The trifecta — Daytona, Indy and Charlotte — was something special in its own right, but McMurray points out that winning at Charlotte again was particularly important because he was able to celebrate in a way that he hadn’t been able to the first time he won there in 2002.

“When I won (at Charlotte) in 2002, I was in a situation where … I don’t know that there’s any race car driver on the planet that wants someone else to get in their car and win, much less a kid who had never won on the Truck Series or the Xfinity Series, at that time the Busch Series,” McMurray said. “I remember telling myself that I needed to be very gracious and respectful to Sterling because I knew that was hard for him. He was at home with a broken neck and I was at Charlotte winning in his race car.

“On that night (in 2010), it was different circumstances. I felt like, ‘This is my team’ and it was a team that had been put together over the past year and it was mine. It was a completely different feeling. I felt like we could really celebrate it right when it happened the second time.”

Though he’s only scored one more points-paying win since, at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in October 2013, McMurray continues to enjoy racing with the owner who has supported him from the very beginning.

“I don’t know if I’d be where I am in my life today if it wasn’t for Chip,” McMurray said. “He’s done so much for me, going all the way back 17 years to the very beginning of this journey. He believed in me and so many things have worked out since then. It’s just fun to drive for him and for Felix … we’ve come through a lot of things together and been there for each other when the cars have been good and when they’ve been bad.

“Honestly, I’ve gotten to share some of the most special memories of my life together with them. Some of my greatest days — except for getting married and having kids — I’ve shared with Chip Ganassi and Felix Sabates. It’s been great. I’m grateful for all the memories we’ve shared together so far and hopeful we still have some more to make together before the road winds down.”

Even though victories have been scarce over the past five seasons, McMurray won the NASCAR All-Star Race in 2014.

“I didn’t care what happened that night, whether we wadded it up or came out with the lead. If we drove off into the corner and all wrecked, I wouldn’t have cared because at that point I could see the million bucks,” McMurray recalled.

McMurray co-drove (with Kyle Larson, Scott Dixon and Tony Kanaan) a Chip Ganassi Racing Daytona Prototype to victory in the Rolex 24 At Daytona in 2015. That victory reminds McMurray how important Daytona Int’l Speedway has been to him.

“Victory lane at Daytona has been very special for me … of course with (winning) the Daytona 500, and that Rolex win was a big deal for me because those cars are so much different than what Kyle and I typically drive on the NASCAR side. …  It was just another really special day,” he noted. “I know I’ve used that word, special a lot but it is. These are memories that most people aren’t blessed enough to get the opportunity to make. I’m so blessed to get to do what I do and to share it with the people I do.”

At 41 years old, McMurray knows he’s closer to the end of his career than the start, but he’s still committed to racing as long as he can.

“I think when Matt (Kenseth) retired last year, that’s when it probably hit home the most where I’m at, just because I’ve been such good friends with him over the years,” said McMurray, who first started racing against Kenseth in late models in 1994. “I know how much he loved racing. It was awesome he was able to win at Phoenix in his last year. It’s kind of sad, honestly. I came in not long after those guys, so it makes you realize that your days are somewhat numbered.

“If I could race for three or four more years, or a little bit more, that’s where I feel like I’d like to see my career get to.”

McMurray counts himself lucky — despite the ups and downs that have come along with his career.

“I feel like I’m harder on myself probably than anyone else is and when you go through the garage and you look at drivers who are with really good teams that have bad years … if you think that they’re not doubting their ability or down on themselves, they are,” McMurray said. “That’s just the way our sport works. Whether it’s golf or baseball, when you’re not doing well, you always wonder if you’re capable of being at the top level.

“I’ve had the absolute best moments of my career and I’ve had some really tough times,” he added. “It’s hard, but you just have to believe that you’re in the right position. For me, that’s always what it’s been about. Right place, right time. I have been so lucky to be able to be in NASCAR as long as I have been, and to be able to experience the wins that I have been involved with and the people that I’ve been able to meet.”