Truex Jr. closing in on decision about future

May 15, 8:31 PMCharlotte NASCAR ExaminerViv Bernstein

MOORESVILLE, N.C. - Martin Truex Jr. said Friday a decision on his future with Earnhardt Ganassi Racing will be made “sooner rather than later.’’ But Truex isn’t revealing the options he is weighing.

Truex is in the final year of his contract with the team, which came together this year following a merger between his former team, Dale Earnhardt Inc., and Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates. It has been a difficult transition at times and Truex, who made the playoff Chase in 2007, is 19th in points through the first 11 races this year. Teams take a break from the regular schedule this week for the All-Star Race on Saturday at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

“To be honest, I think we started the season probably a little farther behind than I thought we were gonna be with all that went on through the winter,’’ Truex said on Friday after signing autographs at Dale Earnhardt Inc. fan day. “The Ganassi bunch has really helped us a lot with our cars. We've gotten all of our cars on the same page as far as chassis and what we're running. Ever since we've done that, it's just been real easy for us. It was really just a bunch of hardware. We pretty much welded their front clip on there and we went to running fast. So that's been pretty neat.’’
 

Truex has two top-10 finishes in his last four races, including a sixth-place showing at Darlington last weekend. More than that, he says the working relationship with driver Juan Pablo Montoya is going well.

“The 1 and the 42 teams, I feel like the communication and the chemistry between the teams is probably the best I've ever seen between two teams,’’ Truex said. “We're really on the same page. We went testing together. And ever since we got our cars similar, it's just been really easy. We've been fast, both of us have been fast every week and the transfer of information has been really smooth. Seems like both Juan and I are running the same things in our cars and both kind of looking for the same things. It went a lot better than I even expected it to and it’s been a pleasant surprise.

“I really, really enjoy working with Juan. I think he's a great driver. I don't know if it's just me, but I seem to be able to get along with just about anyone. But I think he's a great guy, he's a great driver. On and off the track we've worked so well together this year. It's been really good.’’
 

Speculation is that Truex could replace Michael Waltrip in the No. 55 Toyota, become the third car for Stewart Haas Racing or race for his friend and former DEI teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr., who could move up his own JR Motorsports from Nationwide to Cup competition.
 

Truex didn’t comment on possible suitors. He did say the improved performance at Earnhardt Ganassi will factor into his decision. But it won’t be the determining factor.

“There's a lot of things that go into it,’’ he said. “That’s not the only thing. That definitely helps, yeah.’’