Friday was a full day for Martin Truex Jr., as he was busy with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice and qualifying. However, he was still kind enough to take a few minutes to answer some questions for us regarding Schick’s contest running on Facebook, Hurricane Sandy and his season thus far.
TIREBALL: With the promotion that Schick is running there are bound to be some interesting hairdos. Is there a hair cut from your past you’re not too fond of?
TRUEX JR: Ha ha. No, I’ve never been the kind of person to go with really wild hairdos. Last year during a Schick promotion, I helped shave a guy’s head at Michigan and that was quite interesting. I’ve had a blast with Schick doing things like this. But, I’m not sure I have what it takes to come up with something that wild!
On Schicks Facebook page they are asking fans to submit a photo of them self with the No.56 shaved somewhere onto an (appropriate) body part. The grand prize winner gets a VIP trip to Las Vegas plus their name painted on the car. Truex Jr. is even picking the final winner himself!
Truex Jr. originally resides from Mayetta, NJ — so when Hurricane Sandy left her destruction on the East Coast, it hit close to home as his family and friends still reside in the area. The Martin Truex Jr. Foundation has been working hard to help residents recover from the devastation the storm wrecked on the area and would love your help.
TIREBALL: How are your parents and relatives doing from the effects of Hurricane Sandy?
TRUEX JR: We had some damage, but compared to others we are very fortunate. It’s all about getting those people help now.
TIREBALL: The Martin Truex Jr Foundation is accepting donations and filling a trailer of supplies to take to New Jersey? How are those efforts coming along?
TRUEX JR: I’ve heard a lot of stories from friends and family about folks who lost everything due to the storm. It’s going to take time and a lot of hard work to get these people back to normal. Right now, the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation continues to accept monetary donations and now we are collecting items like gift cards, cleaning supplies, baby food, batteries, new blankets and new towels. Please visit the foundation’s web site for the items we need to collect for N.J. I want to thank all the NASCAR fans as well as my sponsor NAPA AUTO PARTS and partners Bass Pro Shops and Schick for supporting this important cause. I really appreciate it.
Truex Jr. is having his best season yet in the Cup Series with Michael Waltrip Racing. He has 18 top ten, and 7 top five finishes on the season. He was one of two MWR drivers that made NASCARs “post season” Chase where he currently resides in ninth.
TIREBALL: To switch things up a bit and talk about racing. Phoenix was repaved before last falls race. How much has has the track changed from then until now?
TRUEX JR: I always look forward to Phoenix. It’s a great track. Since they repaved it, it’s been really cool with the changes. And looking back at all the repaves this year, this NAPA team has done really well at all of them. We never finished lower than 10th so that’s pretty decent. I expect Phoenix to be one of those places that keeps getting better and better. It sat all summer long and that should help it a bunch and weather that asphalt even more. We got a second groove to work back in the spring so it should be even better now. Phoenix is one of my favorite tracks so hopefully I can go out and win it in the NAPA Toyota.
TIREBALL: How much of the information that your team collects about Phoenix this weekend will you be able to apply to the new car for 2013?
TRUEX JR: That’s a great question. We haven’t had that much time with the new car so you will have to ask again when we come back here next year.
TIREBALL: MWR is having its best season. Two drivers qualified for the NASCAR Chase, what is the biggest thing you can take from this season going into 2013?
TRUEX JR: We have high expectations for 2013 but right now we are in the middle of the Chase and a lot of work left to do this year.
