McMurray: ‘Thankful I’m safe’ after Daytona 500 crashes

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Jamie McMurray will close out his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series with a 22nd-place finish in the season-opening Daytona 500.

McMurray, who led six laps in Sunday’s race, sustained damage in a three-car crash on lap 49 involving Kurt Busch and Bubba Wallace.

McMurray finished Stage 1 in 35th and Stage 2 in 28th in his Spire Motorsports No. 40 Chevrolet. He ultimately crashed out of the race.

“I’m thrilled I made it as long as I did,” McMurray said. “I made it through two or three wrecks I should have been in and didn’t get torn up. It is just part of it. It is what it is and I’m just thankful I’m safe.”

Had McMurray won the Daytona 500 in his final start, he would have become the third driver in NASCAR Cup Series history to win in their final race.

McMurray has competed in every MENCS race since Atlanta in October 2002, or 581 consecutive premier series races.

McMurray will close his Cup Series career with 583 starts, 7 wins, 63 top-five finishes, 168 top-10 finishes and 3 playoff appearances. The 43-year-old driver won the 2010 Daytona 500.