Joplin native Jamie McMurray, on the upswing lately in the NASCAR standings, is looking for good things to happen this weekend in Texas, according to an article in the Detroit Free Press:
McMurray's eighth-place result at Martinsville last weekend has the 2003 Cup rookie of the year looking for good things in the Lone Star State.Fontana, and after our test last week in Nashville, I really think we have a good car."
"We've had a lot of bad luck in the first five races, and hopefully last weekend was our turning point," said McMurray, who has two career Cup victories and three poles. "After our run ... at Martinsville, I know all the guys are ready to get back on track. We moved back into the top 35 in points, and now we are focused on continuing to gain points every week and get ourselves back where we belong."
McMurray is acutely aware that his performances are under the microscope at Roush and that he is being measured by his teammates, who are enjoying a much better year.
Greg Biffle is third in points, Carl Edwards 14th, Matt Kenseth 15th and David Ragan, the youngest member of the squad, is in 19th place.
McMurray's crew chief, Larry Carter, said he believes his driver is ready to turn the corner.
"I'm hoping the No. 26 team and Jamie has the monkey off our backs," Carter said. "We've worked really hard this season at putting ourselves in a good position each weekend, but it seems the bad luck followed us. We had a good run last weekend, however."
McMurray, whose Jamie McMurray Foundation supports autism awareness, has a good record at Texas, a fast, high-banked 1.5-mile oval. He has posted five top 10s and two top-five finishes there. In the spring 2007 race, McMurray finished fifth to Burton and in the fall he placed ninth to Jimmie Johnson.
"Texas isn't a track that I normally qualify very well at but one that I really enjoy racing at," McMurray said. "We are bringing the same car that we ran at
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