MARTIN TRUEX JR.
No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS TOYOTA
CORNELIUS, N.C. — No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota driver Martin Truex Jr. grew tired of watching it rain in Texas early this week so he’s now turning his full attention to Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway.
The Michael Waltrip Racing team arrived at Texas Tuesday morning for a two-day test but rain cancelled all activity. While it debates a makeup test, the No. 56 team leaves Thursday afternoon for Talladega where it qualified second and finished seventh in May. After 17 Sprint Cup plus four Nationwide starts on the Alabama restrictor-plate track, Truex has the perfect strategy for a good finish: “Pray and then let it all hang out,” laughed Truex.
MARTIN TRUEX JR. ON TALLADEGA: “I probably feel the same way as the other 42 drivers feel. You keep your fingers and toes crossed. You say a few extra prayers in the hopes you will make it to the end. I always look forward to it. It’s an interesting race. We’ve tried everything when it comes to strategy. I have been wrecked going for the lead. I have been wrecked riding around in 35th and everywhere in between. It’s important to be up front. I feel like it is one of those deals where it is tough to hang back and take care of your stuff all day because it’s hard to get up to the front when it’s time to go. Hopefully we will be able to put ourselves in position to make something happen.”
TRUEX ON THE NAPA TEAM: “I sure would like to take my NAPA team back to victory lane this weekend. Right now, they deserve something good to happen. We’ve had a rough go of it lately. But it always could be worse. Hopefully all of this bad stuff is behind us and something good will come out of it. I believe it will. We’ll move on and make some good things happen.”
NOTES:
· Truex at Talladega: In 17 Sprint Cup Series starts, Truex owns one top-five and five top-10 finishes. His average start is 19th and finish is 22nd.
· Two-Time Champion: NAPA truck driver Tony Sessions defended his Freightliner Trucks Run Smart™ Hauler Challenge title. Sessions took home the $7,000 grand prize during Saturday’s pre-race festivities at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Sessions’s teammate, William “Stump” Lewis, finished third and collected a $3,000 check.
· NAPA Shocks: Now through October 31 at participating NAPA AUTO PARTS stores, NAPA AutoCare Centers or participating repair shops, fans can get four NAPA Shocks and Struts for the price of three after a mail-in offer. Plus, they can also get back a $25 Car Care Cash Service Card via mail in offer good for repairs at a NAPA AutoCare Center or participating repair shop.
I wonder if Truex has personally thanked Bowyer for causing him a sponsor and a ride for next year. It appears that Martin is too nice a guy to actually tell the premium cheater how he really feels.
Bowyer is the one that MWR should be giving the boot to.