Hello and Thanks for taking an interest in the racing career of Mike Murphy Jr. Mike has loved racing and stock cars from the first time he went to the races. He was exposed to dirt racing at a preschool age and never missed an opportunity to see his favorite drivers at the local tracks. Mike had a huge variety of extra curricular activities to choose from, baseball, bowling, football, soccer, basketball,  horseshoes, hunting, fishing and girls to name a few. He has tried all the afore mentioned , but the only thing that really stuck was racing. Don't get the wrong impression, he is a natural athlete and is more than capable of excelling in other sports but chose to funnel his talents in the direction of racing. Mike never made the honor roll or the deans list but he could tell you who won the Yankee Dirt Classic or the World 100. Racing is what makes him happy, so it comes easy to him.
   Mike bought his first stock car late in 2001. With the help of Rob Toland he purchased a Street Stock and went to work fitting all the pieces together. His first race was 2002 at East Moline. His goal was "just get some seat time and try not to get lapped". Well, half way thru the race he ran the car up the wall at the beginning of turn 2 and back down again as the turn straightened. The flagman stuck his head in the drivers window after a caution flag to tell Mike to just pay attention to the flags and everything would work out fine. Later Mike said "I never saw the flags, I was just trying to keep the car on the track". From that time on Mike has continued to grow and improve as a driver and pit crew member. Mike ran 4 races in the Street Stock class that year. The following year he ran half the season, starting on Fathers Day and finished 10th in points. The next year, 2004, his first full season, Mike won the Street Stock points Championship at Quad City Speedway. 2005 was his rookie year in a late model, and very few people thought he could make the transition, but Randy Swanson saw what Mike was capable of accomplishing. That year Mike won the "IMCA National Late Model Rookie of the Year Award". In  2006 he decided to travel and see how he stacked up against some of the Midwest's best drivers. Mike drove away with the "Deery Series Rookie of the Year" trophy. Who knows what he can achieve next, but with the help of all his loyal fans, anything is possible. Thanks Again!!!

Mike Murphy Jr. Bio

full name:---- Michael  C. Murphy

birth date:---- April 1, 1981

parents:------ Mike and Peggy Murphy

siblings:------ Macey Lee

grandparents- Bill and Doris Murphy
                      Cleon and Nancy Feemster
hometown:--- Green Rock Illinois (now known by most as Colona)

education----- Colona Grade School, United Township High School,
                            Blackhawk College
employment:-- Sheet Metal Workers Union Local 91 (Gabrilson Heating and AC)

hobbies------- horseshoe pitching, bowling, fishing, and anything dirt racing

favorite driver- Mark Martin, Danica Patrick, Brian Birkofer

favorite saying- "Drive every race like you have something to prove"

favorite pro sports teams- Chicago Bears, St Louis Cardinals

favorite movie-- The Crow, Tombstone,

in his cd player-  Pantera, Metalica, Martina McBride

dream vacation--   Drive to Rossburg Ohio the second week September
                              and win the "World 100"