[Jamie] McMurray, who drives for Chip Ganassi [#42 Dodge], has just signed a multiyear contact to drive for Jack Roush beginning in 2007 [in the #6 Ford]. That surprising move is so legally ticklish that McMurray yesterday dodged reporters and refused to answer questions, issuing a brief statement only after it was cleared by his attorneys. McMurray’s move has sparked numerous questions, including the thorny legal issue of whether it’s OK to sign a contract to drive for somebody else while still under a contract. The sticky issue of “interfering” with a driver under contract has been debated, on and off, for more than 10 years, since driver contracts became the norm in NASCAR. Two NASCAR team owners, who asked not to be named, both said they felt that there was a significant potential for legal action over the move. But Roush quickly dismissed any such legal questions, saying that the issues had been thoroughly scrutinized: “We have had discussions, being fully aware of what his contract is. We don’t intend to interfere with his contract in any way. We don’t intend to talk about our sponsors or his sponsors, which would be one of the things to be concerned about. We only have interest in him getting in our car when he has fulfilled his commitments to Chip, whatever they are. We won’t stand in the way of anything. And we’re not interesting in any discussions of a buyout or anything else that might be an inducement for Chip to release him.” Roush said that it’s possible McMurray might even join Roush Racing for the 2006 season, though Ganassi, in a news release, said he wants to keep McMurray through the end of 2006. “He is not under contract for 2006 until Chip elects or chooses not to take his option going forward in September,” Roush said. “This 2005 year for Jamie is the first year of two one-year extensions which were at Chip’s option. Chip is obliged to let him know if he wants him to drive in 2006. And lacking an indication of that, he is released. It isn’t clear what Chip will do. I haven’t had any conversations with him. I don’t think he’s indicated to Jamie what he’s going to do.”(Winston Salem Journal)(7-9-2005)
