NASCAR Cup Series

McMurray having season Chasers envy

Published Oct. 19, 2010 1:00 a.m. ET

Larry McReynolds

We all know that as NASCAR’s Chase for the Sprint Cup approaches, and then once we get into the Chase, the focus is on those 12 Chase drivers.

Don’t get me wrong, it is deserved because obviously those are the guys that are vying for the championship.

I still think it is pretty cool when non-Chase racers get in the picture, whether it’s by winning a pole, dominating a race or in the case of Jamie McMurray Saturday night, winning the race. I just think it’s very cool for our sport.

Jamie Mac has had an unbelievable season. I am sure he and his Earnhardt Ganassi Racing team are pretty discouraged that they didn’t make the Chase. But I guarantee that there are teams outside the Chase, and teams inside the Chase, that would love to have the season Jamie has had. I would even go as far as to say you might find some cats in the Chase that would give back their Chase berth to have Jamie’s season.

Ryan Newman is another that isn’t in the Chase but that has been on an unbelievable run. AJ Allmendinger in the No. 43 has shown a lot of glimmers of hope. I still think his Richard Petty Motorsports team has got to learn how to put the beginning, middle and end of a race together to close the deal. I think they are awfully close, though.

Let’s also not overlook how well Paul Menard and the No. 98 team have performed over the last few weeks. They have been strong as of late in both qualifying and in the race.

Like I’ve mentioned before, these teams out there still have a lot to fight for. Sure, the majority don’t have a chance for the championship, but they are fighting for more wins, fighting to finish as high as they can in the points and some teams are fighting for sponsorship.

Remember who they interview in Victory Lane after the race. Remember who gets talked about Monday morning. It’s the driver that won the race. At the end of the day, that is what it’s all about for the team and driver.

So if you can win a race like Jamie did Saturday night, well you create a buzz about you, your team and obviously your sponsor.

You know I have been blessed to be in this sport as long as I have. I have been fortunate to accomplish a lot. But I just have to tell you I am so thrilled that my son, Brandon, is going to make his Nationwide Series debut at Gateway International Raceway this weekend. He will be driving the No. 42 Smith-Penske Racing car. This deal came together late last week. I just have to say I am pretty darn excited.

Because of what I do, I have had to miss a lot of his races and his wins. I never have missed a first race of his. Carl Edwards has been kind enough to let me jump on his plane and ride over to St. Louis after Saturday Sprint Cup practice is over at Martinsville Speedway. So I am thrilled I will be up there for Brandon’s first Nationwide race.

Sure I am thrilled as his dad, but I am also thrilled as a person that has watched him grow into this young man. I am very appreciative that this team has reached out and given him this great opportunity. I am pretty excited about the whole package we have going here.

I have tried to instill in him to go there this weekend and run all the laps. You don’t want your first Nationwide race to say DNF at the end of the day. You want to be running at the end. It’s a great learning experience for him this weekend. Hopefully he can perform well enough that it can lead to something else. He has worked so hard to get this opportunity and I couldn’t be prouder of him.