CORNELIUS, N.C. — No. 00 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota driver Ryan Truex earns his second consecutive K&N Pro Series East championship Friday when he starts the series finale at Dover International Speedway. The 18-year-old Mayetta, N.J. native won his second race in 2010 last weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway building a 118-point lead over the second-place driver. The lead guarantees Truex the title if he starts Friday’s race.


RYAN TRUEX QUOTES

Racing at Dover International Speedway: "Dover is a fun track to race at. You can go high in one and two and make a run on people, but it is also pretty strenuous with the speeds. You really have to be aggressive to do well. We went there last year and had a top-ten run, but this year we’re looking to put it all on the line for the win. I’ve had a neat opportunity to race so close to my hometown for the last two races of the season. I want to go out there and get another win for MWR. They’ve worked really hard for this and another trip to victory lane would be a good end to our East Series season.”

Clinching the East Series Championship: "Winning the championship was our season goal, and I’m lucky to have the opportunity to win it in front of my friends and family. I’m looking forward to going into Dover and being able to go out and win and not have to worry about points. It will most likely be my last race in the East Series so we’re really going to lay it on the line and try to get the win”

Looking back on the 2010 East Series Season: “It was a great year and everyone worked hard and gave me awesome race cars every week. We were always in contention for wins and were consistent and that is what it takes to win championships. I’m proud of my guys and everyone at MWR and very thankful to be where I’m at. Hopefully we can move on to bigger and better things.”

NOTES

• Only six drivers have won back-to-back East Series titles—none as a teenager.

• Dover International Speedway is 128 miles from Truex’s hometown of Mayetta, N.J.

• Truex owns five career East Series victories.

• Veteran Mike Greci, who once served as Martin Truex’s crew chief, has been working with Truex throughout his career in the East Series beginning in 2008.

• Truex is the first driver to earn a championship for Michael Waltrip Racing when he won the K&N Pro Series East Championship in 2009.

• Truex is the third member of his family to win in the K&N Pro Series East. His father, Martin Truex Sr. won at New Hampshire in 1994 and his brother NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver, Martin Truex Jr. won five times.

Ryan Truex New Hampshire Preview

CORNELIUS, N.C. — In June, No. 00 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota driver Ryan Truex joined his father Martin Sr. and older brother Martin Jr. on the K&N Pro Series East win list at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The East Series returns to the “Magic Mile” for Friday’s penultimate race of the 2010 season. The 18-year-old’s 66-point lead gives him an outside chance to join five other drivers in clinching a second consecutive East Series title. Instead of concentrating on points, the Michael Waltrip Racing driver says he prefers to concentrate on the checkered flag. Truex hasn’t finished worse than third and has led 103 total laps in three East starts at NHMS.

QUOTES

RYAN TRUEX ON A SECOND CHAMPIONSHIP: “We’re focused on winning. That’s all that matters. If we win the race the championship stuff will take care of itself. I still believe this will come down to the final race at Dover and probably the final few laps. In the East Series, anything can happen and probably will. It’s been a wild year so far and I don’t see that changing.”

ON NEW HAMPSHIRE SUCCESS IN JUNE: “That was a special moment for my family in June. We won the race and my Dad, brother and Mom were all in victory lane with me. That’s one of the highlights of my career and even my life. New Hampshire is a special place not just for us but for every driver from the Northeast. It’s been a place where a lot of drivers have gotten the attention of people in NASCAR.”

ON WINNING A SECOND CHAMPIONSHIP: “Obviously, that’s our goal. My crew chief Mike Greci and the guys at MWR worked really hard all summer to make it happen. Winning two in a row would be an honor. There’s some great racers on that list.”

NOTES

Martin Truex Sr.’s lone victory in 135 East Series starts came at NHMS in 1994. Martin Truex Jr. started 62 East races visiting victory lane five times including wins at NHMS in 2000 and 2003.

Martin Truex Sr. competed in 15 Nationwide Series races 1989-1998. His best career finish of 12th came at Nazareth Speedway in 1994. He won an East Series race at New Hampshire in 1994. Martin Truex Jr. won the 2004 and 2005 Nationwide Series titles.

Veteran Mike Greci, who once served as Martin Truex Jr.’s crew chief, has been working with Truex throughout his East Series career beginning in 2008.

Truex will race Kansas, Charlotte and Homestead in the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series.

