Martin Truex Jr. 2017 Quick Facts
…second in driver points
…two wins, three top fives, seven top 10s, 536 laps led
…most stage wins (5)
…second in stage points (131)
…first in playoff bonus pts (15)
Two All-Star Events on Tap for Truex Jr.
5-hour ENERGY Extra Strength Will be Primary Sponsor on Truex’s No. 78 Toyota for All-Star Race
DENVER, Colo. (May 16, 2017) – Martin Truex Jr. is prepping for two all-star events this week, both being conducted in North Carolina,1500 miles from Denver where his NASCAR Cup Series team is based.
First on the docket for the Furniture Row Racing driver is Wednesday’s (May 17) Catwalk for a Cause, the annual Martin Truex Jr. Foundation fundraiser for childhood and ovarian cancers.
The site for the star-studded event that is expected to attract up to 700 guests will be at the Statesville (N.C.) Regional Airport from 5:30-10 p.m. Award-winning Florida Georgia Line will perform at Catwalk, which will include 15 “Catwalk Heroes” ages 3 to 17 who will walk the runway with NASCAR drivers. Furniture Row is the presenting sponsor of Catwalk for a Cause.
A few days later on Saturday night (May 20) Truex, who is coming off his second victory of the season last Saturday night at Kansas Speedway, will be one of 20 drivers competing in the prestigious NASCAR’s Cup Series All-Star Race which will be contested at the 1.5-mile Charlotte Motor Speedway.
5-hour ENERGY Extra Strength will be the primary sponsor on Truex’s No. 78 Toyota for the All-Star Race.
“The All‑Star Race is always exciting, and after winning the (Coca-Cola) 600 last year (at Charlotte Motor Speedway), I am looking forward to going there in the 5-hour ENERGY Extra Strength Toyota and trying to back that up,” said Truex. “Should be fun. But I do know the tires at the end are going to be a big deal, and I assume if you give people the option for soft tires, the whole field is going to take it, so I’m not really sure what that’s going to change. We’ll have to wait and see.”
The race, which will pay $1 million to the winner, will feature four stages (20 laps / 20 laps / 20 laps / 10 laps), totaling 70 laps. The goal for all competitors is to earn a spot in the final 10-lap, 10-car stage. The winner of each of the first three stages will lock up a spot in the final stage, as long as they remain on the lead lap after the third stage. The cars with the best average finish in the first three stages will make up the remaining spots needed to fill the 10-car final stage.
“It’s all about winning,” said Truex. “It’s a non-points race and nobody will remember who finished second.”
This will be Truex’s seventh time competing in the All-Star Race. His best finish was second in 2010. Truex’s best result at Charlotte Motor Speedway was winning last year’s Coca-Cola 600 in record fashion, leading 392 of 400 laps.
No. 78 Over-the-Wall Crew, 2017
Front-tire changer
Chris Taylor, West Plains, Mo.
Front-tire carrier
Chris Hall, Springfield, Mo.
Rear-tire changer
Lee Cunningham, Lake River, IL
Rear-tire carrier
Adam Mosher, Fort Mill, S.C.
Jackman
Bailey Walker, Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Gasman
Brian Dheel, Norton, Ohio
No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Road Crew, 2017
President
Joe Garone, Denver, Colo.
Crew Chief
Cole Pearn, London, Ontario, Canada
Car Chief
Blake Harris, Maypearl, Texas
Ass’t Car Chief
Greg Emmer, Allenton, Wis.
Race Engineers
Jeff Curtis, Fairfax Station, Va.
Pete Craik, Melbourne, Australia
Engine Tuner
Gregg Huls, Beatrice, Neb.
Engine Engineer
Jon Grove, Mandurah, Australia
Engine Builder
Toyota Racing Development (TRD)
Spotter
Clayton Hughes, Thomasville, N.C.
Shock Specialist
Nick Kerlin, Old Fort, Ohio
Tire Specialist
Tommy DiBlasi, Annapolis, Md.
Front-End Mechanic
Nino Venezia, Philadelphia
Rear-End Mechanic
Rob Fairweather, Westbrookville, N.Y.
IT Support
Eric Cragun, Pleasant View, Utah
Pit Support
Ed Watkins, Richmond, Va.
Transportation
Chuck Lemay, DeKalb, IL, Barry Huston, Bloomingdale, Mich., Roy Miller, Elkridge, Md., Roger Pritchard, Hutchinson, Kan.
