Taking over the duty of your childhood legend can always be titillating. It was for Jamie McMurray as well 22 years ago. He is mainly known for his microphone duties on FOX Sports, and in 2025, he was in the CW booth. Yet once upon a time, McMurray was known for emitting brilliance on the wheel. And his big break into the Cup Series involved dramatically crossing his fears.

Jamie McMurray ended his career in 2018 with 7 Cup Series wins, 63 top-five finishes, and 168 top-10 finishes. But as jaw-dropping as his stats seem, acquiring them was by no means easy. McMurray recounted his first year of experience in NASCAR’s top level, which involved filling the shoes of a seasoned veteran.

When Jamie McMurray bit his nails

Sterling Marlin kicked off his NASCAR career with a 1983 Rookie of the Y

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