Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Truex On 2014: "I'm Running Out Of Time"

Martin Truex, Jr. has confirmed that he will not return to Michael Waltrip Racing in 2014.

Truex’s current sponsor, NAPA Auto Parts, announced recently that it will end its relationship with MWR at season’s end, unhappy with the situation at Richmond International Raceway last month that resulted in Truex being removed from the 2013 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.  
“I gave (Michael Waltrip) time to try and work it out and we tried to work it out together,” said Truex yesterday on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio's Sirius XM Speedway. “But it’s hard to put stuff together at this point of the year. So it’s time now for me to figure out what I’m going to do, and figure it out quickly. I’m running out of time.”
Waltrip confirmed Truex's impending departure, saying, "I just love Martin's heart. Not inly is he extremely talented and focused, but he's also extremely popular in the garage area, and among the fans. I know Martin and I know (crew chief) Chad Johnston, and they're all about winning these last five races. I know they will land somewhere (next season), very well."
Asked about speculation that he is the heir-apparent to Kurt Busch at Furniture Row Racing next season, Truex insisted, “there is nothing to talk about yet. They’ve done a great job this year and I’m interested in their program. They’re definitely on my radar, but we’ll just have to see where it goes.”
Truex said he would like to replicate the atmosphere he enjoyed during his tenure at MWR, saying, “It makes a huge difference. There is no better feeling than when you’re part of a team that believes in you. At the Sprint Cup level, everyone has to be pulling in the same direction. Everyone has to be on the same page. They have to believe in each other through the good times and the bad. That’s what competitive teams do, and that’s what I’m looking for.
“I have really enjoyed my years at Michael Waltrip Racing,” he said. “We had a great program, with so many great people working there. Everybody believed in each other and really pushed hard. You didn’t have any backstabbing and people talking behind each other’s back. None of that stuff existed. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. was the same way, and that kind of atmosphere – that kind of loyalty to each other – is what you need to be competitive at this level. I’m looking forward to going somewhere and having that (atmosphere) on my side again.”
“At this point, all options have to be looked at,” said Truex. “I hope I end up somewhere where they want me to drive their race car, and where we can win some races and be competitive.”
Truex said he has not made any inquiries about returning to the NASCAR Nationwide Series garage, where is a two-time champion, but did not rule out doing so in the future.
“I’ve always loved the Nationwide Series and the time I was able to run there – even part-time while running Sprint Cup at DEI and MWR – was a lot of fun. It’s something that I’ve missed in the past few seasons, and I’d be interested in going back there on a part-time basis (in addition to a full-time Sprint Cup ride).”
Truex admitted that the last few weeks have been among the most difficult of his career.
It’s been tough here lately, but we’ll go back after them this weekend,” he said. “All you can do is pick yourself up, dust yourself off and go back and try again. We’ve had a rough go of it lately, but it could always be worse. Hopefully, out of all this bad stuff that has happened, something good will develop.
“What happened at Richmond is over and done,” he said. “We have to move on and make some good things happen. I have put my focus on keeping the faith and staying positive.
“We’ll see what happens.”

22 comments:

  1. Anonymous2:28 PM

    Thanks Michael for shafting one of the nicest Cup drivers there is!!!!!

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    1. Anonymous3:24 PM

      He did the same thing to Reutty.

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  2. I don't believe MWR shafted anyone on purpose, just as much as I don't believe Ty Norris acted alone. NASCAR set the penalties and knew who would be in or out as a result. The only way to have set the punishments fairly was to not consider names, just actions; and this was the result. I for one am excited for Martin, as his talent is undisputed, and his future (in my eyes) is bright.

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  3. Anonymous4:45 PM

    Mikey could have moved Martin over to the 55 team. Especially now, with Vickers out. I know who I'd rather see in the 55.

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  4. Anonymous4:46 PM

    Mikey could have put Martin in the 55. Especially now, with Vickers out.

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  5. Anonymous10:12 PM

    bowyer and Vickers should be job hunting right now not truex jr

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  6. NASCARJeff5:53 AM

    It seems that Michael Waltrip is only out for one person...Michael Waltrip!

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  7. Anonymous6:48 AM

    So I wonder how Clint Boyer must feel? Nice job Clint! He spins, makes the chase, never answered the question yes or no, "did you spin on purpose" And Martin and a hundred other pepole are out of jobs with no way to support their families...

    Way to go....

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  8. Jersey Strong !!

    Wes

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  9. Anonymous7:33 AM

    Martin Truex is a class act and I hope he finds a decent ride for the future.

    Personally I do not see any other respectable ride available except Furniture Row.

