Full Throttle

Let the game of musical drivers seats continue:

Roush Racing announced today that it has signed Jamie McMurray to a multi-year contract to drive its No. 6 NASCAR Nextel Cup entry commencing with the 2007 season.

Nearly simultainously we get this from McMurray’s future former employer Chip Gannasi:

Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates announced today that it will part ways with driver Jamie McMurray following the 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season.

“Jamie’s made a decision to go in another direction after we’ve both fulfilled the commitment that we made to each other in 2002,” said team owner Chip Ganassi. “We didn’t do a good job of conveying to Jamie where this team is headed, but we expect a lot of success with Jamie the rest of this year and next year, and we wish him the best in his future endeavors beyond that.”

Yea right. If Ganassi didn’t make a point of successfully communicating with McMurray until now, just how much will he or McMurray be talking now that he’s a lame duck.

The next move is predictable, Roush will buy out the Gannasi/McMurray contract for 2006. The Roush organization is too successful to name a driver for the #6 for a single year. With the Viagra contract for that ride due to expire after this year that scenario would impact signing a new primary sponsor. Jack didn’t become a dominate force in NASCAR by compromising on track or off and he won’t this time.