By: Tyler Ward
NASCAR guru Ray Evernham was right Saturday, as he picked Daytona 500 winner Jamie McMurray to win the Brickyard 400. McMurray, teammate Juan Pablo Montoya, and Greg Biffle battled throughout the day for the win, but McMurray came out victorious, winning his second race this year.
McMurray became the third driver ever to win the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 in the same year, along with Dale Jarrett (1996) and Jimmie Johnson (2006). Owner Chip Ganassi also became the first owner ever to win the Daytona 500, Brickyard 400, and Indy Car's Indianapolis 500 in the same year.
A four-tire pit stop doomed Montoya on a debris caution with 23 laps to go. Six drivers took two tires on the final stop, while Montoya took four, placing all the way back in seventh place. Eager to take the top spot, he tried to weave in and out of traffic and eventually lost control of his car, slamming into the wall and wrecking Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the process. Montoya, who led 86 of the 160 laps, finished 32nd after a second straight heartbreak race at the Brickyard. Last year, he led 116 laps, but a speeding penalty cost him the race - he has been trying to become the first driver ever to win the Brickyard 400 and Indy 500.
This has really been a tough season for Montoya after making the Chase last season. He is currently 22nd in the standings and is pretty much ruled out of making the Chase for the Cup this year.
Winning driver McMurray said after the race, "I really believe that this was Juan's weekend. I'm looking with 15 or 20 laps to go and Juan is leading -- not that I was content -- but, if this is the way it's supposed to be, then that's just the way it is. When Juan was leading and I was in second, I am a big believer in fate, and I thought this was just the way it is meant to be. I won the 500, Dario [Franchitti] won the Indy 500 and Juan is gonna win this race. I really thought it was his day."
McMurray led only 16 laps and beat out points leader Kevin Harvick by 1.391 seconds following a restart with eleven laps to go. Greg Biiffle finished third and still remains winless on the year. Clint Bowyer and Tony Stewart rounded out the Top 5. Harvick's teammate, Jeff Burton, came in sixth and Roush-Fenway driver Carl Edwards finished behind Burton. Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, and Kurt Busch filled out the rest of the Top 10. 2002 Brickyard Winner Bill Elliott ran stellar throughout the day, coming in 18th. Jeff Gordon, winless this year, finished 22nd, with defending champion Jimmie Johnson came in 23rd. Gordon is winless in the past 49 races, the longest drought of his career.
Disgruntled driver Montoya, who finished 32nd, did not talk to the media after the race, but later posted on his Twitter account, "We had a rough day. Great car and great team effort. Nice to see the 1 car win. I know it means a lot for Chip."
Kevin Manion, McMurray's crew chief, has to feel like the smartest person on the track, after his crew put McMurray out front with a 7.2 second pit stop with several laps remaining in the race. But, Chip Ganassi should feel that way too, after signing the Brickyard 400 winner to a one-year contract before the season.
McMurray was released by Roush-Fenway Racing after the 2009 season because of NASCAR's newly-placed four car team limit - Owner Jack Roush felt that he had to let go of him because statistically, he was the "worst" driver on the team. His ex-teammates included Carl Edwards, Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle, and David Ragan. Now, it may seem like a foolish decision. Roush-Fenway's four drivers have not won a single race this season, while McMurray has won the two biggest races of the season.
Having the best season of his career, negotiations have started between McMurray and Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing for a contract extension. He signed a one-year contract with the team before this season. His sponsor, Bass Pro Shops, is expected to stay with the team. After the race, Ganassi was asked about McMurray's possible re-signing, saying "I'm going to fire him. What do you think?" By that logic, it looks like the re-signing is all, but inevitable.