    As for the future of MWR, I would not be surprised to see Mikey moving to a lesser role, possibly to the point of being a very minor player in the day to day operation of MWR. I think Kauffman should be pretty irritated at all this mess and will make changes in the upper level management, possibly forcing Mikey into a passive position or out of the picture altogether.

    Kauffman is a smart, wealthy businessman who got his $billions by not being stupid. He also recently retired from the investment firm he founded, saying he wanted to devote more time to his automotive interests. He has time and money on his hands.

    I think he will take a much more active role in the operations of MWR in the future.

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  10. Anonymous9:04 AM

    If anyone shafted Martin it was NAPA. All they (MWR) were doing was trying to get there car and sponser in the chase.

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    1. Anonymous10:23 AM

      Both napa and Nascar shafted mwr. michael put Napa on the map many yr's ago,and has promoted Nascar big time all over the world.No good deed goes unpunished,esp. when you start beating brian France's multi millionaire buddies. if mwr cheated then there has never been a multi car team that is innocent. I still think Penske's bribery is the REAL cheat.

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  11. Anonymous9:31 AM

    I think rpm needs to take a look at truex and chad

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  12. Anonymous12:32 PM

    NAPA and Truex will go to JGR where he can do both cup and Nationwide.

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  13. Charles2:00 PM

    This whole mess goes back to NASCAR making a HUGE deal out of nothing. MWR hasn't reached that "favorite team" status that some owners enjoy. Everything that happened at Richmond has happened before and they did nothing. Drivers will continue to cause cautions when needed, through whatever method it takes. A driver causing an intentional cation is no different than NASCAR throwing a mysterious "debris" caution when they want to bunch the field. Secondly, How come they didn't give the same penalty to Front Row for slowing and letting Logano pass. Just another example of NASCAR making up the rules as they go.

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  14. Anonymous2:29 PM

    Price paid by others for mickeys indiscretions Ty Norris = Fall Guy..NAPA Thanks for the years of support to Nascar..Truex & Team eventual victims..micky continues to yap yap (more b...s) & Yeah it is Nascars fault mwr cheated ...bowyer well what can you say about the lying to all his ex fans (include me) ..Just don't like when the stars lie to me & then think I'm stupid enough to beleive it..Earner

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  15. Richard Petersen2:45 PM

    All thanks to NAPA Autp Parts, Martin Truex Jr is now job hunting for a new team. I for one am not going to sit here and bash MWR or Clint Bowyer like any of you sick fans that do. If Clint said he didn't do it, then he didn't do it. Whatever, just move on. Bashing Bowyer is one thing, but going after MWR as a whole is another. Jimmie Johnson's team has been caught cheating on camera already, are we gunna go after Hendrick Motorsports all together? Michael Waltrip has already explained to you guy that the team is new and is still learning and took responsibility for their actions. If none of you can't accept that, then that's your problem. I for one have no reason to bash on the team and hope everyone involved comes out successful.

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  16. Anonymous3:38 PM

    Truex and NAPA will end up at JGR next year so he can run both CUP and Nationwide.

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  17. Anonymous4:43 PM

    Mickey made a mistake, but not the mistake everyone's accusing him of. His team got caught. This sort of stuff happens all the time in racing. Most of the time you don't hear about it because the people on the radio aren't stupid enough to make it obvious that Clint's spin was on purpose. And make no bones about it, Clint span on purpose. "Your arm is itchy - Scratch it!". Duh! So NASCAR didn't punish MWR for cheating. They punished them for making themselves look like idiots. And Clint should be punished for being the biggest idiot of all actually going through with the spin. Martin got screwed because his teammates are idiots.

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  18. Anonymous5:05 PM

    Michael made all the decisions, and paid the price, he did it for his sponsor and for Martin and for holding onto Napa to keep MWR healthy it means jobs. I do not think he was selfish I just don't think we have seen this type of Penalty before in Nascar and Nascar used MWR as example this is not what we want to happen moving forward. Nascar I am sure cares what happen to Napa but I think at the end of the day Napa and Martin will end up together at JGR I am sure Toyota want to keep him in the mix if not he off to RCR can;t see Furniture Row Racing personally Kurt Bush is the reason and only reason there running fast he wheel man. Anyway Michael Manages his team like he use to driver he just continues to run out of talent and his talent was limited look at his record and his current race team match his success. Fans have him label as cheater and because his names on the team it also get that label. I think a name change and let the money man hire media Manager to run the team and name change is in order, they will live another day.

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  19. Do a lot of you not understand that it wasn't just Clint Bowyer's spin that brought this on?? Ty Norris told Brian Vickers to pit! That allowed position changes in the standings that led to this whole mess!! That's the short version!!

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