When it came time to show whether he belonged among NASCAR's so-called "young guns," Jamie McMurray hit Winston Cup with some impressive firepower.

McMurray did what no other driver ever has in Winston Cup history -- won a race in only his second career Cup start, capturing last year's UAW-GM Quality 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway in suburban Charlotte. While he did so driving a borrowed car, filling in for the injured Sterling Marlin, there was no question that McMurray's convincing victory proved he belonged among NASCAR's big boys.

"After I won Charlotte, I finished third in the next Busch race and won the following two," McMurray said. "It picked up my whole program and gave me the confidence to know that in the right situation that I could win. Everyone needs that."

And while much of his first full season in Winston Cup has been a struggle, McMurray of late has not only shown the same kind of form he had last year at Charlotte, but also a form that holds a lot of promise for the future.

McMurray and the No. 42 Dodge have been on a tear in the last 10 races, dating back to his third-place finish in the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis in early August. Since then, he has compiled three top-five and three other top-10 finishes, and has risen from 25th place in the rankings heading into Indy to his current 17th.

He's hoping to climb into the top-15 by season's end, and is leading fellow first-year driver Greg Biffle in the battle for Raybestos Rookie of the Year Award honors with just six races remaining.

	Many believe Jamie McMurray can be a top 10 contender next year.

And there's no better place than Charlotte, site of Saturday night's UAW-GM Quality 500, for McMurray to kick off his final push; after all, McMurray won this race last year.

"Obviously, everyone on this team is very excited about heading into Charlotte this weekend," McMurray said. "It's a pretty cool feeling to know you're coming into a race as the defending winner. We're coming off another strong run from last weekend at Kansas, and we're running that same car this weekend in Charlotte. We tested with that car at Lowe's about a month ago and left the test feeling very confident about returning for the race. I'm really excited about this weekend. Hopefully history will repeat itself and we'll have the car in victory lane in Charlotte."

Not only is McMurray driving the same car he piloted to an eighth-place finish Sunday at Kansas, it's also the same car that he's raced a total of five times thus far this season, scoring two top-five and three top-10 finishes.

McMurray didn't have quite as successful of a return to Charlotte back in May for the Coca-Cola 600, starting 17th and finishing 25th. And, he still has yet to notch Cup win No. 2, which has been somewhat disappointing.

"It was hard to believe at the time (that he won last year at Charlotte), and now I haven't done it again in 35 races," McMurray said. "The 40 team last year was at that level where it was capable of winning every week.

"It was unreal to win in your second start last year, especially under the circumstances filling in for Sterling after he got hurt. I think that's why you saw Kevin Harvick win so early also (driving the late Dale Earnhardt's car). Guys who come into the sport with a brand new race team, it's going to be hard for them to win in their first or second start, but Kevin and I both got into race cars that were winning races at the time we got in them, so it's a little bit different situation."

Not winning yet this season has been somewhat of a bitter pill to swallow for McMurray, particularly with the frustration he endured before his showing at Indianapolis.

"Our season was very inconsistent at the beginning of the year," McMurray said. "We had those good runs every once in awhile, almost winning the races. It's like playing golf. It's like having 17 bad holes and then you have one good one and it makes your whole day worthwhile. I think that kept the spark.

"In the second half of the season, we filled in with top 10s and then every fifth or sixth race we've had a shot to win the race. We've been a lot more consistent the second half of the season. I knew coming into the season that realistically … it would take a little time for our team to build. I'm really looking forward to next year. I've read where a lot of people pick me for being in the top 10 in the points next year. That makes you feel really good that it's not just one or two races they're basing that off of."

Veteran Winston Cup crew chief Donnie Wingo, who has shepherded McMurray's development this season, isn't surprised at how well his young charge has been performing of late. The way Wingo sees it, it's just a sample of even better things to come from McMurray.

"Jamie has so much confidence in himself, which I think is a great thing," Wingo said. "I think he's really gained throughout the year. When we started out, things weren't going like we wanted them to. Pit stops weren't good. I kept telling him to give us time, we'd get everything worked out and by the end of the year he'd be really pleased with what we accomplished. Right now everything is going well, communication is great and I think (McMurray's confidence has) helped out.

"I think each week we're getting closer and closer. If we could get one win, I think we could get several wins. It's just sometimes it takes some time to get that step. Once you make that step and get that win, they kind of come a lot easier after that."

Jerry Bonkowski covers NASCAR for ESPN.com. He can be reached at Motorsportwriter@MSN.com.