Chip Ganassi Racing

NASCAR announced Monday that Cup Series team owner Chip Ganassi was issued a one-race suspension and fined $30,000 for violating COVID-19 protocols during Sunday's O'Reilly Auto Parts 253 at Daytona International Speedway in Florida.

Officials said the punishment was in relation to Ganassi "bringing into the competition area a non-essential individual that was restricted from the footprint." He can appeal the ruling.

Barring a successful appeal, the 62-year-old Pennsylvania native will miss Sunday's Dixie Vodka 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Florida.

His team's two drivers, Kurt Busch and Ross Chastain, will still be eligible to compete in the Cup Series' third race of the 2021 season.

NASCAR updated its COVID-19 protocols from last season to allow one owner and one "content person" per car at the track on race day this year.

Further specifics about Ganassi's violation weren't included in the governing body's announcement.

Chip Ganassi Racing also fields teams in IndyCar, the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the Extreme E off-road series.

Ganassi will be eligible to return to the Cup Series for the March 7 Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Nevada.

A lot of laps and countless turns, mostly left, will happen over the next two seasons before a new title sponsor becomes a major partner with the efficient motorsports market machine honed by NASCAR.

Millions of fans and hundreds of drivers, team members and media want to know what major company will fill the $80 million boots of Sprint in NASCAR.

NASCAR fan Jimmy Vann (originally from Daytona Beach) wanted to know who is replacing Sprint as well.

It’s been this reporter’s experience with fans over the past 15 years that when seeking questions to ask NASCAR drivers, the majority are interested, but often they don’t share an actual question. Vann did. He wanted to know stars' reactions to his question.

What sponsor do you think should replace Sprint in NASCAR and why?

This reporter carried Jimmy’s question to the annual NASCAR media conference covering four intense days in downtown Charlotte during the Charlotte Motor Speedway 2015 Media Tour presented by Technocom.

His question was well-received by drivers, team owners and TV reporters. His inquiry got many different responses that might be of interest to other fans.

This report will go beyond this one article, because so many drivers, team owners and TV media reporters responded to Jimmy’s question. Plus, this NASCAR sponsor quest is a story just revving up.

NASCAR obviously won’t disclose what companies it is engaging, or in earnest discussion with, as it is quite early in this significant title hunt. It’s moot to speculate early who will step up, as Sprint won’t be pulling its NSCS banner until December 2016. But it is constructive to share thoughts from those at the top whose future will be directly affected by NASCAR’s next title sponsor move.

The next big company taking a turn in negotiations won’t be known for many months. Some principles involved may never be disclosed.

Most answering Jimmy’s sponsor question either had no idea or didn’t want to settle on a single choice. All commented.

NASCAR team owner Chip Ganassi was first to point out the requirements: “That’s above my face value. I don’t have a good answer for that. It will obviously be a big brand.”

NASCAR six-time champion Jimmie Johnson had no specific choice, but he singled out one category.

“Something that would be on the side of technology,” Johnson said. “It's what our sport thrives on. Technology is everything. It could be a software company, somewhere in that department. Technology is such a big part of what we do. Someone in tech space.”

Team owner Felix Sabates has a solid background in commerce and shared his thoughts.

“I don’t want to speculate,” Sabates said. ”I know they got other people that they are talking to. When you have a management change, an ownership shake-up in any company, the first thing they look to cut is advertising. That’s the easiest thing they can identify.”

Sabates continued with his insight: “Then six months later, ‘Ooh, I don’t believe that. We got to go back to that.’ I was in business for 40 years. I saw that happen so many times, I could cry.”

Team owner and TV commentator Michael Waltrip is no stranger to word usage and was quick to select two possibilities.

"That’s a great question,” Waltrip said. “I haven’t pondered that, but Google or Apple would be cool. Those are two amazing brands, and NASCAR is an amazing brand. To see those worlds come together, I’d love that.”

Fox Sports TV commentator Mike Joy was quick to answer Jimmy’s question.

“Jimmy, my hope is a big consumer products company replaces Sprint,” Joy said. “It has to be somebody that markets to all of America with a big advertising budget so they can get the NASCAR Cup Series in front of everybody age 18 and up.”

Consensus now has it that only those in the upper levels of NASCAR know the progress of any title sponsor choice. It also appears all agree it must be a significantly large company, and many point to the technology and communication industries.

Perhaps many twists and turns will take place behind NASCAR marketing walls over the coming months, and none will likely make it to public view until the timing is proper. That’s fair. Seeking and selecting a title sponsor is no easy task, but NASCAR has the tools and the right people to attract and achieve.

It’s interesting to see this process unfold and to know what many top drivers, owners and TV reporters think about selecting a replacement for Sprint—a company that delivered, turn after turn. More turns are surely coming.

FYI WIRZ is the select presentation of topics by Dwight Drum at Racetake.com. Unless otherwise noted, information and all quotes were obtained firsthand or from official release materials provided by sanction and team representatives.

