 1 Chevy.
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Roush Fenway Racing has informed Jamie McMurray he is free to talk to other organizations about next season, team president Geoff Smith said on Sunday.
But Smith said that is not an indication Roush doesn’t want the driver of the No. 26 associated with the organization in 2010.
Smith said Roush is willing to move any of its five drivers with sponsorship to partner Yates Racing next season if that would maintain the current Ford stable.
He said most of the drivers are willing to do that, understanding they will be in the same equipment with the same technology. The problem is convincing sponsors to move to what is perceived as the “B” team. UPS, for example, is committed to keeping David Ragan at Roush.
“It’s not moving apples to apples,” Smith said from the garage at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
NASCAR has mandated that Roush be at the four-car cap by 2010. Roush currently has five drivers, McMurray, Ragan, Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth.
Although Edwards, Kenseth and Biffle signed extensions last season, Smith is not opposed to moving one if that keeps all within the Roush/Yates umbrella.
“We would be open to any combination to keep them,” he said.
“We took a risk on losing Jamie when we made the decision not to re-sign him,” Smith said. “It’s been clear he’s free to look around even though we’ve told him we want him. It’s just hard to do right now.”
No surprises here – if Jamie has a better offer he’s free to go. Saves Jack the hatchet job…
Atleast the told him now, so he has lots of time. I think Jamie can benifit from a good 3 car team!!!
Here’s the guy to take over the #1 Ganassi car.
I dont think a Ganassi/McMurray rebirth would be good at all!!! Especially after Ganassi gave him the boot for JPM
Reading this article makes me wish that Jamie would have taken the #2 car at Penske rather than going to Roush. Rusty was my favorite driver for years, and when Rusty retired I was ready to start pulling for Jamie in the 2 car. Unfortuanately, Kurt Busch got the ride, leaving me no choice but to pull for some other car as I’m not a Kurt Busch, Roush or Ford fan.
Lucky for me, the driver that I did pick as my new favorite after Rusty retired, Jimmie Johnson, kicks a bunch of ass…lol. I still hope Jamie gets a good ride though. I bet he’d do pretty decent in a SHR Chevy…but with all the talk of Harvick moving there…I won’t count on that happening.
I hope Harvick does NOT go to SHR ._. They are too good for that chump to be with them.
What about McMurrary and Mears possibly going back to EGR, with McMurrary in the 1 and Mears in either the 41 (since Jeremy isn’t using it) or the 8/15.