DENVER, Colo. (April 8, 2015) – After posting six straight top-10 finishes to start the season and receiving sterling accolades from media pundits, Martin Truex Jr. is looking to crown the early success with a victory in Saturday night’s Duck Commander 500 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.
“We’ve accomplished plenty in the first six races, but we haven’t gotten a victory,” said Truex, who is one of only three drivers to post top 10s in each of the first six Sprint Cup Series races. “I feel our team is ready for a win, especially at the mile-and-a-half Texas track.”
Though Truex and his No. 78 Furniture Row/Denver Mattress Chevrolet have run solidly at different variations of tracks, his best finish was at the previous 1.5-mile circuit when he finished runner-up last month at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
“Given that we’ve already had good runs at the intermediate tracks and that Texas is one of my favorite tracks I am feeling pumped about this weekend,” noted Truex, who is ranked third in driver points. “The Texas track has a lot of speed, a lot of banking and the tires wear out. I enjoy all those characteristics about Texas, which has been one of my better tracks over the years.”
Truex has a number of reasons for his positive vibes about Texas Motor Speedway, including the April race he nearly won there two years ago while driving for Michael Waltrip Racing. He led 142 of 334 laps. He lost the lead to Kyle Busch following a pit stop with 20 laps remaining.
“I nearly had the race locked at Texas, but didn’t get out of the pits quickly enough and had to settle for second,” recalled Truex.
The 34-year-old Truex is anticipating another strong performance.
“We’ve had good cars all year and I do expect the same when we unload our Furniture Row Chevy at Texas,” said Truex. “It’s been a great start posting six straight top-10s. And what makes it even better is that we have run well at different types of tracks — superspeedway, intermediate and a short track. If I could pick a track to continue a positive streak, Texas Motor Speedway would be high on the list.”
With his sixth-place finish at the recent race in Martinsville, Va., Truex set a personal record for most consecutive top-10 finishes at six. The six top 10s is one more than he achieved in 36 point races last year, his first season with the Denver-based Furniture Row Racing team.
In 19 Sprint Cup career starts at Texas Motor Speedway, Truex has garnered two top fives, eight top 10s, one pole and has led 231 laps. His average finish is 15.4.
No. 78 Over-the-Wall Crew
Front-tire changer
Dave Collins, Hayden Lake, Idaho
Front-tire carrier
Craig Curione, Sanborn, N.Y.
Rear-tire changer
Adam Hartman, Oxford, N.C.
Rear-tire carrier
Adam Mosher, Fort Mill, S.C.
Jackman
Carey Wimbish, Granite Falls, N.C.
Gasman
Brian Dheel, Akron, Ohio
No. 78 Road Crew
General Manager
Joe Garone, Denver, Colo.
Crew Chief
Cole Pearn, London, Ontario, Canada
Car Chief
Blake Harris, Maypearl, Texas
Engineers
Jeff Curtis, Fairfax Station, Va.
Pete Craik, Melbourne, Australia
Spotter
Clayton Hughes, Thomasville, N.C.
Engine Specialist
Craig Griffitts, Thomasville, N.C.
Engine Builder
Earnhardt-Childress Racing
Shock Specialist
Nick Kerlin, Old Fort, Ohio
Tire Specialist
Tommy DiBlasi, Annapolis, Md.
Mechanic
Gary Frost, Romeo, Mich.,
Austin Frankart, Fort Seneca, Ohio
Technical Support
Ryan Kelly, London, Ontario
Transportation
Chuck Lemay, DeKalb, IL, Chris Burton, Cincinnati, Barry Huston, Bloomingdale, Mich., Roy Miller, Elkridge, Md., Henry Benfield, Statesville, N.C.
