CORNELIUS, N.C. — For the second time in three weeks, brothers Martin Truex Jr. and Ryan Truex will drive OUT! Pet Care Toyotas for Diamond-Waltrip Racing in a NASCAR Nationwide Series race. Ryan, 18, climbs in the No. 99 Toyota for Friday night’s race at Charlotte Motor Speedway joining older brother and two-time series champion Martin who will pilot a reversed paint scheme No. 00 Toyota. In the brothers first race together at Kansas on Oct. 2, Martin finished fifth in the No. 00 and Ryan finished 15th in the No. 99.
QUOTES
Ryan Truex on Martin: “My brother has had a huge impact on my career. He has taught me so much about racing. I think the best advice he has given me is to be patient. He has also taught me to take what the car will give me and not try and get a win out of a 10th-place car. If you try and get too much from the race car the chances of you wrecking are pretty high. My brother has been an awesome role model to me and I really look forward to racing against him again this weekend.”
On Charlotte: “It’s the new car and we’ve ran well with that so far. I think Charlotte will be more my kind of race track. It’s fast, high-banked and it looks like a lot of fun. I’ve never run there but I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be good to work with Jerry (Baxter, crew chief) again. I feel like we learned a little bit about each other and made some steps at Kansas.”
Nationwide Goals: “I want to go out there and get some good finishes and log all the laps I can. The more seat time I can get the better I will be prepared for the 2011 season. I want to go out there and earn respect from some of the veteran drivers. I also want to continue to build on what the No. 99 team has done so far this season. They have a lot of momentum on their side and they have been really competitive. I would also really like to grab a few top 10 finishes before the season is over.”
Martin on Charlotte: “I’ve had some really good races at Charlotte. It’s pretty cool to race against my brother again this weekend. I would much rather race against him then watch him race. I get really nervous watching him race for some reason. I can’t imagine what my dad goes through watching us both race. He has to be a nervous wreck.”
NOTES OF INTEREST
- Gary and Blake Bechtel along with Michael Waltrip Racing own Diamond-Waltrip Racing that fields Toyota Camrys out of the MWR shop in Cornelius, N.C. The Bechtels have owned cars in the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series since 1990. The Morgan Hill, California residents’ teams have visited victory lane 10 times in the Nationwide Series.
- Casey Mears will drive the No. 00 during the open practice session on Wednesday.
- Martin Truex Jr. is 11 years, 8 months and 19 days older than Ryan Truex.
- Longtime crew chief Mike Greci will serve as Martin’s crew chief on the No. 00.
- Martin Truex Jr. won Nationwide Series titles in 2004 & 200 with 13 wins in 97 starts.
- Martin Truex Jr. owns six series starts Charlotte—best finish of fifth came in May 2006.
- Ryan Truex is the only teenager to win back-to-back K&N Pro Series East titles and first driver to bring a title to Michael Waltrip Racing.
- Ryan Truex will race the No. 99 for the rest of 2010 except in Texas where Martin will drive.
· Martin Truex Sr. competed in 15 Nationwide Series races 1989-1998. His best career finish of 12th came at Nazareth Speedway in 1994. He won an East Series race at New Hampshire in 1994.
