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DAYTONA BEACH, FL – FEBRUARY 14: Jamie McMurray, driver of the #1 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 14, 2010 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)
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DAYTONA BEACH, FL – FEBRUARY 14: Jamie McMurray, driver of the #1 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 14, 2010 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)
In an unprecedented piece of news, Jamie McMurray is temporarily coming out of retirement. The 2010 Daytona 500 winner last competed at the 2019 Daytona 500 before hanging up his boots. Since then, he turned to the world of punditry with FOX Sports. However, it appears that he will don the racing gloves once again and reunite with Spire Motorsports in the #77 Chevrolet.
It is also worth mentioning that Spire is teaming up with Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) to prepare the car, with AdventHealth acting as the primary sponsor for the racer’s 584th career race. Needless to say, he is excited to race and reunite with CGR once again, although on a technical basis.
Talk about a surprise! @jamiemcmurray will be running the No. 77 @adventhealth Chevrolet in next month’s #DAYTONA500!
DETAILS: https://t.co/LzMbopOB5b@SpireMotorsport | @NASCAR pic.twitter.com/YxfjEF3Pes
— Chip Ganassi Racing (@CGRTeams) January 19, 2021
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Admittedly, the 44-year-old has been out of action for two full years. However, the chance to race at arguably the biggest race of the season is too good to pass up. To make the situation even better, it also offers McMurray a shot at winning the iconic trophy for the second time in his career.
Jamie McMurray cannot wait to return to the NASCAR scene
“It doesn’t get any better than the Daytona 500, and I am so excited to have the opportunity, thanks to AdventHealth, to run this race one more time,” McMurray said. “I have enjoyed my time out of the car as an analyst covering NASCAR, but nothing can replace the feeling of actually racing.”
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DAYTONA BEACH, FL – FEBRUARY 15: Jamie McMurray, driver of the #40 McDonald’s/Cessna/Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet, stands in the garage area during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 61st Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 15, 2019 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
When he decided to step away from the sport, McMurray was careful to dodge the word retirement. Obviously, he was still holding on to hope that he could return to the fray whenever possible. Evidently, he decided that the 2021 Daytona 500 was the place to make his grand return.
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For the coming season opener, Jamie McMurray will link up with crew chief Kevin Bellicourt. In addition to that, he will reunite with spotter Keith Barnwell, the person who guided McMurray to his 2010 Daytona 500 win.
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Obviously, the veteran is excited to return to the action once again. However, one has to wonder if this will be the last that anybody sees of him.