NASCAR owners Chip Ganassi and Roger Penske have a chance to create a Cinderella scenario if they can pull off the challenge issued by the Izod IndyCar Series.

Randy Bernard, CEO of IndyCar, recently announced by teleconference a $5 million challenge to any professional race car driver who does not compete in the Izod IndyCar Series.

The IndyCar sanctioning body will return to Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the Championship finale race of the series.

Any driver from another series, be it NASCAR, Formula 1, USAC or even Rally Car, who can win the final race will get $5 million.

The race will be held October 16th, following the Saturday night NASCAR Sprint Cup Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, which is part of the Chase.

Only two owners in NASCAR have heavy connections in the open-wheel series of IndyCar, Penske and Ganassi.

Bernard said, "We want to see the best drivers in the world that think they can drive an Indy car that wanted to give it a shot."

Testing would be provided at the Las Vegas track.  A selection committee would deal with the integrity of the drivers.

Finding a car might not be much of a problem.  The Championship finale will be the last time the current IndyCar chassis will be used.  There should be adequate completed cars available.

The marketing potential to find strong sponsorship for this crossover racing promotion could be quite strong.

A top-flight driver capable of taking on this challenge quite possibly could come from the top series of NASCAR.

Tony Stewart is a star in the open-wheel world.  He currently is the owner/driver of the No. 14 Chevy for Stewart Haas Racing in NASCAR, but he has a 1995 USAC Triple Crown title and 1997 IRL Championship to his credit in addition to Cup championships in 2002 and 2005.

Juan Pablo Montoya came from Formula 1 and CART with success in both series.  He currently drives the No. 42 Target car for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Bernard is a believer that all motorsports series need to work together for the benefit of each series.  He has communicated with Mike Helton and Brian France.  He hopes to have more communication and to work with NASCAR.

This IndyCar challenge is a bit more realistic than the previous $20 million offered to any NASCAR driver who could win the Indy 500 and Coke 600 at Charlotte the same day.

The possibilities of this challenge are fascinating regardless of who accepts it and what series they are from.

Is it possible Penske and/or Ganassi can showcase a NASCAR driver in the IndyCar Series for $5 million?

Daytona has always had this magical aura with stories surrounding the Daytona 500 that everybody loves to tell over and over. As we near closer to the Daytona 500, here is a look back through some of the highlighted moments in Daytona 500 history.

When it got near the end of the 2009 season, there was a lot in question with many drivers and teams.

Jamie McMurray had been let go from Roush-Fenway Racing as the odd man out when Roush had to downsize his team and he looking for a new ride.

Earnhardt-Ganassi had just lost Martin Truex Jr. to Michael Waltrip Racing and was now looking for a driver to go with sponsor Bass Pro Shops. Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing found themselves also in question with the status of the team after the merger between Chip Ganassi Racing and Dale Earnhardt Incorporated.

Both needed somebody and needed to turn their ship back upstream so they went to each other—Chip Ganassi called on Jamie McMurray to drive for the No. 1 car for him.

They had worked together already, as McMurray began his Sprint Cup career at with Ganassi in 2002. It was announced at Richmond that he’d drive the No. 42 Dodge for the 2003 season full-time, although after Sterling Marlin was injured at Kansas, those plans were accelerated. McMurray began driving the car at Talladega in 2002. They had success quickly together then, as in his second ever start, he led 96 of the final 100 laps to win the UAW-GM Quality 500.

The following seasons produced positive final standings finishes, as he finished 13th, 11th and 12th in points, despite zero wins. During this time, he accumulated 18 top fives and 46 top 10 finishes.

At the end of the 2005 season, McMurray left Chip Ganassi Racing to drive the No. 26 Roush-Fenway Ford, hoping for bigger results. Though in return, the point finishes weren’t there: He finished 25th, 17th, 16th and 22nd over the next four years with a total of 11 top fives and 42 top 10s.

He did manage to win two races (the 2007 Coke Zero 400 and the 2009 Amp Energy 500), but for the most part, the expected success wasn’t there.

As a result, the 2010 Daytona 500 became the perfect story for both McMurray and Ganassi, as it was the beginning of the second partnership. The race couldn’t had gone any better, as McMurray took the lead with a pass by Kevin Harvick on the second green-white-checkered after a big push from ex-teammate Greg Biffle. 

McMurray never looked back as he took the win over Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Greg Biffle.

When it came to McMurray’s victory celebration, he let all the emotions out that he had gone through during this time, as fans saw him fall to his knees in tears on the Daytona logo, followed by more tears in victory lane.

“Unbelievable,” McMurray said in victory lane in tears. “Unbelievable. I told my wife today, she was like if you win tonight…oh I am going to cry…it is so unreal. I thought if I made it without seeing my dad or my wife, I’d be ok. It is unbelievable really. I can’t explain it. It is a dream. I mean it really it is.

