Martin Truex Jr. off to best start in Sprint Cup career

MARTIN TRUEX JR. is enjoying the best start of his 10-year Sprint Cup racing career. He's second in points and in the last two races, at Kansas and Charlotte, he's led the most laps (226 combined). However, he finished ninth and fifth, respectively, so he is still pursuing his first win of the season.

Truex and his fast-minded racing rivals are heading to Dover International Speedway Sunday, the site of his first Cup series victory in 2007.

"The whole season has been a lot of fun," the Mayetta, N.J., native said yesterday in a phone interview. "Every week, there's so much anticipation going to the track to see what we've got."

While racing is Truex's profession and passion, he has other important things on his mind. His girlfriend, Sherry Pollex, underwent surgery for stage 3 ovarian cancer last August. Truex said Pollex, 35, is doing well.

Supporting Pollex, the daughter of Greg Pollex, a former NASCAR team owner, has given Truex a fresh perspective on what matters in life.

"I look at everything differently now," he said. "You don't know what tomorrow is going to bring. She's a lot tougher than most people. She's always been there for me. She was more worried about everybody else."

Pollex is vice president of the Martin Truex Foundation, which raises money for children and families as they deal with cancer.

"I'm so lucky to do what I do, to be healthy and having Sherry healthy," said Truex, 34.

That Truex is runner-up to Kevin Harvick in points is remarkable, because he drives for a single-car team. The No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet team is based in Denver; most Cup series teams are based in the Charlotte, N.C., area.

"It works well for us," Truex said. "There are some challenges travelwise, but the team figured out how to make it work a few years ago.

"There are advantages. The guys enjoy being out there away from everyone. You don't have the guy across the street trying to take your job. Some moved out there from North Carolina."

Truex has clicked with first-year crew chief Cole Pearn, a Canadian who studied engineering at the University of Waterloo, in Ontario.

"He was our lead engineer last year," Truex said. "We communicate well; we have similar personalities. Last year, I felt he understood what I was saying [about the race car]."

Truex said Pearn raced go-karts and then raced in the Canadian Tire series. When Pearn decided he wouldn't be the next Jimmie Johnson or Jeff Gordon, he decided to study engineering in college. And now he leads a successful Cup series team.

Many Cup drivers benefit from the feedback, resources and rivalries of having teammates. Truex is OK racing with a single-car team.

"What we have really works well," the two-time Nationwide (now Xfinity) series champion said. "Our guys are completely focused on our team. We have a great alliance with RCR [Richard Childress Racing supplies chassis]."

Truex began the season with seven consecutive top-10 finishes (best, second at Las Vegas). He's had only one finish out of the top 10, 29th at Bristol. Remarkable, considering last year Truex led only one lap all year. All they need now is a win.

"We're going to win a race this year, I guarantee that," he said confidently. "It's frustrating, because we could have two to three wins now if things had gone differently. It's been more circumstances than anything. So many things can take away your chances of winning."

When the opportunity to seize a win presents itself, a driver and team must embrace it. The sense is, Truex is ready to pounce.

FedEx 400
Benefiting Autism Speaks
Dover International Speedway, Dover, Del.

When: Sunday, 1 p.m.

TV/Radio: Fox Sports 1/WNPV (1440-AM)

Course: 1-mile oval

Distance: 400 laps/400 miles

Forecast: scattered thunderstorms, lower 80s

Last year's winner: Jimmie Johnson

Last year's pole: Brad Keselowski, 164.444 mph, track qualifying record

Track facts: The Dover race weekend includes a Camping World Truck Series race tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. (Fox Sports 1) and an Xfinity series race Saturday at 2:30 p.m. (Fox) ... In gaining his record ninth victory at Dover last year, Jimmie Johnson dominated, leading 272 of the 400 laps. Brad Keselowski was runner-up; Matt Kenseth was third. If Johnson wins his 10th race at Dover, he'll join only four other drivers who've won 10 races at tracks: Richard Petty and Darrell Waltrip, multiple tracks; Dale Earnhardt Sr., 10 at Talladega, and David Pearson, 10 at Darlington ... Johnson and Justin Allgaier's No. 51 team have received written warnings from NASCAR at two consecutive events. As a result, they will have the last two pit choices at Dover. NASCAR officials also found a prequalifying infraction on Jamie McMurray's No. 1 Chevrolet. His crew chief, Matt McCall, will be on probation until Dec. 31 ... Jeff Gordon won the fall race at Dover, his fifth victory there.
Wins: Jimmie Johnson, 3; Kevin Harvick, 2; Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski, Denny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Carl Edwards,1 each.

STANDINGS
1. Kevin Harvick 473
2. Martin Truex Jr. 432
3. Joey Logano 407
4. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 401
5. Jimmie Johnson 393
6. Brad Keselowski 381
7. Matt Kenseth 372
8. Jamie McMurray 353
9. Jeff Gordon 346
10. Kasey Kahne 345
11. Ryan Newman 343
12. Aric Almirola 339
13. Paul Menard 336
14. Kurt Busch 327
15. Denny Hamlin 321
16. Carl Edwards 312
17. Clint Bowyer 296
18. Danica Patrick 292
19. Greg Biffle 284
20. AJ Allmendinger 274

Up next: Axalta "We Paint Winners" 400, June 7, Pocono Raceway, Long Pond, Pa., 1 p.m.; TV: Fox Sports 1; last year's winner: Dale Earnhardt Jr.