Welcome to Heartland Motorsports.com                                                                                                                           Welcome to Heartland Motorsports.com

Former I-44 Speedway Champion, Now Daytona 500 Champion!
by: Brennon Willard

LEBANON, MO (February 15) - Jamie McMurray’s résumé already included a World Karting Championship, I-44 Speedway Track Championship, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Poles, NASCAR Nationwide Series wins, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series wins at Lowes Motor Speedway, Daytona, and Talladega, along with the 2003 Raybestos Rookie of the Year title in the Sprint Cup Series.  That impressive résumé will now follow behind the headline 2010 Daytona 500 Champion.

Jamie started racing at I-44 Speedway in the early 90’s in both the Modified and LateModel divisions at the ripe old age of 16. McMurray was always very smooth on the wheel and very easy on his equipment, two great qualities which quickly caught the eye of track owner Bill Willard. Willard became so impressed with McMurray that he convinced his son David to put him into his car for the 1997 season. McMurray wouldn’t disappoint and quickly started battling door handle to door handle with the Legendary Larry Phillips every week. McMurray quickly became a crowd favorite as everyone was either rooting for “The Black Rooster” (McMurray) or Mr. Fast (Phillips) each week. The points battle would go down to the wire with McMurray’s consistency paying off as he held off the 5 time and defending NASCAR Weekly Racing Series National Champion to win the track championship and finish 4^th in the NASCAR Region.

McMurray would step up to the NASCAR ReMax Challenge Series (formally ARTGO) the following two seasons having good consistent runs but not breaking into victory lane. The conflicting races with the touring series kept Jamie from defending his track championship in 1998, but yet didn’t keep him out of victory lane, as he would visit it several times throughout the years.  McMurray’s smooth driving ability that caught Willard’s eye also caught the eye of NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team owner Mike MIttler who put him in his truck for several starts and the rest was history!

There have been several track champions go on to become NASCAR Superstars including; Mike Wallace, Carl Edwards and the late Tony Roper.  Lebanon’s Tony Jackson Jr. has won multiple track championships on the high banks of the Lebanon I-44 Speedway and will make his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut in Martinsville this March! With the race track going back pavement this year, this could open up the door for others to follow in the previous track champion’s footsteps!

Track renovation is still ongoing at the speedway with opening night scheduled for Saturday May 15. The first practice will be held on May 1 with another practice scheduled for May 8. For rules and other information, including a complete schedule go to www.i44speedway.net, or call the track at (417)532-206