“Where I was last year…and for Johnny Morris (Bass Pro Shops) and Chip (Ganassi) and Felix (Sabates), Bass Pro Shops to take a chance on me and let me come back, it means a lot to me. What a way to pay them back. Happy Valentines Day to my wife. My Dad is here, it is just very emotional.

“After we won Talladega, we went to McDonald’s. I think tonight we will have a Big Mac.”

McMurray said earlier in the weekend that he was glad that he kept a good relationship with Ganassi and Sabates, since he was able to get this chance again.

With the Daytona 500 victory, he certainly proved he was worthy of a second chance and that their second time together could equal to lots of success.

McMurray’s dream season this past season didn’t just end with the Daytona 500, as he won the second biggest race of the year—the Brickyard 400, which gave Chip Ganassi the Indy sweep, as Dario Franchitti won the Indy 500 earlier in the year.

“I think it’s just a situation where you got to get the guys in the right position with the right crew chief and the right team and the right owner,” McMurray said following the Brickyard win. “I’ll tell you something that [team owner] Chip [Ganassi] said to me right before I got in the car. He said, ‘Let’s go out and do this thing.’ I said, ‘I’ll give you everything I got.’ He said, ‘I know, that’s why I hired you. I believe in you. You go out and do your best, that will be enough.’

“I think every driver is different, but for me that’s what drives me, is having somebody behind you. I think it’s been really good for both Chip and I to experience all of this together because we were together when things weren’t great and we kind of built this together along with the 1 team to where it is.”

McMurray then finished NASCAR’s version of the triple crown by winning in NASCAR Central, winning the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

“I also want to take the time to explain something: as the laps were winding down, I was thinking about Daytona and crying in victory lane,” McMurray said in victory lane at Charlotte. “I don’t think I ever really got to explain that, and why I cried, and what was going on there. As those laps were winding down I was thinking about Daytona and why I cry and the power of prayer. I had a tough year last year. I found out the power of prayer and what that can do for you.

“When you get to victory lane, and you get to experience this, it just makes you a believer. I talked to Chip earlier today, and we were discussing sponsorship and where this organization was a year ago, and how far we’ve come. 

“To be in victory lane four times this year, and to have both cars (teammate Juan Pablo Montoya) run as well as they do, and to have the support we do from Target and all these sponsors now, it’s incredible. And I just feel very blessed to be a part of it.”

As a whole, McMurray had one of the best seasons that any driver could have. One of the downsides is yes, he did miss the Chase, however, it still was a great year, considering how lost things were at the beginning.

“We’ve had a really good season,” McMurray said in the media center following his Charlotte win. “Our successes have been in some really big races, and it’s really been a gratifying year. You just drive your heart out. If you’ve got the car, you can make those passes, and we had the better car at the end.”

In the end, he finished the year off 14th in points, with three wins, nine top fives and 12 top 10s.

McMurray’s season allowed Ganassi to establish himself as a valid NASCAR owner by winning two of the biggest races in the sport. Ganassi also completed what he calls the “Ganassi Slam,” as his team won the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, giving him four of the biggest wins at the two of the biggest tracks in a 12-month span.

This story proves that anything is possible and when times get tough, there are ways to get through and make a positive at the end of the journey. The magical side of the emotions and how it played out go back to the Daytona’s Magical Aura of creating stories that fans will remember forever.

Well everybody kept their eyes focused on the race for the chase, Jamie McMurray stole the show, winning the Bank of America 300.

The 2010 season has been full of lots of big headlines and McMurray could be considered the biggest story of all.

Going into the 2010 season, McMurray didn't even know who he was going to drive for. Though the doors opened up as an old friend and past owner Chip Ganassi came calling, hiring McMurray to a one-year contract at Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing.

McMurray began his Sprint Cup career at Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing (then Chip Ganassi Racing) in 2002. It was announced at Richmond that he’d drive the No. 42 Dodge for the 2003 season full-time, although after Sterling Marlin was injured at Kansas, those plans were accelerated. McMurray began driving the car at Talladega in 2002.

In his second-ever start, he led 96 of the final 100 laps to win the 2000 Charlotte fall race at Charlotte, the UAW-GM Quality 500.

The following seasons produced positive final standings finishes as he finished 13th, 11th and 12th in points, despite zero wins. During this time, he accumulated 18 top fives and 46 top 10 finishes.

At the end of the 2005 season, McMurray left Chip Ganassi Racing to drive the No. 26 Roush-Fenway Ford, hoping for bigger results. Though in return, the point finishes weren’t there: He finished 25th 17th, 16th and 22nd over the next four years with a total of 11 top fives and 42 top 10s.

He did manage to win two races (2007 Coke Zero 400 and 2009 Amp Energy 500), but for the most part, the expected success wasn’t there.

All McMurray was hoping for his return to working with Chip Ganassi was to do well enough to prove that he could be a Cup driver.

