For McMurray, Daytona win story of redemption (cont'd)

When it wasn't and he had the chance to go elsewhere to see if it could be easier there, he jumped at it. And when it didn't happen at the other place, McMurray had to, at times, battle the beginnings of self-doubt that threatened to creep in.

But when the opportunity came for a return to his Cup roots, so to speak, McMurray immediately felt comfortable with the idea.

Jamie Mac video

Forgive Jamie McMurray if he was emotionally drained after winning the Daytona 500.

• Final Laps
• Victory Lane
• Press Pass
• Visits SPEED
• Top Moment
• Hat's off

"I've told you guys [in the media] every time you've asked me: it's been a lot easier coming back to this organization than it was when I left and went to Roush because I already knew everybody here," McMurray said. "I've said that it was very warm and welcoming to me when I got to the shop. It's everything from the guys in the fab shop to the accountants ... I mean everywhere throughout the shop. I'm very comfortable and I know everybody. I think that has made this transition easier than if I went to an organization I didn't know."

Meanwhile, Ganassi and Sabates -- who have been at this a long, long time with little in the way of tangible results at the NASCAR level to really show for it -- ultimately felt the same way about bringing back McMurray. On Sunday, all were rewarded for their faith in each other and in Ganassi's long-held belief that his tremendous success in other forms of racing could eventually translate to the stock-car side.

"Like Jamie said, from a little boy, you think about winning this race," Ganassi said. "I think back to how I got started in racing -- whether it's with little cars, go-karts, slot cars, then obviously driving, the IndyCar successes we've had, the sports-car successes. There was always some question about, is our NASCAR team up to the task?

"You know, putting a car in the Chase last year sort of, I think, validated the way we run the business. Hopefully this [victory] did that as well."

Sabates added: "We got beat up a little bit. ...We've taken our criticism from the press. But Chip is a very focused person. If you cut his veins, he's got motor oil coming out of them. He never wavered from the plan he had."

The plan never really included letting McMurray get away in the first place. But like the forgiving father in the Bible's parable of the prodigal son, Ganassi was waiting and willing to welcome the driver back when the timing was right for both. You might say Ganassi even slaughtered a calf and threw a party upon McMurray's return, or at least he took him to dinner.

Now they even often dine together during race weekends, or at least they did during their first reunited ones in 2010 -- with spectacular end results. Forget the calf. Now, together, they have slayed the Daytona 500 dragon.

"He's my car owner, but he's also my friend. I think that's really important," McMurray said of Ganassi. "I think that's something I haven't had in the last four years."

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer.