By Toby Christie (Follow on Twitter @Toby_Christie)
FOX Sports has confirmed that Jamie McMurray will be moving to an analyst role for the 2019 season. This story that was first reported by Sports Business Journal.
“As my driving career got closer to the end, I thought about doing TV but wasn’t sure until I did a couple of NASCAR RACE HUB shows at the end of this year,” McMurray said. “I really enjoyed it more than I expected. It’s a whole new world, but that’s what I am most excited about – the new challenge and discomfort that comes with doing something completely out of my element.”
McMurray, 42, has seven-career Monster Energy Cup Series victories including a Daytona 500 win in 2010 will now serve as an on-air analyst on NASCAR Race Hub, and will also play a prominent role in the NASCAR Raceday pre-race show as well, both of which take place in the new FOX Sports virtual studio in Charlotte, NC.
“As FOX Sports built the new virtual studio in Charlotte, we were equally invested in hiring the right personalities for our NASCAR programming,” said Steve Craddock, SVP of NASCAR Production, FOX Sports. “Jamie McMurray brings a fresh-off-the-track perspective and a modest likeability everyone can relate to. He is a great addition to our team.”
Kurt Busch was announced as a replacement for McMurray in the Chip Ganassi Racing No. 1 Chevrolet Camaro on December 4th. Since that move many have speculated whether McMurray would continue to pursue a full-time driving gig, or if he would hang up his helmet.
While this announcement doesn’t serve as an official answer to that for the long term, it insures that, at least for 2019, McMurray is done with driving stock cars for nearly 40 weeks out of the year.
McMurray first burst onto the Cup Series scene when a neck injury forced Sterling Marlin to sit out the final seven races of the 2002 season. McMurray was tabbed to fill in for Marlin in the No. 40 Coors Light Dodge.
In just his second-career start, McMurray captured an unexpected victory in the UAW-GM Quality 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The driver would go on to win Rookie of the Year honors in 2003.
McMurray would spend the next three seasons with Ganassi Racing, before moving to Roush Fenway Racing in 2006.
In four disappointing years at RFR, McMurray recorded two wins, but his tenure at the organization was very inconsistent. He was released from Roush Fenway Racing at the conclusion of the 2009 season.
In 2010, despite looking like he was possibly nearing the end of his career, McMurray landed back with Ganassi’s team in the No. 1 car. McMurray didn’t disappoint as he won three races which included the crown jewels of the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400.
McMurray also won the All-Star race in 2014.
McMurray would spend another seven years at the organization before being replaced by Busch this offseason.
