BY TEAM FORD RACING CORRESPONDENT

Martinsville, Va. — It’s not etched in stone, but the speculation surrounding Jamie McMurray-to-Earnhardt Ganassi Racing isn’t exactly written in chalk, either. Neither McMurray nor anyone at EGR has confirmed the move, but garage-insiders say there’s a strong likelihood the driver of the Roush Fenway Racing No. 26 Fusion will replace Martin Truex Jr. in the No. 1 Chevrolet next year.

The wild-card in the scenario is the sponsor. Bass Pro Shops would like to have an “outdoorsman” type of driver, one who’ll appeal to their customer base. To some degree, Truex Jr. fulfilled that role; less so McMurray, who’s not exactly the world’s most passionate hunter, fisherman or camper.

McMurray began his Cup career with Ganassi-Sabates Racing in the fall of 2002, when he won at Charlotte subbing for the injured Sterling Marlin. He stayed with Ganassi-Sabates until joining Roush Fenway in 2006. He won the pole at Sonoma in the summer of 2007 and two weeks later won the Saturday night race in Daytona Beach. All told, he has 10 top-fives (but none this year) and 30 top-10s (three this year) with Roush Fenway Racing.