September 27, 2009
By Kim Roberson
Kim Roberson
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I am beginning to feel a little lucky when it comes to Michael Waltrip Racing.
Back in May I was on hand when the team won their first Cup race, thanks to David Reutimann and a little help from Mother Nature.
Friday, I found myself standing behind the No. 00 pit during the closing laps of the Camping World East Series race at Dover. It was the final race of the season for the CWE, and Michael Waltrip Racing’s No. 00 NAPA Toyota Camry was looking at taking home the Championship with rookie driver Ryan Truex. (Yes, he is the younger brother of soon to be MWR driver Martin Truex Jr.)
Ryan and Crew Chief Mike Greci had been the pair to beat for most of the season, and knew that only one car stood between them and the title coming into Friday’s race…the No. 71 of Eddie McDonald.
Ricci said they understood the challenge facing them, and planned accordingly. “We based our race strategy on racing the No. 71 car. We adjusted on it, and Ryan did really well…his feedback was excellent. We knew we had to race the No. 71…they have been a first class team all year.”
It wasn’t easy. The No. 00 qualified 6th, behind the 71, who started the race on the outside pole. They fought a rough handling car for most of the race, but Truex says he was never worried. “I knew we had a good car, and we could make it better. These guys are a championship caliber team. They know what they are doing, so I knew we would be alright.”
For most of the race, pole-sitter Brett Moffitt in the No. 44 and Joe Gibbs Racing driver Matt DiBenedetto, in the No. 18, battled for the lead. Truex stayed back in 5th or 6th, often getting noticeably loose coming off of Turn 4 (as did many of the drivers.) In the end, a close encounter with the No. 71 left some damage on the No. 00, and had team members in the pit, including the boss, looking anxiously from the car to the scoreboard and back.
Team owner Waltrip, along with Operations Manager Bobby Kennedy, and members representing Both MWR’s Cup and Nationwide teams, joined the regular crewmembers in cheering the No. 00 on. Truex’s father, Martin Truex Sr., joined Greci on top of the pit box, keeping a hawk-like eye on his youngest son.
As the laps wound down, more people crowded towards the pit stall. Waltrip walked around the pit from one side to the other, and after a successful pit stop, he personally thanked everyone on the team. He also kept his fans up to the minute in their effort, using his phone to snap pictures and post them on Twitter as the race came to a close.
Photo By Kim Roberson
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Ryan Truex Celebrates With Crew
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As the last 5 laps played out, Truex dropped from 6th to 8th, just ahead of MacDonald, but that is all he needed to do. The crew climbed up on the pit road wall, raising first two, and then one finger as the last two laps ticked off…and when it was over, there were cheers, hugs, and high fives all around because while the No. 44 team won the race, the 00 team and their rookie driver won the Championship.
“We didn’t have the best car today…but we adjusted on the car and made it better,” explained Ryan after the race. “I just can’t say how much I appreciate everyone at Michael Waltrip Racing. Everyone on my team…this big dude (Greci), my brother, my fans, my family. I can’t tell you how much it means to me.”
Ryan is a quiet 17 year old who doesn’t have a lot of racetrack experience…he has really only been racing for just over three years, but according to his brother, once he decided he wanted to race, he was a natural.
“With limited experience…this was his first year in stock car...I’ve been very, very impressed with how he has handled himself behind the wheel and taking care of his equipment and going out and winning on tracks he has never seen. We’re thankful for MWR for giving him this opportunity," said a very proud Martin Truex Jr. as his little brother ran the media gauntlet. “It’s been really been a lot of fun to watch…it’s been exciting…I get like a little kid watching him, so it’s been an experience for me. It’s been a lot of fun and I’m very proud of what they’ve accomplished. “
For the brothers, it has given them a chance to bond over a sport that has been a part of their family their entire lives.
“We’ve spent more time together this year because of racing than we have because he’s been living at home with my parents and he is so much younger than I am," the elder Truex continued. (Martin is 12 years older than Ryan) "We haven’t spent a lot of time together these last five years or so…I’d see him at the race track or when I went to see racing with my dad. But up until (the last few years), he didn’t really seem all that interested in racing...then we got him a bandelaro, a couple of years ago, and then he was like 'What’s next?' -- because everything we have ever put him in, he’s been great.”
So what is next for Ryan Truex? He doesn’t turn 18 until early next year, so he isn’t old enough to move up to the next level…the Nationwide Series. Greci says he needs a little more seat time before he’s ready to move up. “He’s going to do some COT testing for us, we’re going to put him in some big body cars…he isn’t even age ready yet…he has plenty of time to go. He’s going to have to run some of the smaller tracks once he turns 18. You have to remember, he only raced last year in some legends and late model cars. He’s by far surpassed all of our expectations.”
As for being MWR’s first Champion, Ryan says “It is pretty special to get Michael Waltrip Racing their first championship, but it has been a team effort. Everyone back at the shop has helped out. Everyone working at the shop has just been really good to me, helping me. We just had great cars every week. I just can’t thank them enough.”
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