Truex’s Kid Brother Running Nationwide Races For Waltrip

Cornelius, NC, United States (AHN) – Ryan Truex, who turned 18 Thursday, will drive six NASCAR Nationwide Series races this season for Michael Waltrip Racing along with running the full 10-race K&N Filters Pro Series East schedule.

Truex, the younger brother of Sprint Cup driver Martin Truex Jr., won the 2009 Pro Series East championship and will make his Nationwide debut on July 17 at Gateway near St. Louis.

“I’m a racer and the best present anyone can give me is a chance to race,” said Truex who won three races and three poles in the Camping World East Series last season. “Now I have a full plate of racing in the East Series in 2010 and six Nationwide races. Our eye is on running full-time Nationwide in 2011, so I couldn’t be happier.”

Truex is tentatively scheduled to also run Nationwide events at Michigan, Richmond, Kansas, the fall Charlotte race and Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Car owner and two-time Daytona 500 winner Michael Waltrip sees Truex and 19-year-old Trevor Bayne, a fulltime Nationwide driver with MWR, as the potential future of the team.

“Ryan Truex gave Michael Waltrip Racing its first championship last season when he won the K&N Filters Pro Series East championship so he’ll always be my hero,” said Waltrip. “He’s a fantastic young driver and we feel he is ready to step up to the Nationwide Series.”

“The Nationwide Series is a place for young guys like Ryan and Trevor to get a shot at showing off their skills and learning as much as they can. I think the fans are going to like both of these guys a lot. I hope they are around a long time at MWR and in this sport.”

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