Key stat: Although he qualified fifth in his first two races due to team owner points after qualifying was rained out both times, McMurray also proved he could get the job done on his own when he had to. In his other four starts, he started fourth at Atlanta, second at Rockingham (N.C.), 12th at Phoenix and 14th at Homestead-Miami (Fla.).

2003 outlook
What needs to be done: His win at Charlotte last season notwithstanding, 2003 will be the year McMurray proves just what kind of driver he truly is. While he'll still be with the same team, he will not have the luxury of having Marlin's crack pit crew. Rather, he'll have an almost entirely new set of characters, plus new crew chief Donnie Wingo, around him. It should be interesting to see how the new pairings work, particularly in the season's first few races. Until McMurray puts down his first five or so finishes, it's hard to determine what kind of season to expect from him. He could wind up being the next Jimmie Johnson or struggle like many rookies do when they come to Winston Cup. Only time will tell.

Prediction: Despite his win at Charlotte, McMurray is still somewhat of an unproven entity when it comes to knowing what he'll do over an entire 36-race season. Getting his first win certainly relieves some of the resulting pressure, but he also has a great deal more to prove in his first full season, including going for Rookie of the Year honors. Only time will tell, but it's a pretty good bet he'll finish at least in the top-25. Of course, with the Ganassi support and know-how, McMurray could also wind up with a rookie season much like the outstanding first years enjoyed by Kevin Harvick in 2001 and by Johnson and Ryan Newman in 2002.

Your take
Was McMurray's win last year a sign of things to come? Or does the youngster have more to prove? Share your thoughts on McMurray's prospects for the 2003 season.