Dover II: Martin Truex Jr preview

Dover Race Exclamation Point on Big Week for Truex

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Sept. 16, 2008) -- Sunday's Camping World RV 400 will cap a big week for Martin Truex Jr.

The Dale Earnhardt Inc. driver kicks things off on Thursday when he hosts the First Annual Martin Truex Jr. Foundation Golf Tournament near his hometown of Mayetta, N. J. Though he describes himself as an "awful" golfer, the 28-year old Sprint Cup driver cannot wait to hit the links at Sea Oaks Golf Club in Tuckerton, N. J. to help raise money for several local charities. The "best ball" tournament, which kicks off at 11:30 a.m., will be followed by a silent auction and fan appreciation dinner at the Sea Oaks Resort.

"It's important to me to give back to the kids in my area who are less fortunate than I was growing up," said Truex. "Playing golf is a great way to get together with old friends, meet new ones and raise money for these great causes. I'm looking forward to giving back to the community here; I've waited for this for a long time."

The homecoming aspect of the weekend is compounded by the fact that Sunday's race will be at Dover International Speedway, a place that Truex considers his "home" track.

Truex has won two Nationwide Series races at the 1.0-mile venue and he won the Sprint Cup Series event at the track last June.

"Dover's definitely one of my favorite tracks," continued Truex. "I've been going to races there since I can remember. I always have a lot of friends and family come to this race, so it turns into a kind of family reunion."

Truex's love of the track known as the Monster Mile is backed up by his results at the high-banked venue. In five Cup starts at Dover, Truex has three top-10 finishes, including his victory at the track last year and a sixth-place finish in June.

"Dover's just a place where I enjoy racing," Truex said. "It's fast, just like Bristol, but bigger. You always have to be on your toes when you race there because you know that if someone spins in front of you that they're going to be coming back down the track. You don't have much time to pick your escape route."

-credit: dei