New Hampshire– Truex Clinch Scenarios

Truex Winning and:

Wallace finishing 35th or worse (lead no laps); OR 36th (lead one lap)

Whitt finishing 11th or worse (lead no laps); OR 12th or worse (lead one lap); OR 14th or worse (lead most laps)

Moffitt finishing 10th or worse (lead no laps); OR 12th or worse (lead one lap); OR 13th of worse (lead most laps)

Truex Winning and Leading Most Laps:

Wallace finishing 33th or worse (lead no laps); OR 35th (lead one lap)

Whitt finishing 10th or worse (lead no laps); OR 11th or worse (lead one lap); OR 12th or worse (lead most laps)

Moffitt finishing 9th or worse (lead no laps); OR 10th or worse (lead one lap); OR 12th of worse (lead most laps)

Truex Second and Leading Most Laps:

Wallace finishing 36th or worse (lead no laps)

Whitt finishing 13th or worse (lead no laps); OR 14th or worse (lead one lap); OR 16th or worse (lead most laps)

Moffitt finishing 12th or worse (lead no laps); OR 11th or worse (lead one lap); OR 16th of worse (lead most laps)

Ryan Truex Richmond Post Race Report

Ryan Truex Race Summary: No. 00 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota driver Ryan Truex finished 26th Friday night at Richmond International Raceway. Making his third Nationwide Series appearance, the 18-year-old driver battled a loose handling race car in the early going that saw him fall down a lap to the leaders by the half way mark as the race slowed for just one caution. Truex and his Michael Waltrip Racing team corrected the handling issues and he began working his way through the field. Truex’s next race is at Kansas Speedway on Oct. 2.

Truex qualified 15th

Battled loose race car and brake vibration in early going of race.

Lost lap to leader Kevin Harvick at lap 70 and another during pit sequence.

Truex ran his three fastest laps of the race 150 laps in to the event.

NAPA crew corrected handling issues and Truex got faster and faster throughout race.

On final run, Truex’s lap times were as fast as leaders.

RYAN TRUEX: “That wasn’t what we were hoping for. We were pretty loose at the beginning and we struggled. But the second half of the race we were good. That last run we were as quick as the best cars. It was too little too late. That stinks. I wish we could run this race again right now because I think we’d have a really good finish. That’s just part of the learning curve and we start better at Kansas.”

Ryan Truex - Richmond Preview

CORNELIUS, N.C. — No. 00 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota driver Ryan Truex makes his third NASCAR Nationwide Series start Friday night at Richmond International Raceway.


The 18-year-old Mayetta, N.J. native qualified second and raced there for 45 laps at Michigan last month in only his second Nationwide Series start. At his debut in St. Louis he started 19th and raced his way into the top 10 by the halfway mark. The Michael Waltrip Racing driver competes fulltime in the K&N Pro Series East where he is the defending champion and 2010 points leader.

Truex is the son of race car driver Martin Truex Sr. and the younger brother of Martin Truex Jr. who drives the No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The Nationwide Series practices Thursday at Richmond then practices, qualifies and races Friday night.

QUOTES

Truex on racing at Richmond International Raceway: “I’m all about learning and finishing the race. Where we finish is important but it isn't as important as what we learn. We’ve started off the first two races really good. At St. Louis we drove to the front and at Michigan we ran second a long time. We have to work on dialing our car in for later in the race. That’s where these Nationwide guys and especially the Cup drivers have something over us. They know what these cars will do as the race goes on. That’ll come with experience.”

Truex and teammate Trevor Bayne: “Trevor has been great to talk to in the last few months. We bounce stuff off each other. I know my crew chief (Mike Greci) and his crew chief (Jerry Baxter) talk a lot at the shop then at the track. The No. 99 team has really improved over the season. That’s what we are counting on with our team. The more we race the more we learn and the better we’ll be.”

Notes

• Ryan Truex will race at Richmond, Kansas, Charlotte and Homestead in 2010 Nationwide Series competition.

• Martin Truex Sr. competed in 15 Nationwide Series races 1989-1998. His best career finish of 12th came at Nazareth Speedway in 1994. He won an East Series race at New Hampshire in 1994. Martin Truex Jr. won the 2004 and 2005 Nationwide Series titles.

• Ryan is the first driver to earn a championship for Michael Waltrip Racing when he won the K&N Pro Series East Championship in 2009. He leads the 2010 standings by 66 points over Darrell Wallace Jr. New Hampshire and Dover are the only remaining races in the 2010 East schedule.

• Michael Waltrip Racing fields Ryan Truex’s racecars in the Nationwide series as well as the East Series while Diamond-Waltrip Racing fields cars for Trevor Bayne in the Nationwide Series. Gary and Blake Bechtel along with MWR own the Diamond-Waltrip organization.