Jamie McMurray, driving the No. 1 Earnhardt Ganassi Chevrolet, captured the 52nd annual Daytona 500 after a two-lap shootout before an estimated 175,000 spectators at Daytona International Speedway. Daytona Beach News-Journal
His reunion with Earnhardt Ganassi Racing began with a signature victory in Sunday’s Daytona 500, the latest triumph in his résumé of strong restrictor-plate runs and somewhat vindicating after leaving Roush Fenway Racing following last season.
Coming on the heels of last fall’s Talladega win with Roush, McMurray can lay claim to being the current king of superspeedways. This one was particularly impressive, as he got a push from former Roush teammate Greg Biffle to rocket to the front of the pack in a race extended to 208 laps or 520 miles. USA Today
McMurray spun his tires on the restart on Lap 207 but got a push down the frontstretch and through the first turn from third-place finisher Greg Biffle. Securing the top spot from Kevin Harvick on the backstretch, McMurray led the final two laps. Those were the only laps he led, the lowest total for a Daytona 500 winner.
“Oh, my God!” McMurray screamed after taking the checkered flag. “I can’t freaking believe it right now. Thank you so much. I can’t believe we just won the Daytona 500.”
Later, in Victory Lane, McMurray fought back tears. Though he won one race last season at Roush Fenway Racing, he struggled in his final year there and was the odd man out from his team’s NASCAR-mandated reduction from five teams to four.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: Daytona 500 - Race Results
“It’s a dream—it really is,” he said. “To be where I was last year, and for Johnny Morris [owner of sponsor Bass Pro Shops], Chip and [co-owner] Felix (Sabates) to take a chance on me and let me come back—what a way to pay them back.”
Earnhardt was second followed by Biffle (Ford), Clint Bowyer (Chevy) and David Reutimann (Toyota).
“It was a lot of fun. It went by so fast, I couldn’t really tell you the process. But I just remember going down the back straightaway and getting in between Greg and I don’t remember who was on the outside of me. We all kind of wiggled through that whole deal. Jamie got away from us.
“I didn’t even know where I was. Then we got into [Turn] 3. I was counting in my head how many laps we ran. I knew we were coming to the checkered; I was running second. This is awesome—but it kind of sucks at the same time.
“It was frustrating to come that close. But, hell, we were running 22nd at the first green-white-checkered.” NASCAR
Sunday’s 52nd running of the Daytona 500 had 21 different leaders, a race record. It also featured 52 lead changes, which was the third-most all-time for The Great American Race. Miami resident Juan Pablo Montoya, a Colombian, led two laps Sunday, including Lap 154.
Four-time Cup Series points champion Jimmie Johnson finished 35th after his rear axle failed near the end of the race.
Over the past four years, Johnson has finished no better than 27th in the Daytona 500. MiamiHerald.com
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