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Truex, Pollex recognized with Myers Brothers Award

Winning the Myers Brothers Award was a lock for Martin Truex Jr. and Sherry Pollex.

2017 champion Martin Truex Jr., Furniture Row Racing Toyota, Sherry Pollex

2017 champion Martin Truex Jr., Furniture Row Racing Toyota, Sherry Pollex

NASCAR Media

2017 champion Martin Truex Jr., Furniture Row Racing Toyota
2017 champion Martin Truex Jr., Furniture Row Racing Toyota
2017 champion Martin Truex Jr., Furniture Row Racing Toyota visits Sunrise Children’s Hospital in Las Vegas
2017 champion Martin Truex Jr., Furniture Row Racing Toyota
2017 champion Martin Truex Jr., Furniture Row Racing Toyota
2017 champion Martin Truex Jr., Furniture Row Racing Toyota
Martin Truex Jr., Furniture Row Racing Toyota, and Sherry Pollex with the Regular Season Championship trophy
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, Martin Truex Jr., Furniture Row Racing Toyota
Martin Truex Jr., Furniture Row Racing Toyota with girlfriend Sherry Pollex

Named in honor of former competitors Billy and Bobby Myers, the award has recognized those who have provided outstanding contributions to stock car racing for the last 60 years. 

Although the couple was surprised by the acknowledgment by the National Motorsports Press Association at the Encore Theater at the Wynn Las Vegas on Wednesday, their ongoing beneficence to pediatric and ovarian cancers make them ideal recipients and an inspiration to the rest of the sport. 

“This is definitely an unbelievable honor to receive this award,” Truex said. “We definitely didn’t see it coming. Sherry and I have been very fortunate in our lives to have all the things that we needed—great families, great parents that raised us right, taught us right from wrong. I think they probably deserve a lot of the credit for us being who we are and being able to give back and help people. Being part of this sport, it’s who we are. We’re so proud of everybody. 

“We’ve learned so much from past champions and everyone in the sport that’s willing to give back, willing to give their time to great causes. So, we don’t deserve all the credit for this. We’ve learned a lot of lessons from a lot of people in this room and a lot of people in the sport in general. We’re very fortunate and definitely lucky to give our time to great causes. And I’m so proud of her for her fight and her battle and what she’s been able to do and to pull through and at the same time willing to help others and give her time. We’re humbled and very lucky to be here.”

Sherry's journey

After the Myers Brothers ceremony, Pollex joked she would have had her hair styled had she known they would be on stage. She looked stunning nonetheless despite the whirlwind tour the couple has been on since Truex secured the 2017 Monster Energy Cup Series championship on November 19. The couple flew to New York City for a round of media interviews then celebrated Thanksgiving in the Florida Keys surrounded by family. 

For Pollex, who was diagnosed with stage 3C ovarian cancer in 2014, the journey has been a challenge. But she wouldn’t trade this moment for anything.

“The championship means so much to me, personally, because of everything we’ve been through not only in our personal life, but in Martin’s professional life, too,” Pollex said. “When he lost his ride with MWR (Michael Waltrip Racing), we really didn’t know whether he’d be relevant in the sport again or if he would find a home. Through that time, I was the one picking him up and telling him everything was going to be ok. It wasn’t long after that, that I was diagnosed with my cancer. Then I kind of had to lean on him and have him be the one to pick me up. 

“It’s been a crazy ride and we feel so blessed to be here. Whether I’m still battling my disease or not, doesn’t matter. This weekend is about them and the team (Furniture Row Racing) and the accomplishments that they’ve had. I’m just proud to stand beside them and enjoy it.” 

Pollex has been a warrior throughout her battle. Her blog at SherryStrong.org offers support, advocacy and education for women whether they or their loved ones have been diagnosed with cancer. 

She has tried to take her own advice in Las Vegas, which Pollex admits is hard. Although she was scheduled for chemotherapy on Monday -- her doctor provided a reprieve in order to allow her to share this experience with Truex.

"I've been trying to go to bed early out here, but it's been tough cause I don't want to miss out on any of the events at night," Pollex said. "So I'm going to have to rest a lot when I get home this weekend. It will be a couple of days of chllin' at home. Then we're going to get our Christmas tree, hang out with our family and go to the hospital on Monday for six hours of chemo and hope that it goes well. I have three more treatments, and hopefully, I'll be in remission again.

“If I would have gone to chemo, I wouldn’t have been able to travel. I feel super blessed to be here. My health is well enough to be here with him but the traveling is definitely hard. The fatigue is for real."

Helping others

But that hasn’t stopped her from her ongoing philanthropic activities. From Catwalk for a Cause—the fashion show that benefits cancer patients at Levine Children’s Hospital—or any of the other initiatives, the couple has exemplified giving back over the last decade. 

“I think the selfless part comes from the way Martin and I were raised with our families,” Pollex said. “We’ve always been the type of people that wanted to give back to others and make sure that children that were battling this disease were taken care of—and eventually, women battling ovarian cancer, too because of what I’ve been through. 

“The work we’ve done through the foundation has been amazing. Without NASCAR and this platform, I don’t think we’d be able to do any of that. What an honor it was to accept that award today. We didn’t know anything about it. I was obviously very surprised because I couldn’t speak. I wanted to say thank you for everybody that voted on it and everyone that recognizes what we do. We don’t do it for the recognition, but it sure is nice when people notice that we’ve spent much of our life giving back to others and that it means a lot to others, too.”

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