Truex still mum on where he'll drive in 2009
LONG POND, Pa. – Martin Truex Jr. said he is closer to deciding whether he will be back with Dale Earnhardt Inc. next year.
And that’s about all he’d say about his future on Friday at Pocono Raceway. DEI plans to pick up its option on Truex for next season but they have yet to come to terms.
“Yeah I’m closer [to deciding] – what else do you’ve got, there’s got to be something we could talk about that is better than that,” Truex said after qualifying. He later added, “You’ll know soon. It’s coming.”
The season has been a rough one on Truex, who enters the race Sunday at Pocono 17th in the standings and 216 points out of 12th with six races remaining before the Chase For The NASCAR Sprint Cup field is set.
He will compete in the next five races without suspended crew chief Kevin Manion and car chief Gary Putnam after an infraction at Daytona.
Mike Greci, whom Truex has worked with for a long time, is the acting crew chief and they first worked together last week at Indianapolis, where Truex finished 24th.
“I’ve worked with [Manion] for six years and he was the only guy I worked with,” Truex said. “It’s definitely been different. We’ve been in communication with [Manion] as much as possible between practices and stuff. Obviously, he’s the one in charge of getting the car prepared during the week.
“He’s in charge of the setup that’s in it when we unload and today we unloaded really good, so he’s doing a good job. It’s definitely different. Greci hasn’t worked on these cars much.”
Even though Greci has spent more time with the Nationwide cars in recent years, the crew knows him. He came to the team with Truex from their days of running in the series formerly known as the Busch North Series.
“He’s doing a good job with the guys keeping things organized,” Truex said. “That’s kind of why we picked him, because the guys know him and they get along well and they have a lot of respect for him. He’s been able to keep the troops rallied and keep things going smoothly.”
Truex went to Philadelphia Eagles training camp on Thursday.
“I had a really good time – it was cool,” said Truex, who grew up in New Jersey rooting for the Eagles. “They gave me a jersey with my number on it. [Kicker David] Akers gave me a helmet, so I gave him one of mine I had raced a few times this year. I just had a good time. … It was a pretty exciting day for me. I’m a big Eagles fan.”
