Five things about ... Cup driver Jamie McMurray

You know Jamie McMurray has a whole lot more going on in his life besides deflecting rumors and fielding questions about his uncertain future at Roush Fenway Racing.

(Note: The Roush team must scale back its five-car operation to four by 2010 per NASCAR's mandate, and recent news stories have mentioned McMurray's No. 26 Ford as the most likely to move to Yates Racing, but Jack Roush called that speculation premature.

"We're not thinking about next year yet," Roush said. "We're thinking about this year, and certainly there was nothing that's happened in the last week that is noteworthy or newsworthy, and I wouldn't care to speculate.")

The 32-year-old McMurray, along with sponsor Crown Royal, are heavily vested in military philanthropy these days, and he is soaking up culture outside of the catch fence.

And, sorry ladies, he's also planning a summer wedding. Engaged to Christy Futrell since late last year, McMurray has one of the most creative wedding proposals in the garage. Learn how he literally crafted the proposal and much more.

A trip to The Phoenician in Scottsdale, Ariz., has become an annual tradition for McMurray and Futrell, which is why the driver chose the posh resort and spa as a place to pop the question to his future wife.

"We have really great memories there. So we went there the following day last year after the Texas race. I couldn't wait. I made up this book, like a small scrapbook or journal with blank pages.

"First, I remembered that Christy wanted to go to New York and see plays and all these things I'm really not into. So I cut out a picture of a plane and put it on one page signifying we would take a trip, the second and third pages were photos of fancy restaurants and shopping, and of New York, and then a page of Katie Holmes because I got tickets to see her Broadway show All My Sons, and on the following page was a picture of a wedding dress and some rings. The last page said, 'Will you marry me?' but I didn't give her a ring."

Instead, Jamie took Christy to a New York jeweler to pick out her own ring.

"I didn't want it to be a traditional proposal but something she would really enjoy and it was great."

Not many NASCAR types cross into the political arena but McMurray was afforded the opportunity to attend President Barack Obama's inauguration in January.

"The night before the inauguration Crown Royal had a party and Christy and I saw Star Jones or at least half of her was there, she has lost so much weight. We also saw Lawrence Fishburne, Vanessa Williams. It was fun to get to see those people. Honestly, the coolest part of the inauguration was seeing outgoing President George Bush get in a helicopter and fly over but at the same time it was touching to see all the emotion in the crowd, people crying, etc. At the time I didn't realize how monumental the occasion was."

McMurray still is touting his Crown Royal Safe Rides Home program and will be toting tipsy bar patrons home again this year during the NASCAR weekend at Indianapolis, as well as local military communities in Virginia. As one can imagine, some trips can produce some hilarious moments.

"I've got a funny story from Indianapolis and believe me they got funnier as the night went on, the more people drank the funnier things got. I had two guys I dropped off at home who didn't want to use the door. They wanted to roll down the window and climb out like race car driver."

Two-time Purple Heart recipient Russ Friedman won Crown Royal's "Your Name Here" contest, the naming rights to the Sprint Cup Series race at Richmond in May. Before the season began, McMurray paid a visit to Friedman at Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital.

"After visiting the Walter Reed Army Medical Center earlier this year and hearing Russ talk about his experience overseas, I couldn't help but want to do more. Plus, it's Russ' race, and this is something he felt passionate about. There was no question that we were going to try to make it an unforgettable experience."

McMurray agreed to distribute tickets to the troops as well as honorary pit-crew members at each of the races leading up to the event in Richmond. The initiative began at Martinsville.

Of his visit to the hospital, McMurray said, "I was amazed by everyone there. What I found to be the most impressive was these people who were hurt fighting for their country just want to get well so they can go back and serve.

"But it's very hard to meet someone for the first time whose leg or arm has been amputated because you want to ask how they are doing but not offend them. I just have so much admiration for the men and women who serve our country. You view what they do and realize what you do in your life is so minimal so we just wanted to do something to give back."

If he wasn't racing perhaps McMurray would find a career in television.

"I've made appearances on the West Wing, Passions -- that one was weird and cheesy because there was witchcraft and magic involved -- MTV Cribs, and I know so much about random trivia. I know the answers to random stuff and people always wonder how I come up with the answers."

Note provided by The Sporting News Wire Service