DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Transitioning from a career in the Cup Series to TV roles with Fox Sports and CW Sports wasn't the most natural move for Jamie McMurray, a self-described introvert. Yet he has discovered the key to sustained success since ditching his firesuit for a blazer.
Preparation is everything.
"I tell my kids all the time with school and what I do is no different than you studying for a test," McMurray told AltDriver during Speedweeks.
"If you prepare for a test, it's easy. If you don't prepare and you're trying to just bullcrap your way through it, people see it."
This preparation has been crucial for McMurray, who joined Fox Sports full-time after the 2018 NASCAR season. He had to transition from being the interviewee to being the interviewer.
He had to begin providing analysis about the biggest names in the sport, the underdogs in each series, and the most intriguing races on the schedule while working on multiple shows.
If McMurray wasn't putting in the work behind the scenes to build on his knowledge of NASCAR, he wouldn't be able to deliver thoughtful comments. Instead, the things he said could potentially come across as disingenuous.
The preparation went much further than simply talking about the sport in which he delivered success. He also had to acclimate to the hectic world of TV and the Fox Sports studios featuring wall-to-wall green screens.
Winning the Daytona 500 and the Brickyard 400 in the same season doesn't exactly prepare someone for this unique studio setup, nor does it help them handle simultaneously listening to a producer in their ear and the person right in front of them.
These are the things learned through on-the-job training.
"I remember the first year being a little bit nervous when the shows would start," McMurray said about his early days at Fox Sports. "I remember people telling me that I never looked nervous, and I thought it's a good thing they can't see how wet my back is right now because I'm sweating because I'm so worked up."
The reps in the studio with Adam Alexander, Shannon Spake, and many other personalities led to McMurray becoming more comfortable on TV. He could more calmly approach each episode as the years progressed.
Granted, some things remained the same. He said looking into the camera and delivering comments about a big topic remained more awkward than providing voiceover while B-roll footage played for the viewers.
Awkwardness aside, this time in front of the camera better prepared him for the expanded responsibilities in his future. He went from primarily working on "NASCAR Race Hub," "NASCAR RaceDay," and in-race studio coverage to doing more work at the track.
This year's Daytona 500 was a fitting example as he joined the pre-race coverage to provide analysis and interview prominent figures such as IndyCar stars Scott Dixon and Josef Newgarden.
McMurray also added full-time booth work to his plate with CW Sports, something that had been a career goal.
Photo credit: Fox Sports
"I was really fortunate getting to do the studio for so many years because I would do ('Race Hub') one or two days a week and then we would do the Xfinity show on Saturday and the Cup race on Sunday," McMurray said.
"So I was getting three or four days a week of TV in a controlled environment where things were planned out, and I got to learn a lot about every aspect of TV."
Not only was McMurray getting an in-depth education about TV, but he was also gaining a better understanding of how to work with a constantly rotating cast of analysts.
"NASCAR Race Hub," in particular, had a deep bench that included Aric Almirola, Brad Keselowski, Daniel Suarez, Andy Petree, Chad Knaus, and many others. Each person brought a different voice and presence to the studio.
How does someone who prefers to quietly sit in the corner of the restaurant build chemistry with these people so that on-camera segments are not awkward? The quickest way is to make them comfortable before the episode even begins filming.
That goes back to preparation. As Fox Sports Vice President of Production Lindsey Mandia once told McMurray, "Have fun." The people at home enjoy it more if they don't think the hosts are uptight.
"I found when we would go do shows, if I could make them laugh, or make whoever the star was coming in that day -- whether it was Suarez or Aric or whoever's coming in -- if you can make that easier for them, it was easier for you," McMurray said.
This prep work and strategy paid off over the years as McMurray continued working on multiple shows. Now, they are paying off as he continues working with Fox Sports and CW Sports away from the green walls of the Charlotte studio.