McMurray tries to keep team engaged in Chase

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Jamie McMurray fell agonizingly short of qualifying for NASCAR's playoffs last season, missing out on a spot in the Chase for the Championship by 15 points.

His entire team believes that if McMurray had made it in, the Joplin, Mo., native might have won the title.

Determined not to be shut out again this season, McMurray's challenge is a lot tougher this time around. Aside from his on-track battles, McMurray must fight the perception that his Chip Ganassi Racing team will treat him like a lame duck because he already has announced plans to leave for Roush Racing.

"Obviously the first couple of weeks it was pretty tough, but I told [the team] what the situation was and told them I wouldn't give up," said McMurray, "and I told them I didn't want them to give up on me."

McMurray is the first to acknowledge crew members were stunned and even hurt when they learned he had signed to drive for Roush in 2007. It didn't help when he said publicly that he'd prefer to get out of his current contract early so he can start his new job next season.

But with owner Chip Ganassi steadfast in his refusal to let McMurray out of his deal, McMurray now is concentrating on keeping his team focused on getting into the Chase.

"Sure there were some hurt feelings in the beginning, and I think maybe that's because a lot of us think we're a better team than the group he is headed to," crew chief Donnie Wingo said. "But we get paid to win races and there's no point in not giving it everything we've got."

McMurray is clinging to the ninth spot in the standings, from which the top 10 drivers in points are assured of a spot in NASCAR's 10-race playoff format.

Needing to race his way in last year, McMurray finished in the top 10 in the same four events. He still fell short, missing the Chase by just 15 points, and it was all he and his crew could do not to blame each another for a 25-point penalty the team received earlier in the season for presenting a car that didn't meet NASCAR's templates.

Although not eligible to win the Nextel Cup championship, McMurray notched eight top-10 finishes in the final 10 events -- strong enough that he would have been in the title hunt in the season finale.

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Driver standings

1. Tony Stewart 3,113

2. Jimmie Johnson 3,008

3. Greg Biffle 2,861

4. Rusty Wallace 2,855

5. Mark Martin 2,782

6. Kurt Busch 2,692

7. Jeremy Mayfield 2,684

8. Ryan Newman 2,646

9. Jamie McMurray 2,599

10. Carl Edwards 2,593

11. Elliott Sadler 2,590

(tie) Dale Jarrett 2,590

13. Jeff Gordon 2,526

14. Kevin Harvick 2,523

15. D. Earnhardt Jr. 2,430

16. Matt Kenseth 2,428

17. Joe Nemechek 2,386

18. Brian Vickers 2,349

19. Kasey Kahne 2,324

20. Kyle Busch 2,290