by Steve Waid
Now that Dale Earnhardt Jr. is leaving DEI at the end of the season, what does that mean for Martin Truex Jr.?
Earnhardt Jr. is a magnet for the fans and media alike. He’s a sponsor’s dream. He has already won races and has assumed the mantle as NASCAR’s most popular driver. And since he announced his impending departure, he’s been the source of constant speculation – in print and over the airwaves.
As a result, Truex hasn’t been much more than an afterthought.
But it could be that he’ll be DEI’s No. 1 driver after Earnhardt Jr. leaves. It’s a logical assumption.
I would think that would appeal to Truex, who is in only his second full year of Nextel Cup competition.
He’d have the opportunity to move out of Earnhardt Jr.’s shadow. He might get more consideration from sponsors. As the top dog at DEI, it follows that he could gain more attention from the press, and perhaps the fans.
And if DEI reaches its goal of improved competition, as it has told us it intends to do even without Earnhardt Jr., Truex would have an opportunity to raise his on-track performance level – not to suggest that it’s poor.
But even Truex would say it could be better and adds that his team is working hard to make it so.
However, DEI has told us that it has already talked to several drivers, some of them with “surprising” names.
Naturally, DEI wants to sign the best driver possible and given the nature of Nextel Cup racing – where some talented competitors seem to think the grass is greener on the other side – it might bag a blockbuster name.
So would Truex still remain the No. 2 guy? And how would he feel about that?
Truex has said he intends to remain at DEI. He’s excited about its future.
He’s probably optimistic about his, too. He might just have the chance to move into the spotlight.
STILL SHAMELESS: Listen to Steve on The Sporting News Radio’s “The Dave Smith Show” at 3:45 p.m. EDT on Wednesdays, “The Tony Bruno Show” at 12:45 p.m. EDT on Fridays and “The Inside Track” from 9-10 a.m. on Saturdays. Check out http://radio.sportingnews.com.
Now that Dale Earnhardt Jr. is leaving DEI at the end of the season, what does that mean for Martin Truex Jr.?
Earnhardt Jr. is a magnet for the fans and media alike. He’s a sponsor’s dream. He has already won races and has assumed the mantle as NASCAR’s most popular driver. And since he announced his impending departure, he’s been the source of constant speculation – in print and over the airwaves.
As a result, Truex hasn’t been much more than an afterthought.
But it could be that he’ll be DEI’s No. 1 driver after Earnhardt Jr. leaves. It’s a logical assumption.
I would think that would appeal to Truex, who is in only his second full year of Nextel Cup competition.
He’d have the opportunity to move out of Earnhardt Jr.’s shadow. He might get more consideration from sponsors. As the top dog at DEI, it follows that he could gain more attention from the press, and perhaps the fans.
And if DEI reaches its goal of improved competition, as it has told us it intends to do even without Earnhardt Jr., Truex would have an opportunity to raise his on-track performance level – not to suggest that it’s poor.
But even Truex would say it could be better and adds that his team is working hard to make it so.
However, DEI has told us that it has already talked to several drivers, some of them with “surprising” names.
Naturally, DEI wants to sign the best driver possible and given the nature of Nextel Cup racing – where some talented competitors seem to think the grass is greener on the other side – it might bag a blockbuster name.
So would Truex still remain the No. 2 guy? And how would he feel about that?
Truex has said he intends to remain at DEI. He’s excited about its future.
He’s probably optimistic about his, too. He might just have the chance to move into the spotlight.
STILL SHAMELESS: Listen to Steve on The Sporting News Radio’s “The Dave Smith Show” at 3:45 p.m. EDT on Wednesdays, “The Tony Bruno Show” at 12:45 p.m. EDT on Fridays and “The Inside Track” from 9-10 a.m. on Saturdays. Check out http://radio.sportingnews.com.