Right out of the gate at Daytona, McMurray put forth proving this to be fact as he won the biggest race—the Daytona 500. The Daytona 500 victory lane celebration that McMurray showcased is one that will go down in the history books. His tears and how he kneeled down to the Daytona logo showcased the emotions of what the biggest race meant to him.

"Unbelievable,” McMurray said in victory lane in tears following the Daytona 500. “Unbelievable. I told my wife today, she was like if you win tonight....oh I am going to cry...it is so unreal. I thought if I made it without seeing my Dad or my wife, I'd be ok. It is unbelievable really. I can't explain it. It is a dream. I mean it really it is.

"Where I was last year...and for Johnny Morris (Bass Pro Shops) and Chip (Ganassi) and Felix (Sabates), Bass Pro Shops to take a chance on me and let me come back, it means a lot to me. What a way to pay them back. Happy Valentines Day to my wife. My Dad is here, it is just very emotional.

"After we won Talladega, we went to McDonald's. I think tonight we will have a Big Mac."

McMurray then continued the dream season by winning the second biggest race of the year—the Brickyard 400, which gave Chip Ganassi the Indy sweep as Dario Franchitti won the Indy 500 earlier in the year.

“I think it’s just a situation where you got to get the guys in the right position with the right crew chief and the right team and the right owner," McMurray said following the Brickyard win. "I’ll tell you something that [team owner] Chip [Ganassi] said to me right before I got in the car. He said, ‘Let’s go out and do this thing.’ I said, ‘I’ll give you everything I got.’ He said, ‘I know, that’s why I hired you. I believe in you. You go out and do your best, that will be enough.’

“I think every driver is different, but for me that’s what drives me, is having somebody behind you. I think it’s been really good for both Chip and I to experience all of this together because we were together when things weren’t great and we kind of built this together along with the 1 team to where it is."

The third chapter of the emotional dream season was written Saturday night as McMurray won the Bank of America 300, and in victory lane, more emotions were shown.

Once in victory lane, McMurray took over the victory lane interview right after Vince Welsh asked his first question, expressing his emotions.

"Our whole team is thinking about Shane Hmiel," McMurray said in victory lane. "He's recovering from a bad accident. I really wish Steve Hmiel (Shane's father) could have been here; he's a really key part of our team (as competition boss). We had a really good car there.

"I also want to take the time to explain something: as the laps were winding down, I was thinking about Daytona and crying in victory lane.  I don't think I ever really got to explain that, and why I cried, and what was going on there. As those laps were winding down I was thinking about Daytona and why I cry and the power of prayer. I had a tough year last year. I found out the power of prayer and what that can do for you.

"When you get to victory lane, and you get to experience this, it just makes you a believer. I talked to Chip earlier today, and we were discussing sponsorship and where this organization was a year ago, and how far we've come. 

"To be in victory lane four times this year, and to have both cars (teammate Juan Pablo Montoya) run as well as they do, and to have the support we do from Target and all these sponsors now, it's incredible. And I just feel very blessed to be a part of it."

A lot of people would be afraid to express their emotions or afraid to express some of their inner thoughts behind stuff, such as his "power of prayer" speech. However, McMurray took charge and opened up the doors for everybody to get to know him better.

There are those who were seen on Twitter afterwards critiquing what he did, though it all didn't matter as for that moment, McMurray had the floor and expressed what he felt should be expressed.

As a whole, McMurray has had one of the best seasons that any driver could have. One of the downsides is yes, he did miss the Chase, however, it's still a great year considering how it began.

"We've had a really good season," McMurray said in the media center. "Our successes have been in some really big races, and it's really been a gratifying year. You just drive your heart out. If you've got the car, you can make those passes, and we had the better car at the end."

McMurray's story proves that anything is possible and when times get tough, there are ways to get through and make a positive at the end of the journey.

As far as the power of prayer, that my friend is something we can also hold to our hearts as we all join together, the motorsports community, to pray that Shane Hmiel has a complete, full recovery after his injuries in a USAC crash.

Race day has come once again. On the schedule this week is the high-speed road course at Watkins Glen International.

Coming off a week where Greg Biffle got a much needed victory for himself, his team, and Roush-Fenway Racing, teammate Carl Edwards goes out and wins the pole. It's his first pole of the season, and first on a road course.

Meanwhile, a lot of the heavy favorites are starting near the front or in the middle of the pack. Juan Pablo Montoya will be starting in third, while Tony Stewart will roll off in the sixth spot.

Infineon winner Jimmie Johnson will roll off ninth, as he is looking to regain some momentum that he lost following his victory at New Hampshire.

There is also Marcos Ambrose, who still cannot get over his gaff at Infineon when he shut the car off saving fuel and it wouldn't restart. Yesterday, Ambrose got his third consecutive victory in the Nationwide Series at The Glen.

