Truex to Try ‘New Ideas’ at Charlotte Motor Speedway

CORNELIUS, N.C. — Charlotte Motor Speedway is the site of more than just good racing this weekend. Joining NASCAR Nationwide and Sprint Cup races is Friday’s final round of the year-long Freightliner Trucks Run Smart™ Hauler Challenge.

No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota hauler drivers William “Stump” Lewis and Tony Sessions are two of the final four drivers competing for the $7,000 grand prize. Sessions is the defending winner while Lewis is a two-time champion with victories in 2007 and 2009. This year’s truck challenge will have at least one very interested spectator in Martin Truex Jr.

MARTIN TRUEX JR. ON FREIGHTLINER CHALLENGE: “I have the best truck drivers in NASCAR in Stump and Tony. Those guys and all the truck drivers are the unsung heroes of our sport. Think about it. We run about 500 miles most weekends. Those guys log 70,000 miles a year. They drive one of the biggest billboards that NAPA has and inside are all of our cars and equipment. That’s a heck of responsibility. When we are all flying home after a race they are pulling an overnighter to get back to the shop. I appreciate the dedication all the truck drivers in NASCAR have because they spend so much time away from home. It’s only fitting that they compete here in Charlotte in front of all their families, friends and teammates. I’m going to tell them good luck this weekend like they do for me every week. I think it would be cool to see NAPA in victory lane at Charlotte on Friday with those guys and with all of us Saturday night.”

TRUEX ON RACING AT CHARLOTTE: “With the stretch we have been on, it is certainly nice to be home this week. It is always such a big week for us. Like last week, Chad (crew chief-Johnston) has some new ideas that we are going to go there and see how our NAPA Toyota performs. We think it will be fast. We had a pretty good run at Charlotte in the spring and that’s great considering this track has been tough on me. It hasn’t been one of my best tracks but I feel like we had a really good car there last time so I am looking forward to going back with Chad to see if we can turn a top-10 finish into a top-five or even a win. Obviously a win is what we are shooting for.”

TV SCHEDULE (All times Eastern Standard Time):

Thursday, October 10

3:30 PM                     NSCS Practice                                                                    FOXSports1

7:00 PM                     NSCS Coors Light Pole Qualifying                               ESPN2

Friday, October 11

3:00 PM                     NSCS Practice Charlotte                                                  FOXSports2

5:30 PM                     NSCS Final Practice Charlotte                                       FOXSports2

Saturday, October 12

5:00 PM                     NASCAR RaceDay                                                             FOXSports2

7:00 PM                     NSCS Countdown  Charlotte                                          ABC

7:30 PM                     NSCS: Bank of America 500 Charlotte                         ABC

NAPA Shocks:

Now through October 31 at participating NAPA AUTO PARTS stores, NAPA AutoCare Centers or participating repair shops, fans can get four NAPA Shocks and Struts for the price of three after a mail-in offer. Plus, they can also get back a $25 Car Care Cash Service Card via mail in offer good for repairs at a NAPA AutoCare Center or participating repair shop.

Truex at Charlotte:

In 16 Cup Series starts, Truex owns four top-10 finishes, two of them came behind the wheel of the No. 56 Toyota. His average start is 19th and finish is 18th.