tool name
closeTruex, DEI come to terms
Driver to return in 2009; formal announcement expected Friday
DAVID POOLE
The Charlotte Observer
Wednesday, Aug. 06, 2008
NASCAR officials inspect Martin Truex Jr.'s car at Daytona International Speedway in early July. The penalty that followed has damaged the team's Chase prospects for 2008. File/AP
Martin Truex Jr. will be back in the No. 1 Chevrolets for Dale Earnhardt Inc. in 2009.
Truex will make that decision official Friday at Watkins Glen International, but The Charlotte Observer and ThatsRacin.com confirmed Wednesday evening that Truex has agreed to stay with the team he has been with for his entire Cup career.
Truex has had his name squarely in the Sprint Cup rumor mill much of the summer despite the fact that DEI picked up an option year on his contract earlier this year. Truex said there were some issues with that deal that needed to be worked out, but those were apparently settled within the past couple of weeks.
Truex made the Chase in 2007 after getting his first Cup victory at Dover. He wound up 11th in the standings a year ago.
He was fighting to stay in contention for a Chase spot this season until his team got a 150-point penalty for a rules infraction at a race at Daytona last month. He's now 17th in the standings and 248 points behind 12th-pace Clint Bowyer.
Keeping Truex figured to be particularly important for DEI, the company that lost Dale Earnhardt Jr. after last season.
Mark Martin is leaving DEI after this season to move to Hendrick Motorsports, where he and Earnhardt Jr. will be teammates. Aric Alimorla will take over full time in that car. DEI is also working on a long-term deal for Paul Menard, who drives the No. 15 Chevrolets.
The decision to stay with DEI takes Truex out of the mix in discussions about seats still open for 2009. His name had been linked with the No. 4 car at Stewart Haas Racing and also with the opening in a fourth car, the No. 33 Chevrolets, at Richard Childress Racing.