Truex safe with Junior, to dad's relief

Martin Truex Sr. was worried about the influence Dale Earnhardt Jr. might have on his son, but it has all worked.

By BRANT JAMES
Published February 19, 2005

DAYTONA BEACH - Martin Truex Sr. had heard the rumors. There were the parties, the long nights out, the rock star life.

So it was with great skepticism that the longtime New Jersey stock car racer pondered Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s offer of a lifetime to his son, an opportunity to drive his Chance 2 Motorsports Busch series car. Two good seasons in the series could lead to a ride with one of the most resourceful teams in Nextel Cup.

"He had a lot of confidence in his son but he was worried, I think, about what kind of example I might set for him," Dale Earnhardt Jr. said. "You know how that is, everybody hears stories."

Truex gave his permission because he had dedicated large portions of his hope and money to set up this kind of opportunity for his 24-year-old son. He just hoped he could handle it. Then Earnhardt made his decision a lot easier.

"Me and Junior sat down and he said, "I want to bring Martin down to Mooresville and I want him to live with me. Is that all right?' " the 46-year-old Truex Sr. said. "I said, "Well, it's up to you guys' and he said, "No, damn it, you're part of this, too. You're part of this decision.' "

It's a decision Truex Sr. quickly came to appreciate. His son had two top 10s in four starts for Chance 2 in 2003 and in his first full season last year won the championship, clinching in the next-to-last race at Darlington. And he has stayed mostly free of the type of foolishness his father worried would damage his career. There have been groggy mornings, for sure, but the fun has apparently not affected the racing.

"I think a lot of people had (preconceived notions) about Junior," Truex Jr. said. "I didn't. I'd never met him. He wasn't going to be a bad influence. I think (Truex Sr.) has been pretty happy for how things have gone."

And Truex Sr.'s affinity for Earnhardt has grown as he has come to understand him as a person.

"Junior has a big heart," he said. "I know he doesn't show it a lot of times because he is trying to do whatever, but when you get to know him, he's a good person."

As an owner of Sea Watch International, "the world's largest harvester and processor of clam products," according to company literature, he appreciates a businessman with a plan.

"Dale Jr. is all about being the very best he can be. Believe me," Truex Sr. said.

"I see Martin's dad, he comes to the shop every once in a while and he comes to the track a lot, and to see the look on his face is probably one of the bigger rewards of this whole deal," Earnhardt said. "To see how happy he is and relieved he is to see how well things have worked out for all of us."

Truex Sr.'s interest in his son's career was heightened because he walked away from his very successful experience in the NASCAR modified and Busch North series to help his son. Truex Sr. planned to race a half-season in the Busch North series with Truex Jr., a rookie in 2000, but quit after three races and poured all of his resources into his son's team.

"It really wasn't a conversation. It really wasn't up to me," Truex Jr. said. "He said, "You're in there, this is what were doing.' I don't know how anybody would be able to do that. I can't say I'd ever be able to do that, but then again, I don't have a son that's 19 years old doing well and wanting to go on.

"I think a big part of it is I'm living my dad's dream too. But he built a family and a business and took that real serious and never really had the opportunity to work. He told me he was having so much fun watching me, he was going to quit. And that meant a lot to me."

A member of Truex Jr.'s Busch North crew pointed him out to friend Richie Gilmore, DEI director of motorsports. Truex and Earnhardt happened to be testing cars at Richmond within the next few weeks and struck up a conversation. Earnhardt invited him to take his car for a spin, and when he lost his chance because of rain, Earnhardt put him in the car for the Richmond race. Truex led 11 laps before retiring with engine failure - and won over his eventual boss.

Truex and Earnhardt have become fast friends as well as teammates and driver and boss. Truex has moved out of Earnhardt's house and rents another house from him - "cheap," Truex said. Part of the connection, Truex said, is probably their upbringing.

"We were kind of brought up the same kind of way with dads racing," he said, "and they can be pretty hard on you. Having that connection, growing up in a racing family, it's something that we've always known, it's how it goes."

And they have a good time together, but in moderation.

"We have been able to go out and enjoy ourselves when we have had time but we have kept it straight and narrow for the most part," Earnhardt said.

[Last modified February 19, 2005, 00:57:17]