Ganassi hires McMurray to drive third car

RICHMOND, Va. -- ChevronTexaco has signed a multi-year contract with Chip Ganassi Racing, and has signed driver Jamie McMurray to drive the Havoline Dodge in the 2003 season, the team announced Saturday at Richmond International Raceway.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, and neither car number nor crew chief was announced.

"The addition of ChevronTexaco adds a lot of experience and energy to this team," said team owner Chip Ganassi. "Havoline has a successful history in NASCAR and I am excited about our new partnership with them."

THE MCMURRAY FILE  •  Born: June 3, 1976  •  Hometown: Joplin, Mo.  •  Marital Status: Single  •  Children: None  •  Best Busch Series Finish: 2nd, 2002 Funai 250  •  Driver Page

Texaco/Havoline has sponsored Robert Yates' famed No. 28 Ford for some 15 years, and had another year left on the current contract. But Yates signed M&M's to sponsor Elliott Sadler's No. 38 Ford, freeing Havoline up to move to Ganassi.

"Havoline and Robert Yates Racing have been together for a long time, but sometimes change is good for everyone involved and I am confident that everyone will come out of this change with a winning program."

Ganassi already has a winning program. His No. 40 Dodge team and driver Sterling Marlin head up the Winston Cup points chart. Alongside Marlin is Winston Cup mainstay Jimmy Spencer. Now, they add a young up-and-comer in McMurray.

"Jamie is a sought-after young driver with a great work ethic and the talent to win a lot of races in the future and we will provide him with every resource and opportunity to succeed on our team," Ganassi said. "Our company is about winning races and championships."

McMurray has enjoyed a banner weekend at RIR. He finished a career-best second Friday night in the Funai 250. Now this.

"This is the right move for me, and I am pleased to be part Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates," McMurray said. "Chip's use of new technology has been introduced into every aspect of his NASCAR Winston Cup Racing teams.

"I am especially proud to drive the Havoline car. Havoline has been an excellent sponsor in NASCAR for many years, and I am very humbled to be driving for them."

McMurray currently ranks ninth in the NASCAR Busch Series standings, having tallied a pair of top-fives and nine top-10s in the No. 27 Brewco Motorsports Chevrolet.