McMurray seeks Busch Series consistency

His emergence on the 2000 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series scene was swift: In only 16 starts, Jamie McMurray collected one top-five and four top-10 finishes.

	Jamie McMurray

"I was on top of the world back then," said McMurray, who also won two NCTS poles during the 2000 campaign. "Everything was coming so easy for me."

McMurray's performance caught the attention of NASCAR Busch Grand National Series owner Clarence Brewer.

Brewer was in search of a driver for 2001 when Casey Atwood departed for the Winston Cup ranks and he tabbed McMurray to get behind the wheel of his No. 27 Williams Travel Centers Chevrolet.

McMurray's rookie BGN campaign was decent as he placed 16th in the points chase and had three top-10 outings.

Still, the experience was an emotional roller-coaster for the Joplin, Mo., native.

"Last year, was my first with any team for a full season," said McMurray, who is 25. "My learning curve was pretty big and on top of that I was trying to adapt to the schedule and not being at home. Racing is my life, but still it was hard getting used to all the demands of a full Busch season. Then, when we weren't getting good finishes. I was getting really down on myself and depressed."

Searching for answers to improve his mental state in the offseason, McMurray enrolled in a Human Performance Group session in Huntersville, N.C.

"I wasn't really sure what to expect when I signed up," McMurray said. "But it turned out to be an intense two-day school with one-on-one sessions with instructors. And while I was there, my instructors taught me how to stay focused with positive energy and just do my best. Those two days at the Human Performance Group have really helped me keep everything in perspective."

McMurray's main focus this week is channeling his energy to win the Auto Club 300 Saturday at California Speedway.

"We didn't have a good run at California (Speedway) last year," McMurray said. "But, we have a learned a lot since last season and I am hopeful that we can have a good performance come Saturday."

McMurray was quick to admit that he enjoys having Busch veteran Jeff Purvis, a four-time winner in the series, as his teammate. Purvis, who has been competing in the BGN Series in some capacity since 1989, is driving the No. 37 Timber Wolf Chevrolet.

"Jeff is a totally different teammate than Kevin Grubb (who drove the No. 37 entry last season)," said McMurray. "But, I also feel like Jeff has been very supportive of me and he has really helped make me a better driver."

Purvis won the rain-shortened O'Reilly 300 earlier this month at Texas Motor Speedway.

As for McMurray, he would love to get his own taste of Victory Lane sometime soon, but he is not pressing the issue.

"I want to win every race I am in," McMurray said. "But at the same time I have learned that if I don't have a car that is going to win a race, I need to focus on keeping us in the top 10.

If we can maintain some consistency, the 10 and top five finishes will come and we will get a win. As for season goals, I would love for us to be in the top 10 in points, and I am just going to give 100 percent and see what happens."