CORNELIUS, N.C. — Martin Truex Jr. and the No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS team are coming off a strong showing in Sunday’s Daytona 500. Truex led eight times for 17 laps before an accident during the first attempt at a green-white-checkered finish ruined his bid for the victory. The NAPA team enters Sunday’s race at Phoenix International Raceway with the confidence based on Truex’s success on the mile oval. The Mayetta, N.J. native owns a pole, one top–five, four top-10 and eight top-20 finishes in ten NASCAR Sprint Cup starts.
Truex will get plenty of airtime on Sunday between his on track performance and the NAPA commercials featuring he and owner Michael Waltrip lip synching the newest rendition of the “NAPA KNOW HOW” song. Watch the commercial here: http:// tinyurl.com/4mgqx3t.
TRUEX QUOTES
Martin Truex Jr. on going to PIR: “We left Daytona 18th in the championship standings. We’re not in as big of a hole as some people. In my opinion, the race season starts this weekend in Phoenix. We put a lot of preparation into our short-track program over the winter and the NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota we are taking to PIR. This weekend will be a good gauge to see where we actually stack up. I’m really looking forward to getting there and I hope to have a great run.”
On debut of the newest NAPA KNOW HOW commercial: “I think just about every race fan has seen the new NAPA commercial that Michael (Waltrip) and I did together. It got a lot of play during Daytona Speedweeks. Both the media and the fans came up to me and commented on how much they liked the new commercial. I’m definitely getting better at lip synching and if it helps sell parts, then that’s all that really matters.”
ADDITIONAL NOTES OF INTEREST
• Martin Truex Jr. will be competing in his 191st NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race when the Subway Fresh Fit 500 gets underway at PIR on Feb. 27.
• His average start is 12th and his average finish is 16th. He currently ranks 14th amongst drivers in performance over the last 10 races. He has completed 2899 of 3187 laps (91.0%) and has led 72 laps in competition.
• On Sunday, NAPA Racing will host Honorary Pit Crew Member Allen Phillips of Cottonwood, Ariz. He will be honored in NAPA pre-race festivities and have his name decaled on the No. 56 NAPA Toyota.
• Check out NAPA Reserve Online. Visit napaonline.com to make shopping for an auto part easier. Order online and pick up at your favorite NAPA AUTO PARTS store.
• The Martin Truex Jr. Foundation has raised over $500,000 for community outreach programs benefiting children. Find out more: martintruexjrfoundation.org.
