Jamie McMurray started the Tums Fast Relief 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race from the 26th position Sunday afternoon at the Martinsville Speedway and when the checkered flag waved 501 laps later, car #26 crossed the finish line sixth.

Reportedly on the verge of announcing he will drive for Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing in 2010, McMurray had the highest finish for Ford in the Tums 500, a race dominated by Toyota and Chevrolet.

The thirty-three year old McMurray has made 14 starts at Martinsville and he carried a 16.4 average finishing position in to Sunday's event at the 1/2 mile track in Virginia.

McMurray moved from 25th to 22nd in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series point standings as a result of his performance at Martinsville, the largest gain of any driver who has competed in all 32 events this season.

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