Sprint Cup- Jamie McMurray Breaks Losing Streak in Talladega

The 2009 season of the Sprint Cup Nascar Series saw its 33rd event of the year last Sunday at the Talladega Superspeedway. The race was marked by trouble even before the first checkered flag fell; the Nascar regulatory authorities had already reviewed several safety rules in order to avoid any accidents. Drives were exhorted to avoid passing during cornering, a rule already in place that received greater emphasis. The regulation was intended to minimize the risk of accidents, which already had increased in likelihood from the downpour that had soaked the track on the previous day. Despite the security standards imposed by regulators, several accidents provided steady interruptions in the last laps of the race. Initially, many of the pilots did their best to maintain order. In the process, however, the race lost some of the thrill that moved the crowd. As the other drivers moved slowly, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was able to advance skillfully to the top position for most of the race; at the same time, other drivers, including David Stremme, Matt Kenseth, and Casey Mears – none of whom were in the group of 12 pilots in the Chase for the Sprint Cup – also managed to shine. The surprise winner of the race, however, was Jamie McMurray, who claimed the victory after overcoming the repeated restarts. McMurray began at 22nd from pole, and lap after lap, began his slow ascent up the ranks. With only 25 laps left of the 191 scheduled, the pace of the race suddenly changed. The pilots, who prior had been displaying caution in their progression, began to show a bit more aggressiveness. The change in pace was contagious, and as drivers revved their engines, the crowd got interested. With only 5 laps to go before the end, the first major accident occurred. Ryan Newman was its initiator as well as the worst victim; although Newman left the race unscathed, his car, which had been launched, twisting, into the air before falling into the center of the track, was left in pieces. The accident caused a delay that lasted nearly 20 minutes, the time it took for security to staff to help Newman get out of the car. The red flag was maintained for the two laps following. Once the race resumed, there were only 3 laps remaining. However, during the final lap, there was another disruption: a similar crash left several of the pilots affected. The accident was also an opportunity for McMurray, the driver of the #26 Ford Fusion. With great skill and a deft hand, McMurray was able to maneuver around the other drivers, including Mark Martin, who was involved in the accident. Determined to take the final victory, the Roush Femway Racing driver accelerated to cross the finish line in first place, followed by Kasey Kahne in second and Joey Logano in third. With the win, the third of his Sprint Cup career, McMurray broke his 86-race losing streak and rediscovered the sweet taste of victory.