Could @JamieMcMurray and the No. 1 Chip Ganassi Racing team be a surprise contender for the Sprint Cup Series championship this season?

It seems a little premature to project them as a viable threat in Matt McCall’s first season as a crew chief but it doesn’t seem that far-fetched once you consider the amount of experience and pure talent across the entire Ganassi organization.

He of the frosted tips (McMurray) has obvious credentials, having won in just his second career Sprint Cup Series start, at Charlotte, back in 2002, also having earned eight career victories that include the Daytona 500, Brickyard 400 and Sprint All-Star Race.

As a whole, Chip Ganassi Racing has the look of a breakout contender this year.

Following a slow start to 2014, both McMurray and wunderkind teammate Kyle Larson rebounded to make a second half surge towards the Chase for the Championship. While neither team made the playoff, they excelled within the 10-race stretch, with the duo combining for 10 top-10s in 20 combined starts.

If momentum is a real thing, Team Ganassi and his merry men have it in abundance.

McCall is largely unproven as a crew chief but is considered one of the most gifted engineers in the entire garage. He also has an understanding of what his driver needs on a weekly basis as he is the winner of over 50 Late Model Stock races and has made starts in both the NASCAR XFINITY Series and Camping World Truck Series.

McCall was so well thought of at Richard Childress Racing, that the team unsuccessfully sued Ganassi in the efforts to prevent him from leaving.

Most of the headlines surrounding Ganassi have been over Larson and his great potential to be the superstar of NASCAR’s next generation. All things equal. McMurray will not have to grow into the role. He is already a veteran of 12 seasons, allowing him to fly under the radar of his highly touted teammate.

It almost seems like observers of the sport have forgotten about McMurray. It wasn’t that long ago that the Missouri-native was considered a top prospect and hired away from Ganassi to be the cornerstone of the future at Roush Fenway Racing.

While the 38-year-old was unable to reach his expected potential, he does have victories in some of the toughest races in NASCAR. Ganassi hit on something late last season. If they are able to build on that foundation, don’t be surprised to see McMurray win win multiple races and lead the team towards the Championship Four.

In 2015, No. 1 may finally return to the top of the charts in the Sprint Cup Series.

EMAIL MATT AT matt.weaver@popularspeed.com

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