With him leaving JTG Daugherty at the end of the season, he is doing everything in his power to get a win for the Cup team.

Jeff Gordon is not only looking for his first win on the season, but he is also on baby alert. His wife, Ingrid, is set to deliver any day now, and it could happen during the race.

Should Gordon get the alert that his wife is in labor, he will turn the reins of the No. 24 Chevrolet to Scott Pruitt.

So many different contenders are in this race, and anything can happen. Yesterday a huge wreck early took out many good race cars. Last year at this race, another major wreck took out the likes of Gordon, Ambrose and others.

It's a wide open field and another unpredictable afternoon for NASCAR competition. Coverage will begin on ESPN at Noon ET with NASCAR Countdown.

CHECKERED FLAG: He hasn't won on an oval, but after his run at Indy and a disappointment at Pocono, Juan Pablo Montoya wins at Watkins Glen.

LAP 90: WHITE FLAG-Montoya begins his final lap around the Glen, Ambrose loses second place to Kurt Busch.

LAP 89: Two to go and Montoya is cruising around The Glen.

LAP 88: 4.8 seconds is the gap for Montoya.

LAP 86: Regan Smith has a tire down, possibly a track bar mount broken. Robby Gordon also smoking. No caution as the lead is now over five seconds.

Lap 84: Ambrose says he may have a tire issue, as the lead grows to over four seconds.

LAP 83: The lead for Montoya has grown to 3.5 seconds. He is holding his line and clicking off the laps. Ambrose continues to fall back, saying possibly he has a problem.

LAP 81: Montoya is slightly quicker than Ambrose as the laps wind down. Just over two seconds between the two.

LAP 75: Green flag. Montoya gets the lead again on the restart, Kurt Busch makes the jump to second entering the esses, pushing Ambrose to third.

LAP 72: Burton says he couldn't turn his car when Busch got underneath him entering the corner. He sent his apologies to the No. 48 team as he did not intend on that happening.

LAP 71: CAUTION FLAG No. 5-Jimmie Johnson goes for a spin in turn seven, and connects with the outside wall. Possible contact came from Jeff Burton or Kyle Busch. After making contact with the wall, Denny Hamlin collides with Johnson in the smoke.

Hamlin frustrated, saying drivers are "dive-bombing" into the corner.

LAP 70: Green Flag. Ambrose gets a great restart, but Montoya jumped way out on the lead.

It's getting to crunch time as there's only 21 laps remaining.

LAP 66: CAUTION FLAG No. 4-Boris Said and Tony Stewart get together entering the esses. Looks like Said was running the preferred line but crowded Stewart on the outside, actually causing the No. 14 to kick up some dirt.

Brian Pattie on Said's radio: "The 14 [car] dumped us."

Stewart to Darian Grubb: "If he's gonna crowd us like that, I'm gonna hold my line."

Lap 65: Green flag. Montoya and Ambrose once again bring the field to the restart.

Lap 62: CAUTION FLAG No. 3: Debris is on the race track in turn 7, which it appears to be a driveshaft cover. Clint Bowyer now goes behind the wall, as it is believed the debris came from his car.

LAP 59: Both Ambrose and Montoya pit. Montoya gets the job done and gets out in front.

Allmendinger, Edwards and Gordon are also in. Kahne, Johnson and Menard finish their stops.

Lap 57: The gap is down to about two car-lengths, and Ambrose is the faster of the two cars.

Sam Hornish and Clint Bowyer are on pit road for service, final pit stops for both cars. Brad Keselowski also in.

Lap 55: Ambrose is still running down Montoya, and is closing really quickly.

LAP 49: Martin Truex Jr. goes for a spin in turn one and had a big tire rub. Expecting him to pit to have the fender pulled out.

Ambrose is making his move back to the front as he is back around Kurt Busch for second.

LAP 45: Green Flag/LEAD CHANGE

Ambrose brought the field to green, but a three-wide battle in turn 1 ended with Montoya to the front. Ambrose fell back to the fourth spot, got passed by both Busch and Allmendinger. He radioed to the crew that he wheel-hopped entering the corner.

LAP 42: CAUTION FLAG No. 2-Bobby Labonte comes to a stop after spinning in the inner loop, meanwhile Brad Keselowski takes a spin out of turn five.

LAP 40: LEAD CHANGE-Marcos Ambrose uses good braking to get past Montoya in turn 1.

LAP 35: Incredible battle for the lead between Montoya and Ambrose, but Montoya holds him off at each corner.

LAP 30: Green Flag-Montoya and Ambrose lead the field to the restart, but Edwards get a good run and makes the pass to take over second.

Allmendinger also falls to fifth.

LAP 29: CAUTION FLAG No. 1/LEAD CHANGE-P.J. Jones is stopped on the track, and cannot get the car restarted.

The pit cycle was also completed and Montoya finds himself back out front with Ambrose in second and Edwards running third.

