Sprint Cup Headline News, Commentary and Race Coverage

Looking For Sprint Cup News?...... Visit our home page for the latest news and rumors in the Sprint Cup Series along with commentary, weekly columns and race coverage







Click on button to go to
Home Page
Insider Racing News

SoldOutEventTickets.com
F1 Tickets
MotoGP Tickets




St. Jude Children's
Research Hospital


Insider Racing News
Copyright © 2000-2010. All Rights Reserved.

Sprint Cup® and NASCAR® are registered trademarks of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. This web site is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by NASCAR®. The official NASCAR® website is "NASCAR® Online" and is located at.. www.NASCAR.com


Emotional Control Contributes To Martin Truex Jr.'s Success

An Opinion



Follow Brenda On Twitter





June 5, 2010

By Brenda Benedict

Brenda Benedict



As the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup season progresses we are seeing tempers flare almost every race. We saw it a few weeks ago with Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon. Gordon was so frustrated that he actually used a mild 4 letter word in discussing his feelings toward Johnson.

This past week at Charlotte Motor Speedway we had Jeff Burton trying to point out to Kyle Busch the importance of using your head while racing. A normally easy-going driver, Burton confronted Busch after the race, shaking his finger at Busch to emphasis his point. Busch was uncharacteristically quiet, which seemed like a wise response to the angry Burton.

Busch has been the center of several controversies. His actions at Charlotte Motor Speedway after the All-Star Race bordered on a tantrum. Busch became livid when he thought that Hamlin's block of him cost him the victory. There were angry words from Busch and then he went stomping into Denny Hamlin's #11 hauler. After team owner Joe Gibbs came in to settle Busch down, Busch stormed off without speaking to the media. This behavior has become characteristic of Kyle Busch when he doesn't finish a race where he expected to.

Last week at Charlotte Motor Speedway, I spent some time at the pit stall of Martin Truex Jr. I saw a team that worked well together during the All-Star Showdown. There were no tantrums here. This is a team focused on winning and not placing the blame on anyone when things don't go well.

Truex explained his personality while racing at a recent NASCAR press conference.

"Yeah, I think it's expected that people are going to lose their tempers at times. I get fired up in the car just as much as anybody else does. I think my calm demeanor helps me in the race car stay calm at times, more calm than some would at certain points in the race. There's a lot of times that that's very important. You got to keep your focus in there and keep focused on the goals, the challenges ahead of you."

Truex's personal skills seem to be working for him this year. Martin Truex Jr. is currently sitting 14th in the NASCAR Sprint Cup just 14 points out of 12th position which would put him in the Chase to the Championship.

Truex is in his first year with Michael Waltrip Racing. He left Earnhardt-Gnassi Racing at the end of last year to run the #56 car. Truex's father used that number when he raced in NASCAR's K & N Pro Series in the 1990's.

The move to Michael Waltrip Racing is going well for Truex. This year he has had 1 top-five and 4 top-ten finishes. He also earned the pole at Dover.

His most impressive work was in the All-Star Showdown which he won. This allowed him to enter the All-Star Race where he placed second. However, there were no points awarded for the All-Star Race.

All this achievement is better than his showing last year. Truex was 19th this time last year

Truex spoke of his decision to leave Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing last season. He said, "Hardest part about it was making the decision, pulling the trigger to do it. Everything has been going really well. The team has done a great job. They've got great leaders."

I expect we will continue to see Martin Truex Jr. do well and I wouldn't be surprised to see him make the Chase this fall. The emotional control exhibited so far will do much to help him grab some good finishes over the summer.

Truex said it himself, "You know, it works out for me sometimes."


You can follow me at Twitter @nascarfaithful




You can contact Brenda Benedict at .. Insider Racing News

You Can Read Other Articles By Brenda



The thoughts and ideas expressed by this writer or any other writer on Insider Racing News, are not necessarily the views of the staff and/or management of IRN.

return to top
Google
 
affiliate_link