Jamie McMurray may not be the most prominent voice in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series garage, but he has certainly left his mark on the sport’s highest level.

In fact, McMurray could be called the modern day “Master of the Majors” at the Cup Series level, having won several of NASCAR’s most prestigious events over his 17-year career.

A native of Joplin, Mo., McMurray’s Cup Series career began suddenly in 2002 when he was tabbed to take over the wheel of Chip Ganassi Racing’s iconic No. 40 Coors Light Dodge after regular driver Sterling Marlin suffered a season-ending neck injury in a crash at Kansas Speedway.

McMurray was catapulted into the spotlight almost instantly.

He set a NASCAR record by winning in just his second Cup Series start, leading 96 of 334 laps and making a late pass of Mark Martin to win the UAW-GM Quality 500 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway on Oct. 13, 2002.

It was one of the biggest upsets in NASCAR history and put an almost-unknown 26-year-old on the map faster than even he could have ever expected.

“I couldn’t believe it when it happened,” McMurray admitted. “It was huge. It was such a tough opportunity in a really hard situation back then, with Sterling getting hurt and everything and how it all came together. … What an opportunity (co-owners) Chip (Ganassi) and Felix (Sabates), Coors Light and Havoline gave me to step into that car at that time.

“Everyone asked me back then if I was nervous and I can promise you I was freaking nervous,” he added. “It was the biggest stage I had ever been on and it all happened very fast. It took time to get comfortable, but I eventually got there and found a rhythm.”

That victory led to a full-time shot with Ganassi in 2003 when he won Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors, and he drove for three seasons in the No. 42 Havoline Dodge. Then, McMurray joined Roush Fenway Racing prior to the 2006 season.

Though McMurray didn’t reach victory lane that first year with Roush Fenway Racing, he edged Kyle Busch to win the Pepsi 400 at Daytona Int’l Speedway in 2007.

McMurray won only one more race during four years with Roush Fenway Racing. He left the team following the 2009 season and returned to the Ganassi organization, replacing Martin Truex Jr. as the driver of the No. 1 Chevrolet for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing after the team’s merger with DEI.

McMurray promptly made his fourth Cup Series victory the biggest of his career, winning the Daytona 500.

The victory lane celebration was marked by tears on national television as McMurray cried in joy, disbelief and appreciation for the second chance bestowed to him by the same men that gave him his big break at NASCAR’s top level.

“Oh my gosh, it just meant so much,” McMurray said of being welcomed back into Ganassi’s fold and then repaying his team owners’ faith with the biggest win in NASCAR. “For me to be in the position that I was in during that offseason, when I knew I was leaving Roush … and to have Chip and Felix welcome me back like they did, it meant a lot. It was a great way for me to be able to repay them for believing in me.”

That was the start of a year McMurray will never forget, as he went on to earn the pole for the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway in May before scoring another crown jewel victory by winning the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway later that season.

McMurray joined Dale Jarrett and Jimmie Johnson as the only three drivers to win both the Daytona 500 and the Brickyard 400 in the same year.

The year was equally memorable for Ganassi, who also won the Indianapolis 500 with Dario Franchitti, becoming the first team owner in history to win both major races at IMS and the Daytona 500 in one calendar year.

Looking back, that was a feat in which McMurray was pleased to have played a role.

“It’s so hard to get both organizations (NASCAR and IndyCar) going at the same time. The Brickyard 400, the Daytona 500 and the Indy 500 are all races of strategy. You see guys dominate those races and not win. It was remarkable what Chip was able to put together and the people he’s hired through the years that have aided in accomplishments like that.”

McMurray added a third win that fall when he drove to victory once again in the October race at Charlotte Motor Speedway eight years after he burst onto the scene.