Truex Jr. will be back in DEI's No. 1 Chevrolet for 2009

By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor

Wednesday, August 06, 2008

Article Rating: 3.7
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Jerry Markland / Getty Images

Jerry Markland / Getty Images

Martin Truex Jr. has re-signed with Dale Earnhardt Inc. for next season, multiple sources confirmed Wednesday.
 
DEI picked up the option on Truex, who is in his third year competing in Cup for DEI, but both sides had to agree to terms of the extension. Truex has said in the last couple of months that he was having good discussions with DEI, but the 28-year-old was still considered one of the top free agents available until he signed.
 
Truex made the Chase For The NASCAR Sprint Cup last year but is 17th in the standings, 248 points out of 12th with five races remaining until the Chase field is determined. A 150-point penalty for an infraction last month at Daytona International Speedway severely hindered Truex’s chance to make the Chase.
 
Truex has one career win, coming at Dover in June 2007. He won back-to-back Busch Series titles in 2004 and 2005 driving for Chance 2 Motorsports, which was owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and DEI.
 
His decision to remain at DEI should help stabilize a team that faced the prospect of losing both of its top drivers for next season. Mark Martin, who is driving a partial schedule in the No. 8 car, is leaving to drive for Hendrick Motorsports. Aric Almirola, who is driving the No. 8 car when Martin isn’t in the seat, will drive full time in that car next season. That team has been sponsored by the U.S. Army this year but the Army has yet to re-sign for next season.
 
DEI also must re-sign Paul Menard, who brings with him the family’s Menards sponsorship to the team. The fourth DEI car, driven by Regan Smith, has had partial sponsorship this year.

DEI officials said there would be no news release on his re-signing today.

Average Rating: 3.7

Comments

15 responses to "Truex Jr. will be back in DEI's No. 1 Chevrolet for 2009"
  1. 1
    Steven O'Shields said:
    Aug 6, 2008 at 5:02 PM

    I personally can't believe this. I would have surely thought that he would have left but for some reason, he stayed. Wish him the best of luck with the below par stuff at DEI.

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  2. 2
    Ashley said:
    Aug 6, 2008 at 5:38 PM

    I can't really blame Martin for this at all. I suspect MAJOR moolah was thrown on the table so DEI wouldn't lose ALL their "marquee" names next year. Plus, there's a LOT of drivers moving around in 2009! By this time next year, I would NOT be surprised to hear Dale Jr will move Keselowski to Cup (he's already threatened to do just that if Nascar mandates some type of COT in the Nationwide series). So, if Junior moves Brad to Cup-- what's to stop him from seating MARTIN in a SECOND JR Motorsports Cup ride starting in 2010? You can see Junior thinking intently when he discusses his future and what he's going to do when he can't/won't drive anymore. Rick Hendrick is not getting any younger. Junior should really start building his future now... and I think that's EXACTLY what he's doing!

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  3. 3
    marsha gill said:
    Aug 6, 2008 at 6:24 PM

    I was really shocked to hear that Martin is staying at DEI next year.I thought for sure that he would be considered for the 4th car at Childress.Guess Teresa got out the bucks to keep him there.I really like Martin and if that makes him happy,good for him.

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  4. 4
    John Lockhart said:
    Aug 6, 2008 at 6:35 PM

    I wonder what Terresa is going to make Truex do,(agree to terms)I'm betting she won't tell us.She had to know that Martin Jr.wants to be with Dale Jr;thats why she kept him.But she has to make it look like it was under her terms.Best of luck Martin!

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  5. 5
    Jay said:
    Aug 6, 2008 at 8:14 PM

    Something is fishy there? Has a public blow-up with Siegal and then signs a week or two later? It don't add up

    Report as Abuse
  6. 6
    emily bagwell said:
    Aug 6, 2008 at 8:52 PM

    TE probably throwed the big bucks and put the screws on about the option DEI had to pick up Truex through 2009. Truex may be smartwer than we think---may be taking the big bucks and waitng on something in the wings for 2010. or Teresa may have exerted her option without the big bucks---she likes to squeeze a dollar!

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  7. 7
    emily bagwell said:
    Aug 6, 2008 at 8:56 PM

    TE probably throwed the big bucks and put the screws on about the option DEI had to pick up Truex through 2009. Truex may be smarter than we think---may be taking the big bucks and waitng on something in the wings for 2010. or Teresa may have exerted her option without the big bucks---she likes to squeeze a dollar!

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  8. 8
    Patrick Dron said:
    Aug 6, 2008 at 9:03 PM

    DEI did make a good decision in reupping Martin to stay with them through next year. and a lot of the DEI or 'TEI' haters probably don't realize that Martin likes it at DEI and gets along with the people over there. and he's loyal too which is a big plus. DEI can only get better from here on out.

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  9. 9
    robert mcleester said:
    Aug 6, 2008 at 9:34 PM

    its said you have to learn how to lose before you know how to win. martin is in the right place. 2010 maybe he will know how to win,someplace other than dei.

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  10. 10
    Barb Kinney said:
    Aug 7, 2008 at 10:05 AM

    The best to Martin and the rest of the DEI drivers at DEI in 2009.

    Report as Abuse
  11. 11
    Tommy Thompson said:
    Aug 7, 2008 at 10:20 AM

    As CRAZY as it drives Junior loyalists, seems Teresa is surviving without him. Since she refused to turn over control of HER company to him and his sister she has aquired the Ginn assetts, aligned her engine program with Childress' and continues to fund 4-teams. Now...all she needs is to secure a outside partnership like Roush, Evernham, etc... has and she'll be in an even better position. Well, that...and getting more than Martin running competitively.

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  12. 12
    Linda Pickering said:
    Aug 7, 2008 at 11:19 AM

    Really happy Martin resigned and has some loyalty to DEI. He made his decision despite all the negative attitudes towards DEI since Jr. left. Jr and Kelley didn't get control of DEI so Jr walked and that's fine it was his decision. DEI was and still is Teresa's company (despite what everyone thinks Sr intended). Way to go Martin and DEI you still have a lot of people pulling for you and hoping Martin and DEI a lot of future success together despite Jr's self proclaimed "true" fans trashing DEI and Teresa for the last year in a half. Along with the Nascar reporters who are suppose to be "professionals".

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  13. 13
    robert mcleester said:
    Aug 7, 2008 at 7:01 PM

    #11 you got it right dei is surviving,not winning,not going to be in the chase,just surviving,for now that is. #12 do you realy believe if dale sr was alive today jr would be at hendrick and teresa would be calling the shots at dei?

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  14. 14
    anonymous said:
    Aug 8, 2008 at 4:56 AM

    TEI made all the changes, i.e. Ginn racing, Childress engines AFTER Jr. left. Funny how she didn't care about all the blown engines Jr had last year. Merge with an investor????? Sr would flip over. Tarnish the Earnhardt name with a partners name. Should never happen if she is running the company so well.

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  15. 15
    4da88 said:
    Aug 12, 2008 at 6:04 PM

    Emily, I think you are right on. Well said.

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