Getting Honest - Martin Truex Jr

Let’s get honest about Martin Truex Jr., how good is he? The eight year Cup veteran doesn’t have much to his name, stats wise since his back to back Nationwide Championships in 2004 and 2005.

Many expected the two-time Nationwide Series champ to explode when he entered the Sprint Cup Series, yet Truex struggled to achieve decent finishes in his rookie season. Truex won his first Sprint Cup Series race during his 2007 sophomore season, and collected 14 top ten’s finishing eleventh in Sprint Cup Series points. However, in the following seasons Truex struggled to produce similar results. At the conclusion of the 2009 season, Truex moved over to Michael Waltrip Racing, where he could be a leader.

 Faith was reborn in Truex with Michael Waltrip Racing as he was the first potential threat for the team, yet the same old story was read until 2013. Truex showed us a new version, stepping up in leading his team and as a result his best season to date. Finally the Truex NASCAR had waited for appeared, in a way. He wasn’t setting the Sprint Cup Series a blaze, yet he was a contender. So how good is Martin Truex Jr.? Honestly he is good, dependable for solid finish, yet this could change soon. Prepare to see a Truex like never before during the next few seasons.

Stating the obvious Furniture Row Racing along with their drivers, have worked hard to achieve their current stature. After last season Truex needs to make a serious statement about his capabilities, and a powerful one car team is the correct location. Bluntly, this could be one of his final chances to show us what Martin Truex Jr. can do. Is Truex good? Yeah he’s good, but this season we’re about to find out how good.

-Stephen Appell

A Season of Contentment

            While NASCAR’s silly season receives a somewhat early start thanks to Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle piloting the rumor mill, are we really in for a “silly season”? After last year’s silly season which had us all taking notes attempting to remember who was going where and why, be ready for a season of contentment in the Cup series.

            Last year NASCAR had what seemed like an endless amount of shake ups. Michael Waltrip Racing, Stewart-Haas, and Kyle Larson just to name a few. We should expect nothing less than a simple season, but why? The reason we will not see a crazy rumor filled season is simple, a lot of teams and drivers are at a point where contracts are still in their early or mid-stages, and large Cup teams aren’t yet ready for their young Nationwide driver. Ryan Newman at Richard Childress, Matt Kenseth at Joe Gibbs have just begun. Ty Dillon along with Ryan Blaney need at least one more season in Nationwide before going full time in Cup. Needless to say things will get exciting once Edwards and Biffle start hinting towards where they are headed, this is possibly the high point of silly season. Now this doesn’t mean these two are the extent of silly season. What else is there to expect?  Maybe a sponsor or two leaves a team, or crew chiefs change, don’t expect any big news.

            The green flag has flown over silly season with excitement levels rising as questions are yet to be answered, but don’t expect many changes in the lead story. If and when Biffle and Edwards leave where do they go? What happens to Roush Fenway? After these are answered not much is left, so we might as well throw the checkered flag too. Although a lot of season is left and circumstances can change quickly; conditions don’t appear adequate for a drama packed silly season where our heads are left spinning.
 
-Stephen Appell