NASCAR is a brotherhood on and off the track, from the Labonte brothers to the trio of Wallace brothers.  But a new duo of brothers, Martin and Ryan Truex, has now taken the stage, with both having success this past race weekend.

Older brother Martin had a great run in the Cup Series at Phoenix International Raceway this past weekend.  He sat on the pole to start the race and finished in the fifth position, his first top five of the year for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing.

“The race went really well,” Truex said.  “It was obviously one of my best outings of the year.  It was unfortunate that it took so long to get there.”

“Sitting on the pole was really cool and we hit on a few things during practice that turned the car around for us.”

While Martin had a great race weekend in the desert, his younger brother Ryan was having an even better weekend in North Carolina.  Ryan Truex was crowned as the champion of the NASCAR Camping World Series East on Saturday night. 

“It’s a cool deal that NASCAR put together with the Night of Champions,” Ryan Truex said.  “We just had an awesome year and I couldn’t ask for anything better. It’s pretty special to be where I’m at and only 17.  I’ve been given lots of good opportunities.”

The baby Truex brother was only the second driver in the history of NASCAR to win the championship and the Rookie of the Year title in the same year.  He was the first driver to win a championship for Michael Waltrip Racing.

“I’m real proud of what he’s done,” Martin Truex said of Ryan.  “He’s done an awesome job for the limited amount of experience he’s had.”

The Truex brothers, hailing from Mayetta, N.J., come from a racing family, with their father Martin Sr. having had a successful career.  Martin Truex Jr. had the opportunity to race with his father only once before his dad hung up his helmet.

“I figured he didn’t want to get beat,” Martin Truex said.

The brothers Truex will be reunited in the 2010 season, both racing under the banner of Michael Waltrip Racing.  Martin will be in the No. 56 Toyota, a car number that he has raced in every series prior to coming to NASCAR.   Ryan will be racing for MWR, defending his championship in the Camping World Series East.

Both Truex brothers plan to race together for select Nationwide events.  The two will also be sponsored by NAPA Auto Parts.

“We’re going to have some fun with that,” Martin Truex said.  “I’m excited.  It will be fun racing and sharing things about our cars.”

And as the Truexs’ new team owner Michael Waltrip said, “Welcome aboard brothers.”