[media-credit name=”www.phoenixraceway.com” align=”alignright” width=”300″]
[/media-credit]MARTIN TRUEX JR.
No. 56 NAPA FILTERS Toyota
Phoenix International Raceway
CORNELIUS, N.C. — No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota driver Martin Truex Jr. didn’t lead the lap he wanted to lead in Monday night’s Daytona 500. But, he led the second most important lap.
Truex collected the $200,000 “Daytona 500 Mid-Race Leader Award” for leading at the completion of the 100th lap in the 200-lap race at Daytona. The award combined with his 11th-place purse money made Monday’s payday of $535,052 the richest in Truex’s 226-race NASCAR Sprint Cup career.
Truex and the No. 56 team now travel to Phoenix International Raceway for Sunday’s race. The No. 56 will sport a special black paint scheme. It launches NAPA’s $19.99 oil change special and it’s only $12.99 after a mail-in $7 rebate.
TRUEX ON DAYTONA BONUS: “That was pretty cool and a heck of a way to start the season. I have to say thanks to Denny Hamlin for pushing me to the lead. I think it was a great thing the track added to the race. We sure knew what was on the line. We were pretty pumped up about getting it.”
MARTIN TRUEX JR. ON RETURNING TO PHOENIX: “This track is one of my favorites. Last race, we raced in the top 10 all day until we got put down a lap when the caution came out when we were in the pits. I am anxious to get back out there with our new chassis. I think we have a car that can win this race. Chad has a good idea of what our NAPA Toyota needs for me to run well. Our focus is on Turns 3 and 4, but we also need a strong throttle off of Turn 2 so I can carry the momentum into the final corners.”
TRUEX ON RUNNING THE NAPA FILTERS TOYOTA: “Our Phoenix car has been on the shop floor for several weeks now. It looks awesome. I’ve always loved driving a black car as it reminds me of my hero, Dale Earnhardt.”
CREW CHIEF CHAD JOHNSTON ON NAPA TEAM’S PROGRESS: “I believe this race is a good indication on the strength of this team and our ability to compete against the usual powerhouses in NASCAR over the long haul. We’ve come a long way. I think it helps that Martin and I have similar personalities. Martin also realizes now that this entire team is in this together and our successes or failures do not fall squarely on his shoulders.”
ADDITIONAL NOTES OF INTEREST
· SPECIAL: NAPA Filters is saluting race fans this month with its March NAPA AUTO PARTS Store promotion. A $19.99 oil change promotion is only $12.99 after a mail-in $7 rebate. It’s a deal you shouldn’t miss and includes a Silver NAPA Filters oil filter and five quarts of Valvoline conventional oil.
· NAPA KNOW HOW NUGGET: During the off season, Truex got a new neighbor. Crew chief Chad Johnston moved into the home directly across the street from the driver. Johnston and his wife Stacy are not only getting settled into their new place, but are busy decorating a nursery as they are expecting their first child, a boy, in June.
· NAPA HONORS: NAPA Racing will host the Honorary Pit Crew Member program at Phoenix. Jeff Mashlan of Apache Junction, Ariz., and Lynn Willoughby of Grants, New Mexico will be honored in NAPA pre-race festivities and have their names decaled on the No. 56 Toyota.
· CHECK THIS OUT: Visit NAPA Reserve Online at napaonline.com to make shopping for an auto part easier. Order online and pick up at your favorite NAPA AUTO PARTS store.
