Jamie McMurray was second at Daytona in July. Credit: Autostock

McMurray becoming restrictor-plate expert

TALLADEGA, Ala. -- With the possible exception of Dale Earnhardt Jr., there might not be a driver who welcomes Talladega Superspeedway more than Jamie McMurray.

McMurray has seen his once-promising season morph into a year filled with mid-pack finishes and wrecked racecars, but he has performed surprisingly well on the restrictor-plate tracks.

	Credit: Autostock
	Inside the Numbers Jamie McMurray on restrictor-plate tracks Date Track Start Finish Oct. '02 Talladega 5 26 Feb. 03 Daytona 19 31 April '03 Talladega 14 27 July '03 Daytona 8 37 Oct. '03 Talladega 2 16 Feb. '04 Daytona 7 36 April '04 Talladega 33 9 July '04 Daytona 32 37 Oct. '04 Talladega 24 17 Feb. '05 Daytona 17 32 April '05 Talladega 13 5 July '05 Daytona 33 2

"We have run in the top five in the last two speedway races," said McMurray, who finished second at Daytona in July. "This is obviously a place where you can score a lot of points or lose a lot. We just put [the Daytona car] on jack stands and let it sit."

If Talladega is a welcome spot for McMurray, he knows he will have a tougher time next week at Kansas Speedway. After Talladega, five of the next seven races are contested at 1.5-mile tracks, where the Dodge teams have been notoriously inconsistent all year.

"We have actually built a new car to go to Kansas," said McMurray. "We don't know that it is right, taking some different that we have never raced. I don't feel we really have a handle on our bodies."

McMurray is 13th in points -- his lowest spot in 14 weeks -- and he's struggled to recover from a devastating DNF at Loudon in July, when he finished 40th after a tangle with future Roush Racing teammate Matt Kenseth.

No word on contract talks

If it were up to McMurray, he would be in his final eight races with Chip Ganassi Racing, but he seems resigned to driving the No. 42 Dodge for another year.

Ganassi has repeatedly stated that McMurray will drive for him in 2006.

"There is not anything I can do, and I have agreed to stay with Chip throughout my contract," said McMurray, who is slated to replace the retiring Mark Martin for 2007. "If people above me get things worked out and it happens, I would rather be with Roush Racing next year.

"That is where my future is. It is going to be kind of tough to stay with a team that you know you're not going to be with the following year. But you still get in and drive your guts out and give 100 percent. If I had my choice, I'd rather be at Roush."

McMurray: Bet on Martin, Wallace

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McMurray enjoyed an outstanding finish in 2004. He scored top-10s in 12 of the final 14 races. He says similar streaks by Rusty Wallace and Mark Martin make them favorites to win the 2005 title.

Wallace, who is seeking a second Cup championship, has avoided trouble all year and sits third in points. Martin is fourth in points on the strength of 11 consecutive finishes of 16th or better.

"I will tell you what, if I had to pick, Rusty and Mark would be my two favorites to win the championship," said McMurray. "I believe those are the two most consistent guys in the Chase right now. Both are incredibly smart drivers."