LAP 28: LEAD CHANGE-Matt Kenseth leads as Ambrose comes in for his service.

LAP 27: LEAD CHANGE-Ambrose takes over the lead when Montoya pits. Many top contenders also come in for service including Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick.

LAP 25: Green flag stops have begun. Boris Said, Sam Hornish, Kurt Busch and others on for service.

On the track, Marcos Ambrose has moved up to second as he passes A.J. Allmendinger.

LAP 23: Robby Gordon is reporting he's having a transmission problem. It appears he lost third gear, which is going to play havoc in many areas of the track, especially entering the bus stop and the right-hand turn 1.

LAP 20: Johnson now running 37th following his pit stop. Did have a left-rear tire with a slight cut.

Kyle Busch also making great progress as he's now up to 18th.

LAP 15: One car moving up, one car moving back. Marcos Ambrose goes up to fourth after passing Edwards. Meanwhile, Jimmie Johnson falling back as he lost three spots in a lap, now running 15th.

Johnson decides to hit pit road because he feels he has a tire going down. Also, Scott Speed is behind the wall, saying there's a gearbox issue.

LAP 12: Kyle Busch making huge progress as he's up to 25th, however he is saying his throttle cable is sticking. Could become a huge problem later.

LAP 6: LEAD CHANGE-Montoya is able to make the pass around his teammate entering the bus stop. McMurray falls to third after being passed by A.J. Allmendinger

LAP 5: McMurray now getting a challenge from teammate Juan Pablo Montoya for the lead. Elliott Sadler makes a pit stop for fuel early, possibly having some handling issues in the No. 19.

LAP 4: Kyle Busch gaining back some positions, running 35th. Was not happy with the crew on the radio before the green flag.

LAP 1:  Lead Change-Jamie McMurray goes to the front, Carl Edwards falls to fourth.

1:25 PM: Green flag is in the air.

1:22 PM: Kyle Busch is on pit road, says some of the lead used to make minimum weight in the car is loose. His team got the issue fixed, however he loses his 10th-place starting spot and not must start shotgun on the field.

1:14 PM: Cars are rolling on the track.

1:08 PM: Scott Blake, Senior Vice President of operations forHeluva Good! gives the command to fire engines.

1:01 PM: Bo Bice sings the National Anthem.

1:00 PM: Rev. Dave Fife provides today's invocation.

12:46 PM: All-Access with Richard Childress from Pocono.

12:37 PM: Jimmie Johnson says his team came in confident as they won at Infineon Raceway, but they actually didn't have a good car when they arrived at Watkins Glen.

He's hoping Chad Knaus and his team made the right changes for today's race.

12:25 PM: Jeff Gordon talks about how fatherhood has changed his racing career, and whether he will be retiring anytime soon.

According to Jeff, he doesn't plan on stepping out of the car the next few years.

12:13 PM: Elliott Sadler speaks of his wreck at Pocono last week. However, he is feeling extremely good today. Sore early in the week, but took advice from his doctors and others and is ready to go racing.

He will start 38th today.

12:07 PM: Pole-sitter Carl Edwards interviewed, saying key early is to stay out front. Also talks about how well the Roush-Fenway organization has done the last few weeks.

12:00 PM: NASCAR Countdown begins on ESPN. It is an absolutely perfect race day at Watkins Glen, with teh sun shining and not a cloud in the sky.

After blowing today’s race, and in my opinion the second Brickyard 400 win in as many years, it may be the perfect time for Brian Pattie to move on. His time with the No. 42 team should be over.

The No. 42 team once again had the best car, and once again Brain Pattie's inability to take control of the his team costs him a great win. Brian makes the wrong decision.

The four tire strategy was a disaster!

Can we agree with that?

I just don’t get it, just about everybody in the top 10 made the “two tire” decision. Brian Pattie had the best car in the field, at times he had a three second lead, that’s over three seconds folks, do you realize how many laps a car needs to gain three seconds at a 10th a lap?

One heck of a long time!

Why did No. 42 need four tires? Who knows!

Especially when you've got such a dominant car, even if everybody else would have taken four, why not take the chance and keep Montoya up front with two, he could have quickly (as he had all day) taken a two- or three-second lead with under 20 laps to go.

A two-second lead folks! Even with no tires that would have been a hard car to beat.

Maybe Brian was expecting 10 cautions in the last 20 laps, that did not happen.

By the way, did you notice were most the two tire cars ended up? Up front!

Montoya’s confidence in his crew chief has to be shaken, not a good thing if Ganassi plans to keep this team together.

Juan’s walk to the hauler told the whole story: he was not a happy camper, the fact he drove his race car back to the garage and parked it rather than try to pit and finish also told a story.

Montoya was hot, I would be very surprised if something doesn’t go down before next race.

Before some of you say, “Well, he hit the wall,” let me just say this: that was just complete frustration by Montoya after seeing a great effort thrown out the window by his crew chief.

