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Michael Waltrip Racing's improved performance helped lure Martin Truex Jr.
By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Michael Waltrip Racing team co-owner Michael Waltrip has built his organization to a competitive level this season, a factor when he began seeking a new driver.
Sam Cranston
NASCAR Scene
CORNELIUS, N.C. – Michael Waltrip Racing’s success in hiring Martin Truex Jr. away from Earnahrdt Ganassi Racing was more than a case of the organization landing a driver who once made NASCAR's Chase For The Sprint Cup.
It was the hiring of a driver whose name had been mentioned with the sport’s elite teams, including Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing.
Granted, Truex is currently just 24th in points, but several of the top teams could have had Truex, and he ended up at MWR as the new NAPA-sponsored driver. The move appeared to signify that MWR, while not at the level of Hendrick or JGR, has put itself in position to get there.
Truex is going to an organization that struggled in its first year in 2007 with cars 39th, 40th and 41st in owner points. In 2008, there was some improvement with the organization’s three cars finishing 26th, 29th and 36th. The third car was part of an alignment with JTG Daugherty Racing.
But in 2009, driver David Reutimann won at Lowe’s Motor Speedway and is 14th in the standings, just 74 points outside the Chase cutoff. Marcos Ambrose, in the JTG Daugherty Racing entry fielded from the MWR shop, is having a solid first full season at 18th in points. Only Michael Waltrip has struggled at 33rd in points, and he decided it was time to put Truex in the car.
“If we had failed in 2009, we would have failed forever,” MWR general manager Ty Norris said following the Tuesday announcement of Truex’s hiring. “Fortunately for us, we were successful. We’ve turned a lot of heads this year, and that’s probably the thing that we’re most proud of. If we would have failed in 2009 and not have been competitive on the race track, I don’t think we would have had the ability to re-sign NAPA.
“NAPA had to believe in two things: They had to believe in the organization and the driver. It wasn’t enough to just [have] a driver change, the organization [had] to prove it was ready to compete. If we weren’t showing we were ready to compete, as an organization, NAPA would have been forced to do something different, and quite honestly I don’t think we would have been able to recruit, in our minds, the top free agent.”
The recruiting process didn’t begin this year with the Daytona 500. It began last November when Norris decided to help the Truex family run a Camping World East program for Martin’s brother, Ryan. Martin Truex Jr. is a partner in that team as he bought the cars. His father, Martin Truex Sr., also has a stake in the program.
“The very first job that Martin had where he got paid by someone other than his dad, Ty was the one who hired him,” MWR Executive Vice President Cal Wells said. “[Martin Truex] Sr. had the faith and trust in Ty. Ty wouldn’t lie to to him. Ty wouldn’t b.s. him. He would say ‘Hey we’ve really got something here, and we’ve got a window of opportunity, and if you want to jump in this kayak here, we’ve got some great places to take you.’ … There were no strings, there were no obligations [with the East team].
“It was just a matter of saying, ‘You know, if you really want to know what the DNA of the company is, you have got to be here every day.’ So we created a portal to say what is this place really like. How will they take care of my little brother? What are these guys really about? We had to prove ourselves [that] we were the right place.”
Norris said the move wasn’t guaranteed to work.
“It was risky,” Norris said. “It would have been just as easy [for Ryan Truex] to say, ‘This guy doesn’t like that guy, and there is a lot of tension and issues.’ Fortunately for us we were able to show ourselves as an organization that was moving forward.”
Truex Jr. said Norris was instrumental in bringing him over, but he had to see a difference on the race track and in the organization itself.
“The way Reutimann ran in the second half of last year and throughout this year, they showed the speed consistently,” Truex said. “They showed really good speed. That’s a good thing. Coupled along with NAPA and Toyota and all the support they get, they have their game plan together and know where they’re headed. … I have a lot of friends who work here, and I talk to them.
“That goes a long when you talk to an employee and get their take on things. It’s hard for you to know. You talk to people and get their opinions. And so far, everybody loves it. That’s important in building in race teams.”
MWR not only showed it was ready to have Truex, it showed to NAPA that it was ready to be one of the top teams that can attract one of the top drivers.
“When Michael approached us with his Michael Waltrip Racing idea, we felt that was a real opportunity for us and NAPA to do something special for the sport,” said NAPA President Bob Susor. “After a somewhat rough start, we find ourselves here today. … NAPA believes in Michael Waltrip, and we believe in his vision for Michael Waltrip Racing.”
