MARTIN TRUEX JR.
No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS TOYOTA
CORNELIUS, N.C. – No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota driver Martin Truex Jr. helped American Idol host Ryan Seacrest open Seacrest Studios at Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte, N.C. on Monday.
The Martin Truex Jr. Foundation is a major contributor to the studio that gives patients the chance to have fun while getting treatment by exploring the creative outlets of radio, television and new media. The 652-square-foot studio includes five guest microphones, production-quality video cameras and a green screen for patients to participate in video projects.
The official ribbon-cutting ceremony was hosted by Seacrest and included a live performance by Austin Mahone, an interview with the Michael Waltrip Racing driver and Ryan Seacrest Foundation Ambassador Selena Gomez called into the studio for its first broadcast.
“This is huge honor to be part of something Ryan is doing,” said Truex. “He’s such a household name. I think partnering up with his Seacrest Studios project will really help elevate my foundation to another level so we can help more people and get the word out about what we are doing. And obviously it’s important for us to do what we can to make these kids feel at home and have a better time when they are getting treatment at the hospital. They are going through a tough time so it’s important to give them fun things to do.”
Heading into Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Pocono Raceway, the driver believes this race will be the key to securing his second-straight appearance in the Chase. He is currently ranked 12th in the standings, five points out of 10th, and in line for the second of two wild card spots available in the Chase.
TRUEX ON RACING AT POCONO: “We are taking a brand new NAPA Toyota to Pocono. We struggled last time and I believe this race is going to dictate whether we make the Chase or not. We’re approaching this race a lot differently from last time because what we struggled with at Pocono is very similar to what we struggled with last weekend at Indy. I am optimistic that all of the great people we have working back at the MWR shop have given us a better chance with this new Toyota. We are going to go to Pocono and hope by doing our best, we will produce the results we need.”
NOTES:
· MEDIA ALERT: Truex will visit the Pocono media center on Friday at 1:45 p.m. and appear on Sunday’s edition of NASCAR RaceDay on SPEED starting at 10:00 a.m.
· MWR: Martin Truex Jr. won at Sonoma on June 23 and Vickers won the New Hampshire race on July 14. If the Chase began today, Bowyer & Truex would qualify for the driver’s Chase and the No. 55 is battling for a spot in the owner’s Chase.