I’m not a big Brian Pattie fan. I thought Ganassi should have found someone with more experience in the cup series. Brian seams to be learning his trade at Montoya’s expense.

Just saying.

It’s time for the No. 42 team to get ready for the 2011 season. The next 16 races should be practice for next year, EGR should make the changes needed to move forward.

Brian Pattie should go.

As always this is just a fan's opinion (today an angry one) and from what I understand everybody has one and I thank God for that.

Enough said!

Much will be said over the following few weeks about how Jamie McMurray has become NASCAR’s new superstar. From having a mediocre few seasons with Roush-Fenway Racing, where he only won twice, to not having a job this time last season.

Now he’s won two of NASCAR’s biggest races in the same season, the Daytona 500 and the Brickyard 400 with Chip Ganassi. It would appear that Ganassi has been the saving grace for McMurray as his career has suddenly taken off and his job security should no longer be in question.

What many are questioning, or maybe not after Sunday, is how the No. 1 team that was once driven by Martin Truex Jr. has suddenly become a front running team and big winners in NASCAR. It’s a complete turnaround to where the team and new driver once were.

To recap, a year ago it was announced that Truex would be leaving Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing for Michael-Waltrip Racing. In came McMurray who many felt had a lot of pressure on his shoulders to show that he could be a weekly contender in the sport. The Daytona 500 came as did the win and everyone was congratulating McMurray on his comeback.

That included Truex who was happy to see his former team accomplish such a great feat.

Now that they’ve won another big race, one can only wonder if he again feels the same way. His former team has now not only won more races than he has, but has won the biggest races there are.

Truex began his Sprint Cup career in the No. 1 car back in 2006, after Dale Earnhardt Jr., who also drove for then Dale Earnhardt Inc, spotted him. Earnhardt Jr. gave him a ride in the Nationwide Series where he won back-to-back titles before he was moved up to the cup. The team finished 19th in points their rookie year.

A year later, 2007, Truex and the team won their first career race at Dover, and made the Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship. Winning a race, check; making the Chase, check; and finishing 11th in points, check. Things were looking up.

After Earnhardt Jr. left following 2007, things began to get weird around the organization. Truex and his team never won a race in 2008, finished 15th in points and prepared for the merger with Ganassi in 2009.

When Montoya came over and started show the world that he could be a true NASCAR driver, by making the Chase and contending for numerous wins, the No. 1 team still lagged behind. Montoya finished eighth in points and Truex Jr. was 23rd.

He wasn’t happy with the performance of his Bass Pro Shops team and felt he was second fiddle to new teammate Juan Pablo Montoya.

Truex made the decision to head to MWR, a company that was starting to come show their strength. Fast cars and a great partnership with NAPA Auto Parts drew in the New Jersey native.

He may be happier and fit in better with MWR, as McMurray feels happier and fits in better at EGR and he did at Roush, but the results aren’t what they could be. McMurray is reaping the rewards and shooting to the top of the sport, as Truex looks on.

When going to the racetrack each weekend, race fans never thought of the No. 1 team as those to contend with. In 2010, however, they have been up front and right in the thick of things on more than one occasion.

In 20 starts there are two wins, three poles, six top fives, and seven top 10s. It might be a long shot for the team to make the 2010 Chase, they’re 151 points out of 12th with six races remaining, but at this point that might be icing on the cake.

Races they haven’t won, they’ve come close. He was second at Talladega, and second in another big race, the Southern 500 at Darlington. And don’t forget how close he came to winning the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte, the same day that Ganassi won the Indy 500.

Things are clicking and this team has all the right pieces in place to continually surprise everyone in the NASCAR world. When the big money is on the line, McMurray has become the go-to guy.

Is it the driver or is it the equipment? What has made McMurray excel with the No. 1 team and leave many forgetting about how used to drive that car?

Truex certainly isn’t a slouch and had his share of success while aboard, but 2010 has changed the lives of McMurray and Bass Pro Shops team led by Kevin “Bono” Manion.  

Sometimes it’s just amazing how things work out, but for the No. 1 team and McMurray, what a roller coaster it has been. And who wouldn’t love to be on a roller coaster that leads you to victory lane at the Daytona 500 and now the Brickyard 400?

Much like parents, who welcome their children back home with open arms when they return to the nest, Chip Ganassi and team partner Felix Sabates had to be elated when old driver Jamie McMurray decided to come back to their organization.

Although there weren't tears, hugs, and a few "I miss you" moments in their reunion, the two parties realized what their capabilities were once their plans were set in stone. 

And has it ever been set in stone, quite literally when McMurray's fingerprints, shoe marks and signature were immortalized for the Daytona 500 Experience's "Walk of Fame," all in commemoration of the No. 1 team's triumph in "The Great American Race" this past Sunday.

