Ryan Truex Iowa Race Report

Ryan Truex, No. 00 Michael Waltrip Racing Armed Forces Foundation Toyota Camry - finished sixth - now second in points.


Ryan Truex Race Summary: Ryan Truex was solid all day in Iowa in the K&N Pro Series’ version of an All-Star Race where the top East Series drivers square off against the best West Series drivers. Truex qualified third and fought his way to the lead early. Truex and crew chief Mike Greci fought a loose condition all day, but remained in the top five most of the event. Despite the car’s handling, Truex came home sixth when the flag fell on a green-white-checkered finish. The solid points day places Truex firmly in second in East Series standings, just 14 behind leader and Iowa winner Max Gresham.


KNPS Race Results

• Max Gresham won the Goodyear Dealers of Iowa 200

• This is his second consecutive win this season

• This is his first appearance at Iowa

• Gresham edged Ty Dillon (second) by a fender at the line, Darrell Wallace Jr., Corey LaJoie and pole sitter David Mayhew rounded out the top five.

• The race featured nine lead changes among seven drivers.

• The race was slowed by seven cautions for a total of 50 laps.

Ryan Truex, No. 00 Armed Forces Foundation Toyota

• Truex started third and finished sixth

• Led six laps midway through the event

• Ran inside the top five for the majority of the race

• Came home sixth after a green-white-checkered finish

Truex Quotes: “Our car was great during that first run, but something changed after we pitted. I’m not sure if we got a bad set of tires or what, but our car was just too loose the rest of the race. I’ve got to thank everyone on my team though. Once again they gave me fast car. It was a good points day for us, so we’ll take that and get ready for Martinsville.”

Ryan Truex Iowa Preview

CORNELIUS, N.C. — Michael Waltrip Racing developmental driver Ryan Truex heads to Iowa Speedway this weekend for the fourth annual NASCAR K&N Pro Series East-West combination race. This event marks the only race in which competitors from the East and West series go head-to-head with championship points on the line. This year’s race is the third race of the season for both series.


After starting the season with a 14th-place finish at Greenville, defending K&N Pro Series East Champion Truex bounced back to finish third at South Boston moving him to fourth in points. The three East-West combination races at Iowa have produced three different race winners. Truex hopes to be the fourth this weekend in the Goodyear Dealers of Iowa 200.


QUOTES


ON HAVING SUCH A LONG BREAK BETWEEN EVENTS: “I hate it, to be honest. We had back-to-back events in April and I just started to feel like the team and I were getting into a groove. Plus, we had a strong run at South Boston (finished third) so I definitely didn’t want to take a break.”

ON THE RACE BEING A COMBINATION EVENT: “It definitely elevates the competition level. There are a lot of good racers in the West division. We don’t get to compete against them much so this gives us a chance to see where we stack up against those guys.”

ON IOWA SPEEDWAY: “I love racing there. Last year was my first year there and I got a feel for the place pretty quickly. It’s definitely one of the nicer tracks on the circuit. It’s fast and wide so you’ve got plenty of room to pass which makes it exciting for the fans.


ADDITIONAL NOTES OF INTEREST

• Last year Truex qualified third but finished 33rd after an mid-race incident. Truex then reeled off seven consecutive top-three finishes winning the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East championship.

• This weekend Truex will run an Armed Forces Foundation (AFF) paint scheme on his No. 00 Toyota Camry. In addition to the custom paint scheme fans are encouraged to text ‘AFF’ to 50555 and contribute $10 that will support our country’s military and their families. The text campaign will run through the end of 2010.

• Truex is the third member of his family to compete in the K&N Pro Series East. His father, Martin Truex Sr., and his brother Martin Truex Jr. also competed in the series.

• Truex will make his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut on July 17 at Gateway International Raceway.

• The 18-year-old driver is fourth in K&N Pro Series East standings, with 296 points. He trails leader Cole Whitt by 49 points.

• The Mayetta, N.J., native will sign autographs 6-8 p.m. on May 26 at the Michael Waltrip Racing Fan Appreciation Event. The event will be held at Michael Waltrip Racing at exit 28 on I-77 in Cornelius, N.C.