Friends, fans hail McMurray's Daytona victory

Joplin Metro

Discussion

February 16, 2010

Anonymous The Joplin Globe Tue Feb 16, 2010, 12:14 AM CST

By Greg Grisolano

ggrisolano@joplinglobe.com

Billy Street still recalls a trip to the 1994 Daytona 500 championships, to which he was accompanied by his wife and his young friend Jamie McMurray.

“My wife and I were talking about it (Sunday), because it was 16 years ago that we were all in Daytona together,” said Street, 46, of Joplin. “We were hanging out in Universal Studios. To think he went on to win the race after hanging out there and watching it is something.”

Joplin native McMurray held off a hard-charging Dale Earnhardt Jr. in Sunday’s running of the Daytona 500, then broke down in tears in Victory Lane after being the first to cross the finish line in the “Super Bowl of NASCAR.”

He set a NASCAR record by leading the race for only the final two laps — the fewest of anybody who ever won the Daytona 500.

Back in time

The 1994 Daytona 500 recalled by Street was the first of two consecutive victories Sterling Marlin would claim at the fabled track. Less than a decade later, in 2002, McMurray would race into NASCAR’s history books by subbing for an injured Marlin and cruising to a first-place finish at the UAW-GM Quality 500 in Concord, N.C., only his second race.

“There’s a lot of people thinking that it came all too easy because he won in his second race out, that that may have made him think this is a whole lot easier than it is,” Street said. “But he’s been through a lot, and to get to do this is just amazing. He grew up racing those go-karts, and all he ever wanted to do is drive race cars. He’s put a lot of work and commitment into it, and he’s got the ultimate prize now.”

Still hoarse

At his home in Joplin, Mark Womack said, he and 10 of his friends were on their feet cheering for McMurray’s improbable victory.

“Gotta love that, don’t you?” said a still hoarse Womack on Monday. “I mean, the guy actually broke down. To see the man cross the line and see him humble himself enough to break down in tears was a beautiful sight. That’s a man who really loves this sport.”

McMurray’s thrilling finish in a race that was the kickoff to the sport’s season comes after a difficult 2009 campaign that left his driving future in question.

McMurray was dropped by his former team, Roush Fenway Racing, during a time when the sport is suffering from a reduced number of sponsors and fewer cars. McMurray now races for the Earnhardt Ganassi Racing team.

Danny Felker, a former employer of McMurray’s in Joplin and himself a dirt racer, said he thinks the win solidifies McMurray’s career.

“He’ll probably be able to finish his career (in NASCAR) because I really thought he was done before,” said Felker, who owns and operates 66 Truck and Foreign Salvage on West Seventh Street. “When he got ousted from the Roush team, it looked like he was done. It was going to be hard for him to find another job (at that level) because the economy is bad and there aren’t a lot of seats right now.”

Dirt vs. asphalt

Felker recalled that when the teenage McMurray worked under him in the mid- to late ’90s, they would tease each other about the merits of racing on asphalt as opposed to dirt.

“We all dirt-raced, and he pavement-raced,” Felker said. “We all gave each other a hard time, because he’d say you can’t make it to Daytona off of dirt. And we used to tease him with, ‘Well, you ain’t making no money off of pavement racing,’ but he showed us, I’d say.”

Felker said he still talks to McMurray’s father, Jim, on a regular basis, and sent his congratulations on to the family.

“(Jamie) won the biggest race he could ever win, and that will always stick to his name,” Felker said. “He’ll always have a job now. Sponsors will want to put their name on his back because he’s a former Daytona 500 winner. He’s going to be on Letterman (Monday night). How huge is that?”

Mayor’s reaction

Joplin Mayor Gary Shaw said Monday that the city e-mailed Joplin native Jamie McMurray to congratulate him on his victory at the Daytona 500 on Sunday. He said the city would be exploring ways to honor McMurray’s victory.

Text Only

Joplin Metro

Longtime Democrat dies at 81
Sapp, 81, died Thursday. Funeral services were Monday at the First Presbyterian Church of Joplin. A longtime Jasper County Democratic committeewoman and volunteer, Sapp for years was secretary to the county’s central committee.

August 9, 2010 1 Photo
Motivational speaker offers free marriage course
Presented by Mark Gungor, the course is being offered free to the community. The event is being held to aid in tornado relief.

January 12, 2012
District sends faculty, administrators on site visits
With the design phase of several buildings in Joplin Schools ending in May, the district has sent 66 administration, faculty, parents and community members on site visits to 22 schools and two technology company headquarters across the country.

January 11, 2012
Mural depicting Joplin High School dedicated
A four-paneled mural depicting the recent history of Joplin High School was dedicated at the Memorial 9th- and 10th-grade Center Tuesday morning. The mural will be moved to the new high school when it is completed in 2014.

January 10, 2012 4 Photos
Carl Junction chamber creating new committees
The Carl Junction Chamber of Commerce is kicking off three new committees this week with meetings scheduled Tuesday and Wednesday.

January 9, 2012
Body of missing Joplin man found
The body of a missing Joplin man was discovered this afternoon inside his home in the Royal Heights neighborhood of Joplin.

January 3, 2012
Wildcat Glades nature center receives $50,000 grant
The Wildcat Glades Conservation & Audubon Center has received a $50,000 TogetherGreen Innovation Grant, which is being provided through an alliance between the National Audubon Society and Toyota.

October 21, 2011
Joplin shooting victim’s name released
The Joplin Police Department today released the name of a woman fatally shot in her home early Thursday and acknowledged that the shooting was reported as a suicide attempt.

October 21, 2011
Barry Manilow to deliver donated instruments
Singer-songwriter Barry Manilow will visit Joplin next week to donate more than $300,000 in musical instruments to replace those lost during the May 22 tornado.

October 21, 2011
Extreme Makeover releases names of families
"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" has released more details about the build in the 2400 block of Connor Avenue, including the names of the seven families. They are:

October 19, 2011
More Joplin Metro Headlines

Water company cites reconnections

Joplin Metro

Search Results

Discussion

Friends, fans hail McMurray's Daytona victory

Joplin City Manager Mark Rohr wants the city to distribute weather radios to all Joplin homes that don’t have one. That’s 11,000 radios. Do you think that’s a good use of $300,440?

Joplin City Manager Mark Rohr wants the city to distribute weather radios to all Joplin homes that don’t have one. That’s 11,000 radios. Do you think that’s a good use of $300,440?

Site Map

Contact Us