That win was significant, considering that McMurray wasn't sure of his 2010 plans back in August. Also, Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing lacked a driver for sponsor Bass Pro Shops, with long time lead-footer Martin Truex Jr. bolting to Michael Waltrip Racing.

Putting two and two together, the combination made sense. However, Bass Pro Shops wasn't too keen about McMurray blending in as the "appropriate" spokesperson for their stores, which cater to hunters and the great outdoors.

Risks be damned, the payoff has started off right off the get-go for both entities.

His crew chief may be different, the car number's not the same, and the cars are now under the Chevrolet banner.

Also, their cars have a tremendous powerplant with cooperation from Richard Childress's team, greatly improving the performances of this once fledgling organization.

Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing still has some work to do in trying to dethrone the Hendrick Motorsports dominance that's been established since the "Jimmie Johnson Era" in the Sprint Cup Series.

However, what it lacks in numbers, it makes up for with dedication, perseverance and aggression.

Juan Pablo Montoya earned one of the dubious, yet honorable titles in all of sports as "most improved" racer of 2009, emerging as a dependable finisher to a consistent front-runner in NASCAR.

Consistency and his hard-charging driving style propelled his No. 42 Target Chevy Impala efforts with an eighth-place finish in the championship chase.

This team has improved in about every aspect of its game, with two steely-eyed racers who will do whatever it takes to win. It has the cars to help its racers compete with the leaders on a weekly basis and a pair of crew chiefs who keep their team and driver at peak performance mode.

Kevin "Bono" Manion has been a part of the No. 1 team virtually since its inception in the Cup ranks in 2006. He's a present-day equivalent to Robin Pemberton, keeping his crew and driver fired up as well as constantly reminding his racer to stay calm during key moments of a race.

His leadership ethics are a perfect suit to McMurray, who needs that "football coach" presence atop the pit box.

The same can be said with Brian Pattie, who spearheads the efforts of Montoya's No. 42 group. Unlike past crew chiefs, he has not been afraid to assert his place as the leader of the team, credited as the man behind Montoya's new outlook with NASCAR.

Prior to his arrival with the Target team, JPM was like Cole Trickle, using his car all up before it was time to truly go for wins or the best position by race's end. How many times did we see a junked-up, torn car from the No. 42 camp prior to 2009?

Pattie urged his driver to save his equipment as well as going for the best position possible, not for wins if it is not in sight for the team. As a result, we saw a different Juan Pablo Montoya, who got his lion's share of top-fives and top-10's. 

Probably the only occasion when Montoya blew up at his team and at NASCAR officials was at last year's Brickyard 400, where a pit-road speeding violation cost the Colombian his elusive second career victory. Not surprisingly, the 2007 Rookie of the Year felt that the officials "stole" the race away from him.

Otherwise, we saw a rejuvenated and inspired effort from Chip Ganassi's stock car investment. His group had suffered some setback following the failed experiments in Dario Franchitti, David Stremme, and Reed Sorenson.

While each were capable racers, the combination between driver and team was incompatible for success under the Ganassi and Sabates formula.

Scrappy racers like McMurray and Montoya know their team's system very well, having driven for the organization at various points in their careers.

JPM once drove their Champ Car for two seasons in 1999 and 2000, winning the title in his rookie campaign and placing ninth in his prelude season to a tumultuous F1 career.

McMurray was a Ganassi racer for a trio of seasons, which was mired with mixed results and a single victory which hyped the pride of Joplin, Mo., as an instant motorsports star. Grabbing that second win turned out to be quite the crusade for the '03 Rookie winner, who wouldn't reach Victory Lane again until 2007.

Both racers' careers were in doubt as far as finding a legit, winning team, seemingly unable to find the combination that paved to super speedway-sized success. Their prayers and wishes were answered by re-joining their "families," and 2010 is shaping up to be their best season yet.

Following last Sunday's Daytona 500 victory, fans wondered if it was sheer dumb luck or the beginning of consistent runs and finishes for McMurray. Friday's qualifying session answered those uncertainties with a loud affirmation.

EGR's racers own the front row for Sunday's Auto Club 500 at Fontana, Calif., with McMurray and Montoya leading the 43-car field for a pivotal race which often receives the label as the "first true test" of the Cup season.

Restrictor plates are no longer the name of the game, with horsepower, handling, and fuel mileage dictating who wins and loses this event.

Who knows?

It might be yet another Hendrick Motorsports' display of dominance, as they have been the top team since 2006.

Perhaps Roush-Fenway Racing will edge out the Bowtie's leading contingency, with Greg Biffle or Carl Edwards racing their Fusions into Victory Lane. Auto Club Speedway's sister track in Brooklyn, Mich., is often labeled as "The House of Roush."

However, expect a pair of Chevrolet Impala machines to announce their presence, with a couple of "good ol' boys" who don't mean any harm. Instead, they just want to cure their fever...with another trip to the winner's circle.

That is where EGR's cars, drivers, and crew truly belong and feel most at home.