January 19, 2021 | By Lee Spencer

Jamie McMurray returns for one-off with Spire Motorsports in the Great American Race

After two years on the sidelines, Jamie McMurray is reuniting with Spire Motorsports and Advent Health for the Great American Race.

The Joplin, Mo. native, who transitioned to the TV booth with FOX Sports following 16 full seasons in Cup, will pilot the No. 77 Chevrolet in his 18th appearance in the Daytona 500. Kevin Bellicourt will be his crew chief.

McMurray, 44, won the 2010 Daytona 500—11 years to the day of this year’s scheduled event. Now, he’s looking for his second Harley J. Earl trophy.

“It doesn’t get any better than the Daytona 500,” McMurray said. “I am so excited to have the opportunity, thanks to AdventHealth, to run this race one more time. I have enjoyed my time out of the car as an analyst covering NASCAR, but nothing can replace the feeling of actually racing.

“And it’s great to be partnering with a company like AdventHealth for this race. We share a lot of the same goals about health and fitness, and I’m looking forward to using this opportunity to talk to race fans about the importance of staying healthy and feeling whole.”

In 33 starts at the Birthplace of Speed, McMurray scored two wins, three top fives and 10 top 10s. He originally debuted the AdventHealth livery on his No. 1 Ganassi Racing Chevrolet for the 2019 Clash at Daytona. For the 63rd running of the Daytona 500, McMurray will wear a heart-rate monitor and provide updates throughout the race in conjunction with American Heart Month.

“We have enjoyed a wonderful relationship over the years with Jamie, who is so well-respected as a person and a driver, and it is exciting to see him return to racing,” said David Banks, AdventHealth Chief Strategy and Organizational Transformation Officer.

“The Daytona 500 is one of the premier events in all of sports and having the AdventHealth car on the track for this iconic race with Jamie behind the wheel is truly special.”

McMurray earned seven wins, 11 poles, 63 top fives and 168 top 10s in 583 career Cup starts.