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