By: Zach Catanzareti, Staff Writer
If you’re a young, talented racecar driver, it may be tough to stand out in NASCAR nowadays.
With the K&N Series, Whelen Modifieds, Camping World Trucks and XFINITY producing bright stars at a quicker rate than ever, Camden Murphy is one driver going the extra step to burst out of the pack.
With already 19 Truck Series and one XFINITY Series start under his belt, this Illinois native has walked the walk in stock car racing. But what really drives this 22-year-old is how he talks the talk with a personality bursting with charisma in a current climate of “monotone” drivers.
“I’m a personality. That’s a bit of what drivers lack nowadays,” Murphy told Kickin’ The Tires at Richmond Raceway. “You hear a lot of drivers now and they’re very monotone. They don’t really have excitement in their voice or just their personality.
“Obviously, sponsorships and being able to represent a sponsor the best you can, that’s the most important thing. Having a personality and emotion in what you’re talking about is huge.
“I create an energy. But I’d also like to think I can wheel a bit of a racecar, too.”
Indeed, more than being a skillful conversationalist, Murphy has gained the reputation of bringing smarts onto the racetrack. Driving for teams like Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing, Mittler Brothers Racing and Copp Motorsports, The Truck Series has been a place of learning for Murphy since his debut in 2014.
Specifically, it was team owner and past driver Bobby Dotter who gave him his first series start at Martinsville in 2014 and has maintained a personal relationship ever since.
“I lived at his shop for about a year, worked int he shop about every day, swept the floors, did whatever needed to be done,” he said. “He was a big turning point in my career getting me into the NASCAR industry, introducing me to a bunch of owners.
“I’ve been close to him because he’s been a mentor of mine. He’s guided me in a lot of great directions so whenever I can help him, I do. I had a lot of opportunities with a lot of other teams but he has helped me so much so one hand washes the other.”
At Richmond, Murphy most recently supported friend Spencer Boyd, who drives the No. 76 for Dotter in the XFINITY Series.
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And speaking of opportunities, Murphy has his eyes set on returning to the cockpit in 2019. However, with five Truck starts this season (his last coming at Pocono in August) there are no plans set for the remainder of 2018.
“I don’t think I’m in a ride for the rest of the year, unfortunately,” he said. “It is what it is, some funding came through with some other drivers. As of right now, I’m working on a bunch of different stuff. I’ve got a lot of opportunities for next year. I’m trying to figure them out and also align the funding at the same time. If the funding doesn’t come through, we’re going to be stuck where we’re at right now.
“It’s a struggle. Everyone is fighting with sponsorships and partnerships. Honestly, that’s where I stand.”
The uncertain NASCAR future hasn’t stopped Murphy from showing up to the racetrack. Why? Because when you’re out of sight, you’re out of mind for team owners and sponsors.
“Though I don’t have the funding, if I’m at the racetrack talking to people and always there being seen, you’re in people’s mind again,” he said. “Even doing some start-and-park stuff, as much as I don’t want to do it, I want to go racing, I want to go run all the laps. But being that I’m at the track every week behind the wheel of something, it helps.”
The work of finding necessary funding is all worth for effort for Murphy, whose eventual goal lies in full-time NASCAR racing.
“Trucks and XFINITY cost about the same when you’re trying to find sponsors,” he said. “In some sense, XFINITY… yeah, it’s the next step up. Of course, I’d love to get to Cup one day, I am working on it and it’s a goal of mine. But we’ll see. If I can get a full-time ride in Trucks or XFINITY, full-time in Cup, I just want to be able to make a living in motorsports.”
Though the NASCAR side is in a current stagnant state for Murphy, he will be continuing his time in another motorsport: Monster Jam.
Dubbed “Monster Jam Cam”, he will be traveling to Australia in October to compete in the series three events in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide. Additionally, he will be on the stadium tour in 2019, with nine dates currently on his schedule.
In another way Murphy stands out in racing, he became the Monster Jam Rookie of the Year in 2017 and also co-hosts events for Monster Jam on FOX Sports 1.
“I am the one and only person who does both Monster Jam and NASCAR,” he said. “That’s a humbling thing to be able to do. I’m 22 years old and I’m getting to do what I love. I’m really fortunate there. I get to travel the world with Monster Jam and get to go race here in NASCAR.
“I am incredibly humbled to do what I do.”
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