Jamie McMurray, the driver of the #1 McDonalds/Cessna Chevrolet, sits in his car during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 18, 2017, in Bristol, Tennessee. Photo – Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images

Like many drivers in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Jamie McMurray has taken physical fitness beyond the level of most mortals. He’s part of the growing gung-ho cycling group led by Jimmie Johnson, for whom long-distance rides after Saturday practices are commonplace.

“I don’t know that there is any direct correlation, whether you are cycling or running, to being in the car,” McMurray said. “There’s certainly a great benefit from the cardio side of riding a bike or running, and Bristol is one of those tracks that you are reminded of every time we come back here how you tend to hold your breath for numerous laps.

“It takes a little while to get relaxed enough around this place, especially running the top. Running the bottom is not near as bad as trying to get around the top of this place. Yeah, I don’t know that it correlates exactly, but certainly is nice to be in good cardio shape right now.”

The fitness bug has bitten McMurray to the extent that the driver of the No. 1 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet is ready to attempt his first marathon. He’ll use the upcoming off week to train and to spend time at home.

“I decided about a month or so ago that I wanted to try to do a marathon, after cycling so much in the early part of the year,” McMurray said. “(Fellow driver) Josh Wise has been helping our team out, and he has literally laid out every day between now and the day of the marathon of what I need to do.

“The fact that we are off next week, I will probably due quite a bit of running, a little bit of cycling and just kind of hang out with my family.”