McMurray failed to make the top 35, so now he has to qualify on speed at each race until he moves up unless a points swap happens.
GET IN GEAR
McMurray needs to get haywire season back on track
By Terry Blount / ESPN.com
As NASCAR takes a schedule break for Easter, Jamie McMurray and the No. 26 Ford team will try to figure out why they've laid an egg through the first five races.
McMurray failed to make the top 35, so now he has to qualify on speed at each race until he moves up unless a points swap happens. It's a huge blow to the Roush Fenway Racing team that finished 17th in the standings last year, and even that was a disappointment.
McMurray has finished 22nd or worse in each of the first five events this year,
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McMurray has finished 22nd or worse in each of the first five events this year, including 40th or worse in the past two.
including 40th or worse in the past two.
"It's hard to believe we are in the position we are," McMurray said. "But we'll have to figure out where we are going wrong. We'll take this off weekend and look at everything and come back for Martinsville and hopefully have a better run."
McMurray has only one top-10 finish in the past 13 races, dating back to last season. His last top-5 was his victory at Daytona last July, McMurray's first win since his 2002 victory in his second Cup start.
McMurray came to Jack Roush's team in 2006 with high hopes of becoming a championship contender. He had finished on the cusp of the Chase in 2004 (11th) and 2005 (12th) when only 10 drivers made the playoff. And he was 13th in the standings as a rookie in 2003.
But things never have clicked since he made the move to the Roush organization. Time is running out. RFR has to trim down from five teams to four by 2010.
McMurray might not make it to 2009 if things don't improve. David Ragan is the other RFR driver who isn't running with the leaders, but Ragan is 22. McMurray turns 32 in June.
Ragan, who ranks 21st in the standings, may have more upside potential. The No. 6 Ford Ragan drives is losing AAA as the sponsor after this season. Crown Royal has a long-term deal with RFR in McMurray's ride, but who says Crown Royal wouldn't move to Ragan's car?
All those things are a long way from being determined, but one thing is clear: McMurray needs to show dramatic improvement to keep his ride secure.
Posted March 18, 2008 , 8:58 pm EST Last Updated March 19, 2008 , 1:47 pm EST
