CUP: McMurray, Harvick Top List Of Most Surprising Drivers

Sprint Cup

CUP: McMurray, Harvick Top List Of Most Surprising Drivers

Jamie McMurray and Kevin Harvick were chief among those who bounced back big in 2010...

Jeff Owens | http://www.scenedaily.com | Posted December 08, 2010 Charlotte, NC

Jamie McMurray (1) and Kevin Harvick (29) combined for six wins in 2010. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

There are always some drivers and teams that seemingly rise up out of nowhere, producing surprising performances and upset victories.

Such was the case again in 2010, but the drivers that produced those surprises weren’t exactly shocking. In most cases, they were drivers that had won before, but had struggled a bit in recent years.

But in 2010, some of them bounced back in a big way.

Here’s a look at the biggest surprises in 2010:

Jamie McMurray

At the end of the 2009 season, no one was more down in the dumps than McMurray, who had been released by Roush Fenway Racing and didn’t have a ride until former team owner Chip Ganassi came to the rescue, bringing him back to his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series organization.

Sparked by what he called a more comfortable situation with his old team owner, McMurray had a breakout season to rival all breakout seasons.

With three career victories prior to 2010, McMurray was known as a capable but inconsistent driver who struggled with his confidence. He put those issues to rest in the very first race, scoring a dramatic and emotional victory in the Daytona 500.

After stumbling in the next several races, the Earnhardt Ganassi Racing driver proved his Daytona magic was no fluke, taking runnerup finishes at Talladega, Darlington and Charlotte.

Then the revived McMurray struck again, winning at Indy in the year’s second-biggest race, giving Ganassi a sweep at the Brickyard (his IndyCar team won the Indy 500) and a rare NASCAR sweep of the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400.

When McMurray won again at Charlotte in October, his status as a legitimate threat and a rising star was cemented.

Though McMurray didn’t make the Chase and his team was too inconsistent throughout the season, his career-high three wins made him one of the stars of 2010.

Kevin Harvick

After finishing 19th in points and going winless for the second straight season last year, Kevin Harvick was expected to improve with a revamped Richard Childress Racing. But no one could have predicted the resurgence Harvick and his No. 29 team would experience in 2010.

With all three RCR teams running better, Harvick was the biggest beneficiary, enjoying perhaps the best Sprint Cup season of his career.

Kevin Harvick led RCR's resurgence this past season. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

Harvick nearly won the Daytona 500 and then set out on a stretch of consistency that allowed him to lead the points standings most of the regular season. Along the way, he won three races, scoring at Talladega, Daytona in July and Michigan.

Having won just one race in his past three seasons, Harvick’s three victories were a testament to just how strong his team had become.

With remarkable consistency, he was a favorite entering the Chase and did not disappoint, challenging until the very end to finish a career-best third in the final standings.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jeff Owens

SceneDaily.com

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