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[/media-credit]MARTIN TRUEX JR.
No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota
Auto Club Speedway
CORNELIUS, N.C. — No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS driver Martin Truex Jr. and Michael Waltrip Racing are enjoying the spotlight after all three MWR teams finished in the top five at Bristol, a first in the organization’s history. The solid efforts place all three MWR cars in the top-nine in the owner points standings.
This weekend the NAPA team races at Auto Club Speedway. The two-mile, D-shaped track will be a good evaluation of the team’s overall race program. MWR’s new chassis, which is credited for some of the team’s recent success, has only raced at the Texas and Las Vegas intermediate tracks. The NAPA driver believes Sunday’s race will be a good test for an organization that has not yet peaked and is on the verge of its third NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win — hopefully, the first for his NAPA AUTO PARTS team.
Martin Truex Jr. on MWR Milestone: “I am so proud of everyone at MWR. I’ve never been associated with a team who works so well together. I believe that is one of the major reasons why we were able to finish like we did last weekend. We share information and are not afraid to help each other along in producing good race setups. At Bristol, we pretty much raced close to identical setups. When you have that kind of trust in each other, I believe that helps make all three teams run well. Granted, there will be times when we have different stuff, but what I have seen coming out of MWR this season is a real commitment to each other to be the best we can be as an organization. It’s working and I am having so much fun going to the track and working with these guys. At the end of the day, if we can keep the commitment and trust going with each other, we are going to be one of the powerhouse teams out there.”
On Auto Club Speedway: “The schedule we’ve had this season has been a good test of our entire program. We’ve been able to get a decent measure of our team against the competition at different types of tracks. Obviously going to California at the two-mile track will be a big test for us. It will show us where we stand at the big tracks. So far, our speedway program has been very good. Our short-track program is as good as anyone’s. At Vegas, we showed signs of speed and had the potential to do great things. We are still a work in progress. We still have work to do and know the areas that we can do better as a whole. We just need to keep working on the little things and keep putting ourselves in position to run up front every week. I don’t believe we’ve peaked yet. Our wins are going to come and I hope we can continue our streak this weekend in California.”
ADDITIONAL NOTES OF INTEREST
· MEDIA AVAILABILITY: Truex will be available to media on Friday at 1:35 p.m. in the Drivers Meeting room at Auto Club Speedway.
· WATCH NASCAR RACE DAY: The popular SPEED show will talk to Truex about his successful start to the 2012 season and will introduce one of his Honorary Pit Crew Members for the race, NAPA NHRA Funny Car driver Ron Capps. Capps will be on the team radio and working the pits with the NAPA KNOW HOW crew.
· RIDE WITH MARTIN: Two lucky race fans can win a thrilling ride around Charlotte Motor Speedway with Truex in his No. 56 Toyota Camry. Bids are being accepted now through March 25. For more information, visit: www.martintruexjrfoundation.org.
· CHECK THIS OUT: Visit NAPA Reserve Online at napaonline.com to make shopping for an auto part easier. Order online and pick up at your favorite NAPA AUTO PARTS store.
