Jamie McMurray Wins Delay-Ridden Daytona 500

Sports News - February 15th, 2010 - Written By Bryan

In a race that featured 58 lead changes and 22 different leaders, Jamie McMurray was in front on the only lap that counted, in the dramatic finish at the 52nd running of the Daytona 500.

It took two extra hours however.

The race was delayed significantly due to the development of a pot hole in turn two at Daytona International Speedway. Officials had to remove drivers from the track twice in order to get the problem corrected.

The race was able to resume, only to have several other delays due to multiple wrecks. Following the final restart, it was an all-out sprint to the finish line, which McMurray was able to get to first.

"I can't really put it into words the way it feels," McMurray said in an interview following his victory at the biggest event in NASCAR. "I'm trying to be genuine and as sincere as I can and not sound cliche: as a kid growing up, this is what you dream of, of being able to win the Daytona 500."

McMurray was the recipient of a push from his old teammate Greg Biffle to surpass Kevin Harvick and move into the lead with under two laps to go. NASCAR had implemented a "green-white-checkered" overtime policy in hopes of creating fan-friendly finishes. A series of wrecks over the final laps composed three two-lap runs. NASCAR got the finish they hoped for.

"I just made my move too soon, a mistake on my part probably," Biffle said in a post-race interview. "This is a big, big win for anybody's career. You got to be happy for anybody that ever wins this race. I was especially happy, the guys I was up there beating and banging with, you know, I would rather see Jamie win than those guys."

McMurray had to hold off a furious rally by Dale Earnhardt Jr, who came from 10th position to second in a matter of a lap.

"I looked in my mirror and saw the 88 -- I'll be honest, I was like, 'Crap, this guy has won a lot of races here. His family has an incredible history here,'" McMurray said in a post-race interview. "I believe everything happens for a reason. I just was like, 'I hope this isn't his turn to win the Daytona 500, I hope this is mine.'"

Earnhardt simply ran out of laps, and was unable to catch the race leader.

"I didn't know where I was, you know, 'til I really kind of got done almost wrecking down the back straightaway," Earnhardt said afterward. "Then I looked up, there's just one car in front of me, 'Jamie's gonna win this damn race!' I was happy for him. He deserves it. They've been through a lot. It's a great team."

The win was McMurray's fourth on the Sprint Cup Series.

McMurray was established with odds at 30/1 to win the Daytona 500 entering the race on Sunday according to the NASCAR Betting Lines at Bodog sportsbook. Pre-race favorite Tony Stewart finished in 22nd position.