McMurray lands Daytona 500 ride with Spire

Jamie McMurray will compete in the Daytona 500 in the No. 40 Chevrolet.

Spire Motorsports will field the car in partnership with Chip Ganassi Racing for the 2010 Daytona 500 champion. McMurray will be locked into the race via a charter while sporting sponsorship from Bass Pro Shops, McDonald’s and Cessna.

“The Daytona 500 is the one race that every NASCAR driver would want to win,” McMurray said. “For the rest of your life, you get to be introduced or recognized as a Daytona 500 champion. I’m excited to have the opportunity to potentially be a two-time winner of the race, and it would mean so much to celebrate one more win with all of the great partners that have been with me for so many years.”

McMurray’s 17th start in the Daytona 500 could also potentially be his final in NASCAR. Chip Ganassi has replaced McMurray in the No. 1 with Kurt Busch beginning this season, and last month McMurray announced he would be joining FOX broadcast team as an analyst.

Substituting for the injured Sterling Marlin in 2002, McMurry made his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series debut in the No. 40. In 582 starts, he has seven career wins.

Spire is a newly-formed team that purchased its charter from the now-defunct Furniture Row Racing.