That belief wasn’t solidified until this year, as Norris recalled a meeting with NAPA officials, MWR executives and Truex.
“NAPA basically said, ‘Every organization in NASCAR has come to our office and called and said, ‘If you come sponsor us, we can hire Martin Truex Jr.,’ so why Michael Waltrip Racing?’” Norris said. “Martin answered it perfectly: I have the opportunity now to be my own man. I’m not going to be the fourth driver in an organization or a third driver of an organization.
“This is the time for him to step out of the shadows of Dale [Earnhardt] Jr. a little bit, not walk into the shadows of Kyle Busch or Denny Hamlin. He can come in here and make an immediate impact. The situation was right with the sponsors and our team. And a lot has to be said of the manufacturer.”
So what’s next for this organization? Waltrip is going to run a part-time schedule next year, but whether the races will be exclusively in MWR cars or an affiliate remains to be seen. The organization could add a fourth full-time car, but Wells isn’t planning on it.
“We don’t need to rush out and grab a fourth car; we don’t need to rush out and do more,” Wells said. “Time will allow us to do well. I think we have a shot of putting one or more cars in the Chase next year, for sure. For a young, virtually virgin organization in three years to be in the position we’re in is fantastic.
“We’re not going to do anything that would challenge the core product. Michael is not about challenging the core product, so we can slide corners for a weekend. He’s about building a championship organization. He has proved that by making the decision he has made.”
Waltrip was all smiles at the announcement, and Wells said observers should not downplay Waltrip’s role in the hiring of Truex, which in the future might be considered one of the key decisions in the growth of the team.
“As far as Michael goes, we could have ridden this another year, but Martin was available now,” Wells said. “He was out of the contract. The door was open, and it was going to close, and we just had to work our way of getting in.”
Maybe Waltrip was all smiles because his building still had cars in it and people working in it. And people were smiling and excited.
“There has been a time or two when I thought maybe it was going to say ‘For Sale’ or ‘For Lease’ out front instead of ‘Michael Waltrip Racing,’” Waltrip said. “But we pushed through, and we’ve made this place a formidable competitor to the rest.”
Mentioned Drivers: Martin Truex Jr.
2009 Sprint Cup Race for the Chase Standings
Driver Standings after the AMP Energy 500
| 1 | Jimmie Johnson | 6248 |
| 2 | Mark Martin | -184 |
| 3 | Jeff Gordon | -192 |
| 4 | Juan Pablo Montoya | -239 |
| 5 | Tony Stewart | -279 |
| 6 | Kurt Busch | -312 |
| 7 | Greg Biffle | -340 |
| 8 | Ryan Newman | -402 |
| 9 | Kasey Kahne | -414 |
| 10 | Carl Edwards | -437 |
| 11 | Denny Hamlin | -448 |
| 12 | Brian Vickers | -556 |
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7 responses to "Michael Waltrip Racing's improved performance helped lure Martin Truex Jr.". Post a Comment.
Bill8848 said:
Jul 8, 2009 at 12:51 PMWith Truex on this team,and Napa staying on as the sponsor,will only make MWR stronger. The team as a whole has been competitive most of the races. Reutimann has been the best car with qualifying and race set-up,Truex is definate a plus.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportjerryswiatek said:
Jul 8, 2009 at 3:35 PMYa! Tony seems to be able to drive and own but It don't seem like that is Micheals bag. But I like him a lot and hope his team does better with Truex.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportbthompson133 said:
Jul 8, 2009 at 3:42 PMeverybody else passed on truex, what does that tell you
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» Confirm Abuse Reportjohndonnastark said:
Jul 8, 2009 at 4:33 PMMWR's driver position has been bettered by an average of 9 the last two years. With Truex replacing MW they should do the same next year. That could put maybe two cars in the Chase.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportmotorsportsphotography said:
Jul 8, 2009 at 5:35 PMMartin has done better in the last 3 years than the guy that has brought him into this sport. As far as nobody wanting him. several teams wanted him but MWR gave him a super contract with a super paycheck. I cant wait for him to come out next year to the Toyota Midway.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportrspweaver55 said:
Jul 8, 2009 at 7:01 PMGood luck Mikey and MWR!!!! Will always be a Michael Waltrip and MWR fan FOREVER!!! Welcome to the MWR family Martin Truex Jr. Good luck in 2010!!!!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportSS396Chevelle said:
Jul 9, 2009 at 9:43 AMYou said it all #5 a super contract and super paycheck for an average at best driver. I wonder how David feels with his less then super paycheck, being the Franchise.
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