Dale Earnhardt Jr. tests at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Credit: Todd Warshaw/Getty Images

Juniors Earnhardt, Truex set to lean on each other

Familiarity as co-workers could be the competitive key for Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Martin Truex Jr. in 2006.

Both operate under the Dale Earnhardt Inc. banner, but Truex joins Earnhardt Jr., in the Nextel Cup Series this season. He'll compete for rookie of the year honors after winning two consecutive Busch Series titles for DEI, and as Truex's mentor-turned-teammate, Earnhardt isn't concerned about rookie pitfalls.

	Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Martin Truex Jr. Credit: Autostock
	SUPERSTORE •   Get Dale Earnhardt Jr. gear! •   Get Martin Truex Jr. gear!

"The toughest challenge for Martin will be the schedule," Earnhardt said Monday at preseason testing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway," and he's pretty aware of the racing part of it. He's been racing all his life."

Both drivers display similarities many observers say may foreshadow breakout seasons.

Both Truex and Earnhardt were introduced to their sport by their fathers. Both are low-key, sometimes soft-spoken, with wry senses of humor.

"Nothing's been that hard yet, but it's about to get a whole lot harder," Truex said of the approaching season-opening Daytona 500 on Feb. 19.

And while his Cup indoctrination promises some learning curves, he knows exactly where to go for clarification.

LAS VEGAS TESTING A total of 41 drivers will test at Las Vegas Motor Speedway through Wednesday in what many say is the most important preseason test of the season.  •   Complete story, click here

"Me and Junior are good friends," Truex said. "He's been a great friend and someone I go to for advice, and not just the stuff on the race track."

"Off the race track, I talk to Martin and see if he's having some of the same issues I'm having," Earnhardt said. "If they've got their car figured out, I might take that back to [crew chief] Tony [Eury] Jr."

Earnhardt says both DEI teams are working well together -- both drivers along with Eury Jr., and Truex's crew chief, Kevin "Bono" Manion.

Jeff Green has a new ride in '06. Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images

Monday morning's session proved a work-in-progress for both drivers -- Earnhardt in a quest to rebound from last season's disappointing 19th-place finish, and Truex in his quest to adjust to the Cup Series.

"Being here [Monday] has been really good so far," Truex said. "Coming here, you get the rust knocked off. We're just trying to get our cars prepared the best we can."

Jeff Green posted the fastest time in Monday's morning session, 170.068 mph and 31.752 seconds in the No. 66 Chevrolet. Elliott Sadler posted the second-fastest time of 169.428 mph and 31.872 seconds in the No. 38 Ford.