Jamie McMurray Diary: Daytona a blessing

Well, Daytona definitely didn't turn out how we had hoped.

We had the special Terminator 3 paint scheme on the car and had a really good car in the race. We were running in the top 10 when Kurt Busch cut a tire and spun right in front of a pack of cars.

Unfortunately for us, our Havoline/Terminator 3 Dodge was caught up in the wreck. I went high, and all I could see was smoke. The car suffered some front-end damage, and we spent some time in the garage making repairs.

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But I have to say everyone on this Havoline team worked very hard to make repairs to the car, and we lost only 15 laps. Once we got back out, the car was running pretty good.

Even though we were involved in a wreck, I think it gave everyone a lot of confidence back at the shop. The guys have worked really hard on our speedway program, and I think it showed last weekend in Daytona. All three Ganassi cars qualified and raced well.

Leaving Daytona was definitely interesting. I share a plane with Greg Biffle, and with him winning the race, it was a long wait to leave the track. I think we finally got home around 2:00 Sunday morning. But that was cool for Greg, and I could definitely relate to how excited he was. His win was another upset, like my win at Charlotte last year.

It's been a pretty slow week leading up to Chicago this weekend. I flew to Tupelo, Miss., for an appearance for Lane Furniture on Monday, and have spent the past couple of days at the race shop and working on my house.

I'll be pulling double duty again this weekend, as I'll be running the No. 1 Yellow Dodge in Saturday's Busch Series race. I have two starts at Chicagoland in a Busch car, but it never hurts to get more seat time.

We're racing chassis No. 304 this weekend in Chicago. This is the same car we've had all of our good runs in this year. I think in five starts, the car has not finished worse than 14th, so I'm expecting good things this weekend in Chicago.

I heard something about you being in a TV show. Is that true? What is it, and where can I watch it?

Jeff Gronniger, Goddard, Kan.

Jeff, thanks for the question. I guess the answer is yes and no. We taped a pilot episode for a NASCAR reality show for FX. We haven't heard back from FX yet as to whether they are going to pick the show up and when filming would start. I guess just keep your eyes out for something later this year or early next year.

Which is your best track?

Mallory Mullins, Knoxville, Tenn.

Mallory, I guess I would have to say Rockingham. I've won the past two Busch Series races there and finished fifth there earlier this year in the Winston Cup race. I just really like that track and think it suites my driving style.

How important is it to you to be named rookie of the year?

Leighanne Waller, Rockingham, N.C.

You know, at the first of the year, I didn't think about it a lot. But as the season has gone along, I do pay more attention to it. When you look back at the names of guys who have been rookies of the year in Winston Cup, it's a very impressive list. Not to mention two of the previous drivers for Havoline won rookie-of-the-year titles (Davey Allison, 1987; Kenny Irwin, 1998).

I think it's a big honor to win that title, but in the end, all we can do is continue with what we set out to do from the start of the season -- run consistent each week and win races. Hopefully if we can do that, the rookie title will take care of itself.

Jamie McMurray drives the No. 42 Texaco Havoline Dodge for Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates. His diary appears weekly on SI.com.

Each week Jamie will devote a portion of his diary to answering questions from SI.com users.