McMurray to announce plans at Homestead

Quote :

AVONDALE, Ariz. – Earnhardt Ganassi Racing has agreed to terms with a driver to replace Martin Truex Jr., and Kevin Manion will remain as the crew chief for the No. 1 NASCAR Sprint Cup car, team president Steve Lauletta said Sunday at Phoenix International Raceway.

Lauletta wouldn’t name the driver, but sources indicated it would be Jamie McMurray, whose Roush Fenway Racing team is being phased out so the organization can go from five to four teams. McMurray started his Cup career driving for team co-owner Chip Ganassi.

McMurray has been considered the frontrunner for the ride for the last three months. Bobby Labonte emerged as a possible candidate last month but announced Saturday he will drive for TRG Motorsports in 2010.

“We’ve got a full agreement,” Lauletta said. “I really hope it will be [announced] this week.”

As far as the crew chief for the car, Lauletta said Manion would remain as crew chief of the No. 1 team. Manion was Truex’s crew chief for his two titles in what is now the Nationwide Series and then went on to Cup with Truex in 2006. Truex is leaving the team after the season to drive for Michael Waltrip Racing in 2010.

“Hopefully his team will remain intact and we’ll be ready for next year,” Lauletta said. “[Manion] brings a lot of good leadership qualities. Him and [fellow crew chief] Brian [Pattie] get along really well. Obviously, it’s been a difficult year bringing the two organizations together, and he’s really been a big part of bringing the two groups together and having them work together.

“We think with the new driver we’re going to bring in, he’ll have a great relationship with him and we’ll win some races.”

~Scene Daily


If Roush continues as they have this year, Jamie will be better off at Ganassi.

I really hope Jamie can perform better at Ganassi than he has with Roush. When Jamie was there before, he was the #1 driver and I am starting to think that had a lot to do with his previous performance there.